LRN PM Newscall

Election Day has arrived, can Democrat Jamie Davis pull off the upset in the U-S Senate race?  Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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If Democrats take control of the House as they’re widely expected to do, that could have a profound effect on Louisiana’s influence in the lower chamber. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Secretary of State’s Office is projecting a voter turnout today of 48 to 52-percent, which would be high for a midterm election. John Couvillon with JMC Analytics and Polling expects the percentage of Black voters will be 30-percent or higher…

Cut 3 (12) “…White Hot”

Couvillon says midterm elections are usually not good for the party that occupies the White House. Couvillon says because Black voters are motivated for this election, Republican Senate candidate Julia Letlow will need her base to match what her opponent Jamie Davis does in Orleans Parish…

Cut 4 (10) “…comes into play.”

There are Democratic leaning polling firms that see the race as a dead heat. Couvillon says if the Letlow campaign had a poll that showed her way ahead, they would have released it…

Cut 5 (09) “…to me.”

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Based on polling data over the last two months, it’s a virtual certainty that Democrats will wrest control of the House from Republicans. The only question left to answer is how strong the incoming Democratic majority will be. Jeremy Alford, the publisher of LaPolitics-dot-com, says flipping that chamber would cost Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise the speakership and the majority leadership, respectively.

Cut 6 (12) “…the Republican party.”

Alford says not having Johnson and Scalise in majority leadership roles could have a trickle-down effect on the rest of Louisiana’s congressional delegation.

Cut 7 (08) “…making that happen.”

However, Alford says there’s one incumbent Louisiana congressman who’s a virtual lock to win re-election today who could greatly benefit from a Democratic majority.

Cut 8 (11) “…are in control.”

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Today is Election Day; and given the expected overall turnout, between 900-thousand and one-million voters are expected to head to the polls today. Of the congressional races, the one in the newly-redrawn sixth district is getting a great deal of attention, as six Republicans, three Democrats and a Libertarian are on the open primary ballot. Yesterday in a forum at the Baton Rouge Press Club, the candidates were asked what they would do to bring consumer prices down. Democrat Chauna Banks says soaring prices can be traced to two things.

Cut 9 (11)  “…were our allies.”

Thus, Banks says reining in the tariffs and ending the war in Iran would bring those prices down – a viewpoint shared by fellow Democrat Pat Forbes and Libertarian Rufus Craig.

Cut 10 (06) “…else comes down.” 

Two Republicans on the panel, Stephen Wagley and Larry Davis, said the solution involves cutting down on wasteful spending.

Cut 11 (14) “…care of them.”

Another Republican, Michael Mebruer, highlighted one excise tax he would eliminate that would in turn bring the cost of consumer goods down.

Cut 12 (09) “…the U.S. economy.”

LRN PM Newscall November 2nd

It’s the day before Election Day, and the campaigns are pulling out all the stops. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Lafayette Police are looking for the person who was involved in stabbing that left one dead and two others injured. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Today is the day when the campaigns reach the make-it-or-break-it point, with voters heading to the polls tomorrow. Throughout the entire campaign, Julia Letlow has been viewed as the overwhelming favorite to beat Jamie Davis and become Louisiana’s next U.S. Senator. As such, since beating John Fleming in the June Republican runoff, Letlow has all but gone radio silent. Dillard University Political Science Professor Robert Collins says only in recent days has her campaign started to make noise.

Cut 3 (13) “…ignoring their candidate.”

Among the things the Letlow campaign would not like is a poll that came out on Friday from Hart Research that shows Letlow and Davis tied at 45-percent support apiece. Collins says things that are hurting Republicans nationwide also very much apply to Louisiana.

Cut 4 (11) “…those national effects.”

Of the 530-thousand voters who have cast early and absentee ballots, more than 34-percent are Black. In fact, almost twice as many Black voters showed up to the polls in early voting this year than in the last midterm election in 2022, when John Kennedy was on the ballot. Collins says those voters are retaliating against the legislature, and not just for redrawing the district lines following the Callais decision.

Cut 5 (13) “…by the legislature (2x).”

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Political reporter for the Advocate newspaper, Tyler Bridges,  has been following the U-S Senate race for months now. Bridges, who was a guest on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana, says the Democratic candidate in the race, Jamie Davis, does not have as much funding as Republican Julie Letlow, but Davis is doing what he can to get his message out…

Cut 6 (15) “…in Brazil.”

Bridges says Letlow and Davis have ran two different campaigns…

Cut 7 (11) “..talk to.”

