6:30 LRN Newscast

As expected the three Republicans running for positions in statewide office won easily on Saturday. Nancy Landry, Liz Murrill and John Fleming received between 65 and 67-percent of the vote. Voters approved three of the four constitutional amendments. Constitutional Amendment four did not pass.

Louisiana residents will hit the grocery store this week as they get ready for that big Thanksgiving feast. Teiko Foxx on what you could expect to pay…
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx

Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud is disturbed by the latest episode of violent behavior by juvenile inmates at the Monroe Swanson Center for Youth. Cloud says three of the teen offenders involved in this latest attempted escape and violent attack were previously held at a facility at Angola…
Cut 13 (13) “…juvenile officers”
Cloud says a federal appeals court is expected to review a decision next month by a federal judge that resulted in juvenile offenders being moved from a facility at Angola.

New catch limits go into effect today for the speckled trout in Louisiana waters. The previous speckled size limit was 12-inches total length with a daily creel of 25 fish. LDWF fisheries biologist Jason Adriance starting today there is a 15-fish daily limit per angler…
cut 10 (12) “…20 inches”
The new rules are controversial but state biologists are concerned about overfishing.

07:30 LRN Sportscast

Tonight in Tiger Stadium it’s the final night game of the year as LSU hosts Georgia State at 7 PM. The Panthers are 6-4 on the season and on a three-game losing streak. They have some good skill position players. Georgia State quarterback Dustin Grainger is a three-year starter for the Panthers and he’s thrown for nearly two-thousand yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Georgia State’s running back Marcus Carroll is the third leading rusher in F-B-S, with 1,206 yards. But the Panthers have struggled on defense.

The Ragin Cajuns battle Sun Belt West Division rival Troy on Saturday. The Trojans have won seven in a row. ULM has lost eight straight and they are at Ole Miss. Louisiana Tech looks to end a five-game losing streak as they visit Jacksonville State in the regular season finale. McNeese hopes to break through in the win column at Lamar.
_____________________________________________________________
The seventh ranked LSU Lady Tigers went on the road last night and defeated Southeastern Louisiana 73-50. But the big story centered around Angel Reese, who was not at the game. The All-American did not make the trip after getting benched for the second half of Tuesday’s game. Coach Kim Mulkey said afterwards that Reese is part of their team and they hope to see her sooner than later.

The LSU men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak on Friday as they topped North Texas 66-62. Will Baker had 16 points to lead the Tigers. LSU held the Mean Green to 32-percent shooting.

The Pelicans outlasted the Denver Nuggets last night as Zion Williamson had 26 points in a 115 to 110 win.

In the high school football playoffs last night, Central went up to Monroe and defeated Neville 17-16, Alexandria Senior High blanked Brother Martin 23-0. Rummel over Captain Shreve 13-to- and Lake Charles College Prep downed Catholic of New Iberia seven to three.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Saturday night’s matchup between 15th-ranked LSU and Georgia State is not a marque game on the college football schedule. But Heisman voters will pay attention to quarterback Jayden Daniels’ performance. Tigers Coach Brian Kelly says Daniels has not been bothered by the increased media coverage associated with his Heisman campaign
Cut 17 (14) “…a great job.”
The Tigers and Panthers will kick off at 7 PM. Georgia State was off to a great start this season, winning six of its first seven, but they’ve lost their last three and they’ve given up 42 or more points in each of those losses.

The Ragin Cajuns battle Sun Belt West Division rival Troy on Saturday. The Trojans have won seven in a row. ULM has lost eight straight and they are at Ole Miss. Louisiana Tech looks to end a five-game losing streak as they visit Jacksonville State in the regular season finale.

Former LSU star Joe Burrow has suffered another season ending injury as he has torn a ligament in his right wrist. Burrow suffered the injury in Thursday night’s loss to Baltimore. Cincinnati is 5-and-5 and in last place in the AFC North.

No Saints game on Sunday as they enjoy a bye weekend. New Orleans is 5-and-5 and in first place in the NFC South a half game ahead of Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are at San Francisco. The Saints next game is November 26th at Atlanta. The Falcons are on a three-game losing streak and they are also off this Sunday.

The LSU men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak on Friday as they topped North Texas 66-62. Will Baker had 16 points to lead the Tigers. LSU held the Mean Green to 32-percent shooting.

The seventh ranked Lady Tigers are in Hammond tonight to face Southeastern. A sold out crowd is expected as Kim Mulkey returns to Tangiaphoa Parish.

The Pelicans host Denver tonight. New Orleans lost by 18 points to the defending NBA champs earlier this month.

LRN PM Newscall November 17

Beginning tomorrow through next Saturday, extra law enforcement will be patrolling the roads and looking for seat belt violations during the statewide Click It or Ticket campaign. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

______________________________________

Three statewide races, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer will be decided in the runoffs Saturday. Brooke Thorington has more on the predictions.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

______________________________________

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Click It or Ticket campaign begins tomorrow (Saturday) and goes through the Thanksgiving weekend. Spokesperson Greg Fischer says state troopers and local law enforcement will be on the lookout to see if drivers are buckled up…

Cut 3 (11) “….the road.”

