6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Tigers are once again national champions of college baseball after beating Florida 18 to 4. The party began when freshman Gavin Guidry struck out the final hitter of the night….
cut 18 (17) “…crowd cheers”
That’s how it sounded on the LSU Sports Radio Network. The victory completes a special season that started with LSU ranked as the number one team in the country. Coach Jay Johnson guided the ship and leaned on veteran players like Cade Beloso….
cut 13 (14) “…promise that”
Johnson wins a national title in just his second season as head coach.

Paul Skenes was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series. But he didn’t even pitch in the championship Series. Thatcher Hurd was terrific last night as he struck out seven in six innings for eighth win of the season.

At the plate, the Tigers had a College World Series record 24 hits. Dylan Crews finished off his legendary career with four hits, three runs and an RBI. The Golden Spikes Award winner can now say he’s a national champion….
cut 14 (14) “….that’s good”
After struggling to hit with runners in scoring position, LSU was 11 for 23 with runners in scoring position in last night’s rout. The bottom of the order was a key. The struggling Jordan Thompson had two hits and drove in three runs. Josh Pearson from West Monroe hit his fourth home run of the season.

6:30 LRN newscast

LSU is a national champion for a 7th time in baseball as the Fighting Tigers roared back after losing by 20 runs on Sunday to beat Florida 18-4 on Monday to win the College World Series. LSU designated hitter Cade Beloso believes another dynasty is about to happen, because of Coach Jay Johnson…
Cut 13 (14) “…promise that”
Johnson wins a national championship in his second season as head coach. He credits the players for doing the hard work….
cut 15 (08) “…this thing.”
After spending nearly two weeks in Omaha, the national champs return to Baton Rouge today. A parade and celebration at Alex Box Stadium is planned for Wednesday.

Former transportation secretary Shawn Wilson has received the endorsement for governor from the Louisiana Democratic Party. The Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee usually holds off on endorsing a candidate until after qualifying, which is in August. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the endorsement can be beneficial for fundraising, but voters are usually not swayed by them…
cut 6 (11) “….difference’

The Louisiana Seafood Cook-off is tonight in Lake Charles at the Golden Nugget casino. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the culinary competition will feature dozen chefs from across the state…
cut 10 (13) “…fresh seafood”
The winner goes on to represent the state at the Great American Seafood Cook-off.

LRN AM Newscall June 27

The state Democratic party has endorsed Shaw Wilson for gone. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________________________

The U.S. Supreme Court boots a challenge of Louisiana’s 2022 Congressional district map back to a federal judge or state lawmakers to decide. Kevin Gallagher reports the issue is over the desire for a second majority-black voting district…:

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

_______________________________________________

Culinary chefs from across the state heat it up with their best seafood dish at the 16th annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off today. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”

_______________________________________________

The state Democratic Party officially endorses former DOTD secretary Shawn Wilson as their candidate in the 2023 governor’s race. UL-Monroe political science professor Pearson Cross says it’s interesting because it’s usually the Republican Party that issues endorsements in an effort to unite party members to support one candidate.

Cut 4 (08)  “…candidates.”

The Republican party made their endorsement of Jeff Landry very early in the governor’s race before any other Republicans even announced their candidacy. Cross says the business of endorsements is an odd one.

Cut 5 (09)   “…Shawn Wilson.”

Cross says while an endorsement can be beneficial for fundraising, in the grand scheme of things the general public isn’t easily impressed or swayed by endorsements…

Cut 6 (11)  “…difference.”

The official endorsement of Wilson puts to rest rumors that state party chairwoman Katie Bernhardt will run for the state’s highest office. And former US Senate candidate Gary Chambers also endorses Wilson.

________________________________________________

The U.S. Supreme Court has kicked a case challenging Louisiana’s 2022 Congressional district map back to Louisiana, meaning it will either be decided by a federal judge in Baton Rouge or by the state legislature. Plaintiffs sued because the map does not have 2 black majority congressional voting districts, which would reflect the state’s 32-percent black population. District 2 Congressman Troy Carter says this sends the message that Louisiana needs to “get it right”…:

Cut 7 (08) “…United States Congress.”

