Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

06.07.25
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7:30 LRN Sportscast

I’m Jeanne Bruns, and this Louisiana Radio Network sportscast is brought to you by the Louisiana Department of Health. When gambling is more than a game, no one wins…

Today is game one of the Super Regionals between LSU and West Virginia. Coach Jay Johnson has this scouting report on the Big 12 regular-season champion Mountaineers…

Cut 12  (13) “…right now”

LSU hopes its pitching duo of Anthony Eyanson and Kade Anderson can win the series before Monday’s game three. Tigers’ shortstop Steven Milam says it’ll be up to the offense to hold up their end…

Cut 13 (16)  “…how to play.”

First pitch is at 1 PM today.

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In Super Regional action yesterday, there were a couple of blowouts and two games that went into extra innings. North Carolina clobbered Arizona 18-2, Louisville crushed Miami eight to one, Oregon State scored three runs in the ninth inning to tie Florida State and then won it in the tenth inning five to four. Auburn came back from a five run deficit only to lose to Coastal Carolina seven to six in ten innings.

Texas won its first national championship in softball as the Longhorns defeated Texas Tech ten to four in Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series Championship Series.

A new era in college athletics is coming as a federal judge has approved a landmark two-point-eight billion dollar NCAA settlement with athletes. Starting July 1st, schools will be allowed to play players directly, NIL deals will now have to go through a clearing house, and there will be roster limitations, 105 for football, 15 for basketball, and 34 for baseball.

06.06.25
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LRN PM Newscall June 6

Senator Bill Cassidy and other Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee met with President Trump this week to discuss the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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With warmer temperatures here, now is the time to take steps to protect yourself from West Nile Virus. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee met with President Trump this week to find common ground on his “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Among them was Bill Cassidy, who says the two-hour meeting was very productive. Like other senators, Cassidy says the bill as passed by the House will not pass in the Senate without some changes.

Cut 3 (17) “…people do better.”

Cassidy says Trump laid out his main objectives that he wants to achieve with his “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

Cut 4 (17) “…the American people.”

Not everyone is happy with the “Big, Beautiful Bill” – among them, Elon Musk. He calls the bill, in his words, “an abomination” that’s full of pork spending. That’s led to a war of words between Musk and Trump that’s blown up in public. While some say the relationship between Trump and Musk is damaged beyond repair, Cassidy says it’s more like a lover’s tiff.

Cut 5 (12) “…wish you hadn’t.”

Cassidy says he’s confident that cooler heads will ultimately prevail and Trump and Musk will once again work together.

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Mosquito season is upon us, so now is the time to take steps to protect yourself from West Nile Virus. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says when you go outside, apply EPA-approved mosquito repellent containing DEET, and take other steps as well.

Cut 6 (09) “…hours or so.”

Sokol says wearing insect repellent is only one step in protecting yourself against West Nile.

Cut 7 (12) “…windows and doors.”

Sokol says it’s also important to eliminate any standing water on your property, since standing water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitos.

Cut 8 (13) “…could collect water.”

Sokol says every year, people get infected with West Nile in every part of the state, so everyone is at risk for West Nile.

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The 75th Annual Louisiana Peach Festival is tomorrow in Ruston. Tori Davis with Experience Ruston says the event has grown into a music and arts festival.

Cut 9 (15)  “…huge arts market.”

Throughout the week, restaurants throughout Ruston have been participating in the Peach Culinary Crawl, offering special peach-inspired dishes. Davis says there’s plenty of entertainment tomorrow for visitors of all ages.

Cut 10 (11) “…until 10:30 p.m..”

Davis says peaches are a huge crop in northwest Louisiana – so much so that Ruston is known as the peach capital of Louisiana.

Cut 11 (14) “…you’ll ever eat.”

The festivities begin at nine tomorrow morning, and admission is free.

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LSU is set to host West Virginia in the Super Regional round of the NCAA tournament this weekend. The Mountaineers have gone to back-to-back Super Regionals and were undefeated in Clemson last weekend. Tigers coach Jay Johnson says the Mountaineers will be ready…

Cut 12 (13) “…right now.” 