Letlow has been a heavy favorite to win the U-S Senate race. Bridges says the Congresswoman has been careful not to make any mistakes. Her campaign says she’s visited all 64 parishes, but Bridges says overall, there has not been, a lot of noticeable campaigning…

Cut 8 (06) “…it doesn’t.”

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When you leave the office at the end of the day today, there’s a very good chance you will be driving home after dark, now that we’re back in standard time. As such, it’s going to take our bodies a few days to get used to the new daylight pattern. Don Redman with Triple-A says it’s especially important this time of year to listen to your bodies.

Cut 9 (07)  “…of fatal crashes.”

Redman says the most common hours of the day when drivers feel drowsy may surprise you.

Cut 10 (12) “…in the evening.” 

With the time change, there’s also a greater risk of encountering wild animals, such as deer, during your commute. Redman says a majority of fatal crashes involving animals involve evasive measures drivers take in trying to avoid hitting the animals.

Cut 11 (09) “…animal was involved.”

A study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, found that 14 people died in Louisiana in animal-related  crashes from 202o to 2024, including five in 2024.

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The Saints have parted ways with run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti after the team’s bye week. The Black and Gold rank in the bottom five of the NFL with 86 rushing yards a game and ran for just 18 yards against the Steelers in their last game. Head coach Kellen Moore says O-line coach Brendan Nugent will take over the run game as the staff looks to improve its workflow.

Cut 12 (12) “…awesome coach.” 

Moore says there have been positives in the run game, but it has not been consistent. He says changes will be made fundamentally, schematically and from a play-calling perspective.

Cut 13 (11) “…some things up.”

The Saints have been without op running back Travis Etienne (AY-chan) since Week 3. He is eligible to return from a hamstring injury after five weeks on injured reserve, but Moore says that decision will be made on Wednesday.

Cut 14 (10) “…how it looks.”

Eighth-overall pick Jordyn Tyson could also return to practice this week after suffering a hamstring injury during training camp. Reports suggest he could be back as soon as Sunday’s matchup with the Browns. Moore says he has not suffered any re-injuries during his nearly three-month recovery process but did not confirm whether he would practice this week.

LRN AM Newscall November 2

Along with U.S. House and Senate races, voters will decide the fate of ten proposed constitutional amendments tomorrow. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The U-S Senate race in Louisiana at one time was a foregone conclusion, but a strong early voter turnout among Blacks could mean a much closer race than originally expected. Joe Gallinaro has the story…

Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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A state lawmaker believes central Louisiana would be the ideal location for a new military base that the Trump Administration is looking to build. Cade Voisin has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Cade Voisin.”

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There are ten constitutional amendments on tomorrow’s ballot for you to weigh in on – everything from property tax exemptions for seniors to prohibiting bail for those accused of certain crimes against children to limiting governors to two lifetime terms. Steven Procopio, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says while some of the amendments may seem complicated, they’re not rocket science.

Cut 4 (08) “…to get there.”

Procopio says take time to do some digging into some potential unintended consequences of some measures, particularly those dealing with tax breaks for seniors.

Cut 5 (14) “…money for services.”

Procopio says if you decide to relive your college days and cram at the last minute to learn about the amendments the day before election day, PAR has you covered.

Cut 6 (11) “…we put out.”

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There are growing indications Louisiana’s U-S Senate race between Republican Julia Letlow and Democrat Jamie Davis could be much closer than originally expected. Just a few weeks ago, Letlow was projected to win by double digits. But political analysts say strong early voting turnout among Black voters suggests significant support for Davis. Political consultant Roy Fletcher is a longtime observer of Louisiana politics…

Cut 7 (08) “…from him.”

Fletcher, who worked on John Fleming’s U-S Senate campaign during the Republican primary, says one reason GOP voters may be less energized is that the party remains divided after a primary marked by negative campaigning…

Cut 8 (11) “…that way.”

In a last minute effort to get Republican voters to the polls Tuesday to vote for Letlow, President Donald Trump is holding a tele-rally. Fletcher says the tele-rally itself will not drive more Republicans to the polls, but the media coverage of the event will…

Cut 9 (06)  “…close race.”

Polls are open Tuesday from 6 AM to 8 PM.

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A state lawmaker believes Louisiana would be a great location for the next Next Great American Base. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced plans to build “Fortress America” and all locations in the United States may be considered, including former military installations and land that borders existing installations. Vernon Parish state lawmaker Chuck Owen says that description matches what Louisiana can offer

Cut 10 (07) “…right now.”

Owen says at one time Fort Polk had 16-thousand soldiers, it’s now down to six-thousand. He says about ten years ago, the Department of Defense bought about 50-thousand acres from Vernon Parish, so they have the space to build a mega base that can house 25-thousand service members…

Cut 11 (06) “…pro military.”

