4:45 LRN Sportscast

The NFL releases the schedule for all 32 teams tonight, some of the games have been leaked. In week two, New Orleans will travel to Carolina to take on Panthers in a Monday night match-up. The following week, the Black and Gold will head to Green Bay to face Jordan Love and the Packers. The Saints will close out the season at home against the Dirty Birds.

New Orleans native Foster Moreau is now a New Orleans Saint after signing a three-year, 12-million dollar contract with his hometown team. Moreau starred at Jesuit High and LSU before spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Raiders. Saints analyst Mike Detillier says the Black and Gold are getting a tough player
Cut 16 (13) “…part of the game.”
Moreau is expected to return soon after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in March.

LSU guard and rapper Flau ‘Jae Johnson has removed a song from social media after her lyrics referenced 9-11 and “blowing smoke just like them towers.” LSU released a statement that said it was not Johnson’s intent to offend or upset anyone with her lyrics and she is sorry for any misunderstanding.

The second-ranked LSU baseball team hosts Mississippi State tomorrow to begin the final SEC home series of the season. Paul Skenes will start on the mound. Coach Jay Johnson says Ty Floyd will start Saturday and it’s to be determined who will start on Sunday. The Bulldogs are 6-and-18 in SEC play.

At the state high school baseball tournament, Iowa advanced to the Non-select Division Two state championship game as the Yellow Jackets stung North Desoto five to one. Iowa will play eighth-seeded Lakeshore as the Titans topped fourth-seeded Eunice eight to three.

LRN PM Newscall May 11

It’s termite season and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain reminds Louisianans to remain vigilant of the swarming pest. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

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Starting in 2025, there would be less time for unemployed workers to find a job before their benefits run out, as a result of a bill approved by the House. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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With Louisiana’s warm and wet climate this time of the year, Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain urges property owners to stay vigilant for termites beginning late spring through summer months. Strain says proactive measures are useful when it comes to protecting your property.

Cut 3 (11) “….find moisture.”

Louisiana homes and buildings sustain more Formosan termite damage each year than homes and buildings in any other state. Those pesky insects cause over $5 billion in property damage across the U.S. annually, according to Orkin, and property owners spend over $2 billion to treat them. Strain says it’s important to clean your gutters and rid your property of wood lying around.

Cut 4 (12)  “…got termites.” 

Termites can get especially active as they constantly seek out new food sources. Strain says hiring a licensed company is the best prevention plus new findings may be beneficial.

Cut 5 (12) “…highly effective.”

Property owners should also trim limbs that may be growing on the home. To find certified and licensed companies to perform termite services, visit ldaf.la.gov.

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If you’re in north Louisiana, you’ll want to be weather area today, there’s a tornado watch in effect until 8 PM and some parishes could see up to five inches of rain. Shreveport National Weather Service Meteorologist Armani Cassel says an area of low pressure is responsible for the heavy rainfall totals.

Cut 6 (07)  “…the evening.” 

And in southeast Louisiana, there’s a tornado watch in effect until 8 PM  for parishes along the Mississippi border.

A flash flood watch has also been issued until 7 PM in North Louisiana, so be mindful of flood-prone areas near rivers and streams and urban areas with poor draining.  Cassel says the threat of severe weather should lessen into the evening hours.

Cut 7 (08)  “…the atmosphere.” 

Cassel says to expect the rain to continue, especially during the heat of the day in the afternoon hours for the weekend as well. He says to make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather notifications.

Cut 8 (06)  “…any warnings.” 

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Mother’s Day is Sunday and the most popular day of the year for restaurants. Louisiana Restaurant Association spokesperson Wendy Waren says about 80 million people will take their mom’s out to eat for their special day in the US this year. And if you’re looking to avoid the crowds, she has some suggestions…

Cut 9 (09) “…a Sunday.”

And while the restaurant industry was among the hardest hit during the pandemic, Waren says they’ve been able to make revisions and most are well prepared to make Mom’s Day special this year.

