4:30 LRN Newscast

A man acting as a police officer in Webster Parish is arrested after shooting a dog. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The suspect in a fatal bicycle crash in Monroe was arrested earlier today. 18-year-old Andrew Grant tested positive for more than 14 times the detection limit of THC. Witnesses testified Grant’s vehicle struck the cyclist after running a stop sign on March 26

LSU D-H Ethan Fry has had a breakout season his junior year with a team-leading .359 batting average. The former Rosepine star sat behind the talented championship-winning roster at LSU in 2023 and played in 34 games for the Tigers last year before a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. Rosepine baseball coach Jeff Smith says Frey returned home to recover…

Cut 8 (12) “…his determination.”

Three men from the Acadiana area have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a ten-million-dollar staged crash fraud scheme. State Police Trooper Peggy Bourque says the trio came up with a plan to stage a crash at an intersection in Lafayette…

Cut 12 (09) “…juvenile passengers” 

15:30 LRN Newscast

A man posing as a police officer in Webster Parish is arrested for shooting a dog. Webster Sheriff Jason Parker says 54-year-old Reginald Ferguson, wearing a Cullen Police Department uniform and badge, showed up to question a lady about an aggressive dog complaint. Parker says Ferguson is not on the force.

Cut 5 (11) “…in the town.”

At last report, the dog is still alive, but Parker says there’s a possibility it may be put down.

State Police have arrested three men for staging a vehicle crash and then trying to claim ten-million dollars in damages from the insurance company of a trucking company that was involved in the crash. State Police Trooper Peggy Bourque says one of the subjects, 37-year-old Alfred Onezine of Breaux Bridges faces multiple charges…

Cut 13 (13) “…an officer”

Bourque says Onezine is facing cruelty to juvenile charges because he had three children in a vehicle that was hit from behind by a company truck.

 

The House Education Committee has approved a Senate bill that would give parents of K-through-12 students the ability to allow for a mental health screening on their children. The measure passed on a 10-1 vote. State Representative Beryl Amedee of Terrebonne Parish voted against the legislation over concerns the mental health screenings could lead to unintended consequences…

Cut 11 (06) “…..and the school”

The measure, already approved by the Senate, heads to the House floor for a vote.

Former Rosepine star Ethan Frey has become LSU’s best hitter this season. Frey’s high school baseball coach at Rosepine, Jeff Smith, says he first saw Frey swing a bat in T-Ball and knew right then he would be something special…

Cut 7 (14) “….his part”

Frey and the Tigers will play West Virginia in the Super Regionals. Game one is Saturday at 1 PM.

2:30 LRN Newscast

A man acting as a police officer in Webster Parish is arrested for shooting a dog over the weekend. A video posted onto social media shows 54-year-old Reginald Ferguson wearing a Cullen Police Department uniform and badge as he shot the dog. Sheriff Jason Parker says Ferguson was not dispatched to the scene; he went on his own.

Cut 4 (14) “…answered the door.”

The House Education Committee advances a bill that would pave the way for public schools to give mental health screenings to K-through-12 students. Baton Rouge Democratic Senator Larry Selders says the screenings give schools a way to identify students who are struggling so that they can get them help.

Cut 9 (05)  “…get the resources.”

Some, however, expressed concerns that the students’ privacy could be jeopardized.

LSU Designated Hitter Ethan Frey has had a breakout junior season, but not all fans are surprised. Kace Kieschnick has more…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A Bossier Parish woman is living proof that it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams. Loretta Wiley walked across the stage at Louisiana Tech to receive her master’s degree in counseling and guidance – at the age of 75. Wiley started the program back in 2006, but life circumstances forced her away from the classroom. Her desire to complete the program never wavered.

LRN PM Newscall June 4

A man acting as a police officer in Webster Parish is arrested after shooting a dog. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

___________________________________________________

LSU Designated Hitter Ethan Frey has had a breakout junior season, but not all fans are surprised. Kace Kieschnick has more…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

___________________________________________________

A man acting as a police officer in Webster Parish is arrested for shooting a dog over the weekend. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker says 54-year-old Reginald Ferguson shot the dog as the dog’s owner was within very close proximity, and she’s lucky that she didn’t get hurt.

Cut 3 (12) “…at the lady.”

A video posted onto social media shows Ferguson wearing a Cullen Police Department uniform and badge. Sheriff Parker says Ferguson was not dispatched to the scene; he went on his own.

Cut 4 (14) “…answered the door.”

In fact, it appears that Ferguson is not even on the force. Parker says the Cullen City Council rejected Ferguson three times when presented by Police Chief Fannie Rankin. So it’s unclear how he obtained his uniform or why he was even allowed to drive a city-issued marked police unit.

Cut 5 (11) “…in the town.”

The dog is still undergoing treatment, and Parker says it’s possible that the dog may need to be put down. As for Ferguson, he’s booked into the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Facility on 25-thousand dollars bond.