Each governor will have the opportunity to pitch a proposal to the Department of War for their state to be home for this proposed military installation that would be entirely self-sufficient, meaning it will generate its own power and manage water utilities. Owen says not every state will be interested, but he believes Louisiana should be one of the front-runners to land the Next Great American Base…

Cut 12 (08) “…of Louisiana.”

A decision on where the base will be located is expected in June.

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Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance is underway and runs through January 15th. According to USAFacts, about 195-thousand Louisiana residents were enrolled in ACA marketplace plans earlier this summer. Louisiana Blue healthcare economist Mike Bertaut says these policies offer some advantages…

Cut 13 (09)  “..premiums” 

Bertaut says the federal government’s HealthCare.gov website allows consumers to shop for coverage, but navigating the site can be challenging…

Cut 14 (12) “…buy anything.”

Meanwhile, the health policy organization K-F-F says ACA premiums are expected to increase by a median of 15-percent next year.

America’s Health Rankings estimates just under eight percent of Louisiana residents are uninsured, slightly below the national average. Bertaut says while rising premiums can be frustrating, going without health insurance can expose people to even greater costs…

Cut 15 (15) “…higher costs”

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The LSU women’s basketball team tips off year six under Kim Mulkey tonight versus Southeastern Louisiana. Star guard Mikaylah Williams is entering her fourth season at LSU. She has already been a back-to-back first-team All-SEC selection the last two seasons, but now she says she is stepping up as a vocal leader in her senior year.

Cut 16 (14) “…the hang of.”

The Tigers were picked to finish third in the SEC preseason media poll. Mulkey has reloaded her roster with promising freshmen and impact transfers, and LSU will rely on sophomores Grace Knox and ZaKiyah Johnson to take the next step. Williams says it’s a young team.

Cut 17 (10) “…we’ll be okay.”

Tip-off in the P-MAC is at 6:00.

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After giving up three first-half touchdowns, Louisiana Tech’s defense put the clamps down on South Alabama and did not allow a score in the second half in a 35-20 victory over the Jaguars. The Bulldogs recorded three sacks, seven tackles for loss, two takeaways and forced three turnovers on downs. Coach Sonny Cumbie on his defense…

Cut 18 (19)  “…to be better.” 

Louisiana Tech is off to its first 4-0 start in conference play and has its first five-game winning streak since 2019. Tech is at Troy this Saturday.

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ULM could not follow up its upset win over Troy last week with its second straight victory. The Warhawks lost at home to Southern Miss 35 to 21. Coach Bryant Vincent’s team falls to 1-and-7 on the season…

Cut 19 (17) “..fully believe that.”

The Warhawks are on the road this Saturday to face Arkansas State.

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In high school football, Edna Karr’s 35-game winning streak came to an end resoundingly on Saturday night at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans as St. Aug clobbered the Cougars 52 to 14 in front of more than 18-thousand fans. Karr head coach Brice Brown’s team lost for the first time since November 30, 2023…

Cut 20 (23) “…ready to go.”

LRN PM Newscall October 30

A few weeks ago, Republican Julia Letlow appeared to be a clear favorite in Louisiana’s U-S Senate race. But several political observers now see a much closer contest. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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This is Halloween weekend, and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is urging you to be extra careful on the roadways. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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There are growing signs Louisiana’s U-S Senate race could be closer than previously expected. Washington-based Inside Elections has downgraded the race from Solid Republican to Likely Republican, while Shreveport-based pollster Bishop George now calls it a toss-up. Political consultant Mary-Patricia Wray says that helps explain why President Trump is holding a tele-rally for Republican candidate Julia Letlow Monday night…

Cut 3 (07) “…back up.”

Letlow has represented Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District since 2021. She defeated incumbent Bill Cassidy and State Treasurer John Fleming in the Republican primary to advance to Tuesday’s general election.

Letlow has spent the past several weeks visiting all 64 parishes, but political consultant Mary-Patricia Wray says many Republican voters still aren’t energized by her candidacy because they don’t know much about her…

Cut 4 (07) “…to voters.”

Wray says Letlow is well liked by Republican leaders in Louisiana, but it appears she’s having trouble connecting with many conservative voters…

Cut 5 (12) “…she’s trying to attract.”

Sixth District Congressman Cleo Fields from Baton Rouge says Letlow’s opponent, Jamie Davis, has connected with Louisiana voters with his grassroots campaign. Fields says Davis is talking about the issues that’s impacting many Louisianans, higher prices at the gas pump and grocery store.

