7:30 LRN Newscast August 28

Hurricane Ida is a Category One hurricane about 385 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. The storm is moving northwest at 16 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the warm sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico will give Ida plenty of fuel to feast on…
cut 4 (08) “…storm”
Ida is forecasted to make landfall as a Category Four Hurricane in Terrebonne Parish tomorrow afternoon and then it will turn north towards Baton Rouge. National Weather Service Meteorologist Ben Schott…
cut 12 (13) “….outages”

A mandatory evacuation started at 5 o’ clock this morning for all of Lafourche Parish, especially for those residents in low-lying areas, mobile homes and R-Vs. A parish-wide evacuation started for Terrebonne Parish at 6 AM. Tangipahoa Parish has also recommended that its residents evacuate.

The state’s largest healthcare system, Ochsner Health says they don’t plan on having to evacuate any patients during the hurricane. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington”

6:30 LRN Newscast August 28

Hurricane Ida is a Category one storm, 510 miles southeast of New Orleans and is expected to be a Category Four storm when it makes landfall Sunday afternon in Terrebonne Parish…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

National Weather Service forecaster Jared Klein says the National Hurricane Center is projecting a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet between Morgan City and the Mouth of the Mississippi River….
cut 11 (11) “…coast”

Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says today is your last day to make your final preparations….
cut 8 (08) “…power lines come down”
Vice President of Distribution at Entergy Louisiana John Hawkins Junior encourages Entergy customers if they are not signed up already to download the Entergy app on their smartphone or sign up on their website for notifications in advance, for updates and restoration efforts…
cut 14 (09) “…their outage”
140-mile per hour plus winds are expected along the coast. 100 to 120 miles per hour could be felt in Morgan City and Thibodaux. 80 to 100 mile per hour winds for Lafayette and Hammond are possible.

4:45 LRN sportscast

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Jameis Winston has won the battle to be the Saints starting quarterback when they begin the regular season in two weeks. Winston beat out Taysom Hill and separated himself when he completed nine of ten passes, including a couple of touchdown passes to Marquez Callaway in Monday’s preseason game.

New Orleans will conclude the preseason tomorrow against the Cardinals. Because of the approaching Hurricane Ida, kick-off has been moved up from seven PM to noon.

Third-round pick Paulson Adebo has a chance to be a starting cornerback for the Saints. Adebo didn’t play last season at Stanford, but he says there were some benefits to that decision
Cut 17 (19) “… day by day.”

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 2021 class this weekend in Natchitoches. LSU legend Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is finally getting in. He was known as Chris Jackson when he played for the Purple and Gold and set the NCAA freshman scoring record when he averaged 30 points a game during the 1988-89 season. Ronnie Rantz is the CEO of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation
Cut 19 (16) “…stats.”
The 2021 class also features former LSU defensive tackle Glen Dorsey, former Southern University baseball standout Rickie Weeks and Saints receiver Marques Colston, the team’s all-time leading receiver.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron says his team is getting healthy on the offensive line. Right guard Chasen Hines and reserve lineman Anthony Bradford have missed most of preseason camp with undisclosed injuries, but they should be ready for the opener against UCLA.

11:40 LRN Sportscast August 27

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Jameis Winston has been named the starting quarterback for the team’s week one regular season game against the Green Bay Packers. The 27-year-old Winston and former number one draft pick has not started an NFL regular season game since 2019.

New Orleans will close out the preseason tomorrow when they host the Arizona Cardinals. Game time has been moved up from seven Pm to noon because of Tropical Storm Ida.

LSU has a chance to scout its first opponent of 2021 as UCLA will face Hawaii at 2:30 on Saturday. Coach Ed Orgeron on getting a chance to see the Bruins in action and how that will impact in their game plan…
cut 28 (17) “…first game”

Induction ceremonies are this weekend at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches as the 2021 class will be enshrined. LSU legend Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf finally gets in and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman Ronnie Rantz says the 2021 class also features a member of LSU’s 2007 national championship team, a former Southern baseball standout, and the Saints’ all-time leading receiver…
Cut 20 (19) “…teammate ever.”
Former LSU track and field coach Pat Henry, former NFL official Terry McAulay and former Bassmaster Classic champion Bo Dowden from Sabine Parish also gets into the Hall.

9:30 LRN Newscast August 27

A hurricane watch is posted along Louisiana’s coast as Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs it will deliver a massive blow to Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Ida will be a major hurricane when it makes landfall, most likely near Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. The eye of the storm could move over Morgan City. Mayor Lee Dragna says they are prepared…
cut 14 (10) “…come through it always”
Today marks the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura which tore through southwest Louisiana with 100-mile per hour winds. Many residents are still hoping for more federal assistance to rebuild their homes. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter keeps asking…
cut 11 (07) “…continue”
Governor Edwards says there are three billion dollars in unmet needs.

A top Biden Administration official will visit New Orleans today to survey some of the state’s COVID-filled hospitals. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond has resigned. Mayor Adrian Perkins asked Raymond to step down nearly three months ago. The mayor says the city is experiencing an inexcusable surge of violent crime and the police department needs change. Raymond says a shortage in public safety personnel has led to historical increases in homicides for many cities.

