8:30 LRN Newscast October 18

Two seasons ago, LSU’s Ed Orgeron was on top of the college football world and now he has just five games left, and maybe a bowl game, before he’s no longer the coach at LSU. The school and Coach O have decided to part ways after the 2021 season. The Tigers have won nine games and lost eight since winning the national title. Orgeron was asked why the program has fallen to mediocrity…
cut 14 (08) “….laughs”
Orgeron is receiving a huge buyout to no longer coach at LSU, nearly 17-million dollars.

There’s been another fatal shooting on Grambling State’s campus. The latest one happened Sunday morning. State Police say one person was killed and seven wounded. There was another fatal shooting on campus last Wednesday and authorities have yet to make an arrest in either case. Classes are canceled for today and tomorrow on Grambling’s campus.

Republican U.S. Senator John Kennedy reports he has raised 15-million dollars for his 2022 re-election campaign. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Starting today, hunting and fishing licenses are now stored digitally on the LA Wallet app. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Undersecretary Bryan McClinton …
cut 12 (12) “…show up”

7:30 LRN Newscast October 18

Less than two years after a 15-0 season and a national championship, Ed Orgeron is out as head football coach of the LSU Tigers. Orgeron will continue to lead the program for the rest of the 2021 season, while the search for a new head coach is underway. After that glorious 2019 season. Orgeron’s Tigers have gone 9-and-8…
Cut 13 (11) “…was time”
Orgeron will get nearly 17-million dollars as part of the termination agreement.

There’s good news for sportsmen. Starting today you can bring up your hunting and fishing license on the L-A Wallet app. L-D-W-F’s Bryan McClinton explains how to do it…
cut 11 (13) “….pull it up”

Drug overdose deaths in Louisiana are way up since the Covid-19 pandemic started. Dave Brannen has the details…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

Classes at Grambling State are canceled today and tomorrow as a result of another fatal shooting on campus. Officials say one person was killed and seven others injured early Sunday morning in the second deadly shooting on Grambling’s campus within a four-day period. The person who was fatally shot Sunday was not a student and authorities have yet to make an arrest in either shooting.

6:45 LRN Sportscast October 18

Football coach Ed Orgeron and LSU are parting ways, just a year and a half after winning the 2019 national championship. But since winning the title, the Tigers have won nine games and lost eight. A-D Scott Woodward says Coach O will remain as the head coach for the remainder of this season…
cut 25 (15) “…our university”
As part of the termination agreement, Orgeron will receive nearly 17-million dollars between December 2021 and December 2025. But coaching LSU was Orgeron’s dream job. He was asked why the program has fallen to mediocrity…
cut 14 (08) “…laughs”
Orgeron says he plans to take next year off from coaching.

ULM was a 32.5 point underdog heading into Saturday’s game against Liberty but the Warhawks put out the Flames with a 31-28 victory in Monroe. ULM trailed 14-0 at half but exploded for 28 points in the third quarter. Chandler Rogers threw two touchdown passes. Coach Terry Bowden says Rogers is figuring it out after signing with the school in the summer
Cut 20 (20) “with the football.”

Also on Saturday, UTEP trounced La Tech 19-3. Southeastern Louisiana dominated Houston Baptist 61-24, McNeese defeated Northwestern State 35-17 and UIW knocked off Nicholls 38-21, Grambling and Southern were both winners.

6:30 LRN Newscast October 18

LSU and Football Coach Ed Orgeron have agreed to part ways and this will be Orgeron’s final season as head coach of the Tigers. Since the national championship season, the Tigers have nine wins and eight losses. LSU athletics director Scott Woodward says it was time for a new direction…
Cut 15 (11) “..that standard.”
Orgeron says he has no regrets and will receive 17-million dollars as part of his buyout.

The CDC says there were a record 21-hundred overdose deaths in Louisiana from March 2020 to March of this year, a 56-percent increase from the previous 12-month period. Clinical Director of the Louisiana Addiction Center at LSU-Shreveport, Doctor James Patterson says you can certainly blame the pandemic and the lack of interaction with other human beings…
cut 5 (08) “….on our society”

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says he’s raised 15-million dollars for his 2022 re-election campaign and has nearly 10-million dollars on hand. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Kennedy is so popular with his constituents he could raise another 10-million dollars or more…
cut 8 (13) “…conservative idol up there”
So far only one announced challenger, Democrat Luke Mixon of Baton Rouge.