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This is Halloween weekend, which can be a very spooky time on Louisiana’s roadways. Gregory Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says last year, almost 650 people were injured in crashes during the Halloween period, and some of those people did not survive their injuries.

Cut 6 (08) “…but it is.”

Of those 16 people, three were killed in alcohol-related crashes.

Fischer says especially with little ghouls and goblins walking the streets after dark, you need to slow down and pay extra attention, especially Saturday night.

Cut 7 (08) “…on the dot.”

As for trick-or-treating Saturday night, Fischer says as challenging as it may be depending on the costume, especially for those choosing to dress up as Darth Vader instead of a Stormtrooper, the key is for kids to be able to be seen.

Cut 8 (11) “…better than nothing.”

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If you’re a Saints fan that has been frustrated with the team’s up-and-down start to the season, know you aren’t alone. One longtime fan sent a letter to the organization expressing his frustration with the Black and Gold’s repeated failures. Scott Fazio says he was in Paris to watch the Saints lose to the Steelers.

Cut 9 (14)  “…this is ridiculous.”

Fazio addressed owner Gayle Benson, general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Kellen Moore. He cited repeated issues in the run game and starting slowly offensively, poor draft picks and decisions not to retain players who went on to star elsewhere and a five-year playoff drought. He says he understands losing, but he just wants competitive quality.

Cut 10 (13) “…nothing changes.” 

Benson expressed similar disappointment after the Saints lost three home games in a row before the trip to Paris. It was an uncharacteristically harsh assessment of the team’s need to improve for Benson, but Fazio says without any real change, it doesn’t mean anything.

Cut 11 (10) “…something happen here.”

The Saints are 2-and-5 to start the season and 8-16 under Moore. Their 27 wins over the last four seasons is the team’s worst four-year stretch since the end of the 90s and a sixth season missing the playoffs would be its longest playoff drought since then as well. That era ended in a complete overhaul of the coaching staff and front office.

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It’s that time of year again – before you go to bed Saturday night, go through your house and turn all of your clocks back one hour, because Daylight Saving Time ends at two Sunday morning. While you’re at it, the Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal also urges you to check your smoke detectors. Chief Chad Sonnier says the process is very simple.

Cut 12 (06) “…for another year.” 

You hear fire officials say time and time again that smoke alarms save lives, and Chief Sonnier says an incident in West Monroe back in early September epitomizes that sentiment.

Cut 13 (11) “…to get out.”

Sonnier says the fire marshal’s office will go to great lengths to make sure everyone has a working smoke detector inside his or her home.

Cut 14 (10) “…or your family.”

LRN PM Newscall October 29

Just five days to go until Election Day, and we’re getting analysis on where the U.S. Senate race stands. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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The Carencro community is shaken to the core after a three-year-old girl is hit and killed in a restaurant parking lot. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Just five days to go before Election Day, and the Jamie Davis campaign is feeling a little more optimistic after early voting, with Democrats outnumbering Republicans at the polls by 16-thousand. There were more than 92-thousand no-party voters casting early and absentee ballots, and LSU New Orleans Political Science Professor Ed Chervenak says the big caveat is we don’t know HOW they voted.

Cut 3 (08) “…particular individuals voted.”

Chervenak says as such, he believes while the race has tightened a little, Julia Letlow remains the prohibitive favorite to win on Tuesday.

Cut 4 (08) “…to 88-percent.”

But don’t place a bet on this race on Polymarket – that’s against the Law in Louisiana.

Every online election prognosticator, from RealClearPolitics to the Cook Political Report to 270 To Win, has Louisiana safely in the Republican column. Still, President Trump is holding a tele-rally with Letlow and her supporters Monday – Chervenak points out that Trump has all but ignored Louisiana throughout this entire general election cycle.

Cut 5 (10) “…where they are.”

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Tragedy in Carencro as a toddler is hit and killed in a restaurant parking lot. Carencro Police Chief David Anderson says shortly after eight Tuesday night, a three-year-old girl ran into the parking lot at the Walk-On’s restaurant and was hit by a vehicle.

Cut 6 (09) “…into the driveway.”

The girl, who has been identified in a GoFundMe campaign as Ka’Mya J’Nae Williams, died of her injuries at a hospital. Anderson says the incident came after a Trunk-and-Treat that was held at the restaurant.

Cut 7 (07) “…they participated at.”

Investigators say alcohol was not a factor in the crash, and no charges are expected to be filed in this case. Anderson says this incident has shaken the entire community to the core.

Cut 8 (09) “…obviously traumatized also.”

