A groundbreaking tomorrow for the new River Parishes Community College Donaldsonville campus. Louisiana Community and Technical College System president Richard Nelson says this facility will train workers for the Hyundai Steel mill which when complete will employ 13-hundred workers with an average salary of 95-thousand dollars a year. The college also will expand other technical training opportunities, strengthen the regional talent pipeline and support future workforce needs of industry partners in the River Parishes…

Cut 4 (06) “…these jobs.”

President Trump has endorsed State Senator Blake Miguez in the District Five U.S. House race, just one day after Miguez announced his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race to run for the House. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says when he heard that, his jaw dropped to the ground.

Cut 6 (09) “…crowded Republican field.”

Ouachita Parish and the city of Monroe took a heavy blow in the recent ice storms. More than 45-thousand customers were without power across the parish and hundreds are still without power but Monroe Mayor, Friday Ellis, says despite the lengthy power outages, the cleanup and the cold weather last week, the people of Monroe have kept a positive attitude….

Cut 11 (09) “…spirits are up.”

LSU football’s roster underwent a massive turnover after this last season. 38 football players from the 2025 football team entered the transfer portal. Speaking to the media yesterday, Coach Lane Kiffin says after a 7-6 season, the personnel needed to change.

Cut 12 (14) “…needed to be changes.”

State Senator Blake Miguez has received President Trump’s endorsement in the race for the District Five U.S. House seat but Miguez lives in New Iberia, which is not in the 5th district. Interestingly, candidates do not have to live in the district they represent as long as they live somewhere in the state. But ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says…

Cut 8 (10) “…in that district?”

Stockley believes Trump’s endorsement of Miguez will thin the crowd of candidates.

The recent ice storm knocked out power to more than 45-thousand customers in Ouachita Parish. Today there are still hundreds without power. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis once the power is fully restored, they will begin talking with utility providers about a more resilient power grid…

Cut 10 (12) “…start there.”

A groundbreaking ceremony takes place tomorrow in Ascension Parish for the construction of the River Parishes Community College Donaldsonville campus. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be introduced during tonight’s NFL Honors program. And beloved former Saints quarterback, Drew Brees, is expected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame tonight. Luke Johnson covers the Saints for the Advocate and says it would be shocking if Brees is not a first ballot hall of famer.

Cut 13 (05)  “…Drew Brees’ name.”

President Trump makes another endorsement, and one analyst says this one’s a jaw-dropper. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill is planning to sue New York and California as she’s looking to extradite doctors in those two states to Louisiana to face charges in the mailing of abortion drugs to people in Louisiana. California and New York have passed laws to prevent anti-abortion states from pursuing legal action against their residents over reproductive rights.

The city of Monroe, which has debris all over the place from the ice storm, is waiting to see if the disaster will be classified as Category A Emergency Work. This designation would mean Monroe and other communities will be reimbursed by the federal government at a higher rate for debris removal. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis is confident this disaster will receive the Category A designation…

Cut 9 (11) “…designation”

Ellis estimates the cost of debris removal for Monroe is 15-million dollars.

Groundbreaking ceremonies take place tomorrow in Ascension on the River Parish Community College Donaldsonville campus. Louisiana Community and Technical School president Richard Nelson says this 30-million dollar facility will train workers for the Hyundai Steel mill that’s being built nearby…

Cut 5 (10) “…game changer”

President Trump’s endorsement of State Senator Blake Miguez in the District Five U.S. House race will certainly have a huge impact. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says that will make the crowded field significantly less so.

Cut 7 (07) “…to some degree.”

Stewart Cathey, Rick Edmonds, Dixon McMakin and Misti Cordell have also announced their intentions to seek the GOP nomination.

Tomorrow afternoon, officials will break ground on the new River Parishes Community College Donaldsonville campus. Louisiana Community and Technical College System president Richard Nelson says this facility will train workers for the Hyundai Steel mill that will be built over the next few years on the Westbank of the Mississippi River in Donaldsonville.

Cut 3 (04) “…advanced manufacturing.”

The Hyundai Steel mill will employ 13-hundred workers with an average salary of 95-thousand dollars a year.

Delta Utilities customers facing financial hardship can get some help paying their natural gas bills, thanks to a venture the company has launched with the United Way. Sarah McLaughlin Porteous (PORT-ee-uhs) with Delta Utilities says the assistance is meant to be limited in nature.

Cut 5 (04) “…12-month period.”

There is an application process, and there are eligibility requirements, including income relative to household size.

Lane Kiffin touted the quarterbacks he and his staff recruited to LSU in his first remarks to the media since his introductory news conference. Kiffin brought in Sam Leavitt of Arizona State, Husan (HOO-sahn) Longstreet of USC and Landen Clark of Elon. Kiffin says he’s most proud of his staff’s ability to build one of the best quarterback rooms in the country through the portal.

