6:45 LRN Sportscast

Many doubted that LSU football could contend for the SEC Championship this year, but now they are 3-and-0 in the SEC after victories over Ole Miss and Arkansas. Coach Brian  Kelly says he wants the players to focus on their preparation, not what the press is saying…

Cut 18 (19)   “…usually happen” .

The Tigers are preparing to face 14th ranked Texas A-and-M, who has one of the best rushing attack in the country.

Saints Coach Dennis Allen says if Derek Carr is not ready to play this Sunday against the Chargers, rookie Spencer Rattler will make his third consecutive start. Allen is hopeful Taysom Hill can return from fractured ribs and there’s a chance interior offensive linemen Lucas Patrick and Cesar Ruiz will return this weekend. The Chargers lost last night to the Cardinals 17 to 15.

Louisiana Tech hosts a football game tonight as the Bulldogs will battle UTEP at 7 PM at Joe Aillet Stadium. Tech enters the game with a 2-4 record, 1-and-2 in Conference USA. Senior defensive lineman Mykol Clark says they are hungry for a win after a bad loss last week at New Mexico State…

Cut 20 (20) “…to go, man.”

The Pelicans have signed shooting guard Trey Murphy to a four-year, 112-million dollar contract extension. Coach Willie Green says it was a goal to get Murphy signed before the start of the season…

Cut 21  (19) “…our team”

The Pelicans season opener is tomorrow night against Chicago.

6:30 LRN Newscast

A comprehensive study of Governor Jeff Landry’s tax plan finds that the proposed changes to income and sales taxes would lead to a vast majority of Louisiana citizens seeing a tax cut, almost all-in double-digit percentages. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says the income tax becomes modestly more progressive, and the sales tax becomes slightly less regressive…

Cut 5 (08) “…of comfort”

Governor Landry will ask lawmakers to approve his tax plan during a special session that’s expected to be held next month.

WalletHub released its 2024 report ranking the safest states in America, with Louisiana identified as the least safe. WalletHub.com Analyst Chip Lupo say the ranking looked at five key safety factors

Cut 10 (12) “…emergency preparedness.”

A Baton Rouge mother has been sentenced to life in prison as a result of her two-year-old son dying from a Fentanyl overdose in 2022.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Ruston Police say a 20-year-old Shreveport woman’s blood alcohol content was more than twice Louisiana’s legal limit when she hit two men with her car over the weekend on South Service Road. Abby Sterling will face vehicle homicide charges. One of the two men hit, died at a hospital, 21-year-old Jack Mitcham of Ruston, who was also a Louisiana Tech student.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The eighth ranked LSU Tigers were big winners on Saturday night beating Arkansas 34 to 10. LSU started fast in Fayetteville with a touchdown on its opening drive. When Arkansas got back into the game, Tigers linebacker Whit Weeks had a huge interception to set up a Caden Durham touchdown. LSU finished the scoring with a 14-play, 80 yard drive late in the fourth quarter. Coach Brian Kelly says the Tigers played well from start to finish…

Cut 17 (17) “…this point.”

LSU will need to play well again this Saturday as the Tigers go back on the road this Saturday to face 14th ranked Texas A-and-M.

Louisiana Tech will host UTEP tomorrow night. The Miners are 1-and-6 and that victory came last Wednesday against FIU.

Saints Coach Dennis Allen said today that it’s still too early to know if quarterback Derek Carr will be healthy enough to play in this Sunday’s game against the Chargers. He’s hopeful Taysom Hill will be back from fractured ribs, while receiver Chris Olave remains in concussion protocol. Former Bills, Chiefs and Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling worked out for the team today.

Southeastern Louisiana receiver Darius Lewis has been named Southland offensive player of the week as he caught the winning touchdown pass in the Lions heart stopping win over Stephen F Austin. Nicholls linebacker Jake Dalmado has been named the Southland Defensive player of the week as he had three sacks in the Colonels shutout win over Northwestern State.

