The Louisiana law that requires social media companies to verify users’ ages and provide parental controls including parental consent has been blocked by a federal judge. In his ruling that granted a permanent injunction, Judge John deGravelles said, the Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation Act passed in 2023 violates the First Amendment. He cited a ruling on a California law that attempted to restrict violent video games and said legal speech is protected on social media even for minors. Attorney Liz Murrill called the ruling unfortunate, saying the ruling protects corporations that facilitate child exploitation over the legislative policy to require simple age verification mechanisms.

A man attacking his girlfriend with a knife was fatally shot by the woman’s neighbor while he was attacking her says the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Suzanne Carboni says the victim escaped her Mandeville area home through a window and knocked on neighbors’ doors. The neighbor commanded the attacker to stop and when he refused, the neighbor fired his gun

Cut 10 (07) “…the scene.”

Carboni says no charges have been filed at this time, but the investigation continues

LSU is on the cusp of creating the School of Construction. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

If you’ve ever thought of becoming a Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement officer, now’s your chance. Stephen Clark, the superintendent of the enforcement division of LDWF, says applications are now being accepted for the department’s 38th enforcement academy.

Cut 3 (06) “…through December 22nd.”

He says when the application window closes, they will choose the best applicants to take part in the academy.

LSU is on the cusp of creating the School of Construction. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

___________________________________________________

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident where a neighbor used lethal force to end a domestic dispute. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

______________________________________________________

Do you think you have what it takes to be a Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement officer? If so, now’s your chance to join the force! Stephen Clark, the superintendent of the enforcement division of LDWF, says applications are now being accepted for the department’s 38th enforcement academy.

Cut 3 (06) “…through December 22nd.”

Clark says when the application window closes, they will choose the best applicants to take part in the academy.

Cut 4 (06) “…end of March.”

What’s different about this one is that this is a hybrid academy, meaning it will be open to both POST-certified police officers and non-POST-certified officers. Clark says POST-certified officers chosen will have a slightly accelerated academy.

Cut 5 (08) “…to 24 weeks.”

___________________________________________________

LSU is about to lead a building revolution, moving one step closer to launching the School of Construction within its College of Engineering. The Board of Supervisors approved its creation last week, advancing the proposal to the Louisiana Board of Regents for a vote sometime next year. College of Engineering Dean Vicki Colvin says the school would build on the current construction management program, and the number of students in that program is astounding.

Cut 6 (07) “…two-thousand students.”

Colvin says the construction management started in the 1970s, and the earliest graduates are paying it forward in creating the new School of Construction.

Cut 7 (11) “…possible for us.”

Donors have already given 42-million dollars for the facility, which the state has matched. Colvin says construction is a very vital part of the U.S. economy.

Cut 8 (11) “…transforming this industry.”

________________________________________________

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says a neighbor fatally shot a man attacking his girlfriend with a knife. Lieutenant Suzanne (soo-ZAHN) Carboni says the victim escaped her Mandeville area home through a window and frantically knocked on neighbors’ doors seeking help. She says one of the neighbors went outside to assist.

Cut 9 (08)  “…stop.”

Carboni says the neighbor told the boyfriend to stop attacking the girl and when he refused to do so, the neighbor shot the attacker.

Cut 10 (07) “…the scene.”

Carboni says no charges have been filed at this time, but the investigation continues.

Cut 11 (04) “..the facts.”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says a neighbor fatally shot a man who was attacking his girlfriend with a knife. Lieutenant Suzanne Carboni says the victim escaped her Mandeville area home through a window and frantically knocked on neighbors’ doors seeking help. She says one of the neighbors went outside to assist.

Cut 9 (08)  “…stop.”

No arrests have been made so far.

The application period for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ 38th enforcement academy is now open and runs through December 22nd. What’s different about this one is that this is a hybrid academy, meaning it will be open to both POST-certified police officers and non-POST-certified officers. Enforcement Division Superintendent Stephen Clark says POST-certified officers chosen will have a slightly accelerated academy when it starts in late March.

Cut 5 (08) “…to 24 weeks.”

LSU moves one step closer to launching a School of Construction. College of Engineering Dean Vicki Colvin says construction is a very vital part of the U.S. economy.

