6:45 LRN Sportscast

Many LSU fans were concerned after watching Kayshon Boutte’s body language during Sunday night’s loss to Florida State. The preseason All-American scrubbed his Instagram account of LSU content after catching just two passes in the season opener. But Coach Brian Kelly believes his best wide receiver will be just fine…
Cut 16 (19) “..our 0ffense.”
The Tigers will look to get Boutte going this Saturday when LSU hosts Southern at 6:30 on Saturday night.

The Ragin Cajuns received a vote in the USA Today Coaches Poll. U-L Lafayette defeated Southeastern Louisiana in the season opener and will host Eastern Michigan at 6 PM this Saturday at Cajun Field.

After losing the season opener to Missouri 52-24 last week, Louisiana Tech is now getting ready for its home opener against Stephen F Austin. Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie says they have a list of items they can improve on…
Cut 19 (20) “…as coaches”
Despite a rough debut, Cumbie is sticking with Matthew Downing as his starting quarterback.

Over in Shreveport on Saturday night, Northwestern State will face Grambling State at Independence Stadium. The Demons are playing in Shreveport for the first time since 2002, while Grambling is 15-3-and-1 in the Shreveport Classic. Both teams suffered blowout losses in their season openers.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters explained to state lawmakers yesterday about the difficulty in hiring and retaining their employees. Walters says one of their best case managers recently left for a lower paying job….
cut 29 (10) “…need a break”
Walters says the agency needs about 400 workers as reports of abuse and neglect of children increase across the state. But some lawmakers are skeptical an increase in workers will solve the problems at D-C-F-S.

The state says a four-person drinking water engineering team from the Louisiana Department of Health is back after responding to the drinking water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi. GOHSEP Spokesperson Mike Steele….
Cut 10 (12) “…quality issues.”

After being questioned about suggested Title IX changes to protect sexual orientation and gender identity at K-12 schools, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley offers clarification….
cut 1 (30) “…I”m Brooke Thorington”

Congressman Troy Carter will present a 4.5 million dollar check from the federal government today to go towards the construction of a high school sports stadium in eastern New Orleans.
Cut 13 (10) “…upper 9th Ward.”
The check presentation will take place at Carver High School at 9 AM.

LRN AM Newscall September 7

After being questioned about suggested Title IX changes to protect sexual orientation and gender identity at K-12 schools, State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley offers clarification. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A new report from the legislative auditor says the state’s gasoline tax can not put a dent in the state’s 15-billion dollar infrastructure backlog. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby.” 

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The Louisiana Department of Health helped play a role in getting the water flowing again in Jackson, Mississippi after severe flooding damaged the city’s treatment plants. Whitney Thomas has more.

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

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State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley wants schools and parents to know that the suggested federal Title IX protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity are just suggestions. He says there’s no need to implement the proposed changes at this time.

Cut 4 (11)  “…not law yet.”

Because he was questioned about the proposed changes Brumley sent a letter to school leaders clarifying that it’s not law. He gives examples of how the proposed Title IX expansions could impact schools.

Cut 5 (09) “…(x2) not based on biological sex.”

If enacted, Brumley says schools that fail to comply could lose federal funding, and it could jeopardize the school lunch program for students who receive free or low-cost meals.

Brumley says because these are proposed changes at this point if you strongly feel one way or another about them, he encourages you to voice your opinion via the federal registry.

Cut 6 (08)  “…proposed changes.”

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When you buy gasoline, 20 cents of each gallon goes into a fund for roads, bridges, and other transportation needs. But a new report from the Legislative Auditor says the money generated isn’t nearly enough. The tax was set 32 years ago and is not indexed for inflation. Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says he agrees with the findings.

Cut 7 (09) “…sales tax.”

Wilson says thanks to a new law, starting next year, up to 60-percent of the vehicle sales tax you’re already paying will be used for transportation projects, up to $300 million a year. But he says the state needs more revenue in order to make a dent in a 15-billion dollar backlog. The DOTD secretary says the audit notes that other states use a variety of transportation funding sources, including vehicle fees, tolls, and even cigarette taxes.

Cut 8 (11)  “…what we need.”

The audit says 22 other states adjust their gasoline taxes for inflation, but Louisiana doesn’t. Wilson has lobbied lawmakers in the past to increase the state’s gasoline tax, but those efforts failed and he doesn’t expect the issue to come up again next year, which is an election year.

Cut 9 (07)  “…is changing.”

Earlier this year lawmakers approved an annual fee for those who own hybrid and electric vehicles.

