A company owned by entertainer 50 Cent finalizes a deal to invest almost 125-million dollars to develop three entertainment venues in Shreveport. The state is providing up to 50-million dollars in performance-based funding for these three sites. Grant Nuckolls with Shreveport Film and Entertainment Economic Development says there are conditions attached to this funding.

Cut 3 (11) “…three through five.”

Citing a decrease in uncertainty, small businesses are feeling more optimistic as 2026 gets underway. Leah Long, the Louisiana Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says there are some issues that need to be addressed, however – including, and perhaps especially, swipe fees.

Cut 8 (06) “…their swipe fees.”

Long says for example, some restaurants in the Baton Rouge area pay around 80-thousand dollars a year in swipe fees. 

A 28-year-old Jennings woman who lost her unborn child is facing criminal charges after investigators determine it was drug use that killed the child. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Governor Landry announces on social media that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion requirements have been removed from the state’s Civil Service system. In his statement, Landry said the move ensures that all employment decisions for state agencies will be strictly based on merit. The move does not apply to private employers.

Lane Kiffin is off to a hot start as the head coach at LSU. Yesterday, Kiffin landed a commitment from redshirt sophomore Sam Leavitt of Arizona State, who’s the top-rated quarterback in the transfer portal. Tiger Rag magazine editor Glenn Guilbeau says Leavitt is the full package.

Cut 21 (07): “…he can run.”

Today, the Tigers added redshirt freshman transfer running back Dilin Jones of Wisconsin. Jones served as the Badgers’ starting running back before he suffered a season-ending turf toe injury against Ohio State in mid-October. In seven games, Jones rushed for 300 yards with two touchdowns on 76 carries. Coming out of high school, Jones was a four-star and was rated as the No. 10 running back in the country in the Class of 2024 according to 247sports.com.

Last night, the Houston Texans defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 to advance to the divisional series where they’ll play the Patriots. Former Saints and current Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins recovered a fumble, and the 305-pounder took it 33 yards down the field for a touchdown.

LSU redshirt freshman transfer quarterback Colin Hurley announced his commitment to Michigan today. In his two seasons with the Tigers, he did not see a single snap.  Hurley is expected to be the backup for Bryce Underwood.

LSU redshirt sophomore transfer offensive lineman Paul Mubenga is headed to Nebraska. Mubenga started in six games for the Tigers at left guard this season. LSU redshirt junior transfer linebacker Princeton Malbrue announced he is heading back home to play for UL-Lafayette. Malbrue, a Carencro native, attended Lafayette Christian Academy in high school.

The LSU men’s basketball team looks to get its first SEC win of the season tomorrow as the Tigers host Kentucky at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Head coach Matt McMahon told the media on Tuesday that senior guard DJ Thomas’ status remains day-to-day as he deals with a lower leg injury.

LSU sophomore gymnast Kailin Chio was named SEC Gymnast of the Week after capturing the all-around title in session I of the Sprouts Quad. Chio finished with a 39.600 score.

Jennings Police charge a 28-year-old woman with feticide after investigators say a drug overdose led to the death of her unborn child. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says they’ve never investigated a case like this…

Cut 13 (07) “…for this”

Semmes says Shandelynn Benoit was taken into custody at the same residence where the overdose occurred. She was 37 weeks pregnant when her unborn child was pronounced dead. Investigators say Benoit admitted to using fentanyl and heroin.

A California doctor has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly mailing abortion pills to a woman in St. Tammany Parish. According to court documents, Dr. Remy Coeytaux mailed a medication known as an abortion pill, to a woman who said she was forced to take them by her boyfriend. Attorney General Liz Murrill says Coeytaux is not providing healthcare, instead he’s dealing drugs…

Cut 10 (03) “…those doctors.”

Prosecutors in Louisiana are also involved in a similar case with a doctor out of New York.

Shreveport finalizes a deal with a company owned by entertainer 50 Cent to develop three entertainment venues in the city. 50 Cent is investing almost 125-million dollars, while the state is providing up to 50-million dollars in performance-based funding. Grant Nuckolls with Shreveport Film and Entertainment Economic Development says if 50 Cent does not keep up with his end of the bargain, the state’s funding will go away.

Cut 4 (09) “…clawback provisions too.”

The goal of the investment is to make northwest Louisiana a serious player in film and TV production, along with bringing in additional live events.

The search is on for a 26-year-old woman who escaped from the Iberia Parish courthouse just before was set to be sentenced for an aggravated battery charge. Jada Landry fled the area in a vehicle. That vehicle was found, but Landry remains on the run.

A California doctor has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly trafficking abortion pills into Louisiana. Doctor Remy Coeytaux has been charged in St. Tammany Parish with Criminal Abortion by Means of Abortion Inducing Drugs. Attorney General Liz Murrill says her office is seeking to extradite Doctor Coeytaux to Louisiana…

Cut 9 (06)  “…our state.”

