Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

04.25.16
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15:30 LRN Newscast April 25

FBI records indicate the late John McKeithen supplied the KKK with money when he was governor in an attempt to suppress racial violence in the mid-1960s. Gus Weill served as McKeithen’s Executive Secretary at this time…
cut 8 (11) “….came from”
Weill was unaware of the payments at the time, but first learned of them a few weeks back, when an individual told him about 5-thousand dollars that went to a KKK group and an african-american group in Bogalusa.

Detectives are investigating the deaths of two females who were found along the I-10 corrider this weekend. A woman from Texas was found under I-10 near the Whiskey Bay exit in Iberville Parish. The coroner says she was strangled to death. And in St. Charles Parish, a missing Kenner teenager’s body was dumped on a road in St. Rose.

The House Transportation Committee approves a bill that would allow you to store your driver’s license on an app that can be downloaded on your smart phone. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle supports the legislation…
cut 13 (08) “…to the phone”
The state Office of Motor vehicles says this license on your phone could be shown to law enforcement in cases when a person doesn’t have their license.

A Monroe woman has been arrested after leaving St. Francis Hospital with a baby that was NOT hers. Monroe Police Chief Detective Chris Bates says 24-year-old Anquinisha Cummings took a three-day old child from a mother she met that day….
cut 5 (10) “….no bond”
Bates says they believe Cummings is suffering from a mental illness.

04.25.16
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14:30 LRN Newscast April 25

Former governor John McKeithen gave money to the KKK in an effort to calm racial tensions in the mid-1960s. That’s according to FBI records that the LSU Manship School of Mass Communications has uncovered. Gus Weill, was the executive secterary for the late governor and he’s not surprised to hear McKeithan used money as a way to quell racial strife…
cut 7 (12) “….and Mississippi”
Weill says the money came from a state commission that was established to control civil rights issues.

The state’s budget shortfall for next fiscal year is down from 750-million to 600-million dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says expanding Medicaid reduces the deficit, but he says it won’t decrease the level of cuts, because the savings were already factored into the governor’s proposed budget.

About 300-thousand public school students are taking standardized tests this week, but there’s not the uproar we saw with last year’s Common Core exams. West Feliciana Superintendent Hollis Milton, also serves as the president of the Louisiana Association of Superintendents, and he says efforts to change the content on these tests has led to a calmer environement….
cut 11 (11) “…will be better”

A Monroe woman has been arrested for stealing a baby from St. Francis Hospital…
cut 4 (10) “…not true”
That’s Monroe Police Detective Chris Bates, who says 24-year-old Anquinisha Cummings was charged with aggravated kidnapping. Bates says Cummings took the baby from a mother that she happened to meet that day.

04.25.16
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Tigers got a much needed win yesterday as they defeated Mississippi State 11 to 8 to avoid a sweep by the Bulldogs at Alex Box Stadium. Coach Paul Mainieri got some good work out of his bullpen, including Russell Reynolds, who earned his first win of the season after throwing 2.2 innings…..
cut 18 (11) “…key innings”
LSU is in a three-way tie for second place in the SEC West. The Tigers are at 20th ranked Tulane on Tuesday. The Green Wave swept UCF in Orlando this weekend.

In the Sun Belt, UL Lafayette is now 12-6 in the league after taking two of three from Texas State. ULM is now 6-12 after getting swept by Arkansas State.

Southeastern Louisiana is still in first place in the Southland, despite losing to McNeese seven to six yesterday.

A bill dealing with the LHSAA playoff split will be heard on the House floor today. LHSAA member principals voted to expand the postseason split in January, but a special meeting will take place in June to vote on a metro-rural division plan, which would also combine 4A with 5A and B with C. But River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says he’s still moving forward with his bill, even though it appears the LHSAA is taking a positive step to rectify the situation…
cut 6 (10) “…fair shake”
Talbot says he doesn’t believe schools should be divided based on whether they are a public or a private school.

In basketball, Nicholls State has called for a press conference tomorrow at 11:30 to announce Richie Riley as the new men’s basketball coach. Riley has been assistant at Clemson the last two seasons.

04.25.16
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10:30 LRN Newscast April 25

A bill to prohibit an employer from refusing to hire or fire a person, because they are gay or transsexual was set to be heard in a House committee this morning. But the author of the bill, New Orleans Representative Joe Bouie, decided not to move forward with the legislation, because reportedly the votes were not there. They may bring the bill up again next week.

A New Orleans woman tells WWL-TV in New Orleans that a clerk at a Family Dollar store on the corner of Canal and Broad refused to ring up her items at the cash register, because she is gay. There is cellphone video that shows the clerk saying “I’m not serving them two.” Family Dollar’s corporate office has not responded to the incident.

