6:30 LRN Newscast

The Saints let one get away yesterday, up by 11 points in the third quarter, but New Orleans turned it over four times and lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 35-27.

However, the LSU Tigers put together a dominating performance, beating Texas A-and-M 35 to 6. Coach Lane Kiffin’s team outgained the Aggies 506 yards to 197…

Cut 13 (08) “…prepared well”

But LSU linebacker Whit Weeks could be lost for the season with a broken leg.

 

Doctor Jim Henderson will retire as Louisiana Tech president at the end of the year, ending a long career in Louisiana higher education. Henderson has also served as president of the U-L System and his alma mater, Northwestern State. Louisiana Illuminator higher education reporter Piper Hutchinson says Henderson has earned a lot of respect during his career…

Cut 10 (11) “…entire career.”

 

With school back in session and ragweed pollen counts near their peak, September can be a concerning time for people with asthma. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has issued mercury-related consumption advisories for seven waterways. The new and updated advisories include Mermentau River and Lake Arthur, Vermillion River and Bayou Tortue, Boeuf River, Lake Bistineau, Pearl River and Tew Lake.

LRN AM Newscall September 28

With school back in session and ragweed pollen counts near their peak, September can be a concerning time for people with asthma. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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For only the second time in the general election campaign for U.S. Senate, we have poll numbers. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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LSU bottles up its anger from its crushing loss to Ole Miss and takes it out on Texas A-and-M. Andrew Greenstein is at Tiger Stadium with more.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The final weeks of September bring a rise in asthma attacks and asthma-related emergency room visits. Louisiana Department of Health nurse consultant Tanya (TAN-yuh) Cobb says children are especially vulnerable as a return to school brings exposure to…

Cut 4 (11) “…your asthma.”

Environmental factors like pollen, mold, dust, smoke, aerosols and strong odors can also trigger symptoms, including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Cobb says people have unique triggers and symptoms.

Cut 5 (11) “…avoid that.”

Cobb recommends people with asthma have rescue medication like an inhaler close at hand wherever they go. She says families should work with their healthcare providers to develop an asthma action plan.

Cut 6 (11) “…they occur.”

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Election Day is now just over five weeks away; and last week, we got our second snapshot of the U.S. Senate race between Julia Letlow and Jamie Davis. Like the first poll, the poll this month by Hart Research Associates shows Letlow with a four-point lead over Davis. However, with the split being 48 to 44-percent, there were far fewer undecided voters in this poll of 500 likely voters. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says there is one important thing to note about this poll. 

Cut 7 (09) “…out to be.”

However, Hogan says there is likely credence in these polls, given the fact that other Republican Senate candidates who would otherwise be coasting to victory find themselves in unusually competitive races.

Cut 8 (13) “…where voters stand.”

Hogan says while it’s still likely that Letlow will ultimately win on November 3rd, these polls do create an opening for Davis to make this a competitive race.

Cut 9 (10)  “…we have seen.”

The margin is within the poll’s 4.5-percent margin of error.

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Doctor Jim Henderson will retire as president of Louisiana Tech at the end of the year, ending a long career in Louisiana higher education. Henderson has also served as president of the U-L System and his alma mater, Northwestern State. Louisiana Illuminator higher education reporter Piper Hutchinson says Henderson has earned a lot of respect during his career.

Cut 10 (11) “…entire career.”

Henderson became Louisiana Tech’s 15th president in January 2024. He announced his retirement Friday, citing declining health, but says there is no immediate threat to his life.

During his tenure, Tech posted revenue-generating enrollment growth, including record freshman classes and the highest retention rate in the U-L System. He also oversaw the university’s move into the Sun Belt Conference.

Hutchinson says she’s also impressed that Tech secured 38-million dollars in federal appropriations for research in biomedical engineering, micro-manufacturing, cyber engineering and forest products.

Cut 11 (11) “…universities.”

