Author Archives: Kace Kieschnick

06.04.26
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3:30 LRN Newscast

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office announced a new Drone as First Responder program. When a 911 call comes in, the new real-time crime center can launch drones directly to the scene. The fleet features two drones that can break glass to enter a building and allow deputies to negotiate with suspects remotely. Sheriff Marc Mashaw says the program transforms emergency response and community protection.

Cut 10 (13) “…different description.”

Biologists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife have been working to restore a critical fish habitat on Toledo Bend. Crews have spent two weeks planting native eelgrass. Biologist Manager Villis Dowden says some early attempts to plant eelgrass in past years did not succeed, because of several challenges, including strong wave action, so they are using more sheltered planting areas…

Cut 13 (08) “…planting.”

The vehicle inspection sticker is officially replaced January 1st, but Governor Landry has already told State Police not to issue citations for expired stickers. The author of the bill eliminating the stickers, Larry Bagley, says one byproduct of the law is putting counterfeiters out of business.

Cut 8 (11) “…the parking lot.”

The stickers will be replaced by QR Codes.

Governor Landry signed a bill increasing the penalties for marijuana use on college campuses and near schools in hopes of promoting a family-friendly atmosphere on college football gamedays. Opponents of the bill argue it does nothing to address alcohol use on campus, especially that done by underage students. Representative Gabe Firment’s answer is simple — consuming alcohol in a school zone is not illegal— marijuana use is.

Cut 5 (09) “…to enforce.”

06.04.26
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2:30 LRN Newscast

Even though the new law doesn’t take effect until January 1st, your days of schlepping to a vehicle inspection station are over. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Unit detectives have arrested a Prairieville 37-year-old in connection with the May 18 drowning death of a three-year-old. Babysitter Joann Johnson is charged with one count of Negligent Homicide after leaving the boy unsupervised as he fell into a backyard pool.

Those caught smoking marijuana in school zones now face up to a year in jail and a one-thousand-dollar fine, thanks to a new law signed by Governor Landry. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment says smoking marijuana within two thousand feet of campuses and schools was already illegal in Louisiana. He says his bill does not create any new crimes.

Cut 4 (10) “…the penalties.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists believe they are making progress in restoring a critical fish habitat on Toledo Bend. LDWF Biologist Manager Villis Dowden says over the past two weeks crews have stocked 110 containers of native eelgrass which can provide critical habitat for juvenile fish….

Cut 12 (07) “…wildlife species.”

From 2015 to 2017, Bassmaster Magazine ranked Toledo Bend as the best bass lake in the nation.

06.04.26
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU lost a commitment from five-star edge rusher Jaiden Bryant last night. The fourth-ranked edge prospect in the country flipped to Miami and shut down his recruitment. LSU’s 2027 class now has just four commits and is ranked 26th in Rivals Industry Ranking.

The Tigers did make headway with other top recruits over the weekend. Brother Martin five-star Easton Royal is the number one receiver prospect in the country. He’s committed to Texas, but Andre Champagne of 247Sports told Tiger Rag Radio LSU is all in on flipping him, and it won’t just come down to money.

Cut 16 (18) “…in his heart.”

LSU also hosted five-star edge rusher Jalen Brewster, five-star athlete Xavier Sabb, four-star edge Abraham Sesay, and three-stars Adryan Cole and Markez Davis.

Saints All-Pro running back Alvin Kamara did something yesterday that he hasn’t since 2019— show up to OTA’s. The 30-year-old typically preps for the season with his trainer in Miami, but he chose to return to New Orleans early. The Saints signed running back Travis Etienne in free agency, and Head coach Kellen Moore and GM Mickey Loomis have repeatedly said they are still evaluating the roster. Kamara says he’s not a part of those decisions.

Cut 14 (12) “…to be here.”

Kamara said there is no bad blood between him and the organization or his new backfield partner.

The Knicks took game one of the NBA finals last night in San Antonio. The 105-95 win is the first loss in the first game of the finals for the Spurs in franchise history. New York trailed by as much as 14 in the second half. An 11-0 run behind a 30-point performance from star point guard Jalen Brunson was enough to shut the door on the Spurs.

06.03.26
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

Saints running back Alvin Kamara unexpectedly reported for OTAs today. Fans have questioned whether Kamara would be in New Orleans this season after the Saints signed free agent Travis Etienne and restructured his contract. Kamara says he was lying in bed in Miami last night when he decided to catch a 10 p.m. flight to New Orleans

Cut 19 (16) “…little smile.”

