11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Sonny Cumbie era begins tonight as Louisiana Tech visits Missouri for a game that will be televised on ESPN-U. Tech returns eight starters on defense headlined by two-time All-Conference USA linebacker Tyler Grubbs. Cumbie feels good about his defense heading into the season…
Cut 18 (16)“…production standpoint.”
Missouri is a 20-point favorite tonight as the Tigers have whole new team basically, with 50 new players from last season. Kick-off is at 7 PM.

Just three days away from the season opener between LSU and Florida State. FSU rushed for 406 yards in its season-opening 47-7 win over Duquense. Senior defensive end Ali Gaye doesn’t expect the Seminoles to have much success on Sunday…
Cut 20 (08) “ …will stop that team.”
Many believe the Tigers have one of the top defensive lines in the country.

Multipe reports say the College Football Playoff Board of Managers will meet tomorrow and vote on a 12-team playoff bracket that could begin as soon as the 2024 season. The Board of Managers is eleven members representing each FBS conference and Notre Dame and the vote needs to be unanimous.

Saints coach Dennis Allen says cornerback Paulson Adebo has been dealing with an ankle injury. Adebo told reporters he expects to play in the regular season opener. Meanwhile, the Saints practice squad is set. It includes former Nicholls receiver Dai-Jean Dixon, former Cajuns defensive tackle Christian Ringo and former Destrehan standout Kirk Merritt.

And according to Baseball America, LSU’s 2022 transfer class is ranked number one in the nation. The class features North Carolina State transfer Tommy White, who hit a freshman record 27 home runs last season and two way standout Paul Skenes, who was an all-American at Air Force last season.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana is donating up to 300 travel trailers to eastern Kentucky, which is suffering from severe flooding. They were used by residents who suffered severe damage to their homes from Hurricane Ida. Kentucky is paying for the transportation. Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Casey Tingle says the state still has a good supply of travel trailers if another hurricane hits Louisiana…
cut 6 (11) “….need them”

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announces plans to invest 50-million dollars in state money to create a biopharmaceutical corridor. 25-million dollars will go towards a creating a Level 3 biosafety Lab at the New Iberia Research Center and U-L-L President Doctor Joe Savoie says the other 25-million is for the construction of the Iberia Bio-Innovation Accelerator…
cut 9 (13) “…out of Louisiana”

WestRock has broken ground on a 97-million dollar expansion of its paper mill in Hodge. The governor’s office says the company is expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program to expand and modernize the facility which is responsible for more than 450 direct jobs in Jackson Parish.

September is national suicide prevention awareness month and the U-S Department of Veterans Affairs has a website where vets can get instant support at V-A-dot-gov-slash reach…
cut 3 (31) “…I’m Whitney Thomas”

7:30 LRN Newscast

Up to 300 travel trailers that the state purchased for residents that lost their homes in Ida are headed to Kentucky. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

During an event in Alexandria where federal, state, local and community leaders were on hand for the Broadband Solutions Summit, Governor John Bel Edwards announced over 35-million dollars in grants will help bring affordable high speed internet within the next two years to nearly 15-thousand locations in Vernon and LaSalle Parishes.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announces plans to create a biopharmaceutical corridor in Iberia Parish. The plans call for the expansion of the school’s New Iberia Research Center…
cut 8 (11) “….can be developed”
That’s university president Doctor Joe Savoie who says a Level 3 biosafety lab will have global implications on infectious diseases.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and unfortunately military veterans are more at risk. Executive Director of the Veterans Crisis Line, Doctor Lisa Kearney, wants veterans to know there is a website where they can get help, it’s v-a-dot-gov-slash reach…
cut 11 (09) “….all in one place”
Kearney is encouraging veterans to reach out before a crisis happens.

 

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Week one of the college football season begins tonight and there are several games on the schedule including Louisiana Tech at Missouri. It’s the start of the Sonny Cumbie era in Ruston as he looks to turn around a program that went three and nine last season. Despite that losing record, the Bulldogs had one of the best pass defenses in Conference USA. Cumbie is expecting a big season from safety BeeJay Williamson…
cut 17 (15) “….fall camp”
Tech returns eight starters on defense. Kick-off is at 7 PM.

According to Dennis Dodd at CBS Sports, the College Football Playoff Board of Managers will meet tomorrow and vote on a 12-team playoff bracket that could begin as soon as the 2024 season. The Board of Managers is eleven members representing each FBS conference and Notre Dame and the vote needs to be unanimous.

BJ Ojulari, Ali Gaye, and Mike Jones Junior have been named team captains for LSU football this season. Coach Brian Kelly says they were selected based on a vote by the team…
Cut 19 (18) “…weigh in.”
Kelly says a player on offense each week will also be nominated to be a co-captain.

