Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

02.14.15
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LRN Newscast 09:30 February 14

A federal judge tosses out a lawsuit filed by a levee board that attempted to get over 80 different oil, gas and pipeline companies to pay for damages done to the Louisiana coast. Governor Bobby Jindal opposed the lawsuit. One of his spokespersons called it a frivolous lawsuit by the Southeast Louisiana flood Protection Authority-East.

Open enrollment for purchasing health insurance through the Affordable Care Act ends tomorrow. Although premiums in the marketplace have risen since last year, Kara James, with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, says financial aid is available. She says nine out of ten Louisianians, who selected coverage, were eligible for assistance…
cut 22 (08) “those tax credits”
She says if you have yet to enroll, this would be a good day to take care of that.

The Washington Parish Sheriff’s office has offered a reward of 25-hundred dollars for anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest of Kuanda Magee. He’s a Washington Parish jail inmate, who escaped around 2:30 this morning. He was in prison on an aggravated rape charge. Authorities are searching in and around Franklinton.

During last year’s five-day Mardi Gras holiday, there were 13 deaths on statewide roads, with over half of those involving alcohol. State Police Spokesperson Melissa Matey…
CUT 4 (12) “those impaired driver”
State Police arrested a man from Montegut and charged him with vehicular homicide after he fatally struck a 28-year-old pedestrian on L-A 58 in Terrebonne Parish last night. Authorities 53-year-old Ernie Driskill submitted to a breath test and was found to be over the legal limit.

02.14.15
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LRN Newscast 08:30 Feb 14

A federal judge in New Orleans has thrown out a controversial lawsuit that sought millions of dollars from oil and gas companies to pay for damages done to Louisiana’s wetlands . The lawsuit was filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East and they are expected to appeal.

Two people were found dead yesterday in an apartment building in Alexandria’s garden district and police are treating it as a homicide. The identity of the victims have not been released, but we know it’s a male and female.

The Saint Martin Parish Sheriff’s office arrested a Baton Rouge attorney who is accussed of stealing several items from an elderly client. The U-S Marshals Task Force took 63-year-old Stephen Spring into custody and he faces a charge of theft over five-hundred dollars.

And the search is on for a Washington Parish jail inmate who escaped from custody early this morning. He’s 39-year-old Kaunda Lopaz Magee and he’s previously been charged with aggravated rape.

It’s an absolutely perfect day for Mardi Gras parades. But Gary Chatelain with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says some cold and wet weather is on the way and it will get to north Louisiana first….
cut 20 (09) “…tomorrow night”
High temperatures in the upper 60s tomorrow in south Lousiiana, but mid 50s for north Louisiana and there’s a chance we could see some icy conditions along the I-20 corridor on Monday.

It’s a big weekend for Louisiana’s restaurant industry as Valentine’s night is the second most popular Holiday to eat out. Louisiana Restaurant Association spokesperson Erica Burns says with Valentine’s on Saturday, they expect to have tables full throughout the Mardi Gras weekend…
cut 29 (11) “…of days”
Burns says most upscale restaurants have been booked for at least a couple of weeks.

02.14.15
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LRN Sportscast 07:30

The second ranked LSU baseball team started the season last night with a four to one win over Kansas. Catcher Kade Scivicque blasted a three-run homer and Jared Poche got the win on the mound as he allowed just two hits in six innings of shutout baseball.

In other action, Texas San Antonio topped U-L Lafayette eight to five. Chris Charpentier gave up five runs on five hits and suffered the loss. Indiana State outscored U-L-M 11 to 5. Losing pitcher Brandon Bell allowed eight runs in two innings.

Troy blanked Northwestern State six to nothing, Southeastern Louisiana rallied to beat Louisiana Tech five to four. Kade Granier pitched three scoreless innings in relief to get the win. Daniel Midyett homered for the Lions, while Taylor Love went deep for Tech. Tulane trounced Pepperdine nine to three, Central Arkansas crushed Grambling eight to two, and Stony Brook blanked Nicholls State six to nothing.

LSU announces Tony Ball as the Tigers new wide receivers coach. Ball spent the last nine years as an assistant at Georgia. He started as a running backs coach and spent the last five years coaching wide receivers, including first round pick A-J Green.

