6:45 LRN Sportscast

Frank Wilson became the first black coach to lead LSU football to a victory and Michael Van Buren won his first SEC start after going 0-and-7 for Mississippi State last season. The Tigers defeated Arkansas 23-22 on Saturday. Van Buren shook off a slow start to throw for 221 yards and a touchdown. Wilson says Van Buren got more confident as the game went on.

Cut 15 (13) “…times as well.”

It’s unknown if Garrett Nussmeier will be able to play this Saturday in the home finale against Western Kentucky.

New coach, same result. Saturday morning, the Pelicans fired Head Coach Willie Green after the team lost ten of their first 12 games, many by lopsided scores. In the first game under interim coach James Borrego last night, the Pelicans fell to the Golden State Warriors, 124-106.

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Louisiana Tech had just 167 yards of offense in a 28-3 loss to Washington State on Saturday. Coach Sonny Cumbie’s team still needs one more win to become bowl eligible and they’ll try to get that victory this Saturday at home against Liberty…

Cut 18 (21) “…next week”

ULM lost its sixth straight as the Warhawks fell to South Alabama 26-14.

Northwestern State lost its tenth straight as the Demons gave up a touchdown in the fourth quarter and lost to Nicholls 26-21.

McNeese gave up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and lost to UTRGV 28-13. And despite finishing with an 8-3 record, Louisiana Christian did not get into the NAIA playoffs.

6:30 AM LRN Newscast

More than 12-thousand drivers who have auto insurance through Allstate will see a decrease in auto insurance premiums next year. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A New Orleans man who spent three decades in prison before his murder conviction was vacated has been elected the city’s chief criminal court record keeper. Calvin Duncan, fought for decades to clear his name, uncovering evidence that police officers lied in court.  His conviction was tossed by a judge in 2021.  According to unofficial returns, Duncan won Saturday’s election with 68% of the vote.

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Military-related spending in Louisiana generated more than 17-billion dollars in total economic activity during fiscal year 2024, up 77-percent from 2021. That’s according to a new report from Louisiana Economic Development. Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says employment has also risen 52-percent with more than 117-thousand jobs contributing to Louisiana’s economy…

Cut 7 (08) “…from it.”

LSU’s three-game losing streak is over, and Frank Wilson gets his first win as the Tigers’ interim head coach as the tiers beat Arkansas this weekend 23-22.  During the postgame, Wilson said he talked to his team before the game about how nothing would come easy, and Saturday’s game exemplified that.

Cut 14 (16) “…that you get.”

LRN AM Newscall November 16

More than 12-thousand drivers who have auto insurance through Allstate will see a decrease in auto insurance premiums next year. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A new report finds military spending was up 77-percent during fiscal year 2024 compared to a previous report conducted four years earlier. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The Lafourche Parish School Board is coming under very heavy criticism for how it handled an incident involving boys sharing A-I nude photos of female classmates. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (42) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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About 12-thousand drivers who have auto insurance through Allstate will see a decrease on their auto insurance premium next year. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the has approved a seven-percent rate decrease for Allstate North American Insurance Company and a 15-percent decrease for Encompass Insurance Company of America’s National General program. Temple says this good news…

Cut 4 (11) “…insurance companies.”

ANAIC and Encompass are both Allstate companies. Temple says the recent tort reform efforts are showing insurance providers that the state is committed to creating a healthier market for both consumers and insurers.

Temple says the insurance industry has told him if Louisiana can decrease the frivolous lawsuits and outrageous settlements it will result in lower auto insurance rates…

Cut 5 (09) “…following year.”

Temple says there are signs auto insurance rates are starting to come down for drivers, but more work is needed to address commercial auto insurance…

Cut 6 (10) “…individual consumer.”

Expect to see more auto insurance reform legislation when lawmakers meet for the regular session in the spring.

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Military-related spending in Louisiana generated more than 17-billion dollars in total economic activity during fiscal year 2024, a 77-percent increase since 2021. That’s according to a new report from Louisiana Economic Development. Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says employment has also risen 52-percent with more than 117-thousand jobs that’s contributing to the state and local economy…

Cut 7 (08) “…from it.”

Louisiana has five military installations. Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish, a naval air station in Belle Chasse and Fort Polk in Leesville. Meginley says Fort Polk is a major driver of central Louisiana’s economy…

Cut 8 (13) “…central Louisiana.”