Cut 11 (13) “…about their competitiveness.”

Last night, President Trump endorsed State Senator Blake Miguez in the District Five U.S. House race, just one day after Miguez announced his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race to run for the House. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says when he heard that, his jaw dropped to the ground.

Cut 6 (12) “…crowded Republican field.”

Miguez is one of four state lawmakers running for the 5^th district seat. The other candidates are legislators Stewart Cathey, Rick Edmonds, Dixon McMakin and the fifth announced candidate is Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell.

Four people have now been arrested for their roles in a fatal fire in Shreveport last October that killed two sisters, an eight-year-old and a five-year-old. We learned earlier this week that the grandmother of the young girls was arrested. Investigators say Rita Montgomery allegedly used a makeshift explosive device. The latest people arrested were the young girls aunt and uncle.

Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis gives us an update on the recovery from the ice storm….

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin spoke yesterday about the turnover of the roster that has taken place over the last few weeks. Kiffin on getting incoming freshmen defensive linemen Lamar Brown and Richardson Anderson to sign with LSU on his first week on the job…

Cut 10 (15) “….knew it was LSU”

Northeast Louisiana has started the daunting task of recovery following last week’s ice storm. The damage is not limited to what you can see on the outside from your car. With many people losing power for days on end, they were left with refrigerators full of spoiled food. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis says that’s been keeping the local food bank very busy. 

Cut 9 (08)  “…in spoiled food.”

Delta Utilities customers who are struggling to pay their bills due to financial hardship can get some help. The company is partnering with the United Way in launching DU Cares, giving qualifying customers 250 dollars towards their natural gas bills one time in a 12-month period. Sarah McLaughlin Porteous (PORT-ee-uhs) with Delta Utilities says the response so far has been very encouraging.

Cut 6 (09) “…than 300 applications.”

In all likelihood, legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees will be announced tonight as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Luke Johnson covers the Saints for the Advocate and says while Brees’ statistics are certainly impressive, the impact Brees had on the Saints franchise is immeasurable.

Cut 14 (09) “…run of success.”

Lane Kiffin spoke to the media yesterday for the first time since being hired as LSU’s head football coach. Over the past couple of weeks, Kiffin and his staff traveled across the country to get a head start on recruiting the Class of 2027. He says his trips in Louisiana have stood out.

Cut 12 (14) “…it’s awesome.”

Northeast Louisiana is thawing out from last week’s ice storm. Now, the daunting task of recovery is getting underway. In Monroe, Mayor Friday Ellis says the destruction rivals that caused by Hurricane Laura in 2020.

Cut 7 (07) “…to the ground.”

Ellis says parts of Monroe look like a war zone, estimating debris clean up alone could cost 15-million dollars.

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin Lane Kiffin spoke to the media yesterday for the first time since being hired as LSU’s head football coach.  Since then, Kiffin has brought in quarterbacks Sam Leavitt of Arizona State, Husan (HOO-sahn) Longstreet of USC and Landen Clark of Elon to play for the Tigers.

Cut 11 (13) “…about their competitiveness.”

————————–

Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees is expected to be announced tonight as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The operators of Minden Seafood and Dorcheat Seafood and Grill will pay a former employee 34-thousand dollars in back pay and emotional damages to settle a lawsuit filed by the EEOC.   According to the suit, the young woman was repeatedly sexually harassed and propositioned, but managers she reported the behavior to never did anything so she felt forced to resign. And, the sister restaurant refused to hire her.

Lane Kiffin spoke yesterday at his first news conference in two months. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

President Donald Trump has endorsed Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez, who recently dropped a U.S. Senate bid to run for the U.S. House of Representatives instead. The president called Miquez a MAGA warrior, saying he has his quote “complete and total support.”
—————————-

Now that it’s thawing out, nrtheast Louisiana is beginning the road to recovery from last week’s ice storm.  In Monroe, Mayor Friday Ellis says the destruction rivals that caused by Hurricane Laura in 2020, saying the city looks like a war zone.

Cut 8 (09) “…like hurricane cleanup.”

Ellis says the damage is so widespread, debris removal alone will cost about 15-million dollars.

There’s good news for some Delta Utilities customers who are struggling to pay their natural gas.  The company has launched a program called DU Cares, to help with that.  Sarah McLaughlin Porteous (PORT-ee-uhs) with Delta says there are eligibility requirements, and customers facing unexpected financial hardship need to fill out an application either online or in person.

Cut 5 (04) “…12-month period.”

Delta Utilities has committed up to 200-thousand dollars to fund the program.