6:45 LRN Sportscast

It is finally opening day for the 2026 LSU baseball team, with the Tigers beginning their national title defense against Milwaukee at 2 PM today. Sophomore right-hander Casan Evans was named the opening-day starter, and coach Jay Johnson says Evans has been ready to step into a starting role since last season ended.

Cut 16 (10) “…excited for him.” 

Milwaukee was 24-35 last season and 16-13 in the Horizon League.

In college basketball last night…Louisiana Tech had to battle to get its second road win of the season, defeating Missouri State 79-78 in double overtime. Neither team shot the ball well, but Tech’s Avery Thomas hit four 3-pointers and finished with 19 points.

The Ragin Cajuns four-game winning streak ended last night with a four-point loss to Coastal Carolina, 69 to 65.

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The Lady Techsters won their 11thin a row last night, an easy 71-49 win over F-I-U. McNeese improved to 15-1 in the Southland with a hard-fought win over Northwestern State 64-59. Nicholls beat Houston Christian 59 to 43.

Tomorrow night, it’s the big matchup between sixth-ranked LSU and 3rd ranked South Carolina. Lady Tigers junior guard MiLaysia Fulwiley (my-LAY-zhuh full-WHY-lee) plays her former team for the first time since transferring last April. The Columbia, South Carolina native will be emotional, but Coach Kim Mulkey isn’t concerned about it affecting her play.

Cut 20 (20) “…have butterflies.”

Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m and the game will be televised by ABC.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson announced the Tigers’ starting rotation for this weekend’s opening series against Milwaukee. Sophomore right-hander Casan Evans will be the Friday starter, junior Kansas transfer right-handed pitcher Cooper Moore will be the Saturday Starter and Baton Rouge native and sophomore right-hander William Schmidt will be the Sunday starter. Monday’s starter has yet to be announced.

Even though the Tigers will be without Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson this season, D1Baseball.com’s Kendall Rodgers believes Evans will solidify himself as the next great LSU pitcher.

Cut 18 (14)  “…bona-fide Friday guy.”

First pitch against Milwaukee on Friday is at 2 p.m.

The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team is on the road at Missouri State tonight as the Bulldogs look to win their second straight game. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.

The UL-Lafayette men’s basketball team is riding a four-game winning streak, and the Cajuns look to extend it to five tonight when they host Coastal Carolina at 7 p.m. Head coach Quannas White credits the team’s recent success to having unselfish players.

Cut 19 (11) “…are right now.”

The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team looks to win its eleventh straight game tonight as they host FIU at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Techsters came in as a 13-seed in ESPN bracketologist Charlie Crème’s latest NCAA Tournament projections.

Eleven members of the 2025 LSU football team have been invited to participate in the 2026 NFL Combine. Garrett Nussmeier was one of 15 quarterbacks invited. The Tigers have the nation’s best 4 wide receivers invited to the NFL Combine, which includes Aaron Anderson, Barion Brown, Chris Hilton Jr. and Zavion Thomas.

4:30 LRN Newscast

The second day of qualifying for federal elections has ended. There are three Democrats who have qualified to represent the Fifth Congressional District. Among them is Winnsboro religious scholar Larry Foy, who says his goal is to return the balance of power in Washington to where it belongs.

Cut 6 (10) “…United States Constitution.”

Another Democrat running is Dan McKay, an attorney from Bunkie. The third Democrat to qualify is Jessee Fleenor, a dairy farmer from Loranger, who took a very combative tone in addressing the media immediately after qualifying…

Cut 8 (12) “…reactionary party.”

Qualifying concludes at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon.

 

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise showed up at the Secretary of State’s Office today to personally qualify for re-election. Scalise was asked if he was going to get involved in Louisiana’s US Senate race or the competitive fifth district Congressional race…

Cut 29 (12) “…right now”

Scalise is facing a challenger in the Republican primary. Political unknown Randall Arrington from Ponchatoula.

There have been rumors that former New Orleans Mayor and Lt Governor Mitch Landrieu could run for U-S Senate. Political analyst Bernie PInsonat does not expect Landrieu to qualify before tomorrow afternoon’s deadline…

Cut 10 (09) “…raising money”

3:30 LRN Newscast

President Trump’s endorsement of state senator Blake Miguez is a big storyline in the fifth district congressional race. One of the Miguez’s opponents in the Republican Primary is Misti Cordell, who is the chairwoman of the Board of Regents. She’s not bothered by the President’s endorsement…

Cut 30 (06) “…meet me yet”

Miguez says he will focus on his record of accomplishment as a state legislator…

Cut 28 (10) “…bathrooms”

Miguez will be attacked on where he lives. His permanent residence is outside of the district, but the Iberia Parish resident says he also owns a home in Baton Rouge, which is part of the fifth congressional district.

