1:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Department of Health this week confirmed a case of measles in the New Orleans area. All we know about the patient is that the patient is a child who became exposed during international travel. LDH says on April 17th while infected, the patient visited the Kenner Target and Walmart stores. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says if you were at either store that day, closely monitor yourself for any symptoms.

Cut 9 (13)  “…the rash appears.”

LDH says the patient was partially vaccinated.

The LSU baseball team will look to turn its season around starting this afternoon as the Tigers travel to Starkville for a three-game series against 15th-ranked Mississippi State. Coach Jay Johnson says the Bulldogs present another tough test for his team.

Cut 29 (09)  “…to be awesome.”

First pitch has been moved up to 3 p-m because of the potential of severe weather in Starkville tonight.

 

A measure to crack down on marijuana use near school facilities advances to the Senate. The full House passed Pollack Representative Gabe Firment’s bill on a vote of 59-to-34. It would increase the penalty for smoking marijuana within two-thousand feet of a school facility to up to a year in prison and a fine of up to one-thousand dollars. Firment said marijuana use near schools is getting out of control.

Cut 30 (11) “…little meaningful consequence.”

The bill heads to the Senate for more discussion.

Festival International which has music groups from around the world will create great vibes in downtown Lafayette this weekend. Vice President of Communications at Lafayette Travel, Jesse Guidry, says Festival International is not just a music festival…

Cut 5 (10) “…arts and craft.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry and Baton Rouge law enforcement will hold a press conference at 2 PM to provide an update on yesterday’s fatal shooting at the Mall of Louisiana that killed a 17-year-old student from Lafayette Parish and injured five others. Baton Rouge police chief T.J. Morse says at 1:22 yesterday afternoon, two groups of people got into an argument, and gunfire erupted.

Cut 12 (12) “…the cross fire.”

The 17-year-old girl who was fatally shot has been identified as Martha Odom and she attended Ascension Episcopal.

Two of the state’s largest teacher unions are supporting Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16th ballot. Louisiana Federation of Teachers president Larry Carter says the measure would provide a permanent salary increase for educators and school employees….

Cut 6 (14) “…permanent pay.”

Early voting for this election begins May 2nd.

 

It’s another big weekend of festivals and Festival International is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Andre Champagne has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

The NFL draft got underway last night with the Saints selecting Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick. Tyson has great hands and can play all three wide receiver positions. But the 21-year-old has also battled injuries during his career. The Saints have two draft selections tonight and five more on Saturday.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Saints selected wide receiver Jordan Tyson out of Arizona State with the eighth overall pick last night, which adds another weapon to quarterback Tyler Shough’s arsenal. Tyson caught 61 passes for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games with the Sun Devils last season. Coach Kellen Moore says Tyson has several skills that stood out.

Cut 29 (08): “we’re fired up.”

The draft continues at six this evening with the second round, in which the Saints have the tenth pick.

The Kansas City Chiefs moved up three spots to number six to take former LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. He becomes the second-highest LSU DB selected in the draft and the ninth defensive back in program history to be selected in the first round. According to Spotrac, Delane’s rookie contract is worth $41.9 million with $26.9 million guaranteed.

Former Tigers Garrett Nussmeier, Harold Perkins Jr. and AJ Haulcy will all await to hear their names being called tonight.

The LSU baseball team will look to turn its season around starting this afternoon as the Tigers travel to Starkville for a three-game series against 15th-ranked Mississippi State. Coach Jay Johnson says the Bulldogs present another tough test for his team.

Cut 17 (10)  “…to be awesome.”

First pitch has been moved up to 3 p-m because of the potential of severe weather in Starkville tonight.

Louisiana Tech baseball opens a pivotal three-game home series against Missouri State tonight. The Bears rank second in Conference USA and 11th nationally with 76 home runs and counting. Head coach Lane Burroughs says his team must do a good job of limiting the long ball this weekend.

Cut 19 (10) “…play good baseball.”

First pitch in Ruston is set for 6 p.m.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints used the eighth overall pick in last night’s draft to take Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson, who caught 61 passes for 711 yards and 8 touchdowns for the Sun Devils last season. Tyson says he can’t wait to team up with Chris Olave to give Tyler Shough an added target.

Cut 16 (06) “…to be ugly.”

Tyson is six-two, 203 pounds. He’s known as a great route runner who can go up and get 50-50 balls.

The Kansas City Chiefs moved up three spots to number six to take former LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Delane is excited to play for the Chiefs who have won three Super Bowls since the 2019 season…

Cut 28 (14) “…ready to go”

The second round of the draft is tonight at 6 PM.

 

Stormy weather is expected in Starkville tonight, so LSU’s first game of the weekend series against Mississippi State has been moved up to three PM. The Tigers have lost six straight SEC games and with 12 league games left, time is running out for LSU to turn its season around. Coach Jay Johnson…

Cut 18 (19) “….how we play”

LSU has not missed the NCAA Tournament since 2011.

