8:30 AM LRN Newscast

President Trump has pardoned the late LSU football great Billy Cannon on his 1983 counterfeiting conviction. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The sixth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team will take on third-ranked South Carolina tonight at the P-Mac. The Tigers haven’t beaten the Gamecocks since 2012, but Reed Darcey of The Advocate says they will can if they’re able to do three things.

Cut 9 (07)  “…defensive end of the floor.”

Tip-off is at 7:30.

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The incumbent and the endorsee in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race qualified for the ballot on the third and final day of qualifying. Julia Letlow touted her education credentials and her work in reforming the education system in this country.

Cut 13 (10) “…the states.”

Incumbent Bill Cassidy also touted his record. Louisiana’s senior senator said he was instrumental in the passage of the infrastructure bill that provided billions of dollars towards roads, bridges, high speed internet expansion and water projects…

Cut 14 (10) “…good jobs”

5:30 LRN Newscast

The field is set in the Louisiana primaries for U.S. Senate. On the Republican side, incumbent Bill Cassidy has drawn two major challengers in Julia Letlow and John Fleming. As they qualified on Friday, both Letlow and Cassidy touted their records on border security, with Cassidy touching on the fight against the drugs that are coming into the U.S. from Mexico.

Cut 15 (11) “…our children.”

Letlow also talked about her education credentials and her work in reforming the education system in this country.

Cut 13 (10) “…the states.”

Three have qualified for the Democratic ballot – Jamie Davis, Nick Albares and Gary Crockett. The primary election is May 16th.

Southwest Louisiana businessman Lee Mallett is the new chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, replacing Scott Ballard. LSU Board members usually keep a low-profile, but Louisiana Illuminator reporter Piper Hutchinson says that might not be the case with Mallett.

Cut 8 (11) “..chairmanship.”

There are no term limits, so Mallett is expected to be the LSU Board Chair for the foreseeable future.

It’s a marquee matchup in Baton Rouge Saturday night as the LSU Lady Tigers host South Carolina.  Reed Darcey of The Advocate says it will be important for senior guard Flau’jae Johnson to get into a rhythm early on.

Cut 11 (11) “…around the rim.”

4:30 LRN Newscast

The incumbent and the endorsee in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race qualified for the ballot on the third and final day of qualifying. Julia Letlow touted her work in the U.S. House, particularly working with the Trump administration with border security.

Cut 12 (09) “…no longer.”

Bill Cassidy, meanwhile, also touted his record. Louisiana’s senior senator said he was instrumental in the passage of the infrastructure bill that provided billions of dollars towards roads, bridges, high speed internet expansion and water projects.

Cut 14 (10) “…good jobs.”

The two join John Fleming as the major candidates on the Republican primary ballot. On the Democratic side, Jamie Davis, who qualified Wednesday, is joined by Nick Albares and Gary Crockett.

President Trump has pardoned the late LSU football great Billy Cannon for the counterfeiting charges he was convicted of in 1983. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

One of the ten men who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center last May will spend the next six decades behind bars. Antoine Massey has been sentenced to 60 years in prison without the possibility of parole for kidnapping and raping his former girlfriend. Massey spent weeks on the run before becoming the second to last escapee recaptured.

3:30 LRN Newscast

The incumbent and the endorsee have qualified in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Landry is also supporting Letlow. In a social media post, Landry said Cassidy has supported liberal Obama judges and led the efforts to block the addition of a new conservative federal judge in Louisiana’s Middle District. Cassidy responded by saying he’s never voted for a single Obama judicial nominee in Louisiana and there’s never been a middle court vacancy since he’s been in the Senate.

 

A surprise announcement last night as President Trump has pardoned the late Billy Cannon. The 1959 Heisman Trophy winner of the LSU Tigers spent two years behind bars for producing fake 100 dollar bills to make up for bad investments. Cannon took responsibility for his crime and his daughter Bunnie Cannon says her father never ran away from his mistakes…

Cut 4 (09) “…he was”

Cannon died in 2018 and he’s one of five former NFL players to receive a pardon from President Trump.

Southwest Louisiana businessman Lee Mallett is the new chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, replacing Scott Ballard. Mallett has been on the LSU Board for 14 years. Louisiana Illuminator reporter Piper Hutchinson says Mallett is not afraid to get involved in the day-to-day activities of the LSU System…

Cut 6 (12) “…faculty affairs.”

