2:30 LRN Newscast

The western edge of Louisiana is now in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Beryl, but meteorologist Jonathan Brazzell with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says a landfall as a hurricane in south Texas is what is what’s expected. Brazzell says Louisiana could expect heavy down pours next week….
cut 16 (10) “…Thursday”
Beryl weakened into a tropical storm this afternoon as it moved over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old Sarah Folse and 52-year-old Deanna Witten, both of Amite, turned themselves in yesterday after they allegedly stole three German Shepherd puppies last weekend from a home in the Loranger area. TPSO spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says surveillance video shows two women taking the dogs from the homeowner’s back porch.
Cut 7 (09) “…jail.”
The search for the puppies continues.

State Police says there are multiple benefits to having a concealed handgun permit, even though Louisiana law now allows adults who are not felons to conceal carry without a permit. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 2 (31) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

The state transportation department says concrete has been poured for new lanes on the 1-20 rehab project in Bossier City. DOTD spokesperson Erin Buchanan says it’s an important milestone for the 120-million dollar project and other work is also underway…
cut 4 (08) “…Old Minden road interchange”

11:30 LRN Newscast

As of July 4th, non-felons over the age of 18 can carry a concealed handgun, also known as Constitutional Carry without a permit. However, Louisiana State Police spokesperson Shelby Mayfield reminds residents there are benefits to having a Concealed Handgun Permit, for example, training from certified instructors.
Cut 12 (10) “…procedures.”
Mayfield says those skills allow gun owners to carry confidentially and safely.

The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office says a 23-year-old man confessed to killing his grandparents. Colby Stokes allegedly shot and killed Beverly and Carly stokes in their Mount Hermon home. Deputies say Stokes went to the next door neighbor and told him what happened…
cut 10 (10) “…long time”
Sheriff Jason Smith says Stokes also confessed to the shooting on video.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old Sarah Folse and 52-year-old Deanna Witten, both of Amite, turned themselves in yesterday after they allegedly stole three German Shepherd puppies last weekend from a home in the Loranger area. TPSO spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue…
cut 6 (09) “…those puppies”
Surveillance video shows two women taking the dogs off their leashes from the homeowner’s back porch.

The statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is underway through Sunday and extra officers will work overtime looking for impaired drivers. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson, Greg Fischer, says the Fourth of July weekend has historically been deadly…
Cut 7 (12) “…seriously injured.
Two people were killed early Thursday morning in a head-on crash in Avoyelles Parish.

9:30 LRN Newscast

There are Democrats in Congress questioning whether President Joe Biden should seek a second term based on his performance in last week’s debate. Political analyst Ron Faucheux says polling will play a big role in the decision on whether Mr. Biden will be the Democrat’s candidate on November 5th…
cut 11 (10) “…positive ratings”
The president admitted in a meeting with Democratic governors, that he needs to get more sleep and he will limit his evening events so he can be rested for the job the next day.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office has charged three men with second-degree murder in three separate cases of three people who died as a result of methamphetamine and fentanyl overdoses. Sheriff Jason Ard has a simple message for the residents of Livingston…
cut 6 (09) “…age is”
32-year-old Travis Freeze of Denham Springs, 33-year-old Logan Brown of Denham Springs and 23-year-old Byrant Young of Baton Rouge are facing murder charges.

There’s a new way to help Keep Louisiana Beautiful by calling the state’s litter hotline at 855-LA-litter. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office says a 23-year-old man has confessed to killing his grandparents. Colby Stokes allegedly shot and killed Beverly and Carly stokes in the small town of Mount Hermon. Deputies say Stokes went to the next door neighbor and told him what happened. Sheriff Jason Smith says Stokes also confessed to the shooting on video.

8:30 LRN Newscast

The Presidential election is four months away, could we see a Democratic candidate other than President Joe Biden on the ballot? Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

It’s no longer necessary to have a permit to conceal carry a gun in most cases as a result of a new law that went into effect on the Fourth of July, but Louisiana State Police is recommending gun owners have a permit. The L-S-P says a permit holder receives valuable handgun safety training and without a permit you cannot conceal carry in most other states.

