Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

02.18.15
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LRN Newscast 17:30 February 18

Over 184-thousand Louisiana residents enrolled for health insurance through the federal marketplace that was set up by the Affordable Care Act. The open enrollment deadline was Sunday. Marketplace director Kevin Counihan hopes open enrollment next year will be bigger and better than it was this year…
cut 9 (09) “…certainly does”

Crawfish processors say new federal guidelines regarding guest worker wages could cause a big hike in the price of the mudbugs. Louisiana’s crawfish industry depends heavily on legal foreign workers to perform jobs they can’t fill locally. Lafayette restaurant owner and crawfish processor Frank Randol says the federal government mandates those workers now be paid $12.35 an hour…:
CUT 3 (08) “wholesale level”

The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office says a Bernice woman is under arrest after leaving her eight-month old son on a relative’s doorstep. Sheriff Dusty Gates says they received a call from the child’s father reporting that the baby was left outside a relative’s residence in Bernice…:
CUT 12 (12) “30 degrees”
The infant’s mother, 23-year-old Keondra Ferguson, is charged with criminal child abandonment.

A hard freeze warning is in effect for northern Tangipahoa, St. Helena St. Tammany and Washington parishes for midnight tonight until eight o’ clock tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service says temperatures could drop into the mid-20s in this part of the state. We could see low temps fall into the low 20s in northeast Louisiana.

02.18.15
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 February 18

Tonight at Alex Box Stadium, LSU will host Nicholls State. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri used three different line-ups during the weekend sweep of Kansas and the head coach plans to continue shuffling players in and out of the line-up to find out who he can count on…
cut 18 (10) “…right guys”
After tonight, LSU will host Boston College. Because of the likliehood of rainy weather on Sunday, the two teams have decided to play a split doubleheader on Friday, with game one at two o’ clock and game two at seven o’ clock. They’ll wrap up the series on Saturday with a three o’ clock game.

Louisiana Tech won its first game of the season today and it was the first win for new head coach Greg Goff as the Bulldogs crushed McNeese State 12-to-2. Byrce Stark hit a grand slam for Tech, while Phil Maton allowed one run over seven innings for the win. It was the first loss of the season for McNeese State.

The Pelicans announced today that guard Jrue Holiday will be out at least another three weeks after re-aggravating the stress reaction in his lower right leg. Holiday has missed the last 16 games with the injury. In 37 games. Holiday has averaged 15 points and seven assists a contest. New Orleans is at Orlando on Friday night and they hope to have Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson back from injuries.

Baton Rouge based Marucci BodiTrak has developed what they call a smart fabric to help diagnose head injuries to football players during games. President Curtis Cruz says when an impact or collection of impacts registers hard enough into the fabric, a team official will automatically be notified via a mobile device…
cut 15 (07) “this level”
Cruz says they’ll try this technology out during LSU spring football and there will be pilot programs with several youth football organizations in the fall.

02.18.15
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

The fourth ranked LSU baseball team plays its first mid-week game of the season tonight as the Tigers host Nicholls State. Freshman right-hander Doug Norman will start on the mound for LSU, while the Colonels counter with a senior. Chalmette’s Ryan Deemes starts tonight after making a dozen starts last season. LSU Coach Paul Mainieri says tonight’s game should be a good challenge for his team…
cut 17 (19) “….or form”
First pitch is at 6:30. In other college baseball action today, Louisiana Tech wraps up a mid-week series at McNeese State. The Cowboys are undefeated, while the Bulldogs are winless. U-L Lafayette is at Northwestern State and Southeastern Lousisiana hosts Tulane, the Lions beat Jackson State 19-10 last night.

The LSU men’s basketball team had an eight point lead with 12 minutes left, but couldn’t hold on as Texas A-and-M rallied to beat the Tigers 68-62. LSU missed its last seven shots as the Tigers fell to seven and six in conference play.

