12:30 LRN Newscast

Senator Bill Cassidy ended up being the deciding vote to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health to the full Senate.

Cut 1 (38) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Former Amite High star Devonta Smith will play in his second Super Bowl on Sunday when Smith’s Eagles take on the two-time defending champion Chiefs. Amite head football coach Zephaniah Powell says he’s extremely proud of Smith…

Cut 14 (05) “….for him”

LSU scored a victory today in its effort to keep embattled law professor Ken Levy out of the classroom. The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that LSU should not be forced into putting Levy in the classroom despite a lower court’s ruling. The appeals court says LSU can wait until a full hearing. Levy was removed from the classroom after he used inappropriate language while criticizing Governor Landry for publicly rebuking a fellow law professor.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance says testing was done on 24 restaurants in New Orleans that advertised they were serving shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico and only three of them were serving imported shrimp. S-S-A board member Cheri Blanchard praised Louisiana’s progress but urged stronger enforcement to protect the domestic shrimp industry.

Cut 8 (06) “…with their health.”

The Louisiana Legislature passed legislation this year that impose significant penalties for restaurants that fail to inform customers when they are eating foreign imports vs. local wild-caught Gulf Shrimp.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy voted this morning to confirm Robert F Kennedy Junior as the next U-S Health Secretary. Cassidy, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, was the tie breaking vote to advance Kennedy’s confirmation to the full Senate. During the confirmation hearings, Cassidy expressed concern about Kennedy’s views that vaccines lead to autism. He says the Senator said in a statement he had intense conversations with the White House…

Cut 4 (13) “…efforts to vaccinate.”

The Southern Shrimp Alliance says only three restaurants in New Orleans out of 24 tested were found to be serving farm-raised shrimp imports instead of what they were advertising which was Gulf or authentic shrimp. S-S-A board member Cheri Blanchard says this year Louisiana has strengthened its seafood labeling laws and the legislation appears to be working….

Cut 7 (09) “…my state represented better.”

Similar testing was conducted at Texas, Mississippi and Florida restaurants and it was found most of the restaurants were not serving Gulf of Mexico shrimp, despite advertising on their menu that said otherwise.

The Louisiana Now Pavilion is open next to the Super Bowl Media Center at the convention center. This is where the Louisiana Economic Development Department will tell the story about how the Pelican State is a great place to do business. L-E-D Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Louisiana Now will have interactive exhibits…

Cut 6 (13) “….of Louisiana”

The Pavilion will host business executives, athletes, dignitaries and artists from around the world.

The LHSAA and the Saints are working towards sanctioning girls flag football as a high school sport. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says the interest is there…

Cut 10 (10) “…flag football team.”

Held says the association’s executive committee is expected to vote in April to sanction girls flag football as a high school sport. A pilot league has already been set up in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Senator Bill Cassidy ended up being the deciding vote in the Senate Finance Committee to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Health Secretary to the full Senate. The vote was 14 to 13, along party lines. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, likely cast his vote to save his political future.

Cut 3 (15) “…his own party.”

A new study from Bankrate finds 45-percent of Americans say they have applied for a loan in the past 12 months and 48-percent of those have faced a denial. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster says lower-income households, Gen Z, millennials, and parents with young children are most affected.

Cut 8 (07) “…credit score and history.”

The LHSAA and the Saints are moving towards making girls flag football a sanctioned high school sport. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says before a high school girls flag football season can take place, a pilot league needs to be established…

Cut 12 (12) “…and also Nike”

Held expects the LHSAA Executive Committee will vote in April to sanction girls high school flag football.

Amite’s Devonta Smith is back in the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles for the second time in three years. Smith’s high school coach at Amite, Zephania Powell…

Cut 15 (13) “….for Philadelphia”

The Chiefs are 1.5-point favorites to win their third consecutive Super Bowl.

9:30 LRN Newscast

The Super Bowl is bringing people from around the world to New Orleans and the state is using this opportunity to show Louisiana’s rise as a global business leader….

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy voted to confirm Robert F Kennedy Junior as  President Trump’s pick as Secretary of Health and Human Services. The vote was 14 to 13 to confirm in Senate Finance, moving the confirmation process to the Senate floor. Cassidy says he had intense conversations with Kennedy over the weekend and he thanks Vice President J-D Vance’s honest counsel. Cassidy has expressed concern with Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance.

A new report from Bankrate finds that nearly half of loan applicants have been rejected over the past 12 months. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster says with interest rates likely to remain elevated for another year, concentrate on keep your credit score in tip-top shape…

Cut 9 (09) “….debit to income ratio as well”

Americans with lower credit scores were more likely to be denied a loan.

Former Amite High star Devonta Smith will play in his second Super Bowl on Sunday when Smith’s Eagles take on the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Longtime Amite head football coach Zephaniah Powell says Smith has earned everything he’s received, including the Heisman Trophy he won in 2020…

Cut 14 (05) “….for him”

8:30 LRN Newscast

The state is using the Super Bowl as an opportunity to pitch Louisiana as a great place to do business. The Louisiana Now Pavilion opens today, next to the Super Bowl Media Center in New Orleans. State Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Louisiana Now showcases the state’s economic strengths, culture and business potential…

Cut 4 (13) “..incredibly impactful.”

