Author Archives: Kace Kieschnick

08.03.26
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7:30 LRN Newscast

The calendar has flipped to August, and that means it’s just about time for back-to-school shopping! Jeanne Burns reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

LSU freshman defensive lineman Deuce Geralds hosted a back-to-school drive over the weekend with the Geralds Foundation, giving away backpacks and school supplies to kids in the Baton Rouge community. The 18-year-old was born in Baton Rouge before moving to Georgia and says giving back to the community has always been an important part of his life.

The general election is three months from today, and the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office has put out its inactive voter list. That number is currently at about 447-thousand, accounting for 15-percent of all registered voters. Trey Williams with the Secretary of State’s Office says there are two main reasons voters are moved to the inactive voter list.

Cut 4 (11) “…past ten years.”

Saints head coach Kellen Moore confirmed defensive tackle Bryan Bresee will be undergoing season-ending ACL surgery. Bresee suffered the knee injury on the first day of training camp. Veteran interior defensive lineman Davon Godchaux says it was a freak accident, but he’s still determined to bring the best out of the unit.

Cut 19 (13) “…dominating this season.”

08.03.26
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

Top LSU signee Logan Schmidt announced he will enroll at LSU. A seemingly impossible feat before the draft, Schmidt chose LSU over JUCO and the MLB after being selected 59th overall. The left-handed pitcher was Perfect Game’s 12th-ranked draft prospect and makes the Tigers’ 2026 class the best in the nation. He will not be draft eligible until 2029.

Former LSU All-American pitcher Kevin Gausman was traded to the Cubs. The right-hander is 5-and-10 with a 4.38 ERA and 127 strikeouts with Toronto this season.

Saints eighth overall pick Jordyn Tyson says he’s been excited to get involved during training camp. The Arizona State wide receiver has been limited since the draft as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Now good to go, he says he’s loved playing with second-year quarterback Tyler Shough.

Cut 16 (11) “…I’m loving it.”

Saints head coach Kellen Moore confirmed defensive tackle Bryan Bresee will be undergoing season-ending ACL surgery. Bresee suffered the knee injury on the first day of training camp in what fellow interior defensive lineman Davon Gadchaux called a freak non-contact accident. Godchaux will take the lead at the center of the defensive front in Bresee’s absence but says it will be a group effort.

Cut 20 (17) “…you’ll be okay.”

Saints wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk surprisingly retired yesterday. New Orleans traded for the 24-year-old last offseason but he never suited up for the team as he missed the season with a shoulder injury. Polk was an early second-round pick in the 2024 draft expected to compete for a roster spot in training camp.

Former Saints offensive lineman Andrus Peat also announced his retirement after 11 seasons. Peat spent nine years in New Orleans and was named to three Pro Bowls.

08.03.26
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6:30 LRN Newscast

On avoiding another government shutdown, Senator John Kennedy expressed opposition on NBC’s “Meet The Press” to a bipartisan deal which would, in part, take away President Trump’s authority to review government grants.

Cut 14 (13) “…is hell no.”

Researchers at Tulane University might have discovered how bats are able to carry so many viral diseases without getting sick themselves. Associate Professor Hannah Frank led the study and says the largest family of bats has special genes to produce antibodies that fight off pathogens.

Cut 7 (11) “…is pretty nifty.”

Frank says understanding this immune system could help mitigate the dangers of disease transmission from bats.

With the general election three months from today, the Secretary of State’s office is out with its inactive voter list. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The recall effort against Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards garnered just over two-thousand of the over 47-thousands signatures that would have been required to force a recall election. The campaigns to recall Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill are still ongoing and would take over 500-thousand signatures.

07.31.26
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3:30 LRN Newscast

Participants in the Louisiana Women, Infants and Children program may begin using their new EBT cards tomorrow. Leslie Lewis, the nutrition operations manager at the Louisiana Department of Health, says the new cards help modernize the whole system.

Cut 12 (08) “…a federal requirement.”

Participants will need to choose a PIN before using their new cards; they may do so by calling the number on the back of the card or by using the myWIC app.

