Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

05.22.15
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LRN PM Newscall May 22nd

For the 6th Memorial Day weekend, Bayou Country Superfest brings it’s huge stage to Tiger Stadium. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent was shot while on patrol in Ouachita Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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Memorial Day Weekend in Baton Rouge will see Tiger Stadium hosting Bayou Country Superfest for the 6th year with huge stars including Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, all on the heels of tonight’s Taylor Swift show. Producer Quint Davis says one of the greatest things about this festival is that it’s held on the LSU campus…

CUT 3 (09)  “inside the stadium”

Davis reminds concert goers that Saturday and Sunday from noon to four, a huge free fan fest takes place outside the stadium…

CUT 4 (06)  “sign their shirts”

Davis says the stage is built, the field is covered and the chairs are down. He says Bayou Country Superfest in “Death Valley” is a gathering like no other…

CUT 5 (09)  “Blake and Miranda”

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A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agent is hospitalized after he was shot while in the line of duty. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says 32-year-old Sergeant Scott Bullitt of Jonesboro was shot in the back while performing a traffic stop on the Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area in Ouachita Parish…

CUT 6 (10)  “recoverable from”

Einck says Sergeant Bullitt has been an LDWF agent for over five years and he’s married with no kids…

CUT 7 (10) “and waterways”

The man who allegedly shot Sergeant Bullitt has been identified as 29-year-old Luke Jarrod Hust. He fled into the woods after the shooting, but was arrested by authorities several hours later. Einck says Hust has been in and out of jail over the last 10 years and decided to shoot Bullitt during the traffic stop…

(Hust has been charged with two counts of attempted 1st-degree murder.)

CUT 8 (07)  “lower back”

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Fourth district Congressman John Fleming is upset the Environmental Protection Agency has delayed the disposal of 15-million pounds of M6 propellant stored at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. Fleming says a contract has yet to be signed to begin the disposal, because the EPA wants an additional eight million dollars from Louisiana to cover oversight costs…

CUT 9 (09)  “level of expense”

Tthe EPA says additional dollars are needed because of updated cost estimates. But Fleming says the EPA has not provided any documentation on why

cut 10 (06) “that’s it”

Fleming calls the EPA’s last minute demand extortion from an agency whose budget is eight-billion dollars. The congressman from northwest Louisiana says he’ll work to get contractors on the ground soon to begin the work of removing these dangerous materials

cut 11 (10)  “stuff done”

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Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi says DNA has confirmed that a 30-year-old teacher in Plaquemine fathered a 15-year-old student’s child. Keavin Keith was arrested earlier this week, after he was accused of having a sexual relationship with three students. Stassi says no new additional charges will occur as a result of this latest development…

cut 12 (09)  “this time”

Stassi says they ordered DNA tests after one of the alleged victims told detectives she had a sexual relationship with Keith that produced a son…

cut 13 (07)  “year old”

Keith was released from jail on a 100-thousand dollar bond. Stassi says they continue to investigate, but at this time, there’s only three victims in this case…

cut 14 (08) “no sir”

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Houma Police say a 36-year-old woman accused of dumping a pot of boiling grease on her sleeping ex-boyfriend turned herself into authorities this morning. Police chief Todd Duplantis says investigators originally thought it was just boiling water that burned the 33-year-old victim

cut 15 (09) “the bed”

The victim suffered severe burns to his torso, right arm and face and was sent to a burn center in Baton Rouge. Duplantis Lynette Joseph faces a charge of second-degree battery…

cut 16 (11) “or both”

05.22.15
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11:40 LRN Sportscast May 22nd

LSU’s bullpen came through again last night as the Fighting Tigers topped Arkansas 10 to 5 to advance to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Russell Reynolds was the winning pitcher as he threw 3.1 innings of shutout baseball. Jesse Stallings, Hunter Newman and Zac Person also pitched scorless innings of relief. LSU needed to lean on the pen again last night, because starting pitcher Austin Bain was pulled in the second inning after giving up four runs. The Tigers will play again tomorrow against the winner of tonight’s game between Florida and Arkansas.

In the Sun Belt Tournament…U-L Lafayette takes on Texas-Arlington in an elimination game. In two games in the tournament, the Cajuns have scored 19 runs.

And the UL Lafayette softball team begins its best out of three super regional series against Auburn this afternoon. The Lady Cajuns are two wins away from their seventh appearance in the Women’s College World Series.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has confirmed that his assistant, Alvin Gentry, has interviewed with the Pelicans about their head coaching vacancy. Gentry has been a head coach before, most recently in Phoenix, where he went 158-144 in five seasons.