The Supreme Court’s release of a hold on the case means it now returns to Louisiana, where it can either be decided in a state courtroom, or by a new district map drawn by state lawmakers. Congressman Carter says, if the state has a 32-percent black population, then two of its six congressional districts should reflect majority black voter strength…:

Cut 8 (10) “…meets muster constitutionally.’”

A second majority-minority district would likely start in north Louisiana, taking in heavily black parishes along the Mississippi River and stretching into areas north of Baton Rouge and adjacent to parts of Carter’s District 2. Carter says as the state’s population shifts and changes, voter representation needs to change with it…:

Cut 9 (05)  “…district in Louisiana.”

____________________________________________

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board are set to select/crown the next king or queen at the 16th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off later today. Nungesser says the culinary competition will feature a dozen chefs from across the state.

Cut 10 (13) “…fresh seafood.”

After being held in Lafayette for the past five years, this year’s competition is moving to Lake Charles to help the city recover from the hurricanes. The chefs draw their cooking order the night before. Nungesser says the culinary creators have an hour to do their best.

Cut 11 (13)  “…their restaurants.”

Nungesser says the winner will have the opportunity to represent the state at a variety of events.

Cut 12 (13)    “…the world.” 

The winner will participate in the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans.

_______________________________________________

LSU is a national champion for a 7th time in baseball as the Fighting Tigers roared back after losing by 20 runs on Sunday to beat Florida 18-4 on Monday to win the College World Series. LSU designated hitter Cade Beloso believes another dynasty is about to happen, because of Coach Jay Johnson…

Cut 13 (14) “…promise that”  

This 2023 team was filled with great players and led by Paul Skenes who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series and center fielder Dylan Crews. The Golden Spikes Award winner had four hits in his final game as a Tiger…

Cut 14 (14)  “…that’s good”

Jay Johnson wins a national championship in his second season as head coach. Johnson credits the players for doing the hard work….

Cut 15 (08)  “…this thing.”

On Monday night, LSU fell behind by two runs in the first inning but exploded for six runs in the second inning. Jordan Thompson, who had just one hit in the College World Series coming into the final game, got the scoring started with an RBI single. Thompson heard the love from the fans who were in his corner when he came up to the plate…

Cut 16 (16) “…ready to go”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The 2023 LSU baseball season comes down to tonight as LSU and Florida face off at 6 PM with the winner claiming a national championship. A big question is will Paul Skenes pitch on three days rest? Coach Jay Johnson had this to say after yesterday’s blowout loss….
cut 15 (14) “….ten days”
And LSU’s most reliable pitcher out of the bullpen Riley Cooper is questionable as he was not at yesterday’s game because of a stomach virus. ESPN Baton Rouge radio talk show host Charles Hanagriff says LSU needs Cooper tonight…
Cut 13 (11) “…big deal man”
Florida is the home team.

All-state Quarterback Daniel Beale from Catholic High in Baton Rouge has committed to the Ragin Cajuns. He’s six-foot-two, 190 pounds and is coming off a season in which he threw for 26-hundred yards and 38 touchdowns. Beale also has offers from Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Houston and Memphis.

Ouachita Christian star Tate Hamby has committed to Vanderbilt. He projects as a safety in college. He’s also a state champ in the long jump.

Former Ragin Cajuns pitcher Spencer Arrighetti continues to move up in the Houston Astros farm system. The 23-year-old has been promoted from Double-A Corpus Christi to Triple-A Sugar Land. At Corpus Christi, he had a 4.15 ERA and 79 strikeouts and 23 walks in 60.2 innings pitched.

The SEC announced the home and away opponents for men’s basketball teams for the 2023-24 league schedule. The Tigers home and away opponents are Alabama, Arkansas, Texas A-and-M, Georgia and Vanderbilt. LSU will host Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri. They will go on the road to play Auburn, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee.

