Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

02.07.24
by

2:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry is expected to provide more details about a National Guard deployment to the southern border at a press conference tomorrow. It’s estimated it will cost the state three-million dollars. Senator Bill Cassidy says using state dollars to address a federal problem might not be the solution…
Cut 5 (07) “…135 million”
Cassidy says the 135-million dollar figure is what it will potentially cost the state to switch from open primaries to party primaries for federal elections starting in 2026.

Air Products plans to inject captured carbon emissions into the ground below Lake Maurepas in southeast Louisiana. There are concerns this could damage the lake. Southeastern Louisiana has deployed environmental buoys to monitor the water quality. S-L-U’s Kyle Piller…
cut 10 (13) “….entire project”

The LSU football program put the finishing touches on its 2024 recruiting class today. Jeff Palermo has the story…
cut 2 (30) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state transportation secretary Shawn Wilson has a new job. He’s returning to the private sector as he’s been hired by W-S-P. The company describes itself as a leading engineering, environment and professional services consultancy. As the head of DOTD, Wilson oversaw more than five billion dollars in construction projects.

02.07.24
by

12:30 LRN Newscast

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy is once again not seeing eye-to-eye with Governor Jeff Landry as the senior senator opposes the idea of sending Louisiana National Guard troops to the U-S-Mexico border. Cassidy has concerns about the projected cost to the state…
cut 3 (08) “…for Louisiana”
Cassidy also does not support the state moving federal elections to party primaries in 2026. He says such a move will cost taxpayers an estimated 135-million dollars over ten years.

Reducing crime in New Orleans is a focus of the Landry Administration. And under a new agreement with the Orleans D-A, the Louisiana Attorney General’s office has committed to taking on more cases in the Crescent City. Attorney General Liz Murrill says if her office can help increase the number of convictions, it will send a strong message.
Cut 15 (10) “…breaking it.”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested two 14-year-old girls from the Mandeville area for allegedly talking about shooting up the school to kill one of their teachers during a SnapChat Conversation. Lt. Suzanne Carboni…
cut 12 (08) “…to a parent”
Carboni says the girls homes were searched and no firearms were found.

Congratulations to Derrick Winn. He’s a third grade math and science teacher at Baton Rouge’s Crestworth Elementary School. He’s been awarded 25-thousand dollars by the Milken Foundation for his outstanding work as a teacher. Winn learned of his award during an entire school assembly…
cut 8 (12) “…very appreciative”
New Iberia’s Christine Bayard has also received the 25-thousand dollar Milken Educator Award.

02.07.24
by

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Five-star defensive tackle Dominick McKinley from Acadiana officially signed with the LSU football team today. Because LSU is short on defensive tackles, McKinley could see the field right away for the Tigers. But the Tigers missed out on five-star athlete Terry Bussey as the Texas A-and-M committment signed with the Aggies this morning.

McNeese men’s basketball coach Will Wade has signed a five year contract that will pay him a school record 700-thousand dollars plus incentives. Wade has led the Cowboys to a 20-3 record and he says they are just getting started…
cut 16 (14) “…can go”
The deal also includes a 1.25 million dollar buyout if he leaves after this season and one-million dollars if he leaves after next season.

It’s a big night for basketball in the Bayou State, The LSU Tigers are in Knoxville to take on the sixth ranked Tennessee Volunteers. The Ragin Cajuns go after their eighth straight win as they host Georgia State.

La Tech seeks its seventh straight win as the Bulldogs host Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers have not won on the road in conference play, while the Bulldogs have won 11 straight at home. It’s Pack the TAC night and Coach Talvin Hester hopes the students will support their team…
cut 20 (17) “…classmatates”
ULM is also home tonight to host Coastal Carolina.

The Pelicans begin a four-game road trip tonight against the Clippers in Los Angeles. The Clippers have the best record in the West at 34-15. Zion Williamson is questionable with a left foot bone contusion and Naji Marshall is also questionable with a back spasms. Tip off is at 9 PM.

02.07.24
by

10:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office will prosecute more cases in New Orleans as a result of a new agreement with Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams. AG Liz Murrill says their office already has five prosecutors handling cases out of New Orleans and they will now take on more cases…
Cut 13 (11) “…Attorney General’s Office.”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed an executive order that directs the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality to streamline the permitting process for oil and gas project. President of the Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association president Tommy Faucheux says this will allow the industry can grow, but not at the expense of the environment…
Cut 5 (11) “…its job.”

A Snap Chat conversation led to the arrest of two 14-year-old Mandeville area girls on Tuesday. Lt. Suzanne (Sue-zahn) Carboni of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says they were alerted to the conversation by the FBI
Cut 10 (07) “…they had.”
In a search of the girls’ homes no guns were found.