The Saints announce they’ve signed first round pick Andrus Peat to a four-year contract. The offensive tackle was selected with the 13th overall pick out of Stanford. Peat was named a first-team All-American by several news organizations last season and was an Outland Trophy semifinalist.

Also in the NFL…former Saints first round pick Reggie Bush, says he would like to return punts again this season. Bush recently signed with the San Francisco 49ers and hasn’t returned punts regularly since his final season in New Orleans in 2010.

Louisiana Tech announces changes to its 2016 non-conference football schedule as they drop Mississippi State and Texas A-and-M and add Texas Tech and UMASS.

05.21.15
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LRN Newscast 17:30 May 21

On a 65-37 vote, the state House approved a 24-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year, sending the spending plan to the senate. House Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin says the budget process started with a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall, but they covered much of that gap, by passing revenue generating bills, recognizing additional dollars thanks to an improved revenue forecast and other financing…
cut 14 (10) “…MFP”
As it stands now, the budget reduces funding for LSU’s medical schools in New Orleans and Shreveport and the state’s public-private hospital partnerships are also underfunded. Fannin says some agencies will also face cuts…
cut 15 (08) “…highest priority”
The Senate Finance Committee will take up the budget next week.

Governor Bobby Jindal’s religious freedom executive order is receiving strong criticism from democrats. The leader of the state democratic party, New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson, says she can’t believe Jindal would issue the order, when businesses and the tourism industry expressed concern the measure could alienate visitors or keep conventions away…:
CUT 10 (08) “we represent”
Jindal’s controversial order prevents the executive branch of state government from taking adverse action against a person or a business for their belief in traditional marriage. The governor says it re-affirms our first amendment rights….
cut 12 (09) “….without discrimination”
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu signed his own executive order in response. The mayor says his executive order lets the nation know New Orleans is an accepting, invititing city that thrives on its diversity.

05.21.15
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 May 21

The LSU baseball team goes after its ninth straight SEC Tournament victory tonight as they face Arkansas. The Tigers had to rally back from two five-run deficits to beat Auburn nine to eight alst night. Austin Bain will start for LSU tonight, hopefully he’ll have a better outing than last night’s starter. Jared Poche lasted just one inning as he gave up five runs. First pitch is expected around eight P-M.

In the Sun Belt…the Ragin Cajuns staved off elimination with a 12-8 win over Troy. U-L Lafayette scored six times in the second inning. Greg Davis blasted a two-run homer and Stefan Trosclair of Sulphur had a three run shot. They’ll play again tomorrow at 6:30 PM.

In the Southland Tournament…Northwestern State eliminated Nicholls State four to three. The Demons scored all of their runs in the 5th inning. Southeastern Louisiana eliminated McNeese State 3-2 in 12 innings. The Lions scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout.

The Saints announce they’ve signed first round pick Andrus Peat to a four-year contract. The offensive tackle was selected with the 13th overall pick out of Stanford. Peat was named a first-team All-American by several news organizations last season.

Louisiana Tech announces changes to its 2016 non conference schedule as they drop Mississippi State and Texas A-and-M and add Texas Tech and UMASS. UMASS will make a return trip to Ruston in 2019. The Bulldogs will round out the 2016 nonconference schedule with an FCS Opponent.

Grambling State has released its 2015 schedule. The Tigers open the season with a game at Cal on September 5th. G-S-U will play four games on campus versus Bethune Cookman, Alabama A-and-M, Mississippi Valley State and Texas Southern.

The Pelicans Anthony Davis has been named to the All-NBA first team. And the Pels have announced that Tyreke Evans has undergone successful arthroscopic sugery on his right knee.

05.21.15
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11:40 LRN Sportscast May 21

The number one ranked LSU baseball team overcame a rough start by left-hander pitcher Jared Poche and two five-run deficits to beat Auburn 9 to 8 last night in the SEC Tournament. The Tigers offense put together a six-run fifth to grab a one-run lead, which held for the rest of the game. It’s LSU’s eighth straight SEC Tournament victory and they’ll go at it again tonight against Arkansas.

While LSU had a thrilling victory last night, the Ragin Cajuns suffered a heart breaking loss in the Sun Belt Tournament. UL Lafayette blew a three-run lead in the ninth and lost to Texas State 8-7. There were two big errors that sparked the Bobcat rally. The Cajuns will need to beat Troy today to keep their season alive.

In the Southland….all four teams from Louisiana are in the losers bracket, including top-seeded Southeastern Louisiana. Tulane topped UCONN three to one in the American Athletic Conference yesterday and the Green Wave will face East Carolina at 6 PM tonight.