As of this morning, the fundraiser for Ka’Mya J’Nae’s family has raised more than 31-thousand dollars towards its goal of 40-thousand dollars.

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The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children is calling on parents who have children under the age of five to participate in their annual poll to find out about their child care arrangements. Heather Cope oversees research at LPIC and she says the input parents and guardians give is critical to understanding the needs of Louisiana families…

Cut 9 (09)  “…child care.”

Cope says they added questions to this year’s survey to find out if parents are satisfied with the care their child is receiving or if they wish they had better options…

Cut 10 (08) “…affford.” 

Cope says the answers to this survey are shared with policymakers that include the governor, state lawmakers and department of education…

Cut 11 (12) “…and resources.”

Cope says the answers from this survey have led to the state providing more financial resources so more parents can pay for child care. The survey is open until November 11th and it can be found policy-institute-l-a-dot-org.

LRN PM Newscall

Early voting for the November 3rd election is over. Joe Gallinaro breaks down the numbers.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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With less than a week to go before Election Day, supporters of Julia Letlow and Jamie Davis are pulling out the stops in getting the word out about their choice for U.S. Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Early voting for the November 3rd election is over, with nearly 521,000 voters casting ballots. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans among early voters by nearly 16,000. That could be a concern for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Julia Letlow. But LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says strong election day turnout in two congressional races, the fifth and sixth district, could help offset that gap.

Cut 3 (11) “…might incur statewide.”

Also added to the mix are almost 93-thousand no-party voters. Hogan says don’t assume that those voters cast their votes for Democrats in proportion with President Trump’s approval rating among independents across the country.

Cut 4 (08) “…are Republican voters.”

In 2022 – the last U.S. Senate election in Louisiana that was held during a mid-term election – the total turnout was more than 1.38-million. That may suggest that upwards of a million voters may cast ballots on Election Day. But Hogan says what turnout will be on Tuesday is unpredictable. 

Cut 5 (13) “…more free time.”

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October comes to an end later this week and LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the 2026 hurricane season is likely done for Louisiana…

Cut 6 (09) “…state of Louisiana.”

Keim says in the 175 years of hurricane record keeping, a named storm has never made landfall in Louisiana in November…

Cut 7 (09) “…very, very low.”

The 2026 season has produced 10 named storms, just one hurricane. An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms and seven hurricanes. Keim says as expected El Nino has limited storm formation this year. He says this will be two years in a row that Louisiana did not have a hurricane make landfall along the state’s coast…

Cut 8 (11) “..juncture.”

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With less than a week to go until Election Day, how are supporters of Julia Letlow and Jamie Davis feeling? Former Democratic lawmaker Melissa Flournoy tells Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana that Davis has run a great campaign, especially with limited resources.

Cut 9 (09)  “…you can trust.”

At an event in Lafayette last week that marked the kickoff to early voting, a Letlow supporter said the congresswoman is the only viable option to send to the U.S. Senate.

Cut 10 (11) “…to be Julia.” 

Early voting wrapped up with Democrats outnumbering Republicans at the polls by almost 16-thousand. Flournoy says it underscores the energy and enthusiasm Democrats have for Davis and in this election as a whole.

Cut 11 (10) “…African American leader.”

Citing the two publicly-released polls that show Letlow leading Davis by a much smaller margin than originally forecast, a Letlow supporter said this election cannot be taken for granted.

Cut 12 (08) “…out and vote.”

LRN PM Newscall October 27

We’re not even in the month of November yet, and flu activity is ramping up in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office is accusing a northeast Louisiana police chief of stealing funds intended for the family of a police officer killed in the line of duty. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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According to the CDC, Louisiana has the highest rate of flu activity of any state in the Continental United States. Dr. Fred Lopez, a professor of medicine at LSU Health New Orleans, says this is a relatively early start to flu season.

Cut 3 (12) “…time of year.”

Louisiana and Hawaii are the only states where flu activity has risen to the level of “moderate” this early into flu season. Dr. Lopez says the prevailing subtype this year is H1N1.

Cut 4 (14) “…isn’t as good.”

Lopez says there are a couple of reasons why people here in Louisiana are especially at risk for getting the flu.

Cut 5 (08) “…population as well.”

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The Shreveport Regional Airport is offering daily nonstop flights to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport for the first time in 18 years. The new United Airlines service began Sunday, and airport spokesperson Mark Crawford says Monday’s flight was nearly full…

Cut 6 (11) “…out and about.”

Crawford says the Chicago once-daily flight leaves between seven AM and nine AM and takes about two hours to arrive at O’Hare…

Cut 7 (12) “…United Airlines.”

