Three jockeys at Evangeline Downs Race Track in Opelousas have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a scheme to fix a race on June 19th. State Police arrested 46-year-old Joseph Patin Junior, his 51-year-old brother, Billy Patin and 24-year-old LeSean Conyers. Master Trooper Brooks David says they started an investigation after receiving a complaint from the Louisiana Racing Commission….
cut 12 (10) “….to win”
David says the Patin brothers also face charges for using an illegal shocking device on the horses during two races on July 4th.
In the NBA…Commissioner Adam Silver is planning on making changes to how the league seeds its playoff teams and that would include no longer guaranteeing a postseason berth for a team that wins its division.
At Conference USA Media Days, Louisiana Tech quarterback Jeff Driskel was a popular person to speak with. Driskel spent four years at Florida, but was never able to achieve the success that most people anticipated when he came out of high school. Bulldogs Head Coach Skip Holtz told reporters that Driskel has earned the team’s respect since he arrived in Ruston…
cut 17 (19) “…him play”
Former LSU wide receiver Avery Peterson is transferring to Cincinnati. Peterson, who is the younger brother of former Tiger star Patrick Peterson, told ESPN he believes Cincinnati is a program on the rise. Avery played in only one game in two seasons at LSU. He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school.
Author Archives: Jeff Palermo
LRN Newscast 17:30 July 22nd
According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, oil and gas jobs in Louisiana continued their decline in June, dropping to the lowest level in almost 10 years. Eric Gill has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Eric Gill”
Sabine Parish authorities say they are treating the death of an eight month old child as a homicide. Kayla Lewis died yesterday afternoon and Coroner Ron Rivers says a preliminary autopsy result shows there was blunt force trauma to the child’s face. At this time, no charges have been filed.
A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that more teenage girls are using the morning after pill. Dr. Valerie Williams, with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, says more teens are taking the pill now because it’s easier to get over the counter…:
CUT 12 (11) “insurance”
The report indicates more than 1 in 5 sexually active teen girls have used the morning after pill from 2001 to 2013 when it was 1 in 12 a decade earlier.
Thirty-four-year-old Tomeka Stair of Harvey is in custody after she allegedly shot three of her children with BB guns as punishment. Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Col John Fortunato says Stair’s 21-year-old girlfriend was also arrested and it was her who confirmed the abuse…:
CUT 7 (06) “both females”
They are each booked with three counts of juvenile cruelty.
LRN Sportscast 16:45 July 22nd
It was Conference USA Media Day today and Louisiana Tech goes into the upcoming season as a favorite to win the West Division. The Bulldogs have a new defensive coordinator. Blake Baker replaces Manny Diaz. Baker was the Bulldogs safeties coach last season and Head Coach Skip Holtz says the defensive scheme won’t change much with Baker, which is what the players wanted…
cut 30 (13) “…this year”
Tech led the FBS with 42 takeaways last season.
LSU Football Coach Les Miles says freshman running back Derris Guice is participating in team activities again after a trip to the hospital last week. Guice reportedly needed medical assistance for severe dehydration while working out at the LSU football practice facility.
Defending Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana has eight players on the league’s preseason All-conference football teams. The Lions placed two players on the first team, defensive backs Harlan Miller and Denzel Thompson. Northwestern State has six players on the preseason teams, including wide receiver Ed Eagan. McNeese State has four players, three on the first team, linebackers Wallace Scott and Bo Brown and defensive back Brent Spikes. Nicholls State has one player, running back Michael Henry.
In NBA News…the Pelicans have reportedly reached a one-year deal with 30-year-old center Kendrick Perkins, who is expected to bring defensive toughness to the Pels. Seth Curry, who averaged 25-points a game for the Pelicans summer league team has signed with Sacramento. And Jimmer Fredette is leaving New Orleans as he’s reportedly agreed to a training camp deal with San Antonio.
In major league baseball….former LSU pitcher Kevin Gausman will start for the Orioles tonight, who vist the first place New York Yankees.
LRN PM Newscall July 22nd
The city council in Hammond refuses to allow establishments that only severe alcohol to open on Sundays. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, oil and gas jobs in Louisiana continued their decline in June, dropping to the lowest level in almost 10 years. Eric Gill has more…
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The city council in Hammond refuses to allow establishments that only severe alcohol to open on Sundays. During a meeting last night, the vote was 3-2 against changing the longtime law. Several people attended to speak in favor of bars selling alcohol on Sundays including Todd Delaune, owner of Red, White and Brew on Hammond’s main street…:
Delaune says this is an issue of fairness that’s taken a small segment of people who run businesses and saying they don’t have the right to earn money 7 days a week like their counterparts. He says, to him, the religious argument doesn’t hold up…:
CUT 4 (11) “Friday and Saturday”
There was a woman who spoke to oppose the proposal saying it would hurt Hammond’s family city image to sell alcohol on Sundays. Delaune says bars police the sale of alcohol better than most other establishments that offer liquor and beer 7 days a week such as restaurants and gas stations…:
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A Harvey woman was arrested after allegedly shooting three of her five children with a BB gun and choking them as punishment. 34-year-old Tomeka Stair was charged with three counts of cruelty to a juvenile. Col. John Fortunato with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department says a family member alerted authorities about the abuse.