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The Louisiana Department of Health responded to the water crisis in Mississippi by deploying a four-person drinking water engineering team to Jackson after severe damage from flooding.  

GOHSEP Spokesperson Mike Steele says the team is well equipped and experienced for these types of disasters  

Cut 10 (12) “…quality issues.”

LDH team members were proactive due to the EMAC act. Steele says this allows different states to become allies in a time of need.  

Cut  11 (09)  “…after a disaster.” 

Steele says Louisiana was glad to help after receiving assistance from other states during Louisiana’s natural disasters.  

Cut 12 (10) “…to other states.” 

For more information visit www.emacweb.org 

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Congressman Troy Carter will present a sizeable check today to go towards the construction of a public athletic stadium in eastern New Orleans. Carter says he’s secured $4.5 million in federal funds for the project.

Cut 13 (10) “…upper 9th Ward.”

Carter along with elected officials, sports figures, and students in the local area will be on hand for the check presentation at George Washington Carver High School at 9 am. Carter says he’s excited to help fund such a worthwhile project.

Cut 14 (09)  “…of their own.”

The publicly accessible stadium will be a first for the area for students, athletes, and the community to enjoy. Carter says it will be a positive impact for the city, especially for the 9th ward.

Cut 15 (08)  “…of Katrina.”

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Many LSU fans were concerned after watching Kayson Boutte’s body language during Sunday night’s loss to Florida State. The preseason All-American scrubbed his Instagram account of LSU content after catches just two passes in the season opener. But Coach Brian Kelly believes his best wide receiver will be just fine…

Cut 16 (19)  “..our 0ffense.” 

Kelly is concerned about the missed tackles on defense. Florida State was able to convert 11 times on 17 third-down opportunities. He says Jordan Travis broke many of those tackles…

Cut 17 (20) “…no question.” 

LSU’s offensive line had trouble protecting quarterback Jayden Daniels. Kelly says they lack what he calls o-line awareness…

Cut  18 (17)“…goes along”

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After losing the season opener to Missouri 52-24 last week, Louisiana Tech is now getting ready for its season opener against Missouri. Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie says they have a list of items they can improve on…

Cut 19 (20) “…as coaches”

Cumbie knows he needs better play from the quarterback position after Matthew Downing threw three interceptions and was sacked three times in the loss to Mizzou…

Cut 20 (15) “ …do it” 

Cumbie says Downing will start again this Saturday in the home opener against Stephen F Austin.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU football coach Brian Kelly confirmed the reports that came out yesterday that sophomore defensive tackle Maason Smith will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL…
cut 16 (16) “….extremely disappointing”
And Florida State Quarterback Jordan Travis says LSU defensive end Ali Gaye apologized for his helmet-to-helmet hit that led to Gaye’s ejection.

Louisiana Tech lost its season opener to Missouri last Thursday 52-24, but Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie said today he saw some positives…
cut 19 (12) “….very positive”
The Bulldogs host Stephen F Austin in the home opener.

Game Week has arrived for the Saints. The Black and Gold will travel to Atlanta on Sunday to face the Falcons. Dennis Allen will coach his first game as the Saints Head Coach and he’s fired up for the chance to lead the Black and Gold…
cut 18 (10) “…fun week”
Former Saints Coach Sean Payton picked the Black and Gold to win the NFC South during an appearance on Fan Duel TV today.

History will be made Saturday night as LSU will host Southern in the first ever meeting on the football field between the two Baton Rouge universities. Jaguars head coach Eric Dooley says it’s great for the two fanbases to get together…
Cut 14 (12) “…city of Baton Rouge.”
Kick-off is set for 6:30 at Tiger Stadium.

LRN PM Newscall

A U-S Senate race and all six of Louisiana’s U-S House seats are on the ballot in November, but the political season is expected to remain quiet. Marsanne Golsby has more…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

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Criticism of President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan is getting pushback from Republicans, and the matter could end up in court. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33) I’m  Brooke Thorington.”  

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After the Labor Day holiday, it usually gets busy during election years. Federal elections are coming up in two months. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says don’t expect it to get much nosier in Louisiana.

Cut 3 (:13) “…period of time” 

Pinsonat says southwest Louisiana congressman Clay Higgins is in a race that could become competitive because Higgins’ low fundraising totals.

Cut 4  (:11) “…grass roots.”

Higgins’ most well-known opponent is Lafayette attorney Holden Hoggatt. Pinsonat says while voters get a bit of a breather this year, next year will be a political barnburner because all statewide offices are up for grabs.

Cut 5  (10) “…most part”

The federal primary election is November 8th, Runoffs are on December 10th.