A LHSC report found at least 55 percent of adults killed in a vehicle crash in the Bayou State last year were not properly wearing their seat belts.

Fischer says a first offense for anyone not wearing a seatbelt is $50 and $75 for repeat offenders. He says their latest observational survey found fewer than 15-percent of people in Louisiana go unbuckled…

Cut 4 (09) “…every year.”

During Thanksgiving weekend last year, there were 10 fatalities and more than 100 accidents with serious injuries.

Freeman says the state’s passenger safety law requires everyone in a vehicle whether they’re driving or in the back seat to be properly restrained. He says a ticket is better than a tragedy.

Cut 5 (12) “ …for you.”  

The campaign runs through next Saturday.

________________________________________________________________

Three statewide races will be decided Saturday in the run-off for Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer. After a voter turnout of only 36 percent in the October primary, political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it could be even lower for the runoff. He says Republicans are favored to win all three.

Cut 6 (08) “…will increase.”

For areas with legislative or local races in the run-off, Pinsonat expects voter turnout will be higher. For example, the mayor’s race in Lafayette. Incumbent Josh Guillory is in a heated race with the daughter of former Governor Kathleen Blanco, Monique Blanco Boulet…

Cut 7 (06) “…name Blanco.” 

Both Guillory and Boulet are Republicans.

Another contentious runoff is the Shreveport-Bossier City senate race between two current state representatives, Democrats Cedric Glover, and Sam Jenkins. Pinsonat says it’s just too close to call…

Cut 8 (08) “…big question.” 

Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM. For poll locations and a sample ballot use your GeauxVote app.

_____________________________________________

Governor-elect Jeff Landry has concerns about the potential cost of Louisiana’s new policy that allows state workers who welcome a new child to receive six weeks of paid leave. The state has 70-thousand employees and the benefit begins January 1st. Landry questions whether the state can afford it…

Cut 9 (07) “…pay for it” 

Metairie Republican Cameron Henry is expected to be the new House Speaker and Eunice Republican Phillip Devillier the new Senate President. Landry says he’s asked for the financial details of this new policy….

Cut 10 (08) “…a look at it” 

The Louisiana Budget Project says Tennessee, Georgia, Texas and South Carolina have adopted a similar family leave policy for its employees in recent years.

________________________________________________________

Despite the rain this week, the latest drought monitor indicates 99 percent of the Bayou State is still in drought and 88-percent is either in extreme or exceptional drought. Which state climatologist says are the worst two classes of drought.

Cut 11 (10) “…those rains.”

Since August 1st Keim says Louisiana has received 6-point-four inches of rain, but 15-point-seven inches would be considered normal for that time period. He says that’s only about 40 percent of the normal rainfall amount.

Cut 12 (09) “…really change.”  

But he says there’s some hope rain-wise for the state. On Monday a warm front will move through the state and be quickly followed by a cold front that will produce widespread rain across the state. Keim says some areas could see upwards of one to two inches of rain.

Cut 13 (06) “…we’re in.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Saturday night’s matchup between 15th-ranked LSU and Georgia State is not a marque game on the college football schedule. But Heisman voters will pay attention to quarterback Jayden Daniels’ performance. Tigers Coach Brian Kelly says Daniels has not been bothered by the increased media coverage associated with his Heisman campaign
Cut 17 (14) “…a great job.”

Ragin Cajuns athletics says its 65-million dollar renovation of the west side of their football stadium will begin December 11th. Athletic department spokesperson Evan Roberts says fans can view renderings of what the new stadium will look like at build-the-culture-dot-com…
Cut 19 (10) “…going to love”
The project has been discussed for over a decade and it will be completed for the 2025 season.

Nicholls closed out its regular season last night with a 21-16 win over Southeastern Louisiana. Jaylon Spears’ 73-yard touchdown catch was the winning score. The Colonels are the outright Southland champs and will find out Sunday in its first round opponent in the FCS playoffs.

A tough season for Louisiana Tech comes to an end Saturday when the Bulldogs visit Jacksonville State. Tech has lost five in a row and have just three wins on the season. Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie says a victory on Saturday would be big…
cut 20 (20) “….this program”
Kick off is at 1 PM.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Three statewide races will be decided Saturday in the run-off for Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer. After a voter turnout of only 36 percent in the October primary, political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it could be even lower for the runoff. He says Republicans are favored to win all three…
Cut 6 (08) “…will increase.”
Pinsonat is expecting a turnout in the teens for the November run-off.

Saturday also marks the start of the click it or ticket campaign as the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission provides local law enforcement agencies with grant dollars so more officers can check to see if motorists are buckled up. Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says their latest observational survey found fewer than 15-percent of people in Louisiana go unbuckled…
cut 4 (09) “…every year”
Along with the fentanyl crisis, there’s a growing number of overdoses linked to nitazines. Brooke Thorington has more on this deadly synthetic opioid.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

State Police has taken over as the lead agency into the investigation of this week’s deadly stabbing attack on the Louisiana Tech campus. L-S-P is asking anyone with information or pictures and video to share that information with L-S-P investigators. You can call the L-S-P Fusion Center Hotline.