Louisiana residents can now report acts of litter to a hotline. That number is 8-5-5, L-A- Litter. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Director Susan Russell says When reporting the caller should give the violator’s license plate number, make and model of the vehicle along with the location of the incident. She says if it’s safe to do so take a photo. The call will be routed to the local Wildlife Enforcement Agent.
Cut 14 (09) “…information.”

It’s a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over weekend which means the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has provided funds to local law enforcement officers to specifically look for impaired drivers. Greg Fisher says If a driver has a blood-alcohol concentration of point zero eight or higher, they are over the legal limit and subject to arrest. He says alcohol isn’t the only substance that could impair driving…
Cut 9 (11) “…to jail.”

7:30 LRN Newscast

If you see someone littering, there’s now a phone number you can call to report it. The new litter hotline number is 855-LA-Litter and it will be managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Director Susan Russell says the state spends 91-million dollars annually on litter and there are 144 million pieces of trash on Louisiana roadways…
cut 15 (07) “….together”
Russell says litter hurts the environment, the state’s economy and quality of life.

Three House Democrats are now calling for President Biden to end his re-election campaign. Pollster Ron Faucheux…
Cut 12 (11) “…election.”
The President says he’s running for a second-term and Democratic governors say they are supporting the Biden-Harris ticket.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested three people for their roles in the overdose of three different people from methamphetamine and fentanyl. This is the first time the parish has used a law that allows for a murder charge against the person who supplies a drug to an overside victim. District attorney Scott Perrilloux…
cut 5 (11) “…Russian Roulette”

Law enforcement are also upping patrols this weekend in an effort to keep drunk drivers off the roads. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says they are in the middle of a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over law enforcement campaign…
cut 8 (07) “….people safe”
If you plan to drink, make plans for a designated driver or use a ride share.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU football program landed a commitment from a four-star defensive tackle on the fourth of July. Zion Williams is six-foot-three, 330 pounds from Lufkin, Texas. He’s the first defensive tackle in the Tigers Class of 2025 that’s ranked fourth in the country according to on3-dot-com.

Former LSU commit and the nation’s number one wide receiver in the 2025 recruiting class, Dakorien Moore from Duncanville, Texas, has committed to Oregon. Last August, Moore committed to the Tigers, but announced his decommitment last May.

LSU football could pick up two more commitments today. Four-star Texas defensive tackle Brandon Brown will announce his verbal pledge at two PM. And later on this afternoon, Four-star weakside defensive end Damien Shanklin from Indianapolis will also announce his decision. He’s been seriously considering LSU, Alabama and Ohio State.

The number one prospect in the college baseball transfer portal is headed to Tennessee. Shortstop Gavin Kilen made his announcement on his Instagram Page. He chose the national champion Volunteers over LSU and Florida. Last season he hit .339 with nine home runs and 22 doubles for the Louisville Cardinals.

In case you missed it, LSU landed a power bat with a commitment from Dalton Beck, who led the Southland Conference in slugging percentage, hits, RBIS and home runs during his junior year. Beck belted 18 home runs for UIW and he was named the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year.

Northwestern State needs a new softball coach. Lacy Prejean has resigned and we’ll see if she ends up back at U-L Lafayette. Prejean was an assistant coach at U-L Lafayette for five seasons before taking the job at Northwestern State. She played for new Cajuns head coach Alyson Habetz at Alabama.

6:30 LRN Newscast

We are four months away from the election, will President Joe Biden be on the November 5th ballot? Pollster Ron Faucheux says it’s possible Mr. Biden will step aside so another Democrat can face the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump
Cut 10 (09) “…days ago.”
The President says no one is pushing him out of the race.

The Statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is underway through Sunday and extra officers will work overtime looking for impaired drivers. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson, Greg Fischer, says the Fourth of July weekend has historically been deadly…
Cut 7 (12) “…seriously injured.
Two people were killed early Thursday morning in a head-on crash in Avoyelles Parish.

