Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

12.31.21
by

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints are preparing to take on the Carolina Panthers on this New Year’s holiday. New Orleans needs a win Sunday in the Superdome in order to keep the Black and Gold’s playoff hopes alive. But they have just one win inside the Dome this season. Cornerback P-J Williams says it’s been frustrating they have not been able to take advantage of the support they get from Who Dat Nation…
cut 16 (17) “….this week”

There will be a football game held in the Superdome on Saturday night as seventh-ranked Baylor faces eighth-ranked Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. The Rebels have been led by Quarterback Matt Corral who could be someone the Saints are looking at in next year’s draft. Kick-off is at 7:45.

The state epidemiologist with the Louisiana Department of Health has recommended that extracurricular activities at schools should stop because of the latest surge of COVID cases fueled by the Omicron variant. But Louisiana High School Athletic Association executive director Eddie Bonine sent out a memo that says the LHSAA will not halt their winter sports seasons.

In college basketball, last night, Louisiana Tech and the Ragin Cajuns started conference play on the right foot. The Bulldogs beat Marshall 79-56 as the Thundering Herd shot just 29-percent from the field. Cobe Williams led the Bulldogs with 22 points.

U-L Lafayette defeated Appalachian State 71-55 as Jordan Brown had 16 points.

ULM allowed 12 three-pointers and got crushed by Coastal Carolina 94-64.

The 19th ranked LSU Lady Tigers won their 12th straight last night beating 13th ranked Georgia in Athens 68-62.

12.30.21
by

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU men’s basketball team is no longer undefeated as they lost their SEC opener to Auburn last night 70-55. The Tigers fell behind 18 to one and never were able to get back in the game. The Bayou Bengals will get the weekend off and host Kentucky and Tennessee next week.

Elsewhere  last night, third-ranked Purdue defeated Nicholls 104 to 90. Another big scoring night for Colonels Guard Ty Gordon, who had 29 points.

Tulane opened American Athletic Conference play by beating Memphis 85-84.

Louisiana Tech begins Conference USA play by hosting Marshall. The Ragin Cajuns are at Appalachian State. U-L Coach Bob Marlin is not with the team as he tested positive for COVID. ULM brings a six-game winning streak into tonight’s game against Coastal Carolina.

LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte says ignore the rumors that he’ll enter the transfer portal, Boutte announced on Twitter he’s locked in at LSU.

The Saints have activated eleven players from the COVID list including quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill. New COVID protocols in the NFL allow vaccinated players to return earlier if their symptoms go away. Coach Sean Payton was asked if he was concerned if players would hide their symptoms in order to come back to the field earlier…
Cut 16 (13) “…they feel.”

Just two more days left in 2021 and the biggest sports story of the year came in October when LSU athletic director Scott Woodward told Coach Ed Orgeron 2021 is his last as the Tigers football head coach….
cut 15 (09) “….met that standard”
LSU finished the regular season with a 6-and-6 record.

12.30.21
by

11:30 LRN Newscast Dec 30

Governor John Bel Edwards will discuss the latest surge in COVID cases during a virtual 1 PM press conference. The state health department reported its largest single-day increase in COVID cases yesterday as the state identified over nine-thousand new cases. COVID hospitalizations have tripled in two weeks to 659.

Beginning Sunday, the maximum weekly unemployment benefit will increase to $275. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James is stepping down from his seat in the state legislature to accept a federal post by President Joe Biden. James will serve as a Regional Administrator of the Small Business Administration’s South-Central Region. James who is head of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus says he’ll take the helm early next year.
Cut 3 (09) “…early next week.”

Just two days left in 2021 and one of the state’s big stories for this year was LSU’s Title Nine scandal. An independent investigation detailed how the school failed to properly investigate sexual misconduct claims against former football players. No one lost their job at LSU, but two high-ranking athletic department employees were suspended. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson thought the punishment was weak…
cut 12 (07) “…truth again”
The fallout cost former football coach Les Miles’ job at Kansas and former LSU President F King Alexander resigned as president at Oregon State.

