Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

01.15.15
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PM LRN Newscall January 15

A Baton Rouge shoe store employee is being uncooperative with LSU Police in regards to the sale of game-worn LSU football equipment on eBay. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Oil prices fell again today, but the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association president is optimistic we will not see a repeat of the 1980s oil bust. Jeff Palermo has the story..

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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A Baton Rouge shoe store employee is being uncooperative with LSU Police in regards to the sale of game-worn LSU football equipment on eBay. Capt. Cory Lalonde says they determined that 25-year-old Fletcher Sanders was the seller of the cleats and gloves advertised on the website. Lalonde says Sanders told investigators that he was the seller and sold the items for an LSU football player…

CUT 3 (10)  “those items”

Lalonde says Sanders will not give the name of the person who gave him the items. He says equipment used in games is property of the team and the players are only allowed use of those items. Lalonde says police are still looking to determine if Sanders actually received the equipment from an LSU football player…

CUT 4 (07)  “the investigation”

Sanders was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on counts of principal to theft and possession of stolen items. The LSU Athletic Department is fully cooperating with the investigation. Lalonde says it’s obvious the person who gave the property to Sanders did not have permission to do so…

CUT 5 (08)  “items are currently”

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Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents have cited three men on several fishing violations in Terrebonne Parish after bragging to an off-duty agent about their illegal activity. Spokesman Adam Einck says the off-duty agent was fishing near two of the culprits in Bayou Chauvin…

CUT 6 (10)  “against the law”

The men told the agent that they had already caught their limit of red drum and were going to go catch some more. Einck says the men were witnessed off loading their daily limit to another man waiting at the boat launch in a truck. He says the off-duty agent then saw the two men re-launch to do some more fishing…

CUT 7 (12)  “second trip”

44-year-old Vernell McBride, 37-year-old Troy Dangerfield, both of Houma, and 47-year-old Nelson Robinson of Luling are cited for fishing without a license and possessing over the limit of red drum. Einck says the fishing limits are there to ensure a healthy fish population. He says you never know when you’ll come across a LDWF agent…

CUT 8 (05) “they’re off-duty”

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The price of oil has fallen over 50-dollars in the last six months, but the head of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association is not anticipating another oil bust like we saw in the 1980s. LOGA President Don Briggs says companies in the oil industry learned from that event to make sure they can stay in business….

CUT 9 (07)  “employed”

Briggs says while he doesn’t see a large number of oil and gas companies going under, there will be some belt tightening and that’s already occurred

cut 10 (09)  “drilling wells”

Briggs says a positive sign for the Louisiana oil and gas industry is that  work in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where there are currently 55 active rigs, has not been impacted by the low oil prices

cut 11 (03)  “long term products”

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The Washington Parish Sheriff’s office says a former speech therapist from Franklinton High School is under arrest for allegedly having sex with at least 2 students under the age of 17. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says after the complaint came in, they were able to gather enough evidence to arrest 40-year-old Kimberly Cooke…:

cut 12 (10)  “she is a former teacher now”

Haley says on Wednesday the suspect was booked with two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles…:

cut 13 (10)  “involved with”

Haley says this news is shocking and there is no excuse for such exploitation of juveniles…:

cut 14 (09)  “itself”

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01.15.15
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LRN Sportscast 11:40 January 15

Louisiana native Ed Orgeron finally has the opportunity to coach for the Purple and gold. Orgeron has had several coaching stops since he graduated from Northwestern State University in 1984. Coach “O” says he didn’t need much convincinging when Les Miles called him late Tuesday afternoon and asked him if he wanted to be the Tigers defensive line coach….
cut 17 (16) “….get here”
Meanwhile, LSU says they are cooperating with the authorities in a case where a man has been arrested for selling game worn shoes and gloves on E-bay. The individual arrested by LSU police, 25-year-old Fletcher Sanders, is not telling cops how he got the LSU gear.

The Pelicans are back at the .500 mark for the season after beating Detroit 105-94 last night. Anthony Davis had 27 points and ten rebounds, Ryan Anderson added 17 points.

The LSU men’s basketball team picked up a nice road win in Oxford last night as the Tigers topped Ole Miss 75-71. Keith Hornsby led the way with 23 points, 20 of them came in the second half. He also hit five three-pointers. Jarell Martin also had 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Tulane lost in triple overtime last night as they fell to Central Florida 103 to 100.