Authorities in Iberville Parish have identified the body of a female that was found near Whiskey Bay along Interstate 10. The victim’s name is Elizabeth Ferrell of Humble, Texas. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

The House Transportation Committee is scheduled to hear a bill today that would increase the fines for moving violations when a child under the age of 15 is in the vehicle. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis believes the increased fines will help stop dangerous driving with children in the car…
cut 15 (08) “….tripled”
Davis doesn’t anticipate much opposition to her bill.

Children programming in French is airing on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. There are about 45-hundred students in French immersion programs in the state. LPB Program director Jason Viso says this popular French speaking kids show from Canada, will give French immersion students a chance to develop their language skills…
cut 13 (07) “….the classroom”
The shows are airing on LPB in the afternoons on Monday through Friday and during select times on the weekends.

04.24.16
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LRN AM Newscall April 25 ###sports cuts added###

A bill to prohibit an employer from refusing to hire or fire a person, because they are gay or transsexual will be heard in a House committee today. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Educational TV shows in French for kids are now airing on Louisiana Public Broadcast. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The House Transportation Committee will debate a bill today that would increase the fines for moving violations when a child under 15-years-old is in the vehicle. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A bill that forces the LHSAA to end its public-private school playoff split will be heard on the House floor today. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says his bill would prohibit schools from receiving public funds, if they belong to an athletic organization with split playoffs for select and non-select schools. Talbot says the LHSAA’s current playoff split is discriminatory…

cut 4  (05)  “somebody else”

The split began in football playoffs in 2013, and it is set to expand to include basketball, baseball and softball starting in 2016-17. Talbot says his goal with the legislation is not take away state funds from schools, but get the LHSAA to not separate its schools based on whether they are public or private….

Cut 5  (08)  “equal opportunity”

LHSAA member principals voted to expand the postseason split in January, but a special meeting will take place in June to vote on a metro-rural division plan, which would also combine 4A with 5A and B with C.  Talbot says he’s still moving forward with his bill, even though it appears the LHSAA is taking a positive step to rectify the situation…

Cut 6 (10)  “fair sake”

Opponents to the bill raised questions about whether the legislature should be involved in this controversy.

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A bill that would prohibit an employer from firing or refusing to hire an individual based on their sexual orientation or gender identity will be heard in the House Civil Law committee today. Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana says this needs to be done because discrimination against gay and transgendered people is pervasive.

CUT 7 (09)  “in place” 

Opposition is expected to come from pro-business groups. State director of the National Independence Business Dawn Starns says business owners are concerned this legislation will lead to frivolous lawsuits…

Cut 8  (10)  “like that” 

But Patterson says Shreveport and New Orleans have passed ordinances that are similar to this proposed law and it has not led to a flood of lawsuits…

Cut 9 (05)  “have locally”

Starns understands equality for the LGBT community is important but making this a law will create problems for businesses…

Cut 10 (06) “overnight”

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Louisiana Public Broadcasting is launching educational TV shows for kids in French. LPB’s program director Jason Viso says they are partnering with the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana to help more kids learn “en francais.” He says they have started showing several different kids’ shows that are in French.

cut 11 (09) “initial block”

The shows are airing on LPB 2 between 3pm and 5pm Monday through Friday and also on the weekends. Viso says French teachers are thrilled about helping future Francophones learn more about the language.

cut 12 (07) “about this”

According to CODOFIL, there are about 45-hundred students in French immersion programs in the state. Viso says kids learn French in school, but aren’t able to practice it elsewhere. He hopes this gives more students a chance to develop their language skills.

Cut 13 (07)  “the classroom”

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A bill to increase the fines for moving violations when a child under the age of 15 is in the car is being debated in the House Transportation Committee today. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis says she authored the proposal when several constituents called her after a child was killed in a car accident.

Cut 14 (08)  “speeding” 

Davis says children under age 15 need to be protected because until that age, they cannot be in control in a vehicle. She believes the increased fines will help stop dangerous driving with children in the car.

Cut 15 (08) “tripled”

Davis says she doesn’t expect much opposition to the bill. She says she hopes this bill will raise awareness about how dangerous these bad driving habits are, especially when kids are in the vehicle.

Cut 16  (09)  “the car”

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5th ranked LSU avoided a sweep to Mississippi State by beating the Bulldogs 11-8 on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers scored all of their runs in the three middle innings, after falling behind 3-0. Coach Paul Mainieri is happy his team pulled off the victory after tough losses on Friday and Saturday nights….