Cut 10 (08) “…our industry.” 

Waren says fine dining tends to be the most popular choice to celebrate Mom and if you haven’t made reservations, you’ll want to do so ASAP.

Cut 11 (12)  “…weekend.”

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The Louisiana House approves legislation that would reduce the number of weeks a person can receive unemployment in a 12-month period.  Jennings Representative Troy Romero proposes to reduce the maximum number of weeks from 26 to 20, which drew opposition from New Orleans Democrat Wilford Carter

Cut 12 (12) “…to work.” 

Romero’s measure says if the unemployment rate is below five-percent than the maximum duration of benefits would be limited to 12 weeks.

Carter argues Romero’s legislation not only impacts a person struggling to find a job, but also reduces their buying power which hurts the state…

Cut 13 (05) “…receiving benefits.” 

Romero says by reducing the maximum number of weeks a person can claim unemployment in a year will hopefully spur them on to get a job….

Cut 14 (12)  “…more money.”

The legislation heads to the Senate for further debate. It would take effect in January 2025 if the governor signs the bill.

12:30 LRN Newscast

The House Education Committee approves legislation that would require schools to establish safety policies for carpool and bus lines for K-through- 5th graders. Slidell Representative Robert Owen authored the bill in response to last year’s death of a six-year-old girl fatally struck by a truck in a school parking lot in Slidell.
Cut 7 (10) “…too many.”
Under Owen’s bill, students under the age of 10 must be accompanied by a school employee while walking to and from a vehicle.

The Louisiana House approves a bill that reduces the maximum number of weeks, 26 to 20, a person can receive unemployment benefits during a 12 month period. New Orleans Representative Wilford Carter says this legislation hurts the unemployed worker and the state
cut 13 (05) “….receiving benefits”
Supporters say this bill could result in the unemployed finding a job faster.

A new survey finds labor quality surpasses inflation as the number one problem facing small business owners. NFIB state director Dawn McVea says many small business owners are willing to pay higher wages to get better workers…
cut 26 (07) “….few months”

Mother’s Day is Sunday and it’s one of the most popular days for restaurants. Louisiana Restaurant Association spokesperson Wendy Waren says about 80 million people will take their mom’s out to eat for their special day in the US. And if you’re looking to avoid the crowds, she has some suggestions…
Cut 9 (10) “…a Sunday.”
And while the restaurant industry was among the hardest hit during the pandemic, Waren says they’ve adapted to changes and most are well prepared to make Mom’s Day special this year.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Saints have announced the signing of free agent tight end Foster Moreau. The former LSU and Jesuit standout is recoving from Hodgkin’s lymphoma but is expected to play in 2023. The fourth round pick by the Raiders in 2019 has 91 career catches for 11-hundred yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s played his entire NFL career in sliver and black and now he’s in Black and Gold.

The NFL releases its 2023 schedule tonight. And during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, head coach Dennis Allen said wide receiver Michael Thomas should be good to go for training camp. Saints analyst Mike Detillier says Thomas’ health remains the biggest question mark…
cut 18 (14) “….three seasons”

Weather delays resulted in a late night in Sulphur at the state high school baseball tournament. In Division Two-select. E-D White edged St. Thomas More two to one, and Vandebilt Catholic was victorious over St. Louis Catholic seven to three. The Cardinals and Terriers will face off Saturday afternoon. DeQuincy had a dominating ten to nothing win over Logansport in a non-select Division four semi-final game. Oak Grove beat Mangham five to four. So Oak Grove will play DeQuincy Friday afternoon.

LSU is out in the SEC softball tournament after losing to Ole Miss five to three in ten innings. Louisiana Tech is also done in the Conference USA Tournament after losing to Middle Tennessee five to four.

The 24th ranked Cajuns will begin play in the Sun Belt Tournament in Lafayette tonight against ULM. The Warhawks defeated Georgia State four to one yesterday.