LRN PM Newscall June 26

By lifting a hold on the Louisiana case regarding congressional maps, the Supreme Court is allowing the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to rule if the state’s maps should be redrawn or not. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

______________________________________

A project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed to lower the risk of flooding by elevating homes along the coast of Southwest Louisiana has already received $300 million dollars in funding. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx”  

______________________________________

An excessive heat warning has been issued this week as Louisiana is dealing with its first lengthy heatwave of the summer. LRN Meteorologist John Wetherbee says new record high temperatures may be broken.

Cut 3 (12) “…to 120.”

Heat indices ranging from 100 to 104 degrees are forecasted for Shreveport this afternoon. Tomorrow, Alexandria could see a heat index of 114 degrees. Wetherbee says heat-related issues can develop quickly when heat indices get this high.

Cut 4 (11)  “…heat advisories.” 

Dangerous heat with peak index values of 113-119 degrees is expected for all of southeastern LA tomorrow.

Wetherbee says we could see a break from the extreme heat.

Cut 5 (10)  “…heat smart.”

__________________________________________________

News of the Supreme Court of the United States’ lifting of a hold on Louisiana’s Congressional map case makes it highly likely the map will be redrawn to have two black-majority-district instead of one. Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis was among the voters who sued the state because the map was not indicative of the state’s 33-percent Black population.

Cut 6 (08)  “…I believe.” 

The Louisiana case was before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals before SOCTUS placed a hold on it. Lewis says Judge Shelly Dick could rule to use the congressional map she was having drawn or let the Governor decide if he should call another re-districting session.

Cut 7 (12)  “…the case.” 

Lewis says he’s pleased with the ruling that opens the door for the maps to be revised before the next congressional election in Louisiana.

Cut 8 (13)  “…in congress.” 

State Senate Majority Leader, Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt issued a statement on the ruling. She says she respects the judicial process and looks forward to having our day in court concerning the maps.

_______________________________________________

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received hundreds of millions of dollars to elevate homes and businesses in Southwest Louisiana. Corp of Engineers Senior Project Manager Darrel Broussard says this money will be used to elevate at-risk structures.

Cut 9 (10) “…1,000 structures.”

The elevation of 1,000 homes in Cameron, Calcasieu, and Vermillion parishes could begin by January 2024.  The home’s elevation levels will provide protection from surge flooding that has a 1% chance of occurring as a so-called 100-year event in 2075. Broussard says hundreds of residents will be protected against flooding when the next storm comes.

Cut 10 (13)  “…structuring is.”

Broussard says this is part of the Southwest Coastal Louisiana Risk Reduction Project. He says additional environmental restoration projects aimed at restoring marsh areas will also be included.

Cut 11 (09)  “…five or six p.m.”

Congress has already appropriated $300 million. Additional funds must still be appropriated to elevate as many as 2,500 additional homes.

_______________________________________________

Tonight is the night, the college baseball season comes to an end and it will be either LSU or Florida holding up the national championship trophy. Will LSU’s ace pitcher Paul Skenes pitch on three days rest?   ESPN Radio Baton Rouge talk show host Charles Hanagriff sees Skenes being used at the end of the game…

Cut 12 (12) “…pitches tops” 

LSU’s most reliable pitcher out of the bullpen Riley Cooper is questionable as he was not at yesterday’s game because of a stomach virus. Hanagriff says LSU needs Cooper tonight…

Cut 13 (11) “…big deal man” 

LSU can use some clutch hits tonight. They’ve left 20 runners on base in the first two games of this series. But Coach Jay Johnson has confidence the hits with men on base will come…

Cut  14 (14)  “…I’m good with that”

12:30 LRN Newscast

By lifting a hold on the Louisiana case regarding congressional maps, the Supreme Court is allowing the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to rule if the state’s maps should be redrawn or not. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Republican and Senate Majority Leader Sharon Hewitt she respects the U-S Supreme Court’s decision to return the Congressional map case to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeal and they look forward to their day in court.

SWEPCO is reporting 24-thousand outages in northwest Louisiana from severe storms rolled through this morning.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Coastal Protection has received hundreds of millions of dollars to elevate homes and businesses in Southwest Louisiana. Corp of Engineers Senior Project Manager Darrel Broussard says
Cut 9 (10) “…1,000 structures.”
The elevation of 1,000 homes in Cameron, Calcasieu, and Vermillion parishes could begin next year.