Chris Olave spoke at training camp today after signing a four-year, 132-million-dollar extension. Olave had the best season of his career last year with 100 catches, over one-thousand yards and nine touchdowns. He says this is the most momentum there has been in New Orleans since he’s been there, and it means a lot to stay long-term.

Cut 15 (11) “…that every day.”

After 85 years, a Cameron Parish seaman will finally get a proper funeral in his home state Saturday. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (42) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Visitation is being held today from 5 to 8 p.m. and 9 to 11 tomorrow morning before the service. All veterans are invited to the visitation.

07.31.26
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12:30 LRN Newscast

More than 85 years after he was killed in Pearl Harbor, a Cameron Parish Navy seaman is coming home, and his funeral service will be in Lake Charles Saturday. Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says using anthropological and mitochondrial DNA analysis, the Defense Accounting Agency and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System positively identified the remains of Joseph Conner.

Cut 3 (12) “…from family members.”

The Saints signed wide receiver Chris Olave to a four-year 132-million dollar contract extension. New Orleans traded up to draft Olave 11th-overall in 2022. He’s had three one-thousand-yard seasons, but his four concussions since entering the league were a major concern. He says this deal is fair for both sides.

Cut 13 (11) “…communicating that.”

New Orleans Representative Candace Newell’s law subjecting students who assault teachers to expulsion goes into effect tomorrow. It also allows up to a year of paid medical leave for teachers and other school personnel who are injured on the job by an unruly student. Newell says her bill gives them peace of mind.

Cut 7 (12) “…of their administration.”

A grim milestone in Louisiana’s cyclosporiasis outbreak as the state has now confirmed 100 cases of people infected with the parasite that causes explosive diarrhea. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says that’s considerably more than the state usually sees in the first seven months of the year.

Cut 10 (11) “…we typically see.”

Of those 100 patients, six have been hospitalized.

07.31.26
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Saints and former first-round wide receiver Chris Olave have agreed to a four-year, 132-million-dollar contract extension. The deal will make him the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid receiver behind the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and ahead of the Steelers’ D.K. Metcalf. Olave ranked in the top eight of the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdowns last season. With a quarterback and two offensive tackles on rookie contracts, Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says this is the type of deal the Saints can afford.

Cut 14 (08) “…keep him around.”

Olave and the team got the deal done after a short two-day hold-in during camp, and Olave is back as a full participant in practice today.

LSU quarterback spoke publicly for the first time as a Tiger at a team event at the LSU practice facility last night. Leavitt said he was comfortable at Arizona State but said that LSU is just different, and that’s where he wanted to be. He said there is no better place to become the best version of yourself than LSU.

Tight end Juwan Johnson is entering his seventh season with the Saints, but the veteran pass catcher was actually college teammates with second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. The pair played together at Oregon in 2019 during Johnson’s graduate season. He says they’ve built great chemistry in their time together.

Cut 16 (16) “…the biggest thing (2x).”

Johnson had his best season last year with 77 catches for 889 yards and three touchdowns.

Saints legend Drew Brees asked his former head coach Sean Payton to present him at the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony next Saturday. The pair, of course, helped revive the Saints and the city of New Orleans post-Katrina when they arrived in 2006. They won the team’s only Super Bowl together in 2010 and spent 15 years together. Also being inducted next weekend are former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, kicker Adam Vinatieri and running back Roger Craig.

07.31.26
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9:30 LRN Newscast

Starting tomorrow, it will be against state law for retailers and businesses to charge you a fee when you pay with a debit card. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

It will also become illegal to intentionally release balloons outdoors in Louisiana. The new law does include some exceptions, like if the release is done by an educational institution, for scientific purposes or with biodegradable balloons. The state is also doubling penalties for abandoning boats in Louisiana waterways.

Whether with voodoo, ghosts or vampires, you can find all types of paranormal experiences at ParaCon in New Orleans this weekend. Event Producer Jennifer Talley says there are free educational workshops and paid classes, and it’s not too late for you to get in on all the fun.

Cut 6 (12) “…16-ish and up.”

