1:30 LRN Newscast

Get ready for some more frigid weather conditions. This weekend will start off mild throughout the state, with tomorrow starting out in the 50s. But then a cold front will come barreling through the state. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says by Sunday night, temperatures will drop like a rock.

Cut 7 (09) “…the coastal parishes.”

Drive sober, or get pulled over. The three-week enhanced drunk driving enforcement operation got underway today and runs through New Year’s Day. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says the holiday season has traditionally been deadly on Louisiana roadways due to drinking and driving, and last year was no different.

Cut 4 (13) “…alcohol-related crash.”

Three Prep Classic champions crowned; five coronations to go – including either Ouachita Parish or Ruston tomorrow. Ouachita Parish is in the Prep Classic for the first time since 1994, and head coach Benjy Lewis says his team knew it had a chance to be special after losing a close game to Ruston in week six.

Cut 12 (14) “…started it.”

This is Ruston’s fourth straight appearance in the Prep Classic; and this year, the Bearcats are looking to erase some painful memories. Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh says the players are using last season’s 42-0 loss to Central as motivation.

Cut 14 (15) “…for this year.”

Haynesville, Riverside Academy and Dunham won titles yesterday.

12:30 LRN Newscast

Between now and New Year’s Day, there will be extra police on the roadways looking for drunk drivers, as the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is now underway. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says there’s traditionally an increase in drinking and driving during the holiday season.

Cut 3 (07) “…and New Year’s.”

If you have nothing better to do this weekend, you’ll want to prepare for some brutally cold weather getting set to come through the state. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the weekend will start off mild, but the winds of change will blow into the state tomorrow night.

Cut 6 (11) “…50s all day.”

Temperatures Sunday night will plunge into the 20s in the northern parishes and close to freezing in the coastal parishes.

The Haynesville Golden Tornado captured their 18th football state title yesterday — and it was a very special one for their coach. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Riverside Academy and Dunham also captured state titles yesterday, and three more champions will be crowned today.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Day one of the LHSAA Prep Classic was an entertaining one as Haynesville defeated Mangham by a score of 39-37 in the first game of the day to claim its 18th football state championship in school history, which is the second most in school history. In the second game of the day, Riverside Academy claimed its second state title after beating Ascension Catholic by a score of 31-21. In the final game of the day, the Dunham Tigers defeated Calvary Baptist Cavaliers by a score of 34-17 behind quarterback Elijah Haven’s 5 total touchdowns to claim their second state title.

Today, the Jena Giants are playing for their first state championship today as they take on the defending champion Sterlington Panthers. Aaron Dietrich, the sports director at KNOE-TV, says the support in LaSalle Parish has taken off.

Cut 10 (14) “…for Jay Roark.”

The SEC revealed the 2026 league schedule for all 16 teams last night. LSU will open up the Lane Kiffin era at home where the Tigers will face Clemson. LSU’s SEC schedule opens up in week three on September 19th, where Lane Kiffin will return to Oxford for the first time to face his former team in Ole Miss. LSU is tasked with a brutal November schedule as the Tigers will host Alabama and Texas in back to back weeks and then will finish the season on the road at Tennessee and at Arkansas. The Tigers will also be at Kentucky and at Auburn this season.

The LSU men’s basketball team will face SMU in the Compete 4 Cause Classic tomorrow night in New Orleans. The Tigers are coming off an ugly loss to Texas Tech, and head coach Matt McMahon says the team has to do better moving forward, starting with the offensive side of the ball.

Cut 17 (13)  “…three-point shot.”

Tipoff between the Tigers and Mustangs in the Smoothie King Center is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Nike chooses LSU as the first school to partner with in its new NIL venture that teams up directly with athletes. Zach Greenwell, LSU’s deputy athletic director for external affairs, says they’re promoting products on the Nike store that’s specific to them and their respective sports.

Cut 8 (12) “…place to start.”

Haynesville, Riverside Academy and Dunham won state championships yesterday. Three more champions will be crowned today, and Ouachita Parish will play in its first title game tomorrow as it takes on Ruston. Aaron Dietrich, the sports director at KNOE-TV, says the Lion faithful will be out in full force.

Cut 12 (12) “…towards New Orleans.”

A star-studded lineup will take the stages at the 2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 1 (39) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

The mad rush is on for Powerball tickets. The jackpot for tomorrow night’s drawing is more than one-billion dollars. Powerball hasn’t had a jackpot winner since September 6th.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is expressing concern over the immigration raids stretching from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. Nungesser says the one-size-fits-all approach is the wrong approach, and there needs to be a better solution.

Cut 15 (13) “…and deporting them.”

This afternoon in the Superdome, Sterlington is playing for its second straight state football championship; while its opponent, Jena, is seeking its first ever. Aaron Dietrich, the sports director at KNOE-TV, says Sterlington may have the best rushing offense in the entire state.

Cut 11 (08) “…that is amazing.”

The Division Three non-select title game follows the Iowa-North DeSoto title game in Division Two non-select. Haynesville, Riverside Academy and Dunham won state titles yesterday.

Nike announces a first-of-its-kind partnership with LSU – and it’s the athletes who win. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Speaking of LSU, as the football team gets set to take on Houston in the Texas Bowl, it now knows its schedule for the 2026 season. It begins at home against Clemson Saturday, September 5th. Two weeks later, Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford as the Tigers face Ole Miss.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Tickets go on sale today for the 2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Producer and Director Quint Davis says what makes Jazz Fest unique is that it takes place during daytime hours.