Head coach Kellen Moore and GM Mickey Loomis have avoided questions cementing Kamara’s spot on the roster alongside Etienne. Kamara says he hasn’t been involved in any offseason conversations, and they won’t affect his preparation.

Cut 20 (14) “…they’ll be made.”

The LHSAA is bringing the Boys’ Basketball State Championships back to the CAJUNDOME. Association Assistant Executive Director Karen Hoyt says basketball coaches have been asking to bring the tournament back to Lafayette for years.

Cut 7 (12) “…to fruition.”

NCAA Super Regionals begin Friday. Third-overall seed Georgia is the top team left in the country after number-one UCLA and number-two Georgia Tech were both upset in the regionals. The Bulldogs have appearances in six of the last eight tournaments but haven’t reached Omaha since 2008. Former Tiger and ESPN analyst Todd Walker says this year’s team has something those didn’t — pitching.

Cut 18 (11) “…things done.”

06.03.26
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2:30 LRN Newscast

Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow pushed for several changes to the Department of Children and Family Services in the legislative session. Barrow says one of the main purposes of her bill is to strengthen communication within the department. She says currently, the stakeholders which investigate child abuse cases haven’t always worked closely together.

Cut 4 (09) “…all the time.”

The LHSAA is bringing the Boys’ Basketball State Championships back to Lafayette. The CAJUNDOME will host the championships for the next two seasons before bidding reopens in 2028. LHSAA Assistant Executive Director Karen Hoyt says basketball coaches have been asking to bring the tournament back to Lafayette for years.

Cut 7 (12) “…to fruition.”

The U.S. Senate heard arguments on the Protect College Sports Act this morning. The bill provides a framework of antitrust exemption, athlete protections and eligibility clarity to give control back to the NCAA in the NIL era. USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer says SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has begged Congress to step in, but is now changing his tune in a joint statement with the Big Ten against the bill.

Cut 9 (10)  “…very much”

The conferences are against pooling media rights with other leagues as proposed in the bill.

Drivers are starting to feel some relief at the gas pumps. The big question is, how long will this downward trend continue? Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says gasoline prices have dropped about 17 cents over the last week.

Cut 12 (06) “…$3.81 a gallon.”

06.03.26
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Senate is holding a hearing on the Protect College Sports Act today. The bill attempts to “fix” college sports, return power to the NCAA and regulate NIL. USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer says the SEC and Big Ten have reversed course on legislation.

Cut 20 (19) “…like this.”

Their primary issue is the proposed pooling of media rights in college sports. Toppmeyer says the two richest leagues don’t want to share that revenue.

Brother Martin five-star, Easton Royal, canceled visits to Ole Miss and Tennessee after a visit to Baton Rouge this weekend. Royal is committed to Texas, but LSU and Florida are leading the effort to flip the number one receiver in the 2027 class.

Franklin Parish High School four-star running back Trey Martin announced his three finalists are LSU, Florida and Ole Miss.

It was a historic regional round of the NCAA tournament. Little Rock and St. John’s became the first two four-seeds to advance in one tournament, and three-seeds Troy and Cal Poly also won their regionals. Former LSU star and ESPN analyst Todd Walker says the upsets defy logic.

Cut 16 (17) “…of the game.”

The Boys’ Basketball State Championships are returning to Lafayette after 12 years in Lake Charles, the LHSAA announced yesterday. Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission President Ben Berthelot says the community set the standard for the event when it hosted from 1997 to 2011.

Cut 19 (06) “…support it.”

The State Wrestling Championship is also moving to New Orleans, and the Powerlifting Championships are headed to West Monroe.

06.02.26
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

The National Football Foundation released the 2027 ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame. LSU All-Americans Alan Faneca and Patrick Peterson represent the Tigers. Former Saints offensive lineman and current coach Jahri Evans joins head coach and former Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore on the ballot. Louisiana Tech coaching legend Maxie Lambright, quarterback Matt Dunigan and Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver Troy Edwards were also included.

The College Football Playoff announced its broadcast schedule for the upcoming season. The Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans will serve as a semifinal matchup this year at 6:30 on January 15, the latest the bowl has ever been played. It will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.

The LHSAA Boys’ Basketball State Championship is headed to Lafayette. After 12 years in Lake Charles, the CAJUNDOME will host “Marsh Madness” for the first time since 2011. The Powerlifting State Championships will move to the West Monroe Sports and Events Complex, and the State Wrestling Championships will depart Bossier City and return to New Orleans.