Girls flag football could soon be a sanctioned high school sport in Louisiana. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says the LHSAA executive committee is expected to finalize approval at its April meeting…

Cut 11 (06) “…the road”

Held says they heard from over 100 high schools who said they are interested in girls flag football.

There is a large group in Tangipahoa Parish that will be cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

In an exclusive interview on ABC’s Good Morning America, former LSU safety Greg Brooks Junior says he just wants to be normal. Brooks remains wheelchair bound and struggling to write and speak after surgery to remove a tumor from his brain. His family has filed a lawsuit against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital alleging the doctor was not qualified to perform the surgery. Our Lady of the Lake says its neurosurgical team is among the most experienced in Louisiana.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana is using the Super Bowl to show that the Pelican State is a great place to do business. The Louisiana Now Pavilion opens today near the convention center and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the pavilion will showcase the state’s economic transformation, which includes Meta’s recent announcement that it’s building a ten-billion dollar A-I data center in Richland Parish…

Cut 5 (09) “….the story”

Emails obtained by several media outlets including WWL Louisiana and the Associated Press provide new light on the Saints role in helping the Archdiocese of New Orleans develop a public relations strategy around the clergy sex abuse crisis. One email in particular suggests some names were taken off the list of priests and deacons accused of sexually abusing children. The Saints say no employee had any responsibility in removing or adding any names from that list or supplemental list.

The LHSAA and the Saints are working towards sanctioning girls flag football as a high school sport. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says the interest is definitely there…

Cut 10 (10) “…flag football team.”

At least 80 schools needed to express interest per LHSAA bylaws in order for a formal vote to take place to finalize the approval of girls flag football as a sanctioned sport. Held says the association’s executive committee is expected to finalize approval at its April meeting.

A new report from Bankrate found that 45% of Americans applied for a loan or financial product in the past year, and 48% of those seeking a loan were rejected, with 14% experiencing multiple denials. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster says Americans with lower credit scores were more likely to be denied for a loan…

Cut 7 (12) “…applying for.”

Foster says lower-income households, Gen Z, millennials, and parents with young children are most affected.

6:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Now Pavilion will open this morning next to the Super Bowl Media Center at the convention center. This is the place where the Louisiana Economic Development Department will tell the story about how the Pelican State is a great place to do business. L-E-D Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Louisiana Now will have interactive exhibits…

Cut 6 (13) “….of Louisiana”

The Pavilion will host business executives, athletes, dignitaries and artists from around the world.

In the town of Amite, most people are rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. Homegrown hero Devonta Smith is the Eagles leading receiver and his high school coach, Zephaniah Powell says Smith keeps making plays despite his six-foot, 170-pound frame…

Cut 13 (09) “….pros right now”

Smith won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama and lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in his rookie season.

Flag football will be an Olympic Sport in 2028 and may soon be a sanctioned Louisiana high school girl’s sport. Colleen Crain explains…

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Authorities have arrested a man from the St. Landry Parish village of Cankton after he allegedly tried to meet up with a teenage girl at a hotel in Pineville. Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Agents arrested 59-year-old Keith Stuckey when he showed up at the hotel and charged him with computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with juveniles. Stuckey also has active arrest warrants out of Concordia Parish.

LRN AM Newscall February 4 ***ADDS SPORTS CUTS***

The Super Bowl is bringing people from around the world to New Orleans and the state is using this opportunity to show Louisiana’s rise as a global business leader. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

_____________________________________________

Flag football will be an Olympic Sport in 2028 and may soon be a sanctioned Louisiana high school girl’s sport. Colleen Crain explains…

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

_____________________________________________

One Louisiana high school coach will be watching the Super Bowl with great interest. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

______________________________________________________

The state is using the Super Bowl as an opportunity to pitch Louisiana as a great place to do business. The Louisiana Now Pavilion opens today, next to the Super Bowl Media Center in New Orleans. State Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Louisiana Now showcases the state’s economic strengths, culture and business potential…

Cut 4 (13) “..incredibly impactful.”

The Pavilion will host business executives, athletes, dignitaries and artists from around the world. Bourgeois says Louisiana Now will provide visitors with compelling stories about Louisiana’s economic strength and that includes Meta building a ten-billion-dollar A-I data center in Richland Parish…

Cut 5 (09) “…the story.”

Bourgeois says Louisiana Now will have interactive exhibits…

Cut 6 (13) “…of Louisiana.”

______________________________________________________

A new report from Bankrate found that 45% of Americans applied for a loan or financial product in the past year, and 48% of those seeking a loan were rejected, with 14% experiencing multiple denials. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster says Americans with lower credit scores were more likely to be denied for a loan or financial product…

Cut 7 (12) “…applying for.”

Foster says lower-income households, Gen Z, millennials, and parents with young children are most affected.

Cut 8 (07) “…credit score and history.”

Foster says one of the best course of actions to take is request a free credit report to look back at your credit score and look at specific factors that would impact your rating as well as…

Cut 9 (09)  “…debt-to-income ratio as well.”