And Louisiana Tech announced the hiring of Karl Scott as its safeties coach. Scott served as Southeastern Louisiana’s defensive coordinator last season.

Peyton Manning has reportedly told the Broncos that he is “physically and mentally prepared to play in 2015 season. Now the question is, does Denver want the 38-year-old to play quarterback for them. He’s set to make 19-million dollars this season and that salary become fully guaranteed on March 9th, if he’s still on the Broncos roster.

In college hoops today…LSU is at Tennessee. Louisiana Tech goes after its 20th win of the season as they host Florida International. ULM goes after its sixth win in a row as they host Appalachian State. And Northwestern State is at McNeese State.

02.13.15
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LRN Newscast 17:30 Feb 13

Statewide elected officials claim the mid-year budget cuts to their departments proposed by Governor Bobby Jindal are unfair….
cut 2 (31) “….reporting”

A Shreveport police officer has been arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a female in his office. The victim was at the police station so she can discuss with detectives about harassing phone calls she received. The officer arrested has been identified as 44-year-old James Greene, who has been on the force for 15 years.
The state’s Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner, Troy Hebert, finds its troublesome that there’s been a 13-percent non-compliance rate among businesses in the last couple of weeks when it comes to selling alcohol and tobacco to minors…
cut 12 (11) “….underage”
Hebert says they are using undercover operatives at this time of the year to prevent the selling of alcohol to minors during the Mardi Gras season.

Law enforcement are patrolling throughout the Mardi Gras holiday to discourage impaired driving and help reduce the number of crashes on Louisiana roadways. State Police spokeswoman, Melissa Matey, says if you’re going to partake in Carnival revelry, do it responsibly…:
CUT 5 (06) “Mardi Gras Festivities”
She says Thursday there were six fatal crashes between Lake Charles and New Orleans.

02.13.15
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 Feb 13

The 2015 college baseball season gets underway today. Second ranked LSU begins a three-game series against Kansas tonight. Coach Paul Mainieri will start two freshmen pitchers this weekend…
cut 27 (14) “…season progresses”
Sophomore Jared Poche will start on the hill tonight for the Tigers.

Southeastern Louisiana is coming off an NCAA Regional appearance as they open the 2015 campaign by hosting Louisiana Tech tonight. Coach Matt Riser says he wants to take the Lions program to another level this season…
cut 20 (16) ‘….more damage”
First pitch in Hammond tonight is at 6 PM.

LSU announces Tony Ball as the Tigers new wide receivers coach. Ball has spent the last nine years as an assistant at Georgia. He started as a running backs coach for the Bulldogs and spent the last five years coaching wide receivers, including first pick A-J Green.

And Louisiana Tech has made it official by announcing the hiring of Karl Scott as its safeties coach. Scott served as Southeastern Louisiana’s defensive coordinator last season.

Tomorrow in college basketball…LSU looks to boost its NCAA Tournament resume by visiting Tennessee. The Tigers and Volunteers are both six and five in league play.

Louisiana Tech goes after its 20th win of the season as it hosts Florida International. The Bulldogs are in first place by a half game over Western Kentucky.

ULM is a half game up over Georgia Southern for first place in the Sun Belt. The Warhawks will host Appalachian State and then its three straight road games.

And in the Southland…Northwestern State is at McNeese State.

02.13.15
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PM LRN Newscall for February 13

Law enforcement are patrolling throughout the Mardi Gras season to discourage impaired driving and help reduce the number of crashes on Louisiana roadways. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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Statewide elected officials are claiming the mid-year budget cuts to their departments proposed by Governor Bobby Jindal are unfair. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

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Law enforcement are on patrol throughout the Mardi Gras season to discourage impaired driving and help reduce the number of crashes on Louisiana roadways. State Police spokeswoman, Melissa Matey, says Thursday there were six fatal crashes between Lake Charles and New Orleans. She says these crashes were preventable if people had made smart decisions before getting behind the wheel…

CUT 3 (12)  “across the state”

During last year’s five-day Mardi Gras holiday, there were 599 crashes which resulted in 13 deaths statewide. Over half of those deaths involved alcohol. Matey says you can expect to see law enforcement out in force through Fat Tuesday…

CUT 4 (12)  “those impaired drivers”