12.30.21
by

9:30 LRN Newscast December 30

Governor John Bel Edwards will discuss the latest surge in COVID cases during a virtual 1 PM press conference. The state health department reported its largest single-day increase in COVID cases yesterday as the state identified over nine-thousand new cases. COVID hospitalizations have tripled in two weeks to 659.

Beginning Sunday, the maximum weekly unemployment benefit will increase to $275. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

2021 was a wild year for weather. In February, Louisiana was hit by a major winter storm that brought snow, ice, and below-freezing temperatures for several days. Utility companies were asking residents to conserve energy to minimize rolling blackouts because of the demand for heat…
cut 11 (09) “…power grid”
For the second straight year, Louisiana was hit by a Category Four storm. Hurricane Ida devasted the bayou and river parishes and also did a number on Tangipahoa Parish. Congressman Garret Graves couldn’t believe the destruction…
Cut 14 (12) “…hurricane.”
Houma Representative Tanner Magee says the recovery has a long way to go…
cut 6 (04) “…better for us”

12.30.21
by

8:30 LRN Newscast December 30

Legislation approved in June will result in an 11-percent increase in the maximum unemployment benefit amount for Louisianians. Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Chris Fiore says the 28-dollar weekly increase is only applicable to claims filed on or after January 2nd…
cut 9 (11) “…a decade”
For those who make their initial claim on January 1st or before, the maximum weekly benefit amount is still $247.

The recovery from Hurricane Ida will continue into 2022. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says they are still waiting on FEMA trailers to help provide temporary housing and two of their high schools need to be rebuilt…
cut 5 (09) “…mobile classrooms there”

We are taking time today to look at back at the major stories for 2021. In July, state lawmakers held their first veto session in modern times. Republican legislators were upset the governor vetoed a bill that would prohibit a biological male from competing on female athletic teams. But the veto override effort failed as lawmakers like New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis said the legislation was not needed…
Cut 13 (09) “…to college.”
The biggest sports story came in October when LSU athletic director Scott Woodward told Coach Ed Orgeron 2021 is his last as the Tigers football head coach….
cut 15 (09) “….met that standard”
Orgeron also took heat for not being more forthright in what he knew about a sexual harassment case involving former running back Derrius Guice.

12.30.21
by

7:30 LRN Newscast

It has been 4 months since Category Four Hurricane Ida impacted Louisiana; bringing destruction to the state’s southeastern coastal parishes. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says Terrebonne Parish still has a large number of residents living in makeshift accommodations…:
Cut 4 (10) “….nort really come yet.”
Magee says Ida damaged a large number of businesses; some of whom have rebuilt, but others still struggling.

As a result of legislation approved in June, the maximum weekly benefit an unemployed individual will receive from the state is increasing by 28-dollars to 275 dollars for people who qualify. Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Chris Fiore says it’s been more than 10 years since the state increased the maximum unemployment benefit…
cut 8 (09) “….their families”
Fiore says individuals filing a claim on or after Sunday will see the increase.

2021 saw its fair share of big stories including a Title Nine scandal that rocked LSU. An independent investigation shined more light on allegations that the school failed to properly investigate sexual misconduct claims against former football players. No one lost their job at LSU, but two high-ranking athletic department employees were suspended. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson thought that punishment was weak…
cut 12 (07) “…truth again”
The fallout cost former football coach Les Miles’ job at Kansas and former LSU President F King Alexander resigned as president at Oregon State.

COVID was a big story in 2021 and it will be in 2022. Yesterday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported over nine-thousand new cases, which is a single-day record high for the pandemic. COVID hospitalizations have tripled in two weeks.

12.30.21
by

6:45 LRN Sportscast December 30

The LSU men’s basketball team is no longer undefeated as the Bayou Bengals failed to recover from a slow start and lost their SEC opener at Auburn 70-55. Auburn started the game on an 18-to-1 run as LSU missed its first 16 field goal attempts. The Tigers trimmed the deficit down to six points twice, but the 17 turnovers committed by LSU were just too much to overcome.