______________________________________________________

The LHSAA and the Saints are working towards sanctioning girls flag football as a high school sport. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says the interest is there…

Cut 10 (10) “…flag football team.”

At least 80 schools needed to express interest per LHSAA bylaws in order for a formal vote to take place to finalize the approval of girls flag football as a sanctioned sport. Held says the association’s executive committee is expected to finalize approval at its April meeting.

Cut 11 (06) “…the road.”

Held says before an actual high school girls flag football season can take place, a pilot league needs takes to place first. But he says they have a head start as the Saints organization launched a ten-team girls flag football league for ten high schools in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes…

Cut 12 (12) “…and also Nike”

Flag football will officially be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program.

__________________________________________________________

Many people in the Tangipahoa Parish town of Amite are rooting for local hero DeVonta Smith and the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. Zephaniah Powell coached Smith at Amite (ay-MEET) High School. Coach Powell says the Eagles leading receiver keeps making plays despite his six-foot, 170-pound frame…

Cut 13 (09)  “…pros right now”

Powell says Smith has earned everything he’s got, including the Heisman Trophy he won at Alabama in 2020.

Cut 14 (05) “…for him.”

Smith was on the Eagles team that fell to the Chiefs two years ago. Powell says Smith and his teammates now have an opportunity to exact revenge and win a title of their own.

Cut 15 (13) “…for Philadelphia.”

In case you’re wondering – Powell will not be hitting his former star receiver up for Super Bowl tickets.

___________________________________________________________

Eagles Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore flew out to New Orleans with the rest of the team over the weekend for Sunday’s Super Bowl. He might not need his return flight. That’s because the 36-year-old is widely considered to be the frontrunner to be the new head coach of the Saints. The Saints have interviewed Moore once and will meet with him after the Super Bowl. Moore said despite the Super Bowl being on the Saints’ home field this year, he’s not thinking about the Saints this week.

Cut 16 (10) “…of the way.”

That said, Moore said becoming a head coach in the NFL would be the opportunity of a lifetime.

Cut 17 (12)  “…excited about it.”

Moore spent six seasons as a backup quarterback – three with the Lions and three with the Cowboys. Following one season as the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach, he has spent the last six seasons as an offensive coordinator – four with the Cowboys and one each with the Chargers and Eagles.

___________________________________________________________

Saints fans may be wondering why their team couldn’t get a player like linebacker Zack Baun. Well, actually, they did have him for four seasons, during which he primarily played on special teams. Baun joined the Eagles this off-season and proceeded to make the Pro Bowl and is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year after registering 151 tackles, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Baun says many players helped him be the dominant force that he was this season.

Cut 18 (14)   “…position I am.”

Baun says it’s surreal to be playing on the biggest stage in American sports – on the same field where he played his first four seasons at that.

Cut 19 (09) “…green in it.”

17:30 LRN Newscast

Super Bowl Week is underway in New Orleans. Andrew Greenstein is at the Morial Convention Center.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is in New Orleans to make sure the proper security measures are in place. Noem took time this morning to visit Bourbon Street, the site of the New Year’s Day terror attack that killed 14 people…

Cut 7 (11) “….while they do that”

Shreveport Police have arrested a teenager who stole a vehicle that had a one-year-old inside. It happened Friday night and Corporal Christopher Bordelon says the owner of the vehicle ran inside to grab a coat for herself and her baby, when the vehicle was taken…

Cut 5 (09) “…suspect in this case”

The infant was recovered safely in the parking lot of a Walmart and the vehicle was in a Circle K Parking lot.  17-year-old Marcus Madden was arrested at an apartment complex and faces several charges including simple kidnapping.

Girls flag football could soon be a sanctioned high school sport in Louisiana. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says the LHSAA executive committee is expected to finalize approval at its April meeting…

Cut 11 (06) “…the road”

Held says they heard from over 100 high schools who said they are interested in fielding a girls flag football team.

4:30 PM Newscast Feb 3

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is in New Orleans to make sure the proper security measures are in place for the biggest sporting event of the year. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

All Schools in Morehouse Parish were closed Monday and will remain closed tomorrow. A mass parish-wide bomb threat led authorities to close all Morehouse Parish schools including Louisiana Delta Community College Monday and Tuesday. Law enforcement officials are investigating the threat and say they made the decision to close the schools out of an abundance of caution. Some schools may participate in virtual learning activities.

The Super Bowl is about more than the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, the half-time show, and the commercials. Superbowl in New Orleans is a whole week and it’s underway. Peter O’Reilly with the NFL says the league is using this week to show off New Orleans, and that includes getting the local business community involved through its NFL Source program.

Cut 9 (08)  “…225 local businesses.”

Jack Bech was named the Senor Bowl MVP this past weekend, but he says he would rather have his brother than the M-V-P honor. Tiger Bech was killed in the New Years Day terror attack on Bourbon Street and Jack believes it was his brother who helped him achieve great things…

Cut 14 (11) “…legacy on .”

Bech starred at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette, just like his older brother Tiger. Jack Bech played two seasons at LSU and became one of the nation’s best receivers after transferring to TCU.