Wide receiver Chris Olave and the Saints have agreed to a four-year 132-million-dollar contract extension. There have been injury concerns for Olave, who has suffered four concussions since being drafted 11th overall in 2022. After playing just eight games in 2024, he had a career year and missed only the final game of last season. Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says this is a fair deal for both sides, but the Saints will need to protect themselves.

Cut 15 (08) “…the bigger question.”

07.30.26
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints and All-Pro wide receiver Chris Olave have agreed to a 4-year, 132-million-dollar extension. 90 million dollars of the contract is guaranteed. Olave had been sitting out of team drills during training camp while negotiating the deal and should fully return to practice. He is entering the final season of his rookie deal this year, and signing him to a long-term extension was a key to the Saints’ offseason.

Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry left practice early today with a rolled ankle. Head coach Kellen Moore said his early exit was out of an abundance of caution, and it should not be a long-term issue.

Moore said initial tests for defensive tackle Bryan Bresee did not look good after the former first-rounder left practice yesterday with what is feared to be a season-ending torn ACL. Defensive end Chase Young was confident others would step up in his absence.

Cut 8 (09) “…nasty D-line.”

Saints do-it-all playmaker Taysom Hill announced he will not be returning to New Orleans. In nine years with the Saints, he became the only player in the Super Bowl era with 1,000 career rushing, receiving and passing yards. Head coach Kellen Moore says there is only one Taysom Hill.

Cut 6 (11) “…in this community.”

LSU Coach Lane Kiffin is not a fan of the SEC’s new nine-game conference schedule. ESPN’s Football Power Index ranks LSU with the nation’s 11th-toughest schedule, and every SEC team is among the top 20. Preseason camp opens next week; and Kiffin says with such a demanding schedule, no player will be guaranteed a starting job or playing time.

Cut 18 (14) “…day in practice.”

07.30.26
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

Saints X-factor tight end, quarterback and all-around football player Taysom Hill announced he will not return to the team this season. Hill is a free agent and said in an emotional social media post that he did not know what the future holds for him, but it will not be in the black and gold. Hill’s final game in the Superdome, he led the team with 42 rushing yards, caught four passes for 36 yards and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass. Head coach Kellen Moore says he is a phenomenal person and competitor.

Cut 22 (10) “one Taysom.”

The Saints held their first open practice today. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee is feared to have torn his ACL on the first day of practice yesterday. Moore says they’re waiting on a second opinion, but it looks like he will miss the entire season.

Cut 7 (09) “…training camp’s about.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin continued on his warpath against the nine-game SEC schedule at the Baton Rouge Rotary Club yesterday. He says the league has only gotten better since the transfer portal, with more parity than ever. Kiffin fears three-loss SEC teams could miss the College Football Playoff this season.

Cut 17 (17) “…and one team.”

Alabama became the only three-loss team to make the playoff last year, but that loss came in the SEC championship.

The SEC and Big Ten missed another deadline set by lawmakers to announce their positions on the Protect College Sports Act. The leagues are expected to meet this afternoon after a final version of the bill was completed late last night. Time is running out for the bill to reach the U.S. Senate floor before a month-long recess on August 7th.

07.30.26
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10:30 LRN Newscast

There’s one job sector where Louisiana ranks second to none in year-over-year growth. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A U.S. News and World Report study named Louisiana the worst overall state in the country. The study measured 71 metrics across categories like economy, education, infrastructure, healthcare and crime. Louisiana is the only state to rank in the bottom 10 in each of the eight total categories.

Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical found a THC-CBD combination significantly reduced agitation for people with dementia, with nine out of every ten study participants showing overall improvement. Principal investigator Dr. Jeff Keller says these results offer new hope for providing greater comfort and dignity to people with advanced dementia at the end of their lives. He says more research is needed to see if this type of treatment can help those with mid- and late-stage Alzheimer’s.

Cut 12 (10) “…all the questions.”

The Saints hold their first open practice of training camp today. Prairieville native and former LSU safety Justin Reid is entering his second season in New Orleans. He says he remembers coming to Saints games as a kid when it felt like a parade inside the Superdome. He hopes winning will bring that feeling back this season.

Cut 15 (08) “…pushing it forward.”