LSU will hope pitching duo Anthony Eyanson and Kade Anderson can win the series before Monday’s game three. Anderson and Eyanson rank second and third in the nation in strikeouts and have a combined 19-and-3 record. Tigers’ shortstop Steven Milam says it’ll be up to the offense to hold up their end…

Cut 13 (16)  “…how to play.”

The winner of the best-of-three series will head to Omaha for an appearance in the College World Series. Junior second baseman Daniel Dickinson says he played in Omaha on a summer travel team in high school…

Cut 14 (17) “…that picture.”

The series kicks off tomorrow at 1 p.m.

06.06.25
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

I’m Jeanne Burns, and this Louisiana Radio Network sportscast is brought to you by the Louisiana Department of Health. When gambling is more than a game, no one wins…

 

LSU’s Super Regional series against West Virginia will get underway tomorrow at 1 PM. We’ll find out tomorrow who will start on the mound for the Tigers. It will be either Anthony Eyanson or Kade Anderson and the one who doesn’t start tomorrow, will start Sunday. Tiger Rag dot-com’s editor Glen Guilbeau says  if LSU can’t wrap up the series by Sunday, Monday’s game three could get interesting.

Cut 14 (17) “…off game.”

Griffin Kirn is expected to start for West Virginia. He’s 5-2 with a 3.13 ERA and has struck out 100 hitters in 95 innings.

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Franklinton native Jessica Barber is the new director of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association. Barber was most recently an assistant women’s basketball coach at Southern Miss. She also coached at ULM, Loyola University New Orleans, Pine High School, Franklinton High School and Edna Karr. Barber says she hopes to be a resource for coaches across the state.

Cut 17 (11)  “…offering solutions”

Saints tight end Foster Moreau has not participated in OTA practice sessions as he continues to recover from a knee injury, but coach Kellen Moore says Moreau has been very active…

Cut 20 (19) “..we want”

06.05.25
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LRN PM Newscall

Soon, you can legally cruise down Louisiana highways with darker-tinted front windows. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Legislators approved a new bidding process to help the Secretary of State’s Office replace Louisiana’s decades-old voting system. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Soon, you’ll be able to tint your front windows darker. A bill allowing for just that passed overwhelmingly in both houses of the legislature and now awaits a signature from Governor Landry. Its author is Marksville Republican Representative Daryl Deshotel (DESH-uh-tell).

Cut 3 (14) “…light coming through.”

Deshotel says this bill brings Louisiana in line with other states which suffer through brutal summer heat.

Cut 4 (08) “…and other states.”

One concern brought up during debate was whether the darker tint would hinder law enforcement’s ability to look through a window during a traffic stop for things like firearms and contraband. Deshotel says law enforcement organizations had no problem with the new standard.

Cut 5 (10) “…on the bill.”

Deshotel notes that drivers are required to have their windows rolled down by the time an officer approaches, and he offered to add an amendment to impose an extra fine for not doing so. Law enforcement organizations, however, felt that wasn’t necessary.

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The Louisiana legislature has approved a new bidding process to purchase a new voting system, replacing over ten-thousand nearly 35-year-old machines. Joel Watson of the Secretary of State’s office says the new “invitation to negotiate process” can help speed up procurement…

Cut 6 (07) “…can offer.”

Louisiana’s voting machines have needed an upgrade for decades, but bidding controversies and delays have marred progress. Watson says improvements are long overdue…

Cut 7 (14) “…get there.”

New machines will produce physical paper ballots voters can review, confirm and submit. Watson says the paper ballots will help ensure transparency and voter security…

Cut 8 (06) “…the election.”

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Pope Leo the 14th has named Uganda-born priest, Father Simon Peter Engurait as Bishop-elect for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The 53-year-old was ordained as priest for the diocese in 2013….

Cut 9 (14)  “…and to the church.”

Bishop Elect Engurait has served as the Diocesan Administrator in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since January 2024, upon the sudden passing of Bishop Mario Dorsonville. He previously served as the Vicar General since 2017 and has also served as the pastor of St. Bridge Parish since that time as well.

Bishop Elect Engurait says he did not expect the Holy Father to choose him to be the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux…

Cut 10 (10) “…in saying yes.”

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in southeastern Louisiana has an estimated 90,000 Catholics, around 38% of the total population of the territory.  Bishop-elect Engurait was born in Uganda in 1971. He is seven of 14 children and he was raised Catholic.