In other action this weekend, La Tech hosts Missouri State. ULM hosts James Madison, the Ragin Cajuns are at Arkansas State. Northwestern State faces Stephen F Austin, McNeese takes on UTRGV and Grambling hosts Alcorn.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints will look to make a splash in this year’s NFL Draft, much like they did last season. New Orleans holds eight picks this weekend, including the number-eight overall selection. One name that has appeared in several mock drafts is LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. General Manager Mickey Loomis, who attended Delane’s impressive pro day at LSU, says he is uber-talented.

Cut 16 (10) “…get taken high.”

The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved a new contract for athletic director Verge Ausberry. Ausberry will receive one-point-five million dollars by the end of 2027 and his eight-million dollar deal runs through 2030. The former linebacker now A-D addressed the LSU Board of Supervisors before his new contract was approved…

Cut 9 (09)  “…athletic director”

At LSU’s 14th spring practice on Thursday, redshirt junior wide receiver Jackson Harris exited with an apparent injury after landing awkwardly on an incompletion. He was evaluated by trainers and walked off under his own power, but did not return.

UL Lafayette football will wrap up spring practice with a game Saturday. One position group coach Michael Desormeaux wants to see more production from is the wide receivers. With Shelton Sampson out with an injury, Desormeaux is looking for players to step up Saturday.

Cut 19 (16) “…a break for.”

Former LSU and Ole Miss forward Corey Chest is headed to Lake Charles to play for McNeese State. The 6-foot-8, 220 pound sophomore averaged 2.6 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Rebels this past season.

4:30 LRN Newscast

One person is dead and five others are injured after a shooting next to the food court at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. Police Chief TJ Morse says gun shots rang out at around 1:22 this afternoon…

Cut 14 (07) “…at each other”

Morse says five people are in custody.

Law enforcement foils a North Carolina man’s alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at Jazz Fest. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

 

The LSU Board of Supervisors approves a contract extension for Athletic Director Verge Ausberry. His new deal will pay him eight-million dollars through 2030. Ausberry says it’s an honor to lead the LSU athletics department.

Cut 10 (06) “…me than anything.”

Ausberry has been busy since he was promoted to athletics director. The former linebacker has hired a new football and men’s basketball coach.

Harahan Representative John Illg is pushing legislation again this year that would make it a crime to do an intentional balloon release. Illg says it’s bad for the environment and it produces litter. Illg says passing a law at the state level is all well and good, but a state law doesn’t go far enough.

Cut 8 (10) “…end up here.”

Illg’s bill has passed the House and it’s awaiting final passage on the Senate floor.

3:30 LRN Newscast

Gun fire erupted early this afternoon at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge as two groups of people got into an argument near the food court and started shooting at each other. Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse says multiple people were shot…

Cut 12 (06) “…private vehicle”

Morse could not provide any details on the conditions of the individuals wounded during the mass shooting. A law enforcement source has told LRN that two people are in critical condition.

This is the second mass shooting in Louisiana in the last week. Eight children were killed in Shreveport on Sunday when the father of seven of the children killed his kids and a nephew execution style.

And in Florida…authorities apprehended a North Carolina man who was traveling to Louisiana to carry out a mass shooting at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival got underway. Okaloosa County Sheriff deputies recovered a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition from his hotel room in Destin, Florida.

Drought conditions continue to worsen in Louisiana…

Cut 3 (12) “….as extreme drought”

State Climatologist Jay Grymes says most of north Louisiana and much of southeast Louisiana is in extreme drought.  There is the potential for severe weather in north Louisiana tomorrow night.

The LSU Board of Supervisors approved a contract for athletic director Verge Ausberry, who was promoted to the job in November after Scott Woodward was fired. Ausberry is from New Iberia. He played linebacker for LSU from 1986 to 1990, winning two SEC championships. He was also a two-year captain on defense. He says his best job at LSU was his first job, as he served as an academic advisor for student-athletes.

Cut 11 (07) “…the proudest moment.”

Updated LRN PM Newscall with sound on the mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana

Law enforcement foils a North Carolina man’s alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at Jazz Fest. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

The drought in Louisiana is getting worse. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

____________________________________________

If you’re not in the greater Baton Rouge area or in Cameron Parish, you’re in an area experiencing drought. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the latest Louisiana Drought Monitor shows drought conditions getting worse.

Cut 3 (12) “…as extreme drought.”

This is a far cry from one year ago today, when none of the state was in any drought condition, and Grymes says this is the worst drought the state has experienced since 2023. And everywhere you go, you can start to see the devastating effects.

Cut 4 (14) “…of Louisiana agriculture.”

Grymes says in order to turn things around at this point, we need to see two to four weeks of steady wet weather, and that could start soon – emphasis on “could.”

Cut 5 (12) “…drought gas pedal.”

Grymes says northern Louisiana should prepare for occasional strong-to-severe thunderstorms tomorrow night.

____________________________________________

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. That’s what Harahan Representative John Illg is doing with legislation to ban outdoor balloon releases. Last year, his bill to create a new law to ban the intentional release of balloons sailed through the legislature, only to have Governor Landry veto it, saying it would be unenforceable. At the Love The Boot Week kickoff event, Illg says that’s no reason not to have a law on the books.

