Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

12.04.14
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LRN Sportscast 11:40 December 4

It looks like Saints running back Khiry Robinson will be able to play this Sunday against Carolina Panthers. Robinson has missed the last six games because of a forearm injury, but he has returned to practice, and told reporters he’s ready to play.

It appears Kenny Stills, who was drafted in the fifth round in 2013, is starting to become a big-time weapon in New Orleans passing attack. Stills leads the team in receiving yards after catching five passes for 162 yards in last weekend’s win over Pittsburgh.

In college football news…ULM Head Coach Todd Berry says he’ll take over as the play caller on offense next season after the Warhawks finished last in points scored in the Sun Belt. And Florida has a new head coach and his name is Jim McElwain, who won ten games at Colorado State this past season and he’s a former offensive coordinator at Alabama.

For a fourth straight season, the UL-Lafayette Football team has accepted an invitation to play in the R and L Carriers New Orleans Bowl which will be played Saturday December 20th. The voice of the Ragin Cajuns Jay Walker says their fans are always fired up about heading to the Big Easy…
cut 10 (12) “…New Orleans, Louisiana”
UL-Lafayette will likely have to wait until Sunday to find out who they will play. Walker says it could either be a team from the Mountain West or Conference USA.

In high school football…Warren Easton quarterback Deshawn Capers-Smith has been named the Louisiana Football Gatorade Player of the Year. The Texas A-and-M commit has completed 63-percent of his passes for 3,722 yards and 45 touchdowns for the Eagles who host Plaquemine tomorrow night in the Class Four-a semifinals.

12.04.14
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07:30 LRN Newscast December 4

The C-D-C is reporting a widespread outbreak of flu cases in Louisiana. The bayou state is the only state in the Continental US with widespread cases. Health officials are urging Louisiana residents to get their flu shot, if you haven’t already.

Parents who have teen drivers that get a learning permit will receive a booklet that will provide information and lessons on driving basics and parental pointers for the new driver in their household. It’s part of the new “Parents Supervised Driving Program.” Last year 189 teen drivers were killed in crashes across Louisiana. State Police Sergeant Nick Manale is hopeful this new program will decrease those numbers….
cut 6 (11) “….to be safe”
Manale says a learner’s permit requires at least 50 hours of parental supervised driving

A telephone poll of the sixth District Congressional runoff shows Republican Garret Graves with a six-percentage point lead over Democrat Edwin Edwards. Scott Carwile has more…
cut 2 (30) “….reporting”

The Ragin Cajuns have accepted an official invite to the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. It’s the fourth straight year that U-L Lafayette will play in the bowl game. The voice of the Cajuns, Jay Walker, says fans love going to New Orleans for the game every year, but some are not that excited about the 10 A-M kick-off on December 20th….
cut 11 (10) “…always have”

12.04.14
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06:45 LRN Sportscast December 4

Saints running back Khiry Robinson, who has missed the last six games with a forearm injury, was back at practice yesterday. Coach Sean Payton says Robinson looked good, even though he has a brace on his arm. Robinson was averaging five yards carry and had two touchdowns on the season, before he got hurt. The Saints host Carolina this Sunday.

In other NFL news…former LSU Quarterback Zach Mettenberger expects to play this Sunday against the New York Giants, despite a shoulder injury that forced him to leave last weekend’s loss to Houston. The sixth round draft pick of the Titans has a sprained throwing shoulder.

The UL Lafayette football team is heading to the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl for a fourth straight season. The voice of the Ragin Cajuns, Jay Walker, says the Cajuns will play a team either from the Mountain West or Conference USA on December 20th…
cut 12 (09) “…gonna be Rice”

ULM Football Coach Todd Berry announces that he’ll take over play calling duties next season after the Warhawks finished last in the Sun Belt in scoring average. Steve Farmer will remain the offensive coordinator, while Jason Nichols has been promoted to passing game coordinator.

In college basketball last night….The Ragin Cajuns, who lost to Jackson State last season, beat the Tigers 76 to 53 last night. Devonta Walker had 19 points to pace the Cajuns.

Also last night…McNeese State over Southern University New Orleans 74-63 and Air Force dribbled past Grambling 59-34,

In women’s basketball Raigyne Moncrief had 18 points and ten rebounds in an LSU 73-59 win over Louisiana Tech. The LSU mens’ team is at 16th ranked West Virginia tonight. The Mountaineers are 7-and-0.

The Pelicans begin a three-game road trip in Golden State tonight. The Warriors have the NBA’s best record at 15-and-2.

12.04.14
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06:30 LRN Newscast December 4

State officials announce a new safe driving campaign aimed at reducing crashes involving teen drivers. President of Safe Roads Alliance, Jeff Larson, says the “Parents Supervised Driving Program” provides parents with information so they can do a better job with their teens while they have a learner’s permit…
cut 4 (07) “….their license”
Parents of teens who receive a learner’s permits will receive a free guide with information and lessons on driving basics.

