6:45 LRN Sportscast

It’s LSU and Iowa tonight in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. It’s a rematch of last year’s national championship won by the Lady Tigers. It’s another chance to see the two biggest stars in women’s basketball go head to head, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Coach Kim Mulkey sees a lot of similarities in there playing styles…
cut 17 (22) “…basketball before”
Tip-off is at 6:15. The winner of this game gets USC or UCONN. South Carolina and North Carolina State is the other semifinal matchup.

The LSU baseball team will host Southern tonight at Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers are on a five-game SEC losing streak after getting swept by top-ranked Arkansas. Free passes have hurt the Tigers. LSU pitching leads the SEC in walks with 53.

The Ragin Cajuns have won eleven in a row after sweeping Texas State. U-L Lafayette is off to an 8-1 start, which equals the best nine-game league start since 2014. The Cajuns will open a nine-game homestand tomorrow when they host Nicholls.

ULM lost two of three to 19th-ranked Coastal Carolina to fall to 14-and-14 on the season. Louisiana Tech also dropped two of three to FIU.

Grambling and Southern are at the top of the SWAC western division after taking two of three from Texas Southern. Southern swept Prairie View A-and-M. The Jaguars won yesterday 22 to 12.

The Pelicans host the Phoenix Suns tonight, New Orleans lost to the Celtics 104 to 92.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Legislation that would allow lawmakers to rewrite the state’s constitution has been filed. Teiko Foxx spoke with LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford who explains the process.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

It’s LSU and Iowa tonight in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament. The Lady Tigers beat the Hawkeyes in last year’s national championship game. A women’s basketball record nine point nine million people watched and another huge TV audience is expected tonight. Ti[p off is at 6:15.

A week from today there will be a total solar eclipse. Texas and Arkansas will get the full effect of the total solar eclipse and in Louisiana, the Shreveport area will have a 95-percent view and in southeast Louisiana 80-percent. LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Doctor Natalie Hinkel encourages people to get their eclipse glasses now…
cut 11 (12) “…eclipse glasses”

Mansfield, Louisiana Mayor Thomas Jones says he will never forget last week’s council meeting as the small town deputized 12-year-old Davarjaye “DJ” Daniel of Houston. It was the 821st time the young man with a rare form of terminal brain and spine cancer had been sworn in as an honorary officer. Jones says DJ is an inspiration.
Cut 13 (07) “…help somebody.”
The city had a uniform and badge specially made for DJ whose goal is to be sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible.

Legislative report April 1

This is the Louisiana Radio Network Legislative report, I”m Jeanne Burns…

New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu files legislation for a constitutional convention so state lawmakers and delegates appointed by the governor can write a new state constitution.

The goal is to streamline the state constitution which has been amended more than 200 times and they want to remove certain sections and put it into state law.

Beaullieu says the main goal is to give state lawmakers more flexibility in tough budget times.

He says when the state faces a budget deficit, higher education and health care take the brunt of the cuts because certain areas are constitutionally protected…
Cut 13 (09) “…health care”

Beaullieu’s bill calls for the constitutional convention to begin May 20th and run until July 15th, but he believes it will not take that long…
Cut 14 (11) “…we can do that”

The plan calls for 171 delegates to write a new constitution. All 144 state lawmakers and Governor Jeff Landry will handpick the other 27 delegates.

Jeremy Alford of La-politics-dot-com says private dollars would pay for the convention….
cut 6 (11) “…find out” (AM Newscall)
Senate President Cameron Henry has said it would be difficult to end the regular session two weeks early to start a constitutional convention. Henry says legislators are also not crazy about being in Baton Rouge in June and July after already going through two special sessions this year. He says many of them need to get back to their full-time job.

Beauilleau expects a committee hearing on his bill in the next couple of weeks.

LRN AM Newscall April 1

Legislation that would allow lawmakers to rewrite the state’s constitution has been filed. Teiko Foxx spoke with LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford who explains the process.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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House Natural Resources approves a bill to raise fees on Louisiana processors and distributors who import foreign seafood. Colleen Crain reports the additional dollars will help fund a state program that tests imported seafood…

Cut 2 (32)  “I’m Colleen Crain.” 

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A 12-year-old with a rare form of terminal cancer’s visit to Mansfield, Louisiana last week was both memorable and heart-touching. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Louisiana could hold its first constitutional convention in half a century. Legislation defining the framework has been filed by New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu. LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says it is not a done deal, as there are concerns about the timing of the convention…

Cut 4 (11) “…session early.”