Three Democrats have joined seven Republicans in qualifying for the fifth congressional district primary. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

In Monroe, the long process of removing all the debris left behind by last month’s ice storm continues. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis says they are working with Southern Disaster Recovery, and the partnership is going well….

Cut 5 (11) “…as normal”

LRN PM Newscall February 12

Three Democrats have joined seven Republicans in qualifying for the fifth congressional district primary. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson names his starting pitchers for the opening series of the college baseball season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis says the amount of debris from the ice storm that his public works crews are collecting is astonishing. The average for a week is 120 tons that is taken to the landfill, but yesterday alone 600 tons of debris was collected…

Cut 3 (10) “…few years ago ” 

Ellis expects debris removal will take eight months…

Cut 4 (13) “…seeing.”

Ellis says the city of Monroe is working with Southern Disaster Recovery in removing the debris and the partnership is going well so far…

Cut 5 (11) “…as normal”

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Three Democrats have joined seven Republicans in qualifying for the fifth congressional district primary. Among them is Winnsboro religious scholar Larry Foy, who announced his candidacy even before Julia Letlow abandoned her re-election bid in favor of a U.S. Senate run. Foy said his goal is to return the balance of power in Washington to where it belongs.

Cut 6 (10) “…United States Constitution.”

Another Democrat running is Dan McKay, an attorney from Bunkie. He said if elected, he will protect democracy by standing up to President Trump, who he called a “dictator.”

Cut 7 (09) “…as we speak.”

The third Democrat to qualify is Jessee Fleenor, a dairy farmer from Loranger, who took a very combative tone in addressing the media immediately after qualifying, at times using language that we cannot repeat on the radio. 

Cut 8 (12) “…reactionary party.”

And that was one of the more tame adjectives Fleenor used in his 20-minute speech. Candidates have until 4:30 tomorrow afternoon to qualify.

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The Qualifying period for candidates to sign up for Louisiana’s new closed party primaries for a US Senate seat and U-S House seats concludes tomorrow. State Treasurer John Fleming has already qualified for the Senate Republican Primary and incumbent Bill Cassidy and challenger Julia Letlow are expected to qualify tomorrow. What about Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta?. The 67-year-old said he would challenge Cassidy, but political analyst Bernie Pinsonat believes Skrmetta will not run…

Cut 9 (08)  “…fundraising.”

Will a major Democrat candidate run for U-S Senate. There are rumors former New Orleans mayor and Lt. Governor Mitch Landrie could enter the race. Pinsonat says it’s unlikely…

Cut 10 (09) “…raising money.”

Former Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards reiterated again this week in an interview with the LSU Reville that he’s not interested in being in Congress. Pinsonat says funding would be difficult for any Democrat that runs for a statewide office, because the national party does not look at Louisiana as a winnable state…

Cut 11 (12) “…ten million dollar race. ”

12:30 LRN Newscast

Seven Republicans have signed up for the GOP Primary for the 5th Congressional seat that’s being vacated by Julia Letlow.  Letlow has the endorsement of President Trump in the Senate Race and state senator Blake Miguez has the endorsement of the president in the 5th District Congressional race…

Cut 5 (06) “…national level”

One of Miguez’s opponents, Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds says he will fight for Louisiana values in Washington…

Cut 7 (13) “…..fight, fight, fight”

Another candidate who qualified yesterday is Misti Cordell, who is the chairwoman of the Board of Regents. She is not concerned that President Trump’s endorsement went to someone else.

Cut 8 (08) “…meet me yet.”

 

Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis says the amount of debris from the ice storm that his public works crews are collecting is astonishing. The average for a week is 120 tons that is taken to the landfill, but yesterday alone 600 tons of debris was collected…

Cut 3 (10) “…few years ago”

Ellis expects debris removal will take months.

The University of Louisiana Monroe has installed drone detection equipment atop Malone Stadium. Doctor Mark Johnson is the training director for ULM Police and says this will bolster public safety as universities are facing escalating challenges from unauthorized drones. Johnson says Sky Safe gives campus police a reliable way to manage drones…

Cut 12 (10) “….come on”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The number-two LSU baseball team will open its national title defense at 2 p.m. tomorrow against Milwaukee. Kendall Rodgers of D1Baseball.com says sophomore centerfielder Derek Curiel has positioned himself to have an even better second season at the plate after putting on 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason.

Cut 16 (09) “…good spot there.” 