Before becoming a priest, Bishop Elect Engurait worked in the government of Uganda and later pursued a graduate degree in business administration. In 2003, he met Bishop Sam Jacobs, then the bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, and it was Bishop Jacobs who ordained him in 2013. Bishop Elect Engurait says south Louisiana is home and he loves the people there…

Cut 11 (13) “…next Bishop.”

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The 2025 legislative session ends a week from today and this session will be remembered for auto insurance reform. The governor has signed several legal reform bills expected to produce lower payouts to car accident victims. Landry says it’s legislation the insurance industry has been seeking for several years…

Cut 12 (15) “…of that list.” 

Landry says the bills he’s signed will shield Louisianans from frivolous lawsuits driven by trial lawyers. One of the bills he signed disallows a driver without car insurance from collecting an award for bodily injury medical expenses for any amount below 100-thousand, up from 15-thousand dollars. The governor says they also eliminated a provision known as the Housley Presumption…

Cut 13 (11)  “…work harder.”

The governor has taken criticism from the insurance industry for signing a bill that gives the insurance commissioner greater authority to hold down rates. Landry says other states have a similar law and they have lower insurance rates than Louisiana…

Cut 14 (11) “…in Alabama.”

06.05.25
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11:30 LRN Newscast

Using a hand-held cell phone while driving will soon be illegal in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A bill that effectively bans local governments from using speed cameras is heading to the governor’s desk. There are some exceptions, ticket writing speed cameras can be used in school zones and the town of Opelousas is exempted from the new law that will go into effect August 1st.

 

New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd’s effort to create an exception to the state’s near total ban on abortion fails to get out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. For the third year in a row Boyd, authored legislation to legalize abortions in cases where rape and incest led to a pregnancy of a girl 17 and younger…

Cut 15 (10) “….that choice”

The bill was defeated in committee on an eight to three vote.

Pope Leo the 14th has named Uganda-born priest, Father Simon Peter Engurait as Bishop-elect for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The 53-year-old was ordained as priest for the diocese in 2013….

Cut 9 (14) “…to the church”

Bishop Elect Engurait has served as the Diocesan Administrator in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since January 2024, upon the sudden passing of Bishop Mario Dorsonville. He previously served as the Vicar General since 2017 and has also served as the pastor of St. Bridge Parish since that time as well.

06.05.25
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10:30 LRN Newscast

A ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving is headed to Governor Landry’s desk. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says this is something that the auto club has been pushing for for years. He says making phone calls has practically become a secondary use of cell phones while in vehicles.

Cut 4 (10) “…conference calls, shopping.”

The new law will go into effect on January 1st.

Seventy-five-year-old Loretta Wiley has received a Master’s degree in counseling from Louisiana Tech. Wiley started the program back in 2006, but life circumstances forced her away from the classroom two years later. Her desire to complete the program never wavered; and she went back to school following the death of her husband.

Cut 8 (12) “…me on target.”

Wiley also serves as a substitute teacher in Bossier Parish and will explore new opportunities through counseling or mentoring.

After years of receiving “D” and “F” grades, Louisiana has received a “C” grade on R Street’s latest insurance regulation report card. Kace Kieschnick (KEESH-nick) reports the higher grade is the result of improvements to the state’s regulatory environment…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy was one of several senators who met with President Donald Trump about the One Big Beautiful Bill that needs Senate approval…

Cut 30 (12) “…deficit”

06.05.25
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9:30 LRN Newscast

Since 2013, the state has received “D” and “F” grades from the R Street Insurance Regulation Report Card. But this year the state received a “C” grade. The report attributes Louisiana’s increased rating to improvements in the state’s insurance regulatory environment and expansion of the Louisiana Fortify Homes program…

Cut 11 (07) “….the resiliencies”

That’s Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple who says he’s encouraged by the C grade but there’s still more work to do.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted down legislation that would have provided an exception for pregnant women under the age of 17 to get an abortion if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. The vote was 8 to 3 against. New Orleans Democrat Alonzo Knox gave passionate testimony for the bill. He says government should not be making the decision for a teenager who is pregnant because of a sexual assault.

Cut 14 (10) “…monster’s child.”

