9:30 LRN Newscast

Authorities have found a missing 14-year-old girl from Tennessee living in a tent in a wooded area of Tangipahoa Parish. Twenty-eight-year-old Alexander Materne from St. Rose in St. Charles Parish has been arrested in her disappearance. Authorities say the two met while playing an online game and Materne went to Tennessee to get her. The two allegedly engaged in sexual acts in St. Rose and then she was brought to Tangipahoa Parish while Materne celebrated Christmas with his family in Jennings.

A young boy is killed in a Christmas morning house fire in Richland Parish….

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

For the fourth straight year, Louisiana will have a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on January 1st. The theme of this year’s float is Louisiana Saturday Night and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says it will illustrate what a Saturday night in Louisiana is like. Nungesser says more than 100 Louisianians will help decorate the float…

Cut 5 (09) “…with all volunteers”

The float features a giant playful alligator wearing Mardi Gras beads, a Cajun Dance Hall and rising country music star Timothy Wayne will sing the iconic song “Louisiana Saturday Night.”

The origin of crawfish and shrimp and other seafood must be clearly labeled because of a new law that goes into effect on January 1st. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick authored the legislation…

Cut 8 (07) “….product of China’

Connick says businesses who try to mislead the consumer with where the seafood originated from will face thousands of dollars fines.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Come next Wednesday, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt whether the seafood you’re buying is domestic. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Several tornado warnings were issued last night, but no reports of any significant damage. Another round of strong storms is expected to hit the state tomorrow.

Tonight the jackpot for the Mega Millions drawing is 1.15 billion dollars. You can purchase a ticket until nine o’ clock tonight.

For the fourth year in a row, Louisiana will be featured in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the state’s float is called Louisiana Saturday Night and it will feature a giant playful alligator wearing Mardi Gras beads. Riding on its back is a Cajun Dance hall and cypress trees….

Cut 4 (09) “…across Louisiana.”

Performing his rendition of “Louisiana Saturday Night” will be LSU student and rising country music star Timothy Wayne, who is the nephew of Tim McGraw.

A Louisiana man is recovering after he was accidentally shot while he was hunting by another hunter who thought he was shooting at a deer. The incident happened in Zachary near Baton Rouge and L-D-W-F Lt. Jared Riddle says both hunters were not wearing hunter’s orange…

Cut 15 (08) “….of reasons”

The man shot suffered non-life threatening injuries.

7:30 LRN Newscast

A new state law that goes into effect on January first will require Louisiana restaurants to clearly state the country of origin of shrimp and crawfish they are selling. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick authored the law and says violators face thousands of dollars in fines…

Cut 9 (13) “…50-thousand dollars”

Mislabeling of seafood has been a big problem in Louisiana.

A hunter near Baton Rouge is recovering after being accidentally shot by another hunter. Lt Jared Riddle with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the hunters were hunting at the same time on a small piece of property in Zachary that both had permission to be on, but unaware of each other’s presence.

Cut 13 (10)  “…hunter’s orange on.”

One of the hunters shot the other with buckshot from a 20-gauge shotgun. The injuries are non-fatal.

Louisiana will be featured in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, to promote Louisiana tourism with a float called “Louisiana Saturday Night.”

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Newly released numbers from the U-S Census Bureau show Louisiana’s population grew this year for the first time since 2020. It’s not a huge increase as Louisiana’s population grew by just under ten thousand people. The smallest increase of any state that added population. Central and northeast Louisiana saw the largest population losses, while more people are living in the Baton Rouge area.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Pelicans fans expressed their displeasure last night as New Orleans lost its eighth straight as they fell to the Houston Rockets 128 to 111 in the Smoothie King Center. The Pels were outscored by 17 in the first quarter and missed their first ten three pointers. Head Coach Willie Green…

Cut 30 (07) “….start to finish”

The Pelicans are now 5-and-26 and will host Memphis tonight.

The Saints have been eliminated from playoff contention and still have two more regular-season games left. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi says the players have not checked out and want to add to their win total…

Cut 16 (14) “…this Sunday.”

The Saints host the Raiders on Sunday in the final home game of the year.

The LSU Tigers will take on the Baylor Bears in the Texas Bowl on New Year’s Eve day. The Bears defense is led by linebacker Keaton Thomas, who has 107 tackles on the season. Zach Smith who covers Baylor for the Waco Tribune-Herald tells us about Thomas…

Cut 28 (28) infected the defense”

Kick off on Tuesday is at 2:30.

