3:30 PM Newscast

Charges have been upgraded for an accused accomplice in the February death of Adan Manzano, the reporter in town covering the Super Bowl who was found unresponsive in his Kenner hotel. Rickey White who has been in police custody originally facing fraud and theft related charges is now facing second degree murder charges for his alleged involvement along with Danette Colbert who was first arrested in February after she was seen on surveillance leaving Manzano’s hotel room. Upon her arrest, she was found to be in possession of his phone and credit cards.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for most of the state starting tomorrow through Thursday night. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says slow moving thunderstorms will produce three to eight inches of rain and some areas could get 12-inches potentially causing flash flooding in rivers, creeks, streams, urban areas, and other flood-prone spots.

Cut 10 (11) “…prepared for this.”

Stay alert to weather updates and potential warnings.

The Coast Guard says they’ve gained the upper hand on a oil spill off Plaquemines Parish but Environmentalists fear the oil could threaten marine wildlife and further erode Louisiana’s coastline. Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit says Coast Guard crews are working to protect as much marine wildlife as they can.

Cut 8 (13) “…to capture it.”

The Coast Guard has 20 skimmers, 220 responders, and more than 20-thousand feet of containment boom on site. While Well 59 has not been abandoned, it has not had any measurable oil pressure since the 1990s.

Vandebilt Catholic won a Louisiana record 16th state championship in softball on Sunday in Sulphur with a seven to five win over St. Charles Catholic. Terriers Coach James Spearman says his girls have been resilient all year and it was on display after falling behind two to nothing in the first inning…

Cut 12 (12) “…good job”

UPDATED LRN PM Newscall May 5 (fixes outcue in Cut 6)

The Coast Guard gains the upper hand on a huge oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A flood watch will be in effect for the majority of the state by the National Weather Service starting tomorrow.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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When you’re out on the roadways this month, make a special effort to look out for motorcycles. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says while overall deaths on Louisiana roadways are down, the same cannot be said for motorcycle deaths.

Cut 3 (12) “…in motorcycle fatalities.” (13% increase in motorcycle deaths from 2021 to 2023)

Fischer says, however, that the increase may be in part attributed to the fact that the state has started including e-bike deaths into its statistics. Still, Fischer says it’s up to all drivers to make every effort to watch for motorcycles, and that includes not driving aggressively or impaired.

Cut 4 (11) “…to do this.”

Fischer says motorcyclists also need to do their part as well – obey the same traffic laws as those driving cars, and always wear a helmet – especially since it’s required by law in Louisiana. The minimum requirements are that the helmet must include a visor. But Fischer says you should always opt for a full-face helmet.

Cut 5 (09) “…my tooth out.”

In 2023, 97 motorcyclists died in crashes in Louisiana, accounting for more than 15-percent of all deaths in the state.

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The Coast Guard says it has gained the upper hand on a major oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Coast Guard Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit says the well intervention team did so at around noon yesterday.

Cut 6 (15) “…source of discharge.”

Well 59, located near Garden Island Bay, sprung a leak more than a week ago, spewing tens of thousands of gallons of oil into gulf waters. VanderWeit says so far, crews have collected almost 80-thousand gallons of oily water, with an untold amount still to go.

Cut 7 (12) “…safely as possible.”

Environmentalists fear the oil that seeped through the well and into the water could threaten marine wildlife and further erode Louisiana’s coastline. VanderWeit says Coast Guard crews are working to protect as much marine wildlife as they can.

Cut 8 (13) “…to capture it.”

The Coast Guard has 20 skimmers, 220 responders, more than 20-thousand feet of containment boom on site. While Well 59 has not been abandoned, it has not had any measurable oil pressure since the 1990s.

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The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for most of the state starting tomorrow and lasting through Thursday night. The watch area covers all of south Louisiana, northeast Louisiana and most of central Louisiana. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the National Weather Service in Lake Charles is reporting slow moving thunderstorms will produce three to eight inches of rain and some areas could get 12-inches…

Cut 9 (10)  “…pumped into Louisiana.”

This weather event could cause flash flooding in rivers, creeks, streams, urban areas, and other flood-prone spots. Keim urges all residents to be prepared.

Cut 10 (11) “…prepared for this.”

Flash flooding is dangerous—stay alert to weather updates and potential warnings. Keim says residents should monitor conditions closely and have a safety plan in place.

Cut 11 (12) “…be smart.”

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Vandebilt Catholic won a Louisiana record 16th state championship in softball on Sunday in Sulphur with a seven to five win over St. Charles Catholic. Terriers Coach James Spearman says his girls have been resilient all year and it was on display after falling behind two to nothing in the first inning…

Cut 12 (12) “…good job”  (Sound courtesy of LHSAA Network

North Desoto had a walk off victory over Assumption to claim its seventh state title. Griffins head coach Tim Whitman called for a suicide squeeze to drive in the winning run, but he gives the credit to his seniors…

Cut 13 (08)  “…they fought” (Sound courtesy of LHSAA Network)

Calvary Baptist won its fifth state championship in a row, John Curtis won its 13th overall. Other winners include Sam Houston, Doyle, LaSalle, Menard, Quitman and Calvin.

