The good news – smoking is down in Louisiana. The bad news – alternatives are up. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

In Natchitoches Prish, crews are making good progress on the Backbone Fire in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area.  Jim Caldwell with the U.S. Forest Service says as of yesterday evening, the 24-hundred-acre fire was just under 60-percent contained.

Cut 11 (11) “…soon be out.”

The fire started on August 3rd, and it’s believed to have been caused by a lightning strike.

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The Public Service Commission may decide today whether to approve a power plant that Entergy is looking to build in northeast Louisiana that would power a massive Meta data center. The project has garnered a fair share of controversy. The Alliance for Affordable Energy is asking the commission to hold off on voting until October. Executive Director Logan Burke says the project will benefit one company, while everyone else gets to pay for it.

Cut 4 (13) “…in North Louisiana.”

But Commissioner Mike Francis says most stakeholders appear to be on board with the plan, so there’s no sense in delaying the inevitable. Francis says having the Meta data center will benefit everyone in the long run.

Cut 5 (09) “…for Entergy ratepayers.”

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is taking public input on a proposal that would prohibit the rehabilitation of injured coyotes. Farmers and ranchers support the rule change because they say coyotes will prey on cattle, but Dr. Mark Mitchell, a professor of zoological medicine at the LSU Vet school, says there’s a benefit to taking in injured coyotes, bringing them back to health and releasing them back to the wild.

Cut 9 (10)  “…these animals.”

Bitcoin mining company Hut 8 has broken ground on a massive 2.5-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center in West Feliciana Parish. Parish President Kenny Havard says this will be an economic game-changer – not just for the parish, but for the entire region.

Cut 3 (09) “…the people here.”

LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey will face her alma mater in a game that will be played in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Crews are making good progress on the Backbone Fire in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area in Natchitoches Parish. The U.S. Forest Service says the 24-hundred-acre fire is currently just under 60-percent contained. There are no homes or structures threatened, and no one has been forced to evacuate. The fire is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike earlier this month.

A Miami-based Bitcoin mining company breaks ground on an A-I data center in West Feliciana Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State Police say a 16-year-old from Bunkie died in a one-vehicle crash in Avoyelles Parish on Monday afternoon on Louisiana Highway 114. L-S-P say the victim was a passenger in a vehicle driven by another 16-year-old, who for reasons still under investigation, lost control of his vehicle and hit several trees. The passenger died at the scene, while the driver is hospitalized.

Kim Mulkey will face her alma mater this season for the first time since she took the head coaching job at LSU. The Lady Tigers and La Tech will meet on December 13th in the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans in the first game of a doubleheader. Kent Lowe with the LSU Sports Information Department says the Lady Tigers and Lady Techsters are the two most successful women’s basketball programs in the state..

Cut 6 (11) “…college basketball.”

Mulkey won two national championships at Ruston and led LSU to its first national title in women’s basketball in 2023.

LSU football is getting closer to its season opener against Clemson on August 30^th. Today, Coach Brian Kelly talked about the competition on the offensive line..

Cut 17 (18) “…right tackle”

LSU football is only ten days away from kicking off its season against Clemson on the East coast. Head coach Brian Kelly named three solidified starters on the offensive line but says starting jobs at left guard and right tackle are ongoing. The battle at left guard includes Paul Mubenga, Coen Echols and DJ Chester. For most of fall camp, Chester took first-team snaps at left guard but recently has been working at both center and right tackle. Kelly says to expect more than the same five linemen to rotate in with the group when the season begins.

Cut 19 (21) “…as well.”

The battle at right tackle includes sophomore Weston Davis and freshman Carius Curne.

A doubleheader involving LSU’s two basketball programs is set to take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday, December 13^th in the Compete 4 Cause Classic. The opener of the doubleheader will feature LSU women’s basketball taking on Louisiana Tech. The second matchup will feature LSU men’s basketball team taking on the SMU Mustangs. Long-time LSU SID Kent Lowe says both LSU teams will benefit from playing in New Orleans.

Cut 8 (12) “…as well.”

As UL Monroe’s kickoff versus Saints Francis continues to creep up, head coach Bryant Vincent says the Warhawks still have a lot to learn from. He says the offense has to execute more consistently and become better disciplined.

Cut 20 (17) “…is critical.”

About 135 Louisiana National Guard soldiers are heading to Washington, DC. Lieutenant Colonel Noel Collins says President Trump requested the help of the Guard to restore order in the nation’s capital.

Cut 14 (06) “…Guard is doing.”

She says their mission is to restore safety and peace in the nation’s capital. They will be in DC through at least September 30^th.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is gathering public input on a proposed ban on the rehabilitation of injured coyotes. There are concerns of coyotes in residential neighborhoods and coyotes also prey on cattle. Doctor Mark Mitchell with the LSU Vet School, says by rehabilitating the coyotes, we can track how they interact and adapt once they are released back into the wild…

Cut 10 (13) “…wildlife.”

Bitcoin mining company Hut 8 has broken ground on a massive 2.5-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center in West Feliciana Parish. As with all data centers, there is concern about the energy that this one will require to operate. Parish President Kenny Havard says the parish is well-equipped to handle the demand.

Cut 4 (08) “…some of that.”

A doubleheader involving LSU’s two basketball programs is set to take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday, December 13^th in the Compete 4 Cause Classic. The opener of the doubleheader will feature LSU women’s basketball taking on Louisiana Tech. The second matchup will feature LSU men’s basketball team taking on the SMU Mustangs. Long-time LSU SID Kent Lowe says both LSU teams will benefit from playing in New Orleans.

Cut 8 (12) “…as well.”