Leesville running back Xavier Ford has been named the Class Four-A offensive player of the year. Ford rushed for a state record 3.647 yards and 52 touchdowns this past season. Iowa’s Cohen Charles is the defensive player of the year in Class 4A as the senior had 159 tackles, four forced fumbles and four interceptions. Cecilia’s Dennis Skains is the coach of the year after leading the Bulldogs to their first state championship since 1995.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Come January 1st, whenever you buy seafood at the store or order seafood at your favorite restaurant, you will know whether it comes from Louisiana. A new law goes into effect that day requiring restaurants and distributors to clearly disclose where the seafood was caught.

Cut 7 (07) “…type of product.”

That’s Marrero Senator Patrick Connick, who authored the law. Connick says the new law also increases the fines and penalties for businesses that do not clearly mark the seafood’s orgin on the packaging or menu.

An 11-year-old boy is killed in a house fire in Richland Parish. Firefighters were called out to the burning home in Rayville Christmas morning. Two people made it out, but the 11-year-old boy didn’t. Assistant Fire Chief Rusty Edwards of the State Fire Marshal’s Office says the fire started in the boy’s bedroom.

Cut 10 (09) “…easily catch fire.”

A hunter is recovering after he was shot by another hunter. It happened in East Baton Rouge Parish in Zachary. Lieutenant Jared Riddle with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the hunter saw rustling in the bushes and thought it was a deer and shot.  Once he realized it was a person, he went to help.

Cut 14 (05) “…going from there.”

The injured hunter was shot in the arm and airlifted to a Baton Rouge hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening. LDWF cited the shooter for hunting deer without possessing deer tags and for not wearing hunter’s orange. The hunter shot was also not wearing hunter’s orange.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser heads to Pasadena, California, today where once again the state will have a Louisiana themed float in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. Nungesser says having a float in this parade gets up to 40-million dollars in media coverage….

Cut 6 (11) “…going on in Louisiana”

Nungesser says the float’s theme is Louisiana Saturday Night and it will give parade viewers an idea of what a Saturday night in Louisiana is like.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Tigers are preparing for the Texas Bowl matchup against Baylor in Houston on New Year’s Eve day. Running back Josh Williams on the preparations…

Cut 14 (17)  “…to do that.”

Baylor is led by former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, and the 8-and-4 Bears have won their last six games.  LSU will hold its first practice in Houston on Saturday.

The Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are already at their bowl destinations. U-L Lafayette will face T-C-U on Saturday afternoon in the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, while Louisiana Tech will take on Army in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport on Saturday night.

Former Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is coming out of retirement as he’ll serve as a backup to Jared Goff in case the MVP candidate gets hurt as the Lions try to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.  Detroit head coach Dan Campbell…

Cut 18 (17) “…to us”

Bridgewater is the head coach at Miami Northwestern High School and just led his alma mater to a state championship in Florida.

Cecilia football coach Dennis Skains was named the Class 4A Coach of the Year today by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Skains led the Bulldogs to their first state title since 1985, but gives a lot of the credit to the seniors…

Cut 20 (12) “…this program”

Diesel Solari’s touchdown pass to Ellis Stewart in the final minutes of their game against Franklinton goes down as one of the best plays in Prep Classic history.

LRN PM Newscall December 26 ###Cuts 9 to 11 have been revised###

Thirty-four-thousand, 10-year lithium battery smoke alarms valued at more than 1-million dollars was donated by Lowe’s Home Improvement to the State Fire Marshal’s Operation Save-A-Life program.  Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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One of the goals in year two of the Landry administration is to make state government run more efficiently. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The State Fire Marshal (SFM) says Lowe’s Home Improvement has donated over 34-thousans 10-year lithium battery smoke alarms to their Operation Save-A-Life program.  Valued at more than 1-million-dollars makes it the largest donation in its history.  State Fire Marshall Bryan Adams says since 2012, over 120,000 alarms have been installed through the program.

Cut 3 (09) “…working smoke alarm.” 

Lowe’s Slidell store initiated the donation, which STFPD #1 and SFM collaboratively accepted. Adams praised the partnership, emphasizing the life-saving impact of smoke alarms.

Cut 4 (05) “…several people’s lives.”

Slidell Store Manager John LeMaster expressed gratitude and commitment to community safety.

Cut 5 (14) “…really good day.”

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One of the goals of the Landry administration in year two is making state government run more efficiently. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, says one way to accomplish that is by reining in government contracts.

Cut 6 (08) “…our government’s budget.”

McFarland says contrary to popular belief, the legislature goes not get to approve contracts; it only gets to review them. 

Cut 7 (08) “…to fund them.”

McFarland says another thing to look at is licensing and permits, saying more red tape placed on business and industry will cost more money to enforce.

Cut 8 (11) “…more hurdles.”

McFarland says Louisiana will be trying to do what President-elect Donald Trump is trying to do with the creation of his Department Of Government Efficiency, just at the state level.