New Orleans has been invited by the NFL to bid to host the 2019 and 2020 Super Bowls. Eric Gill reports…
cut 2 (29) “…reporting”

According to the Monroe News Star…Louisiana Tech has dropped Mississippi State and Texas A-and-M from its 2016 football schedule and instead the Bulldogs will play Texas Tech and UMASS.

The Pelicans Anthony Davis has been named to the All-NBA first team. It’s the first time in his three-year career that he’s received that honor.

05.20.15
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LRN PM Newscall May 20

A Senate bill that will likely result in future TOPS students having to pay a portion of their tuition clears the House Education Committee despite Governor Jindal’s opposition. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announces results of a study which shows the Deepwater Horizon oil spill contributed to a high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

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Legislation that looks to reduce the penalties for those convicted multiple times of marijuana possession makes progress in the state legislature. A Senate committee has approved New Orleans Senator JP Morrell’s bill that would change a second-offense from a felony to a misdemeanor charge. He says third or four offenses would still be felonies, but with lower maximum sentences than current law…

CUT 3 (06)  “20 times higher”

The House has also approved its own legislation that will reduces penalties for multiple marijuana offenders. But Morrell’s measure also allows an offender to have their record expunged, if they are not convicted for another marijuana violation within two years of their first offense

CUT 4 (10)  “first offense only”

Morrell says his measure will save the state 16-million dollars over five years, because fewer people will be locked up. He says district attorneys and sheriffs support his legislation, because there’s still significant penalties for those convicted three or more times…

CUT 5 (05)  “more sense”

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A Senate bill that will likely result in future TOPS students having to pay a portion of their tuition clears the House Education Committee. The governor’s office opposes Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue’s legislation. Stafford Palmieri, Jindal’s Assistant Chief of Staff, says Louisiana has made the promise that TOPS students will have their tuition fully paid…

CUT 6 (09)  “tuition increase”

Under Donahue’s bill, the TOPS award will match 2016-17 tuition levels but the award will not automatically go up when tuition rises. Donahue says TOPS is unsustainable in its current form and this baseline will ensure its survival…

CUT 7 (06) “their kids after”

The measure will now be debated on the House floor. Palmieri admits that the cost of the TOPS program has increased every year since 2008, but says this is a good investment in the state’s higher education system…

CUT 8 (10)  “finishing college”

Donahue says controls need to be put in place to regulate the costs of TOPS so the program can endure for future generations of students. He doesn’t think passage of this bill will damage the program…

CUT 9 (11)  “to do that”

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announces results of a study which shows the Deepwater Horizon oil spill contributed to a high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Kathleen Colegrove is the study’s lead veterinary pathologist…:

cut 10 (10) “other areas”

Colegrove says one in three dolphins found dead in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama had a thin adrenal gland cortex which leads to adrenal insufficiency. She says when just looking at dolphins from Barataria Bay, one of the most heavily oiled coastal areas, half of them had the otherwise rare adrenal lesion…:

cut 11 (08)  “this lesion”

NOAA says these studies point to the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons as being the most significant cause of the illnesses and deaths plaguing the Gulf’s dolphin population. Colegrove says dolphins dying after the spill had distinct problems not present in stranded dophins from areas outside the northern Gulf. She says another problem they found in the spill areas in stranded dolphins was lung disease…:

cut 12 (06)  “the US”

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The Louisiana Black Bear population has reached a point in its recovery that the federal government recommends the removal of the animal from the threatened species list.  Governor Bobby Jindal says it took over 20-years of collaborative research and recovery efforts to get to this point….

cut 13 (11)  “key habitats”

Jindal says the state has spent more than 900-thousand dollars to help restoration of the black bear population. Deputy Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Steve Guertin, is glad efforts to save the iconic “Teddy Bear” have paid off…

cut 14 (10) “state of Louisiana”

It will likely take a year before the bear is delisted, as federal officials must gather public input on the recommendation. Once that process is completed, it could open the door for regulated hunting of the black bear. But state department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says that’s not happening anytime soon…

cut 15 (11) “rifle”

05.20.15
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU will take on Auburn this afternoon at 4:30 PM at the SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. LSU has won the last two SEC Tournaments and with Paul Mainieri as the head coach, the Tigers won the SEC Tourney from 2008 through 2011. The coach says they go into this tournament with very little pressure on them, since they know they’ll be a part of the NCAA Tournament….
cut 17 (12) “…LSU”
Jared Poche will start on the mound for the Tigers today. He’s 7-and-1 with a 3.18 ERA.

At 4:00 today, UL Lafayette faces Texas State in the Sun Belt Tournament. The Cajuns will need to win this tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament.