The Pelicans have reportedly signed forward Trey Murphy to a four-year, 112-million dollar contract extension. The former first round pick averaged a career high 15 points last year. He has a hamstring injury, so he will not be on the floor when New Orleans tips off the season on Wednesday against the Bulls.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU is ranked Eighth in the latest A-P Top 25 poll as the Tigers are 6-and-1 following a blowout victory at Arkansas. Coach Brian Kelly says his team keeps improving…

Cut 18 (18) “…coming together”

The Tigers are at 14th ranked Texas A-and-M on Saturday. The Aggies have also won six in a row.

Longtime LSU football staffer Charles Baglio died on Friday night when he was struck by a car on U-S Highway 51 in Tangipahoa Parish. Baglio was just involved in a wreck himself and was checking on another vehicle when he was struck and killed. Baglio was also a successful high school football coach at Independence. Former Independence Coach Keith Carona says Baglio made high school sports fun…

Cut 6 (08) “….doing it”

Baglio was also on LSU’s staff for its three most recent national championships . He was 81.

The Ragin Cajuns are bowl eligible for a school-record seventh straight season after beating Coastal Carolina on Saturday. And they are tied for first place in the Sun Belt West with ULM. UL Coach Michael Desormeaux…

Cut 20 (20) “…our best.” 

The Cajuns are at Texas State on Saturday. ULM returns from a bye week as they’ll travel to play South Alabama in Mobile.

Southeastern Louisiana receiver Darius Lewis has been named Southland offensive player of the week as he caught the winning touchdown pass in the Lions heart stopping win over Stephen F Austin. Nicholls linebacker Jake Dalmado has been named the Southland Defensive player of the week as he had three sacks in the Colonels shutout win over Northwestern State.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Oral arguments are underway in a federal courthouse in Baton Rouge over the challenge to Louisiana’s controversial Ten Commandments law. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Early voting continues today for the November 5th presidential election. The Secretary of State’s Office reports there have been 171-thousand early in-person voters after two days of early voting. In 2020, there were 155-thousand early votes after two days.

The lone constitutional amendment on the November 5th ballot would dedicate any federal money Louisiana receives from offshore Alternative energy production to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund which funds coastal protection projects. CPRF is constitutionally protected and already receives dedicated OIL and GAS money from federal and state sources, and from the BP Oil Spill settlement. LaRose Representative Joseph Orgeron…

Cut 10 (12) “…energy infrastucture.”

Thousands will travel this week to New Orleans as Taylor Swift will be performing in the Superdome. New Orleans and Company spokesperson Kelly Schulz says this is a golden opportunity to showcase the city…

Cut 15 (09) “….throughout their lifetime”

Schulz says through her shows, Taylor Swift single-handedly boosts cities’ economies throughout the world.

LRN Newscast 9:30

Oral arguments will take place in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge this morning over Louisiana’s controversial Ten Commandments law.

Cut 7 (14) “…in public schools.”

That’s Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrell is defending the law on the state’s behalf and her legal team will make the case that the law is constitutional. The hearing is expected to last one or two days.

Two years from now, U-S Senator Bill Cassidy will likely be seeking re-election, but La Politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says he would not be surprised if Cassidy faces a challenger from his own party. Alford says State Treasurer John Fleming is one possibility…

Cut 6 (11) “…direct mail piece”

State Police is investigating two separate crashes in Avoyelles Parish that happened on the same highway on the same day. Both fatal wrecks occurred on Highway 107 on Saturday night. A two-vehicle crash near Center point claimed the life 62-year-old Harold Gaspard of Marksville and a one-vehicle crash near Pinks Lane claimed the life of 37-year-old Terrence Hawkins.

Some 150-thousand Swifties are set to invade New Orleans this week. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

LRN Newscast 8:30 October 21

Louisiana’s new law to have the Ten Commandments posted in every public-school classroom goes before a federal judge in Baton Rouge today. Dane Ciolino, a professor of law at the Loyola University-New Orleans says the plaintiffs, which includes the ACLU, have Supreme Court precedent on their side.

Cut 8 (14) “…in public schools.”

Ciolino says this case will likely go before the U-S Supreme Court and the current make-up of the nation’s highest court gives it a chance that the state’s Ten Commandments law could be ruled constitutional.