Coeytaux is also facing a lawsuit from a Texas man who alleges he illegally provided his girlfriend with abortion pills. Coeytaux has not responded to the accusations made against him.

The NFIB says optimism among small business owners continues to rise and uncertainty has declined to its lowest level since June 2024. NFIB state director Leah Long says small business owners begin the year with a greater sense of optimism, but challenges remain…

Cut 7 (10) “…that in 2026”

Shreveport finalizes a deal with a company owned by entertainer 50 Cent to develop three entertainment venues in the city. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Authorities are looking for a 27-year-old New Iberia woman who fled the Iberia Parish courthouse on Monday as she was about to be sentenced on an aggravated battery charge. After leaving the courthouse, Jada Landry posted on Facebook…”They can have their handcuffs back, but not me. The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for information on her whereabouts.

A Jennings woman is facing third degree feticide charges after her unborn child died after she allegedly overdosed on fentanyl. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says Shandelynn Benoit admitted to taking fentanyl and heroin to alleviate stomach pain…

Cut 12 (11) “….including death”

Semmes says the man who supplied the fentanyl to Benoit has also been arrested.

A California doctor has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly mailing abortion pills to a woman in St. Tammany Parish. According to court documents, Dr. Remy Coeytaux mailed a medication known as an abortion pill, to a woman who said she was forced to take them by her boyfriend. Attorney General Liz Murrill says Coeytaux is not providing healthcare, instead he’s dealing drugs…

Cut 10 (03) “…those doctors.”

Prosecutors in Louisiana are also involved in a similar case with a doctor out of New York.

G-Unit Film and Television has finalized plans to invest more than 124 million dollars that will be used to develop three entertainment venues in Shreveport. They are the former Stageworks facility, modernizing the former Millenium Studios and the construction of the permanent G-Dome in downtown Shreveport. Louisiana is providing up to 50-million dollars in performance based funding, but Grant Nuckolls with Shreveport Film and Entertainment Economic Development says the work needs to be done in a timely manner…

Cut 5 (09) “…spent pretty quickly”

LED says these improvements will drive economic growth, tourism and help improve the region’s ability to support film and TV production.

The latest survey by the NFIB finds that small business optimism continues to climb as uncertainty has reached its lowest level since June of 2024. NFIB state director Leah Long says one issue becoming a bigger problem is swipe fees, the charges retailers have to pay to credit card companies when purchases are made with a credit or debit card….

Cut 8 (06) “…their swipe fees”

There is bipartisan legislation that’s trying to correct this issue. It’s called the Credit Card Competition Act, which has the support of President Trump.

Shreveport finalizes a deal with a company owned by entertainer 50 Cent to develop three entertainment venues in the city. 50 Cent is investing almost 125-million dollars, while the state is providing up to 50-million dollars in performance-based funding. Grant Nuckolls with Shreveport Film and Entertainment Economic Development says if 50 Cent does not keep up with his end of the bargain, the state’s funding will go away.

Cut 4 (09) “…clawback provisions too.”

Small businesses open 2026 with optimism on the upswing. Leah Long, the Louisiana Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says while a decrease in uncertainty has increased optimism, there are lingering concerns that they would like to see addressed in the new year.

Cut 7 (10) “…that in 2026.”

A 28-year-old Jennings woman is facing criminal charges after cops in Jefferson Davis Parish determine her illegal drug use led to the death of her unborn child. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says Shandelynn Benoit has been charged with third-degree feticide.

Cut 11 (07) “…her pregnancy.”

Semmes says Benoit took the drugs to alleviate stomach pain. He says the person who supplied her with the fentanyl has also been arrested.

A California doctor has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly trafficking abortion pills into Louisiana. Doctor Remy Coeytaux has been charged in St. Tammany Parish with Criminal Abortion by Means of Abortion Inducing Drugs. According to court documents filed last year, Dr. Coeytaux mailed mifepristone to a woman who said she was forced to take them by her boyfriend. Coeytaux has not responded to the accusations. Prosecutors in Louisiana are also involved in a similar case with a doctor out of New York.

A California doctor has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly mailing abortion pills to a woman in St. Tammany Parish. According to court documents, Dr. Remy Coeytaux mailed mifepristone, one of two medications commonly referred to as an abortion pill, to a woman who said she was forced to take them by her boyfriend. Attorney General Liz Murrill says Coeytaux is not providing healthcare, instead he’s dealing drugs…

Cut 10 (03) “…those doctors.”

Prosecutors in Louisiana are also involved in a similar case with doctor out of New York.

Louisiana and G-Unit Film and Television and the state of Louisiana have finalize an agreement that will result in a 124-million dollar multi-phase initiative to develop three entertainment industry, related venues in northwest Louisiana. It’s part of an effort in Shreveport to bring large-scale media and entertainment ventures to northwest Louisiana. The state is providing up to 50—million dollars in performance based funding, but the work needs to be done in a timely manner….