Tonight, the Ragin Cajuns are at Georgia Southern. U-L Lafayette is 4-and-0 in the Sun Belt and they’ve won seven of their last eight overall. ULM is off to a 3-and-1 start in league play and the Warhawks will host Troy tonight at seven P-M. U-L-M has won three in a row. Louisiana Tech is also at home. The Bulldogs will host U-A-B. Both teams are undefeated in league play.

01.14.15
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06:45 Sportscast January 14, 2015

LSU has added one of the top recruiters in the country to its football staff. Louisiana native Ed Orgeron was named the Tigers new defensive line coach today and he replaces Brick Haley, who is being reassigned within the LSU athletic department. Orgeron’s last coaching stop was at U-S-C, where he was the recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach for the Trojans for four years.

Football analyst Mike Detillier says not only will Orgeron be asked to recruit, but he’ll also need to do a better job of developing an under performing defensive line…
cut 18 (15) “…defensive lineman”
LSU introduced Orgeron and new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele during a four P-M press conference.

Former Haughton high star and Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott has announced that he will return for his senior season. Prescott finished eighth in the Heisman balloting this past season, throwing for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. LSU begins conference play in Starkville against Prescott and the Bulldogs on September 12th.

In college baseball news…Ragin Cajuns third baseman-slash-designated hitter Tyler Girouard has decided to return for his senior season. Girouard started at third base in 2013 and hit a career-high .360. He was used as a D-H last year, because of a stress fracture and persistent knee pain and hit .324. At one time, injuries were thought to keep him from playing this year, but Girouard says he’s healthy enough to give it go this year.

In basketball….LSU is at Ole Miss tonight for a six P-M tip. Both teams are one-and-one in league play. Tulane travels to Central Florida. The Pelicans will battle the Pistons. Detroit has won nine of its last ten, while New Orleans will be without Jrue Holiday, who is out with an ankle injury. Tip-off is at 6:30.

01.14.15
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11:40 Sportscast January 14

One day after hiring former Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele as their new defensive coordinator, LSU announced today that Louisiana native Ed Oregeron will be the Tigers new defensive line coach. Brick Haley, who has been LSU’s defensive line coach since 2009, is expected to be re-assigned within the department.

Football analyst Mike Detillier says the defensive philosphy of Steele will be different from what former D-C John Chavis brought to the field…
cut 17 (18) “….a quarterback”
In a statement, Coach Les Miles says Steele has been a very successful coach, with a great defensive mind and he’s also an outstanding recruiter.

In college hoops action tonight…LSU visits Ole Miss. The Tigers have lost seven of their last eight meetings with the Rebels. The tip-off is set for 6 PM.

Tulane begins a two-game road trip tonight at Central Florida. The Green Wave are off to a three and one start in the American Athletic Conference, while the Knights are one and three in league play.

Last night…a hot shooting Abilene Christian team beat Northwestern State 95-81. The loss prevented Demons Coach Mike McConathy from collecting his 600th coaching victory.

Nicholls State earned its first Southland win of the season last night as the Colonels rallied to beat Houston Baptist 61-57. Freshman guard Quinton Thomas had a breakout game as he scored a career-high 18 points and also had a career-high three blocked shots.

In the NBA…the Pelicans will visit the Detroit Pistons. It will be the first game in a New Orleans Pelican uniform for Quincy Pondexter, who was acquired earlier this week.

01.14.15
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LRN Newscast 07:30 January 14

Republican US Senator David Vitter says he’s raised four-million dollars for this year’s governor’s race. We still haven’t heard any fundraising totals from fellow republican, Lt Governor Jay Dardenne, but la-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says we know republican candidate Scott Angele and democat John Bel Edwards have eached raised at least a million and with the election still months away, a lot could happen…
cut 12 (07) “….very well change”

LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport researchers say a drug derived from sea moss could be used to treat Alzheimer’s Disease. Doctor Steven Alexander says they’ve seen positive effects with mice and the next step is to get F-D-A approval to begin clinical trials and they believe that could happen because it’s effective in pill form…
cut 5 (09) “….quite a long time”
State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson is seeking a 30-percent pay increase for many of his troopers. Michelle Southern has more…
cut 3 (31) “….reporting”

On the campus of U-L Lafayette, a new 40-million dollar student union opens today. Assistant director of building services, Garland “Chico” Rodriguez, says one of the things they are most excited about is the brand new dining hall…
cut 8 (12) “….and the service”
Rodriguez says the student union also has a new bookstore and several offices for student groups and organiziations.