BESE approves new licensing rules for day care facilities. The regulations include a provision that require one teacher for every 11 two-years at a child care center. Melanie Bronfin, director of the Policy Institute for Children in New Orleans, wishes it was lower…
cut 13 (11) “….high ratios”

In the final days before Saturday’s election, a new poll on the 6th District Congressional race shows Republican Garret Graves with 53-percent of the vote while Democratic former governor Edwin Edwards has 47-percent. The Glascock Group surveyed 532 voters from across the district. Pollster Darrell Glascock says Edwards’ numbers are surprising….
cut 7 (06) ‘….this thing happen”

Louisiana has joined with 16 other states in a lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama’s recent executiveorder aimed at immigration. Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwel says the President’s plan violates the Constitution, because it rewrites and ignores current federal laws.

12.03.14
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LRN Newscast 17:30 December 3

A complaint has been filed with the Office of Congressional Ethics, urging them to look into allegations whether Republican Bill Cassidy violated House rules and federal law for receiving compensation from the LSU health system that he didn’t perform. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says ethics complaints and politics go hand and hand sometimes…:
CUT 12 (11) “even up the score”
Cassidy’s opponent in the Senate, Democrat Mary Landrieu, faced an ethics complaint in September, after it was learned her office used taxpayer dollars to pay for charter flights for campaign events.

In a televised debate between Fifth District Congressional candidates, Republican Ralph Abraham and Democrat Jamie Mayo, Mayo said Abraham makes too much money to understand the needs of the district, which is one of the poorest in the nation. Abraham said he’ll bring a conservative voice and common sense approach to Washington D-C.

A telephone poll on the sixth District Congressional runoff shows Republican Garret Graves with a six-percentage point lead over Democrat Edwin Edwards. Scott Carwile has more…
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved new licensing rules for child care centers. One of the new regulations calls for fingerprint-based criminal background checks for the facilities workers and volunteers.

12.03.14
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 December 3

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees received NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors today. Brees threw five touchdown passes in New Orleans 35-32 win over Pittsburgh. It was the seventh time in Brees’ career that he threw five touchdown passes and no interceptions in a single game.

Louisiana Tech continues preparations today for Saturday’s Conference USA Championship game against Marshall. Saturday marks just the second time these two schools have ever played each other. In 1942, they played in Ruston and Tech won that game 26-0. Marshall comes into this game averaging 47 points a game, while Tech is averaging 25.

ULM Coach Todd Berry announced today that he’ll take over the play calling duties next season. Berry says Steve Farmer will remain as the team’s offensive coordinator. The Warhawks ranked last in the Sun Belt, averaging just 20 points a game this season.

It’s anticipated that U-L Lafayette will accept an invitation from the New Orleans Bowl, which could happen tonight. The Ragin Cajuns have played in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl the last three seasons. The Cajuns Sun Belt rival, South Alabama, accepted a bid to play in the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.

Tonight in the Cajundome…U-L Lafayette will host Jackson State. Bob Marlin’s team is 2-and-3 on the season, but they have a chance to get some wins in the month of December. Tonight starts a stretch of four of the next five games at home.

In women’s basketball…the Lady Tigers host the Lady Techsters. La Tech is 2-and-2 on the year and led by Whitney Frazier, who is averaging 14 points a game. LSU is looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Tip-off is at six o’ clock.

And in college baseball…ULM’s Bruce Pedie has recieved a four-year contract extension. The Warhawks were 23-36 last season.

12.03.14
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PM LRN Newscall December 3rd

State Police say a Donaldsonville man was killed last night when his vehicle crashed into a dump truck in a construction zone in Ascension Parish. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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A formal complaint has been filed with the Office of Congressional Ethics over accusations that Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy double dipped. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

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Former Democratic Governor Edwin Edwards and Republican Garret Graves debated each other for the first time last night in the 6th Congressional District runoff. Not surprisingly the two went after each other. Graves called out the former convicted felon on his past and said Louisiana deserves a better future…:

CUT 3 (09)  “worse in the nation”

Edwards says the state needs a politician in Washington D.C. who knows their way around…:

CUT 4 (09)  “make things work”

Graves says Louisianians don’t have the state they deserve and it’s time to start moving in the right direction. Edwards responded by linking his opponent to the Governor…:

CUT 5 (08)  “(laughter)”

The big controversy came when Graves announced he’s been endorsed by The Sheriff’s Association which Edwards called a lie. A spokesperson for the group did say they held a meeting and voted to endorse Graves, but not all members from the 6th District were present. Graves says Louisiana needs to look forward, not back…:

CUT 6 (10)  “out of the way”

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State Police say a Donaldsonville man was killed last night when his vehicle crashed into a dump truck in a construction zone in Ascension Parish. Trooper Jared Sandifer says 42-year-old Kirt Canova ignored a flag man who was attempting to control traffic in a construction zone on LA 30…

CUT 7 (07) “construction materials”

Canova struck the dump truck head-on and suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash. Sandifer says this is the second incident in this particular construction zone. He says impairment is not suspected in this crash…

CUT 8 (08) “the investigation”

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State Police report that two people are dead after a crash in Tensas Parish. Trooper Michael Reichardt says 95-year-old Ralph Cooper of Newellton was driving his truck along LA 4 yesterday afternoon…

