8:30 Newscast

As of Saturday morning, seven of the ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center early Friday morning are still at large.

Cut 12 (07) “…in the jail.”

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says the inmates weren’t discovered missing until a routine headcount at 8:30 a.m. and the public wasn’t notified for more than an hour and half after the discovery. Photos of the inmates weren’t made available until more than four hours after the discovery. The escapees are considered very dangerous, convicted and accused of various crimes including murder.

Cut 15 (05) “…approach these subjects.”

The three recaptured inmates are Kendal Myles captured in the French Quarter, Robert Moody, captured with the help of a Crimestoppers tip, and Dkenan Dennis found near Chef Menteur Highway.

Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing daily with the gas mecca set to be completed by late 2026. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A handful of bills in the legislature would effectively raise the cost of healthcare, including imposing a dispensing fee to support local pharmacies. A new poll by JMC Analytics shows the vast majority says the price of healthcare is already too high. JMC founder John Couvillon…

Cut 6 (14) “…over additional options.”

He says two-thirds of people polled would not pay more for prescription drugs, even if it would support local pharmacies.

7:30 LRN Sportscast

I’m Colleen Crain and this sportscast on the Louisiana Radio Network is brought to you by the Louisiana Department of Health, when gambling is more than a game, no one wins…

The top-ranked LSU baseball team got back in the win column last night with an eight-to-one win over South Carolina. Junior first baseman Jared Jones hit two home runs, and Ethan Frey also homered. Kade Anderson struck out nine and allowed one earned run for his seventh win of the year.

Big upset in the NCAA Softball Tournament last night as Southeastern Louisiana scored four unanswered runs to beat LSU in the opening round of the Baton Rouge Regional. The win for Southeastern was just the second ever-for the Lady Lions in 26 meetings versus the Tigers and their first win since 2007.

LSU now has to win four straight games to win the Baton Rouge Regional. They will play the loser of today’s winner’s bracket game between Nebraska and Southeastern, which will begin at noon.

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In the Hammond bracket of the Southland Conference Tournament, eighth-seeded UNO is 2-and-0 after beating Northwestern State three to two. Southeastern Louisiana avoided elimination by eliminating McNeese seven to four.

Southeastern will play Northwestern State at 1 PM today in a loser’s bracket game. The winner plays UNO and will need to beat the Privateers to advance to the Southland Tournament Championship series.

At the LHSAA state baseball tournament…Catholic High of Baton Rouge won its second consecutive state title with an eight-to-one win over Brother Martin.

Every other series will be decided today. Sam Houston came from behind to beat Live Oak four to three. ED White walked off Teurlings Catholic four to three. Brusly scored 14 runs in the second inning and shut out North DeSoto 15-0.

The other two championship games are Sterlington and Erath, which has been a very entertaining series, with Erath winning yesterday seven to six and Catholic High of New Iberia versus University High.

5:30 LRN Newscast

We’re learning new information on how ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says the inmates started yanking on a cell door to pull it off its track shortly before 12:30 Friday morning.

Cut 12 (07) “…in the jail.”

The sheriff’s office released a photo of the cell, with the toilet pulled from its bolts, a hole cut into the wall where the toilet had been and graffiti taunting jail staff written above. They exited a door at the loading docks, scaled a wall and ran across I-10 to escape. Deputy Chief of Corrections Jay Mallett says based on the design of the toilets, the inmates had to have had accomplices from outside the jail facility.

Cut 14 (09) “…from the inside.”

Furthermore, Sheriff Hutson says this was likely an inside job, with the inmates getting help from people from within the department.

There’s a small handful of bills in the legislature that would effectively raise the cost of healthcare, including imposing a dispensing fee to support local pharmacies. A new poll shows that voters are not too keen on the idea. The poll was conducted by JMC Analytics and was commissioned by the group Save Our Benefits. JMC founder John Couvillon says the vast majority says the price of healthcare is already too high.

Cut 6 (14) “…over additional options.”

Construction of North Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s is progressing, with the 74-thousand-square-foot travel center set to feature 120 gas pumps.  Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says it also involves eight-million dollars in infrastructure improvements.

Cut 3 (08) “…finished with that.”