For the first time, the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested three people on charges of second-degree murder for their roles in overdose deaths from methamphetamine and fentanyl. Mel Bridges has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old Sarah Folse and 52-year-old Deanna Witten, both of Amite, turned themselves in yesterday after they allegedly stole three German Shepherd puppies last weekend from a home in the Loranger area. Surveillance video shows two women taking the dogs off their leashes from the homeowner’s back porch. The puppies whereabouts are still unknown.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Former WAFB-TV Chief Meteorologist Jay Grymes has been named as the State Climatologist and he’ll report to Governor Jeff Landry and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Grymes says he’ll also continue to teach at LSU…
cut 10 (12) “…Louisiana”
Unfortunately we might hear from Grymes quite a bit over the next few months as he’s predicting a hyper hurricane season for the state.

If you plan on lighting your own fireworks tonight, the President of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association, Tracey Normand, says don’t light fireworks if you’ve been drinking, make sure they are lit 200 feet away from homes and vehicles and never let kids light or handle fireworks…
cut 7 (11) “…the fire department”
According to the U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were eight deaths and 97-hundred injuries involving fireworks nationwide in 2023.

The Essence Festival gets underway today in the Big Easy and Kelly Schulz with New Orleans & Company says the four-day event produces a 316 million dollar economic impact for the city and state…
Cut 12 (12) “…to COVID.”
The headline performers this weekend are Usher and Janet Jackson. Vice President Kamala Harris will moderate a conversation at ESSENCE on Saturday.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has posted its 2024-25 hunting regulations pamphlet on the LDWF website. Tommy Tuma says the pamphlet contains hunting rules, regulations, and season dates.
Cut 3 (11) “…to look at.”
Printed copies of the pamphlets will be available in August at L-D-W-F offices.

7:30 LRN Newscast

A 23-year-old man is facing murder charges after he allegedly fatally shot his grandparents. The Washington Parish Sheriff’s office says they began investigating the shooting in the Mount Hermon area after Colby Stokes told a neighbor he shot his grandparents. The neighbor called 9-1-1 and Stokes was arrested without incident.

It’s the Fourth of July and the President of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association has a few safety tips if you decide to have your own light show…
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Former WAFB-TV chief meteorologist Jay Grymes has been named as the State Climatologist and he’ll report directly to Governor Jeff Landry and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodeaux says Grymes will help the state prepare for weather events…
cut 11 (11) “…what we’re facing”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has posted the 2024-25 hunting regulations pamphlet on the L-D-W-F website. LDWF administrator Tommy Tuma says printed copies of the pamphlets will be available in August at LDWF offices and at vendors where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
Cut 5 (09) “…Labor Day weekend.”
This season’s pamphlet has the season schedule for the state’s ten deer hunting areas.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU has received a commitment from a left-handed hitting power bat. Dalton Beck belted 18 home runs for Incarnate Word last season and he was named the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year. Beck also hit .377 with 67 runs driven in for the Cardinals.

There’s been a lot of talk about Texas A-and-M infielder Kaeden Kent transferring to LSU, but Kent says he’ll continue to wear an Aggies uniform. But Aggies backup catcher Max Kaufer is on the move as he’s announced his transfer to South Carolina. Blaise Preister a transfer from Meridian Community College is your likely starter behind the plate for the Tigers.

Louisiana Tech Associate Baseball Coach Mitch Gaspard has announced his retirement. He’s spent the last five seasons with the Bulldogs and he’s been a coach for over 30 years. Gaspard is a former head coach at Alabama and Northwestern State. Jake Wells will reportedly replace Gaspard as hitting coach. He was an assistant at Tech in 2015 and 2016 and he’s also been an assistant at Alabama, Mississippi State and U-L Lafayette.

Northwestern State head softball coach Lacy Prejean has resigned after just one season. The Demons were 19 and 31 this past season. The Carencro grad is a former assistant at U-L Lafayette, so it’s possible she’s heading back to Lafayette to be an assistant coach for the Cajuns.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has posted the 2024-25 hunting regulations pamphlet on the L-D-W-F website. LDWF administrator Tommy Tuma says printed copies of the pamphlets will be available in August at LDWF offices and at vendors where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
Cut 5 (09) “…Labor Day weekend.”
This season’s pamphlet has the season schedule for the state’s ten deer hunting areas.