Reaction continues to pour in on the indictment of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. She’s accused in an 18-count federal indictment of bilking the city out of 70-thousand dollars for trips she took with former NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie under the guise of security, when prosecutors allege the two were covering up a romantic relationship. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says Cantrell pressed her luck a little too far.

Cut 30 (09) “…up with you.”

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is taking public input on a proposal that would prohibit the rehabilitation of injured coyotes. Under this new rule, any injured coyote that’s brought in for care, would humanely be euthanized. Doctor Mark Mitchell with the LSU Vet school would like to see injured coyotes brought back to health and released in the wild. He says they can help neighborhoods get rid of unwanted pests….

Cut 11 (13) “…for that reason”

Bitcoin mining company Hut 8 has broken ground on a massive 2.5-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center in West Feliciana Parish. Meta is also building a massive A-I data center in Richland Parish. West Feliciana Parish president Kenny Havard on why Louisiana is becoming a hot spot for A-I data centers…

Cut 5 (11) “…on the grid”

Kim Mulkey will face her alma mater this season for the first time since she took the head coaching job at LSU. The Lady Tigers and La Tech will meet on December 13th in the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans in the first game of a doubleheader. Kent Lowe with the LSU Sports Information Department says the Lady Tigers and Lady Techsters are the two most successful women’s basketball programs in the state..

Cut 6 (11) “…the local community.”

Mulkey won two national championships at Ruston and led LSU to its first national title in women’s basketball in 2023.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is taking public input on a proposal that would prohibit the rehabilitation of injured coyotes. Farmers and ranchers support the rule change because they say coyotes will prey on cattle, but Dr. Mark Mitchell, a professor of zoological medicine at the LSU Vet school, says there’s a benefit to taking in injured coyotes, bringing them back to health and releasing them back to the wild.

Cut 9 (10)  “…these animals.”

Bitcoin mining company Hut 8 has broken ground on a massive 2.5-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center in West Feliciana Parish. As with all data centers, there is concern about the energy that this one will require to operate. Parish President Kenny Havard says the parish is well-equipped to handle the demand.

Cut 4 (08) “…some of that.”

The LSU women’s and men’s basketball teams will play in a doubleheader at the Smoothie King Center in December. The first game will pit the Lady Tigers against Kim Mulkey’s alma mater, the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. Rhossi Carron (“Karen”) with United Sports and Entertainment says that will add an extra special dimension to the event.

Cut 7 (10) “…for everybody involved.”

The men will wrap up the day’s festivities by taking on SMU.

Governor Landry is sending about 135 Louisiana National Guard soldiers to Washington, DC. Lieutenant Colonel Noel (no-ELL) Collins says the mission for the National Guard soldiers is to restore safety and peace in the nation’s capital.

Cut 15 (06) “…variety of tasks.”

Louisiana joins a growing list of Republican-led states to send national guard troops to Washington, DC, at President Trump’s request.

Bitcoin mining company Hut 8 has broken ground on a massive 2.5-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center in West Feliciana Parish. It will consist of two, 450-thousand-square-foot buildings, and it will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Parish President Kenny Havard says this will be an economic game-changer – not just for the parish, but for the entire region.

Cut 3 (09) “…the people here.”

It will be a unique doubleheader at the Smoothie King Center in December as the LSU women’s and men’s basketball teams will compete in the Compete 4 Cause Classic on December 13th. Rhossi Carron (“Karen”) with United Sports and Entertainment says what’s unique about this event is that all student athletes will work with kids in the New Orleans community the day before the game.

Cut 6 (09) “…the local community.”

The LSU presidential search committee held its first meeting today; while it’s a nationwide search, there are a few local candidates.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A study by RESET Louisiana says for the majority of tax payers the tax overhaul approved last fall by the legislature improved their overall tax burden. Barry Erwin, chief policy officer for a Better Louisiana, says the state’s long-term goal is to eliminate the income tax altogether to help Louisiana compete with other southern states that have no income tax. He says short of that, the flat three-percent income tax is still pretty good.

Cut 22 (10) “…low income tax.”

He says for most people, their combined tax burden will decrease by double digits.

About 135 Louisiana National Guard soldiers are heading to Washington, DC. Lieutenant Colonel Noel Collins says President Trump requested the help of the Guard to restore order in the nation’s capital.

Cut 14 (06) “…Guard is doing.”

She says their mission is to restore safety and peace in the nation’s capital. They will be in DC through at least September 30^th.

A Miami-based Bitcoin mining company breaks ground on an A-I data center in West Feliciana Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to the U-S Forest Services the Backbone Wildlfire in Natchitoches has burned 24-hundred acres in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area, which is located about 15 miles south of Natchitoches. The wildfire, which started because of a lightning strike just over two weeks ago, is 58-percent contained.

The legislature’s massive tax overhaul has now been a part of our lives for more than a half a year. Has it had a positive impact?

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to America’s Health Rankings, cigarette smoking is at an all-time low in Louisiana. Based on data from 2023, 15-percent of Louisiana adults smoke that’s down from 24-percent in 2013.

LSU’s presidential search committee holds its first meeting today as the 20-member panel begins its work to find a replacement for Dr. William Tate, who left in June to be the president at Rutgers. Piper Hutchinson covers higher education for the Louisiana Illuminator and she says this is a national search, but some local candidates have emerged.

Cut 7 (11) “…strongly considered.”

Hutchinson says interim LSU president Matt Lee is also a candidate.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell has five months left in her term, and she cannot run for re-election since she’s term-limited. In light of her recent indictment by a federal grand jury on corruption charges, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he does not envision Cantrell resigning at this point, and he hopes the people of New Orleans can elect someone who can serve as a reset at City Hall.

Cut 12 (05) “…of the people.”

A WWL-TV poll shows Helena Moreno as the clear front runner to replace Cantrell. The primary is October 11^th.