Tonight is the night, the college baseball season comes to an end and it will be either LSU or Florida holding up the national championship trophy. Will LSU’s ace pitcher Paul Skenes pitch on three days rest? ESPN Radio Baton Rouge talk show host Charles Hanagriff sees Skenes being used at the end of the game…
Cut 12 (12) “…pitches tops”
First pitch is at 6 PM.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Today is a new day for the LSU Tigers and a day where they can win a seventh national championship in baseball. Yesterday was a day to forget as the Bayou Bengals suffered the largest lopsided loss in College World Series history, a 24-4 defeat to Florida. LSU second baseman Gavin Dugas says Sunday’s result will not impact tonight’s decisive game…
Cut 13 (11) “…always do”
The Tigers committed five errors. Shortstop Jordan Thompson committed two of those errors. Tigers Coach Jay Johnson still has faith in Thompson…
Cut 16 (15) “…for you”

11:30 LRN Newscast

The U-S Supreme Court issues an order that unfreezes Louisiana’s redistricting case which will likely result in a new Congressional map featuring two majority Black districts. The federal appeals court ruling can now rule the state’s current Congressional map violates the Voting Rights Act.

The Governor is back from Europe and is expected to use his veto pen this week. Will lawmakers seek to override him?
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

It’s been hot and it will only get hotter this week as Louisiana deals with its first lengthy heatwave of the summer. LRN Meteorologist John Wetherbee says the heat index will climb well above 100-degrees….
Cut 3 (12) “…to 120.”
Another round of severe weather is moving through the state today. SWEPCO is reporting new outages as a result of severe storms in northwest Louisiana this morning.

Today is a new day for the LSU Tigers and a day where they can win a seventh national championship in baseball. Yesterday was a day to forget as the Bayou Bengals suffered the largest lopsided loss in College World Series history, a 24-4 defeat to Florida. LSU second baseman Gavin Dugas says Sunday’s result will not impact tonight’s decisive game…
Cut 13 (11) “…always do”
First pitch tonight is at 6 PM.

8:30 LRN Newscast

After a thrilling extra inning win on Saturday night, LSU baseball suffered a 20-run loss yesterday to even up the best of three championship series at one game a piece. The Tigers and Florida Gators will play for a national championship at 6 PM tonight.

The Governor is back from Europe and is expected to use his veto pen this week. Will lawmakers seek to override him? Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Louisiana’s Congressional delegation has expressed concerns about rising flood insurance rates which has led to Senator Bill Cassidy and U-S Representative Clay Higgins filing legislation to reform the National Flood Insurance Program. They say their plan will make flood insurance affordable again. Cassidy says he’s working with his colleagues to convince them that this legislation is needed…
cut 9 (06) “….it will”
Two lawmakers from New Jersey are also co-sponsoring the legislation.

Governor Edwards has signed a law that could lead to a crime prevention district for LSU’s campus and surrounding neighborhood. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Frieberg says voters in the affected area will have to approve it…
cut 11 (11) “….our district”
That enhanced security would include added police presence, cameras and beautification projects.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Senator Bill Cassidy, Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins and Democratic lawmakers from New Jersey have filed legislation they say will make flood insurance affordable again. Cassidy says flood insurance is a necessity in south Louisiana and it has become unaffordable…
Cut 7 (12) “…nation’s economy.”
The legislation would provide vouchers to low and moderate income homeowners if their premiums become too expensive and also the bill would cap annual rate hikes at nine percent.

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to issue vetoes this week on bills that target the transgender community. But La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford wonders if there’s a strong enough will among lawmakers to hold an override veto session…
cut 6 (10) “…spent campaigning”

The governor has signed legislation to create a crime prevention district on and around the LSU campus. Brooke Thorington explains what happens next.
Cut 3 (33) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

24 to 4 was the final score in yesterday’s College World Series game as Florida trounced the LSU Tigers. That sets up today’s third and decisive game between the Bayou Bengals and the Gators. The winner wins the national championship.