Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

04.15.15
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LRN Sportscast 16:45 April 15

It’s been a long time since a more meaningful NBA game has been played in New Orleans. A win tonight for the Pelicans and they are in the Western Conference playoffs. But they’ll have to beat the defending NBA champs. The Spurs also have something to play for as they can still get the two-seed.

If the Pelicans lose tonight, they’ll have to hope that Minnesota upsets Oklahoma City, because a Thunder victory and a New Orleans loss, puts O-K-C into the playoffs and not the Pels. New Orleans Coach Monty Williams believes his team can handle the pressure…
cut 18 (16) “…handle this”
Tip-off tonight is at 7 PM. The game is a sell out and fans have been encouraged to wear red. If the Pelicans get into the playoffs, they’ll begin a series at Golden State this weekend.

The LSU baseball team closes out a six-game homestand tonight against Lamar. Looking ahead to the weekend, the Tigers will visit Georgia and freshman pitcher Alex Lange says he’ll be able to pitch after after missing last weekend’s start, because of arm tightness.

Also tonight…Northwestern State is at ULM. The Demons shutout the Warhawks seven to nothing earlier this season. ULM leads the all-time series 108 to 107.

In college baseball action tonight….LSU hosts Lamar. The Tigers are 31-and-6 on the season, while the Cardinals are just 17 and 18. Also, ULM hosts Northwestern State. Last night, Southeastern Louisiana ended the Ragin Cajuns six game winning streak by beating UL Lafayette five to three.

The Saints have reportedly signed center Mike Golic Junior, who is the son of ESPN personality Mike Golic. The younger Mike, spent some time with the Saints, last season, but was released after New Orleans acquired Jonathan Goodwin. And the Saints are reportedly talking with free agent defensive lineman Corey Wooton, who had 16 tackles and a sack last season.

LSU Coach Les Miles says quarterbacks Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will split reps in this Saturday’s spring game.

LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins will be one of 26 players to attend the NFL draft in two weeks.

04.15.15
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LRN PM Newscall April 15

A transgender Lake Charles man has filed a federal sex discrimination lawsuit against his former employer, Tower Loan. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Over 100 college students gathered on the steps of the state capitol today to rally against proposed budget cuts to higher education. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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A transgender Lake Charles man has filed a federal sex discrimination lawsuit against his former employer. 21-year-old Tristan Broussard alleges he was fired from Tower Loan last year when it was discovered he used to be a woman. One of Broussard’s attorneys, Amy Whelan (WAY-lan), says federal law prohibits employers discriminating against employees based on sex…

CUT 3 (10)  “sex discrimination”

The suit alleges that during a review of Broussard’s employment paperwork, it was noticed that his driver’s licence listed his sex as female. After the company’s vice president found out, Whelan says Broussard was pulled into a meeting…

CUT 4 (10)  “would be fired”

A Tower Loan spokesman says they do not comment on personnel issues or issues involving pending litigation. Whelan says they are open to talk with Tower Loan to settle this case and turn this into a success story…

CUT 5 (11)  “what they did”

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The Natchitoches Police Department says the assistant principal at Frankie Ray Jackson Senior Technical Center is under arrest for allegedly paddling a teacher. Captain Chris Payne says they got the complaint in February that a female teacher at the school had a battery committed upon her…:

CUT 6 (07)  “Vogel”

64-year-old Hugo Vogel of Goldonna was arrested this week for simple battery and was later released on $303 bond. Motive for the alleged battery is unclear. Payne says the investigation was eventually turned over to the department…:

CUT 7 (08)  “Goldonna, Louisiana“

Payne says if anyone has additional information about this alleged battery or knows further details they are urged to contact authorities..:

CUT 8 (04)  “kept confidential”

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The ACLU of Louisiana is calling on the candidates for Governor to address the state’s massive incarceration problem. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says we are the world’s incarceration leader, jailing more people per capita than any place on earth. She says the gubernatorial candidates are talking about fixes for the state’s budget and overlooking a serious crisis…:

CUT 9 (06)  “in the world”

Esman says when we’re facing massive cuts to higher education, hospitals and infrastructure, the conversation needs to get started about how we can get some of that money back. She says this puts us in a terrible position of being the world’s largest incarcerator…:

cut 10 (10) “huge amoutn of money”

Esman says Louisiana wastes millions in tax dollars paying for inmates who pose little to no threat to our society and believes small offenses would be better addressed through alternatives to incarceration. She says she’s not sure why the candidates have so far not addressed this issue and hopes that now that they’ve asked them to they will…:

cut 11 (10)  “not the last”