The Pelicans head into the NBA All-Star Break with a 15-41 record after losing to the Miami Heat 123 to 111 last night. New Orleans will not play again until February 20th. Interim head coach James Borrego wants his team to get away from basketball…

Cut 22 (11) “…ready to go”

Kyrstian Lewis scored 32 points last night but ULM still lost to Arkansas State 103 to 70. The Warhawks are 4-22 overall, 1-and-12 in the Sun Belt and they will be at Texas State on Saturday.

The Ragin’ Cajuns are going after their fifth straight win tonight as U-L Lafayette hosts Coastal Carolina. First-year head coach Quannas White is starting to feel at home in Lafayette…

Cut 20 (14) “…I mean that”

Coastal Carolina comes into tonight’s game with a 7-6 record in the Sun Belt, while the Cajuns are 6-6.

Louisiana Tech looks for its second road win of the season as the Bulldogs visit Missouri State in a game that can be seen on the C-B-S Sports Network at 7:30.

The Lady Techsters go after their 12th straight win as they host F-I-U.

11:30 LRN Newscast

On the first day of qualifying to run for U.S. Senate and House seats, six Republicans qualified for the Fifth Congressional District race. The seat is being vacated by Julia Letlow as she’s running for U.S. Senate. Among the six is State Senator Blake Miguez, endorsed by President Trump, who says he is running on his record of conservative legislation.

Cut 4 (13) “…banning Zucker-bucks.”

A lot has been made of the fact that Miguez lives far outside of the 5th district in New Iberia, though legally he doesn’t have to live in the district to serve it. His opponents, including State Senator Rick Edmonds, believe it’s important a representative live in the district they represent.

Cut 6 (11) “…know this district.”

 

Two foreign nationals are indicted by federal prosecutors in what is believed to be one of the biggest meth busts in Louisiana history. U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall says Livingston Parish deputies pulled the two men over on I-12 last Saturday; and during a search of the vehicle, they discovered among other paraphernalia, 71-hundred dollars in cash and 164 kilograms of methamphetamine. (360 pounds)

Cut 13 (10)  “…pounds of methamphetamine.”

The University of Louisiana at Monroe says it has bolstered public safety on its campus with the installation of a drone detection system. Dr. Mark Johnson is the Training Director for ULM Police, and he says universities are facing escalating challenges from unauthorized drones, especially during large events, such as academic ceremonies and football games.

Cut 10 (11) “…could do that.”

10:30 LRN Newscast

On day one of qualifying, six Republicans and three Democrats qualified for the ballot in the fifth congressional district. Andrew Greenstein reports one candidate’s opponents are taking him to task for where he lives.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The other well-known Republicans in the 5th District Congressional primary are Misti Cordell, who is the chairperson for the Board of Regents and Monroe state representative Michael Echols qualified this morning.

 

The University of Louisiana Monroe has installed drone detection equipment atop Malone Stadium. Doctor Mark Johnson is the training director for ULM Police and says this will bolster public safety as universities are facing escalating challenges from unauthorized drones. Johnson says Sky Safe gives campus police a reliable way to manage drones…

Cut 12 (10) “….come on”

The U-S Attorney for Louisiana’s Middle District, Kurt Wall, has announced two foreign nationals have been indicted after 360 pounds of methamphetamine were found in their vehicle during a traffic stop in Livingston Parish on Saturday….

Cut 14 (12) “….these two gentlemen”

The Justice Department says the two men are in the country illegally.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

A new college baseball season begins tomorrow and the defending champion LSU Tigers have several newcomers expected to complement the returning players. Third baseman Trent Caraway transferred to LSU after hitting 12 home runs and driving in 47 runs for Oregon State last season. D-1 baseball’s Kendall Rogers believes Caraway could have big season….

Cut 17 (14) “….season for LSU”

LSU opens the season tomorrow at 2 PM.

Eleven former LSU players have been selected to participate in the NFL draft combine that will get underway in a couple of weeks in Indianapolis. The eleven players invited are tied for third-most in college football, behind Texas A&M, which has 13 players going to the combine, and the 12 that Alabama is sending.

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The Ragin’ Cajuns are going after their fifth straight win tonight as U-L Lafayette hosts Coastal Carolina. First-year head coach Quannas White is starting to feel at home in Lafayette…

Cut 20 (14) “…I mean that”

Coastal Carolina comes into tonight’s game with a 7-6 record in the Sun Belt, while the Cajuns are 6-6.

Louisiana Tech looks for its second road win of the season as the Bulldogs visit Missouri State in a game on the C-B-S Sports Network at 7:30.

The Lady Techsters go after their 12th straight win as they host F-I-U, and the McNeese women go after their 14th straight win as they are at Northwestern.

Last night…ULM men lost again, falling to Arkansas State 103-70. The NBA Pelicans lost to the Heat 123-111