11:40 LRN Sportscast

That’s more like it. The 18th ranked LSU baseball team defeated sixth ranked Vanderbilt ten to six yesterday. Josh Pearson got the scoring started with a solo home run in the third inning. The Tigers scored six runs in that inning and three more in the fourth inning to chase Vandy starting pitcher Gresyen Carter. Luke Holman was the winning pitcher and Griffin Herring pitched 3.1 innings of shutout ball to earn his third save. Game two tonight at 7 PM.

The Ragin Cajuns and U-L-M Warhawks begin a three-game series tonight in Lafayette. The Cajuns have the nation’s longest winning streak at 12 games. The Warhawks are 3-and-6 in the Sun Belt.

Louisiana Tech is home to take on Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders have lost six in a row. Tech’s Ethan Bates has been named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch list. He’s the first Bulldog player to be named to the list. He leads the Bulldogs in hits, RBIs and the country in saves.

When LSU hired Blake Baker as defensive coordinator, many wondered how he would maximize linebacker Harold Perkins. Baker says they are trying to find out what he does best and utilize his skill set….
Cut 17 (20) “…right now”
Incoming freshman cornerback P-J Woodland from Hattiesburg, Mississippi has impressed Baker. At practice he’s working with the first-team.

Starting August 1st, Louisiana casinos will no longer offer prop bets on college athletes. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says the policy will protect the integrity of sports betting as well as the safety of the student-athlete…
cut 28 (130 “…bettor”

8:30 LRN Newscast

A bill to repeal a section of a 2022 law that calls for the installation of ticket writing speed cameras on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge heads to the Senate Floor. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Governor Landry has sent a letter to the state’s higher education boards calling on them to develop a policy that requires student-athletes to be present for the national anthem or risk losing their scholarships. The Louisiana Democratic Party says Landry is engaging in divisive rhetoric.

Global Seamless Tubes & Pipes has chosen northwest Louisiana as the site for its first U.S. production facility. The 35-million dollar investment will be made in the Desoto Parish town of Mansfield. Mansfield Mayor Thomas Jones says Global Seamless Tubes and Pipes will bring quality jobs to the local economy.
Cut 14 (06) “…part of history.”
The India-based company expects to create 135 direct new jobs.

Monday is the Great American Eclipse and much of the state will get 90-percent or higher of totality. Southeast Louisiana its around 75-percnet. Tulane School of Medicine , Chair of Ophthalmology, Doctor David Hinkle, recommends ceritified eclispe glasses and beware of fake ones…
cut 8 (07) “…..to wear”
Looking at the eclipse without proper eyewear can lead to permanent damage to your eyes.

7:30 LRN Newscast

If you plan on viewing Monday’s eclipse it’s imperative to have proper eyewear. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Will the weather cooperate for Monday’s eclipse? Northwest Louisiana is set to get the best look with totality at 90 to 95-percent. But the National Weather Service in Shreveport says confidence is increasing for the threat of strong to severe thunderstorms late on Monday. The probability of cloudy skies for eclipse viewing continues to increase as well.

Haughton Representative Dodie Horton is leading the effort for Louisiana to become the first state in the nation where it would be mandated for public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. The House Education Committee approved this proposal, despite concerns its not constitutional, because it’s not a separation of church and state. But Horton disagrees…
cut 12 (08) “…first lawgiver”
The measure heads to the House floor.

A law passed in 2022 calls for ticket writing speed cameras to be installed on the I-10 the Atchafalaya Basin bridge. But New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez has a bill to repeal that section of the law. He believes law enforcement officers should be writing tickets and issuing fines…
cut 6 (12) “….fight crime”
The proposal is waiting for discussion on the Senate floor.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The 18th ranked LSU baseball team snapped a four game losing streak last night with a ten to six win over sixth ranked Vanderbilt to open a three-game series against the Commodores. The Tigers scored six runs in the third inning. It started with a Josh Pearson home run, a Paxton Kling walk, a bunt single by Steven Milam and then Vanderbilt shortstop Jonathan Vastine committed an error on a groundball hit by Mac Bingham. Coach Jay Johnson…
cut 20 (20) “…right there”
Game two of the series is tonight at 7 PM. Starting series tonight. U-L-M is at U-L Lafayette at La Tech hosts Middle Tennessee.

