3:30 LRN Newscast

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled Louisiana’s congressional map an unconstitutional gerrymander, next month’s U.S. House primaries are now suspended. Andrew Greenstein reports….

Cut 2 (34) “….I’m Andrew Greenstein”

Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh agrees with the governor’s decision to suspend the U-S House primaries, because you can’t hold an election based on a map that’s been determined to be unconstitutional…

Cut 6 (11) “…exist anymore”

 

With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s Congressional map, legislative leaders say they will approve a new map before the session is required to end on June 1st. La-politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says a session that was coasting along, could experience some turbulence…

Cut  14 (12) “…fast track”

Ground has been broken on the new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. When Governor Landry took office in 2024, he made it one of his priorities to find a way to fund a new Lake Charles Bridge. His solution was a public-private partnership with Calcasieu Bridge Partners that will use federal, state and toll dollars to build the bridge. Landry says 15-percent of the tolling revenues will go right back into the area.

Cut 12 (10) “…Imperial Calcasieu forever.”

LRN PM Newscall

Legislative leaders say approving a new Congressional map in this regular session is possible. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled Louisiana’s congressional map an unconstitutional gerrymander, next month’s U.S. House primaries are now suspended. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The ACLU of Louisiana calls yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map “disgraceful.” Executive Director Alanah Odoms says by chipping away at the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court is dialing back civil rights as a whole.

Cut 3 (13) “…opportunities of others.”

Odoms says she fears that this ruling will be the catalyst for making life a lot more difficult for minorities.

Cut 4 (13) “…orders and policies.”

Odoms says it’s not just people of color who will suffer in the long run because of this ruling.

Cut 5 (07) “…upon name change.”

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Governor Jeff Landry has signed an executive order suspending Louisiana’s U.S House of Representatives races, after the U-S Supreme Court ruled the current Congressional map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh agrees with this decision since the Supreme Court is the final word, a new map must be approved before the U-S House elections can take place…

Cut 6 (11) “….exist anymore.

Early voting for the federal elections, including the six U-S House party primaries, was set to begin on Saturday.  Seabaugh says postponing the Congressional elections is the right thing to do so that a legal Congressional map can approved by the state legislature…

Cut 7 (06) “..now and then.”

The Republican and Democratic U.S. Senate primaries will go on as scheduled as well as the other races for BESE, PSC and the Supreme Court. There is a little more than a month left in the regular session to approve a new Congressional map. Seabaugh says bills were filed weeks ago in case the nation’s highest court ruled that the current map is unconstitutional…

Cut 8 (07) “..that we need.”

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In light of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, next month’s U.S. House primaries in Louisiana are now suspended. Secretary of State Nancy Landry made the announcement this afternoon ahead of Governor Landry’s expected executive order. Landry said in a statement the state is barred from using the current congressional map that the Supreme Court has ruled an unconstitutional gerrymander. Political analyst Scott Hughes says with this suspension, the qualifying process will need to start all over again, since the districts will have changed and there are specific qualifying rules.

Cut 9 (09)  “…a huge issue.”

Hughes says there are now only six months to hold an election essentially from square one, which could make a closed primary untenable.

Cut 10 (11) “…we’ll be done.”

Hughes says if the process is not completed by January 3rd, when the next Congress is sworn in, Louisiana would be left with no representation at all in the House, so it might be in the legislature’s best interest to scrap the closed primary for the U.S. House races.

Cut 11 (13) “…for closed primaries.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

In light of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, the status of the U.S. House primaries is now in limbo. Governor Landry is expected to suspend the primary, saying the state is now restricted from using the current congressional map that the Supreme Court has ruled an unconstitutional gerrymander. Political analyst Scott Hughes says if Landry follows through on that, that means the qualifying process would have to start all over again, because the districts would have changed and there are specific qualifying rules.

Cut 9 (09)  “…a huge issue.”

There is a little more than a month left in the regular session to approve a new Congressional map. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says bills were filed before Wednesday’s historic ruling by the Supreme Court, in case the nation’s highest court ruled that the current map is unconstitutional…

Cut 8 (07) “..that we need.”

 

The ACLU of Louisiana calls yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map “disgraceful.” Executive Director Alanah Odoms says by chipping away at the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court is dialing back civil rights as a whole.