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Over 100 college students gathered on the steps of the state capitol today to rally against proposed budget cuts to pubilc universities. Nearly all of Louisiana’s colleges were represented and many held up signs that said “No Funding, No Future”. UNO student David Teagle says these cuts equate to the theft of the future of Louisiana…

cut 12 (12)  “currently go to”

Higher ed faces huge budget cuts due to a $1.6 billion budget shortfall. Jesse Elliot, a student at LSU-Alexandria says funding for higher education has been on the chopping block for the last eight years and the state must establish stable funding for colleges and universities. He says the effects of more budget cuts reaches far beyond the schools…

cut 13 (11)  “eight years ago”

Students were joined by a handful of lawmakers who support their efforts. Winnfield Senator Gerald Long, whose district includes Northwestern State and LSU-Alexandria, feels it’s the legislature’s responsibility to enact positive ways to fund higher ed…

cut 14 (09) “failed you”

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04.15.15
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11:40 LRN Sportscast April 15

The Pelicans can earn their first playoff berth since 2011 with a win tonight in the regular season finale against the San Antonio Spurs. Coach Monty Williams says he’s not surprised that a lot is on the line for the final regular season game of the year….
cut 17 (15) “…gonna be big”
If the Pelicans lose tonight, they can still get into the playoffs, but they’ll need the worst team in the NBA, Minnesota, to beat Oklahoma City.

In college baseball action tonight….LSU hosts Lamar. The Tigers are 31-and-6 on the season, while the Cardinals are just 17 and 18. Also, ULM hosts Northwestern State. Last night, Southeastern Louisiana ended the Ragin Cajuns six game winning streak by beating UL Lafayette five to three.

The Saints have reportedly signed center Mike Golic, who is the son of ESPN personality Mike Golic. The younger Mike, spent some time with the Saints, last season, but was released after New Orleans acquired Jonathan Goodwin. Golic has also played in the C-F-L and the arena football league. And the Saints are reportedly talking with free agent defensive lineman Corey Wooton, who had 16 tackles and a sack last season.

04.15.15
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07:30 LRN Newscast April 15

Federal taxes are due today and Michelle Southern has some tips for last-minute filers..
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, a presidential hopeful, will be in New Orleans today for a fundraiser for Republican Senator David Vitter, who is running for governor. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says Vitter is not the only one to benefit from this endorsement…
cut 6 (06) “….a favor”

College students are expected to be at the state capitol today to urge lawmakers not to make significant cuts to higher education, despite a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. Southeastern Louisiana student body president Stephanie Travis says raising tuition is not the answer either…
cut 11 (08) “…an increase in tuition”

Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says his religious freedom bill has been misunderstood. During a speech on the House floor, Johnson says it does not promote discrimination against gays and lesbians, but it prevents the government from taking action against people who oppose same-sex marriage….
cut 13 (08) “…involved it’
The House Civil Law committee will likely debate the bill at a future date and Johnson says he’ll amend the legislation in an attempt to lessen the opposition against his measure.

04.15.15
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06:45 LRN Sportscast April 15

If the Pelicans win tonight’s regular season finale against the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs they are in the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since 2011. Pelicans head coach Monty Williams says the players are embracing the situation before them…
cut 16 (11) “…awesome opportunity”
If the Pelicans lose, they’ll have to hope that Oklahoma City loses to the worst team in the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

LSU Coach Les Miles says quarterbacks Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will split reps in this Saturday’s spring game. Miles says he wants to see Jennings and Harris to run the offense, take care of the football and move it aggressively.

In college baseball last night, Southeastern Louisiana scored three runs in the eighth inning to beat U-L Lafayette five to three. The loss snaps the Cajuns six-game winning streak, while the Lions are now 27-and-11. Also last night…LSU-Shreveport beat Centenary six to one. Tonight, Northwestern State is at ULM and LSU hosts Lamar. Freshman starting pitcher Alex Lange says he’ll be able to pitch this weekend for the Tigers after missing his start last weekend, because of arm tightness.

Former Louisiana prep football star and Ragin cajuns standout Ike Taylor has announced he’s retiring after a 12-year career in the NFL. The graduate of Abramson High School in New Orleans had 636 tackles in the NFL and won two Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins will be one of 26 players to attend the NFL draft in two weeks. Collins is expected to be selected in the first round. Former Dutchtown star and Alabama defensive back Landon Collins will also be present for the draft.