Crawford says a daily flight out of Shreveport to Chicago every morning opens an opportunity to more than 220 cities from Chicago, including 47 international destinations. Or he says you can use this flight to spend the day in Chicago…

Cut 8 (11) “..10:45.”

Crawford says if demand is high, a second daily flight could be added, as they’ve seen with flights to Charlotte and Denver.

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Some scary moments on the campus of Southern University yesterday evening as a student is accidentally shot on campus. Baton Rouge Police Corporal Saundra Watts says 19-year-olds Jiqueze Dillon and Robert Washington were with a 20-year-old student in the parking lot at University Apartments

Cut 9 (13)  “…struck the victim.”

The victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive his injuries. Watts says the 19-year-olds are both facing charges.

Cut 10 (10) “…firearm on campus.” 

Watts says incidents like this underscores the fact that people need to know that guns are not toys – they need to be handled with the greatest of care.

Cut 11 (10) “…survive his injuries.”

LRN PM Newscall October 26

Early voting concludes tomorrow, and the numbers look encouraging for one party. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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To capitalize on the Saints playing the first NFL game in Paris, the state Office of Tourism has a delegation in France today to promote Louisiana as a travel destination. Joe Gallinaro has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro”

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Early voting wraps up tomorrow, with Election Day a week from tomorrow. In the first five days of early voting, more than 363-thousand voters have cast ballots, with Democrats outnumbering Republicans by more than 13-thousand. John Couvillon with JMC Analytics and Polling says he expects the Democratic lead to increase between now and the end of early voting.

Cut 3 (13) “…maybe even today.”

Also added in the mix is more than 62-thousand ballots cast by no-party voters – and with President Trump’s approval rating greatly underwater, it’s not unreasonable to believe the vast majority of those voters may have cast their ballots for Democratic candidates. Couvillon says Republicans may be starting to sound the alarm.

Cut 4 (12) “…sure tomorrow morning.”

In the Congressional races, the most competitive ones are in districts five and six, both of which are races to fill seats being vacated by their respective incumbents. While Republicans make up the lion’s share of the candidates in both of those races, Couvillon says Democrats are almost guaranteed to get one of their candidates into the runoff in both.

Cut 5 (08) “…votes to fragment.”

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With the Saints having just played the first NFL game in Paris, the Louisiana Department of Tourism has a delegation in France today to promote Louisiana as a travel destination. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the promotional tour will participate in events in Paris and Lyon…

Cut 6 (09) “…to Louisiana.”

Nungesser says joining Louisiana Office of Tourism officials on the trip are representatives from local travel and visitor bureaus from across south Louisiana…

Cut 7 (11) “..Louisiana.”

The delegation of tourism leaders from Louisiana will conclude their trip on Thursday with a trip to Milan, Italy. Nungesser says the group will look to capture the attention of a growing Italian traveling market…

Cut 8 (08) “…as well.”

The delegation will host a media luncheon on Thursday, introducing Italian travel and lifestyle journalists to the sights and flavors of the state. The mission wraps up Thursday night with 40 Milan-area travel agencies, tour operators and media representatives.

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A frustrating Sunday morning for Saints fans as they watch their team lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers 16 to 10 in the first ever NFL game in Paris. New Orleans rushed for just 18 yards. Second-year head coach Kellen Moore knows that’s not good enough…

Cut 9 (11)  “…to get that done.”

The Saints have a bye this week and will look at ways on how they can get their ground game going.

It was a successful return to the field for LSU’s star tight end Trey’Dez Green in the Tigers 38-17 win over Auburn. In Green’s first game since week three, he caught five passes for 50 yards and one touchdown. Coach Lane Kiffin says it was great to have Green back, but got him out of the game early because of how Auburn was trying to bring down the six-foot-seven pass catcher…

Cut 10 (12) “…took him out.” 

ULM’s 14-game losing streak ended on Saturday as the Warhawks scored three touchdowns in the final two-minutes and 34-seconds to upset Troy 21-14. Coach Bryant Vincent was fired up after the gritty win…

Cut 11 (10) “…more proud”

The one and six Warhawks return home to host Southern Miss this Saturday.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking deer hunters to review the regulations for Chronic Wasting Disease Management zones before heading to the field. Deer Program Manager, Brad Kennon, says CWD Management Zones are smaller this year…

Cut 12 (09) “..known positive ‘

There are four CWD management zones, located in northeast and central Louisiana. Kennon says this season, hunters may place bait and supplemental feed within a CWD Management Zone from now through March 31st. Kennon says whether baiting is allowed in future seasons depends on the results of CWD sampling…