The L-A Wallet app is being put to use in another convenient way. Bryan McClinton with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says that beginning today hunting and fishing licenses will also be displayed on the app.
Cut 10 (08) “…the waterproof paper.”
LA Wallet is also used to show driver’s licenses and Covid-19 vaccination confirmations.

LRN AM Newscall October 18

Drug overdose deaths in Louisiana are way up since the Covid-19 pandemic invaded the state.  Details from reporter Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

___________________________________

Republican U.S. Senator John Kennedy reports he has raised $15-million for his 2022 re-election campaign. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

_________________________________________

When LSU won a national championship in 2019, it seemed like Ed Orgeron would be the coach of the Tigers forever. But less than two seasons later, he’s out. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

___________________________________________

Shocking statistics from the CDC show that drug overdose deaths in Louisiana shot up by 56-percent between March 2020 and March of this year. Dr. James Patterson, Clinical Director of the Louisiana Addiction Research Center at LSU-Shreveport, blames social isolation during the pandemic for the dramatic increase.

Cut 4 (06) “…on stress.”

According to the CDC, predicted drug overdose deaths totaled more than 21-hundred in the one-year period ending this past March.

Dr. Patterson says that a lack of interaction with other human beings during the pandemic has proven costly.

Cut 5 (08) “…on our society.”

Dr. Patterson says the impact of social isolation and overdose deaths are reflected in part in the way a large segment of grade school children in Caddo Parish are handling the pandemic.

Cut 6 (08) “…the past year.”

_____________________________________

Republican U.S. Senator John Kennedy reports he has raised $15-million dollars for his re-election campaign in 2022. Required campaign finance reports show Kennedy raised $3.25-million in the 3rd quarter of this year, and that he has nearly $10-million cash on hand. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the Kennedy figures are (quote) “amazing”….:

Cut 7 (09) “…working very hard.”

In a press release Friday, Kennedy said “Louisianans continue to humble me with their support” and vows to continue to fight the liberal/progressive agenda. Pinsonat says, with a year before he must run for re-election, Kennedy is so popular with constituents he could quite likely raise another $10-million dollars or more…:

Cut 8 (13) “…conservative idol up there.”

Pinsonat says a seated senator’s likelihood of being re-elected has a lot to do with the popularity of the man in the White House…:

Cut 9 (09)  “…a great position.”

(Pinsonat says if Kennedy runs without a highly popular Republican challenger, his chances of another term are quite good.)

_________________________

The app LA Wallet is being put to use in another convenient way. Bryan McClinton with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says that beginning today hunting and fishing licenses will also be displayed on the app.

Cut 10 (08)  “…the waterproof paper.” 

LA Wallet is also used to show driver’s licenses and Covid-19 vaccination confirmations.

McClinton says you don’t have to do anything to make sure your hunting or fishing licenses are actually incorporated with the LA Wallet app.

Cut 11 (13) “…pull it up.”

While you may choose to carry your physical hunting and fishing licenses with you, McClinton says it won’t be necessary from now on as long as you have a registered LA Wallet app on your smartphone.

Cut 12 (12) “…versions any longer.”

___________________________________

Less than two years after a 15-0 season and a national championship, Ed Orgeron is out as head football coach of the LSU Tigers. Orgeron will continue to lead the program for the rest of the 2021 season, while the search for a new head coach is underway. After that glorious 2019 season. Orgeron’s Tigers have gone 9-and-8…

Cut 13 (11) “…was time”

Orgeron was asked why the program has fallen to mediocrity

Cut 14 (08)  “…(laughs)”

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward says it was time for a new direction based on the on-field results and the evaluation of the potential for future immediate success…

Cut 15 (11)  “..that standard.”