CUT 9 (04)  “head-on”

He says Cooper’s truck struck a Mack truck loaded with gravel head-on. Cooper and his passenger, 90-year-old Jewel Lee also of Newellton, were pronounced dead at the scene. Reichardt says officers spoke to a witness who was driving behind Cooper’s truck…

CUT 10 (07)  “that Mack truck”

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A complaint has been filed with the Office of Congressional Ethics, urging them to look into allegations whether Republican Bill Cassidy violated House rules and federal law for receiving compensation from the LSU health system that he didn’t perform. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says an investigation is likely…

cut 11 (08)  “is   over”

Cassidy is in a heated Senate race with Democrat Mary Landrieu, who faced an ethics complaint in September, after it was learned her office used taxpayer dollars to pay for charter flights for campaign events.  Cross says ethics complaints and politics go hand and hand sometimes

cut 12 (11) “even up the score”

The Democratic party and Landrieu are making a big deal over these accusations that Cassidy may have double dipped, while serving in Congress and working for a doctor at LSU. Cross says it’s a serious allegation, but not enough to prevent Cassidy from winning Saturday’s election

cut 13 (04) “this case”

12.03.14
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LRN Sportscast 11:40 December 3rd

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has been named the NFC Player of the Week. Brees threw five touchdown passes in the Saints 35-32 win over the Steelers, which snapped a three-game losing streak. It’s the 18th time Brees has received this honor since joining the Saints.

The Les Miles to Michigan rumors are back now that the Wolverines are looking for a head coach. Miles’ alma mater offered him a chance to go back to Ann Arbor in 2007 and 2010 and both times the mad hatter said no. Glen Guilbeau of Gannett Newspapers says if Miles is asked again won’t leave LSU, because of the young talent on the roster….
cut 14 (13) “….20 years ago”
And the Ragin Cajuns will reporteldy receive an official invite to the New Orleans Bowl today.

The Pelicans snapped a three-game losing streak last night with a 112-104 win over Oklahoma City. Jrue Holiday had 16 points and ten assists and played excellent defense on All-star guard Russell Westbrook. Tyreke Evans had 30 points, 15 of them came in the fourth quarter.

LSU’s Josh Gray had his best game of the season as he scored 25 points to help LSU beat UMASS 82 to 60. Also last night…ninth ranked Gonzaga beat Southeastern Louisiana 76 to 57. Alex Hamilton scored 30 points to help Louisiana Tech dribble past Northwestern State 99-88. The Bulldogs improve to six and one, while the Demons are three and four.

tonight…the Lady Techsters are at LSU. The Lady Tigers have won nine straight games in the series. And on the men’s side, U-L Lafayette will host Jackson State. The Tigers beat the Cajuns 73 to 70 last season.

12.02.14
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17:30 LRN Newscast December 2

Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu and Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy went after each other in last night’s Senate debate. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Cassidy brought up the incumbent’s charter flight matter and Landrieu called the Congressman a liar for the so-called double billing incident — but there were no knockout blows…:
CUT 10 (11) “Louisiana politics”
Election Day is this Saturday.

A state audit of Grambling State University revealed equipment thefts totaling more than $130,000. Legislative Auditor Bradley Cryer says it was the university who discovered several items missing…
CUT 12 (08) “and fixtures”
One person has been arrested in connection with the thefts.

Tourism leaders are looking to capitalize on the increasing trend of international tourists visiting Louisiana. Scott Carwile has more…
cut 1 (29) “…reporting’

Speculation has started again that Les Miles is a candidate to be the next head football coach at Michigan. The Wolverines fired Brady Hoke today. Glen Guilbeau, of Gannett Newspapers, doesn’t see Miles taking the Michigan job, because he has a better situation at LSU…
cut 15 (09) “…coming in”

12.02.14
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 December 2nd

The Les Miles to Michigan rumors can start up again as the Wolverines have fired head coach Brady Hoke after a four-year run at the Ann Arbor school. Michigan was five and seven this past season. They’ve pursued Miles twice before, once in 2007 and again in 2010. Miles was asked last week about the possibility of the Michigan job opening up and here’s what he said….
cut 20 (16) “….very best”

In other college football news…UAB has announced its dropping football program, because of financial concerns. With UAB gone, could UL Lafayette fill their spot in C-USA. Stay tuned on that one.

Louisiana Tech plays this Saturday against Marshall in the Conference USA Championship game. Jerry Palm of cbs-sports-dot-com, says if the Bulldogs win, they could play in the Heart of Dallas Bowl against a team from the Big Ten….
cut 19 (13) “….Conference USA games”

In college hoops tonight…Louisiana Tech visits Northwestern State in what should be spirited game. The Demons are 3-and-3 on the year, while the Bulldogs are five and one.

LSU hosts UMASS at the PMAC for a six o ‘clock tip. The Minutemen beat the Tigers 92-90 last season.

NBA…the Pelicans will host Oklahoma city. Thunder star Kevin Durant will make his season debut tonight. Durant has been out because of a foot injury. Tip-off is at seven o’ clock.