Meginley says the report shows notable expansion in the state’s defense sector since the previous study four years ago…

Cut 9 (10)  “…national security.”

Recently Bollinger Shipyards was awarded a major U-S Navy contract to construct six Arctic Security Cutters at facilities in Lockport. And VRC Metal Systems will build a new maintenance facility at Barksdale that will provide advanced repair capabilities for B-52 aircraft.

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The Lafourche Parish School Board is coming under fire for how it handled an incident in which a group of boys shared A-I nude images of female classmates. One of them had been expelled for hitting a boy on a school bus who had shared an image of her. Her family’s lawyers gave the school board an earful this month. Benjamin Comeaux told the board her school, Sixth Ward Middle School in Thibodaux, prevented her from seeking help.

Cut 10 (07) “…she was told.”

Another of the family’s lawyers, Gregory Miller, told the board after the girl’s pleas to the school for help fell on deaf ears, she was placed on the same bus as one of the boys who had been bullying her, and that’s when she took matters into her own hands.

Cut 11 (11) “…okay with that?”

Miller told the school board that it had punished the wrong person.

Cut 12 (06) “…that from her.”

The girl’s father, who Louisiana Radio Network is not naming, told the board that his daughter went through depression so severe that he had to hire a counselor, and that her punishment was way overboard given the circumstances.

Cut 13 (07)  “…in her life.”

The board eventually reduced the girl’s expulsion to a suspension in the length that she had already spent out of the classroom and allowed her to immediately return. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged one boy for sharing those images, and more charges are likely.

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LSU’s three-game losing streak is over, and Frank Wilson gets his first win as the Tigers’ interim head coach. After falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, the Tigers maintained their composure and beat Arkansas Saturday afternoon at Tiger Stadium, 23-22. During his postgame news conference, Wilson said he talked to his team before the game about how nothing would come easy, and this game was the epitome of that.

Cut 14 (16) “…that you get.”

Just before the game, Garrett Nussmeier was ruled out, so sophomore Michael Van Buren got his first start, and he completed 21 out of 31 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t throw any interceptions but was sacked four times. Wilson said Van Buren got off to a shaky start but got more confident as the game went on.

Cut 15 (13) “…times as well.”

Van Buren says this is a win he will not soon forget.

Cut 16 (12) “…just feels amazing.”

With the win, LSU is now bowl eligible. They wrap up their home schedule Saturday against Western Kentucky; kickoff is at 6:45. Their final regular-season game is a week later at Oklahoma.

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Stephen F Austin won the Southland Conference on Saturday, but Southeastern Louisiana is still alive for an at-large FCS playoff spot after beating UIW 10-7. It was a good win for Coach Frank Scelfo’s team after losing the week before to Lamar….

Cut 17 (19)  “…we did.”

The Lions are 8-3 and wrap up the regular season on Thursday by hosting Nicholls in the River Bell Classic.

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Louisiana Tech had just 167 yards of offense in a 28-3 loss to Washington State on Saturday. Coach Sonny Cumbie’s team still needs one more win to become bowl eligible, and they’ll try to get that victory this Saturday at home against Liberty…

Cut 18 (21)  “…next week.”

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ULM jumped out to a 14-0 lead on South Alabama, but ended up losing to the Jaguars 26-14. That’s six straight losses for Coach Bryant Vincent’s team, and they are having a hard time staying away from beating themselves…

Cut 19 (17) “…fourth down.”

The Warhawks are at Texas State this Saturday.

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Nicholls won its final home game of the season, beating rival Northwestern State 26-21. Redshirt freshman running back Shane Lee had a career-high 134 yards rushing and three TDs. Coach Tommy Rybacki will finish Southland play with at least a 500 record after finding a way to get a victory over the Demons…

Cut 20 (17) “…the season.”

The Colonels visit Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday.

11:30 AM LRN Newscast

The Willie Green era has come to an end in New Orleans.  The Pelicans fired their head coach this morning.  The 44 year old Green was in his fifth season as Pelicans head coach with a dismal record of 2-9, including four losses by at least 20 points. Green’s final game was last night’s 118-104 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Louisiana’s former House Speaker, Clay Schexnayder, is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing a rare Louisiana artifact. The 20-foot-long cypress board was last seen 18 months ago in Schexnayder’s legislative office in Gonzales.  Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says this will be a tough case to prosecute…

Cut 9 (13)  “…problematic.”