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LSU D-H Ethan Frey is one of the best hitters in the country right now, according to his Head Coach Jay Johnson. Frey’s high school coach, Rosepine’s Jeff Smith, says his success doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone back home…

Cut 6 (15) “…was apparent.”

Frey was named Mr. Baseball in Louisiana in 2022 and led his school to back-to-back state championships. Frey was also quarterback for the Rosepine football team. Smith says folks in southwest Louisiana won’t forget him any time soon…

Cut 7 (14) “…his part.”

Frey sat behind the talented championship-winning roster at LSU in 2023 and played in 34 games for the Tigers last year before a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. Smith says Frey returned home to recover…

Cut 8 (15) “…his determination.”

________________________________________________

The House Education Committee advances a bill that would pave the way for public schools to give mental health screenings to K-through-12 students. The committee, however, changed it to allow parents to opt out. The bill’s author, Baton Rouge Democratic Senator Larry Selders, says the screenings give schools a way to identify students who are struggling so that they can get them help.

Cut 9 (05)  “…get the resources.”

Some on the panel, however, expressed concerns that the students’ privacy could be jeopardized. Gray Republican Beryl Amedee says she’s concerned that schools would have too much authority over students’ sensitive health data.

Cut 10 (14) “…can’t unsee it.”

Amedee says while Selders’ bill would prohibit schools from making decisions based on the result of the mental health screenings, there could still be unintended consequences.

Cut 11 (06) “…and the school.”

The committee advanced the bill on a 10-to-one vote and now heads to the full House for consideration. Because of amendments passed, it would then have to go back to the Senate before it can land on Governor Landry’s desk.

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Three men from the Acadiana area have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a ten-million-dollar staged crash fraud scheme. State Police Trooper Peggy Bourque says a report from a trucking company led to the arrests of 45-year-old Justin Ledet of Rayne, 38-year-old Steven Thomas of Lafayette and 37-year-old Alfred Onezine. Bourque says the three men came up with a plan to stage a crash at an intersection in Lafayette…

Cut 12 (09) “…juvenile passnegers” 

Bourque says following the crash, Thomas and Onezine, along with the children in the vehicle filed suit against the trucking company that Ledet works for. After an investigation involving State Police and the state Department of Insurance, Ledet and Thomas were charged with automobile insurance fraud. Bourque says Onezine faces additional charges…

Cut 13 (13)  “…officer.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says at a time when Louisiana drivers already pay the highest auto rates in the nation, these men put three children in harm’s way to tray and make a quick buck.

1:30 PM Newscast

Hurricane season has begun, and the state is preparing. Some have expressed concern that recent cuts to the National Weather Service may hinder its ability to provide essential information when severe storms approach. Governor Landry says fortunately for Louisiana, the state has Jay Grymes.

Cut 4 (11) “…us accurate information.”

Grymes says if last year is any indication, it’s going to be a very busy hurricane season for him and the state.

LSU Designated Hitter Ethan Frey is one of the best hitters in the country right now, according to his Head Coach Jay Johnson. Frey’s high school coach, Rosepine’s Jeff Smith, says his success doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone back home…

Cut 6 (15) “…was apparent.”

In 2022, Frey was named Mr. Baseball in Louisiana and led his school to back-to-back state championships.

A man acting as a police officer in Webster Parish is arrested after shooting a dog. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A man who was arrested for allegedly threatening to harm a Priest at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Pine Prairie allegedly previously threatened to shoot every person that exited the front door of a church diocese in Lafayette if he wasn’t allowed to see a certain clergy member. After Sheriff’s deputies arrested Kenneth Vicknair and charged him with simple assault for the threats in Evangeline Parish, authorities to transported him to Lafayette Parish pending charges of terrorizing.

12:30 PM Newscast

A man posing as a police officer in Webster Parish is arrested for shooting a dog over the weekend. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker says 54-year-old Reginald Ferguson, wearing a Cullen Police Department uniform and badge, showed up to question a lady about an aggressive dog complaint. Parker says Ferguson is not on the force. It’s unclear how Ferguson obtained his uniform and was allowed to drive a city-issued marked police unit.

Cut 5 (11) “…in the town.”

The search continues for the last two inmates of the ten who escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail last month. One of them, Antoine Massey, posted a video to social media proclaiming his innocence on domestic abuse charges. State Police Superintendent Colonel Robert Hodges says there’s a proper forum where Massey could plead his innocence – the courtroom.

Cut 8 (07) “…you’re an escape.”

Cotton planting season is wrapping up, and the LSU AgCenter says this year’s crop could be the smallest one on record. LSU AgCenter Cotton and Corn Specialist Shelly Pate Kerns says farmers are not planting as much cotton because of low demand and low prices.

Cut 11 (09) “..other crops.”

While cotton acreage is shrinking, corn acreage is increasing, experts are predicting around 600-thousand acres of corn, nearly a 17-percent increase over last year.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU Coach Jay Johnson brought big changes to the lineup for the Tigers’ must-win 10-6 victory over Little Rock Monday night. Slugging first baseman Jared Jones was moved from second in the order to sixth due to a hitting slump. D-H Ethan Frey moved up to replace him, and shortstop Steven Milam followed third after batting fifth and sixth Sunday. Johnson says it was now or never.