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The Biden Administration’s student debt forgiveness plan could be challenged in court. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the White House’s rationale for canceling student debt is based on the 2003 Heroes Act passed by congress that granted loan forgiveness if an individual experiences a natural disaster or is off fighting a war.

Cut 6 (11) “…cancellation.” 

Ciolino says among the arguments against the cancellation of debt is an abuse of executive power. He says Congress is the branch of government that appropriates funds, passes a law, and then presents the legislation for the executive branch to sign into law.

Cut 7 (12) “…been successful.” 

Ciolino says Republicans view the Biden Administration’s ability to circumvent congress to cancel student debt as an abuse of executive and emergency powers and is also a violation of the nondelegation doctrine under the constitution…

Cut 8 (11) “…taxpayers’ dollars.”

Ciolino says abuse of executive privilege also happened under former President Trump when he diverted military funds to pay for the construction of a wall along the Mexican border. He expects that Republicans will file suit against the student loan forgiveness very soon if they haven’t already.

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Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters spelled out to a legislative committee today the problems her agency is facing when it comes to having enough case workers. Walters says last week one of their best case managers left for a lower paying job because that employee could not handle the high caseload anymore

Cut 9 (10)  “…need a break”

Walters says child welfare systems across the nation have similar staffing shortages.

Walters went before the Senate Health and Welfare Committee to discuss how the agency is responding, after admitting it didn’t do enough to help a two-year-old child before he died from a fentanyl overdose death. Also last month, a foster parent in Zachary was arrested and accused of raping foster children. Covington Senator Patrick McMath believes D-C-F-S needs a complete overhauled, but doesn’t expect that to occur while Governor Edwards is in office

Cut 10 (11) “… caregivers.” 

New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes is an outspoken critic of DCFS leadership. He believes the state agency does not have a money problem and he’s heard of low morale in the department because of how workers are treated. But Walters says caseload is the biggest issue facing their employees…

Cut 11 (11)  “…job description.”

Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare Rhenda Hodnett says they are doing what they can to increase the number of case workers…

Cut 12 (12) “…higher gear.”  

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A historic matchup will take place Saturday night in Tiger Stadium as LSU and Southern will face each other for the first time in football. The two coaches spoke about the matchup today. Tigers First-year head coach Brian Kelly says it should be a spectacle…

Cut 13 (12) “..college football.” 

The meeting against the Jaguars is also the first time LSU has ever played against a historically black college in football. Southern head coach Eric Dooley says it’s great for the two fanbases to get together…

Cut 14 (12)  “…city of Baton Rouge.” 

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Many LSU fans are at a loss for words over Sunday night’s season opening defeat to Florida State. The Tigers made way too many mistakes in Brian Kelly’s first game as head coach of the Bayou Bengals. Quarterback Jayden Daniels says they have to learn from those mistakes…
cut 13 (10) “…for Southern”

Ragin Cajuns Coach Michael Desormeaux says he’ll stick with the same plan for the quarterback position for this Saturday’s game against Eastern Michigan. Chandler Fields started in the win over Southeastern Louisiana, but Ben Wooldridge came in at the third series and played a total of three series.

Fields was named the Offensive Player of the Week by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. In his first career start, Fields completed 13 of 20 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns.

The regular season kicks off on Sunday against the Falcons. Rookie offensive tackle Trevor Penning will not play after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his toe, but Coach Dennis Allen says they expect Penning will return to the field this season…
cut 17 (11) “./..than later”
A report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says Penning could return in November.

The injury news is not good for LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith. He will reportedly miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL and safety Joe Foucha is reportedly suspended the first four games as a a result of the academic issues related to his transfer.

In the high school football polls….Ouachita Christian is the newly ranked team in Class One-A and University High is also newly ranked team in Class 3A.

8:30 LRN Newscast

The legislative auditor’s office releases a report that shows Louisiana’s 20-cent gasoline tax is not able to keep up with the state’s 15-billion dollar backlog on road and bridge construction needs. Louisiana Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says the audit notes that other states use a variety of transportaiton funding sources, including vehicle fees, tolls and even cigarette taxes…
cut 8 (11) “…what we need”

New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter will present a multi-million dollar plus check during a cermony at Carver High school in New Orleans that will lead to the construction of a football stadaium that will be built in the Ninth Ward….
cut 15 (08) “…of Katrina”
Carter will be joined by other election officials, sports figures, community advocates and students who will benefit from the stadium.