Hutchinson expects Governor Landry to have a significant role in selecting Henderson’s successor. She says State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley has emerged as a potential candidate.

Cut 12 (08) “…take the position.”

Brumley says his focus is on pre-K through 12th-grade education, where he says Louisiana schools have made historic progress.

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After suffering a disappointing loss to Ole Miss a week ago, LSU redeems itself in a big way, crushing Texas A-and-M, 35-6. It was a far cry from the beating the Aggies laid on the Tigers in Death Valley last year that resulted in the firing of Brian Kelly. Head Coach Lane Kiffin was especially pleased with how his team dominated on both sides of the ball, outgaining A-and-M 506 yards to 197.

Cut 13 (08)  “…prepared really well.” 

Quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 17 out of 23 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. After the game, Leavitt said some of the adjustments he made from the previous week paid off.

Cut 14 (12) “…to place it.”

One of the big questions going into Saturday night’s game was whether LSU could stop a mobile quarterback like Marcel Reed. Safety Ty Benefield, who tied for the team lead with seven tackles, said he and his teammates answered that question in a huge way by holding him to just 106 yards passing and minus-13 yards rushing. 

Cut 15 (14) “…a lot easier.”

Despite the win, LSU dropped from 10th to 11th in the rankings, while Texas A-and–M went from 23rd to out of the rankings altogether. LSU improves to 3-and-1 on the season, 1-and-1 in the SEC, and hosts McNeese next Saturday.

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The Saints let one get away yesterday: up by 11 in the third quarter, they turned it over four times in the fourth and lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 35 to 27. New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough threw four touchdown passes, but also turned it over three times.

Cut 16 (12) “…with all of us.”

The loss dropped the Saints to 1-2 and Sunday’s defeat spoiled a great atmosphere for the home opener. Coach Kellen Moore wishes they could have won for Who Dat Nation.

Cut 17 (16) “…it done together.”

Shough was intercepted once. It came with the Raiders up by one, and the I-N-T set them up to take an eight-point lead. Shough on what happened on that play.

Cut 18 (16) “..side of the field.”

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Northwestern State lost its 16th in a row on Saturday falling to Southeastern Louisiana 52-21. Even though the losses keep coming, Demons coach Blaine McCorkle believes the program is heading in the right direction.

Cut 19 (12) “…every single day.”

Lions coach Frank Scelfo says it was a sloppy first half, but they cleaned up those mistakes.

Cut 20 (15) “…second half.”

4:30 LRN Newscast

Big news out of north Louisiana as Louisiana Tech president Doctor Jim Henderson announced he’s retiring at the end of the year. Henderson cited a continuing decline in health in an email he sent to faculty and staff. Henderson has led La Tech for the last three years and during that time the school saw revenue-generating enrollment growth including record-breaking freshman classes and the highest retention rate in the U-L system.

LSU is mourning the death of one of its greatest basketball players. Bob Petit has passed away at the age of 93. Petit, who is also an NBA Hall of Famer, played for the Tigers in the 1950s and averaged over 30 points per game. He led LSU to its first final four in 1953. LSU men’s basketball sports information director Kent Lowe…

Cut 4 (13) “..of the program”

Pettit went on to a stellar, 11-year NBA career with the Hawks. He was the first ever NBA MVP in 1956 and won it again in 1959. He also helped the Hawks to an NBA title in 1958.

