Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

07.08.26
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LRN PM Newscall

Baton Rouge State Senator Larry Selders died at the age of 44 after a suspected heart attack last night. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Federal assistance is now available to homeowners and renters in four parishes who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Arthur. Andrew Greenstein reports. 

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.

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State Senator Larry Selders passed away unexpectedly of a suspected heart attack suffered at an event last night. The Baton Rouge Democrat was 44 years old. Fellow Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says she is still in disbelief.

Cut 3 (10) “…serving the people.”

Selders had surgery for a heart aneurysm in May.

Barrow says Selders served in the heart of Baton Rouge and always cared about doing what was best for the people he served. Selders is survived by his wife and two sons. Barrow says he was a family man.

Cut 4 (11) “…in the legislature.”

Selders served as a State Representative before filling the Senate seat vacated by Congressman Cleo Fields. Barrow says he was a social worker by trade and truly cared about others.

Cut 5 (11) “…behavior and outcomes.”

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Federal assistance is now available to homeowners and renters in four parishes who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Arthur. Nate Custer with FEMA says those parishes are Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne. 

Cut 6 (10) “…considered for that.”

Custer says people will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on an inspection of the damage to their homes.

Cut 7 (09) “…personal property losses.”

Custer says you may be eligible for federal assistance if either your flood insurance policy does not cover all of your damage or you don’t have a flood policy at all.

Cut 8 (07) “…provided by FEMA.”

To apply, either download the FEMA app, go to disaster assistance-dot-gov, or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA.

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Colorado State University is once again lowering its hurricane forecast for 2026. Senior Research Scientist Phil Klotzbach says the forecast now calls for nine named storms, including Arthur, including four hurricanes, with one of them being a major hurricane.

Cut 9 (09)  “…normal hurricane season.”

Klotzbach says the main driver behind the well-below-normal hurricane forecast is a strong El Nino event for the peak of hurricane season.

Cut 10 (15) “…apart the storms.” 

Klotzbach says revising the hurricane forecast is something that they routinely do, doing so in early June, early July and early August.

Cut 11 (12) “…ocean look like.”

07.08.26
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2:30 LRN Newscast

Baton Rouge State Senator Larry Selders passed away at the age of 44 from a suspected heart attack.

`          Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Authorities have made an arrest in connection with an officer-involved shooting that happened yesterday morning DeSoto Parish. Twenty-year-old Jay Xaiver Wilson has been charged with being an in-state fugitive and resisting an officer. Very few details have been released about the shooting other than it happened on U-S Highway 171 near U-S Highway 84 in Mansfield.

 

Colorado State University is once again lowering its hurricane forecast for 2026. Senior Research Scientist Phil Klotzbach says the forecast now calls for nine named storms, including Arthur, four hurricanes, with one of them being a major hurricane.

Cut 9 (09)  “…normal hurricane season.”

Klotzbach say an El Nino will decrease storm activity.

Residents in Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne Parishes are eligible for federal assistance if their homes were damaged as a result of Tropical Storm Arthur. Flooding is the main culprit for the damage. FEMA spokesperson Nate Custer says you may be eligible for federal assistance if either your flood insurance policy does not cover all of your damage or you don’t have a flood policy at all.

Cut 8 (07) “…provided by FEMA.”

To apply, either download the FEMA app, go to disaster assistance-dot-gov, or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA.

07.08.26
by

1:30 LRN Newscast

Elected officials and the city of Baton Rouge is mourning the death of state senator Larry Selders, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 44 years-old. The Baton Rouge Democrat has served in the state legislature since 2020, starting in the House in 2020 and then moving over to the state senate in 2025 to replace Cleo Fields, who was elected to Congress. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says Selders’ professional job was as a social worker…

Cut 5 (11) “…and outcomes”

The Colorado State hurricane forecast team has lowered its forecast again, now calling for a nine named storms, four hurricanes and one major hurricane. C-S-U researcher Phil Klotzbach says the main driver for the well-below normal hurricane forecast is a strong El Nino that’s expected during the peak of the hurricane season…

Cut 10 (15) “…apart the storms”

Federal assistance is now available to homeowners and renters in four parishes who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Arthur. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.

Governor Jeff Landry has posted on social media the recommendations he’s made to President Trump regarding the United States’ future relationship with Greenland. Landry is the president’s special envoy to Greenland and visited the Arctic Island earlier this year. Landry says there needs to be direct shipping routes between the U-S and Greenland. Also, the U-S should expand its diplomatic presence in Greenland.

