Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

04.02.15
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LRN Newscast 17:30 April 2nd

For the third year in a row, Louisiana has increased the number of tourists and set another record for the industry…
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

A civil judge in New Orleans has received a confidential mental health report on Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson. Judge Kern Reese has set a hearing for June first to discuss the implications of the report. Spurned heirs to Benson’s estate say Benson is not mentally competent to make important business decisions.

In the state’s governor’s race — US Senator David Vitter has picked up a couple of significant endorsements in Republican Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany and three-term Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durrel. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…:
CUT 4 (05) “to beat”
Cross says this is kind of a slap in the face for gubernatorial candidate Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle as these endorsements come from his home region.

Former four-term governor Edwin Edwards is now a licensed real estate agent. Edwards says he got his broker’s licence last week and he’s excited at the prospect of getting back to work.…:
CUT 9 (09) “obvious reasons”
Edwards says that while he wants to focus on commercial properties, he’s just getting started and all options are open.

04.02.15
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 April 2nd

LSU begins a three-game series tonight against Alabama. The Fighting Tigers blew a couple of late leads in dropping their series with Kentucky last weekend. But Coach Paul Mainieri says he still has faith in his bullpen and he’s seen arms emerge as the season has gone on…
cut 18 (13) “….count on”
LSU will send left-hander Jared Poche to the mound tonight. Alabama counters with senior southpaw Taylor Guilbeau, who is 2-and-2 with a 3.07 ERA.

Also the second game of the series has been moved up to 3 PM tomorrow to avoid the potential for bad weather Friday night.

ULM has adjusted its baseball series with UT Arlington. Game one is tomorrow at one o’ clock and then the two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday.

A big baseball series starts tonight in Hammond as Northwestern State faces Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions have a half-game lead over the Demons for first place in the league standings. The Lions have won seven of their last eight, while Northwestern will send right-hander Adam Oller to the mound. He’s 4-and-1 with a 2.09 ERA.

In other Southland action…UNO is at McNeese State and Nicholls State hosts Incarnate Word.

Northwestern State’s spring game is tonight as the Joe Delaney Bowl is set to begin at 5:30 at Turpin Stadium. Coach Jay Thomas expects a lot of passing during the 60 to 75 minute scrimmage.

The Saints head equipment manager, Dan Simmons, has announced he’s retiring. Simmons has held that job since April 1, 1973.

Civil district court officials in New Orleans say the doctors that were appointed to provide a medical evalution of Saints-Pelicans owner Tom Benson have turned those evaluations into a judge and a hearing will take place June 1st.

04.02.15
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11:40 LRN Sportscast April 2nd

LSU baseball begins a three game series against Alabama tonight. The series will NOT be played in Tuscaloosa, because of ongoing renovations with Alabama’s ball park. So the games will be played just outside of Birmingham at the same ball park where the SEC Tournament is held. Mainieri says his teams have won five SEC Tournament titles at the Hoover Met….
cut 17 (15) “….big hits”
Because of the Easter holiday, weekend series in the Southland will get underway today. Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State are the top two teams in the league and they will face off in Hammond. McNeese State hosts UNO, while Nicholls hosts Incarnate Word.

And the NCAA says home runs are up 39-percent over last year thanks to the new flat-seamed baseballs.

The Pelicans won last night and the Thunder lost, so New Orleans is just 1.5 games back of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western. New Orleans beat the Lakers 113 to 92 as Anthony Davis had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists. New Orleans is at Sacramento tomorrow night, while O-K-C visits Memphis.

U-L-M’s season ended last night as they fell to Loyola of Chicago 63 to 62. The Ramblers won the best of three series in the C-B-I two games to none. The Warhawks were led by Majok Deng who had 17 points, while Tylor Ongwae had 15 points in his final game in a Warhawks uniform.

In last night’s McDonald’s All American game….Antonio Blakeney, who is committed to play at LSU, scored 14 points, while LSU signee Ben Simmons had seven points and ten rebounds.

Two games on Louisiana Tech’s football schedule have been moved for national television. The Bulldogs game against Western Kentucky is now Thursday September 10th. And Tech’s game at Rice has been moved to Friday, October 30th.

04.01.15
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LRN Newscast 17:30 April 1, 2015

Higher education leaders are rallying behind a bill that attempts to keep the cost of the TOPS scholarship program from escalating out of control….
cut 4 (29) “…reporting”

The New Orleans Police Department says they’ve arrested a suspect in the killing of a Dominos pizza delivery driver. They say 24-year-old Michael Portis is believed to be responsible for the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Michael Price who was a married father of three. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu…:
CUT 12 (06) “gonna convict you”
There was a $15,000 reward being offered in the case and cops say it was multiple tips to Crimestoppers which help lead detectives to Portis.