Southeastern Louisiana is the top seed in the Southland tournament. The Lions will take on Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi at 4 PM.

Pelican fans who are hoping for former Oklahoma City Coach Scott Brooks to replace Monty Williams can quit hoping. According to a Yahoo report, Brooks is passing on interviews with the Pelicans and Nuggets and he’s leaning towards not coaching next season.

Next season in the NFL, the extra point will start from the 15-yard line, instead of the two-yard line. That’s the result of a vote by the NFL owners, who are looking to make the extra point a little more exciting. They are also giving the defense the opportunity to return a blocked extra point for two points. Two-point conversions will take place from the two-yard line.

And speaking of kicking, the Saints have released veteran kicker Shayne Graham. Graham was 19 of 22 on field goals last season, including a long of 50 yards. New Orleans has two other kickers on the roster, Zach Hocker who they signed after a tryout last weekend and Dustin Hopkins. Wide receiver Lance Lewis takes Graham’s spot on the roster. He spent last season on the 49ers practice squad.

05.20.15
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07:30 LRN Newscast

A survey from the LSU Public Policy Research Lab finds only 25-percent of the respondents are following news about the 2015 governor’s race. The lab’s director, Michael Henderson, says that should change as we move into late summer, and as it stands now, the four major candidates do have favorable ratings….
cut 9 (06) “….going forward”
The gubernatorial primary is set for October 24th.

After watching a House committee fail to approve legislation referred to as a religious liberty bill, Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order to enact the law, but on a smaller scale, only impacting the executive branch. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s not a surprise lawmakers didn’t pass the religious objections law…
cut 12 (10) “….he likes”
Opponents of the legislation that failed say the bill promotes discrimination against L-G-B-T couples.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries makes a big announcement today involving Louisiana’s Black Bear. Eric Gill reports…
cut 1 (29) “…reporting”

The full House approves legislation that would allow schools to teach gun safety to elementary school students. Baton Rouge Representative Blake Miguez says firearm accident prevention and safety is something kids should learn at a young age…
cut 13 (06) “….fire safety”
The measure heads to the senate for more discussion.

05.20.15
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LRN 06:45 Sportscast

The LSU baseball team begins play this afternoon at 4:30 in the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. Coach Paul Mainieri says this week will get them ready for the NCAA Tournament…
cut 16 (20) “…all of em”
LSU has won the last two SEC Tournaments and the Tigers will take on Auburn at 4:30 this afternoon.

In the Sun Belt tournament….third-seeded U-L Lafayette will battle sixth seeded Texas State. The Southland Tournament gets underway at nine a-am this morning as third seeded Nicholls State faces sixth seeded Central Arkansas. Following that game it’s Northwestern State against Houston Baptist.

NFL Owners have voted to move the extra point to the 15-yard line, while two-point conversions will continue to remain at the two-yard line. Also, if the defense blocks the kick or if there’s a turnover on a two-point try, the defense can return it to the other end zone for two points.

Today at the NFL owners meeting, New Orleans will find out if they’ll be allowed to bid for a Super Bowl in either 2019 or 2020. Atlanta, South Florida and Tampa are also expected to receive bids.

Return specialists Michael Lewis and Tyrone Hughes have been elected to the Saints Hall of Fame. Hughes played his high school football at St. Aug, while Lewis graduated from Grace King in Metairie. Each player had one all-pro season as a kick returner in the NFL.

Kentucky Coach John Calipari says he has no interest in the New Orleans Pelicans head coaching job or any other job. Calipari has been linked to the vacancy in New Orleans, because he coached Pelican players Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans when they were in college.

05.20.15
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06:30 LRN Newscast for Wednesday May 20

Governor Bobby Jindal issues an executive order that aims to have the same effect as a so called “religious freedom” bill that failed to pass out of a House committee. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says there is irony in this move…
cut 10 (11) “…Louisiana”
Jindal’s order is only limited to the executive branch of state government.

There’s a big press conference at the governor’s mansion today where officials are expected to announce the Louisiana Black Bear is coming off the protected species list. State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says the resurgence in the black bear population is a tribute to the biologists within the department…
cut 5 (07) “….to come”

A poll from the LSU Public Policy Research Lab finds that most voters are not paying much attention to this year’s governor’s race. The lab’s director, Doctor Michael Henderson, says only a third of older voters are even engaged at this point, but that will change come late summer-early fall…
cut 8 (08) “…that point”
The gubernatorial primary is set for October 24th.

A former Baton Rouge teacher Ashley Dowden has been sentenced to seven years probation for having sex with two male students. Dowden must also register as a sex offender. The 43-year-old admitted to having sex with two teenage boys as part of her plea deal.