Beaullieu proposes the convention begins May 20th and ends July 15th. That means the ongoing legislative session would have to end two weeks early and there are concerns about completing the work that needs to be done in the regular session.

Alford says Governor Landry and several state lawmakers are pushing for a constitutional convention so they can streamline the state’s constitution by moving certain items out and putting them into state law.

Cut 5 (13) “…for now.” 

The plan calls for 171 delegates to write the new constitution. That would consist of all 144 state lawmakers and Governor Jeff Landry would handpick the other 27 delegates.

Alford says private dollars would pay for the convention.

Cut 6 (12) “…find out.”

Louisiana voters would vote in November to approve a new constitution.

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A bill raising fees on processors and distributors importing seafood from foreign countries has passed the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support Bill sponsor, Houma Representative Jessica Domangue…

 Cut 7 (09) “…increase testing.”

The bill now heads to the full House for consideration.

Domangue, the daughter of a commercial fisherman, is concerned about the lack of resources to test foreign seafood for harmful contaminants. She says it’s important the state does supplemental testing because the feds do not do enough

Cut 8 (08) “…human health.” 

Domangue says the fees currently collected by the Louisiana Department of Health only partially fund needed screening. Her bill would increase the annual flat fee of $100 currently collected from processors and distributors of foreign seafood to 0.1% of their annual gross revenue.

Cut 9 (07)  “…functions.”

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A week from today a total solar eclipse will darken the skies for those lucky enough to be in the narrow band of land stretching from Texas to Maine. But LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Dr. Natalie Hinkel says the northwest corner of Louisiana will have the best view of the celestial marvel.

Cut 10 (09) “…the earth.”

For Louisiana, the eclipse will begin around 12:30, with the best view around 1:45, and it will end by 3:10.

If you can’t make it to the closest locations in Texas or Arkansas that will have a 100% view of the total eclipse, Hinkel says you’ll still want to step outside and check it out. But she warns you not to look directly at the sun unless you have specialized eyewear, not your average sunglasses.

Cut 11 (12) “…eclipse glasses.”

Doing so without appropriate eyewear can cause permanent damage to your retina.

Northwest Louisiana will have a 95% view of the total eclipse, followed by the Lake Charles and Alexandria areas at 90%, the Baton Rouge and Lafayette regions at 85%, and southeast Louisiana with an 80% view.

If you haven’t purchased your certified eclipse glasses yet, Hinkel suggests visiting Eclipse.aas.org.

Cut 12 (08) “…eclipse glasses.” 

You can also find a link and map at LouisianaRadioNetwork.com. The next solar eclipse for continental U.S. will be 2044.

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Mansfield, Louisiana Mayor Thomas Jones says he will never forget last week’s council meeting as the small town deputized 12-year-old Davarjaye “DJ” Daniel of Houston. It was the 821st time the young man with a rare form of terminal brain and spine cancer had been sworn in as an honorary officer. Jones says DJ is an inspiration.

Cut 13 (07)  “…help somebody.”

The reason DJ’s father, Theodis Daniel, chose Mansfield is that his family, who had been there since the early 1900s, left after his great-uncle was lynched. Jones says the visit was an emotional and significant one.

Cut 14 (05)  “…to know.”

Jones says meeting DJ and the magnitude of his family’s return to the small DeSoto Parish city, was better than any church service he’s ever attended.

Cut 15 (07)  “…days ahead.”

The city had a uniform and badge specially made for DJ whose goal is to be sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible.

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LSU and Iowa meet again tonight, a rematch of last year’s national championship game won by the Lady Tigers. This time the setting is the Elite Eight, the winner advances to the Final Four. Both teams feature superstar players. Angel Reese for LSU and Caitlin Clark for Iowa. Some believe there’s a heated rivalry between the two, Reese says that’s not the case…

Cut 16 (16)  “…friends” 

Mulkey says she sees a lot of similarities between Reese and Clark…

Cut 17 (22) “…basketball before” 

Both teams do like the trash talk and some fans get offended. But Hailey Van Lith says the smack-talking has been good for the game and it’s malicious…

Cut 18 (20)  “…ever done.”  

07:30 LRN Sportscast

The seventh-ranked LSU baseball team has dropped its third consecutive SEC series as the Tigers lost to Arkansas four to three in ten innings. It was an unearned run that scored in the tenth as Michael Braswell missed played a ground ball to allow Will Edmunson to reach first base. He scored on Hudson Walker’s RBI double. LSU will try to salvage a game in the series today at 2 PM.