In the Southland Tournament, the two top seeds won yesterday. McNeese and Southeastern Louisiana. Nicholls and Northwestern State will try to avoid elimination.

10:30 LRN Newscast

There was not a dry eye during a legislative hearing as Amy Savoie told the story of her six-year-old daughter who was killed when she was struck by a truck in the parking lot of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Slidell last year…
cut 30 (10) “…be protected”
The House Education Committee sent a bill to the House floor that requires elementary schools to establish carpool and bus line safety policies.

The House Education Committee also approved a bill mandating daily recess of at least 15 minutes for kindergarteners through fifth graders. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says her bill would impact eleven percent of the schools in the state. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris was surprised to hear the percentage was that high…
cut 12 (06) “…the day”
The bill moves to the House floor.

State Police has released the body camera video footage of the fatal officer-involved shooting of 33-year-old Joseph Taylor. Taylor was shot multiple times after he was pulled over for a traffic violation by Shreveport police on April 23rd. The video shows officers trying to get Taylor out of his vehicle, he’s then physically forced out and wrestled to the ground and that’s when officers discovered he’s armed with a gun…
cut 5 (11) “….(sound:painful groaning)
The Caddo District Attorney will determine if the shooting was justified.

A new survey finds labor quality surpasses inflation as the number one problem facing small business owners. NFIB state director Dawn McVea says many small business owners are willing to pay higher wages to get better workers…
cut 14 (07) “….few months”

8:30 LRN newscast

The state’s largest hospital system, Ochsner Health, reportedly plans to lay off 770 employees across its 42 hospitals and 200 urgent care and health centers in Louisiana and Mississippi. The Advocate newspaper reports most of the cuts will occur in management, administrative jobs and clerical positions.

The House Education Committee approves a bill that mandates elementary schools implement safety measures where parents pick up and drop-off their children.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Legislation to require public school students, K through five, to have at least 15 minutes of recess a day advances to the full House. Houma Representative Beryl Amadee says studies show the benefits of recess and quotes the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Cut 10 (09) “… unstructured play.”
The Louisiana Federation of Teachers expressed concern this could lead to longer school days and another requirement for teachers.

State Police release police bodycam footage from the April 23rd officer-involved shooting of 33-year-old Joseph Taylor. The initial investigation reports Shreveport Police Officer Anthony Visciotti stopped Taylor’s ’94 Chevy Caprice for swerving. The officer sought to determine if the driver was impaired. At first, Taylor refuses to get out of his car…:
Cut 4 (09) “…out of here quick.”
Visciotti is assisted by other officers who physically remove Taylor from the car. A struggle ensues on the ground san that’s when an officer saw Taylor was armed with a gun and Taylor was shot multiple times.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Finding qualified employees surpasses inflation as the top concern among small businesses.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Emotional testimony at the state capitol over a bill to add exceptions for rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd…
cut 28 (05) “…with that”
Pro life advocate Woody Jenkins…
cut 29 (03) “…conception”
The bill to make changes to the state’s abortion ban failed.

There was not a dry eye during a legislative hearing as Amy Savoie told the story of her six-year-old daughter who was killed when she was struck by a truck in the parking lot of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Slidell last year…
cut 30 (10) “…be protected”
The House Education Committee sent a bill to the House floor that requires elementary schools to establish carpool and bus line safety policies.

House Education also approved a bill that requires daily recess of at least 15 minutes for public school students between kindergarten and fifth grade. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says it’s good for a child’s physical and mental health…
cut 11 (11) “…classroom”
Amedee says some schools dropped recess because of the demand on achieving a certain number of hours of instructional time.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Former LSU Tiger and Jesuit star Foster Moreau is nearly fully recovered from cancer and now he’s a New Orleans Saint. Moreau signed with his hometown team yesterday, a reported three-year deal that will pay him 12-million dollars.