01.14.15
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LRN Sportscast 06:45 January 14

Kevin Steele is the new defensive coordinator at LSU. He comes from Alabama where he was the Crimson Tide’s linebackers coach. He’s also been a defensive coordinator at Clemson, a linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers and a former head coach at Baylor. Football analyst Mike Detillier gave his thoughts on the hire during last night’s Tiger Rag Radio show…
cut 16 (19) “…ass off”
It’s expected LSU will hold a press conference today to introduce Steele to the media.

Louisiana Tech has a new defensive coordinator as well. Several media outlets are reporting that head coach Skip Holtz has promoted safeties coach Blake Baker to replace Manny Diaz. Baker is considered a tireless worker, who has also been an assisstant at Arkansas State and he’s a former three-year start at Tulane.

Northwestern State Coach Mike McConathy was denied his 600th coaching win last night as the Demons lost to Abilene Christian 95-81. The Wildcats shot 58-percent from the field, 59-percent from three-point territory and 92-percent from the free throw line. Northwestern’s Jalan West had 30 points in a losing effort.

Nicholls State earned its first Southland win of the season last night as the Colonels rallied to beat Houston Baptist 61-57. Freshman Quinton Thomas led the way with 18 points off the bench. Houston Baptist did not hit a field goal in the final seven minutes of the game.

Tonight…LSU visits Ole Miss in a contest that gets underway at 6 PM at the Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford. Jarell Martin leads the Tigers in scoring, averaging 17 points a game, but has yet to score in double figures in two sec games this year.

And in the NBA, the Pelicans continue their five-game road trip in Detroit tonight.

01.14.15
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LRN Newscast 06:30 January 14

State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson is requesting a 30-percent pay increase for many of his troopers. Edmonson says the money would come from a special fund approved in last year’s legislative session which collects fines from drivers with expired auto insurance and puts them in an account that can be used for L-S-P salaries…
cut 13 (10) “….spend those dollars”
Edmonson will make the request when the joint legislative budget committee meets on Friday.

A researcher at the L-S-U Health Sciences Center in Shreveport hopes sea moss found below the surface of the Pacific Ocean could be used to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Doctor Steven Alexander and his team have tested a drug derived from sea moss and it has a positive effect on mice who suffer from human Alzheimer’s disease…
cut 4 (06) “…cognition”
Alexander says they are seeking FDA approval to begin clinical trials on humans.

Senator David Vitter announces he’s raised $4 million dollars for his bid to become the next governor of Louisiana. According to his campaign, almost 90-percent of the contributions are from in-state donors. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says that’s impressive, but not the whole story…
cut 10 (12) “…David Vitter’s campaign”

01.13.15
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LRN Newscast 17:30 January 13

Dr Frank Welch, medical director for the state’s immunization program, says nearly an estimated 400-thousand Louisiana residents have come down with the flu this season. He says they are still seeing an extraordinarily large number of cases reported each week, but:
CUT 7 (10) “anymore”
Welch says it’s still not too late to get your flu shot.

State Treasurer John Kennedy is getting the word out that they’ve collected through audits 31-million dollars in unclaimed property from life insurance companies. Kennedy says the money belongs to thousands of beneficiaries that never received their money….
cut 12 (11) “…keep the money’
To see if you’re owed money go to la-treasury-dot-com.

A 21-year-old mother has been charged with two counts of negligent homicide in the death of her three-year-old and four-year-old, who died in a house fire in Bastrop yesterday. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they’ve learned that 21-year-old Ciarria Johnson left her children unattended for hours as she was having her hair styled. Browning says investigators believe the young siblings never had a chance to get out…
cut 4 (12) “…require supervision”
Browning says they believe the fire started from a gas heater in the living room, they also suspect a space heater was in close proximity to flammable materials.

And LSU has confirmed reports that Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele is will be the next defensive coordinator at LSU. Prior to coaching at Alabama, Steele served three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Clemson, helping Clemson win the A-C-C in 2011. He’s also the former head coach at Baylor and coached linebackers for the Carolina Panthers in the 1990s.

01.13.15
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 January 13

The final A-P football Top 25 poll came out today and LSU is no where to be found for the first time since 2008. It’s the second time in the Les Miles era that the Tigers did not finish the season ranked in the Top 25.

Meanwhile, Miles continues to search for a new defensive coordinator to replace John Chavis. The search is entering its third week, Charles Hanagriff, of 104-5 ESPN Baton rouge, says fans shouldn’t be concerned that LSU has yet to find a D-C…
cut 18 (15) “….every option”
Meanwhile, nola-dot-com reports LSU has stepped up its pursuit of Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, who maybe looking to run a defense, without Nick Saban’s involvement.