8:30 LRN Newscast August 27

Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs of strengthening as it moves northwest at 15 miles per hour. It’s currently located south of Western Cuba and is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along the Louisiana coast. Christopher Bannon is with the National Weather Service in New Orleans…
cut 4 (13) “…Saturday evening”
A landfall near Lafourche-Terrebonne Parish is most likely. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Lt. Brennan Matherne, says if this current track holds, he expects evacuation orders will go out today…
cut 15 (05) “….Fourchon”
Governor Edwards has declared a state emergency. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging all Louisianans to plan accordingly.

Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura’s landfall in Cameron Parish. Laura came ashore with 150 mile per hour winds and left behind an estimated 17.5 billion dollars in damage in Louisiana. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says there are still plenty of blue tarps and homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana, but he says the city’s residents have kept each other going.
Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”
Hunter is upset the federal government has yet approve millions of dollars in grant money that can help hurricane victims rebuild.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says he formally requested additional aid from the Biden Administration…
Cut 7 (08) “…issues.”
2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week.

7:30 LRN Newscast August 27

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Ida is strengthing over the northwest Caribbean Sea and Ida is forecast to be a Category 3, major hurricane at landfall on Sunday. A landfall near Terrebonne-Lafourche Parishes seems most likely at this point. Christopher Bannon is with the National Weather Service…
cut 6 (12) “…Saturday evening”

Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura’s devastating landfall in southwest Louisiana. That region also experienced Hurricane Delta, a winter storm in February and more flooding in May. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says they are still waiting on the federal government to provide assistance to rebuild homes…
cut 10 (12) “…rebuild”

According to the National Hurricane Center’s official forecast track the eye of Ida could pass right over or very close to Morgan City. Matt Doyle says the coastal city in St. Mary Parish is ready…
cut 3 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Ida is expected to enter the Southeastern Gulf tonight or early Saturday and reach major hurricane status right before it makes landfall on Sunday. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for coastal Louisiana. Forecasters are expecting storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall.

6:45 LRN Sportscast August 27

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron says his team is getting healthy on the offensive line. Right guard Chasen Hines and reserve lineman Anthony Bradford have missed most of preseason camp with undisclosed injuries, but they should be ready for the opener against UCLA…
cut 30 (23) “….experience”
Orgeron says he’s hopeful running back Tyrion Davis-Price and John Emery will also return to practice this next week. If not, LSU will have to count on freshmen Armoni Goodwin and Corey Kiner. Coach O says they have also yet to name a starter at one of the safety positions.

The Saints final preseason game is tomorrow against the Arizona Cardinals. Defensive end Cam Jordan says he’s ready for the regular season….
cut 18 (16) “….week one”
No word on how long the starters will play and still no public decision on who will be the starting quarterback once the regular season starts. Jameis Winston worked with the first team at practice yesterday, after Taysom Hill took first-team snaps on Tuesday.

Louisiana Tech Head Football Coach Skip Holtz plans to pick a starting quarterback after the team’s scrimmage on Saturday. Aaron Allen, JD Head and graduate transfer Austin Kendall have all had a chance to work with the first-team offense. Holtz says they have three quarterbacks they could play with right now.

6:30 LRN Newscast August 27

Tropical Storm Ida is now expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along Louisiana’s coastline Sunday afternoon. A landfall near St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Lafourche parishes seems most likely at this point. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says whenever a storm heads their way, residents take the proper precautions and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.
Cut 13 (08) “…and hurricanes.”
So far only Grand Isle has issued a voluntary evacuation, which may become mandatory later today. But more evacuation orders are likely. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Lt. Brennan Matherne…
cut 16 (09) “…to go”
Ida is expected to become a hurricane tomorrow once it gets into the Gulf.

A year ago today, Hurricane Laura made landfall but yet the City of Lake Charles continues to wait for major disaster relief…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) is in New Orleans today to meet with Governor Edwards and Mayor LaToya Cantrell to get an update on the state’s fight against COVID, including vaccination efforts. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter…
cut 9 (09) “….big deal”
41-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated.

4:45 LRN Sportscast August 26

The Saints will host the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday in the preseason finale. Still no announcement on who will start the regular season at quarterback and Coach Sean Payton says he’s not ready to discuss how much playing time Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill will get on Saturday…
cut 17 (07) “…I’m thinking”
Kick off Saturday in the Caesars Superdome is at 7 PM.

Former LSU Tiger Joe Burrow will make his preseason debut on Sunday when the Bengals host the Dolphins. Burrow has not played in a game in eight months since suffering a major knee injury…
cut 19 (19) “…excited”
The Bengals open the season by hosting the Minnesota Vikings.

LSU annnounced today it will open the 2024 season in Las Vegas agaisnt the U-S-C Trojans. The Tigers will also play UCLA that seasons in Tiger Stadium on September 21st.

The PAC-12 says it has decided not to purse expansion of of their membership at this time. There was talk that the Pac-12 may look to add Big 12 schools. This development could prevent Texas and Oklahoma from making the jump to the SEC in the next year or two, since the Big 12 is not being torn apart.

The 2021 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class will be inducted this weekend in Natchitoches as festivities get underway. It’s an outstanding class that’s highlighted by former Saints receiver Marques Colston, former LSU defensive tackle Glen Dorsey and LSU basketball legend Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

There are several High School football jamborees tonight. Unfortunately, some schools had to back out of their jamboree because of COVID issues. Baker High School in East Baton Rouge Parish is mourning the death of a freshman football player who died as a result of COVID.