Cut 17 (13) “of em”

Russell Reynolds was the winning pitcher. He entered in the third inning for the starter John Valek and Reynolds went on to pitch 2.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Mainieri says Reynolds did a good job of holding the Bulldogs down, until the Tigers got the bats going…

Cut 18 (11) “key innings”

Jake Fraley was one of LSU’s hitting stars as he collected three hits on the afternoon. Fraley says it was a big win for the Tigers…

Cut 19 (09) “it into Tulane”

 

04.22.16
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16:45 LRN Sportscast April 22nd

A big Southeastern Conference baseball series begins tonight at Alex Box Stadium as LSU hosts Mississippi State. The Tigers and Bulldogs are chasing Texas A&M for first place in the SEC West. LSU is one game back, while State is two games back of the Aggies. Coach Paul Mainieri says it makes sense that a lot is on the line this weekend at the Box…
cut 18 (19) “…part of the country”
Good pitching match-up for tonight’s game. Jared Poche goes for LSU, while State counters with Dakota Hudson, one of the top draft prospects in this summer’s Major League Baseball draft. First pitch is at 7 PM.

The 20th ranked Ragin Cajuns begin a Sun Belt series tonight against Texas State at the Tigue. UL Lafayette is in second place in the Sun Belt as they’ve won 13 of its last 16. The Bobcats are in fourth place in the conference and have lost five straight.

Elsewhere…ULM is at Arkansas State. The Warhawks have lost four of their last six, but took a series from Georgia State last weekend.

Louisiana Tech begins a weekend series against Old Dominion tonight. The Bulldogs are tied for fourth in Conference USA as they are 8-7 in league play. The Monarchs are 7-8.

And there’s a big Southland series in Hammond as Southeastern Louisiana hosts McNeese State. The Lions lead the league with a 13-2 conference record, while the Cowboys are 12-6. There’s an outstanding pitching match-up in game one as Kyle Cedotal starts for SLU. McNeese counters with Kaleb Fontenot. Both have an ERA below 2.

04.22.16
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LRN Newscast 15:30 April 22nd

There are more layoffs coming to the oil and gas industry. Gulf Island LLC based in Houma and Carbo Ceramics in New Iberia plan to lay off nearly 300 workers in June. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says there is some opportunity for those laid off to find other work, but not enough for everyone…:
CUT 7 (09) “and Lafayette”
Scott says it’s likely going to get worse before it gets better.

The Humane Society of Louisiana has begun holding seminars for law enforcement so they can better handle animal abuse cases. Jeff Dorson says there are new developments in forensic pathology that can help determine what happened to animals that are abused…
cut 11 (10) “….in need”
Dorson says social media has led to an increase in animal abuse cases.

A report from the National Center for Health Statistics finds the suicide rates in the US has increased by 24-percent from 1999-2014. The release of the report comes on the heels of two students at Mandeville High School who committed suicide within 24 hours of each other. Doctor Michelle Moore, with LSU Health New Orleans, says parents need to monitor what kids are posting on social media…
cut 13 (10) “…like this”
Moore says there’s no specific reason why the national suicide rate is increasing.

Shreveport police have arrested a 35-year-old man who is accused of fatally shooting a 55-year-old woman and a injuring a 25-year-old man during a drive-by shooting. Gina Foster was pronounced dead at the scene. Carlos Franklin surrendered to authorities and faces murder and attempted murder charges.

04.22.16
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LRN PM Newscall April 22nd

A campaign begins today in Louisiana that aims to get more pickup truck drivers to wear their seat belts. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Don Molino”

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A new report by the National Center for Health Statistics shows the suicide rate is up 24-percent from 1999 to 2014 and experts say Louisiana is being affected too. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Buckle Up in Your Truck campaign begins today in Louisiana. Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, John Leblanc says drivers of pickup trucks use their seat belts less often than drivers of other vehicles. He says this campaign is important to get more truck drivers to wear their seat belts, because it could save their lives.

CUT 3 (10)  “trucks there”

Leblanc says 8 people have been killed in pickup truck accidents in the state since March. He says 25% of the registered vehicles in Louisiana are pickup trucks, and wearing a seat belt in these vehicles reduces the chance of fatality in an accident.

CUT 4 (07)  “a crash”

Leblanc says the goal of the campaign is voluntary compliance, but unfortunately they have seen an increase in truck drivers not buckling up for the past three years. He says wearing a seat belt is especially important in a pickup because those vehicles are taller than others.

CUT 5 (10)  “a window”

The campaign runs through April 28.

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There is more bad news when it comes to job loss in the oil and gas sector. LSU economist Loren Scott says the low gas prices we’ve seen since August of 2014 have really hammered the industry. He says major companies are cutting back their drilling budget dramatically.