A former Elton High School teacher and basketball coach has pleaded guilty to having inappropriate sexual relationships with students. 35-year-old Justin Fruge (froo-JHAY’) pleaded guilty to one count of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Jeff Davis Parish District Attorney Michael Cassidy says Fruge faces up to ten years in prison…:
CUT 9 (10) “for 15 years”
Sentencing is scheduled for July 20.

Governor Bobby Jindal is sending a couple of his staffers to Iowa to possibly begin working on a presidential campaign. La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Jindal is considered a longshot to get the republican nomination, but a run at the White House could set himself up for something else…
cut 5 (08) “…their future”
The governor is expected to announce after the legislative session his intentions.

04.01.15
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 April 1 2015

The Pelicans continue their playoff push tonight as they visit the Los Angeles Lakers. The team says Ryan Anderson, who has missed the last 18 games because of a right knee injury, is expected to play. New Orleans is 2-and-a-half games back of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. O-K-C hosts Dallas.

ULM will try to even its best of three CBI championship series with Loyola of Chicago at one game a piece as the two teams meet tonight at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. A big crowd is expected as U-L-M is 14-and-3 at home this season.

LSU signee will play tonight in the McDonald’s All-Star game in Chicago. Simmons has won at least three major high school player of the year awards. LSU commitment Antonio Blakeney will also play in the game and so will LSU recruit Malike Newman. Salmen star Kalani Brown will play the girls McDonald’s All-Star game at 5:30 PM.

The Saints announced today that they’ve agreed to a one-year contract with veteran right guard Jahri Evans. The extension likely provides the team with more salary cap flexibility for the upcoming season and keeps Evans under contract through the 2017 season. The Black and Gold also announced the signing of cornerback Kyle Wilson to a one-year contract. Wilson was drafted in the first round by the Jets in 2010, but he was a considered a disappointment in New York.

Two games on Louisiana Tech’s football schedule has been moved for national television. The Bulldogs game against Western Kentucky has been moved to Thursday September 10th. It was originally scheduled to be played on the 12th. And Tech’s game at Rice has been moved to Friday, October 30th. Broadcast details. including television networks and game times, will be announced at a later date.

Tonight on the college baseball diamond…Louisiana Tech hosts U-L-M. The Bulldogs belted Grambling State 17 to 12 last night. It’s the first time the two schools have played each other in baseball since 2008.

04.01.15
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PM LRN Newscall Wednesday April 1

Governor Bobby Jindal takes another step toward a potential presidential run by sending two members of his staff to Iowa. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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The New Orleans Police Department says they’ve arrested a suspect in the killing of a Dominos pizza delivery driver. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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Governor Bobby Jindal takes another step toward a potential presidential run by sending two members of his staff to Iowa. Taylor Teepell and Matt Parker will move to the Hawkeye State where they’ll work for the governor’s new political organization called the America Future Project. LaPolitics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says this shows how serious Jindal is about running for president…

CUT 3 (09)  “governor’s office”

Recent poll numbers have not been kind to the governor. They show Jindal polling in the single digits, well behind other expected Republican candidates for the nomination. Alford says no eventual president has polled below 15-percent at this point in the process and been successful with the exception of Bill Clinton…

CUT 4 (10)  “comeback kid”

Alford says despite the seemingly steep uphill battle in front of him, Jindal is moving forward with his campaign plans. The governor is expected to make an announcement following this year’s legislative session. Alford says presidential candidates often run for the office with other aspirations in mind…

CUT 5 (08)  “in their future”

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The prison population in Louisiana is going down for the first time in years. Secretary of Corrections Jimmy LeBlanc told the House Appropriations Committee that from 2006-2009 the state added about 1200 new prisoners a year. He says if that would have continued, there would have been about 44,000 inmates at the end of 2014 instead of closing the year with about 38,000 prisoners…:

CUT 6 (07)  “on that same pace”

LeBlanc says since 2012, Louisiana has seen a drop of almost 3000 inmates. He credits changes in sentencing laws and strong re-entry programs…:

CUT 7 (05)  “annually”

Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the nation. LeBlanc says the numbers not coming back to prisons annually is a huge financial gain for the state and it continues to get better. He says these numbers indicate that what they are doing to keep people from coming back to prison after the leave is working…:

CUT 8 (05)  “good things”

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A former Elton High School teacher and basketball coach has pleaded guilty to having inappropriate sexual relationships with students. 35-year-old Justin Fruge (froo-JHAY’) pleaded guilty to one count of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Jeff Davis Parish District Attorney Michael Cassidy says Fruge faces up to ten years in prison…

CUT 9 (10)  “for 15 years”

Fruge will also lose his teaching certificate and have to register as a sex offender for 15 years. Sentencing is scheduled for July 20. Cassidy says most of Fruge’s victims preferred to not have to testify in court, but thought Fruge should have a felony on his record and not be allowed to teach again…

cut 10 (07) “his actions”