Two south Louisiana teachers earned the national Milken Educator Award and a cash prize of 25-thousand-dollars on Tuesday. The winners are Christine Bayard and Derrick Winn. Bayard is a math teacher in New Iberia and won the award for her innovative approach to transforming her classroom into real-world environments including outer space.
Cut 6 (12) “..the moon.”
Bayard teaches at Johnston-Hopkins Elementary. Meanwhile Winn teaches third grade math and science at an elementary school in Baton Rouge.

02.07.24
by

6:45 LRN Sportscast February 7

It’s National signing day as LSU knows they’ll have one blue chipper signing with them today and possibly a second. Acadiana defensive tackle Dominick McKinley who committed to the Tigers on New Year’s Day will make it official today. LSU has also been heavily recruiting Terry Bussey, one of the top athletes in the country. Bussey has been committed to Texas A-and-M and he’ll make his college choice known at 9 AM.

In college hoops tonight, the LSU Tigers looking to pull off a big upset as they are at sixth ranked Tennessee.

The Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball team seeks their eighth straight win tonight when they host Georgia State in the Cajundome. The Panthers have lost six straight. U-L Lafayette Coach Bob Marlin has this scouting report on Georgia State…
Cut 18 (18) “..where we play”

Louisiana Tech goes after its seventh straight win tonight when they host Western Kentucky at the Thomas Assembly Center at 6 PM. The Hilltoppers play at the fastest tempo in the country, ranking number one with an average of 75 possessions per game. Bulldogs Coach Talvin Hester says they’ve worked on transition defense…
Cut 19 (19) “…for us”
Western Kentucky has yet to win on the road in conference play, while the Bulldogs have won 11 straight at home.

ULM is also home tonight as they take on Coastal Carolina.

McNeese has signed Will Wade to a new five year contract extension that will pay him 700-thousand dollars annually.

And the Pelicans begin a four-game road trip tonight in L-A against the Clippers.

02.06.24
by

Updated LRN AM Newscall for Feb 7 ###Updated Sports Copy###

Governor Jeff Landry signs a proclamation that states Louisiana’s oil and gas industry is open for business. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

_______________________________________________

LSU Health Shreveport and Volunteers of America North Louisiana are helping raise awareness and treatment for psychosis with their new EpiCenter. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________________

 Two 14-year-old Mandeville area high school girls were arrested after an FBI department alerted the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office to their Snap Chat Conversation. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

______________________________________________

Governor Jeff Landry has signed a proclamation that states Louisiana is open for business and his administration will work to ensure the oil and gas industry can thrive in the Bayou State. President of the Louisiana Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association, Tommy Faucheux, says the proclamation speaks for itself…

Cut 4 (12) “…grow in Louisiana.”

Landry has also signed an executive order that directs the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality to streamline the permitting process with the oil and gas industry. Faucheux believes the industry can grow, but not at the expense of the environment…

Cut 5 (11) “…its job.” 

There’s been a big push to reduce carbon emissions. Faucheux believes the oil and gas industry can play a big role in producing clean energy…

Cut 6 (06) “…in Louisiana.”

__________________________________________

LSU Health Shreveport and Volunteers of America North Louisiana have partnered to create a mental health EpiCenter program to provide youth and adults treatment for psychosis. Vice Chair of Psychiatry at LSU Health Shreveport Dr. Pamela McPherson says psychosis is more common than you might think.

Cut 7 (11) “…in young people.”

McPherson says receiving intensive treatment in the first few years of one’s psychosis is imperative for a better outcome.  While there are common misconceptions about psychosis, McPherson says it is a medical condition that affects the brain.

Cut 8 (12) “…or see.” 

She says they may also feel scared, and suspicious, that someone is trying to control their thoughts and have beliefs that are not normal for them or people in their family or community.

McPherson urges individuals when they see someone struggling with mental issues to intervene and know that help is available.

Cut 9 (12)  “…require.”

Psychosis can be brought on by medications, substance abuse, or even toxic metals. McPherson says it can also be a symptom of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dementia, and even depression.

_________________________________________________________

A Snap Chat conversation led to the arrest of two 14-year-old Mandeville area high school girls on Tuesday. Lt. Suzanne (Sue-zahn) Carboni of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says they were alerted to the conversation by the FBI National Threat Operations Section Exigent Threat Research and Analysis Crisis Team…

Cut 10 (07) “…they had.”

In a search of the girls’ homes no guns were found.

Carboni says these threats are no joking matter and the Sheriff’s office takes all of them seriously. They work with several agencies to keep students and school personnel safe.

Cut 11 (10) “…or not” 

Contrary to popular opinion, Snap Chat conversations do not disappear, and the St Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking parents to speak to their children about the seriousness of making threatening comments, even in a joking manner. Carboni says the two girls will have to appear in court.