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Sad news from the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office  announcing the tragic loss of a Vivian Police Officer, shot and killed in the line of duty yesterday evening.  It happened around 5:30 on North Pine Street in Vivian as officers were executing an arrest warrant for 58 year old Nicolas Edward Alexander who was wanted for cyberstalking. We’re told Alexander fired multiple shots through the front door, hitting officer Marc Brock, who later died.  Alexander was arrested after a two-hour stand off.

This is the last weekend of the State Fair of Louisiana; and if you’re a hockey fan, there’s a special deal for you this weekend. Russell Adams with the State Fair tells KEEL if you go to the fair Friday or Saturday, you can get discounted tickets to the Shreveport Mudbugs game at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum.

Cut 3 (11) “…the hockey game.”

10:30 AM LRN Newscast

Tragic news, as a motorcycle crash claimed the life of an Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Deputy last night. Louisiana State Police responded to the two-vehicle crash on LA 44 in Ascension Parish shortly after 9 p.m., where, according to the investigation, 40 year old Deputy Joshua Dunaway was traveling north on his 2024 Suzuki motorcycle when it rear-ended a 2024 GMC Sierra that had just turned right from Lee Drive onto LA 44. Dunaway was pronounced dead at the scene.

Big news in St. Tammany Parish as the 56-million-dollar I-12 widening project is completed months ahead of schedule. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says with the growth in St. Tammany Parish, coupled with I-12 being a major freight corridor for trucks going coast to coast, the volume along that stretch of roadway has increased significantly in just the last few years.

Cut 7 (11) “…20-thousand since 2018.”

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By now, you’ve likely heard that former Louisiana House Speaker, Clay Schexnayder, is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing a rare Louisiana artifact. Schexnayder has said the 20-foot-long cypress board was still in his office when he left last year and he didn’t take it.  Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office is prosecuting the case. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt.

Cut 11 (08) “…for her.”

It’s election day across much of Louisiana.  32 parishes are heading to the polls to vote on propositions.   For information on what, if anything’s on the ballot in your area, go to geauxvote.com.

Quarterback Garret Nussmier is doubtful for today’s game against Arkansas.  Sources say Nussmier has been dealing with an abdominal injury and was officially downgraded from probable to questionable on the SEC availability report.  Michael Van Buren Junior will likely start at QB for the Tigers.

 

 

9:30 AM LRN Newscast

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today they’re firing head coach Willie Green after a 2-10 start to the 2025-26 season.  Green, initially hired after a strong stint as an assistant under Monty Williams with the Phoenix Suns, was let go early in the fifth season of his tenure in New Orleans after a disappointing start that included an NBA-record three 30-point losses in their first six games.

A major milestone in St. Tammany Parish as the 56-million-dollar I-12 widening project is completed months ahead of schedule. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says the freeway was widened in the Covington-Mandeville area.

Cut 6 (07) “…to LA 1077.”

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This is the last weekend of the State Fair of Louisiana, and Andrew Greenstein has a couple ways you can save money.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Health has an important warning for people with infants. ByHeart Inc has issued a recall of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula because it may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria which can make infants sick.  Officials say the formula should be thrown away immediately or returned to the store where it was purchased.

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is heartbroken to announce the tragic loss of a Vivian Police Officer, shot and killed in the line of duty yesterday evening.  It happened around 5:30 on North Pine Street in Vivian as officers were executing an arrest warrant for 58 year old Nicolas Edward Alexander, who was wanted for cyberstalking. When the officers arrived at the front door, Alexander allegedly fired multiple shots through the closed doo. One officer was hit and taken to the hospital where he later died.  Alexander was arrested after a two-hour standoff.

Louisiana’s former House Speaker, Clay Schexnayder, is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing a rare Louisiana artifact. The 20-foot-long cypress board was last seen 18 months ago in Schexnayder’s legislative office in Gonzales.  Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says this will be a tough case to prosecute…

Cut 9 (13)  “…problematic.”

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The Louisiana Department of Health is getting ready to distribute all SNAP benefits to eligible recipients, including able-bodied adults. Beginning next week, full federal benefits will be paid to eligible SNAP households that have not yet received November benefits. Households that have received only 65% of their November benefits will receive the other 35% next week as well.