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Foster care families can apply for a free pass to visit any of the state’s 21 state parks, 14 historical sites or nine state museums. Director of the Louisiana Office of State Parks Brandon Burris says they want to give thanks to foster caregivers for their time and extra expenses they put into helping foster care children. He says this imitative also provides foster families with something they can do together…

Cut 9 (07)  “…Louisiana has to offer,”

Burris says this was the brain child of Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.  He emphasized the program’s goal of helping foster families create lasting memories while exploring Louisiana’s rich cultural and natural heritage.

Cut 10 (11) “…we have.”

Burris says the Louisiana State Parks Caregiver pass encourages foster families to enjoy recreational and educational opportunities together.

Cut 11 (08) “…this particular situation.”

According latest data, there were fewer than two-thousand licensed foster homes in Louisiana in 2023 and on average there are 41-hundred children in the state’s foster care system each day.

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There’s a slight risk for severe weather this afternoon and into tonight. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says residents in Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria and Lake Charles should be weather aware today

Cut 12 (10) “…heavy rain.”

Jacquemin says showers and storms may produce intense rainfall over short durations, potentially causing localized flash flooding…

Cut 13 (12)  “…tomorrow.”

There’s the possibility for another round of severe weather on Saturday.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Tigers are preparing for their Texas Bowl matchup against the Baylor Bears. Linebacker Whit Weeks on the Bears offense that finished second in the Big 12, averaging close to 35 points a game…

Cut 26 (11) “…knows that”

Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson has thrown 26 touchdown passes this season.

Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi remains hopeful quarterback Derek Carr can play this Sunday against his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders. Here’s what Rizzi said in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday…

Cut 19 (12) “…so be it”

Carr is trying to come back from a fractured non-throwing hand. Multiple media reports have said Carr is likely done for the season.

The sixth ranked LSU women’s basketball team is 14-and-0, but they are far from a perfect team. The longtime voice of the Lady Tigers, Patrick Wright, says coach Kim Mulkey is still looking for a point guard to lead the offense…

Cut 22 (17) “…foot injury”

LSU’s next game is Sunday at home against Albany and then SEC play begins.

It’s been a dreadful season for the Pelicans as they’ve won just five games, but center Yves Missi (EVE MEE-see) has been a bright spot and he’s up for Rookie of the Year honors. Veteran CJ McCollum on the 20-year-old’s development…

Cut 20 (20) “…great player”

The Pelicans host the Rockets tonight.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Lawmakers are honing their agendas in advance of the 119th Congress that gets underway a week from tomorrow. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office says a fire on Christmas Day has resulted in the death of an 11-year-old child. Investigators say an electrical heater may have been the cause of the blaze. The sheriff’s office is asking the public to pray for the family.

When the calendar flips to 2025 next week, new laws governing the sale of CBD and THC products will go into effect. Ernest Legier (le-ZHAY), the commissioner of Louisiana alcohol and tobacco control, says one of those changes has to do with where you can buy those products.

Cut 12 (13) “…to June 2024.”

Also, THC-laced beverages will only be allowed to be sold in no more than four-packs, and each 12-ounce beverage will be limited to five milligrams of THC.

The State Fire Marshal says Lowe’s Home Improvement has donated over 34-thousand, 10-year lithium battery smoke alarms to their Operation Save-A-Life program. State Fire Marshall Bryan Adams says since 2012, over 120-thousand alarms have been installed through the program.

Cut 3 (09) “…working smoke alarm.”

The donation by Lowe’s, valued at more than one-million dollars, is the largest in the Save-A-Life Program’s 12-year history.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Lawmakers are honing their agendas in advance of the 119th Congress that gets underway a week from tomorrow. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

There’s a slight risk for severe weather today for most of north, central and southwest Louisiana. There’s another slight risk for strong storms on Saturday for most of the state. The Mega Millions jackpot on Friday night is an estimated one-point-15 billion dollars. It would be the fifth largest jackpot in the game’s history.

New THC regulations go into effect on January first. Starting in 2025, the age to purchase hemp-THC products will go up from 18 to 21 and THC products will also no longer be sold in gas stations. Louisiana Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Ernest Legier says the state will also crack down on selling THC-laced gummies in packages that resemble those of popular candies…

Cut 11 (09) “…rather than ambiguity”

Also, THC-laced beverages will only be allowed to be sold in no more than four-packs.

Expect Louisiana lawmakers to look at passing legislation next year to lower auto insurance rates. But executive director of Real Reform Louisiana, Ben Riggs, says combating the rising cost to fix vehicles, makes it difficult for legislators to come up with a solution….

Cut 15 (13) “….more to replace”

It remains to be seen if there will be a special session devoted to insurance reform for auto and homeowners.