Cut 13 (11) “…positivie”

The CWD sampling goal is 145 samples, which would be deer heads, for each CWD Management Zone. Kennon says on LDWF’s website, hunters can find the location of coolers where they can submit samples. Kennon says two  new location sites for coolers have been added this year…

Cut 14 (11) “…in Avoyelles Parish”

LRN AM Newscall October 26 2026

Planned Parenthood is back in Louisiana as they’ve reopened a facility in New Orleans after closing their previous one last year. Jeanne Burns has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

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A survey of truckers finds high fuel prices are the industry’s biggest concern nationally. But in Louisiana, truckers are more concerned about lawsuit abuse and the rising cost of insurance. Kace Kieschnick has the story…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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The November third midterm election is next week as Republicans are trying to maintain power in the House and Senate. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A new Planned Parenthood Health Center has opened in New Orleans after the previous one closed in 2025. President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Emily Wales says the facility on 46-24 South Claiborne Avenue is the only Planned Parenthood location in Louisiana…

Cut 4 (10) “…in the state.”

Wales says the Planned Parenthood New Orleans Health Center is offering a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including birth control and emergency contraception, STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and cancer screenings. She says state law prohibits them from performing abortions…

Cut 5 (07) “…types of care.”

Most people connect Planned Parenthood with women patients, but Wales says they also can perform vasectomies…

Cut 6 (06) “…give us a call.”

PPLA is completing credentialing and enrollment processes, so it is not yet able to accept most private or public insurance plans. However, financial assistance is available to eligible patients .

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Louisiana truckers rank lawsuit abuse and insurance costs over the high price of fuel as their top concerns for 2026. Louisiana Motor Transport Association executive director Renee Amar says while state lawmakers have passed reforms to help improve the property and private auto insurance markets, commercial auto insurance rates have not been addressed..

Cut 7 (11) “…commercial policy.”

Amar says while truckers across the country are more concerned about fuel prices, Louisiana trucking companies are still fighting a different battle. She says this should send a clear message to lawmakers Louisiana’s legal climates continues to put local trucking companies at a disadvantage…

Cut 8 (09) “…sue, sue sue.”

The third biggest concern for the trucking industry are the high gas prices. Diesel prices have been well above five-dollars a gallon since the summer. She says the impact to the small truckers is severe…

Cut 9 (11)  “…close down shop.”

Number four on the list of top concerns is driver shortage, number five is compliance, safety accountability, number six is driver compensation, seventh is driver distraction.

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Just two more days left in early voting for the November third election. Democrats and Republicans are urging  voters to make their voices are heard. The Louisiana Democratic Party believes Jamie Davis can pull off the upset in the U-S Senate race, but Chief Strategist Sherice Janaye Nelson says with most of the state heavily Republican, the road to victory for any statewide Democratic candidate will always run through New Orleans…

Cut 10 (07) “…this city.”

Nelson says in the early going, New Orleans voters were outclassed by their heavily-Republican neighbors across Lake Pontchartrain….

Cut 11 (10) “…cannot stand.”

Executive Director of the state Republican Party, Cory Dennis, says Julia Letlow is the right choice for Louisiana…

Cut 12 (07) “…here in Louisiana.”

Dennis says the issues Democrats support do not match Louisiana values…

Cut 13 (11)  “…stark difference” 

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Saints fans are down on the Black and Gold after losing to Pittsburgh 16-10 in Paris, but the players are maintaining a positive attitude. Linebacker Kaden Elliss…

Cut 14 (10) “…keep working.”

The Saints offense struggled to run the football against the Steelers. Just 18 yards on 17 carries. Tyler Shough threw for 278 yards, a touchdown and an interception and he believes they are close to stringing some games together..

Cut 15 (13) “…playoff football.”

The Saints are now 2-5, but they are fortunate to be in the NFC South. Carolina is in first place with a 3-3 record. The Saints are on a bye this week and will host Cleveland on November 8th. The Browns are tied for first in the AFC North with the Steelers at 5-2.

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LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for a career-high 387 yards and accounted for four touchdowns as the Tigers easily defeated Auburn 38 to 17 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The victory snaps LSU’s eight-game road losing streak. Leavitt and the Tigers showed the composure needed to win on the road…

Cut 16 (19) “…of the year.”