This is the last weekend of the State Fair of Louisiana; and if you’re a hockey fan, there’s a special deal for you this weekend. Russell Adams with the State Fair tells KEEL if you go to the fair Friday or Saturday, you can get discounted tickets to the Shreveport Mudbugs game at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum.

Cut 3 (11) “…the hockey game.”

And bad news for LSU fans as Quarterback Garret Nussmier is doubtful to today’s game against Arkansas.  Sources say he’s been dealing with an abdominal injury and was officially downgraded from probable to questionable on the SEC availability report.

5:30 LRN Newscast

The widening of I-12 in St. Tammany Parish is completed months ahead of schedule. The 56-million-dollar project widened a nine-mile stretch of I-12 from two lanes to three in each direction. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says the widening of I-12 will have many more benefits beyond simply allowing drivers to more easily get from point A to point B.

Cut 8 (07) “…in that area.”

This is the last weekend of the State Fair of Louisiana for this year; and if you’re a hockey fan, there’s a special deal just for you. Russell Adams with the State Fair tells KEEL radio in Shreveport if you go to the fair Friday or Saturday, you can get discounted tickets to the Shreveport Mudbugs game at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum.

Cut 3 (11) “…the hockey game.”

Indicting him is one thing; convicting him may be another story. Jeff Palermo has more on the difficulty of convicting former House Speaker Clay Schexnayder of theft.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

With November being America Recycles Month, the group Keep Louisiana Beautiful is encouraging you to do your part in protecting the environment. In Lafayette tomorrow, there will be a free paper shredding and glass recycling event at the Robicheaux Recreation Center.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU interim head football coach Frank Wilson says quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has re-aggravated an abdominal injury he sustained in preseason camp, but he’s still expected to start against Arkansas tomorrow. Nussmeier is listed as probable, but Wilson says if Nussmeier’s injury is more problematic than what they thought, Michael Van Buren will make his first start in a Tiger uniform…

Cut 12 (11) “…his progress.”

Tomorrow is the final home game of the season for the ULM Warhawks as they will take on South Alabama. Warhawks Coach Bryant Vincent…

Cut 14 (06) “…where we’re at”

The Warhawks will try to snap a five game losing streak, while South Alabama is 2-7. Kick off is at 2:30.

Grambling State has won four in a row; and last week, fourth string and freshman quarterback Hayden Benoit stepped up for the Tigers, throwing for 220 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Bethune-Cookman. Head coach Mickey Joseph had lots of praise for the freshman out of Loreauville.

Cut 20 (19) “…just didn’t blink.”

Grambling is at Alcorn State at two tomorrow afternoon.

The high school football playoffs begin in earnest tonight. St. Charles Catholic is the top seed in the Division Two Select bracket. Spencer Verrett with the LHSAA Network says he likes the Comets to make it to at least the semifinals, but he says to watch out for the number-two Loyola Prep Flyers.

Cut 17 (14)  “…good Flyers team.”

4:30 LRN Newscast

After securing a grand jury indictment against former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder for allegedly stealing a rare state artifact, now the challenge for Attorney General Liz Murrill is to get a conviction in court. In a statement, Murrill said public officials do not get to keep Louisiana property. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt hopes Murrill spoke with Schexnayder before seeking the indictment.

Cut 10 (09) “…instance.”

A major milestone in St. Tammany Parish as the 56-million-dollar I-12 widening project is completed months ahead of schedule. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says the freeway was widened in the Covington-Mandeville area.

Cut 6 (07) “…to LA 1077.”

Mallett says with the growth in St. Tammany Parish, the volume along that stretch of roadway has increased significantly in just the last few years.

The State Fair of Louisiana wraps up this weekend with Military Appreciation Day on Sunday. All veterans and active duty service members and their families get in for free that day. There will be a military parade down the midway at two Sunday afternoon, and Russell Adams with the State Fair says after the parade will be a special worship service.

Cut 5 (09) “…a good message.”

LSU interim head football coach Frank Wilson says quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has re-aggravated an abdominal injury he suffered in preseason camp, but he’s still expected to start against Arkansas. Wilson says if Nussmeier’s injury is more problematic, Michael Van Buren will make his first start in a Tiger uniform.

Cut 12 (11) “…his progress.”