Cut 8 (11) “…transforming this industry.”

The school would build on the current construction management program, which boasts some two-thousand students. The Board of Supervisors approved it last week, sending it to the Board of Regents for a vote sometime next year.

The last of the five people indicted in February’s hazing-related killing of Southern University student and Human Jukebox member Caleb Wilson has been booked into jail. 24-year-old Jadyn Landrum and four others were indicted last week on charges ranging from manslaughter to felony hazing to obstruction of justice. Landrum is charged with principal to felony hazing; he was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail this morning.

LSU moves one step closer to launching the School of Construction. It would build on the current construction management program, which started in the 1970s. College of Engineering Dean Vicki Colvin says the earliest graduates are paying it forward in creating the new School of Construction.

Cut 7 (11) “…possible for us.”

Donors have already given 42-million dollars for the facility, which the state has matched.

Applications are now being accepted for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ 38th enforcement academy. Stephen Clark, the superintendent of the enforcement division of LDWF, says the application window closes December 22nd, and they will then choose the best applicants to take part in the academy.

Cut 4 (06) “…end of March.”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident where a neighbor used lethal force to end a domestic dispute. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A former New Iberia police officer is arrested for allegedly helping plot a New Year’s Eve terror attack in Southern California. The FBI says agents arrested 29-year-old Micah Legnon after he had loaded what appeared to be an assault rifle and body armor into his vehicle. They say he was likely headed to New Orleans to carry out an attack there.

LSU is about to lead a building revolution, moving one step closer to launching the School of Construction within its College of Engineering. The Board of Supervisors approved its creation last week, advancing the proposal to the Louisiana Board of Regents for a vote sometime next year. College of Engineering Dean Vicki Colvin says the school would build on the current construction management program, and the number of students in that program is astounding.

Cut 6 (07) “…two-thousand students.”

After the LSU Board of Supervisors approves major organizational changes, a state lawmaker is worried about the future of LSU Health Shreveport. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly says he’s received assurances LSU Health New Orleans will not get more attention than LSU Health Shreveport.

Cut 15 (09) “…science and research.”

The LSU AgCenter and the Town of Jean Lafitte are teaming up to re-establish the firefly population. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Element USA announces it’s investing 850-million dollars to build a rare earth and critical minerals refining facility in St. James Parish. According to the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, this facility will produce materials essential to advanced manufacturing, national defense, and energy technologies, and also create 200 new direct jobs.

Three out of every four high school graduates in Louisiana in 2024 graduated with college credits or industry certifications already in hand. Tristan Denley, the deputy commissioner for academic affairs and innovation at the Louisiana Board of Regents, says while the vast majority of dual enrollment courses were taken in academic fields, almost 20-percent took courses in career and technical fields.

Cut 11 (12) “…be an electrician.”

Do you think you have what it takes to be a Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement officer? If so, now’s your chance to join the force! Stephen Clark, the superintendent of the enforcement division of LDWF, says applications are now being accepted for the department’s 38th enforcement academy.

Cut 3 (06) “…through December 22nd.”

Clark says about 35 applicants will be chosen for the academy, which will begin in late March.

A state lawmaker is worried about the future of LSU Health Shreveport. The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved major organizational changes that include giving the Baton Rouge campus direct oversight of operations at its research institutions. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly is concerned LSU Health New Orleans and Pennington Research Center in New Orleans will get more of the research grant dollars.

Cut 14 (08) “…aspect of things.”

With firefly populations at historic lows, the Town of Jean Lafitte has reached out to the LSU AgCenter to work on a plan to re-establish firefly populations in the Wetland Trace boardwalk trail. LSU AgCenter Entomologist Aaron Ashbrook says fireflies provide benefits to the ecosystem.

Cut 6 (09) “…for our gardens.”

Part of the plan involves planting 375 native plants within a 15-hundred-square-foot area.

A legislative hearing takes place this morning as lawmakers want to learn more about the Louisiana Department of Health’s decision not to renew UnitedHealthCare’s Medicaid contract…

Cut 9 (11) “…good reason why”

That’s Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot who says the decision not to renew with United Health Care means that 333-thousand Medicaid recpients will have a new insurance provider on January 1^st.