A Baton Rouge company has developed what they call a smart fabric to help diagnose head injuries to football players during games. Michelle Southern reports….
voicer 4 (32) “…reporting”

02.17.15
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LRN Newscast 17:30 Feb 17

Folks in Louisiana have enjoyed Fat Tuesday festivities, despite some cold temperatures. At the Courir de Mardi Gras in Mamou, Mayor Ricky Fontentot says the riders and runners were out in their costumes and ready to roll through the countryside as they do every year…
cut 6 (10) “…enjoying themselves”

A report by the Schott Foundation for Public Education shows the black male high school graduation rates in Louisiana trails whites’ by 16 points. For the 2012-13 school year, only 53-percent of black male students graduated compared to 69-percent of white males. Foundation President John Jackson says these numbers are reason for concern…:
CUT 13 (12) “to succeed”
He says the results of this study indicate a climate that doesn’t foster health living and learning environments for black males.

State Police say a third person has died from Monday’s truck versus train collision in DeSoto Parish. Trooper Matt Harris says the driver and the two passengers in the truck were the ones killed in the wreck. Harris says truck attempted to cross over a set of tracks that didn’t have a warning gate or lights…
cut 9 (09) “…proceed forward”
Harris says they believe the driver stopped, but began moving forward when it was already too late and they were hit.

Union Parish authorities have arrested a 23-year-old mother who allegedly left her eight-month-old son on his grandfather’s droopstep wrapped in a blanket and in a car seat. Detectives say Keondra Kenshun Ferguson left the child there, because she was depressed and there was no one to help her. Deputies believe the child was outside in mid-30 temperatures for an hour and a half. Ferguson was charged with child abandonment and the father is now taking care of the baby.

02.17.15
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LRN sportscast 16:45 February 17

The LSU men’s basketball team looks for its second straight win on the road when they visit Texas A-and-M tonight. The Tigers are coming off an 18-point win over Tennessee in Knoxville. LSU’s Jarell Martin says the team’s confidence is high…
cut 18 (14) “….end of the year”
Martin enters the game averaging nearly 16 points and nine rebounds a game. Tip-off is at eight o’ clock.

The top high school football prospect in the state announced today that he plans on playing his college football at Ole Miss. Quarterback Shea Patterson, who has led Calvary Baptist to two straight championships, chose the Rebels over LSU and USC. Patterson has thrown for over five-thousand yards and 72 touchdowns during his career at Calvary.

ULM Football Coach Todd Berry announced today that Travis Niekamp and Adam Waugh will serve as the Warhawks co-defensive coordinators in 2015. Niekamp has been with ULM the last three seasons, coaching linebackers and special teams. Waugh is entering his sixth season and he’s been the program’s safeties coach.

The Daily Advertiser reports that Melvin Smith will be the new defensive coordinator for U-L Lafayette. Smith was at Auburn last season and coached the Tigers cornerbacks.

In Lake Charles today…McNeese State improved to 4-0 on the season, while Louisiana Tech fell to 0-4 as the Cowboys doubled up the Bulldogs four to two. The same two teams will play tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM.

Also tomorrow…LSU will host Nicholls State, and the Cajuns are at Northwestern State. Game time has been moved up to 4 PM, because of expected cold temperatures in Natchitoches.

02.17.15
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LRN Sportscast 11:40 Feb 17

The LSU men’s basketball team is at Texas A-and-M tonight and the Tigers have played well on the road. They are 4-2 in league games away from the PMAC and 6-2 in true road games overall. Sophomore guard Tim Quarterman says they have the mindset they can win on any team’s floor….
cut 17 (14) “….get the win”
The Tigers are coming off an 18 point victory over Tennessee on the Volunteers home floor.

In college basketball action last night….Zeek Woodley had 36 points as the Northwestern State beat Central Arkansas 86-70. Woodley was 12 of 16 from the floor and hit 10 of his 11 free throws. And McNeese State snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Southeastern Louisiana 74-69.

LSU pitcher Alex Lange has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week. Lange threw five scoreless innings against Kansas on Saturday afternoon. He also struck out seven, while allowing just two hits and a walk. The Tigers host Nicholls State on Wednesday.

The Colonels were scheduled to host Southern tonight. But because of the cold conditions that game has been postponed until May fifth.

Louisiana Tech looks for its first win of the season this afternoon when the Bulldogs visit McNeese State. It’s the start of a two game series between the two teams. The Cowboys started their season by sweeping Arkansas Pine Bluff.