Meanwhile, LSU football coach Brian Kelly has named Robert Steeples as a defensive assistant. He’s currently the assistant special teams’ coach for the Minnesota Vikings and he had a brief NFL career as a cornerback. Earlier this week, Kelly named Matt House as his defensive coordinator. Baton Rouge sports talk show host Matt Mascona says Kelly has a track record of hiring good assistant coaches…
cut 29 (09) “…successful hire”

The Saints return to the practice field today and they are getting some players back from the COVID-19 list, including quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian, linebackers Demario Davis, Kwon Alexander and Kaden Ellis, tight end Adam Trautman and special teams captain J-T Gray.

The Saints will host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. New Orleans lost to Carolina in week two, but since then the Panthers have really struggled and the return of Quarterback Cam Newton hasn’t helped the offense or the firing of Joe Brady as offensive coordinator. Coach Sean Payton on their two-quarterback system with Newton and Sam Darnold…
cut 18 (16) “….rely on the tape”
Kick-off this Sunday in the Superdome is at 3:25.

12.30.21
by

6:30 LRN Newscast December 30

It has been 4 months since Category Four Hurricane Ida impacted Louisiana. Kevin Gallagher reports on the recovery…:
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

For the first time in a decade, Louisiana’s unemployment benefit will increase by eleven percent. The new amount goes into effect Sunday and the maximum weekly benefit for those who qualify will be $275. Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Chris Fiore says it’s welcome news for recipients.
Cut 7 (05) “…to find.”
Fiore says right now there are more than 28-thousand jobs available through the L-W-C Hire website.

It’s time to look back at 2021 and it got off to a rocky start on January 6th, when thousands of angry President Trump supporters stormed the U-S Capitol causing damage to the building, and five officers who attempted to hold back the rioters died and their deaths linked to the riot. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is disgusted by what he saw…
Cut 10 (11) “…sediition.”
In February, a massive winter storm brought snow, ice, and some of the coldest temperatures on record to the Bayou State. Entergy’s John Hawkins asked customers to conserve energy as rolling blackouts were put in place, because of the demand for heat…
Cut 11 (09) “…power grid.”
Get ready for a big change in the weather, a strong cold front will hit the state on Saturday, strong storms are possible and highs in the 30s and 40s on Sunday.

12.29.21
by

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The 16th ranked LSU basketball team tips off SEC play tonight with a trip to 11th ranked Auburn. The undefeated Tigers have yet to play a true road game. Coach Will Wade says Auburn Arena is not an easy place to play for a visitor….
Cut 17 (18) “ …great fans.”
Both teams are averaging around 80 points a game, while the Tigers lead the SEC in field goal percentage defense at 34-percent, while Auburn is 39-percent. Tip off is at 6 PM.

U-L Lafayette begins Sun Belt play at Appalachian state tomorrow. But Coach Bob Marlin will not be there was he’s tested positive for COVID-19.

Louisiana Tech will welcome Marshall to the Thomas Assembly Center for the start of Conference USA play tomorrow. The Bulldogs have won 15 straight home games, while the Thundering Herd has dropped three straight overall.

LSU football coach Brian Kelly has named Matt House as the Tigers new defensive coordinator. House is currently the linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and Baton Rouge sports talk show host Matt Moscona says current Chief and former LSU Tiger Tyrann Mathieu has said it’s a great hire by LSU…
cut 13 (09) “with it”
House spent three seasons with Kentucky, two as defensive coordinator. House’s 2018 Kentucky defense ranked sixth in the nation in points allowed, he’s also credited with helping to defensive lineman Aaron Donald when he was at the University of Pittsburgh.

The man who introduced NFL great John Madden to one of his favorite dishes – the TURDUCKEN – mourns the passage of the football legend. New Orleans butcher Glenn Mistich says he first met Madden in 1996, during the Saints – Rams game. During an appearance on WWL radio, the subject of the “turducken” came up…:
Cut 9 (12) “…the All-Madden Team.”
A “turducken” is a chicken, stuffed inside a duck, stuffed inside a turkey.