Cut 6 (07) “…against the law.”

So this time, Illg’s bill adds intentional balloon releases to the state’s existing law against intentional littering. This year’s bill, House Bill 851, has already passed in the House and is just one Senate vote away from landing on Landry’s desk. Illg says he learned last year that his proposed balloon release ban would not only reduce litter, but it would also protect the state’s livestock.

Cut 7 (11) “…all these farmers.”

Illg says passing a law at the state level is all well and good, assuming it can gain Landry’s signature this time, but a state law doesn’t go far enough.

Cut 8 (10) “…end up here.”

_____________________________________________________

The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved a new contract for Athletic Director Verge Ausberry. Ausberry will receive 1.5-million dollars by the end of 2027, and his eight-million-dollar deal runs through 2030. The former linebacker and now A-D addressed the LSU Board of Supervisors before his new contract was approved.

Cut 9 (07)  “…be athletic director.”

Ausberry was named athletic director shortly after Scott Woodward was ousted last November. Since then, he’s hired football coach Lane Kiffin and men’s basketball coach Will Wade. Ausberry says it’s an honor to lead the LSU athletics department.

Cut 10 (06) “…me than anything.”

Ausberry is from New Iberia. He played linebacker for LSU from 1986 to 1990, winning two SEC championships. He was also a two-year captain on defense. He says his best job at LSU was his first job, as he served as an academic advisor for student-athletes.

Cut 11 (07) “…the proudest moment.”

The LSU Board also approved new contracts for Senior Deputy A-D Heath Schroyer, football general manager Billy Glasscock, and men’s basketball coach Will Wade and his assistants.

______________________________________________________________________

Gun fire erupted early this afternoon at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge as two groups of people got into an argument near the food court and started shooting at each other. Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse says multiple people were shot…

Cut 12 (06) “…private vehicle.”

Morse could not provide any details on the conditions of the individuals wounded during the mass shooting. He says there is urgency in trying to apprehend the shooters…

Cut 13 (13) “…groups of people.”

This is the second mass shooting in Louisiana in the last week. Eight children were killed in Shreveport on Sunday when the father of seven of the children killed his kids and a nephew execution style. Morse says they have a good idea on what happened inside the Mall of Louisiana at about 1:22 this afternoon…

Cut 14 (07) “…at each other.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Jazz Fest is underway at the Fair Grounds Race Track in New Orleans. Over in Florida, authorities arrested a North Carolina man who allegedly planned to carry out a mass shooting at Jazz Fest. His family claims he was seeking to harm Black People.

State and local officials are thankful law enforcement caught Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Meanwhile spirits are high at Jazz Fest, where they are celebrating the island nation of Jamaica…

Cut 12 (11) “….arts and crafts”

That’s Jazz Fest Producer Quint Davis.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. That’s what Harahan Representative John Illg is doing with legislation to ban outdoor balloon releases. Last year, his bill to create a new law to ban the intentional release of balloons sailed through the legislature, only to have Governor Landry veto it, saying it would be unenforceable. At the Love The Boot Week kickoff event, Illg says that’s no reason not to have a law on the books.

Cut 6 (07) “…against the law.”

So this time, Illg’s bill adds intentional balloon releases to the state’s existing law against intentional littering.

 

The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved a new contract for athletic director Verge Ausberry. Ausberry will receive one-point-five million dollars by the end of 2027 and his eight-million-dollar deal runs through 2030. The former linebacker now A-D addressed the LSU Board of Supervisors before his new contract was approved…

Cut 9 (09)  “…athletic director”

The Saints will look to make a splash in this year’s NFL Draft, much like they did last season. New Orleans has eight picks, including the number-eight overall selection in tonight’s first round. One name that has appeared in several mock drafts is LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. G-M Mickey Loomis, who attended Delane’s pro day at LSU, says the All-American is uber-talented.

Cut 16 (10) “…get taken high.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

Law enforcement foils a North Carolina man’s alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at Jazz Fest. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Pineville Police Department says they found evidence that a Chinese restaurant on Cottingham Expressway had a dead deer in their kitchen. Officers also found deer carcass in the restaurant’s freezer that was supposed to be served to customers. The Louisiana Department of Health and Wildlife and Fisheries is investigating.

 

State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the latest update from the US drought monitor shows more than 90-percent of the state is in drought and better than half of the state is in extreme drought. Most of north Louisiana and much of southeast Louisiana is in extreme drought. Grymes says we need to see two to four weeks of steady wet weather, and that could start soon…

Cut 5 (12) “…drought gas pedal.”

Grymes says northern Louisiana should prepare for occasional strong-to-severe thunderstorms tomorrow night.

Tonight is the NFL draft. Former LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane is expected to be a top ten pick. Mike Detillier of WWL Radio Mike Detillier expects former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to be drafted tomorrow night…

Cut 14 (14) “…in this draft class”