The victims were ages 9 to 11. Forturato says Stair’s 21-year-old girlfriend, Shebria Turner was also arrested on similar charges. He says Turner confessed to the police and confirmed what the children were saying about their mother.
Forturato says the children were originally released to child protective services but are now with a relative. He says this is obviously not the way to punish children for bad behavior.
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According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, oil and gas jobs in Louisiana continued their decline in June, dropping to the lowest level in almost 10 years. Eric Smith, Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute, says these jobs are some of the best jobs in the state…
Mining and logging jobs, where many oil and gas jobs are classified, fell by another 300 jobs last month, bringing the total number of jobs lost this year to 6,000. Smith says the price of crude oil is the leading factor in the decrease in jobs…
cut 10 (10) “of the country” X2
The total number of mining and logging jobs has dropped to 47,700, the lowest in the state since May 2006. But Smith says the June job report isn’t all bad news…
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A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more teenage girls are using the morning after pill. The report indicates about 1 in 5 teens girls have used the morning after pill, when ten years ago it was 1 in 12. Dr. Valerie Williams,with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, says more teens are taking the pill now because it’s easier to get over the counter…:
Williams hopes easier access to the morning after pill will lead to a drop in teen birth rates because 80% of teenage pregnancies are unplanned. She says unfortunately, Louisiana is above the national average for teen pregnancy rates.
Williams says there are both negatives and positives to this trend. She says it’s great for young women to have an emergency option, but it shouldn’t be used as a primary form of contraception.
11:40 LRN Sportscast July 22nd
It’s been a long season for the Philadelphia Phillies, who have the worst record in the Major Leagues, but Baton Rouge product and former LSU All-American Aaron Nola gave the city of Brotherly Love something to cheer about last night. Nola threw six strong innings, allowing just one run and striking out six in his major league debut for the Phillies. But Philadelphia still lost one to nothing to Tampa Bay as the only run Nola gave up was to the opposing pitcher, who hit a home run. Nola will make his next start on Sunday in Chicago against the Cubs.
In the NBA….the Pelicans have reportedly reached a one-year deal with 12-year veteran center Kendrick Perkins. The 30-year-old helped the Boston Celtics win an NBA Championship in 2008.
And Seth Curry has signed a two-year deal with the Sacramento Kings. Curry averaged nearly 25 points a game for the New Orleans Pelicans summer league team.
Defending Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana has eight players on the league’s preseason All-conference football teams. The Lions placed two players on the first team, defensive backs Harlan Miller and Denzel Thompson. Northwestern State has six players on the preseason teams, including wide receiver Ed Eagan. McNeese State has four players, three on the first team, linebackers Wallace Scott and Bo Brown and defensive back Brent Spikes and Nicholls State has one player, running back Michael Henry.
Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth has announced the dismassal of two football players…defensive lineman Marquis White and receiver C-J Bates. Hudspeth says they felt it was in the best interest of the program to part ways. White had 16 tackles last season, while Bates caught 12 passes.
Louisiana College has been picked to finish third in the American Southwest Conference. Wildcats quarterback Eason Melancon has been named an A-S-C preseason player of the year.
LRN Newscast 17:30 July 21
Louisiana’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to six-point-four percent in June based on the latest labor statistics. Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Curt Eysink says the data also shows the Bayou State adding 13,400 jobs over the last 12 months. He says the current job growth is across many different professions….
cut 14 904) “…total ever”
Payrolls rose by 5,000 from May to June but Eysink admits the dropping price of oil is affecting energy sector jobs.
There are a group of parents in Tangipahoa Parish who believe the start of school should be pushed back, because it’s too hot. The concerned parents have started an online peition. But Tangipahoa School Superintendent Mark Kolwe (Cole-lay) says it’s too late to push the first day of school back…
cut 8 (08) “….calendar”
Kolwe says school is set to start in two weeks, because students need as much classroom instruction as possible for the state exams in March and April.
In an effort to re-establish the species, the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has released juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles into the Calcasieu River Basin. Eric Gill has more…
cut 2 (30) “….I’m Eric Gill”
A former Iberia Parish Sheriff’s deputy faces a day in jail for punching a man who was under arrest in September 2013 after the Sugar Cane Festival in New Iberia. Twenty-nine-year-old Cody Laperouse must also perform 200 hours of community service, take anger management classes and pay a $2,000 fine.
LRN Sportscast 16:45 July 21
Former LSU All-American Aaron Nola makes his major league debut tonight when he pitches for the Phillies, who host Tampa Bay. The 22-year-old only spent 13 months in the minors and compiled an ERA of 2.39 while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A this season. Former LSU Tiger pitching great Ben McDonald says his advice for Nola is to stay within himself…
cut 30 (18) “…that point”
25 years ago today, McDonald made his major league debut with Baltimore and and the former LSU star threw a complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox.