Fruge was facing numerous charges of sexual misconduct, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge after parents of the victims requested the charges be reduced. Cassidy says all of the victims supported the plea. He says by pleading this quickly, it allows the victims and the Town of Elton to move on and let the healing begin…

cut 11 (08)  “or coach, again”

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The New Orleans Police Department says they’ve arrested a suspect in the killing of a Dominos pizza delivery driver. They say 24-year-old Michael Portis is believed to be responsible for the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Michael Price who was a married father of three. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the community is sending a strong message…:

cut 12 (06)  “gonna convict you”

There was a $15,000 reward being offered in the case and cops say it was multiple tips to Crimestoppers which help lead detectives to Portis. Robert Redesco is the regional vice president for local Domino’s franchisee RPM Pizza LLC. He says their number one goal is to keep their team members safe…:

cut 13 (09)  “by voice”

Redesco says online donations for Price’s family have gone over $30,000 and there have also been several thousands of dollars given by Dominos chains across the region. Darlene Cusanza, president and CEO of Crimestoppers GNO says the entire $15,000 reward will be paid out…: (Portis is expected to face first-degree murder charges.)

cut 14 (06)  “a reward”

04.01.15
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11:40 LRN Sportscast April 1

The Saints have made a couple of moves today. They have signed cornerback Kyle Wilson, who is a first round draft pick of the New York Jets. He was selected 29th overall in the 2010 draft and has three interceptions during his career. He’s made just one start since 2013. And the Saints have announced a one-year contract extension for six-time Pro Bowler Jahri Evans. The move likely saves the Saints some money against this year’s salary cap.

The Pelicans begin a three-game road trip tonight as they face the Lakers. New Orleans is two and a half games back of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Thunder host Dallas tonight.

Tonight’s Game Two of the CBI championship series between ULM and Loyola of Chicago. The Warhawks are trying to force a deciding game three, which will be played in Monroe. Tonight’s game at Fant Ewing Colisuem will begin at 7 PM.

The LSU Tigers hit three home runs last night as they defeated U-L Lafayette eight to six. Alex Bregman hit one of those home runs and he finished a single away from hitting for the cycle.

In other action last night….Louisiana Tech outslugged Grambling State 17 to 12. Freshman designated hitter Brent Diaz drove in seven runs as he hit a grand slam and also had a triple.

Nicholls State thumped Alcorn State 14 to 3. Tanner Vandevere drove in four runs. Southern edged McNeese State five to four as the Jaguars have won four in a row and Tulane topped UNC Wilmington eight to four.

LSU sophomore forward Jordan Mickey announces he’s leaving LSU after two years so that he can enter the NBA draft. The Dallas native was an All SEC first team selection this past year as helped the Tigers make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009.

03.31.15
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AM Newscall April 1

Tonight, the Investigation Discovery show “Web of Lies” will feature the story of the kidnapping, murder, and arrest of 12-year-old Justin Bloxom’s killer. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

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A proposal designed to control the cost of TOPS will be promoted an 11:00 press conference today. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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An $8,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot a bald eagle in Caddo Parish. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

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Tonight, Investigation Discovery’s documentary style show “Web of Lies” will feature the story of the kidnapping, murder, and arrest of 12-year-old Justin Bloxom’s killer. Bloxom’s body was found in a shallow pool of water in Stonewall in March of 2010. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says the show can bring to light how vulnerable our children are and how predators operate…

cut 4  (10)  “in this case”

Brian Horn, a previously convicted sex offender, was sentenced to death for Justin’s murder last year. Horn lured Bloxom to his death with fake text messages, pretending to be a girl from his school. Arbuckle says Justin’s story should be a reminder to parents to keep up with what their kids are doing…

Cut 5  (09)  “on with them”

Amy Bloxom Fletcher, Justin’s mom, agreed to share the story to remind people about the dangers children can face from predators through social media and texting. Several people involved in the case were interviewed for the show. Arbuckle says he supports the program airing tonight at 9…

Cut 6 (07)  “what they’re doing”

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Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue files legislation that he says will control the cost of the TOPS scholarship program. Donahue says under his bill a baseline would be set on how much a student receives for tuition and that dollar amount will not go up in future years, unless the legislature votes to change it

CUT 7 (09)  “school increases”

Every year the cost of the TOPS program for the state grows by the millions, because of rising tuition costs at public colleges. Donahue under his bill the TOPS award stays the same for a student through their college career, even if tuition goes up

Cut 8  (08)  “53 hundred” 

Higher education officials and the Taylor Foundation, which started the TOPS program, will promote Donahue’s bill at an 11 o’ clock press conference today in Baton Rouge. Donahue says there’s support for each TOPS recipient receiving the same amount of money, regardless if tuition is up from the year before