16:45 LRN Sportscast

I’m Andrew Greenstein and this sportscast on the Louisiana Radio Network is brought to you by the Louisiana Department of Health, when gambling is more than a game, no one wins…

Number one ranked LSU baseball will look to bounce back tonight after blowing a late lead and losing to South Carolina six to five last night. The Tigers will send Kade Anderson to the mound tonight. Anderson is second in the nation in strikeouts with 124. South Carolina will send sophomore lefty Jake McCoy to the mound. He throws in the mid-90s, but has an ERA of 6.71.

Logan Forstyhe struck out a career-high 10 hitters for his first win of the season as Louisiana Tech topped New Mexico State 12-7. The Bulldogs will look for their fourth victory in a row at 6 PM.

ULM got a gem from Daniel Gonzalez last night as the Warhawks shutout South Alabama four to nothing. Game two is at 6 PM.

The Cajuns have lost four straight Sun Belt games and tonight they host Arkansas State again after losing to them three to nothing.

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At the state baseball tournament in Sulphur….Erath and Catholic High of New Iberia have forced a third and deciding game in their championship series on the Division Three level. The Bobcats won a back and forth game between Sterlington, beating the Panthers seven to six. Brennan Broussard’s two-run triple in the sixth inning was the game winning hit.

And Catholic High of New Iberia defeated University High eight to one and the Panthers and Cubs will play for the Division three select state championship tomorrow at 11 AM.

Brusly also forced a third and deciding game by scoring 14 runs in the second inning for a 15 to nothing win over North Desoto in three runs. All 14 runs came after two outs.  Lead off hitter Aidan Washington had three hits and drove in three runs.

Tonight…Catholic High of Baton Rouge will try to win its second consecutive title as it battles Brother Martin at 5:30. Also at 5:30 .Live Oak looks for its first ever state championship when it faces Sam Houston.

4:30 PM Newscast

We’re learning new information on how ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says the inmates started yanking on a cell door to pull it off its track shortly before 12:30 Friday morning.

Cut 13 (09)  “…Interstate shortly thereafter.”

The sheriff’s office released a photo of the cell, with the toilet pulled from its bolts, a hole cut into the wall where the toilet had been and graffiti taunting jail staff written above. Initially, it was reported that 11 inmates escaped and that two had been recaptured but Hutson says one believed to have escaped had been transferred to another cell. One escapee has been recaptured but Hudson is urging people to remain vigilant.

An historic plantation in Iberville Parish was destroyed by fire Thursday. Nottoway Plantation built in 1859 and was the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the south. The plantation has welcomed visitors from around the world since the 1980s. No one was hurt in the blaze.

As lawmakers consider a small handful of bills that would in effect increase the cost of healthcare, a new poll indicates that people believe the cost is already too high. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

“The Gardener of Alcatraz” and “Camp Scare” are among the books chosen for the Louisiana Readers’ Choice Awards for the 2024-25 school year. State Librarian Meg Placke (“plack-ee”) says more than 24-thousand K-through-12 students read more than 82-thousand books. That marked a surge in participation, especially among 6th through 8th graders, with an 88-percent voting increase.

Cut 9 (08)  “…difficult to do.”

UPDATED LRN PM Newscall May 16 (Updates jail escape story with new information throughout)

Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing daily with the gas mecca set to be completed by late 2026. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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As lawmakers consider a small handful of bills that would in effect increase the cost of healthcare, a new poll indicates that people believe the cost is already too high. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s is progressing, with the 74-thousand-square-foot travel center set to feature 120 gas pumps. Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says it involves eight-million dollars in infrastructure improvements.

Cut 3 (08) “…finished with that.”

Walker estimates completion by late 2026, delayed by roadwork expanding bridges to five lanes to handle 15-thousand daily vehicles.

Cut 4 (09) “…26 being open.”

Walker says the 60-million-dollar project will create over 250 full-time jobs, with starting pay at up to 20 dollars per hour, plus benefits like health insurance and 401k matching.

Cut 5 (07) “…that’s really big.”

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There’s a small handful of bills in the legislature that would effectively raise the cost of healthcare, including imposing a dispensing fee to support local pharmacies. A new poll shows that voters are not too keen on the idea. The poll was conducted by JMC Analytics and commissioned by the group Save Our Benefits. JMC founder John Couvillon says the vast majority says the price of healthcare is already too high.

Cut 6 (14) “…over additional options.”

Couvillon says two-thirds of people polled would not pay more for prescription drugs, even if it would support local pharmacies.

Cut 7 (10) “…over everything else.”

