6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU took a five-game losing streak into last night’s game against Ole Miss, while the Rebels had lost nine in a row. And it was the Tigers who came out on top in double overtime, outlasting Ole Miss 106 to 99. Max Mackinnon had a season high 33 points.

ULM lost its sixth in a row as the Warhawks lost to South Alabama 89 to 54.

Tonight the sixth ranked LSU women’s basketball team hosts Tennessee for senior night. Final home regular season game for Flau’jae Johnson, one of the best players in the Lady Tigers history. Coach Kim Mulkey says it will be an emotional night…

Cut 19 (20) “…SEC opponent”

Tip off is at 5 PM.

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The Ragin Cajuns had their third walk-off in five days as U-L Lafayette defeated Kansas State three to two in 11 innings. Drew Markle sent everyone home happy with a solo home run. The Cajuns have won seven in a row.

ULM blanked Alcorn State 12 to nothing. Jackson Landry hit a grand slam and Seaver Sheets threw five scoreless innings for the win.

NFL combine workouts begin today, and there are several LSU players looking to boost their draft stocks. Among them is quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Mike Detillier of WWL Radio believes Nussmeier will be the third quarterback off the board if he has an impressive week in Indianapolis.

Cut 16 (20) “…of round two.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The McNeese Cowboys handed second-ranked LSU its first loss of the season as the Pokes held on for a 7- 6 win at Alex Box Stadium Tuesday. The Tigers gave up 11 free passes in the loss, including six walks and five hit batters.  Sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide exited the game in the fourth inning with a foot injury, and his status for this weekend’s series is up in the air. LSU is now 8-and-1 on the year, while McNeese improved to 3-and-5.

The Louisiana Tech baseball team secured a 5-2 win over Northwestern State last night. Freshman right-hander Thomas Allen earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings.

The UL-Lafayette baseball team won its sixth straight game last night after shutting out Kansas State 1-0 at the Tigue. The Cajuns will host the Wildcats again at 6 p.m. tonight.

ULM Athletics has announced a jersey patch partnership with Samaritan’s Purse. Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian relief and evangelism organization based in Boone, North Carolina.

The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team clinched the regular-season Conference USA title with its win over Kennesaw State Saturday. Head coach Brooke Stoehr said winning the program’s 38th conference title was not easy. She credits her team’s resilience throughout the long season.

Cut 17 (13)  “…four of them.”

The UL men’s basketball team fell to 7-and-10 in the Sun Belt with a 78-59 loss to Troy last night.

The LSU men’s basketball team looks to avoid its seventh straight loss tonight as the Tigers face Ole Miss in Oxford at 8 p.m. tonight.

According to Matt Belinson of The Ruston Leader, Grambling State head football coach Mickey Joseph has signed a two-year contract extension through 2027. The deal includes option years for 2028 and 2029, with the 2029 option becoming available if Joseph achieves eight wins in a season.

4:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry says people can expect a bigger refund when they file their state income tax returns this year, thanks to the legislation approved during the 2024 Tax Reform Special Session. Landry says among other things, the reform doubled the retirement income exemption to 12-thousand dollars, allowing a married couple over 65 to earn nearly 49-thousand dollars tax free

Cut 7 (09) “…every single year.”

He says the typical middle class working family will save nearly 500-dollars as a result of tripling the standard deduction.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s Office of Foestry has tracked more than 170 wildfires across Louisiana this month. State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Doctor Mike Strain says it’s dry and windy…

Cut 10 (12) “….long ways away”

Most of the state is classified as either high to extreme risk for wildfires.

A 14-year-old girl is shot and killed in Hammond. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

It looks like Ramesh Kolluru is the sole finalist to be the next president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The University of Louisiana System board will interview Kolluru on Friday and will likely announce he’s the next president. Kolluru has served as interim president since November.

LRN PM Newscall February 25

A 14-year-old girl is shot and killed in Hammond. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Governor Jeff Landry says Louisiana taxpayers should see higher refunds after they file their state income taxes. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A 14-year-old girl is shot and killed in Hammond last night. Investigators say as the girl was sitting in the back seat of a car, 18-year-old Trey Robinson was in the front seat playing with a gun; and when he dropped it, it discharged, striking the girl. Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr. says Robinson is charged with one count of negligent homicide and should never have been handling a gun in the first place.

Cut 3 (10) “…on that responsibility.”

Chief Bergeron says incidents like these are happening with a lot more frequency across the country, and people – especially teens – need to know that guns are not toys.

Cut 4 (07) “…situations like this.”