Cut 3 (13) “…opportunities of others.”

But Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the ruling vindicates a position that the state has taken from the beginning in that it shouldn’t be sorting voters by race…

Cut 21 (08) “…constitution”

The Supreme Court ruling means race can not be used as the main factor in drawing political maps, but states are legally permitted to draw districts to favor a political party.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

As the calendar turns from April to May, the LSU baseball team is getting a look at their future by playing several freshmen. Omar Serna, Mason Braun, William Patrick and Jack Ruckert will get an extended run to see what they can do. Coach Jay Johnson believes the young guys have made the team more competitive.

Cut 17 (12)  “…off the weekend.”

The Tigers have allowed 36 runs over their last five games and rank last in the SEC with a 5.32 ERA. LSU hosts South Carolina for a weekend series.

Last night in college baseball…the Ragin Cajuns scored five runs in the fifth inning and defeated Nicholls seven to one. U-L Lafayette has won five of its last six heading into this weekend series against Georgia State.

Nicholls will host UNO this weekend. The Privateers lost to South Alabama four to two last night. McNeese fell to Houston by that same score and Northwestern State lost to 22nd ranked Arkansas five to two.

One of the big shockers of last week’s NFL draft was former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier falling all the way to the seventh round. It seemed like Nussmeier built some of his draft stock back up after a good performance at the Senior Bowl. Senior Bowl director Drew Fabianich had this to say on Tiger Rag Radio this week…

Cut 30 (34) “…didn’t he”

Kansas City drafted Nussmeier in the seventh round, and he’ll get to learn from Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill say Louisiana will suspend the congressional primaries, after the U-S Supreme Court ruled the Congressional map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Early voting for the federal elections, including the six U-S House party primaries, was set to begin on Saturday. Shreveport Senator Seabaugh says postponing the Congressional elections is the right thing to do so that a legal Congressional map can approved by the state legislature…

Cut 7 (06) “..now and then.”

LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says the Supreme Court decision has impacts across the country, since state legislatures now know that they do not have to make race the biggest factor when drawing political boundaries.

Cut 10 (07) “…how they’re drawn.”

 

Ground has been broken on the 2.3-billion-dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

On this day in 1812, Louisiana was admitted to the United States as the 18th U-S State. President James Madison signed the act on the ninth anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase.

The LHSAA Softball State championships in Sulphur have been pushed back a day. Semifinals are on Saturday, championship games are on Sunday.

 

9:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill say Louisiana will not have US House elections using the current Congressional map, after the U-S Supreme Court ruled the map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.  Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says since the Supreme Court is the final word a new map must be approved before the U-S House elections can take place…

Cut 6 (11) “…exist anymore”

Early voting for the federal primary elections begin Saturday. Seabaugh says the U-S Senate Primary can go on as scheduled, but the U-S House elections should be postponed until a new map is drawn. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says a new map will not be kind to Sixth District Congressman and Democrat Clee Fields…

Cut 8 (07) “….will be elected”

 

Ground has been broken on the new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. When Governor Landry took office in 2024, he made it one of his priorities to find a way to fund a new Lake Charles Bridge. His solution was a public-private partnership with Calcasieu Bridge Partners that will use federal, state and toll dollars to build the bridge. Landry says 15-percent of the tolling revenues will go right back into the area.

Cut 12 (10) “…Imperial Calcasieu forever.”

About three-thousand children and adults in Louisiana live with sickle cell disease, which is a chronic condition that causes intense pain throughout the body. But Manning Family Children’s Hospital in New Orleans has started using sickle gene therapy as a functional cure…

Cut 16 (14) “…at home”

That’s the director of the Gene Therapy Program, Doctor Bejamin Watkins.

8:30 LRN Newscast

The U-S Supreme Court has ruled that Louisiana’s Congressional map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander because it took race into account to draw the lines. In 2024, Louisiana lawmakers created a Congressional map with a second majority Black congressional map, which is District Six, represented by Democrat Cleo Fields. Attorney General Liz Murrill is not surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision….