Couvillon says besides sending a clear message to lawmakers about the possibility of making healthcare more expensive, the poll does not bode well for local independent pharmacies, especially in smaller communities.

Cut 8 (13) “…was somewhat stronger.”

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“The Gardener of Alcatraz” and “Camp Scare” are among the books chosen for the Louisiana Readers’ Choice Awards for the 2024-25 school year. State Librarian Meg Placke (“plack-ee”) says more than 24-thousand K-through-12 students read more than 82-thousand books. That marked a surge in participation, especially among 6th through 8th graders, with an 88-percent voting increase.

Cut 9 (08)  “…difficult to do.”

Placke says each year, committees of teachers and librarians compile a list of fiction and nonfiction books.

Cut 10 (12) “…excited about reading.”

Since its inception 26 years ago, the program has engaged students with over 1.5 million books read and nearly 485-thousand votes cast. Placke says the program continues to grow…

Cut 11 (13) “…major increases.”

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We’re learning new information on how ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says the inmates started yanking on a cell door to pull it off its track shortly before 12:30 Friday morning.

Cut 12 (07) “…in the jail.” (Inmates cut a hole in the wall behind where the toilet once was)

The sheriff’s office released a photo of the cell, with the toilet pulled from its bolts, a hole cut into the wall where the toilet had been and graffiti taunting jail staff written above, including the misspelled words, “too easy.”

Cut 13 (09)  “…Interstate shortly thereafter.”

Deputy Chief of Corrections Jay Mallett says based on the design of the toilets, the inmates had to have had accomplices from outside the jail facility.

Cut 14 (09) “…from the inside.”

Furthermore, Sheriff Hutson says there’s every indication that this was an inside job, that the escapees got help from people from within the department. Initially, it was reported that 11 inmates escaped and that two had been recaptured. Hutson says one of them had actually been transferred to another cell and records had not been updated; thus, he never tried to escape. One escapee has indeed been recaptured. Hutson is urging people to remain vigilant.

Cut 15 (05) “…approach these subjects.”

In an earlier news conference, New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the escapees very likely have changed out of their prison-issued jumpsuits.

Cut 16 (14) “…taken to safety.”

3:30 PM Newscast

Details of the escape of 10 Orleans Parish inmates are immerging. A large hole behind a sink and toilet was discovered inside a cell and that is believed to be how the inmates escaped. There was some graffiti above the structure that could been a message pointing the way to the escape portal. A manhunt is still underway. As of 3:00 Friday at least one inmate has been recaptured. NOPD Superintendent, Anne Kirkpatrick says the escapees have very likely have changed out of their prison-issued jumpsuits.

Cut 16 (08) “…to stand out.”

A poll was conducted by JMC Analytics shows Louisianans believe the cost of healthcare is too high JMC founder John Couvillon says it sends a clear message to lawmakers about the possibility of making healthcare more expensive, and it does not bode well for local independent pharmacies, especially in smaller communities.

Cut 8 (13) “…was somewhat stronger.”

Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing daily with the gas mecca set to be completed by late 2026.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Over 24-thousand Louisiana K-12 students read more than 82-thousand books last year and cast their votes for the 2024-2025 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award.  State Librarian Meg Placke says each year, committees of teachers and librarians compile a list of fiction and nonfiction books.

Cut 10 (12) “…excited about reading.”

2:30 PM Newscast

A manhunt in underway in New Orleans. Two of the 11 escaped inmates from the Orleans Parish jail have been recaptured, one by NOPD and another by State Police Troop NOLA. The escape was discovered around 8:30 this morning. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says it happened at the sheriff’s jail, but NOPD, and multiple agencies are involved in the search for the remaining escapees.

Cut 14 (14) “…NOLA troops involved.”

Construction of Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing, with completion estimated by late 2026.  Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says the 60-million-dollar project will create over 250 full-time jobs, with starting pay at up to 20 dollars per hour, plus benefits like health insurance and 401k matching.

Cut 5 (07) “…that’s really big.”

As lawmakers consider a small handful of bills that would in effect increase the cost of healthcare, a new poll indicates that people believe the cost is already too high. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Over 24-thousand Louisiana K-12 students cast their votes for the 2024-2025 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award.  Since its inception 26 years ago, the program has engaged students with over 1.5 million books read and nearly 485,000 votes cast. State Librarian Meg Placke says the program continues to grow…

Cut 11 (13) “…major increases.”