Saints Veteran wide receiver Chris Olave has been an active participant at voluntary OTAs despite ongoing contract negotiations over a possible extension. The All-Pro missed last year’s season finale with a blood clot found in his lung, but quarterback Tyler Shough says he hasn’t missed a beat.

Cut 18 (19) “…the whole year.”

 

Reports have swirled about changes coming to the Pelicans roster. Vice President Joe Dumars has said the team is open to trades, and Locked On Pelicans Podcast host Jake Madison reported the only two untouchables on the roster are All-Rookie team selections Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Bill Simmons said on his podcast he expects to see forward Trey Murphy traded in the next three weeks. Murphy has been linked to the Celtics and Thunder.

06.02.26
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2:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order directing BESE to reallocate 168-million dollars of non-instructional funding in the public school budget to prevent a potential teacher pay cut. School superintendents, however, say they need more money because of rising fuel costs, insurance and other expenses.

Landry says since 1988, Louisiana’s K-through-12 enrollment has dropped by more than 111-thousand students, yet the cost to educate each child has increased 67-percent……

Cut 10 (07) “…priorities problem.”

Former Louisiana Congressman Charles Boustany told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana about his visit to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and observe some of the country’s humanitarian efforts. He says the images we see at home do not tell the whole story.

Cut 13 (11) “…we are now.”

Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says the organization is pleased with how the legislative session went. One bill spurring the sentiment is one that modernizes the state’s workers’ comp system and helps reduce costs for small businesses.

Cut 4 (12) “…employee making money.”

Long says the organization was also playing defense with some bills that it did not agree with, including those which would have imposed new labor mandates and regulatory mandates on small businesses.

The LHSAA announced it would be relocating three State Championships this upcoming school year. The Boys’ Basketball State Championships will return to the CAJUNDOME in Lafayette for the first time since 2011. The Powerlifting State Championships will move to the West Monroe Sports and Events Complex, and the State Wrestling Championships will return to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

06.02.26
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12:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry announced his solution today to prevent a potential pay cut for teachers. The governor has signed an executive order that directs BESE to find 168-million dollars that’s NOT used on instruction from the state’s public school funding formula and use that money to pay a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers and a one-thousand dollar stipend for support workers…..

Cut 9 (10)  “…sitting on”

It’s been seven months since LSU announced the hiring of new President Wade Rousse. In that time, he’s committed to making improvements across the Baton Rouge campus. He says the two things students ask him about the most are parking and housing, and a project is currently underway near the softball field.

Cut 6 (14) “…and we will.”

The organization that advocates for small businesses in Louisiana is generally pleased with how the legislative session went. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Landry signed a law to replace the current vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code sticker. Owners will pay six dollars for the sticker and receive it in the mail when securing or renewing their registration, compared to the ten-dollar-a-year inspection stickers.

06.02.26
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

The NCAA Regionals concluded last night with five winner-take-all finals and a delayed St. John’s win over Florida State. The Red Storm will join Little Rock as the first time two four-seeds advance to Super Regionals in tournament history. Troy will host the Trojans after waxing Florida in a 10-2 upset yesterday. St. John’s gets Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

There are two all-SEC Supers as Auburn hosts Ole Miss after surviving a scare from Milwaukee, and Georgia hosts Mississippi State.

It’s the second straight year both of the top two national seeds failed to advance after UCLA was shocked by St. Mary’s twice and Oklahoma eliminated Georgia Tech with a tenth-inning walk-off homer yesterday. The Sooners will take on Kansas in the Lawrence Super Regional, and Cal Poly advanced from the LA Regional to face West Virginia, who knocked out Kentucky in a tenth-inning walk-off.

USC upset Texas A&M last night in a 7-1 win to move on to the Chapel Hill Super Regional against UNC.

Texas will host Oregon after both schools cruised through their own regionals undefeated.

The Saints will be back on the practice field for Organized Team Activities tomorrow. New Orleans is missing veterans Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu, who were all around this time last year. Quarterback Tyler Shough says he’s focused on improving as the leader of the offense on and off the field in their absence, especially for a group of rookies in the same position as he was a season ago.

Cut 17 (19)  “…to prepare yourself.”

Running back Alvin Kamara has not been present at voluntary OTAs as he prepares for the season with his trainer in Miami. Despite the addition of Travis Etienne and question marks surrounding retirement and contract restructuring, Kamara’s agent, Brad Cicala (Sih-Kaluh), told NFL insider Mike Garafolo, “We plan on playing for the Saints in 2026.”