Leavitt completed 71 percent of his passes. It’s the fifth straight game he’s completed 70 percent or more on his passes, and it’s the second straight game he did not turn the ball over. Leavitt is looking very comfortable in the offense…

Cut 17 (16) “…like that”

LSU is now 6-2 overall, 3-2 in the SEC and the Tigers have a bye week this week. A difficult stretch is coming with home games against Alabama and Texas and a road game against Tennessee. LSU’s star tight end Trey’ Dez Green returned for the Auburn game and Coach Lane Kiffin hopes they can get star linebacker Whit Weeks back for the stretch run…

Cut 18 (16)  “…really good.” 

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ULM football snapped its 14-game losing streak with an improbable win over Troy on Saturday. The Trojans led 14-3 with less than five minutes to go, but the Warhawks scored three touchdowns in the final 2:34 seconds to win. Coach Bryant Vincent was pumped to see Aidan Armenta throw two touchdown passes late in the fourth quarter to take the lead…

Cut 19 (23) “...at a time.”

Louisiana Tech improved to 3-and-0 in the Sun Belt with its second straight shutout win, this time 26 to nothing over Old Dominion. The Monarchs were held to 141 total yards, and Q-B Blake Baker threw for 304 yards and a touchdown. Eli Finley and Jalen Mickens each had over 100 yards receiving. Coach Sonny Cumbie says he has a special team on his hands…

Cut 20 (20) “…good football team.”

The Bulldogs are at South Alabama this Saturday. The Jaguars are in second place in the Sun Belt West with a 2-1 record.

LRN PM Newscall October 23

There will not be a debate involving the two candidates for U-S Senate.  Andrew Greenstein explains.

Cut 1 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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LSU lost another legend. Former basketball coach Dale Brown passed away at the age of 90 today. Kace Kieschnick reports…

Cut 2 (45) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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It will be the Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday morning in Paris. It’s the last time New Orleans will have to face Aaron Rodgers, the future hall of fame quarterback is expected to retire after this season. Saints Coach Kellen Moore says Rodgers’ is a master at using his pre-snap cadence…

Cut 3 (11) “…line of scrimmage.”

Pittsburgh ranks seventh in the NFL in total defense. Edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith have combined for seven-and-a-half sacks this season, and they have not given up more than 28 points in a game all year. Moore says the Steelers always have a tough defense.

Cut 4 (11) “…sound football.”

Kick-off Sunday is at 8:30.

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LSU goes on the road to Auburn tomorrow. First-year head coach’s squad is coming off an emotional upset win over top-ranked Georgia last week. ESPN’s Peter Burns says it has not gone well for teams coming off those big wins this year.

Cut 5 (12) “…on Saturday.”

Auburn is led by South Florida transfer quarterback Byrum Brown. He threw for over three thousand yards and 28 touchdowns with only seven interceptions last year but has already matched that interception total in six games this year. Burns says Brown is one of the smartest people he’s met, but moving to the SEC is a big adjustment.

Cut 6 (12) “…just different.”

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In a week and a half, Louisiana will elect a new U-S Senator, it will be either Republican Julia Letlow or Democrat Jamie Davis. Davis has released a couple of polls that show he’s within striking distance of upsetting Letlow on November third….

Cut 7 (08) “..MAGA machine.”

Letlow, however, has called the polls that Davis paid for as “bogus.”

Cut 8 (11) “…double digits.”

The only poll that counts is happening now, with early voting going on through Tuesday, and Election Day a week later.

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On Saturday, it’s the Acadiana Card Show at the Heymann Center in Lafayette. The inaugural event in August brought more than 22-hundred collectors from the Gulf South to Lafayette. Cofounder Cody Bergeron says they knew Acadiana needed something like this and the turnout in August was more than they expected…

Cut 9 (08)  “…and more.”

Bergeron says the first show brought together people from all sides of the hoppy, some had been collecting for years and others were getting back into a hobby they loved as kids…

Cut 10 (11) “…they’re friends.” 

The Acadiana Card Show will run from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Heymann Center and the admission is five dollars, kids 12 and under get in for free.

Cut 11 (08) “…going on.”

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Legendary LSU basketball coach Dale Brown passed away today at the age of 90. Brown led the Tigers for 25 years, making two Final Four appearances and winning four SEC championships. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says he was an advocate for basketball across the state.

Cut 12 (12) “…in a movie. ‘

Brown accumulated 448 wins while at LSU and led the Tigers to ten straight tournament appearances from 1983 to 1994. Guilbeau says the “Master Motivator” was also a master marketer. He says Brown turned LSU basketball into a nightly event.

Cut 13 (11) “…Dale Brown did”

Brown was known for his humanitarian work off the court. His foundation is dedicated to helping young people facing poverty, disabilities and broken homes. Guilbeau says he helped several families after Hurricane Katrina.

Cut 14 (11) “…kind of guy”