And Southeastern Louisiana looks to improve to 4-and-0 when they visit Jackson State at four o’ clock today. Through three games this season, the Lions pitching staff has a team ERA of 1.67.

And tomorrow’s U-L Lafayette and Northwestern State baseball game has been moved up to four P-M, because of cold temperatures.

02.16.15
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 February 16

LSU right-hander Alex Lange has been named SEC freshman pitcher of the week. The Missouri native threw five shutout innings on Saturday, allowing just two hits and striking out seven in a Tigers victory over Kansas.

In high school football news…Calvary Baptist quarterback Shea Patterson will announce his verbal committment tomorrow. Patterson is considered one of the best high school quarterbacks in the country as he heads into his senior season. He’s reportedly considering LSU, Ole Miss and USC. He’s led the Cavaliers to state championships the last two years.

The girls high school basketball playoff brackets came out today. Here are your number one seeds in the seven classes, starting with Class C and heading on up. Summerfield, Florien, North Central, Pickering, U-High, Warren Easton and Ponchatoula. The state championship games will once again be played in Lake Charles during the first week of March.

The LSU men’s basketball team leaves today for College Station, where they’ll play Texas A-and-M tomorrow night. The Tigers 18-and-7 overall. The braketologists have LSU in the NCAA Tournament, but sophomore forward Jarell Martin says he’s not paying attention to what the so-called experts are saying…
cut 30 (10) “…for me”
LSU is listed anywhere from a nine seed to a 11-seed based on the various projections for the Field of 68.

In college basketball action tonight…Northwestern State hosts Central Arkansas, Southeastern Louisiana looks for its fourth straight win as they visit McNeese State. In the SWAC…Grambling hosts Prairie View and Southern is at Mississippi Valley State.

And with ULM’s win on Saturday over Appalachian State, the Warhawks have clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

02.16.15
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11:40 LRN Sportscast Feb 16

In last night’s NBA All-Star game, former Louisiana Tech standout Paul Millsap played 16 minutes and scored five points and had six rebounds for the Eastern Conference All-Stars. The West ended up beating the East 163-158.

The LSU men’s basketball team leaves today for College Station, where the Tigers will play Texas A-and-M tomorrow night. The Tigers helped out their NCAA Tournament resume with a convincing 73-55 win over Tennessee on Saturday. Several of the bracketologist still have LSU in their field of 68.

LSU is still ranked number two in the country by Baseball America after sweeping Kansas this past weekend. The Tigers are up to number six in Perfect Game’s rankings and held steady in D-1 Baseball’s ranking as they are at number nine. LSU hosts Nicholls State on Wednesday. The Colonels started their season by taking two of three from Stony Brook.

Today begins the two-week window in the NFL for teams to place the franchise tag on a free-agent player on their roster. It’s not expected the Saints will use the franchise tag, even for running back Mark Ingram, who would make about 11-million dollars in 2015 if the Saints placed the franchise tag on him.

In college baseball….The Ragin Cajuns lost two of three to Texas San Antonio this past weekend. The Roadrunners won 11-5 yesterday, even though had just seven hits. That’s because U-L-L pitchers walked eight hiters. The Cajuns are at Northwestern State on Wednesday. The Demons lost three of four in an opening weekend series against Troy.

Tonight in college hoops….Northwestern State hosts Central Arkansas. The Demons have won five of their last six. McNeese State hosts Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions have won three in a row and Grambling hosts Prairie View A-and-M.

02.15.15
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AM LRN Newscall Feb 16

####Cuts 16 and 17 removed from earlier version of newscall, because of change in forecast.###

A new Facebook option allows users to designate a friend or family member to oversee their account upon their death. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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State health officials say the flu bug is starting to slow down. Scott Carwile has the story…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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CC’s and Raising Cane’s, two prominent Louisiana-born businesses, made the 2014 Top 10 Excellent Fast-Food Chains list. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (29) “reporting”

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A new Facebook option allows users to designate a friend or family member to oversee their account upon their death. Facebook’s Legacy Contact feature lets users choose someone to manage their account after they die. Jensen Moore, with LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication says she can’t believe it’s taken them this long to come up with this policy…

cut 4  (08)  “deal with it”