 

It’s the last weekend of September, and we’re still waiting for the first hurricane in the Atlantic. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Saints home opener is Sunday against the Raiders. One of Las Vegas top player makers is second year running back Ashton Jeanty. Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley says Jeanty has the traits to be a great running back…

Cut 15 (09) “…good vision”

8:30 LRN Newscast

Law enforcement officials are getting the word out about synthetic opioid called cychlorphine (sy-CLORE-feen), which is said to be ten times more dangerous than fentanyl. Mark Ryan with the Louisiana Poison Center says deaths from cychlorphine have been recorded in southeast Louisiana and the drug has been found in north and central Louisiana as well…

Cut 9 (11) “…now”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is holding four different events around the state tomorrow in observance of National Hunting and Fishing Day. L-D-W-F spokesperson Trey Illes says the locations of their events can be found on the Facebook page…

Cut 13 (14) “…fishing in Louisiana”

 

Fans of the late Dolly Parton may soon have another way to honor her memory and support her signature cause. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

One of the greatest basketball players of all time and an LSU legend has passed away. Bob Petit has died at the age of 93. Petit led LSU to its first final four in 1953 and he was NBA’s all-time leading scorer when he retired in 1965.

7:30 LRN Newscast

The reward is up to 10-thousand dollars for information on two women from the Baton Rouge area who have not been seen for more than a year.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

We are learning more about the alleged rape that took place on LSU’s campus last October between an unidentified football player and a student. A university panel determined a rape occurred and banned the student athlete from campus for two semesters. But an administrative law judge reduced the punishment because of conflicting accounts over whether it was consensual.

 

It’s Dolly Parton day as the calendar reads September 25, which is 9-2-5. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham holds a press conference today to announce he will file a bill for the next legislative session that creates special license plate in honor of Dolly Parton. Money from the sale of the plate will go to Imagination Library. Bayham does not expect any opposition…

Cut 12 (06) “….were against it”

Tomorrow is National Hunting and Fishing Day a chance to get outdoors and enjoy the Sportsman’s Paradise In Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is holding four different events around the state and L-D-W-F spokesperson Trey Illes says even most experienced hunter and fishermen might learn something…

Cut 15 (10) “…what we do”

You can go to louisianaradionetwork.com to find out where these events will take place.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU has lost another one of its sports icons as legendary basketball player Bob Petit has died at the age of 93. Petit was a consensus All-American for the Tigers leading LSU to conference titles in 1953 and 1954 and an appearance in the 1953 Final Four. He also had a Hall of Fame career in the NBA, winning the MVP award twice and leading the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 championship.

Big game in Tiger Stadium tomorrow night as 10th ranked LSU hosts 23rd ranked Texas A-and-M. LSU is coming off a loss to a very good Ole Miss team and now faces another team that was in the college football playoffs last year. Tigers Safety Ty Benefield wouldn’t want it any other way…

Cut 19 (15) “…line up against”

 

UL Lafayette visits Charlotte tomorrow. The Cajuns are coming off a 21-14 win over UAB, but the offense struggled and was scoreless in the second half. Head coach Michael Desormeaux says some of his best teams had ugly wins early in the season.

Cut 16 (16) “…in the end.”

U-L Lafayette is 2-1 on the season, while Charlotte is 0-3.

ULM looks for its first win as the Warhawks host F-A-U for homecoming.

SWAC plays starts tomorrow, Grambling battles defending conference champion Prarie View A-and-M in the State Fair Classic in Dallas. Southern visits Jackson State.

In the Southland…Nicholls hosts Lamar, Southeastern is at Northwestern Sate and McNeese hosts Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi.

In the NFL, the Saints host the Raiders on Sunday, last night Atlanta pounded Green Bay 35-14 for its first win.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Investigators did not find any human remains during an extensive search of a 15-acre property in West Feliciana Parish for two missing women. Sheriff Brian Spillman says investigators did find potential evidence that may connect Thomas Morris to the disappearances of Madison Allen and Stephanie Hevia (HEE-vee-uh).

Cut 4 (09) “…to have done.”

The property is where Morris once lived and he’s the prime suspect in their disappearance.

Health officials are warning Louisianians about the dangers of cychlorphine (sy-CLORE-feen), a synthetic opioid estimated to be ten times stronger than fentanyl. Mark Ryan, the executive director of the Louisiana Poison Center, says it does not take much for cychlorphine to be dangerous.

Cut 7 (10) “…to kill you.”