LSU AgCenter entomologists are looking to rebuild the firefly population. Aaron Ashbrook says kids love chasing fireflies and so do adults…

Cut 5 (09) “…would engage in”

Ashbrook says they planted native plants in the Town of Jean Lafitte in Jefferson Parish that mimics the environment fireflies would have lived in before human encroachment.

A state lawmaker raises concerns about the organizational changes made with the LSU System and what it means for the future of LSU Health Shreveport. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

The FBI has arrested a man in New Iberia that federal authorities say was involved in an extremist group that was planning a series of New Year’s Eve attacks in southern California. FBI director Kash Patel says the Louisiana arrestee was part of a pro-Palestinian anti-government organization.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident where a neighbor used lethal force to end a domestic dispute. It happened in the Mandeville area early Monday morning. Investigators say the neighbor got involved after seeing a woman trying to flee from her boyfriend who was attacking her with a knife in the front yard. Deputies say the neighbor demanded that the man stop and when he didn’t that’s when he shot the attacker. At this time no charges have been filed.

Higher ed officials say more high school students are participating in dual enrollment.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

A legislative hearing takes place this morning to get answers on why the Louisiana Department of Health cancelled a Medicaid contract with UnitedHeathCare. The decision means that 333-thousand Medicaid recipients covered by UnitedHealthCare will switch to another health care plan on January 1^st. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says he and other lawmakers want to know how that will work…

Cut 8 (11) “….and play out”

You never see fireflies anymore. The Town of Jean Lafitte has reached out to the LSU AgCenter to work on a plan to re-establish firefly populations in the Wetland Trace boardwalk trail. Entomologist Aaron Ashbrook says part of that plan involves planting 375 native plants within a 15-hundred-square-foot area.

Cut 4 (10) “…Jean Lafitte Barataria.”

Pesticides, urban development, invasive insects and light pollution are all cited as reasons for the significant drop in firefly population.

A state lawmaker is worried about the future of LSU Health Shreveport. The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved major organizational changes that include giving the Baton Rouge campus direct oversight of operations at its research institutions. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly says the restructuring ends 25 years of local autonomy for LSU Health Shreveport.

Cut 13 (12)  “…that concerns me.”

LSU Chancellor James Dalton says a unified research structure better positions LSU to compete for major grants and attract faculty.

Element USA announces it’s investing $850 million to build a rare earth and critical minerals refining facility in St. James Parish. According to the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, this facility will produce materials essential to advanced manufacturing, national defense, and energy technologies, and also create 200 new direct jobs.

A record 75-percent of Louisiana’s high school Class of 2024, graduated with early college credit, an increase of 11 percentage points from the Class of 2019. The goal is to reach 100-percent…

Cut 12 (11) “…workforce credential.”

That’s Tristan Denley with the Board of Regents, who says increasing dual enrollment participation is an important priority in Louisiana’s overall goal to improve educational attainment.

The LSU AgCenter and the Town of Jean Lafitte are teaming up to re-establish the firefly population. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

State lawmakers will get answers today on why the Louisiana Health Department decided to end its Medicaid contract with UnitedHealthcare. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says the decision to cut ties with UnitedHealthcare surprised legislators.

Cut 7 (07) “…the renewal date.”

LDH says the 333-thousand Medicaid recipients who are covered by UnitedHealthcare will be switched to another health care plan in 2026.

Education officials are celebrating the fact that three out of every four Louisiana graduates in the Class of 2024 had college credits when they received their diploma. The 75-percent rate is an 11-point increase from 2019. Tristan Denley, the deputy commissioner for academic affairs and innovation at the Board of Regents, says high school students can earn college credit in a number of ways.

Cut 10 (06) “…international baccalaureate courses.”

A state lawmaker raises concerns about the organizational changes made with the LSU System and what it means for the future of LSU Health Shreveport…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Hollywood is mourning the death of slain-director and actor Rob Reiner. Police say Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, fatally stabbed his father and mother Michelle Reiner. Did you know Rob Reiner’s last movie he released was filmed in New Orleans, Spinal Tap II, the End Continues.