Saints coach Dennis Allen says cornerback Paulson Adebo has been dealing with an ankle injury. Adebo told reporters he expects to play in the regular season opener. Meanwhile, the Saints practice squad is set. It includes former Nicholls receiver Dai-Jean Dixon, former Cajuns defensive tackle Christian Ringo and and former Destrehan standout Kirk Merritt.

And according to Baseball America, LSU’s 2022 transfer class is ranked number one in the nation.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana is donating up to 300 travel trailers, originally acquired for Hurricane Ida to assist flood survivors in Eastern Kentucky. GOHSEP Director Casey Tingle, says the trailers are ones that have been returned to the state by Louisiana residents who now have permanent housing.
Cut 4 (11) “…and Ida.”
The state acquired these trailers to speed up the process for those who lost their homes after Ida.

An LSU study of how football players reacted to COVID indicates their immune system fared better compared to older adults with co-morbidities. LSU’s School of Kinesiology Associate Professor Guillaume (gee-um) Spielman says the findings were reassuring that the players were healthy after the CDC-recommended isolation period.
Cut 13 (10) “…from COVID-19.”

UL-Lafayette embarks on two projects to establish a biopharmaceutical corridor in Louisiana. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast August 31

BJ Ojulari, Ali Gaye and Mike Jones Junior have been name co-captains for the LSU football team. And it was announced today that the LSU-Florida State game in the Superdome is a sell out.

The Saints active roster is down to 53 after cutting several players on Tuesday. Ian Book, Kirk Merritt, Dai Jean Dixon adn Taco Charlton are among the players who were cut. Coach Dennis Allen says a lot of thought goes into these moves…
cut 18 (18) “….final decision”
And there are reports the Eagles have claimed Ian Book.

Former Ragin Cajuns Quarterback Levi Lewis has signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. Lewis was a three-year starter at U-L Lafayette and is the school’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns.

ULM is a huge underdog heading into its season opener against the Texas Longhorns who are ranked 18th in the coaches poll. Warhawks Coach Terry Bowden calls the Longhorns a great team…
Cut 19 (27) “…ready to play.”

TCU transfer Matthew Downing will get the start tomorrow night at quarterback when Louisiana Tech kicks off the season at Missouri. Head Coach Sonny Cumbie says Downing faced a Power Five team in 2020 when Cumbie was the offensive coordinator for the Horned Fogs…
cut 16 (16) “…take over”
Kick off is at 7 PM on ESPN U.

PM Newscall August 31

An East Carrol Parish group called Delta Interfaith is trying to keep some internet providers from derailing broadband expansion. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________

Hurricane forecasters are celebrating two milestones today. August is ending without a named storm since 1997. But that’s not all. Marsanne Golsby reports.

Cut 2 (29) I’m Marsanne Golsby.”  

______________________________________

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find a man who disappeared nearly 33 years ago. Investigators say Robert Fulton Browning was last seen walking away from his home on November 27th 1989 after an argument. Deputy Glenn Springfield says they are hoping to find new information to lead them to Browning.

Cut 3 (06) “…in the case.” 

Browning was 53 when he disappeared and would be 85 now. He’s 6 feet tall, with gray eyes and had brown hair at the time. He had moved to Monroe from Indiana. Springfield says they haven’t given up on finding Browning.

Cut 4  (05) “…with him.”

Springfield says the investigation at the time found no leads. He says Browning’s family hasn’t given up either.

Cut 5  (06) “…actually happen.”

If you know anything that could help find Browning, contact the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s investigative division at 318-329-1200.

________________________________________________

A group from East Carroll Parish is in Baton Rouge today hoping to keep the broadband expansion project on track. Nathanael Wills with Delta Interfaith says it’s on hold due to Sparklight, a subsidiary of Cable One protesting the grant awards that they didn’t even apply for to stop competition from providing service.

Cut 6 (08) “…to do.” 

Wills says current laws and rules are written so they favor incumbent providers and what’s happening is if a company that serves even a portion of the area, they can stop competing providers from establishing service and basically block access.

Cut 7 (10) “…pretty messed up.” 

And this is not unique to East Carroll or Louisiana, Wills says Sparklight is holding protests across the country trying to keep competition from being able to provide access to other areas. Wills says they are hoping Governor John Bel Edwards and Commissioner Jay Dardenne will assist their efforts.

Cut 8 (07) “..unfeasible projects.”

Wills says Sparklight is trying to stop expansion in 26 Louisiana communities.