The Ragin Cajuns won their tenth straight as U-L Lafayette defeated Texas State 16 to 5. Duncan Pastore drove in four runs and Jose Torres and Josh Alexander each had three hits.

In other action, Coastal Carolina defeated ULM four to one, and Louisiana Tech held on to beat F-I-U seven to six. Jorge (George) Corona had three hits, drove in two runs and hit a home run. Adarius Myers also drove in three runs.

Northwestern over McNeese six to two, Houston Christian downed Southeastern Louisiana nine to two and Nicholls knocked off Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 13 to eight.

Coming up at noon today, the LSU Lady Tigers will continue their quest to repeat as national champs as they face UCLA. Angel Reese admits there are more expectations on them to win it all this year…
cut 4 (10) “….we’re winning”
The Lady Tigers will need a good scoring game from Reese today. So far through two NCAA Tournament games, she’s shooting 29 percent from the field.

The LSU men’s basketball team has signed a Louisiana native out of the transfer portal as Cam Carte has signed with the Tigers. He’s from Donaldsonville and played at East Ascension High School. Carter is a six-foot-three guard who averaged nearly 15 points and five rebounds a game last season at Kansas State.

The Pelicans will face Boston today at 4 PM at the Smoothie King Center. The Celtics have the best record in the NBA at 57-16, but they’ve lost two in a row. Tip-off is at 4 PM.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The eighth ranked LSU baseball team will look to even up the series tonight with top ranked Arkansas. The Razorbacks won seven to four last night as Tiger pitching walked 11 hitters last night. In seven SEC games, LSU has walked a league 59 hitters.

The Ragin Cajuns are in first place in the Sun Belt after winning their ninth straight last night, a four to one win over Texas State.

ULM snapped a three game losing streak with an 11-3 win over 19th ranked Coastal Carolina last night. The Warhawks had 15 hits and Coastal starting pitcher Alexander Meckley suffered his first loss, allong eight runs in four innings. ULM Coach Mike Federico talked about his team’s approach on the plate with Warhawk play-by-play man Mike Hammett…
cut 18 (20) “…as well”
Shawn Dalton Weatherbee had four hits and drove in five runs. Game two of the series is tonight at 6 PM.

The defending national champion LSU women’s basketball team is taking an underdog mentality into its Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA on Saturday. The Lady Tigers are the three-seed, while the Bruins are the two seed and led by six-foot-seven Lauren Betts. But LSU Coach Kim Mulkey says UCLA has more than just Betts…
Cut 3 (10) “…fight hard”
The last team to win back-to-back national championships in women’s basketball is UCONN. They won four in a row from 2013 to 2016.

The LSU men’s basketball team has announced the signing of six-foot-three guard Cam Carter from Donaldsonville. Carter spent the last two seasons at Kansas State where he averaged 15 points, five rebounds and three assists a game. He’ll have one more year of eligibility left.

And the Saints have made it official, they will conduct training camp next season at U-C Irvine in Irvine, California.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The eighth ranked LSU baseball team fell to 2-and-5 in the SEC with a seven to four loss last night to top ranked Arkansas. The difference was a three-run homer by Kendall Diggs off of LSU reliever Gavin Guidry in the eighth inning. Game two is tonight at 7 PM and Luke Holman will be on the hill for the Tigers.

ULM got a big night at the plate from Shawn Dalton Weatherbee as the Warhawks upset 19th ranked Coastal Carolina 11 to three. Weatherbee had four hits and drove in five runs.

The Ragin Cajuns won their ninth straight last night as U-L Lafayette continues to get great pitching. The Cajuns topped Texas State four to one as Andrew Herrmann and LP Langevin held the Bobcats to five hits. U-L is now in sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt.

Louisiana Tech lost its first Conference USA game as they fell to FIU 13 to 4. The Bulldogs will try again today at 5:30 in Miami.

LSU and UCLA are in Albany, New York preparing for tomorrow afternoon’s Sweet 16 matchup. The Bruins are 27-6, while the Lady Tigers are 30-5. UCLA Coach Cori Close says both teams are similar
Cut 16 (19) “…other programs.”
UCLA is led by six-foot-seven, Lauren Betts, who’s averaging 15 points and nine rebounds a game.