Orgeron currently has 15 high school football players in the Class of 2022 committed to LSU. He’s already met with two of them and plans to tell all of them to keep their commitment to LSU…

Cut  16 (14) “…will not change”

_____________________________________________________________

In LSU’s upset win over Florida, the Tigers got a record-setting performance by junior running back Ty Davis-Price. The junior from Baton Rouge rushed for a school-record 285 yards on 36 carries and also had three touchdowns. Davis-Price credits his o-line…

Cut 17 (16) “.proud of em” 

LSU rushed for 321 yards, while one of the top rushing attacks in college football, Florida, was held to 138 yards. The defense also forced four turnovers, which resulted in 21 points. Senior linebacker Damone Clark had a game-sealing I-N-T late in the fourth quarter. Clark says a player’s only meeting led by injured defensive end Andre Anthony put the team in right mind frame…

Cut 18 (14)”…we did”

_________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech failed to score a touchdown in a 19-3 loss to Texas-El Paso on Saturday. Bulldogs quarterback Austin Kendall threw for 164  yards and he was intercepted three times. Coach Skip Holtz says it was a disappointing performance…

Cut 19 (10)  “…consistently.” 

____________________________________________________

ULM was a 32.5 point underdog heading into Saturday’s game against Liberty but the Warhawks put out the Flames with a 31-28 victory in Monroe. ULM trailed 14-0 at half but exploded for 28 passes in the third quarter. Chandler Rogers threw two touchdown passes. Coach Terry Bowden says Rogers is figuring it out after signing with the school in the summer

Cut 20 (20)  “with the football.” 

10:30 LRN Newscast Oct 16

Movie productions in Louisiana and nationwide could come to a screeching halt on Monday as film and TV workers are set to strike at 12:01 AM on Monday.

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

 

State Farm the state’s largest insurance carrier refuses to follow Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s directive to cover temporary living expenses for policyholders who evacuated due to Ida, regardless of whether parish leaders issued mandatory evacuation orders. State Farm is arguing Donelon overstepped his legal authority.

A week after Lafayette’s Police Chief Thomas Glover was fired, he called in on Mayor Josh Guillory’s weekly radio show on KPEL accusing the mayor of firing him without cause. A reason has never been given as to Glover’s firing and Guillory only refers to it as a personnel matter. Glover however says he along with the community deserves an explanation.

Cut 8 (11) “…any reason.”

Wayne Griffin, a 19-year veteran with the department, has been named interim chief and instead of answering Glover’s questions, Guillory wanted to sing the praises of interim Chief Griffin and tout his loyalty to the city.

Cut 9 (08) “…of Lafayette.” 

Glover was fired from the department on October 7th.

9:30 LRN Newscast Oct 16

Authorities are searching for 19-year-old Jatavious Carroll of Delhi as he’s the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting that occurred on Grambling State’s campus early Wednesday morning. State Police Master Trooper Michael Reichardt says Carroll also know as “Rabbit” shot two teenagers at an unsanctioned party…

Cut 13 (06) “…and released”

The man fatally shot has been identified as 19-year-old Demarius Murphy of Rayville.

LSU Professor Adelaide Russo who served as chair of the Department of French Studies has been removed from her position after a lawsuit was filed by six women against the university for failing to investigate complaints of sexual misconduct against a former graduate student. On Monday a protest will be held on the campus at 2 pm to raise awareness and support for survivors of sexual assault and harassment.

Funeral services are being held today in Baton Rouge for Master Trooper Adam Gaubert who was killed in the line of duty a week ago in a multi-parish shooting spree. Gaubert was 47. The suspect Matthew Mire is being held in the East Baton Rouge Prison without bond.

Louisianans are enjoying much cooler temperatures today and state climatologist Barry Keim says this is the weekend to spend outdoors

Cut 5 (11) “…warm and humid.”

Highs should only reach into the 70s today through Monday.

And almost six weeks after hurricane Ida made landfall, Ochsner St Anne Hospital in Raceland has returned to full operations. The hospital resumed labor and delivery and surgical services on Friday. In the immediate aftermath of Ida, patients were transferred to Ochsner facilities across the state, including Ochsner St. Mary in nearby Morgan City.