04.15.15
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06:30 LRN Newscast April 15

Louisiana college students will rally at the state capitol today to express their concerns about a potential 600-million dollar cut in state funding to public universities. Stephanie Travis, who chairs the council of student body presidents, says she started at Southeastern Louisiana in 2009 and has seen how previous budget cuts have impacted the Hammond campus….
cut 10 (07) “….previous years”

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is in New Orleans today for a fundraiser to help Republican Senator David Vitter’s gubernatorial campaign. Presidential hopefuls Rand Paul and Chris Christie have also endorsed Vitter. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says these endorsements will help Vitter’s campaign, but endorsements alone will not get him elected…
cut 5 (10) “….the linchpin”
Today is tax day and there are still millions who have yet to file and are waiting till the last minute. If you file electronically, it must be done by midnight. But Bill Potter, a CPA in Baton Rouge, says if you don’t think you’re gonna make it, then you can file an extension….
cut 7 (11) “…with that form”
And remember only federal returns are due today. The state filing deadline is May 15th.

A family in LaFourche Parish is grieving today over the death of a three-year-old child who fell into a drainage canal and was swept away by the strong current brought on by heavy rainfall. The child’s father located the boy about 15 minutes later, 75 yards downstream.

04.14.15
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LRN Newscasts 17:30 April 14

Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson took to the House floor today to try and clear up some of the misconceptions of his so-called religious freedom bill. Johnson says his bill does not promote discrimination against gays and lesbians. He says it’s only an attempt to safe guard religious freedom…
cut 13 (08) “…involved in it”
Johnson’s bill seeks to prevent the state from denying a resident a business license or tax deduction because of that person’s religious belief about marriage. But state representative John Bel Edwards says the legislation is vaguely written…
cut 14 (08) “….interracial marriage”
Johnson plans to change the language in his bill, when it gets its first hearing in the House Civil Law committee.

Louisiana college students will rally at the state capitol tomorrow afternoon to express their concerns about a potential 600-million dollar cut in state funding to public colleges and universities. Stephanie Travis, who chairs the council of student body presidents, says she started at Southeastern Louisiana in 2009 and has seen how previous budget cuts have impacted the Hammond campus
Cut 10 (07) “previous years”
Lawmakers are looking at how they can preserve higher education, but finding ways to raise revenue to prevent drastic cuts will be difficult. Travis says raising tuition on students is NOT the answer

State Representative Paul Hollis was not in Baton Rouge today as he continues to recover from an automobile accident that occurred with the new security system installed at the state capitol. State Police Lt. J-B Slaton says they are investigating, but it appears the security system worked properly.

04.14.15
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LRN sportscast 16:45 April 14

It’s simple for the Pelicans tomorrow, if they win, they get into the playoffs. But it will take a big effort for New Orleans to get a victory as they host the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. New Orleans enters the final game of the regular season in a tie with Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Thunder are at Minnesota tomorrow night.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that that free-agent receiver Greg Jennings plans to visit with the New Orleans Saints. The 31-year-old Jennings also visited with the Jaguars today. He’s caught 552 passes for just over eight-thousand yards and 63 touchdowns during his nine-year career.

And former New Orleans prep star and former Ragin Cajun Ike Taylor announced his retirement from the NFL today. Taylor played for 12 seasons in Pittsburgh, winning two Super Bowls. The 34-year-old had 14 interceptions during his career.

Weather has wrecked havoc on the college baseball schedule. Northwestern State at Mississippi State has been cancelled, Nicholls State versus South Alabama has been postponed, LSU-Alexandria at McNeese State has been cancelled and ULM versus Arkansas Pine-Bluff has been postponed. The Ragin Cajuns are still planning on hosting Southeastern Louisiana tonight.

In the latest college baseball polls….Baseball America has LSU ranked second in the country, while Collegiate Baseball has LSU ranked third. Texas A-and-M, who is 33-and-3 on the season, is ranked number one in both of those polls. LSU hosts Lamar tomorrow night.

Former LSU pitcher Anthony Ranaudo is expected to be called up to the big leagues and he’ll start for the Texas Rangers tomorrow night against the Angels. Ranaudo started the season with Texas’ Triple-A team, the Round Rock Express.