Mallett owns several businesses and lives in Calcasieu Parish. Mallett, who does not have a college degree, has made millions in the construction industry.

2:30 LRN Newscast

Both Bill Cassidy and Julia Letlow qualified for the U-S Senate Republican primary today at the Secretary of State’s Office in Baton Rouge. The two candidates touted their record. Incumbent Bill Cassidy says he passed legislation that will reduce the amount of drugs coming into the United States from Mexico…

Cut 15 (11) “….our children”

Letlow, who has served in the U-S House since 2021, says she’s worked to reform the education system in the country…

Cut 13 (10) “…the states”

State Treasurer John Fleming has also qualified for the Republican Senate Primary. With two hours before qualifying comes to an end, the only Democrat to qualify is Tensas Parish farmer Jamie Davis.

 

President Trump has posthumously pardoned LSU legend Billy Cannon for his involvement in a counterfeiting scheme that resulted in him spending two-and-half years in prison. Billy Cannon’s daughter, Bunnie Cannon, says the family is ecstatic over the news…

Cut 3 (12) “…humanity in him ” 

The 1959 Heisman Trophy winner took responsibility for producing fake 100-dollar bills to pay back debt from bad real estate investments.

Southwest Louisiana businessman Lee Mallett has been appointed the new chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors. Louisiana Illuminator reporter Piper Hutchinson says LSU Board members usually keep a low-profile, but that might be the case for the outspoken Mallett…

Cut 8 (11) “…chairmanship”

1:30 PM LRN Newscast

The incumbent and President Trump’s endorsee in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race have both qualified for the ballot on the third and final day of qualifying. Julia Letlow qualified shortly before 10:30 Friday morning, and Bill Cassidy followed suit about 90 minutes later. Letlow toured her work in the U.S. House, particularly working with the Trump administration with border security.

Cut 12 (09) “…no longer.”

Incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy says he has a proven record of delivering conservative results for Louisiana. His campaign says the race will be decided by records and Cassidy’s results in Washington D.C. hold up against anyone in Louisiana.

Cut 14 (10) “…paying jobs”

Southwest Louisiana businessman Lee Mallett is the new chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, Louisiana Illuminator reporter Piper Hutchinson says he’s not afraid to get involved in the day-to-day LSU activities. He’s also friends with former LSU basketball coach Will Wade and with the Tigers basketball program having another bad season, she says Mallett’s appointment raises speculation Wade could return to LSU…

Cut 7 (12) “…will materialize.”

LSU women’s basketball team will take on South Carolina tomorrow. The Tigers enter Saturday’s top 6 showdown with the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation, averaging just over 96 points per game. Reed Darcey of The Advocate says buckets could be sparse on Saturday as the Gamecocks play suffocating defense.

Cut 10 (13) “…playing a slower game.”

12:30 PM LRN Newscast

Southwest Louisiana businessman Lee Mallett is the new chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, replacing Scott Ballard. Mallett has been on the LSU Board for 14 years. Louisiana Illuminator reporter Piper Hutchinson says Mallett is not afraid to get involved in the day-to-day activities of the LSU System…

Cut 6 (12) “…faculty affairs.”

 

It’s the big carnival weekend as we approach Mardi Gras and preparations are in place to make sure that it’s safe for everyone. Security in New Orleans is at its highest level from now through Tuesday. New Orleans Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Michael Harrison says the French Quarter Enhanced Security Zone is in effect. He says the only people who will be able to drive into the French Quarter will be emergency personnel, residents and hotel guests.

Cut 10 (05) “…in those hotels.”

 

President Trump has pardoned the late Billy Cannon for the counterfeiting charges he was convicted of in 1983. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

 

The sixth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team will take on third-ranked South Carolina tomorrow evening in front of a sold-out Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Tigers haven’t beaten the Gamecocks since 2012, but Reed Darcey of The Advocate says they will have a chance to change that if they do three specific things.

Cut 9 (07)  “…defensive end of the floor.”

Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU’s opening day against Milwaukee could be the last for junior right fielder Jake Brown. The Sulphur native says he will do his best to soak in the moment when the Tigers take the field for the first time in 2026.