12.29.21
by

LRN PM Newscall December 29

One of Louisiana’s most wanted murder suspects is now behind bars. Michelle Southern has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

______________________________________

The New Orleans butcher who introduced NFL great John Madden to the Louisiana “turducken” mourns the passing of the football legend. Brooke Thorington has that…:

Cut 2 (34)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

______________________________________

State Police are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Lake Charles. Troop D spokesman Trooper Derek Senegal says it began with LCPD officers called to an address where a man had fired shots into a home twice; the second time hitting someone inside…:

Cut 3 (11) “…fled on foot.”

Lake Charles Police caught up with an armed and body-armored 22-year-old Christopher Thomas at another residence, where they tried to negotiate his surrender. Trooper Senegal says Thomas retreated inside the house…:

Cut 4 (12) “…he actually died.”

As with all police officer-involved shootings in the state, LSP is investigating. Senegal says they’ll seek out any surveillance video which may help in the investigation…:

Cut 5 (14) “…put together a report.”

__________________________________

After a five-hour standoff, the suspected gunman in the first shooting during homecoming on the campus of Grambling State is now in custody. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says they had been looking for 18-year-old Jatavious Carroll, aka “Rabbit” since October 13th. He says the US Marshal’s located Carroll in a home in Delhi.

 Cut 6 (09) “…custody.” 

The October 13th shooting injured a 16-year-old and killed 19-year old Damarius Murphy of Rayville. Reichardt says multiple agencies assisted in Tuesday’s standoff with Carroll

Cut 7 (09) “…even better.”  

Reichardt says the two suspected gunmen in the October 17th shooting on the Grambling campus, that killed one person and wounded seven were taken into custody previously one December 6th the other November 11th.

Cut 8 (11) “…in jail.”

Carroll is being held in the Lincoln Parish Jail.

______________________________________________________

The man who introduced NFL great John Madden to one of his favorite dishes – the TURDUCKEN – mourns the passage of the football legend. New Orleans butcher Glenn Mistich says he first met Madden in 1996, during the Saints – Rams game. During an appearance on WWL radio, the subject of the “turducken” came up…:

Cut 9 (12) “…the All-Madden Team.”

For the unenlightened, a “turducken” is a chicken, stuffed inside a duck, stuffed inside a turkey. The dish has become a holiday table tradition for many across the state. Mistich says, after talking with Madden quite a bit, he sent the Madden family one. That quickly became a tradition of its own…:

Cut 10 (07)  “…Christmas as well.”

Madden frequently raved about the turducken during broadcasts, and Mistich says that undoubtably contributed to the popularity of the food…:

Cut  11 (15)  “…and my business.” 

Madden passed away, at age 85, and Mistich says he will miss his friend. Mistich does not claim to have invented the turducken. That honor lies with the late Chef Paul Prudhomme of New Orleans.

______________________________________________

LSU Football Coach Brian Kelly has named Matt House as his defensive coordinator. House is the linebackers coach at Kansas City and previously served as a defensive coordinator on the collegiate level at Kentucky, FIU, and Pittsburgh. Baton Rouge sports talk show host Matt Mascona says House seems like a solid hire

Cut 12 (07) “…NFL experience.”  

House will remain with the Kansas City Chiefs until their season ends. K-C defensive back and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu gave a ringing endorsement of House’s hiring. Mascona says Mathieu says House is one of the best coaches he’s been around…

Cut 13 (09) “. with it “

House spent three seasons with Kentucky, two as defensive coordinator. House’s 2018 Kentucky defense ranked sixth in the nation in points allowed, he’s also credited with helping to defensive lineman Aaron Donald when he was at Pittsburgh. Mascona says Kelly has been hiring assistant coaches for a long time now and knows what he’s looking for…

Cut 14 (10)  “…successful hire.”