Cut 6 (07) “…boogie around town.”

The 2026 Jazz Fest takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course April 23rd through May 3rd, but not the Monday through Wednesday in between.

Nike selects LSU as the first school for its new Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program. Whereas companies like Nike have partnered with athletic programs for decades, this new venture by Nike partners with the athletes themselves in a robust targeted marketing campaign for its products. Zach Greenwell, LSU’s deputy athletic director for external affairs, says being the first chosen for this new venture is a tremendous honor.

Cut 9 (10)  “…the next level.”

Ouachita Parish is seeking to avenge its week-four loss to Ruston in the Prep Classic tomorrow. Jeff Palermo is in the Superdome with a preview of the matchup.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

If you can teach high school algebra or geometry, the Lafayette Parish School System has a deal for you that really adds up. The school system is offering a three-thousand dollar bonus for new high school math teachers. The one-time stipend begins in the upcoming spring semester.

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

A star-studded lineup is announced for the 2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 1 (39) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

Lane Kiffin will return to Oxford on September 19th. The Tigers will kick off SEC play by visiting Ole Miss on that day. LSU’s home schedule includes games against Clemson, Texas A&M, Alabama and Texas.

_____________________________________________________

Nike announces a new NIL venture, and has chosen to partner with ten LSU athletes on its first campaign.  Zach Greenwell, LSU’s deputy athletic director for external affairs, says Trey’Dez Green, Derek Curiel and gymnast Kailin Chio are among the athletes. Greenwell says they will promote Nike products

Cut 8 (12) “…place to start.”

At the LHSAA Prep Classic yesterday, Haynesville won its 18th state championship, Riverside and Dunham each won their second. Today, Iowa and Jena will play in their first-ever state championship game.  KNOE-TV sports Aaron Dietrich says the Giants will have a lot of support in the dome today…

Cut 10 (14) “…for Jay Roark.”

————————

 

7:30 AM LRN Newscast

Nike announces a first-of-its-kind partnership with LSU athletes.  Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

At the LHSAA Prep Classic, the Dunham Tigers won their first state championship since 2004 as they took outCalvary Baptist 34-17.  Haynesville won its 18th state championship as they beat Mangham 39-37.  And Riverside took out Ascension Catholic 31-21.

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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is expressing concerns about the impact of Operation Catahoula Crunch. Nungesser says the enhanced immigration enforcement operation has immigrant communities on edge, and could hurt tourism in the state, which is why he’d like to see a different approach.

Cut 14 (07) “…the whole community.”

The lineup for next year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has been announced.  The Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Rod Sewart, and Louisiana’s own Lainey Wilson will be among the performers.  Producer and Director Quint Davis says Jazz Fest will five-thousand musicians will be performing on 14 stages during the eight-day festival, and nearly all genres of music are represented.

Cut 5 (06) “…a blues tent.”

 

 

6:45 LRN Sportscast December 12

You can start making plans for the fall of 2026 as LSU’s full schedule was released last night and Lane Kiffin will make his return to Oxford on September 19th. The Tigers will kick off SEC play by visiting Ole Miss. The home schedule looks great, with games against Clemson, Texas A&M, Alabama and Texas, but LSU’s final two games are on the road…at Tennessee and Arkansas.

At the LHSAA Prep Classic, the Dunham Tigers won their first state championship since 2004 as the Tigers topped Calvary Baptist 34-17. The nation’s number one quarterback in the Class of 2027, Elijah Haven threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores.

And Haynesville won its 18th state championship as the Golden Tornado denied Mangham its first state title since 1956 by beating the Panthers 39 to 37.

___________________________________________________________

The LHSAA Prep Classic continues today as Jena will make its first state championship game appearance at 3:30 as it takes on the defending champs in Division 3 non-select, the Sterlington Panthers. KNOE-TV sports Director Aaron Dietrich says Sterlington might have the best running game in the state…

Cut 11 (09) “…that is amazing”

Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough rushed for two touchdowns in last Sunday’s upset win over Tampa Bay. Shough says he always could run the ball and wants to make sure he keeps defenses on their toes.

Cut 19 (15) “…as I can.”

The Saints host the Panthers Sunday. Kickoff is at 3:25.

6:30 AM LRN Newscast

As Operation Catahoula Crunch expands from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is expressing concerns about its impact. Nungesser says not only does the enhanced immigration enforcement operation have immigrant communities on edge, but it could have an adverse effect on the biggest sector of New Orleans’ economy.

Cut 13 (09)  “…questioned or harassed.”

Nike has chosen LSU as the first school to partner with on a new NIL venture. Nike and other companies have partnered with schools for years, but Nik’s Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program is the first to partner with the athletes themselves. Zach Greenwell, LSU’s deputy athletic director for external affairs, says the company is partnering with ten athletes on a big campaign to promote Nike products.

Cut 7 (12) “…our roll-out.”

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Ouachita Parish is seeking to avenge its week-four loss to Ruston in the Prep Classic tomorrow. Jeff Palermo is in the Superdome with a preview of the matchup.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Eagles, Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart are among the headliners announced for the 2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Producer and Director Quint Davis says Jazz Fest will also be a homecoming for Lainey Wilson.

Cut 4 (08) “…real roots Louisiana.”

Tickets go on sale today.