Bergeron says when people, especially teens, are negligent in handling deadly weapons, the consequences will be dire for everyone involved.

Cut 5 (09) “…long term is.”

So far, Hammond Police have not released the name of the 14-year-old victim.

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Governor Jeff Landry says when people file their state income taxes this year, they will get a bigger refund. Landry says it’s the result of the legislation approved during the 2024 Tax Reform Special Session. The governor says the typical middle-class working family save nearly five-hundred dollars…

Cut 6 (09) “…grocery.”

The legislation approved in 2024 tripled the standard deduction, meaning families now pay no income tax on their first 25-thousand dollars of income.

Landry says the reform also doubled the retirement income exemption to 12-thousand dollars, allowing a married couple over 65 to earn nearly 49-thousand dollars tax free

Cut 7 (09) “…every single year.”

House Ways and Means Chairman Tony Bacala says he’s personally experienced the tax relief that Landry said is coming to Louisiana taxpayers. Bacala says last year he owed the state money; this year he’s getting a refund…

Cut 8 (06) “..coffer.”

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Today is another no-burn day throughout the State of Louisiana. This, as dry conditions continue to persist throughout the state. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says as wildfires continue to burn, what the state really needs is rain. He says while no rain is in the forecast for the foreseeable future, there has been some improvement in conditions.

Cut 9 (12)  “…above the waterline.”

Strain says while relative humidity is improving, wind continues to be a factor in fueling the fires.

Cut 10 (12) “…long ways away.”

Strain says within fires where there’s a lot of debris on the ground, especially in areas of large acreage, don’t think that you’re out of danger when you don’t see flames emerging – you could have a rekindle.

Cut 11 (10) “…burn for months.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry says Louisiana taxpayers should see higher refunds after they file their state income taxes. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

It looks like Ramesh Kolluru is the sole finalist to be the next president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The University of Louisiana System board will interview Kolluru on Friday and will likely announce he’s the next president. Kolluru has served interim president since November.

 

Wildfires continue to be a problem in Louisiana. State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Doctor Mike Strain says the relative humidity is improving, so the air is not as dry, but strong winds continue to be a factor in fueling the fires…

Cut 10 (12) “….long ways away”

Strain says that means do not do any outdoor burning today.

Louisiana has officially kicked off crawfish season by pardoning one lucky mudbug. Barry Toups, the owner of Crawfish Haven, caught and selected the lucky crawfish, who was named Tony after the legendary Tony Chachere, and Samantha Carroll with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board read the proclamation.

Cut 14 (11) “…onions and garlic.”

Crawfish producers are predicting a good crop of mudbugs this year.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The top ranked LSU Tigers suffered their first loss of the season as McNeese grabbed a seven to two lead last night and held on for a seven to six victory. LSU pitchers struggled with their command early in this game and for the contest they ended up walking six hitters and hitting five others. Starting pitcher, freshman Marcos Paz, was charged with the loss as he gave up four runs. He walked two and hit another batter. Coach Jay Johnson says these are struggles you get with young pitchers sometimes…

Cut 26 (09) “…some point”

Meanwhile for McNeese, freshman left-hander Jairus Miller, threw three shutout innings and struck out five for the win.

Freshman Sawyer Pruitt combined with two relievers on a three-hit shutout as the Cajuns defeated Kansas State 1 to 0 for the Cajuns sixth straight victory. Mark Collins solo home run in the third inning was the only run.

Louisiana Tech improved to 8-and-1 as the Bulldogs beat Northwestern State eight to five. Tech is off to its best start to a season since 1984.

ULM thumped Grambling 19 to 9. Today, the Warhawks host Alcorn State at 1 PM.

Dejounte Murray returned to the court last night for the first time since rupturing his achilles tendon last January and the Pelicans beat Golden State 113 to 109.  Murray had 13 points in 24 minutes. Zion Williamson led the way for the Pels with 26 points.

The Ragin Cajuns lost to Troy 78 to 59.

Tonight, ULM is at South Alabama and LSU visits Ole Miss.

The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team is the regular season champions of Conference USA. Head coach Brooke Stoehr (“store”) said winning the team’s 38th conference title is a huge accomplishment.

Cut 16 (15) “…for our team.”

The Lady Techsters have won 14 in a row and the lone team they’ve lost to in Conference USA, Sam Houston, they play again this Saturday in Huntsville.

11:30 LRN Newscast

A 14-year-old girl is shot and killed in Hammond. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A scary moment occurred in a Baton Rouge classroom today as a gun went off at Istrouma High School. No injuries reported as the East Baton Rouge school system says the gun was accidentally discharged and the bullet went through the ceiling. Local TV stations report the student has been detained.