If you don’t want your Facebook page to continue on, you can opt for it to be deleted upon your death. Moore says this Legacy Contact feature can alleviate a lot potential conflict…

Cut 5  (08)  “last few years”

You can set your Legacy Contact in the Security Settings page on your Facebook account. Moore says you may want to go through your Facebook pics because those photos will become an eternal remembrance of you. Moore says there are limitations on what your Legacy Contact can do to your page after you die…

Cut 6 (08)  “delete the account”

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It appears the peak of the flu season is behind us, but health officials say we can’t let our guard down. Doctor Frank Welch, with the state department of health and hospitals, says during the height of the flu season, about eight out of every 100 doctor or hospital visit was for the flu, now that ratio is down to five out of every 100

CUT 7 (07)  “going on”

Welch says it’s still not too late to get a flu shot and also practice proper hygiene…

Cut 8  (09)  “someone else” 

Welch estimates over 500-thousand Louisiana residents were hit with the flu bug during this influenza season. He says the elderly have been hit especially hard by the flu….

Cut 9 (10)  “worse”

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CC’s and Raising Cane’s, two prominent Louisiana-born businesses, made the 2014 Top 10 Excellent Fast-Food Chains list. The California based research firm Sandelman & Associates ranked Raising Cane’s number four and CC’s Coffee House number six in the Quick-Track Awards of Excellence for quick service chains. Celton Hayden is the President of CC’s…:

Cut 10 (10) “in everything we do”

The study asked customers during their most recent visit to quick service chains to rate overall satisfaction on a 5 point scale. Other categories included taste of food, quality of ingredients, variety of menu items and speed of service. Hayden says they know they have the best coffee and the best food, but keeping the brand’s promise is the most important thing…:

cut 11 (06) “than that”

Hayden says they train their employees to be real and passionate about the business. He also says operational excellence has always been their goal and in the 20 years they’ve been in business the bar has continually been set higher and higher…:

cut 12 (09)  “every day”

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The Bossier Sheriff’s Office is trying to figure out who is creating elaborate websites for schools purporting to be in the parish — but that actually don’t exist. Lt. Bill Davis says there are three websites with pictures of people, biographies of principals and teachers, enrollment information for schools listing Bossier City addresses..:

Cut 13 (07)  “exists”

Davis says they want to find out who is behind these fake school sites to be sure that nothing illegal is going on. He says they are working with the Louisiana Department of Education to see if the people behind the sites are trying to defraud the federal government or the state via grant dollars…:

Cut 14 (07) “to the school”

According to its website, Hudson Heights Laboratory Magnet High School is located on Sawgrass Parkway in Bossier City — but there is no such school. Davis says they also found fake websites for East Lockwood New Tech High School and Walker J Marshall Performing Arts Academy all saying they are in Bossier Parish…:

Cut 15  (08)  “a project”

02.14.15
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LRN Newscast 10:30 February 14

A federal judge his dismissed a lawsuit filed by a New Orleans area levee board that claimed dozens of oil and gas companies should pay damages for destroying Louisiana’s coast. Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown ruled that federal and state laws are not set up so that the levee authority could successfully file a suit against the energy industry.

Louisiana’s Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the mid-year budget cuts handed down by Governor Bobby Jindal are just not fair. He says most of the larger cuts hit departments manged by elected officials…
CUT 11 (07) Q; “other agencies”
The Department of Ag received mid-year cuts equivalent to $2.6 million dollars, while the governor’s office had a ten-thousand dollar cut to its budget. The Jindal administration is defending the way the cuts were handed down.

Law enforcement in southeast Louisiana are looking for an inmate who was able to shed his shackles and run away from Washington Parish deputies early this morning. The escaped prisoner’s name is Kaunda Magee and he was last seen still wearing his handcuffs and a waist chain. He escaped as deputies were transporting him back to the jail after receiving treatment at a hospital for a shoulder injury.

In the fight of underaged use of alcohol and tobacco, the A-T-C is continuing the compliance checks of business to make sure there are no sales made to those aged below legal limits. Commissioner Troy Hebert says all businesses need to be smart about this…
CUT 14 (09) Q: ‘not worth it’
Hebert adds there are 16 and 17 year-old undercover operatives doing random checks throughout Mardi Gras.