Conference USA Media Days are tomorrow in south Florida. Bulldogs head coach Skip Holtz will be there, along with safety Kentrell Brice and quarterback Jeff Driskel.
ULM Football Coach Todd Berry is very confident about the team he has going into the 2015 season. He calls it the best he’s had since arriving in Monroe to coach the Warhawks. ULM struggled to run the football last season, averaging just 70 yards a game on the ground. Berry expects better results this season….
cut 19 (14) “…with that”
Berry takes over the play-calling duties this season after the team went four and eight last year and lost five games by a touchdown or less.
In basketball…the Lady Techsters have released their schedule for the upcoming season. Coach Tyler Summit’s team opens the season on November 14th at Wisconsin. The Lady Techers will also visit the Bahamas where they’ll play UCLA and they have a three-game homestand in December where they’ll host Mississippi State, UL Lafayette and McNeese.
11:40 LRN Sportscast July 21
Ragin Cajuns football coach Mark Hudspeth will not name a new starting quarterback until the September 5th season opener against Kentucky. Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and redshirt freshman Jordan Davis are all seeking to Terrance Broadway, who has been the starting QB the last three seasons. UL Lafayette has been to the New Orleans Bowl for four straight years. Hudspeth says the annual trip to the Big Easy is not getting stale, but playing in a major bowl game is the goal…
cut 17 (15) “….not the destination”
The Ragin Cajuns were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll.
Louisiana Tech will hold its annual Fan Fest on Saturday, August 22nd at 3 PM. This is an opportunity for fans to meet members of the Bulldogs football team. And Nicholls State football season tickets are now on sale. The Colonels first home game is October 3rd against McNeese State.
Former LSU pitcher Aaron Nola will make his major league debut tonight as he’ll pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies. The 22-year-old reaches the majors after spending only one season in the minors. In 18 starts in Double-A and Triple-A this season, he’s 10-4 with a 2.39 ERA. He’ll face Tampa Bay in a game that will start at 6:05.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Giants would like to sign Quarterback Eli Manning to a contract extension prior to the start of the regular seaosn. Manning has one more year left on his current deal and the New Orleans native is set to make 17-million dollars this season.
LRN newscast 17:30 July 20
US Senator David Vitter announces he has raised $1.3 million in the second quarter and has more than $5 million in cash on hand for his gubernatorial campaign. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this announcement is another sign that Vitter is the guy everybody’s chasing in this race…:
CUT 7 (09) “in the runoff”
The other gubernatorial candidates have yet to announce their second quarter fundraising totals.
Shreveport Police say a family is in mouring today after a 10-year-old boy lost his life as a result of an incident in which it appears he accidentally shot himself. Corporal Marcus Hines says the investigation into the boy’s death is ongoing…:
CUT 10 (06) “at this point”
He says gun owners should always be sure to keep their weapons where children can not access them.
LSU’s athletic department announces they’ve transferred ten million dollars to the main campus, to be used on academic and research initiatives. That’s about three million dollars more than what university leaders were expecting….
cut 15 (10) “to the campus”
That’s LSU Senior Associate Athletics Director Eddie Nunez.
State Police are looking for the driver of a vehicle responsible for hitting a teenager on the side of the road in Albany. The 14-year-old was last reported to be in critical condition. Trooper Bryan Lee says the suspect vehicle was trying to pass another one when it struck the teen in Livingston Parish…:
CUT 4 (09) “GMC Pickup”
State Police is asking the public for assistance in locating the pickup truck.
LRN Sportscast 16:45 July 20
The Saints report for training camp in 10 days. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the Black and Gold have improved at cornerback. Detillier is expecting another good season from veteran Keenan Lewis and they have better talent at the other corner spot…
cut 19 (19) “….there”
In the NBA…the Pelicans have re-signed forward Luke Babbitt, who averaged four points a contest in 63 games last season. Former LSU Tiger Jordan Mickey has signed a four-year, five-million dollar contract with Boston. The Celtics selected Mickey in the second round last month. And the Raptors have reportedly signed former Louisiana Tech star Michale Kyser to a one-year-contract.
LSU’s athletic department announces they’ve transferred ten million dollars to the main campus, to be used on academic and research initiatives. That’s about three million dollars more than what university leaders were expecting….
cut 15 (10) “to the campus”
That’s LSU Senior Associate Athletics Director Eddie Nunez.
LSU Coach Les Miles spent today at ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut. Miles said on College Football Live that Quarterback Anthony Jennings arrest will have a “postive” end.
Ragin Cajuns Running back Elijah McGuire was named the preseason Sun Belt Conference Offensive player of the year today. The junior rushed for 1,264 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. ULM landed three players on the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference football team, wide receiver Rashon Ceaser, defensive lineman Gerrand Johnson and defensive back Mitch Lane.