04.14.15
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LRN PM Newscall April 14

Rock and Roll and Louisiana Music Hall of fame musician Percy Sledge died this morning at his home in Baton Rouge. He was 73. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Heavy showers and thunderstorms have been moving through south Louisiana since early this morning and it appears that more rain is on the way. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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Covington Representative Paul Hollis had a pretty rough first day of the legislative session. Hollis was driving his car through a parking lot at the Capitol when the new security system went off and two bollards shot up from the ground through the front of his car. State Police spokesman Lt. JB Slaton says it appears Hollis was following a delivery truck that was exiting the lot…

CUT 3 (07)  “the same time”

Slaton says the investigation is ongoing. He says the new security system is set up to allow one car go through at a time. The bollards are used to prevent the entry of unauthorized vehicles in the State Capitol. Slaton says these bollards are lowered either manually by a guard or by swiping a sensor card…

CUT 4 (10)  “bollards re-engage”

Hollis, who broke his right hand and suffered a concussion in the accident, says he looks forward to working with LSP to educate fellow lawmakers and staff on the new security system. Slaton says this security system appears to be operating properly…

CUT 5 (05)  “exact reason”

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Louisiana Hall of Fame musician Percy Sledge died shortly after midnight Tuesday in Baton Rouge at the age of 73. The coroner confirms Sledge had been battling cancer. Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Director Mike Shepherd says this is a very sad day…:

CUT 6 (08)  “wanna meet”

When a Man Loves a Woman was recorded in 1966 and was an international top 40 hit that 2was certified as gold by the RIAA. Sledge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Shepherd  says they inducted the R&B singer into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and his reaction to the award was memorable…:

CUT 7 (10)  “that’s how he felt”

Sledge was born in Leighton, Alabama and had lived in Baton Rouge since 1966. In a 2013 appearance on the Jim Engster Show, Sledge said he wrote When a Man Loves a Woman and it had been a tune in his head since he was a little boy…:

CUT 8 (16)  “in the world”

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Heavy showers and thunderstorms have been moving through south Louisiana since early this morning. Flash flood watches are in effect for a large portion of south Louisiana through this evening. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says even more rain is expected to roll in from the Gulf…

CUT 9 (09)  “this morning”

Jones says morning rains have produced minor flash flooding in some areas. He says rain has been falling at a rate of two to three inches per hour. Jones says what’s making matters worse is that these are slow moving storms…

cut 10 (09) “some flash flooding”

Jones says there should be a break from the rain this evening, but it’s only temporary… (Flash Flood Warnings are in effect for portions of south Louisiana until 2:45PM)

cut 11 (09)  “end of the week”

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There’s uncertainty surrounding state Representative Mike Johnson’s religious freedom bill. 775 bills were introduced to the House on Monday and Johnson’s legislation was the only one not assigned to a committee for a hearing. Jeremy Alford, with Lapolitics-dot-com, says lawmakers are not eager to debate the rights of businesses when it comes to same sex marriage

cut 12 (10)  “with it”

Governor Bobby Jindal supports Johnson’s bill. He says the legislation doesn’t promote discrimination, but it protects a business or person from receiving adverse treatment from the state based on their religious beliefs concerning marriage…

cut 13 (12)  “about marriage”

The House Democratic Caucus has yet to take a stand on Johnson’s bill. State representative John Bel Edwards says as of right now the legislation is vaguely written….

cut 14 (08) “interracial marriage”

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04.14.15
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LRN Sportscast 11:40 april 14

In the latest college baseball polls….Baseball America has LSU ranked second in the country, while Collegiate Baseball has LSU ranked third. Texas A-and-M, who is 33-and-3 on the season, is ranked number one in both of those polls. LSU hosts Lamar tomorrow night.

Wet weather is leading to cancellations and postponements for tonight’s games. Northwestern State’s contest at Mississippi State has been cancelled, while the Nicholls State-South Alabama game in Thibodaux has been postponed.

ULM is at Arkansas Pine-Bluff this afternoon. The Warhawks are looking to rebound after getting swept by Georgia State this past weekend.

Former Ragin Cajuns standout Ike Taylor has retired after a 12-year-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Taylor won two Super Bowl rings during his time with Pittsburgh, after he was picked by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2003 draft.

In the chase for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Pelicans and Thunder both won last night, so it all comes down to the final regular season game of the year. New Orleans will host San Antonio, while Oklahoma City has a much easier task against Minnesota. A win for the Pels over the defending champs and they secure a playoff spot. San Antonio has something to play for too as they are battling for seeding.

The Sun Belt Conference has announced the 2015-16 men’s and women’s basketball schedule. The conference will once again utilize a 20-game conference schedule and men’s and womens’ basketball games will be played as doubleheaders. The Ragin Cajuns will host ULM on February second, while a date has yet to be determined for when the Warhawks host U-L Lafayette.

Fox Sports Mike Garafolo reports that Nebraska’s Randy Gregory will visit with the Saints this week. Gregory is considered a first-round talent, but he failed a drug test at the NFL combine and he’s also tested positive for marijuana while at Nebraska.