Cut 17 (15)  “…take a risk”

Frey helped the risk pay off, going 4-for-4 with four RBI from the two-hole, and Jones hit a game-sealing two-run shot in the ninth inning from the six-spot/

LSU will host West Virginia in a best-of-three Super Regional this weekend. Game one is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.

Derek Carr’s retirement is official after the Saints placed him on the reserve-retired list yesterday. The same day as his retirement, second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry switched his jersey number to Carr’s number four. Free agent wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones will take McKinstry’s former number 14.

Pirates ace Paul Skenes tallied his sixth loss of the season last night despite giving up just one run and three hits over eight innings. Skenes also walked one and struck out eight in the 3-0 loss to the Astros.

The Women’s College World Series Championship between 6-seeded Texas and 12-seeded Texas Tech kicks off tonight. The Red Raiders are led by former UL-Lafayette skipper Gerry Glasco, who left the Cajuns for improved NIL opportunities in Lubbock. Those opportunities turned into a record setting over $1 million deal for 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year pitcher NiJaree Canady (NY-juh-ree Can-uh-dee). Canady has a dominant 32- and-5 record this season and willed the Red Raiders through Super Regionals and the WCWS, pitching five straight complete games- all wins. She’ll start again tonight at 7:00.

11:30 AM Newscast

A man acting as a police officer in Webster Parish has been arrested for shooting a dog over the weekend. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker says the dog’s owner is fortunate she wasn’t hurt when 54-year-old Reginald Ferguson shot her dog.

Cut 3 (12) “…at the lady.”

A social media video shows Ferguson wearing a Cullen Police Department uniform and badge. Sheriff Parker says Ferguson was not dispatched to the scene; he went on his own. He is being held on 25-thousand dollars bond.

More than two and a half weeks since ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail, two remain at large. One of them, Antoine Massey recently posted on Instagram that he’s innocent of the charges that landed him in jail. State Police Superintendent Colonel Robert Hodges says those who helped Massey post that video will likely also be facing charges.

Cut 7 (07) “…online platform.”

The Louisiana House approves a bill that makes it a crime to knowingly give another person an incurable sexually transmitted infection. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

We’re into the first week of hurricane season Brigadier General Jason Mahfouz says don’t be dismissive of a storm just because it doesn’t rise to the level of a Category One hurricane.

Cut 6 (11) “…high-intensity winds.”

10:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry has this message for the two inmates who remain at-large after escaping from the Orleans Parish jail on May 16th….

Cut 22 (08) “…day in court”

Authorities raided a home in New Orleans yesterday in search of 32-year-old Antoine Massey. It’s believed that Massey recorded an Instagram video from that house where he used the social media platform to declare his innocence and he also asked for help from several different celebrities and President Trump.  Convicted killer Derrick Groves also remains at-large.

Cotton planting season is wrapping up, and the LSU AgCenter says this year’s crop could be the smallest one on record. LSU AgCenter Cotton and Corn Specialist Shelly Pate Kerns says acreage is way down from last year.

Cut 10 (10) “…all-time low.”

Pate Kerns says cotton acreage is down due to low demand and low prices.

The Louisiana House approves legislation that would result in a long prison sentence for anyone convicted of intentionally infecting another person with an incurable sexually transmitted disease. Monroe Democrat Pat Moore’s measure calls for a person to serve at least ten years in prison if convicted of this crime and serve at least 25 years of hard labor if the victim is a juvenile or a senior citizen…

Cut 12 (10) “…incurable disease.”

The bill passed the House on a 68-18 vote, but it received pushback from New Orleans Democrat Jason Hughes.  Hughes says unless there’s a written contract, how can a prosecutor prove someone did not verbally disclose they have an incurable sexually transmitted disease?

Cut 13 (11)  “…safe place?”

The Louisiana Senate still needs to approve the bill.

9:30 LRN Newscast

With hurricane season now here, the state is urging you to begin making your preparations now instead of waiting until the last minute before a storm approaches. Brigadier General Jason Mahfouz says don’t be dismissive of a storm if it doesn’t rise to the level of a Category One hurricane; even tropical storms can have devastating effects.

Cut 6 (11) “…high-intensity winds.”

The search continues for the last two inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail last month. One of them is 32-year-old Antoine Massey, who posted a video onto social media proclaiming his innocence on domestic abuse charges. State Police Superintendent Colonel Robert Hodges says there’s a proper forum where Massey could plead his innocence – the courtroom.

Cut 8 (07) “…you’re an escape.”

Pelicans owner Gayle Benson addresses the lawsuit filed against Zion Williamson. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Just over a week left in the legislative session, and several bills are nearing the finish line. Among them is one that would ban hand-held cell phone use while driving. That’s now one House vote away from landing on Governor Landry’s desk. It comes after several previous attempts to pass similar legislation; this time, supporters say it could contribute to lower auto insurance rates.