 

Today, which is September 25th, is Dolly Parton Day. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham says he will file a bill next year to create a special license plate in honor of Dolly Parton with the 25-dollars for the plate going to one of Parton’s favorite charities…

Cut 11 (13) “…Foundation of Louisiana”

Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing Day and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is holding events at four different sites around the state to celebrate. L-D-W-F spokesperson Trey Iles says they will give away lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for those 18 and under at all four events and at the Waddill Wildlife Refuge in Baton Rouge there will be a free fishing tournament…

Cut 14 (05) “…rod and reel”

For more information check out LDWF’s social media channels.

12:30 LRN Newscast

The only junior college in the LSU system is experiencing tremendous growth. The fall enrollment at LSU Eunice has topped four-thousand for the first time ever and is approaching five-thousand. Chancellor Nancee Sorensen says the enrollment increase to just under 47-hundred students is the result of the school’s ability to adapt to changing times.

Cut 6 (12) “…in the past.”

LSU-E’s fall enrollment represents almost a 23-percent increase of last year’s then-record enrollment.

A researcher at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center wants to see more research done on how ultra processed foods impact the again brain. Doctor Owen Carmichael…

Cut 11 (11) “…for people.”

The 83rd annual Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival gets underway in New Iberia today. Kace Kieschnick has more…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

According to the Nielsen ratings, the LSU-Ole Miss game drew nearly 11-million viewers, making it the second most watched game of the season. The Ohio-State-Texas contest raked in 13-million viewers. LSU is the only school in the country to be involved in two of the most-watched college football games this season. The other is the season opener against Clemson.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Former Lt. Governor, state lawmaker and New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu tells Politico he’s kicking around the idea of running for President in 2028. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 28 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The city of Vidalia has struck a deal with a company called Fortalis that plans on building a data center in the Concordia Parish town. Mayor Buz Craft says Fortalis plans to buy the former Fruit of the Loom facility and turn one-third of the facility into a data center. Town leaders are telling their residents that the data center will not increase their rates.

 

The 83rd annual Louisiana Sugarcane Festival begins in New Iberia today. The four days of festivities kick off tonight with the Farm Fest and three full days of entertainment, including carnival rides, live music and the Queen Sugar pageant, get underway tomorrow. Festival board member Doreen Landry says it’s a fun weekend for the whole family.

Cut 3 (08) “…everyone exciyed.”

Landry says around 30-thousand visitors are expected to visit downtown New Iberia for the festival.

One of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s lead researchers on dementia, Doctor Owen Carmichael, says not enough research has been done to see how ultra processed foods affect the brain. Carmichael says people would like to know how these dietary items affect the brain as people age…

Cut 9 (09) “….like that”

Carmichael says we know that ultra processed food consumption is bad for the body and it’s plausible there are also dementia-related outcomes.

8:30 LRN Newscast

The midterm elections haven’t happened yet, but speculation in the 2028 presidential election is already underway. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Board of Regents reports that 54-percent of adults in Louisiana have a credential of value, up from 44-percent in 2019. That means more than half of Louisiana adults have either a college degree or another credential. Nationally around 55-percent of adults have a post-high school credential.

 

Applied Atomics, which develops, builds and operates small modular nuclear power plants, is building its headquarters in New Orleans. John Fleig (“fleeg”), the chief innovation officer with the Louisiana Economic Development Department, says the facility will be in the Bywater neighborhood, and it will include a training demonstration system that will be operational early next year.

Cut 10 (07) “…on the clock.”

The company, which was founded last year by individuals who used to be at Space X, is expected to create 41 new direct jobs.

Preseason practice is underway for the LSU men’s basketball team and the Tigers list only four players on their roster. Coach Will Wade says several other teams are in a similar boat as they wait on the NCAA to rule on the eligibility of numerous players. Wade says they do have 15 players practicing. Nearly all of them are transfers, some are from overseas…

Cut 14 (11) re-start next year”