KALB-TV reports Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree submitted his resignation on Friday, which means the city council will appoint the next mayor, instead of voters with a special election.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has 5.8 million in his campaign warchest sending a strong signal he will run for re-election in 2026.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Just one constitutional amendment on the November 5th ballot. A vote for the amendment would send federal dollars from money received from offshore wind, solar and other renewable energy sources to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund. LaRose Representative Joseph Orgeron explains why he authored the amendment to support the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund…

Cut 11 (09) “….in 20231”

Opponents of Amendment 1 say dedicating money from offshore energy production to the CPFR restricts lawmakers’ ability to make budget decisions.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Oral arguments will play out today in a federal courtroom over a new state law that’s being challenged by several groups that calls for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public classroom. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino expects Judge John deGravelles to rule in favor of the plantiffs, but the state’s strategy is the long game…

Cut 9 (16) “….establishment clause precedent”

Ciolino says the Supreme Court has shown a willingness to allow religion in public schools.

LSU is ranked Eighth in the latest A-P Top 25 poll as the Tigers are 6-and-1 following a blowout victory at Arkansas. Coach Brian Kelly says his team keeps improving…

Cut 28 (05) “…coming together”

The Tigers are at 14th ranked Texas A-and-M on Saturday. The Aggies have also won six in a row.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who is up for re-election in 2026,  raised nearly $1.5 million in the third quarter of this year and has 5.8 million dollars in cash on hand. LA-Politics-dot-come Publisher Jeremy Alford…

Cut 4 (08) “…fundraising base come together.”

There was some speculation Cassidy might not seek a third term. He’ll be 69 when he runs for re-election and the Louisiana Republican Party censured Cassidy in 2021 for his vote to convict former President Donald Trump for his role in the January sixth attack on the U-S Capitol in 2020.

Swifties will invade New Orleans this week as Taylor Swift brings her Eras Tour to the Big Easy for three shows in the Superdome starting on Friday night. New Orleans and Company spokesperson Kelly Schulz….

Cut 14 (15) “….New Orleans way”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU rolled past the Razorbacks on Saturday night beating Arkansas 34 to 10 in Fayetteville. The win sets up a huge game this Saturday against Texas A-and-M. The Tigers and Aggies are both undefeated in SEC play and Coach Brian Kelly’s team has to go back on the road again…
Cut 16 (16)   “…anymore.”
LSU is 3-0 in SEC play, 6-1 overall on the season and the Aggies share the same record as the Tigers. Both teams are tied for first place in the Southeastern Conference.
Southeastern Louisiana has the best record in the Southland Conference as the Lions improved to 3-and-0 in league play with a dramatic 24 to 23 win over Stephen F Austin. Eli Sawyer threw a game winning touchdown pass with two seconds left.
The Ragin Cajuns racked up a season-high 516 yards of total offense as U-L Lafayette defeated Coastal Carolina 34-24. Quarterback Ben Woolridge threw for a career-high 373 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in the big win on the road…
Cut 19 (17) “…score touchdowns.”
The Cajuns are bowl eligible for a school-record seventh straight season and they are tied for first place in the Sun Belt West with ULM.
Southern leads the SWAC Western Division after the Jaguars defeated Alcorn State 24 to 14. The Jags are at Florida A-and-M this Saturday, while Grambling is at Texas Southern after picking up its first SWAC win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff 31-21.

6:30 LRN Newscast October 21

The challenge to Louisiana’s controversial Ten Commandments law goes before the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge this morning. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Early voting resumes today for the November 5th presidential election. The Secretary of State’s Office reports there have been 171-thousand early in-person voters after two days of early voting. In 2020, there were 155-thousand early votes after two days.

In 2026, Louisiana’s Senior Senator Bill Cassidy is expected to be on the ballot seeking a third term in office. LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Cassidy has reported five-point-eight million dollars in cash on hand…

Cut 5 (05) “…put up a tough fight”

Alford says there’s a possibility Cassidy will face a challenger from his own party. Two rumored names are PSC member Eric Skrmetta and State Treasurer John Fleming.

New Orleans is getting ready for the invasion of the Swifties. Taylor Swift will perform three shows at the Superdome Friday through Sunday. Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says there are very few hotel rooms in the Big Easy this weekend.

Cut 13 (09)  “…going very quickly.”