Matey says expect to see various checkpoints and saturation patrols all across Louisiana. She says if you partake in Mardi Gras revelry, do it responsibly…

CUT 5 (06)  “Mardi Gras festivities”

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The shooting Thursday night during a parade in New Orleans which left two dead appears to be the responsibility of a 19-year-old man. NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said they believe there was some sort of altercation that took place between two males while the Muses Krewe was rolling down St. Charles…:

CUT 6 (08)  “at the intersection”

Harssion says the suspect is identified as 19-year-old John Hicks and he’s charged with two counts of second degree murder and illegal carrying of a firearm on the parade route. Harrison says there were cops on the scene at the intersection where the shooting took place…:

CUT 7 (06)  “in this incident”

One of the victims of the shooting died during surgery and the other succumbed to his injuries Friday morning. Harrison says this situation is frustrating, but NOPD remains committed to keeping revelers safe during Mardi Gras…:

CUT 8 (10)  “great work”

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Statewide elected officials claim the mid-year budget cuts proposed by Governor Bobby Jindal are unfair. Departments managed by statewide elected officials are receiving much larger cuts than than almost all other state departments. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says these cuts are clearly disproportionate…

CUT 9 (11)  “state government”

Dardenne says offices controlled by statewide elected officials, excluding the governor, represent less than one percent of the budget. However those agencies represent 16-percent of the budget cuts. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says these cuts aren’t fair across the board…

cut 10 (10)  “340 thousand dollars”

The Department of Ag received mid-year cuts equivalent to $2.6 million dollars and the Tourism Department took a $3.6 million hit, while the governor’s office had a $10,000 cut to its budget. Jindal spokesman Mike Reed says the governor’s office reduction is in line with other offices. Strain says it’s obvious statewide elected officials are taking the brunt of the cuts…

cut 11 (07) “other agencies”

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The Louisiana Office of Alcohol Tobacco Control says they’ve conducted over 600 alcohol and tobacco compliance checks across the state since February 2nd. ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert says of the businesses checked, 83 sold alcohol and/or tobacco to underage operatives which is about a 13% non-compliance rate…:

cut 12 (11)  “underage”

Hebert says agents will continue to work throughout the Mardi Gras weekend to make sure illegal sales of alcohol and tobacco do not dampen the Carnival season…:

cut 13 (11)  “that did that”

Hebert says the majority of their undercover operatives are 16 and 17 years old and with the legal age to purchase alcohol being 21 there is no excuse for these irresponsible sales…:

cut 14 (09)  “not worth it”

02.13.15
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11:40 LRN sportscast February 13

Multiple reports say the LSU Tigers have hired a new wide receivers coach. His name is Tony Ball and he was Georgia’s receivers coach and has been an assistant for the Bulldogs since 2009. Also, former LSU defensive line coach Brick Haley has been hired for the same role at Texas.

Rita Benson Leblanc, the granddaughter of Tom Benson, has been removed from two NFL committees. Leblanc served as the chair of the Employee Benefits Committee and was a member of the International committee. It’s a sign the NFL strongly supports Tom Benson’s efforts to leave the Saints in the control of his wife, Gayle.

Louisiana Tech is in first place in Conference USA following its 65-54 win over Florida Atlantic. The Bulldogs have won 25 straight home games. ULM defended its home floor last night and remain in first place in the Sun Belt. The Warhawks defeated in-state rival U-L Lafayette 67-55.

It’s opening day in college baseball. Second ranked LSU begins the season against Kansas. A team that won 35 games a season ago and reached the NCAA Tournament. Coach Paul Mainieri says the Jayhawks have won five of the last six games played two teams…
cut 18 (11) “….Texas”
First pitch is at seven o’ clock.

A new era of college baseball begins tonight for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs first-year coach, Greg Goff, takes his team to Hammond for a three-game series against Southeastern Louisiana.

In women’s basketball last night…LSU lost to number one ranked South Carolina 86-62. The Lady Techster rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat Florida Atlantic 73-68. Whitney Frazier had 20 points to lead the way. U-L Lafayette beat U-L-M 68-65 in double O-T.