 

A New Orleans-area lawmaker has offered up a proposed constitutional amendment for the upcoming legislative session that would place a lifetime limit of two terms on a person who has served as governor. St. Bernard Parish Republican Michael Bayham’s legislation would mean that former governors Bobby Jindal and John Bel Edwards could not serve as governor again.

Cut 10 (08) “…across the board.”

Bayham says Louisiana should not have to “recycle” its governors.

The debate over whether the state should raise the minimum wage which has stood at $7.25 since 2009 will also occur in the upcoming session. State Representative Delisha Boyd says with no increases to the minimum wage in almost 17 years, some people can no longer afford to live in the state, especially in her New Orleans district.

Cut 6 (08) “…to be here.”

Pro business groups argue a higher minimum wage will lead to job losses and higher costs for consumers.

10:30 LRN Newscast

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. That’s the approach one New Orleans lawmaker is taking in proposing a minimum wage increase. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Republicans and pro-business lobbyist groups have been successful in defeating minimum wage hike proposals in previous years. They argue a higher minimum wage will result in job losses and higher costs for consumers.

 

A Saint Bernard Parish lawmaker has filed a bill for the upcoming session that says once a governor serves two terms, he or she can not run for a third term. The legislation would mean Bobby Jindal and John Bel Edwards could not run for governor again. Republican Mike Bayham says Louisiana should not have to recycle its governors…

Cut 12 (07) “.,.a former governor”

Edwin Edwards and Earl Long served more than two terms as governor in the state’s history. It’s already against state law to serve more than two consecutive terms as governor.

After a chilly night last night, high temperatures will be returning to around the 80-degree mark for the foreseeable future. Todd Fontenot with the LSU Ag Center says that means the supply of crawfish will go up, and prices will go down…

Cut 15 (11) “…to grow more’

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The McNeese Cowboys handed top ranked LSU its first loss of the season as the Pokes held on for a seven to six win at Alex Box Stadium. LSU is now 8-and-1 on the year. Too many free base runners was the story in this one. Coach Jay Johnson saw his pitchers walk six hitters and hit five others…

Cut 26 (15) “…to win”

McNeese improved to 3-5 on the season. Danny Barbero (Bar-bear-oh) drove in two runs and freshman left-hander Jairus (Jy-rus) Miller struck out five over three innings for the win.

Elsewhere…the Cajuns blanked Kansas State 1-to nothing, ULM outscored Grambling 19 to nine, Louisiana Tech topped Northwestern State five to two and South Alabama outscored Southeastern Louisiana nine to seven.

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The Pelicans won their second straight game last night as they held off Golden State 107 to 104. Zion Williamson had 26 points and Dejounte Murray had 13 points in his first game since tearing his Achilles tendon about 13 months ago.

In college hoops….The Cajuns fell to 7-and-10 in the Sun Belt with a 78-59 loss to Troy.

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs men’s basketball team is coming off a tough 58-55 loss to Kennesaw State Saturday. Head coach Talvin Hester says despite the defeat, he was impressed with freshman guard Jaylen Fenner, who stepped in for the injured graduate student Scooter Williams.

Cut 18 (19)  “…the same time.”

Tech will play its last two home games of the year this week, as the Bulldogs host Missouri State Thursday and F-I-U Saturday.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The second-ranked LSU baseball team will look to stay undefeated on the season tonight when the Tigers host McNeese at 6:30 p.m.

UL-Lafayette baseball swept Maryland this weekend and the Cajuns look to keep things hot tonight as they host Kansas State at 6 p.m. Through seven games, freshman shortstop Blaze Rodriguez leads the team with a .370 batting average.  Rodriguez walked things off for the Cajuns twice this weekend, and head coach Matt Deggs says he’s been a great addition.

Cut 29 (22): “pleasure to coach.”

Louisiana Tech baseball looks to win its fourth straight game tonight as the Bulldogs host Northwestern State at 6 p.m.

Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray is set to make his season debut against the Warriors tonight. Murray spent the last year recovering from a torn Achilles and says that with 24 games left, New Orleans will have an opportunity to build some momentum going into next season.

Cut 22 (22): “championship game to me.”

Tipoff inside the Smoothie King Center is at 7 p.m.

Last night, the McNeese men’s basketball team defeated Texas Rio Grande Valley 75-68 to win its sixth straight game. After Stephen F. Austin’s loss to UNO last night, the Cowboys are only one game behind first place in the Southland.

The UL basketball team is in Alabama to take on Troy tonight at 6 p.m.