Cut 14 (09) “…to the environment.”

2:30 PM Newscast

As of noon Sunday, the Coast Guard says it has gained the upper hand on the oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Coast Guard Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit says Well 59 near Garden Island Bay began leaking more than a week ago, spewing tens of thousands of gallons of oil into gulf waters. He says so far, crews have collected almost 80-thousand gallons of oily water.

Cut 7 (12) “…safely as possible.”

Environmentalists fear the oil that seeped into the water could threaten marine wildlife and further erode Louisiana’s coastline. So far only one oiled bird has been observed.

Funds from the Lottery slipped in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. The Louisiana Lottery transferred close to $45.1 million to the state treasury but that’s down $1.4 million from last quarter and down $35.8 million when compared to the first three quarters of last fiscal year. Lottery President, Rose Hudson said, “Strong inflationary pressures and jackpot fatigue continue to have an adverse effect on sales this quarter.”   The Lottery Corporation is looking to add value with second-chance promotions and partnerships with popular brands like NASCAR.

A flood watch will be in effect for the majority of the state by the National Weather Service starting tomorrow.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says there’s been 13% increase in motorcycle deaths from 2021 to 2023. He says it’s up to all drivers to make every effort to watch for motorcycles, and Fischer says motorcyclists also need to do their part: obey the same traffic laws as motorists, and always wear a helmet and always opt for a full-face helmet.

Cut 5 (09) “…my tooth out.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

The Coast Guard gains the upper hand on an oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Health says the state has already surpassed last year’s total number for whooping cough cases. L-D-H has identified 164 cases in the first four months of 2025, last year there was a total of 153 cases. Two infants have also died from pertussis, the first reported deaths in Louisiana since 2018.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for most of the state starting tomorrow and lasting through Thursday night. The watch area covers all of south Louisiana, northeast Louisiana and most of central Louisiana. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the National Weather Service in Lake Charles is reporting slow moving thunderstorms will produce three to eight inches of rain and some areas could get 12-inches…

Cut 9 (10)  “…pumped into Louisiana.”

The state softball championships concluded yesterday and North Desoto had a walk off victory over Assumption to claim its seventh state title. Griffins head coach Tim Whitman called for a suicide squeeze to drive in the winning run, but he gives the credit to his seniors…

Cut 13 (08) “…they fought”

That sound is courtesy of the LHSAA Network.

12:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Department of Health says it’s only May, but the number of whooping cough cases has already surpassed all of 2024. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says there are vaccines to protect people from whooping cough…

Cut 15 (16) “…during each pregnancy.”

It’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness month and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says there’s a 13-percent increase in the number of motorcyclists killed from 2021 to 2023. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer has this message for the other motorists…

Cut 4 (11) “…do this”

The Coast Guard says it has gained the upper hand on a major oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Coast Guard Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit says the well intervention team did so at around noon yesterday.

Cut 6 (15) “…source of discharge”

So far, crews have collected almost 80-thousand gallons of oily water, with an untold amount still to be collected.

Vandebilt Catholic won a Louisiana record 16th state championship in softball on Sunday in Sulphur with a seven to five win over St. Charles Catholic. Terriers Coach James Spearman says his girls have been resilient all year and it was on display after falling behind two to nothing in the first inning…

Cut 12 (12) “…good job”

The sound is courtesy of the LHSAA Network.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team fell only one spot the DI-baseball poll, despite dropping its series against Texas A-and-M. Tough loss yesterday for the Tigers as they could not hold on to a two-run lead in the eighth inning and lost six to four to the Aggies. Tough series for Zac Cowan as he suffered the loss in games one and three in the series. Yesterday, he gave up three run homer to Caden Sorrell in the eighth inning. The Tigers will host Grambling tomorrow.

It was also a rough weekend for Louisiana Tech and ULM. Both were on the receiving ends of sweeps, the Bulldogs were swept by Western Kentucky and the Warhawks were swept by Texas State.

The Ragin Cajuns they swept Georgia State. U-L Lafayette scored 28 runs in the three-game series and they out homered the Panthers eight to three. U-L Lafayette is now one game back of third place Troy and will visit Southern Miss this weekend. The Golden Eagles are in second place.

 

Former Houston safety AJ Haulcy has committed to the LSU Tigers. He becomes the 18th player to commit to LSU. Haulcy also visited Miami, but officially committed to LSU during his visit to Baton Rouge this past weekend. He was a first-team All-Big 12 selection last year and had five interceptions for the Cougars. The senior entered the transfer portal during the spring window.

LSU men’s basketball has signed Israeli guard Ron Zipper. He’s six foot five and averaged 11 points for a team in the Israeli Premier Winner League. The left-hander shot 36-percent from three-point territory. Coach Matt McMahon says Zipper is a highly skilled guard and an excellent three-point shooter.