Cut 5 (08) “…pretty quickly”

That’s Grant Nuckolls with Shreveport Film and Entertainment Economic Development.

Small businesses open 2026 with optimism on the upswing. Leah Long is the Louisiana Director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

Cut 6 (06) “…heading into 2026.”

While the decrease in uncertainty has increased optimism among small business owners, Long says there are lingering concerns that they would like to see addressed in the new year.

According to the latest data compiled by the Louisiana Department of Health, case rates for the flu are decreasing, but flu activity is still high. On WRKF radio in Baton Rouge, Dr. Julio Figueroa, with LSU Health New Orleans, says if you think you have the flu, it’s best to get tested right away, because the prescription drugs available to combat the flu are more effective when taken shortly after the onset of symptoms.

Cut 14 (09) “…day on average.”

He also says it’s not too late to get the flu shot.

A California doctor has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly trafficking abortion pills into Louisiana. Dr. Remy Coeytaux has been charged in St. Tammany Parish with Criminal Abortion by Means of Abortion Inducing Drugs. Attorney General Liz Murrill says her office is seeking to extradite Dr. Coeytaux to Louisiana.

Cut 9 (06)  “…our state.”

A company owned by entertainer 50 Cent finalizes a deal to invest almost 125-million dollars to develop three entertainment venues in Shreveport. The state is providing up to 50-million dollars in performance-based funding for these three sites. Grant Nuckolls with Shreveport Film and Entertainment Economic Development says there are conditions attached to this funding.

Cut 3 (11) “…three through five.”

LSU football has one of the top transfer portal classes in the country. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Meanwhile, the exchange program between LSU and Ole Miss is alive and well. Former Alexandria Senior High running back J.T. Lindsey has announced that he’s transferring from LSU to Ole Miss. Lindsey missed the entire 2025 season due to a team suspension due to an arrest on charges that were ultimately dropped.

According to the latest data compiled by the Louisiana Department of Health, case rates for the flu are decreasing, but flu activity is still high. On WRKF radio in Baton Rouge, Dr. Julio Figueroa, an infectious disease expert at LSU Health New Orleans, says one of the dominant strains infecting people is called H-3.

Cut 13 (03)  “…more severe disease”

Figueroa says if you think you have the flu, it’s best to get tested right away, because the prescription drugs available to combat the flu are more effective when taken shortly after the onset of symptoms.

Lane Kiffin is off to a hot start as the head coach at LSU. Yesterday, he landed a pair of quarterback commitments – Sam Leavitt of Arizona State and Landen Clark of Elon. The Tigers are still going after redshirt freshman Husan (HOO-san) Longstreet of USC. Tiger Rag editor Glenn Guilbeau says it would be huge if Kiffin can pull off the trifecta.

Cut 8 (05) “…is Sam Leavitt.”

The Supreme Court hears oral arguments over lawsuits filed by coastal parishes accusing oil and gas companies of causing erosion by drilling and exploration activity. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (38) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A company owned by entertainer 50 Cent finalizes a deal to invest almost 125-million dollars to develop three entertainment venues in Shreveport. The project is expected to support more than six-thousand jobs.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over lawsuits filed by coastal parishes against oil and gas companies for damages to the coastline caused by drilling. These arguments come in the wake of a Plaquemines Parish jury awarding the parish almost 745-million dollars against Chevron last year. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Chevron wants to move the cases to federal court, because those courts tend to be more conservative and defendant-friendly.

Cut 6 (09) “…companies are seeking.”

When you vote in the primary election this year, in some races, you will only be allowed to vote for candidates in your own party because federal offices, the State Supreme Court, the Public Service Commission and BESE races are now closed primaries. Steven Procopio, with the Public Affairs Research Council, says if you’re registered “no party affiliation,” then you can choose which your ballot.

Cut 11 (07) “..those party’s primaries.”

If you’re registered any party other than Republican or Democrat, you’re not allowed to vote in those primary races.

Not only did LSU land the top quarterback in the transfer portal yesterday but Sophomore running back Caden Durham announced he’s withdrawing his name from the portal to return to LSU. Tiger Rag magazine editor Glen Guilbeau says LSU’s new coaching staff had to repair their relationship with Durham after they went after Kewan Lacy of Ole Miss.

Cut 9 (11)  “…and Caden Durham.”

It’s not too late to get a flu shot. Though according to the latest data compiled by the Louisiana Department of Health, rates flu cases are decreasing, flu activity is still high. On WRKF radio in Baton Rouge, Dr. Julio Figueroa, an infectious disease expert at LSU Health New Orleans, says one of the dominant strains infecting people is called H3N2.

Cut 13 (03)  “…more severe disease.”

Figueroa says the vaccine may not prevent you from getting the flu, but it can prevent serious symptoms and with Mardi Gras parades and balls coming, it’s still a good idea.