07.08.26
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10:30 LRN Newscast

Last week, we heard from the Republican nominee in the U-S Senate race, Julia Letlow. Letlow is the prohibitive favorite in the election that will take place November third. But her Democratic opponent, Jamie Davis, rejects the notion the race has been decided…

Cut 14 (12) “…wins this election”

The Trump Administration has worked out a deal with England Airpark in Alexanderia to transform an unused military barrack into a 528-bed holding facility for migrants and unaccompanied children who are self-deporting.  Executive director of the England Airpark Authority, Ralph Hennessy, says the people will only be there a few days before a chartered flight takes them back home and in return the airpark receives money to operate…

Cut 6 (07) “….thousand a year”

 

New data shows Louisiana leads the nation in workforce participation growth. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Governor Jeff Landry has posted on social media the recommendations he’s made to President Trump regarding the United States’ future relationship with Greenland. Landry is the president’s special envoy to Greenland and visited the Arctic Island earlier this year. Landry says there needs to be direct shipping routes between the U-S and Greenland. Also, the U-S should expand its diplomatic presence in Greenland.

07.08.26
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8:30 LRN Newscast

According to the latest labor market report, Louisiana tied for the nation’s largest increase in labor force participation. Louisiana Works Secretary Susie Schowen says nearly 33-thousand additional Louisianans entered the labor force, meaning they are either employed or actively seeking work…

Cut 9 (12) “…things happened together”

Schowen believes the state is doing a better job connecting people with education, training and employment opportunities.

We are little less than four months away from election day. Tensas Parish farmer and Democrat Jamie Davis is a big underdog to Republican Congresswoman Julia Letlow in the US Senate race. Davis says he wants his campaign to resonate with all Louisianans…

Cut 15 (11) “…Louisiana that’s white

 

A 528-bed holding facility for migrant families and unaccompanied children is going up at England Airpark in Alexandria. Jeff Palermo has the details.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The rapper known as Mysitkal is now serving his 20-year prison sentence at Angola. He pleaded guilty in March to raping a woman at his Prairieville home in 2022 and was sentenced last month. His given name is Michael Lawrence Tyler and TMZ reports Tyler has a cell to himself because of his celebrity status.

07.08.26
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7:30 LRN Newscast

Sad news to report this morning as state senator Larry Selders has passed away at the age of 44. The Advocate reports the Democrat from Baton Rouge died suddenly last night at his son’s football practice. Selders spent time in the hospital last May because of heart troubles. Governor Jeff Landry called Selders a gentle giant who was respected by everyone.

New data shows Louisiana leads the nation in workforce participation growth. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

 

When it comes to the burden of car ownership, nowhere do drivers have it worse than here in Louisiana. Rob Bhatt (“bot”), an insurance analyst with LendingTree, says Louisiana drivers spend on average 6.1-percent of their gross income on auto insurance – the highest rate in the nation.

Cut 10 (09) “…in other states.”

The LendingTree study found that the average Louisiana driver spends 327 dollars a month on auto insurance,

Last week, we heard from the Republican nominee in the U-S Senate race, Julia Letlow. Letlow is the prohibitive favorite in the election that will take place November third. But her Democratic opponent, Jamie Davis, rejects the notion the race has been decided…

Cut 14 (12) “…wins this election”

07.08.26
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU has won the recruiting battle versus Ole Miss for four-star Ruston High safety Jayden Anding. The younger brother of current LSU corner, Aidan Anding, committed to LSU on Tuesday afternoon. Jayden Anding is 5-10, 165-pounds and Matt Belinson of the Ruston Leader says he does it all for the Bearcats.

Cut 18 (15) “…front line.”

Anding is the second Ruston High product to commit to LSU this cycle, joining five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson.

Neville quarterback Parker Robinson  has given a verbal commitment to Bryant Vincent and the ULM Warhawks. Last season for Neville, Robinson threw for nearly three thousand yards, 21 touchdowns and three interceptions. Robinson says it’s a dream come true to stay home.

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The most famous student manager in college athletics is teaming up with Will Wade again. Amir Kahn who became a viral sensation in 2025 when the McNeese men’s basketball team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament told ESPN he will be a student manager for Wade at LSU this season. He’s known for his aura and his fancy boom box that had him rapping as he led the Cowboys out of the locker room before their games. It helped him land numerous NIL deals that added up to him earning hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Paul Skenes won his first game since May 9th as the Pirates pounded the Atlanta Braves 12 to four last night. Skenes allowed two runs over six innings. Ryan O’Hearn was the real star. The Pirates first baseman hit three home runs and drove in ten runs.

The Ragin Cajuns have added another pitcher to their roster as Joey Ervin is transferring to U-L Lafayette from Chipola Junior College. He was 8-1 with a 5.74 ERA last season.

07.08.26
by

6:30 LRN Newscast

A 528-bed facility that will temporarily house migrant families and unaccompanied children before they are deported to their native country is going up at the England Airpark in Alexandria. Executive director of the England Airpark Authority, Ralph Hennessy says he’s been told by the Trump Administration that migrants will only be there a few days before they are deported.

Cut 5 (09) “…to four days.”

Several immigration advocates believe the children will be at this facility for a much longer time.