At the State softball championships…Vandebilt Catholic won its 16 state championship after beating St. Charles Catholic seven to five in the Division Two select state title game. The 16 softball championships Vandebillt are the most in LHSAA History. John Curtis won its 13th title with a two to nothing win over St. Thomas More. And Calvary Baptist has now won five straight titles.

11:30 LRN Newscast

When you’re out on the roadways this month, make a special effort to look out for motorcycles. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says while overall deaths on Louisiana roadways are down, the same cannot be said for motorcycle deaths.

Cut 3 (12) “…in motorcycle fatalities.”

Small businesses are finding it harder to find quality workers to fill their job openings. The National Federation of Independent Business’ April jobs report showed that 34-percent of small businesses reported job openings that they could not fill. State Director Leah Long says this has been an issue that’s been going on for about a year.

Cut 10 (13) “…skilled work set.”

Whooping cough cases continue their upward trend in Louisiana. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says there have been 164 cases of whooping cough so far this year, already eclipsing 2024’s total of 153.

Cut 13 (13)  “…one year old.”

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles has made significant progress in helping residents prepare for the May 7th REAL ID enforcement date. Acting Deputy Commissioner Matthew Boudreaux encourages all residents to visit express-lane-dog-org to schedule an appointment and has a REAL ID checklist.

Cut 6 (09) “…express-lane-dot-org.”

 

10:30 LRN Newscast

Small businesses in Louisiana and across the country are having trouble filling job openings. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.

Aurelia Giacometto is out as Secretary for the Department of Environmental Quality. Giacometto has been a controversial figure as DEQ secretary as an audit released in March found that 78-percent DEQ employees said morale was down with her as Secretary and 33-percent said it was toxic work environment.

This year, Louisiana’s honeybee population is experiencing its worst decline on record, with beekeepers reporting a staggering 60-percent loss in colonies. Louisiana Beekeepers Association VP Kevin Langley says this collapse threatens not only local ecosystems but also national food supplies, as bees play a crucial role in pollinating crops.

Cut 7 (12) “…in California.”

Langley attributes the decline in the honeybee population to pesticide use, habitat loss, and disease.

The Louisiana Department of Health says the state has already surpassed last year’s total number for whooping cough cases. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness…

Cut 14 (12) “….getting the disease”

Two infants have also died from whooping cough. Sokol is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated.

9:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Department of Health says it’s only May, but the number of whooping cough cases has already surpassed all of 2024. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says there are vaccines to protect people from whooping cough, and she especially urges certain women to get vaccinated.

Cut 15 (16) “…during each pregnancy.”

Sokol says to take extra cautions when around newborns, because they cannot get a whooping cough vaccine until they’re two months old.

Wednesday is the enforcement deadline for the REAL ID, which means you’ll need the REAL ID to fly domestically without a passport and a REAL ID is needed to enter federal buildings. Matthew Boudreaux with the Office of Motor Vehicles says you can visit express-lane-dot-org to schedule an appointment if you don’t have a REAL ID and there’s also a checklist of items needed to get a REAL ID…

Cut 6 (09) “…express lane-dot-org.

 

Small businesses continue to find it hard to fill their job openings. The National Federation of Independent Business’ April jobs report showed that 34-percent of small businesses reported job openings that they could not fill. NFIB State Director Leah Long.

Cut 10 (13) “…skilled work set.”

Job openings were the highest in the construction, transportation and manufacturing sectors.

The Louisiana Bookeepers Association says its seeing a dramatic decline in the honeybee population.  Vice President Kevin Langley says there is hope. Farmers, researchers, and environmentalists are raising awareness and promoting bee-friendly practices such as pollinator gardens, limiting pesticide use during blooms…

Cut 9 (12)  “…to the bees.”

Langley says pesticide use is one of the main reasons for honeybee population decline.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Whooping cough cases continue their upward trend in Louisiana. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says there have been 164 cases of whooping cough this year, already eclipsing 2024’s total of 153.

Cut 13 (13)  “…one year old.”

Sokol says the best way to protect newborns from whooping cough is for pregnant women to receive a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy.

The latest NFIB jobs report finds that labor shortages continue to constrain small business job growth. NFIB state director Leah Long says the lack of qualified applicants is a real issue in Louisiana, which is why they support two House bills at the state capitol that would create the One Door workforce policy…

Cut 12 (12) “…one-door policy”

Louisiana’s honeybee population is experiencing a sharp decline. Louisiana Beekeepers Association VP Kevin Langley attributes the decline to pesticide use, habitat loss and disease, all of which weakens bee immune systems…

Cut 8 (06) “….pesticides”

Langley says there is hope. Farmers, researchers, and environmentalists are raising awareness and promoting bee-friendly practices such as pollinator gardens, and limiting pesticide use during blooms.

Starting Wednesday Americans will need an enhanced form of identification to fly domestically. It’s called the REAL ID and the state Office of Motor Vehicles has been pushing Louisianas to get a REAL ID before Wednesday’s enforcement date. OMV’s Acting Deputy Commissioner Matthew Boudreaux you’ll still be able to get a REAL ID after Wednesday…

Cut 5 (15) “….process those transactions”