______________________________________________

August is ending without a named storm for the first time since 1997. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ve gone since early July without a named storm and that’s the first time since 1941 that there have been no named storms between July 3rd and August 31st. He says it’s been an odd hurricane season….

Cut 9 (09)  “…above  normal year.”

Keim says dust from Africa has played a role in keeping the tropics quiet…

Cut 10 (09) “..air layer.” 

He says the air layer stabilizes the atmosphere.

But Keim says we can’t let our guard down as September 10th is the peak and there’s still time for a major storm to develop.

Cut 11 (08)  “…pretty low.”

___________________________________________________

American Cruise Line announces its newest river cruise ship, the American Symphony, will call Natchez, Mississippi its port of origin by 2025. Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft says it’s wonderful news for the Miss-Lou region….

Cut 12 (08) “…Miss-Lou”  

The American Symphony currently sails out of New Orleans up the Mississippi River. It’s a 175-passenger boat.

American Cruise Lines CEO Charles Robertson on why Natchez…

Cut 13 (09) “it all” 

Next year, American Cruise Lines plans on introducing three more small ships and Craft says Vidalia could be the home port of one of those vessels…

Cut 14 (11)  “..that ship” 

11:30 LRN Newscast

A group from East Carroll Parish is in Baton Rouge today hoping to keep the broadband expansion project on track. Nathanael Wills with Delta Interfaith says it’s on hold due to a subsidiary of Cable One protesting the grant awards that they didn’t even apply for to stop competition from providing service.
Cut 6 (08) “…to do.”
Wills says current laws and rules favor incumbent providers and a company that serves even a portion of an area, they can stop competing providers from establishing service and basically block access.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find a man who disappeared nearly 33 years ago. Investigators say Robert Fulton Browning was last seen walking away from his home on November 27th 1989 after an argument. Deputy Glenn Springfield says they haven’t given up on finding Browning.
Cut 3 (06) “…in the case.”
Browning was 53 when he disappeared and would be 85 now.

The White House says it’s sending another six-thousand additional doses of the monkeypox vaccines to Louisiana to administer at vaccination events surrounding the Southern Decadence Festival in New Orleans, which is one of the largest L-G-B-T-Q plus gatherings in the United States. Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis (Dousk ah lock -ss) says Decadence allows them to reach those who are less likely to go to a clinic.
Cut 12 (04) “..the event.”
In addition to Decadance this weekend the federal response team will also be doing similar outreach at Atlanta Black Proud.

The Saints have traded fan favorite Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and a 2025 seventh round pick to the Eagles for three draft picks, a fifth round selection in 2023 and two sixth round picks in 2024. Coach Dennis Allen addressed the trade with reporters…
cut 16 (10) “….wish him the best”
Gardner-Johnson is expected to start at safety for Philadelphia. He was looking for a new contract with the Saints and those talks reportedly broke down, which led to the trade.

10:30 LRN Newscast

To help mitigate the spread of Monkeypox, a federal response team will work with state healthcare workers at Southern Decadence Festival. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

There’s a happy ending to the kidnapping case of a Louisiana nun who was abducted almost five months ago while doing missionary work in West Africa. Sister Suellen Tennyson is alive and in U-S Hands. Officials are not saying when the 83-year-old Kenner native will be brought back to the United States.

Louisiana will receive another 98-million dollars in federal transportation funds that other states failed to use, while Louisiana used its full allotment in federal highway money for 2021-22. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says the additional federal money has happened before but this is one of the largest such infusions to date…
cut 14 (07) “…to good use”
Wilson says no determination has been made yet on how this latest allocation will be spent.

15-million dollars in state funding will go towards a new College of Engineering Building at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Dean of the College of Engineering Doctor Ahmed Khattab says the building will provide a cutting-edge learning environment for students
cut 9 (06) “….and develop”
Construction is set to begin next year and it will take 16 to 18 months to complete.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana will receive an additional 98-million in federal transportation dollars as this is money other states failed to spend. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says Louisiana has many infrastructure needs and they will use the redistributed funds across the state…
cut 15 (08) “…get it done”

The federal government is also sending Louisiana six-thousand additional doses of the monkeypox vaccine ahead of the Southern Decadence Festival, which is a large LGBTQ- gathering. Edwards says it’s an ideal opportunity to reach a vulnerable demographic.
cut 11 (08) “….important”
There will be a large-scale vaccination site at Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans starting tomorrow and running through Labor Day.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announces a plan for its new engineering building. Whitney Thomas has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

A Louisiana Internet for All Summit takes place in Alexandria today. Executive Director of Louisiana Broadband and Connectivity Veneeth Iyengar says an estimated 1.5 million people in Louisiana do not have high-speed internet and it’s because of a number of reasons…
cut 6 (05) “…access issue”