 

8:30 AM LRN Newscast Oct 16

A week after Lafayette’s Police Chief Thomas Glover was fired, he called in on Mayor Josh Guillory’s weekly radio show on KPEL accusing the mayor of firing him without cause. Glover says he’s been told Guillory is now questioning people in the department and community looking for a reason to say he was terminated.

Cut 6 (12) “…get justice.” 

When asked to respond on the Thursday call-in show, Guillory stated that everyone, even former employees, has the right to go to the media and say whatever they want.

Cut 7 (11) “….personnel matter”  

A reason has never been given as to Glover’s firing and Guillory only refers to it as a personnel matter.

Louisiana is waking up to much cooler temperatures this morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says highs should only reach into the 70s today through Monday making it ideal for a lot of outdoor activities.

Cut 4 (11) “…to do it.”

At last word, StubHub’s Adam Budelli says there were thousands of tickets still available for today’s 11am kickoff for the LSU-Florida game in Tiger Stadium

Cut 10 (09)  “…LSU Tigers’ game.” 

An early morning kickoff, the Tigers’ three-and-three record thus far this season appear to be owing in part to the lower than usual ticket demand. Experts predict a Tigers loss to the Gators could mean the end of the road to Coach Ed Orgeron’s time at LSU.

5:30 LRN Newscast Oct 15

Lafayette’s recently fired police chief called in on the mayor’s weekly radio show asking for an explanation that’s yet to be given for his termination. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

 

Authorities are searching for 19-year-old Jatavious Carroll of Delhi as he’s the suspected shooter in the fatal shooting that occurred on Grambling State’s campus early Wednesday morning. State Police Master Trooper Michael Reichardt says Carroll also know as “Rabbit” shot two teenagers at an unsanctioned party…

Cut 13 (06) “…and released”

 

At last word, StubHub’s Adam Budelli says there were thousands of tickets still available for tomorrow morning’s kickoff for the LSU-Florida game in Tiger Stadium

Cut 10 (09)  “…LSU Tigers’ game.” 

The 11 a.m. kickoff and the Tigers’ three-and-three record thus far this season appear to be owing in part to the lower than usual ticket demand. Experts predict a Tigers loss to the Gators could mean the end of the road to Coach Ed Orgeron’s time at LSU.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says to enjoy the last warm day we’ll have for at least a few days because changes are coming.

cut 3 (12) “….it is fall”

Keim says low temps will drop into the 50s in the northern parishes and 60s in the southern parishes tomorrow morning, and by Sunday morning low temperatures will fall about another ten degrees.

16:45 LRN Sportscast

A short-handed LSU team is set to take on 20th ranked Florida at 11 AM on Saturday. The Bayou Bengals will be missing five starters on defense. Defensive linemen Ali Gaye and Joseph Evans are the two latest Tigers who have been ruled out for the year because of injuries.

The Tigers are an 11.5 point underdog and because of the team’s recent performance and early kick-off time, you can expect plenty of no-shows. Stubhub’s Adam Budelli says they have tickets as cheap as 20-dollars on their site for the Florida game…
cut 12 (10) “…bench”
Budelli says they have 42-hundred tickets available for sale at Stubhub and the average price for a ticket sold is 180-dollars.

Southeastern Louisiana, Grambling and Northwestern State also have home games on Saturday. The Lions host Houston Baptist, Grambling takes on Texas Southern and the Demons welcome the McNeese Cowboys to Turbin Stadium.

Louisiana Tech returns from a week off to take on UTEP on Saturday night in El Paso. The Bulldogs are two and three and won their only conference game of the year, a 24-17 victory over North Texas. Coach Skip Holtz is glad the non-conference games are done…
cut 17 (13) “….next seven weeks”
UTEP is 5-and-1 and the Miners are off to their best start since 2019. UTEP’s defense ranks 16th in the FBS as they allowing just 300 yards a game. The kick-off is at 8 PM.

The Saints are off this Sunday and they will not play again until a week from Monday when they visit the Seahawks. Seattle plays on Sunday night this weekend as they play the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson’s streak of 149 straight starts will come to an end as the Seahawks quarterback had finger surgery and he’ll miss the Saints game too.