Republican Congressman Garret Graves believes the Louisiana legislature did not have to draw a new congressional map with a second Majority-Black district. Grave says federal Judge Shelly Dick made it clear she didn’t like the map passed in 2022, it was still making its way through the courts.

Cut 4 (07) “…existing map.”

Graves says the new map puts the Republicans majority in the House in jeopardy.

Frequent accidents involving big truck in the construction zone on I-20 in Bossier City has State Police issuing reminders to drivers of large trucks to avoid the area. DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchanan…

Cut 7 (13) “…and Bossier.” 

Drivers of commercial trucks and 18 wheelers should use I-220 as a detour.

Several inches of rain has fallen across most of Louisiana today and more rain is on the way. LRN chief meteorologist Bill Jacquemin reports this weather system has already delivered when it comes to producing flooding rains…

Cut 2 (29)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin” 

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves, whose district was completely redrawn in the newly passed congressional map is criticizing the Republican-controlled state legislature and Governor Landry for their support of the map. He says it could ultimately hurt the GOP’s status in the US House.
Cut 3 (09) “…boneheaded move.”
Graves says Louisiana leaders should have waited until the federal courts had a trial on the constitutionality of the map approved in 2022 before redrawing a new map.

We’ve seen flooding rains for certain portions of our state as a half a foot of rain has fallen in some areas. National Weather Service Lake Charles meteorologist Doug Cramer says the Natchitoches area go soaked this morning…
cut 9 (09) “…to the north”
Cramer says they’ve received reports of flooding into homes and businesses in Avoyelles Parish.

Livingston Parish Schools have the ability to provide free mental health support to its high school students thanks to partnership with a program called Daybreak.
cut 12 (12) “….all digital
That’s Charlene Lilly with Livingston Parish Schools who says they are the first school district in the state to do this.

State Police reminds drivers of large commercial trucks and 18-wheelers that driving through the I-20 construction zone in Bossier City is off limits. DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchanan says accidents involving large trucks have increased on that stretch of highway that is down to one lane.
Cut 6 (12) “…begin with.”
Last month a ban went into effect to keep large trucks from driving through the construction zone.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says he will be a candidate for the sixth Congressional district seat. Legislators drastically changed the political boundaries so that it is a black majority district. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Fields running for this seat is a no-brainer…
cut 15 (06) “…..strongest candidate’
But current Sixth District Congressman Garret Graves says the approval of the new districts was a boneheaded move opening the door for Democrats to regain a majority in the U-S House.

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center says its partnering with M-D Clinics to bring cancer care to locations in central and north Louisiana. Mary Bird Perkins Chief Operating Officer, Jodi Conachen, says they will soon provide oncology services at 18 locations across the state…
cut 6 (14) “….access that”

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says Louisiana’s unemployment rate for December was 3-point-7 percent, which matches the national unemployment rate. Louisiana Workforce Commission Chief Economist Emily DiPalma says the three-point-seven percent unemployment rate is very low for December…
cut 8 (09) “…overall”

LSU football coach Brian Kelly is expected to name Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton as co-offensive coordinators. Both helped the Tigers rank first nationally in points scored scored and yards last season. Only Sloan has called plays before and that was one season at La Tech in 2020. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne believes Sloan is up for the challenge…
cut 17 (10) “….himself with”

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says he’s planning to run for congress in the reconfigured black majority 6^th congressional district.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Flash flood warning and watches are posted in Louisiana with the heaviest rainfall falling right now in northeast Louisiana and the Acadiana region. According to the National Weather Service four to six inches of rain has already fallen across Acadiana with more rain on the way.

In a partnership with MD Clinics, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is expanding it’s reach to Central and North Louisiana. Chief Operating Officer, Jodi Conachen …

Cut 4 (08) “…across the state.” 

Conachen says until recently you had to leave the state to find that level of research and availability of clinical trial and they plan to bring the trial to the expanded clinics.

Livingston Parish Schools has partnered with Daybreak, a digital school based mental health company, to provide teletherapy to high school students struggling with mental illness. Federal Program Coordinator at Livingston Schools, Charlene Lilly, says they are the first school district in the state to offer free mental health support for students.

Cut 10 (12) “…perfect storm.”

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says the state added 33-hundred jobs from November to December. Louisiana Workforce Commission Chief Economist Emily Dipalma says New Orleans added 800 jobs during that time period, while the Shreveport metro area added 700. She says it’s significant Shreveport added that many jobs…
Cut 9 (09) “…700.”
Baton Rouge added 400 jobs from November to December, Monroe 300, while Alexandria lost 300.

Livingston Parish Public Schools is the first school system in the state to offer free mental health support to students as they’ve partnered with a program called Daybreak. Federal Program Coordinator for Livingston Schools Charlene Lily says high schoolers can now receive up to three months of teletherapy with a licensed clinician for free…
cut 11 (11) “….on Saturday”
Students can enroll by scanning a QR code or reaching out to their school counselors.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says he will run for the newly created 6th congressional seat currently held by Congressman Garret Graves. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says he’s not surprised considering the new map perfectly caters to a Black Democrat.
Cut 13 (08) “…wouldn’t he run?”
Graves says he plans to run for re-election.