Last week, we heard from Julia Letlow after she officially became the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. Today, we’re hearing from her Democratic opponent. Jamie Davis notes that in both the primary and the runoff, nearly as many Democrats voted for him as the number of Republicans who voted for Letlow – despite Letlow spending way more money

Cut 13 (14)  “…tremendous amount different.”

The election is on November third.

Louisiana’s workforce participation growth tied for the most in the nation with 58.8-percent of the working-age population in the labor force. That’s nearly a one-percent increase from last year, accounting for almost 33-thousand new workers. Louisiana Works Secretary Susie Schowen (SHAU-in) says workforce participation is a key economic indicator.

Cut 7 (10) “…things like that.”

The national labor force participation rate declined by six tenths of a percent. Louisiana was one of five states to see an increase.

A new study from Lending Tree finds that Louisiana drivers spend six percent of their gross income on auto insurance. That’s the highest percentage in the nation. Rob Bhatt an insurance analyst with LendingTree says nationally, drivers spend less than three percent of their gross income on auto insurance. Bhatt says the high auto insurance rates in Louisiana are felt even more, because this state has a lot of drivers who don’t make a lot of money…

Cut 11 (11) “…have low rates”

07.07.26
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5:30 LRN Newscast

A 528-bed holding facility for migrant families and unaccompanied children is under construction at England Airpark, a former military base in Alexandria. Executive Director of the England Airpark Authority, Ralph Hennessy, says the people that will stay at this ICE facility are individuals volunteering to go back home and they’re going back as a family unit…

Cut 4 (07) “…other ways.”

Several immigration advocates have raised the possibility that children could be at the Alexandria facility for weeks or months.

We are little less than four months away from election day. Tensas Parish and Democratic US Senate candidate Jamie Davis is a prohibitive underdog to Republican Congresswoman Julia Letlow. Davis says he wants his campaign to resonate with all Louisianans…

Cut 15 (13) “…Louisiana that’s white

 

When it comes to the burden of car ownership, nowhere do drivers have it worse than here in Louisiana. Rob Bhatt (“bot”), an insurance analyst with LendingTree, says Louisiana drivers spend on average 6.1-percent of their gross income on auto insurance – the highest rate in the nation.

Cut 10 (09) “…in other states.”

The LendingTree study found that the average Louisiana driver spends 327 dollars a month on auto insurance.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says one of the several new laws that were approved in the last legislative session, protects those who bundle their insurance policies…

Cut 11 (14) “…happen to them”

07.07.26
by

LRN PM Newscall

Facing a major blood shortage, Vitalant (vy-TALENT) is holding blood drives throughout the summer in Morgan City, Lafayette and the Baton Rouge area. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says this year’s legislative session was a very productive one for his department. Andrew Greenstein reports. 

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Blood services provider Vitalant (vy-TALENT) is experiencing a critical shortage of type “O” blood that it has not seen in two years. Barley Juarez with Vitalant Blood Banking says they usually experience blood shortages this time of year.

Cut 3 (10) “…in to donate.”

Juarez says they especially need type “O” blood, especially “O”-negative.

Cut 4 (09) “…can take it.”

“O”-positive donations will also come in very handy, since Juarez says that can be given to anyone with any positive blood type, and 85-percent of all Americans have a positive blood type.

There are several blood drives taking place this summer in the Morgan City, Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas, and Juarez says for a limited time, there are thank you gifts for everyone who donates blood at these blood drives.

Cut 5 (11) “…to pick from.”

Furthermore, from July 9th through August 8th, donors will be automatically entered to win a car, valued at up to 30-thousand dollars.

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For 100 dollars, you can purchase a one-in-two-thousand chance to win the sports fan’s ultimate dream-come-true – season tickets to nearly every major sporting event in South Louisiana for an entire year! New Orleans Sports Foundation President and CEO Jay Cicero says the money raised goes to a very important cause.

Cut 6 (10) “…of New Orleans.”

Cicero says this comes at a time when New Orleans faces increasing competition from more cities across the country.

Cut 7 (14) “…seek to host.”

Cicero says only two-thousand raffle tickets will be sold, and the one winning ticket drawn will receive more than 500 tickets to some of the biggest sporting events in the state.

Cut 8 (08) “…men’s and women’s.”

Also included are tickets to the Sugar Bowl, the New Orleans Bowl, the Zurich Classic and more. To enter, visit gnosports.com/win.

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Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says this year’s legislative session was a very productive one for the Department of Insurance. For starters, Temple is hailing a new law that allows the department to take action against people who are working without a license.

Cut 9 (12)  “…type of thing.”

Temple says the new law gives the department more leeway to start investigations on people in the business of insurance who are accused of committing insurance fraud.

Temple says another new law increases the annual aggregate limit of fines his office can issue, noting that the old caps were ten-thousand dollars for insurance professionals and 100-thousand dollars for insurance companies and PBMs.

Cut 10 (11) “…it can multiply.” 

Temple says another law that the legislature passed is more or less a pre-emptive one which protects those who “bundle and save.”

Cut 11 (14) “…happen to them.”