Cut 5 (11) “…kind of scrutiny”

Fields says while the Supreme Court did not strike down the 1985 Voting Rights Act with its ruling, it might as well have…

Cut 6 (08) “…register to vote”

For the last six decades the Voting Rights Act has resulted in the election of Black and Hispanic representatives at all levels. This Supreme Court ruling will have repercussions on political maps across the country.

 

Now that Louisiana’s Congressional map has been thrown out because of unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, when will the state legislature draw a new map? LSU political science professor Robert Hogan…

Cut 9 (08) “…to do it”

There are multiple reports that the Landry Administration and legislative leaders are leaning towards postponing the U-S House races, so a new map can be drawn. The U-S Senate primary would still go on as scheduled and early voting for that primary begins Saturday.

Louisiana’s first patient to receive gene therapy for sickle cell disease has left the Manning Family Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Gene Therapy Program Director Benjamin Watkins says this new gene editing is a functional cure for those with sickle cell…

Cut 15 (07) “…from occurring”

Sickle cell is a painful, unpredictable chronic condition.

7:30 LRN Newscast

The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Louisiana’s congressional map fell along ideological lines, and so is the reaction to that ruling. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the ruling vindicates a position that the state has taken from the beginning, in that it shouldn’t be sorting voters by race.

Cut 4 (12) “…and state constitution.”

Democratic Congressman Cleo Fields says the ruling significantly narrows Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was the only way for a state like Louisiana to get a Black person elected to the U-S House…

Cut 7 (10) “…over a third.”

Fields has said since the state’s black population is one-third Black, the state’s House delegation should be one-third Black. But the Supreme Court says the Constitution does not mandate that.

The Supreme Court ruling that throws out Louisiana’s congressional map is not good news for Democrat Cleo Fields, who represents the district at the heart of the case. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Lake Charles bridge, Governor Jeff Landry said he plans to put more pressure on the federal government to provide more money for the construction of the bridge…

Cut 13 (09) “…around the area”

More federal money also means lower tolls to cross the bridge.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Colt Brown had a two-run single in the first inning and the Ragin Cajuns went on to beat Nicholls seven to one last night. Hayden Pearson pitched four shutout innings for his first save of the season.

U-L Lafayette will host Georgia State this weekend, while the Colonels host UNO.

In other action, Houston doubled up McNeese four to two, South Alabama beat UNO by the same score and Northwestern State fell to 22nd ranked Arkansas five to two.

Good news regarding LSU starting pitcher Casan Evans, who missed his start last Friday with arm soreness. Coach Jay Johnson says Evans is doing much better and could pitch this weekend against South Carolina…

Cut 19 (10) “….not sure”

LSU is scheduled to begin a series against South Carolina on Friday. The two teams find themselves near the bottom of the SEC standings with three league weekends to go.

On the final day of the NFL draft, the Saints made a trade to acquire pass rusher Tyree Wilson, who was the seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Texas Tech. Wilson recorded 12 sacks in three seasons with Las Vegas and was looking for a fresh start…

Cut 29 (23) “…follow”

The Saints have declined to pick up his fifth year option.

Bracket play begins today in the Southland Conference Softball championships, with games being played in Hammond and Lake Charles.

The LHSAA Softball State championships in Sulphur will now start on Saturday, instead of Friday, because rain is in the forecast for Friday.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Reaction to yesterday’s Supreme Court decision that ruled Louisiana’s congressional map unconstitutional is split down the same ideological lines as the ruling itself. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Now the big question is when will state lawmakers draw up and vote on a new Congressional map. According to the Washington Post, Governor Landry is looking at suspending the House primaries next month so state lawmakers can redraw the district lines. Early voting for the May 16th primary begins Saturday.

 

Ground has been broken on the long-awaited I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. The 2.3-billion-dollar project will replace the existing bridge that was built in the 1950s with a state-of-the-art structure engineered to meet 21st-century demands. Lake Charles Mayor Marshall Simien says this is a huge day in the city’s history.

Cut 11 (13) “…the longest time.”

The first Louisiana patient to receive sickle cell gene therapy is back at home after six weeks at Manning Family Children’s Hospital New Orleans. Gene Therapy Program Director Doctor Benjamin Watkins says sickle cell disease is a chronic condition that causes intense pain throughout the body…

Cut 14 (08) “…in the country”

Watkins says this new FDA approved treatment can provide a functional cure for sickle cell.