CUT 6 (10) “like this”

Gulf Island LLC based in Houma and Carbo Ceramics in New Iberia plan to lay off nearly 300 workers in June. Scott says there is some opportunity for those laid off to find other work but not enough for everyone who lost their job.

CUT 7 (09) “and Lafayette”

40 to 50 jobs employees of Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co. in the Gulf of Mexico will also be laid off. Scott says the state is losing jobs at the rate of about 21-thousand a year. And he says a lot of big companies are planning to stop drilling in the Gulf.

CUT 8 (08) “very heavily”

 

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The Humane Society of Louisiana is holding seminars for law enforcement throughout the state to address animal cruelty. The first seminar was held yesterday in New Iberia, and Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, says they hope to help law enforcement be better prepared for handling cases of animal cruelty.

CUT 9 (10) “being mistreated”

Dorson says social media is helping them prosecute more cases of animal abuse because people are sharing evidence when they see it.

cut 10 (08) “quickly”

Dorson says they are teaching law enforcement officers about changes in the law, advances in technology, and how to handle case of animal abuse. He says there are also new developments in forensic pathology that can help them determine causes of death and what happened to animals that are brought in.

Cut 11 (10) “in need”

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A report by the National Center for Health Statistics finds the suicide rate in the US has increased by 24% from 1999 to 2014.  LSU Health New Orleans Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Michelle Moore says there isn’t a specific reason why the number has gone up….

cut 12 (07) “a roll”

In the past week, two male students at Mandeville High School killed themselves within 48 hours of each other. Moore says it’s important to stop and talk to each other about the way we’re feeling and watch if a loved one is acting different than usual. She says parents really need to monitor what kids are posting on social media.

Cut 13 (10)  “like this”

The report finds the suicide rate of women increased to 45-percent and males increased by 16-percent. Moore says the gap is narrowing between the genders.

cut 14 (08)  “of people”

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04.22.16
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11:40 LRN Sportscast April 22nd

Before tonight’s game against Mississippi State, LSU will retire the jersey of former baseball great Eddy Furniss. The all-american first baseman is the 10th LSU athlete or coach to have his jersey retired. Once the game begins, LSU’s pitchers will look to slow down a Mississippi State offense that has the third highest team batting average in the SEC and Coach Paul Mainieri says the key is to limit traffic on the basepaths.
cut 17 (13) “….certainly helps”
In the SEC West standings, both LSU and Mississippi State trail Texas A&M for first place. The Tigers are one game back, while the Bulldogs are two back.

Elsewhere…UL Lafayette hosts Texas State. The Ragin Cajuns are in second place in the Sun Belt, while the Bobcats are in fourth place. And in the Southland….McNeese is at Southeastern. The Lions are 13-2 in the league and the Cowboys are 12-6 and playing their best baseball of the season.

It’s been reported that wide receiver Robert Meachem will work out for his former team today at the Saints training facility. Meachem didn’t play in the NFL last season and only caught 23 passes in New Orleans during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

As an Orleans Parish grand jury considers the evidence to charge Cardell Hayes in the fatal shooting of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, Hayes’ lawyer wants his client to appear before the panel to answer their questions.

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball has signed a power forward. Omar Sherman is six-foot-eight, 250 pounds and played last season at Paris Junior College, where he averaged nearly 15 points and shot 56-percent from the field. Sherman started his college career at Miami and transferred out after one season.

04.22.16
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10:30 LRN Newscast April 22nd

Governor John Bel Edwards signs an executive order that requires able-bodied adults without children to participate in job training and work assistance programs in order to receive food stamp benefits….:
Cut 15 (09) “federal government”
Starting July first, unemployed able-bodied adults will have to visit one of the 59 Louisiana Workforce Commission Centers in order to retain their food stamps.

Legislative leaders want to end the regular session early, so they could prepare for a special session that Governor Edwards plans to call to address the 750-million dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Senate President John Alario says this would also allow legislators to meet with constituents…:
cut 12 (06) “a discussion”
Governor Edwards has said he wants to hold the next special session before July 1st.

Several anti-abortion bills are making their way through the legislative process in the regular session. Planned Parenthood held a rally on the state Capitol steps demanding that Governor John Bel Edwards veto legislation that would be harmful to women’s health needs…
cut 8 (10) “….of legislation”
A bill that’s waiting for a vote on the House floor would prohibit state funding going to Planned Parenthood.

It’s Earth Day and Louisiana’s First Lady Donna Edwards is encouraging Louisiana residents to get in the habit of recycling. She says it’s easy to start in your home and workplace…
cut 5 (09) “….a habit”
Edwards says plastic bottles, aluminum cans, most paper and even ink cartridges are recyclable.