The Pelicans set a franchise record last night as they scored more than 150 points for the first time in franchise history in a game. New Orleans defeated Utah 153 to 124. Coach Willie Green says it was an incredible performance…
cut 28 (15) “…part of”
CJ McCollum had a game high 33 points.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says Louisiana’s unemployment rate for December was 3-point-7 percent, which matches the national unemployment rate. Louisiana Workforce Commission Chief Economist Emily DiPalma says the three-point-seven percent unemployment rate is very low for December…
cut 8 (09) “…overall”

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center announces its expanding into central and north Louisiana. Starting in April, Mary Bird Perkins will intergrate with M-D Clinics. Mary Bird Perkins Chief Operating Officer Jodi Conachen says the partnership represents a unified effort to bring more robust cancer care to these regions…
cut 5 (11) “…of research”
Conachen says over the last few years the Cancer Center has unveiled state of the art technology and recruited additional oncology experts.

A judge has ruled the suspect in the November stabbing attack on the Louisiana Tech campus is mentally fit to stand trial despite claims by 23-year-old Jacoby Johnson that he hears voices. Police say Johnson killed one person and injured three others. Johnson’s attorney plans to appeal the ruling.

Daybreak Health, the leading provider of school based mental health services, has partnered with Livingston Parish Schools to give students free mental health support.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Baton Rouge Democratic Senator Cleo Fields says he will run for Congress in the newly configured sixth district. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Fields previously represented Louisiana in Congress when he served two terms in the mid-1990s and ended up losing that seat because of redistricting…
cut 14 (09) “….the apple”
Garret Graves currently represents Louisiana’s sixth district and the white Republican says he plans to run for Congress again.

New data released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Louisiana added 33-hundred non-farm jobs from November to December. Louisiana Workforce Commission Chief Economist Emily DiPalma says the number of non-farm jobs was just under two-million….
Cut 7 (10) “…over the year gain.”
Dipalma says the state’s unemployment rate for December was 3.7 percent, the second lowest rate in series history for the month of December.

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is expanding into Central and North Louisiana in a partnership with MD Clinics. Colleen Crain has more…
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who was the lone Republican in the state’s congressional delegation who voted in favor of The Biden Administration’s Infrastructure bill says the state will benefit. Infrastructure funds will go towards an I-20 corridor Amtrak line connecting Atlanta and Dallas. Cassidy says it also includes the cities of Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe.

Cut 10 (11) “…to live.”

Up next for Governor Landry and the state legislature is a special session addressing crime. It’s expected to begin a month from now. La Politics dot com Publisher, Jeremy Alford says the governor has not laid out his exact plans for the special session, but lawmakers are already proposing ideas…

Cut 5 (15) “..mental health issues.” 

Most of the state north of Interstate 10 is under a flood watch, with the heaviest rains expected to come tomorrow. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has the latest…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin” 

State Senator Cleo Fields says he will run for congress in the newly drawn 6^th Congressional District.  It’s no surprise the Black Democrat announced his candidacy, he served in congress before in 90s representing the state’s then 4^th congressional district.  The new map creates a second majority-Black district.

Today Baton Rouge Democratic Senator Cleo Fields announced he’s running for congress in the newly created 6^th district which is a majority minority district. Republic Garrett Graves currently represents the 6^th district and has said he will run for congress again this year. LA politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says if Graves is not elected, his days in politics is not over…

Cut 4 (13) “..somewhere.”

The new congressional map is expected to receive a legal challenge. St. Bernard Parish Representative Mike Bayham doesn’t see how the map is constitutional when a neighborhood in his own district is separated…

Cut 7 (11) “…absurb.” 

The map that stretches the 6^th congressional district from parts of East Baton Rouge Parish to parts of Caddo Parish resembles one the courts struck down in the 90s.

Louisiana U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says the state will benefit immensely from investments in broadband through The Biden Administration’s Infrastructure bill, especially in northwest Louisiana…

Cut 9 (05) “…investment there.” 

Cassidy says it will also help prepare students in the Bayou State for careers in computer science.

LSU quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Jayden Daniels was named the winner of the 2023 Manning Award today. The award goes to the top collegiate quarterback in the nation. Daniels led with nearly five-thousand yards of total offense.

Cut 12 (12)  “…being here”  

Daniels is the third LSU honoree to receive the award.

State Senator Cleo Fields made the announcement many expected. In a statement released today, Fields said he wanted to be clear that he would be a candidate to represent the newly drawn 6^th Congressional District.  LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says Fields name recognition and his record will help his campaign in the district…

Cut 26

Governor Jeff Landry has signed his first bills into law. They come from last week’s special session and they include a new Congressional district map and a measure that will bring party primaries to federal elections in 2026. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the governor wanted closed party primaries for nearly all elections, but didn’t push the issue…

Cut 3 (10) “…he’s known for.”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says The Biden Administration’s Infrastructure bill will benefit the state and his congressional-directed spending is benefiting Barksdale Airforce Base and the vision for northwest Louisiana to become a cyber hub. Another project he mentions is one to help the Department of Defense better train pilots in conducting rescue missions.

Cut 11 (08) “…even more.”

LSU quarterback That Kid Jayden Daniels was named today as the winner of the 2023 Manning Award. This is the 20th year of the Manning award and Daniels is the third LSU honoree. Joe Burrow and Jamarcus Russell are the other two winners from LSU. Saints legend Archie Manning says Daniels 2023 campaign will go down as one of the greatest ever…

Cut 13 (10) “…football team”