Cut 12 (08) “…to a parent.” 

_____________________________________________________

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office will prosecute more cases in New Orleans as a result of a new agreement with Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams. AG Liz Murrill says their office already has five prosecutors handling cases out of New Orleans and they will now take on more cases…

Cut 13 (11)  “…Attorney General’s Office.”

Murrill says under the cooperative agreement, the Louisiana A-G’s office will prosecute individuals arrested by State Police or if L-S-P was involved in the criminal investigation.

Cut 14 (11) “…hard to predict.”

Reducing crime in New Orleans is a focus of the Landry Administration. The governor is looking to bring more state troopers to the city to help the N-O-P-D fight crime. Murrill says if her office can help increase the number of convictions a strong message will be sent…

Cut 15 (10) “…breaking it.”

_______________________________________________________________

The McNeese men’s basketball team is having one of its best seasons in program history and they’ve rewarded first-year head coach Will Wade with a new contract that will pay him 700-thousand dollars annually over five years. The Cowboys are 20-3 and Wade says they are just getting started…

Cut 16 (14) “…can go.” 

This is McNeese’s first 20-win season 2010-11 season. One of the victories was a win over Michigan. Wade says a day after beating the Wolverines there were six thousand unique visitors to the university’s website…

Cut 17 (12) “…change everything.” 

If Wade does leave for another coaching job, the school he goes to owes McNeese 1.25 million dollars. The buyout for the following season is one million dollars.

______________________________________________________________________

The Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball team seeks their eighth straight win tonight when they host Georgia State in the Cajundome. The Panthers have lost six straight. U-L Lafayette Coach Bob Marlin has this scouting report on Georgia State…

Cut 18 (18)  “..where we play”

_________________________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech goes after its seventh straight win tonight when they host Western Kentucky at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Hilltoppers play at the fastest tempo in the country, ranking number one with an average of 75 possessions per game. Bulldogs Coach Talvin Hester says they’ve worked on transition defense…

Cut 19 (19) “…for us” 

Western Kentucky has yet to win on the road in conference play, while the Bulldogs have won 11 straight at home. Its a Pack the TAC night and Hester is hoping the students come out and support their team…

Cut 20 (17) “…classmates”

02.06.24
by

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Brandon Ingram scored a season high 41 points last night as the Pelicans rolled past the Raptors 138 to 100. Ingram knocked down eight three-pointers, which was a career high for the veteran forward. New Orleans is on the road for the next four, starting tomorrow night in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

McNeese won its 20th game of the season last night and today head coach Will Wade agreed to a new five-year contract that will pay him 700-thousand dollars annually. That’s a lucrative contract for a school in the Southland Conference. The former LSU coach says the best is yet to come for the Pokes…
Cut 12 (12) “…area up.”
Wade says his team’s upset victory over Michigan earlier this season resulted in six thousand unique visitors to the school’s website the next day.

On paper it appears LSU Baseball Coach Jay Johnson will have plenty of options in his bullpen. One of the newcomers is left-hander Justin Loer, who earned seven saves for the Xavier Musketeers last season. Loer says he feeds off of the pressure…
cut 18 (18) “>….mound here”
Gavin Guidry and Nate Ackenhausen are the other pitchers who have shown the ability to get the final outs in a game.

Looking ahead to the college basketball action tomorrow night, LSU is at sixth ranked Tennessee. Louisiana Tech goes after its seventh straight win when the Bulldogs host Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers are 4-and-4 in league play. The Cajuns go after their eighth straight win when they host Georgia State and ULM hosts Coastal Carolina.

02.06.24
by

LRN PM Newscall February 6

There are talks of adding a Category 6 to the hurricane Saffir-Simpson scale. But is it necessary? Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________

Chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee Patrick McMath says there are way too many questions about the proposed sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to a for profit company based out of Indiana. Jeff Palermo has more

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

______________________________________

Due to the growing intensity of storms there’s talk of adding a Category 6 for hurricanes. A Cat 6 would be defined as wind speeds of more than 192 miles per hour. But LSU Climatologist Barry Keim says considering the last one that even came close in the Atlantic was Hurricane Allen in 1980 at 190 miles per hour, there’s no need.

Cut 3 (07) “…this category.”  

The strongest storm to ever make landfall in the US was Labor Day 1935 with winds of 185 miles per hour.

Keim says the National Hurricane Center considered adding a Category 6 but opted against it. He worries adding a higher classification could have repercussions.

Cut 4 (12) “…is necessary.”

The study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests global warming has prompted the need for an additional Saffir-Simpson scale storm category. Keim says the jury is still out…

Cut 5 (11) “…it’s necessary.”  