9:30 LRN Newscast

St. Tammany Parish Coroner Doctor Charles Preston is ringing the alarm of a synthetic opioid that’s more deadly than fentanyl. It’s called Nitazines…
cut 12 (11) “…your body”
Preston says nitazines were developed in the 1950s but never received FDA approval because they can stop you from breathing.

Tomorrow is election day as three statewide offices are in a run-off. The ballot also has four constitutional amendments. 20 legislative races still need to be decided and there are also local races. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says use geaux-vote-dot-com to find your polling place and if you need help, you can always make a phone call…
cut 5 (10) “….to go”

New Orleans po boy shop owner Mike Serio is the iron man of LSU fans as he’ll attend his 500th consecutive game tomorrow night when the Tigers host Georgia State. His incredible streak started in 1983 and there have been some close calls. In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, Serio had to scramble after LSU’s home game against Arizona State was moved to Tempe…
Cut 7 (11) “…pretty wild”
During the 2020 COVID season, Serio watched the LSU-Vanderbilt game from a parking garage.

Ragin Cajuns athletics says its 65-million dollar renovation of the west side of their football stadium will begin December 11th. Athletic department spokesperson Evan Roberts says fans can view renderings of what the new stadium will look like at build-the-culture-dot-com…
Cut 19 (10) “…going to love”
The project has been discussed for over a decade and it will be completed for the 2025 season.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Election day is tomorrow. The top of the ballot has three statewide races. Republican Nancy Landry is running for Secretary of State. The former lawmaker is the current First Assistant Secretary of State and says if elected, she’ll use federal and state dollars to purchase new voting mcahines…
cut 14 (12) “….their ballot”
Her opponent is Democrat Gwen Collins Greenup, an attorney, accountant and small business owner who believes her experience will allow her to strengthen Louisiana’s elections.

Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says when you exercise your vote tomorrow, you can dedicate that vote to a Veteran…
cut 6 (10) “….to them”
You can dedicate your vote at the Secretary of State’s Office. So far more than 42-hundred veterans have been honored by Louisiana voters.

According to Bloomberg, Raising Cane’s Founder Todd Graves is the richest person in Louisiana and 307th wealthiest person worldwide. He’s worth seven-point-six billion dollars.

New Orleans po-boy shop owner Mike Serio will attend his 500th consecutive LSU game on Saturday night. Colleen Crain has more…
Cut 1 (40) “…I’m Colleen Crain”

7:30 LRN Newscast

Election Day is tomorrow. Three statewide elections, four constitutional amendments, several legislative races and other local elections will be decided. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office…
Cut 4 (07) “…Eight PM.”
Two women are running to be the next Secretary of State. Republican Nancy Landry currently serves as the First Assistant Secretary of State and touts her experience in running statewide elections…
cut 13 (11) “…that election”
Her opponent, Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup, is the former clerk of court in East Feliciana Parish. Collins-Greenup says she wants to replace the current voting machines and update voter registration rolls…
cut 15 (12) “….are voting”

Term-limited Governor John Bel Edwards says his transition out of office is going as planned. As he prepares to turn over power to Governor elect Jeff Landry. Edwards says his team is prepared to hand over the reins to Landry’s administration on January 8th.
Cut 18 (12) “…be surprised.”
Edwards says when he got into office eight years ago, he was surprised by the size of the state’s budget shortfall, which was over two-billion dollars.

Tomorrow night in Tiger Stadium, LSU will host Georgia State and New Orleans po-boy shop owner Mike Serio, will attend his 500th consecutive Tigers football game. Serio says he stays to the very end, but one time he couldn’t during a dark time for LSU football…
cut 8 (08) “…early Curly”
To hear the full interview with Serio go to Tiger-rag-dot-com.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Its LSU and Georgia State tomorrow night as Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels continues his quest to win the program’s third Heisman Trophy. His main competition is Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Junior. Coach Brian Kelly continues to talk up Daniels as the best player in college football and says his best qualities can’t be measured by statistics…
cut 18 (19) “…quarterback position”
Kick-off tomorrow is at 7 PM.

Nicholls completed an undefeated season in the Southland Conference last night with a 21-16 win over Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions only had 218 yards of offense, while Colonels quarterback Pat McQuaide had 300 yards passing and two TDs.

In the NFL, Joe Burrow left in the first half last night with a wrist injury and the Bengals lost to the Ravens 34-20.

Louisiana Tech will close out the season tomorrow when they visit Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks are 7-and-3 and have one of the best defenses in Conference USA. Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie is impressed with their pass rush…
Cut 19 (19) “…identification.”
Tech is trying to snap a five-game losing streak. Kick-off is at 1 PM.

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball beat ULM for an 11th consecutive time last night. The final score in Monroe was 73-63. Isaiah Crawford had 24 points and nine rebounds. The LSU men blew a 15-point second half lead and lost to Dayton 70-67. Nicholls fell to South Alabama in triple overtime 102-97. Maine over Northwestern State 78-65.