Earlier this summer the Biden Administration proposed expanding Title nine regulations at public schools that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and protecting transgender students. Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says at this time they are just proposed changes and encourages the public to voice their opinion vioa the federal registry…
cut 6 (08) “….proposed changes”

A four-person Louisiana Department of Health drining water engineering team has returned after helping Jackson, Mississippi officials restore water pressure in the city’s drinking water system that was damaged by severe flooding. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steels says Louisiana was glad to help after receiving assistance from other states during Louisiana’s natural disasters…
cut 12 (10) “…to other states”

8:30 LRN Newscast

A stunning defeat to open up the Brian Kelly era last night as Florida State held on a for 24-23 victory over LSU in the Superdome. A blocked extra point on the final play of the game was difference. It came right after Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels threw a touchdown pass to complete a 99-yard scoring drive….
cut 30 (06) “…that point”
Florida State blocked two kicks on the night and LSU also muffed two points and the Tigers offensive line played poorly.

It’s Labor Day so many are enjoying a day off today. Economist Loren Scott says the state has only recovered 69-percent of the jobs lost during the height of the pandemic. Scott says active hurricane seasons in 2020 and 2021 has slowed down that recovery…
cut 7 (10) “…Lake Charles area”
The state Louisiana Workforce Commission has been touting a low unemployment rate this summer, but Scott says many people have quit looking for jobs.

Fifth District Congresswoman Julia Letlow says Louisiana farmers need federal assistance as a result of the excessive rainfall last month. LSU Ag Center soybean specialist Doctor David Moseley says in Avoyelles Parish one consultant says about 20 to 30-percent of the soybean crops had damage…
Cut 14 (11) “…down there.”
It’s up to state government to request federal assistance.

The state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority says it’s been making strides in the fight against coastal land loss, but a large source of funding is set to come to an end in 2032 and that’s BP oil spill settlement money. CPRA executive director Chip Kline says they are aware of the 2032 fiscal cliff and discussing the issue with federal officials…
cut 5 (09) “…federal government”
Senator Bill Cassidy has a bill that was approved by a US Senate committee in July that would send billions of dollars for coastal restoration to Louisiana and other Gulf states.

7:30 LRN Newscast

On this Labor Day holiday, we look at Louisiana’s labor market.
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Brian Kelly’s first game as LSU football coach was a mistake filled contest with a wild finish that saw the Tigers come up one point short in a 24-23 defeat to Florida State. F-S-U blocked a game-tying extra point on the final play of the game, the second blocked kick of the night.

As you enjoy Labor Day without a hurricane looming, it’s a good to get a refresher on all the efforts underway to protect Louisiana’s coast. Chip Kline, executive director of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority says Louisiana’s one point three billion dollar investment in coastal restoration projects is paying off.
Cut 3 (11) “…hit our state.”

Plenty of folks are firing up the grill for Labor Day and Cattle Producers of Louisiana CEO Dave Foster knows a thing or two about what’s ideal to grill. He says however beef will leave your wallet somewhat lighter this Labor Day than it did last year.
Cut 9 (08) “…going on.”
If you’re considering serving hamburgers Foster says there are plenty of options, like ground chuck or even a leaner beef like 90/10.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Brian Kelly era at LSU starts with a mistake-filled one-point loss to Florida State in the Superdome. A blocked extra point on the final play of the game perserved a 24-23 Seminole victory. It was the second kick blocked by F-S-U. The Tigers also had two muffed punts, two touchdown passes dropped and the offense was held to just 10 points through three quarters. Coach Brian Kelly…
cut 29 (13) “…overtime situation”
As expected, Jayden Daniels started at quarterback and went the whole way. He was running for his life for much of the game as the Tigers new offensive line struggled. Daniels threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns and he also rushed for a game-high 114 yards.

Game week has arrived for the Saints. They will face the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday.

The Ragin Cajuns won their 14th straight game, which is the nation’s longest winning streak on Saturday, as U-L Lafayette defeated Southeastern Louisiana 24-7. In his first start at Q-B, Chandler Fields threw for 173 yards and a couple of touchdowns to Johnny Lumpkin. Eric Garror also returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown.

In other action on Saturday, Texas trounced ULM 52-10. The Warhawks allowed touchdowns on a blocked punt and interception return.

Arkansas State clobbered Grambling 58-3. South Alabama thumped Nicholls 48-7. Tulane trounced UMass 42-10. Second-ranked Montana shutout Northwestern State 47-0, while fourth-ranked Montana State defeated McNeese 40-17.

Looking ahead to this Saturday, several in-state match-ups highlight the schedule, Nicholls at ULM, Northwestern State faces Grambling in Shreveport and Southern and LSU meet for the first time ever in football in Tiger Stadium.