Keim notes Pacific storms are routinely stronger because there’s less land to weaken their intensity.

________________________________________________________________

Las Vegas is hosting its first Super Bowl this week and next year New Orleans will host its record tying 11th Super Bowl.  The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation is the host committee for next year’s Super Bowl and CEO Jay Cicero is in Vegas all week….

Cut 6  (10) “..next year” 

New Orleans is hosting its first Super Bowl since 2013 and Cicero says the huge sporting event has grown…

Cut 7 (12) “…just plentiful”  

New Orleans hosted its first Super Bowl in 1970 at old Tulane Stadium. Cicero says next year they’ll be remembering the ten previous Super Bowls held in the city and they expect it will be a great event…

Cut 8 (10) “…Super Bowl here.” 

__________________________________________________________________

Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Patrick McMath says a daylong meeting with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana officials about its  proposed sale to Indiana-based Elevance Health produced a ton of unanswered questions. McMath says the sale will create a foundation that will address poverty and health inequities, but there are a lot of unknowns

Cut 9 (11) “…incredibly vague”

McMath says they are also concerned the proposed sale to Elevance will lead to higher costs for policyholders despite the president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana telling legislators in his opening statement that premiums will not rise…

Cut 10 (08) “…increase”

McMath says Blue Cross is a local nonprofit while Elevance is a for-profit company that has to answer to stockholders. He says in states that Elevance has acquired a Blue Cross Blue Shield, premiums have gone up…

Cut 11 (12) “…desperately need.”

Blue Cross covers one-point-nine million people in Louisiana.

For the sale to go through 92-thousand policyholders will be asked to vote and two-thirds of them will need to approve it. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple will also have to sign off on it.

The Department of Insurance will hold a two-day hearing on the proposed sale on February 14th and 15th.

When the sale was announced in January 2023, Elevance and Blue Cross said the acquisition would improve access, quality, affordability and the customer service experience.

______________________________________________________________

McNeese men’s basketball coach Will Wade has agreed to a new five-year contract that will pay him 700-thousand dollars annually. That’s a lucrative contract for a school in the Southland Conference. Wade has led the Cowboys to a 20-3 season which has garnered them national attention. The former LSU coach says the best is yet to come for the Pokes…

Cut 12 (12)  “…area up.”  

Wade says his team’s upset victory over Michigan earlier this season resulted in six thousand unique visitor’s to the school’s website the next day and hundreds of those looked into applying at the school.

__________________________________________________________________

02.06.24
by

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Big night for Brandon Ingram last night as the Pelicans forward had a season-high 41 points in a 138 to 100 win over Toronto. Ingram was 16 of 21 from the field and drained eight three-pointers. The Pels will begin a four-game road trip tomorrow night in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

In college basketball last night…both Grambling and Southern won and they stay tied for first place in the SWAC. The Jaguars beat Jackson State 72-63, while Grambling had four players in double figures in a 78-67 win over Alcorn State.

McNeese got back into the win column last night with a 77-51 win over Texas A-and-M Commerce. And this afternoon the Cowboys will announce a new contract for Coach Will Wade, a five-year deal worth 700-thousand dollars.

Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls were also winners last night. The Lions have won three in a row, the Colonels have a four game winning streak.

LSU Sophomore catcher Brady Neal is back behind the plate after a back injury forced him to miss the second half of the season last year. Neal says he tried to stay involved as much as he could last year…
Cut 16 (23) “…to the park.”
Neal will be sharing catching duties with Alex Milazzo and Hayden Travinski.

Louisiana Tech baseball is picked to finish third in Conference USA. Dallas Baptist is the preseason favorite to win the league, while conference newcomer Liberty has been picked to finish second. Tech was 28-31 last year and they will open the season a week from Friday against Northern Colorado.

02.06.24
by

9:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry plans to talk to legislative leaders about sending Louisiana National Guard troops tot he U-S Mexico border to help Texas keep migrants from entering the United States. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says immigration will be a huge campaign talking point in the 2024 presidential race and he says Republicans are constantly making the point the Biden Administration is mishandling the border…
Cut 12 (10) “…problems.”

The Port of New Orleans says New Orleans Cruise passenger numbers are back to pre-pandemic levels as one-point-two million cruised out of the Big Easy in 2023. Port of New Orleans spokesperson Kimberly Curth says the cruise industry is worth 125-million dollars to the local economy…
cut 8 (12) “….our attractions”

To combat the ongoing truck driver shortage, there are initiatives to encourage more women to join the profession. Brooke Thorington explains…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed a proclamation that states Louisiana is open for business and his administration will work tirelessly to ensure oil and gas industry can thrive in Louisiana. Landry is also directing D-N-R and D-E-Q to streamline the permitting processes associated with oil and gas.