After a tough loss on Tuesday to Oklahoma City, the Pelicans rebounded last night with a 107 to 100 win over the Bucks. Zion Williamson had 28 points and C-J McCollum scored 25. The Pels host Boston tomorrow. The Celtics have the best record in the NBA.

11:30 LRN Newscast

A Bossier City woman faces attempted kidnapping charges after telling her estranged boyfriend an infant at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge was their child. BRPD spokesperson Darren Ahmed says 21-year-old Dinesty Selmon made multiple visits to case the hospital and even fooled security into giving her an access badge.
Cut 6 (07) “…in movies.”
Ahmed says Selmon told her boyfriend she gave birth in Alexandria and that their premature child was being treated in Baton Rouge.

Hammond Police are charging three individuals with attempted murder after a female student at Southeastern Louisiana University survived a fentanyl overdose. Police Chief Edwin Bergeron says previously these suspects would just face drug charges, but they are doing something new in Tangipahoa Parish……
Cut 18 (08) “…murder charges.”
50-year-old Kawaiishh Brown and two men, 29-year-old, Shyheim Pines, and 21-year-old Mark Fridge, III face attempted murder charges. The student is back at school.

New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu has filed legislation that calls for a constitutional convention so state lawmakers and delegates appointed by the governor can write a new state constitution. Beaullieu says the goal is to move certain items out of the constitution and put them into state law…
cut 12 (08) “…premise of this convention”
According to the Council of State Governments Louisiana’s constitution is one of the longest in the country. It’s been amended over 200 times since adopted in 1974.

A whopping 92-pound, nearly 50-inch Grass Carp was captured in Lake Concordia in Ferriday. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Shelby Richard says the carp was taken during sampling
Cut 13 (12) “…shy of that.”
Had this carp been captured by traditional fishing methods, it would have bested the current IGFA All-Tackle World Record by four pounds, which was caught in Bulgaria in 2009.

8:30 LRN Newscast

If you’re planning a crawfish boil for this Easter weekend, plan to spend 50 cents a pound more than last week as demand picks up. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King keeps track of prices…
Cut 10 (13) “…sack of crawfish.”
Laney says Crawfish prices are almost double what they were last Easter.

The LSU Lady Tigers get a practice in today in Albany, New York a head of tomorrow’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA. The Bruins are led by six-foot-seven, Lauren Betts, who averages 15 points and nine rebounds a game. UCLA coach Cori Close says Betts is a matchup problem…
cut 17 (13) “…our side”
Tip off is at noon on Saturday.

Easter baskets are being filled this weekend and in Louisiana, that means Ponchatoula-based Elmer’s Candy. Elmer’s CEO, Rob Nelson says there’s a big rush this week for their gold brick eggs, heavenly hash and pecan egg…
Cut 4 (06) “…very good.”
Nelson says this year they brought back the strawberry heavenly hash after hearing from their customers.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says it captured a 92-pound Grass Carp while conducting routine sampling in Lake Concordia in Ferriday. If it were caught during a fishing competition it would have gone down in the record brooks. LDWF biologist Shelby Richard says this is the first time they’ve ever seen a Grass Carp in Lake Concordia…
cut 14 (14) “…in Lake Concorida.
Grass Carp are native to Asia and are used to control aquatic vegetation.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Hammond Police are pushing for attempted murder charges against three individuals involved in supplying fentanyl to a Southeastern Louisiana student who nearly died after overdosing on the drug. Police chief Edwin Bergeron says if you give drugs to someone and they nearly died after taking them, they should be charged with attempted murder…
cut 9 (09) “,,,these things”
The three people arrested are Kawaiishh Brown, Shyheim Pines and Mark Fridge the Third.

A whopping 92-pound, nearly 50-inch Grass Carp was captured in Lake Concordia in Ferriday. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Shelby Richard (Ree-shard) says the carp was taken during standard spring electrofishing sampling
Cut 13 (12) “…shy of that.”
Had this carp been captured by traditional fishing methods, it would have bested the current IGFA All-Tackle World Record by four pounds, which was caught in Bulgaria in 2009.

It’s the biggest weekend of the year for crawfish eating. Teiko Foxx reports there’s been a bump in prices heading into the Easter weekend…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Louisiana saw a decline in honey production last year because of the drought and a late freeze last March. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says in a typical year, Louisiana produces more than three million pounds of honey, but last year it was two-million. Strain understands the struggle as he’s a beekeeper himself…
cut 30 (07) “…impact”