LSU guard Hailey Van Lith did not declare for the WNBA draft. Instead, Van Lith is entering the transfer portal. The Washington native will look to play her final season of eligibility at another school. She averaged 12 points a game this past season.

Former Ragin Cajuns starting power forward Joe Charles is transferring to McNeese. Charles is from Carencro and averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds a game for U-L Lafayette this past season.

In LSU spring football, early enrollee P-J Woodland has been taking snaps with the first-team defense. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker says the four-star cornerback out of Hattesburg, Mississippi, is a competitor who has all the tools…
cut 18 (17) “…few days”

6:30 LRN Newscast

The House Education Committee approves legislation that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public classroom from elementary school to college. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton is a co-author of the bill and says The Ten Commandments are a historical document on which all laws are based
Cut 10 (08) “…classrooms”
The measure passed on a ten to three vote. Representative Barbara Freiberg, a Republican from Baton Rouge, was one of the three no votes…
Cut 11 (14) “…to do”
Despite Freiberg’s objection, the measure heads to the House floor.

The 18th ranked LSU baseball beat Vanderbilt 10 to 6 last and in women’s basketball…LSU’s Hailey Van Lith has entered the transfer portal.

As we count down to Monday’s total solar eclipse you need to be aware of the dangers of viewing the astronomical marvel without proper eye protection. Tulane School of Medicine, Chair of Ophthalmology Dr. David Hinkle says while it’s extremely tempting to look directly at the eclipse…
Cut 7 (11) “…a lifetime.”
Even though Louisiana is not in the direct path of the total eclipse, Hinkle highly recommends certified eclipse glasses with the ISO 12312-2 filter.

A pipe and tube manufacturer from India has decided to build its first U-S production facility in Mansfield. The project will create 135 direct jobs. DeSoto Parish juror, Trina Boyd Simpson, says Globlal Seamless Tubes and Pipes will revitalize the former Hensley facility…
cut 16 (10) “…the map”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

For the third consecutive weekend, LSU baseball is taking on a team ranked in the top ten. A series against seventh ranked Vanderbilt begins tonight. Coach Jay Johnson says the Commodores do not hit for a lot of power but they can run the bases…
cut 18 (17) “…right now”
LSU needs a series a victory, they are two and seven in the SEC. First pitch is at 6 PM.

Lady Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith did not declare for the WNBA draft. She had 48 hours to do so following the loss to Iowa. But she is not returning to LSU. Van Lith has decided to enter the transfer portal after averaging 12 points a game this past season while learning the point guard position.

The Pelicans lost their third in a row last night, a 117 to 108 defeat to the Magic. And Zion Williamson has an injured finger. He did not play down the stretch in last night’s loss. New Orleans is trying to avoid the play-in tournament. They need to finish sixth or higher in the West and with six regular season games remaining, they are a half-a-game ahead of seventh place Sacramento and Phoenix. The Pels host San Antonio tomorrow.

Former Ragin Cajuns starting power forward Joe Charles plans on transferring to McNeese. Charles is from Carencro and averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds a game for U-L Lafayette this past season.

The Saints have signed another linebacker. Former Washington Commander Khaleke Hudson. The former Michigan Wolverine played mostly special teams for Washington after he was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 draft.

The LSU gymnastics team competes in the NCAA Regionals tonight. They are in the Fayetteville Regional and will need to finish in the top two of tonight’s four-team session in order to compete in the regional final.

LRN PM Newscall April 4

Colorado State University is calling for an extremely active 2024 hurricane season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Starting August 1st, Louisiana casinos will no longer offer prop bets involving college athletes. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Colleen Crain” 

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Colorado State University hurricane researchers are expecting an extremely active 2024 hurricane season. Their initial forecast calls for 23 named storms, eleven hurricanes and five major storms. Isaac Schluesche is the on the research team and he says they’ve never predicted 11 hurricanes before a season started

Cut 3 (07) “…1995.”  

Schluesche says record warm sea surface temperatures and the return of La Nina is why they anticipate such a busy hurricane season.

Cut 4 (09) “…and hurricanes.” 

Tropical Systems including hurricanes thrive in warm waters and Schulesche says Sea Surface temperatures are outside the realm of anything he’s seen.

Cut 5 (10)  “…the season.”