Cut 9 (10)  “increased by the legislature”

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It’s the peak of crawfish harvest season and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is increasing patrols around crawfish ponds to deter thieves from stealing crawfish. Lt. Clay Higgins says deputies have been guarding ponds annually since 2011…

Cut 10 (08) “across the parish”

Higgins says the sheriff’s office is determined to protect the crop for the parish’s crawfish farmers. He says officers often are waiting in the dark, blacked out in their patrol unit, watching for any suspicious activity. Higgins says if you steal just $300 in crawfish, that’s a felony and the penalty is very stiff…

cut 11 (04) “hard labor”

He says a thief could get two years of hard labor for stealing just a few sacks of crawfish. Higgins says these additional patrols have been very successful in keeping the number of crawfish thefts down…

cut 12 (08)  “over four years”

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards, blames republican candidate Scott Angelle for helping to create the state’s one-point-six billion dollar budget deficit. Angelle is currently a Public Service Commissioner, but he previously served in Bobby Jindal’s administration. Edwards made the swipe at Angelle during a governor’s forum in Baton Rouge

Cut 13 (09)  “light the match”

During Angelle’s opening statement, he said his door would be open to solutions from anyone when it comes to the state’s budget problems

Cut 14 (11) “tax program”

Governor Bobby Jindal is using the Americans for Tax Reform and it’s “no tax” pledge to develop solutions for the state’s current budget woes, but Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says the answer to Louisiana’s problems are not in Washington D-C

Cut 15  (06)  “our state”

The candidates appeared at a lunchtime forum that was put together by Louisiana’s small business community. Republican Senator David Vitter expressed his strong opposition to Jindal’s plan to scale back the state’s inventory tax credit as a way to raise revenues for state government

Cut 16  (12)  “job creators”

03.31.15
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LRN Newscast 17:30 March 31

The four candidates looking to be Louisiana’s next governor met today for a forum that was hosted by Louisiana small business leaders. All four candidates were not shy about criticizing Governor Bobby Jindal and his use of the Americans for Tax Reform to help with the state’s budget problems. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says the answer to Louisiana’s problems are not in Washington D-C…
cut 15 (06) “…govern our state”
Dardenne and the other three candidates, democrat John Bel Edwards, and republicans Scott Angelle and David Vitter, said they oppose Jindal’s proposal to scale back the inventory tax.

An $8,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot a bald eagle in Caddo Parish. Officials says the bald eagle had wounds to its chest and left wing and because of the severity of the injuries, the eagle was euthanized.

Indiana is taking a lot of heat for its new “religious freedom” law. Sarah Jane Brady, with the Forum for Equality, hopes Louisiana can learn from Indiana when they push a law in the upcoming session that protects discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity…
cut 12 (10) “…here in Louisiana”

Baton Rouge representative Dalton Honore files a bill for the upcoming legislative session that would require all law enforcement officers to wear body cameras. He says there have been recent incidents around the country where body cameras would have answered a lot of questions. Honore feels that a body camera is a great tool in keeping everyone honest…
cut 5 (07) “…great protection”
Honore’s bill does not provide additional funding for law enforcement to purchase the body cameras.

03.31.15
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 March 31

The third ranked LSU baseball team will face U-L Lafayettet tonight at 7 PM in the annual Wally Pontiff Junior Classic. The Tigers are 23-and-5, even though they lost an SEC series with Kentucky this past weekend. Ragin Cajuns Coach Tony Robichaux speaks very highly of this LSU baseball team…
cut 20 (10) “…some experience”
The Cajuns bring a 15-and-10 record into tonight’s contest, which can be seen on C-S-T.

In other action, Louisiana Tech begins a stretch of 10 games in 14 days when they visit Grambling State tonight. Grambling has lost seven in a row. McNeese State hosts Southern. The Jaguars are coming off a sweep over Grambling. And Nicholls State hosts Alcorn State. The Colonels have won all 23 previous meetings against the Braves.

LSU Forward Jordan Mickey announced today that he’s foregoing his final two years of eligibilty and he’ll enter his name into the 2015 NBA draft. Mickey was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season as he averaged 15 points, almost ten rebounds and 3.64 blocks per game, which led the nation.

Louisiana Tech point guard Speedy Smith was named an honorable mention on the Associated Press’ All-American team. Smith had 267 assists this past season, the most by any player in Division One basketball.

Game two of the College Basketball Invitational championship series is tomorrow night in Monroe. ULM lost game one to Loyola of Chicago, 65 to 58. ULM needs to win tomorrow night to force a deciding game three on Friday.

In the NBA…the Pelicans begin a three-game road trip tomorrow night against the Lakers. New Orleans trails Oklahoma City by 2.5 games for the final playoff spot in the West.