A Bossier Parish woman is living proof that you’re never too old to chase your dreams. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Pope Leo the 14th has appointed Reverend Simon Peter Engurait, a priest at the Dicoese of Houma-Thibodaux and current diocesan administrator, as the Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux. Father Engurait is from Uganda and studied at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained as a priest in 2013 and since 2017 he’s served as pastor of Saint Bridge parish in Schriever.

06.05.25
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8:30 LRN Newscast

Using a hand-held cell phone while driving will soon be illegal in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A bill that effectively bans local governments from using speed cameras is heading to the governor’s desk. There are some exceptions, ticket writing speed cameras can be used in school zones and the town of Opelousas is exempted from the new law that will go into effect August 1st.

The House Criminal Justice Committee votes against legislation that would have allowed a girl under 17 to seek an abortion if her pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. Republicans and Democrats voted “no” on the bill, including Monroe Democrat Patricia Moore.

Cut 13 (08)  “…good.”

Moore says this issue weighs heavily on her, because her own mother was 14 when she gave birth to her and the pregnancy was the result of a rape.

After receiving D and F grades since 2013, Louisiana has received a C grade in a report that looks at Insurance Regulation. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says it’s a sign the state is moving in the right direction when it comes to insurance reform and insurance companies will take note of this improved grade…

Cut 12 (10) “…do considered”

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has approved licensing of ten new homeowners’ insurers in the state since early 2024.

06.05.25
by

7:30 LRN Newscast

After years of receiving “D” and “F” grades, Louisiana has received a “C” grade on R Street’s latest insurance regulation report card. Kace Kieschnick (KEESH-nick) reports the higher grade is the result of improvements to the state’s regulatory environment…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Forty-two-thousand students in Louisiana took the ACT in 2024 and the average score was 17.7. The national average ACT score last year was 19.4. St. Tammany Parish had the highest average ACT score, followed by West Feliciana, Ascension, Vernon, Lincoln and Livingston Parishes.

Starting January 1st, Louisiana drivers can be ticketed for handling their cell phone while driving because of legislation approved by the Louisiana Legislature. It’s important to note that being caught handling a cell phone while driving will be a secondary offense, meaning that an officer will not pull you over for that offense alone. But if he notices a driver handling a cell phone while committing another moving violation that would be an additional fine. Triple-A’s Don Redman says after several years of trying to pass this law, it will finally go on the books on January 1st…

Cut 6 (09) “…a big concern.”

Seventh-five-year-old Loretta Wiley received her master’s degree in counseling and guidance with a specialization in human services at Louisiana Tech. In all, Wiley’s gap in her Master’s program lasted more than ten years. As such, while she was able to carry over a small handful of credit hours she had previously earned, she had to take most of her core courses over again.

Cut 9 (09)  “…the courses over.”

06.05.25
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6:45LRN Sportscast

Later today, West Virgina arrives in Baton Rouge for its Super Regional series against the LSU Tigers, which will begin on Saturday afternoon at Alex Box Stadium. The Mountaineers are 44-14 under first-year head coach Steve Sabins, who spent nine years as an assistant in Morgantown. LSU Coach Jay Johnson told Tiger Rag Radio he looked at hiring Sabins as an assistant coach at LSU and he is not underestimating the Mountaineers…

Cut 18 (18) “….to win”

West Virginia does not hit a lot of home runs, but they put the ball in play and get on base.

The Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, told Rod Walker of the Times Picayune that there are no plans to trade Zion Williamson. Dumars says he’s had some real direct and honest conversations with Zion who has not been able to reach his full potential because of injuries and off-the-court issues.

The NBA Finals begin tonight as Oklahoma City hosts the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 PM.

Texas topped Texas Tech in game one of the Women’s College World Series championship series. Reese Atwood had two-run single and Teagan Kavan outpitched Jaree Canady.

Former LSU baseball player J-C Holt has been named Coach of the Year in Class B. Holt led Pitkin to a state championship in baseball last month and his son, Gavin, is the Class B Player of the Year. Holt with .410 with 27 RBIS.

The Class B softball player of the year is Cali Deal from Quitman. The LSU signee was 9-4 in the circle with 143 strikeouts, and she hit .278 with 24 RBIs as Quitman won a state title. Stanley’s Josh Foshee was named Coach of the Year.