Schulesche also says Tradewinds over the Atlantic that typically cause cooling of the water are predicted to be weak.

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An LSU student faces a manslaughter charge in the death of 26-year-old Devin Repath who died from a head injury following a fight outside of Fred’s Bar and Grill. Baton Rouge Police Corporal Saundra Watts says Matthew Marsiglia pushed Devin Repath to the ground….

Cut 6  (10) “…injuries.” 

An affidavit shows that Repath punched one of Marsiglia’s friends in the head which started the altercation. Repath, who is from the New Orleans area, was in town to celebrate an upcoming wedding. The incident happened on March 23rd. Watts says detectives have surveillance video of the incident…

Cut 7 (06) “…as well.”  

A manslaughter charge carries up to a 40-year prison sentence in Louisiana.

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New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman hopes the third time is the charm for her legislation to require public schools to provide menstrual products. Tess, a 9th grader at Willow School in New Orleans told House Education committee members, it’s not a matter of students forgetting to bring them to school.

Cut 8 (08) “…these products.” 

Classmate, Sophia timidly told lawmakers that young girls like herself are often riddled with anxiety and unable to focus on class instruction over their periods.

Cut 9 (09) “…sanitary product.” 

When the menstrual products are not easily accessible, 12-year-old Nadia, a student at Audubon Charter School in New Orleans, told committee members just how difficult it is for shy girls like herself to ask permission to go to the nurse’s office.

Cut 10 (11) “…embarrassed. “

The bill passed on a 9 to 2 vote and heads to Appropriations.

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Starting August 1st, licensed Louisiana sports books will no longer offer prop bets involving a college athlete. A prop bet is when gamblers place a bet on how many touchdowns a quarterback will throw or how many points a basketball player will score. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns…

Cut 11 (11) “…as a whole”

Johns says prop bets on teams as a whole will still be legal. Johns says this new policy will protect the integrity of sports betting as well as the safety of college athletes…

Cut 12 (13) “…bettor” 

Vermont, Ohio and Maryland have also banned college prop bets. Johns expects more states will do so….

Cut 13 (10) “..sports betting.”

Sports betting became legal in Louisiana in 2020 and the first licensed sports books opened in 2021.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry reiterates his belief that college athletes should be present for the National Anthem . I’m Brooke Thorington.
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Advocate newspaper is reporting LSU agreed to a one-point-nine million dollar settlement to ten students who said their civil rights were violated when LSU failed to investigate accusations of rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence involving former football players, star running back Derius Guice and wide receiver Drake Davis.

Colorado State University hurricane researchers are expecting an extremely active 2024 hurricane season. Their initial forecast calls for 23 named storms, eleven hurricanes and five major storms. Isaac Schluesche is the on the research team and he says they’ve never predicted 11 hurricanes before a season started…
cut 3 (07) “…1995”
Schluesche says record warm sea surface temperatures and the return of La Nina is why they anticipate such a busy hurricane season.

Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews has filed legislation that would remove nitrogen hypoxia as a method to execute a death row inmate. Jackie Stern is with a group called Jews Against Gassing and she says a recent execution in Alabama that used nitrogen gas was not an effective method…
cut 12 (09) “…in Alabama”
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said the execution of Kenneth Smith was textbook.

6:45 LRN sportscast

LSU All-American forward Angel Reese is WNBA-bound as she’s forgoing her final season of eligibility. Reese leaves LSU as a national champion, a two-time All-American and this past season she was the SEC player of the year. The voice of the Lady Tigers, Patrick Wright, says Reese’s decision to leave Maryland and attend LSU was a game changer…
cut 19 (06) “…turn the corner”

The 18th-ranked LSU baseball team will look to turn around it season over the next three days as they begin a series tonight against sixth-ranked Vanderbilt. The Tigers are 2-and-7 in SEC play. Coach Jay Johnson has told the players no cell phones in the clubhouse…
cut 16 (11) “…we are doing”
First pitch is at 6 PM.

During an appearance on Fox News’ “America Reports” Governor Jeff Landry says he’s sent letters to all the Louisiana college boards encouraging them to implement a policy that student-athletes be present during the National Anthem
Cut 7 (15) “…itself.”
Landry continues to say if a student-athlete does not want to be on the field or court for the national anthem they don’t have to play the sport.