02.12.15
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LRN sportscast 16:45 February 12

The LSU baseball team has been picked by the league’s coaches to win the SEC West. The Tigers received 13 first place votes, while Alabama is picked to finish second, followed by Texas A-and-M, Arkansas and Mississippi State. Alex Bregman and Andrew Stevenson are preseason All-SEC first teamers.

Tonight in Monroe, ULM goes for its 400th win in Fant-Ewing Coliseum History as they host the Ragin Cajuns. The Warhawks beat U-L Lafayette 57-55 earlier this season and a win for ULM will keep them in first place in the Sun Belt. Louisiana Tech is in a three-way tie for first place in Conference USA and they host Florida Atlantic tonight.

The Pelicans Anthony Davis will not play in Sunday’s All-Star game as he’ll use the time to rest his injured shoulder. Davis missed his second consecutive game last night and New Orleans lost badly to Indiana 106-93.

The Saints have reportedly re-signed linebacker Parys Haralson to a one-year contract. The 31-year-old has been with the Black and Gold the last two seasons after starting his career in San Francisco. Haralson was credited with 35 tackles and three sacks last season. There’s also a report on fox-sports-dot-com that the Saints have signed kicker Shayne Graham to a one-year deal.

After 35 years, the voice of the LSU Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, has announced he will retire following 2015-16 basketball season. The Northwestern State grad says he never thought his broadcasting career would turn out the way it did…
cut 16 (11) “from there”
Hawthorne says it’s been a blessing, but he’s ready to move into a new phase of his life. LSU says a nationwide search for his replacement will begin in the spring.

02.12.15
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11:40 LRN Sportscast February 12

In a poll of the SEC baseball coaches, the LSU Tigers are picked to win the western division. The Fighting Tigers received 13 first place votes, to finish ahead of Alabama and Texas A-and-M. Vanderbilt is picked to win the SEC East. LSU’s Alex Bregman and Andrew Stevenson were picked to the baseball coaches preseason All-SEC team.

This will be the final season that Jim Hawthorne will call LSU baseball games. The legendary voice of the Tigers has announced he’ll retire following the 2015-16 basketball season. During his career, he’s been on the mic for LSU’s three Final four appearances, two national titles in football and all six of LSU’s national championships in baseball. Hawthorne says it’s been quite a ride
cut 15 (10) “collegiate sports”
Hawthorne has been calling LSU sporting events since 1979.

High School football powers John Curtis and Evangel Christian have elected to play up to Class Five-A in all sports as the LHSAA is going through it’s redistricting process. In Acadiana, because of enrollment Carencro will move from Five-A to Four-A and Notre Dame drops from Three-A to Two-A.

LSU Coach Les Miles will reportedly interview former NFL player Keenan McCardell for the Tigers vacant wide receiver coaching job. McCardell palyed 17 years in the NFL and had over ten-thousand yards receiving in his career. He was the wide receivers coach at Maryland last season.

In college basketball, U-L Lafayette is at ULM. The Warhawks are in first place in the Sun Belt and beat the Cajuns by two points earlier this year in Lafayette.

Louisiana Tech begins play today in a three-way tie for first place in Conference USA. The Bulldogs host Florida Atlantic tonight. The Owls are just one and nine in league play.

02.11.15
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LRN Newscast 17:30 Feb 11

Governor Bobby Jindal proposes reducing the size of tax credits in cases where a company or individual receives more money from the state than they owe as a way to balance next fiscal year’s budget. Jindal says two of his cabinet secretaries are looking at how this could help the state’s fiscal situation…
cut 11 (10) “…health care”
The state faces a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall for next fiscal year.

The voice of the LSU Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, has announced he will retire next year. Hawthorne has been calling LSU sporting events for 35 years and plans to hang up the headphones and microphone following the 2015-16 basketball season. During his career, he’s been on the mic for LSU’s three Final four appearances, two national titles in football and all six of LSU’s national championships in baseball.

The Clacasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says a three year old child is dead after she accidentally shot herself with one fo the family’s guns. Michelle Southern reports….
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

The US House has approved a bill that authorizes construction of the Keystone Pipeline, which would run from Canada to Texas. The measure now heads to President Barack Obama, who is expected to veto it over environmental concerns. Supporters say the pipeline would create thousands of jobs, without adding more greenhouse gasses into the air.