Cut 18 (11)  “…of good vibes.”

First pitch at Alex Box is at 2 p.m.

President Trump has pardoned LSU legend Billy Cannon for his involvement in a counterfeiting scheme that resulted in him spending two-and-a-half years in prison. The 1959 Heisman Trophy winner took responsibility for the crime in which he produced fake 100-dollar bills to pay back debt from bad real estate investments. Billy Cannon’s daughter, Bunnie Cannon, says her father never ran away from his mistakes…

Cut 4 (09) “…he was.”

The sixth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team will host one of its biggest games in program history tomorrow, when the Tigers take on number-three South Carolina. LSU hasn’t beaten South Carolina since January of 2012, and head coach Kim Mulkey says she expects the sold-out Pete Maravich Assembly Center to be rocking.

Cut 19 (17) “…we do, right?”

Last night, the Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team won its second straight game after defeating Missouri State 79-78 in overtime.

UL-Lafayette’s four-game winning streak was snapped last night as the Cajuns fell 69-65 to Coastal Carolina.

The Lady Techsters extended their winning streak to 11 games after defeating F-I-U, 71-49, last night.

The McNeese State women’s basketball extended its winning streak to 14 games after beating Northwestern State 64-59 last night.

11:30 AM LRN Newscast

U.S. Senate candidate John Fleming claims that Julia Letlow’s entrance into the race is part of a grand plan by Governor Jeff Landry to one day appoint himself as a U.S. Senator. Fleming described this alleged scheme with reporters after he qualified for the Senate Republican primary.

Cut 26 (14) “…of a college.”

Landry shot back at Fleming by saying anyone who makes stuff up like that may not be fit for office.

President Trump has posthumously pardoned LSU legend Billy Cannon for his involvement in a counterfeiting scheme that sent him to prison for two-and-half years. Afterwards, he returned to dentistry and in 1995 was hired as a dentist at the Louisiana State Penitentiary where he worked on inmates’ teeth and helped offenders reform. His daughter, Bunnie Cannon says his counterfeiting conviction does not define her father…

Cut 5 (11) “…came to be”

Cannon died in 2018.

A cold front will bring strong storms to the state this Mardi Gras weekend. But LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin reports the heavy rainfall and lightning should take place after the parades roll tomorrow.

Cut 3 (33) “…meteorologist Bill Jacquemin.”

If your sweetheart is hoping for Valentine’s Day crawfish, it will cost you more this year than last. The Crawfish App founder, Laney King says this weekend, expect to pay around $6.22 per pound for live mudbugs and around $8.69 per pound for boiled. Last year the average this time of year was around $4.00 per pound. Though prices dropped a dollar per pound at the docks this week, they were higher because of the unusually cold conditions that are finally warming up.

10:30 LRN Newscast

A surprise announcement last night as President Trump has pardoned the late Billy Cannon. The 1959 Heisman Trophy winner of the LSU Tigers spent two years behind bars for producing fake 100 dollar bills to make up for bad investments. Cannon took responsibility for his crime and his daughter Bunnie Cannon says her father never ran away from his mistakes…

Cut 4 (09) “…he was”

Cannon died in 2018 and he’s one of five former NFL players to receive a pardon from President Trump.

Republican State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Landry of putting a plan in motion that will result in Landry appointing himself as U-S Senator. Fleming says Landry got President Trump to endorse Julia Letlow for U-S Senate, so that she can win and then during her term she would take a presidency job with a university. Fleming says at that time Landry would appoint himself as governor…

Cut 6 (09) “…you should make”

Landry calls Fleming’s theory ridiculous.

 

Mardi Gras weekend has arrived and there will be dozens of parades around the state over the next five days. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is hoping everyone has a great time, but he’s also pushing for a cleaner state. Nungesser says if you’re lining a parade route, bring a couple of garbage bags with you…

Cut 12 (08) “…on the streets”

The Lenten season begins Wednesday and if you want to participate in Ochsner Eat Fit’s Alcohol Free for 40 Challenge you must register by Sunday. Ochsner Eat Fit Founder Molly Kimball says participants receive in-depth metrics including labs, body composition analysis and before and after photos…

Cut 15 (7) “…and white markers”

It only costs 59 dollars, and you can register at AlcoholFreeFor40-dot-com.