Several media outlets are reporting that Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz will promote safeties coach Blake Baker to defensive coordinator. Baker was hired in February after coaching at Arkansas State and he’s a former three-year starter at Tulane in the early 2000s.

Northwestern State’s Mike McConathy has the chance to win the 600th game of his coaching career tonight when his Demons host Abilene Christian. McConathy says 600 wins are great, but he’s more worried about improving to 3-and-1 in the Southland. Tip-off tonight is at 6:30 at Prather Coliseum.

Nicholls State is also home tonight. The Colonels are searching for their first win in the Southland, and they’ll host Houston Baptist. Nicholls is 3-and-9 on the year, while the Huskies are six and seven.

Tomorrow night it’s LSU at Ole Miss. Both teams are 1-and-1 in league play. But the Rebels have owned this series of late, winning seven of their last eight.

ULM Athletic director, Doctor Brian Wickstrom, has been named one of the top-10 fundraising ADS in college atheltics by College A-D, which is a news and resource service for college athletic programs. According to a news release from ULM, Wickstorm has led Warhawk athletics to one of its most successful fundraising periods since arriving.

01.13.15
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PM Newscall January 13

Sad story out of Bastrop as two young children who authorities believe were left home alone while their mother was getting her hair done, died in a house fire. Michelle Southern reporting…:

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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Nearly 400-thousand people in Louisiana have dealt with the flu bug during this influenza season. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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Sad story out of Bastrop as two young children who authorities believe were left home alone while their mother was getting her hair done, died in a house fire. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the blaze, which ignited Monday afternoon, was likely started by a gas space heater inside the wood-framed home…:

CUT 3 (10)  “home alone”

Browning says investigators discovered the bodies of a 4-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy at the Madison Parish home. He says criminal charges are anticipated if they confirm that there was nobody responsible for supervising the children when the fire started. Browning says investigators believe the young siblings never had a chance to get out…:

CUT 4 (12)  “require supervision”

The mother has been identified as 21-year-old Ciarra Johnson and her 4-year-old daughter is Tashae Johnson and 3-year-old son named Clifton Johnson. Browning says if they do find out that the mother didn’t ask anyone to supervise the children why she was gone, negligent homicide charges could be coming…:

CUT 5 (10)  “we’re gonna do that”

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It’s a bad flu season and the numbers prove it. Doctor Frank Welch, medical director for the state’s immunization program, says nearly an estimated 400-thousand people have come down with the flu during this flu season and influenza has hospitalized up to four-thousand people…

CUT 6 (11)  “as well”

Welch says they are still seeing an extraordinarily large number of cases reported each week, but

CUT 7 (10)  “anymore”

Welch says the strain of flu that’s most predominent is H-3-N-2….

(Even though the flu vaccine is not a direct match with the flu strain going around, Welch still advises getting an influenza shot.) 

CUT 8 (10) “of the flu”

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The Monroe Police Department says a stand off situation at an elderly assisted living complex has ended with one man dead. Detective Reggie Brown says a resident courtesy officer at Frances Towers reported shots fired from the apartment of 64-year-old Adam Spillman. Brown says the courtesy officer and a police officer went to make contact with Spillman…

CUT 9 (10)  “victim to safety”

Spillman shot the courtesy officer, 76-year-old Alton Sutter, in the leg. Brown says Spillman then barricaded himself in his apartment. He says SWAT teams were brought in and they were able to negotiate with Spillman to surrender peacefully…

cut 10 (09)  “local area hospital”

Sutter succumbed to his injuries at a local area hospital. Brown says Spillman is a military veteran, but he did not see any combat. The investigation is ongoing and it has not been determined what charges Spillman will face. Brown says, according to witness statements, there is a question in regard to Spillman’s state of mind at the time of the shooting…

cut 11 (10)  “is in question”

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State Treasurer John Kennedy announces that audits of life insurance companies have uncovered more than $31 million in unclaimed property for beneficiaries in the past eight years. He says the audit found that some insurance companies violated their life insurance contracts…

cut 12 (11)  “keep the money”

Kennedy says the audits are necessary because families are often unaware that an insurance policy exists and unless the insurance company tries to locate beneficiaries, the benefit will go unpaid. He says they’re already helping people receive life insurance payments…

cut 13 (11)  “her a check”

The audits are one component to the state’s Unclaimed Property Program. Kennedy says if you think you are owed money, you should search their website… (The website is latreasury-dot-com.)

cut 14 (08)  “at your leisure”

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