Despite 36 points from C-J McCollum the Pelicans lost to the Orlando Magic 117 to 108 last night. Zion Williamson had 15 points but didn’t play down the stretch because of a finger injury. The Pels now in sixth place in the West.

In college baseball..ULM over Northwestern State 10 to six and McNeese defeated Alcorn State 11 to 4.

LRN AM Newscall April 4

A bill has been filed that seeks to eliminate the state’s income tax. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Governor Landry reiterates his belief that college athletes should be present for the National Anthem on National TV. I’m Brooke Thorington.

Cut 2 (29)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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At the request of a newly formed coalition of Jewish organizations and faith leaders, Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews has filed a bill to remove the gassing method of execution from Louisiana law.  Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain”

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A bill to repeal the state’s income tax has been filed and awaits a hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee. Columbia Representative Neil Riser says it’s time to relieve Louisianans of rising costs by eliminating taxes.

Cut 4 (11) “…local economy.”

There’s been talk at the capitol for several years about repealing the state’s income tax. Riser’s bill would eliminate state taxes on income starting January 1, 2026.

Cut 5 (12) “…I am.” 

It’s estimated the amount the state will lose in revenue is around 4.5 billion dollars if the state repeals the state income tax. Riser says Louisiana could offset the loss of that revenue by getting rid of dozens of different tax credits and rebates.

Cut 6 (13) “…five billion.”

Riser notes that nearby states of Texas and Florida have no income taxes.

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During an appearance on Fox News’ “America Reports” Governor Jeff Landry says he’s sent letters to all the Louisiana college boards encouraging them to implement a policy that student-athletes be present during the National Anthem

 Cut 7 (15) “…itself.”

Landry posted on social media Tuesday morning after the LSU Lady Tigers weren’t on the court for the National Anthem Monday night, he wants such policies implemented that student-athletes risk their athletic scholarships if they aren’t present. When asked if athletes would be required to stand …

Cut 8 (08) “…the sport.” 

The Republican said the fact that Iowa players were present during the National Anthem and LSU players weren’t only highlighted the issue and sparked his social media post.

Cut 9 (12)  “…that anthem.”

Landry’s post also included “Above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag.”

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Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews has filed a bill to remove nitrogen hypoxia, the gassing method of execution, from Louisiana Law at the urging of Jews Against Gassing, a newly formed coalition of Jewish organizations and faith leaders. Coalition Steering Committee member, Jackie Stern says she and many in the Jewish community have a visceral reaction to this method…

Cut 10 (11) “…concentration camps.”

Approximately 2.7 million people were killed by the Nazi’s using poison gas and the use of the method as a death penalty option is chilling to the Jewish community. Stern says their objection to the method is not a statement about the death penalty itself.

Cut 11 (12) “…united strongly.”

Other states have laws that allow nitrogen hypoxia as a death penalty method but only Alabama has used it and lawsuits have been filed there. Some who witnessed the execution say it was agonizing and painful for several minutes. Stern says reports show it wasn’t successful as a fast easy method…

Cut 12 (11) “…in Alabama.” 

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Senate Education Committee approves a bill to mandate a five-day school week. Nine school districts currently use a four-day week schedule. But Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says she believes a five-day school week is a better option and it’s easier for parents and employers who operate Monday through Friday…

Cut 13 (06)  “…a week.”

Two major amendments were added to Mizell’s measure. One of them would allow school systems operating on a four-day school schedule can continue to do so if this proposal becomes law. The other would allow A or B school systems to move to a four-day week if they wish. Mizell understands the concerns that some school systems have with her legislation…

Cut 14 (10)  “…about that.”

Executive Director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents Michael Faulk says the four-day schedule works for some school systems, especially the smaller ones…

Cut 15 (10)  “…performance score.”

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LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson has told the players no cellphones in the locker room as the Tigers try to break out of a slump. They’ve lost four in a row and they are 2-7 in SEC play. Johnson is looking for greater focus from his players…

Cut 16 (11)  “…we are doing.” 

LSU has lost its first three series of SEC play. Johnson says the schedule has not provided his team with any breaks…

Cut 17 (18) “…perfectly” 

Vanderbilt comes in with a record of 23-6, 6-3 in the SEC. Johnson says the Commodores do not hit for a lot of power but they can run the bases…

Cut 18 (17)  “…right now”