Moreau nearly signed with the Saints in March, but a physical conducted at the team’s training facility led to a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnoses. Saints analyst Mike Detillier says the 26-year-old gives the Saints a run blocking tight end with good hands…
cut 17 (13) “…receiver”
Moreau was a fourth round pick of the Raiders in 2019. He caught a career-high 33 passes for 420 yards last season and he was a teammate of current Saints QB Derek Carr in Oakland and Las Vegas.

ULM’s baseball game against Stephen F Austin was canceled last night because of the weather.

Weather delays resulted in games deep into the night in Sulphur at the state high school baseball tournament. In Division Two-select. E-D White edged St. Thomas two to one, and Vandebilt Catholic was victorious over St. Louis Catholic seven to three. DeQuincy had a dominating ten to nothing win over Logansport in a non-select Division four semi-final game. Oak Grove is heading to its third straight tite game as the Tigers topped Mangham five to four. So Oak Grove will play DeQuincy Friday afternoon.

LSU is out in the SEC softball tournament after losing to Ole Miss five to three in ten innings. Louisiana Tech is also done in the Conference USA Tournament as the Lady Techsters lost to Middle Tennessee five to four.

The 24th ranked Cajuns will begin play in the Sun Belt Tournament in Lafayette tonight against ULM. The Warhawks defeated Georgia State four to one yesterday.

In the Southland Tournament, the two top seeds won yesterday. McNeese two to one over A-and-M Corpus Christi and Southeastern Louisiana clobbered Northwestern State 13 to one in five innings.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana will continue to have one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation as the House Criminal Justice Committee voted ten to five against a bill to add exceptions for rape and incest. A bill to lessen penalties against doctors who perform abortions and require only one doctor’s opinion instead of two in order to get an abortion because of a futile pregnancy also did not pass.

State Police release body cam video of a fatal Shreveport officer-involved shooting last month. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Labor quality surpassed inflation as the top concern in the latest Small Business Optimism Survey. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says 24 percent of ‘Mom and Pops’ say filling job openings with qualified workers is their top concern followed by inflation at 23 percent.
Cut 13 (08) “…that’s down.”
McVea says finding qualified applicants has been an issue since the pandemic and a good number of small businesses have or plan to increase wages to rectify the problem.

Legislation that would require schools to establish safety policies for carpool and bus lines for K-5th graders was approved by House Education. Slidell Representative Robert Owen authored the bill in response to last year’s death of six-year-old Emma Bell Savoie who was fatally struck by a truck in the parking lot at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Slidell.
Cut 7 (10) “…too many.”
Under Owen’s bill, students must stay behind a barrier before entering the pick-up area and students under the age of 10 must be accompanied by a school employee while walking to and from a vehicle.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints announced today they signed former LSU Tiger and Jesuit Blue Jay Foster Moreau. The deal is reportedly for three years and 12 million dollars plus incentives.

The tight end from New Orleans was on the verge of signing with the Black and Gold in March but a physical resulted in him being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Moreau’s recovery is going so well there is a chance he could be back on the field next week. Saints begin OTAs on May 23rd.

Moreau was a fourth round pick of the Raiders in 2019. He caught a career-high 33 passes for 420 yards last season and he was teammate of current Saints QB Derek Carr in Oakland and Las Vegas.

In college baseball last night, second-ranked LSU pounded Northwestern State 14-4, LA Tech scored five in the seventh inning to beat the Cajuns 12 to 8 and McNeese defeated Nicholls seven to three. Today, ULM is at Stephen F Austin for a 6:30 first pitch.

The LSU men’s basketball team has officially signed four players out of transfer portal. Three of them are natives of the Baton Rouge area. Tigers Coach Matt McMahon was a guest on Tiger Rag Radio last night and says these players have the ability to score….
cut 18 (24) “….this past season”
LSU is also expected to add six-foot-ten center Hunter Dean from Mandeville. Dean averaged nine points and six rebounds a game for George Washington last season.

LSU softball was eliminated from the SEC Tournament today as they lost five to three in eleven innings to Ole Miss. The 14th ranked Tigers are 40-15, we’ll find out if that’s good enough to host a regional.