LRN PM Newscall May 16

Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing daily with the gas mecca set to be completed by late 2026. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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As lawmakers consider a small handful of bills that would in effect increase the cost of healthcare, a new poll indicates that people believe the cost is already too high. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

___________________________________________________

Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s is progressing, with the 74-thousand-square-foot travel center set to feature 120 gas pumps. Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says it involves eight-million dollars in infrastructure improvements.

Cut 3 (08) “…finished with that.”

Walker estimates completion by late 2026, delayed by roadwork expanding bridges to five lanes to handle 15-thousand daily vehicles.

Cut 4 (09) “…26 being open.”

Walker says the 60-million-dollar project will create over 250 full-time jobs, with starting pay at up to 20 dollars per hour, plus benefits like health insurance and 401k matching.

Cut 5 (07) “…that’s really big.”

________________________________________________

There’s a small handful of bills in the legislature that would effectively raise the cost of healthcare, including imposing a dispensing fee to support local pharmacies. A new poll shows that voters are not too keen on the idea. The poll was conducted by JMC Analytics and commissioned by the group Save Our Benefits. JMC founder John Couvillon says the vast majority says the price of healthcare is already too high.

Cut 6 (14) “…over additional options.”

Couvillon says two-thirds of people polled would not pay more for prescription drugs, even if it would support local pharmacies.

Cut 7 (10) “…over everything else.”

Couvillon says besides sending a clear message to lawmakers about the possibility of making healthcare more expensive, the poll does not bode well for local independent pharmacies, especially in smaller communities.

Cut 8 (13) “…was somewhat stronger.”

________________________________________________

“The Gardener of Alcatraz” and “Camp Scare” are among the books chosen for the Louisiana Readers’ Choice Awards for the 2024-25 school year. State Librarian Meg Placke (“plack-ee”) says more than 24-thousand K-through-12 students read more than 82-thousand books. That marked a surge in participation, especially among 6th through 8th graders, with an 88-percent voting increase.

Cut 9 (08)  “…difficult to do.”

Placke says each year, committees of teachers and librarians compile a list of fiction and nonfiction books.

Cut 10 (12) “…excited about reading.”

Since its inception 26 years ago, the program has engaged students with over 1.5 million books read and nearly 485-thousand votes cast. Placke says the program continues to grow…

Cut 11 (13) “…major increases.”

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Breaking news out of New Orleans as 11 inmates have escaped from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s jail. Two have since been recaptured. Sheriff Susan Hutson says the inmates were discovered missing this morning.

Cut 12 (06) “…were unaccounted for.”

While the inmates were discovered missing at 8:30 this morning, it was at least an hour and a half before the sheriff’s office alerted the media and the public. The jail is on lockdown, and Hutson is urging people to stay vigilant.

Cut 13 (05)  “…approach these subjects.”

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says even though the escape happened under the watch of the sheriff’s office, NOPD is involved in the search for the remaining escapees because it happened in the city. Kirkpatrick says many other agencies are also involved.

Cut 14 (14) “…NOLA troops involved.”

Kirkpatrick says police are reaching out to the victims of the escapees and the witnesses who helped put them behind bars.

Cut 15 (14) “…taken to safety.”

Kirkpatrick says the escapees very likely have changed out of their prison-issued jumpsuits.

Cut 16 (08) “…to stand out.”

1:30 PM Newscast

Breaking news out of New Orleans

Cut 12 (06) “…were unaccounted for.”

Sheriff Susan Hutson says 11 inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish  jail. One has since been recaptured but even after the inmates were discovered missing this morning, it was at least an hour and a half before the sheriff’s office alerted the media and the public. The jail is on lockdown, and people are being urged to stay vigilant and not to approach the escapees under any circumstances.

A recent poll shows over 70% of Louisianans believe prescription drug prices, insurance premiums, and co-pays are too high. The poll was commissioned by Save Our Benefits and conducted by JMC Analytics. JMC founder John Couvillon says the two-thirds of people polled would not be willing to pay more for prescription drugs, even if it would support local pharmacies.

Cut 7 (10) “…over everything else.”

Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing daily with the gas mecca set to be completed by late 2026.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Over 24-thousand Louisiana K-12 students read more than 82-thousand books last year and cast their votes for the 2024-2025 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award.  State Librarian Meg Placke says this marks a surge in participation, especially among 6th-8th graders, with an 88-percent voting increase.

Cut 9 (08)  “…difficult to do.”