Governor Landry will be in Abbeville this morning, where he’s expected to announce that SpaceX will be building a spaceport in Vermilion Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A celebration of life ceremony for legendary LSU baseball coach and athletic director Skip Bertman will be held in the PMAC tonight. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is pleased to see the number of officials who are working multiple sports is growing. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Governor Landry will be in Abbeville this morning, where he’s expected to announce that SpaceX will be building a spaceport in coastal Vermilion Parish. Parish President Chad Vallo this is a monumental day for his parish.

Cut 4 (14) “…very good jobs.”

The Pecan Island area is a haven for hunting and fishing, and outdoor enthusiasts are concerned about what the spaceport will mean for them. But Vallo says he’s confident that the net for Vermilion Parish will be overwhelmingly positive, just as a similar project in Brownsville, Texas, has been.

Cut 5 (07) “…community as well.”

Vermilion Parish was hit hard by Hurricane Rita in 2005, and Vallo says SpaceX’s arrival should lead to better protections to avoid a repeat occurrence.

Cut 6 (13) “…us as well.”

The news conference is scheduled to start at 11 a-m. No word on whether SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will be in attendance.

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LSU’s celebration of Skip Bertman’s life will be held in the PMAC tonight at 7 p-m. The event honoring the Louisiana legend who passed away at the age of 88 earlier this month is open to the public. Doors open at 6 p-m, with general admission seating around the upper bowl available. Doug Thompson, one of Bertman’s national champion pitchers, says it is a great opportunity to celebrate an icon.

Cut 7 (11) “…to do it.”

The ceremony will also be broadcast on ESPN-plus and the SEC Network. Thompson says LSU fans are known for showing up for their teams, and he hopes that the PMAC is bursting at the seams with Tiger fans honoring Bertman.

Cut 8 (08) “…we’re so unique.”

A private ceremony will be held with former players, staff and family members. Thompson says grieving Bertman’s passing has been hard, but it is important to come together to celebrate him because the relationships he formed and lives he touched were what he was most proud of.

Cut 9 (09)  “…with his boys.”

Governor Jeff Landry ordered flags around the state to be flown at half-mast in Bertman’s honor.

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The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is seeing more multi-sport officials. Director of Officials Lee Sanders says there are about four-thousand officials, and 926 of them work multiple sports, which is a 10-percent increase from last year and a 22-percent increase from 2024.

Cut 10 (07) “…and member schools.”

Each multi-sport official will receive a commemorative flipping coin as a token of appreciation. This year’s design celebrates Louisiana’s unique cultural heritage.

Sanders says they are also working to recruit and train the next generation of multi-sport officials, and a lot of skills needed to officiate a particular sport can work for another sport as well.

Cut 11 (09) “…sport to another.”

Sanders says officials who work multiple sports have to dedicate the time, but it’s worth it.

Cut 12 (12) “…that you love.”

The start of the fall sports season is right around the corner. Sanders says they’ve increased the volleyball officials by four percent, there’s a two-percent increase in football refs, and they’re always looking to add more.

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Willis Knighton Health in Bossier City is the first facility in the region to offer a new treatment for thumb arthritis. It’s called the TOUCH CMC 1 Prosthesis, and it’s being performed by hand and wrist surgery specialist Dr. Diego Miranda. He says whereas traditional treatments require complete removal of the trapezium (tra-PEE-zee-um) bone, this new procedure keeps it intact.

Cut 13 (05)  “…the joint surfaces.”

The joint surfaces are replaced with a dual-mobility ball-and-socket implant. Dr. Miranda says like the traditional procedure, this is an outpatient procedure, and the recovery time is three weeks.

Cut 14 (09) “…from then on.”

Miranda says he started offering this new procedure earlier this summer, and the demand for it among patients suffering from thumb arthritis is growing.

Cut 15 (08) “…for this procedure.”

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The Saints will close out the preseason against the Cowboys on Friday. New Orleans will carry three kickers on the roster after signing two-time All-Pro Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson. Head coach Kellen Moore says the veteran will join the competition between Charlie Smyth and Tannar Hudson.

Cut 16 (09) “…go from there.”

New Orleans traded former LSU linebacker Deion Jones to the 49ers for running back Zamir White. Jones just signed with the Saints earlier this month, but New Orleans needs depth in the running back room as injuries pile up. Alvin Kamara will be sidelined for a month, Devin Neal reinjured his hamstring and Ty Chandler could be facing a severe knee injury. Moore says White is an experienced back who fits into the scheme well.

Cut 17 (11) “…it’ll be good.”

LSU earned a commitment from former Saints undrafted free agent Zxavian Harris as he returns to college football for a fifth season. Moore’s brother, Kirby, is the head coach at Washington State, and he says the slew of lawsuits giving players new eligibility puts coaches in a bind.

Cut 18 (17) “…developed here shortly.”

Governor Landry will be in Abbeville tomorrow morning, where he’s expected to announce that SpaceX will be building a spaceport in coastal Vermilion Parish. Parish President Chad Vallo this is a monumental day for his parish.

Cut 4 (14) “…very good jobs.”

It’s the new NFL-to-college pipeline, and LSU is poised to be the first beneficiary. After being waived by the Browns, tight end Dae’Quan Wright is set to return to college football, committing to LSU. This is due to a ruling by a Baton Rouge judge granting him a fifth season of eligibility. LSU Coach Lane Kiffin says this is unprecedented.

Cut 9 (11)  “…unique circumstance.”

Saturday marked the one-year anniversary of the Smitty’s Supply explosion in Roseland and contamination concerns remain. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

For the second time in the span of four days, an earthquake rocks north Louisiana. The latest one was a magnitude 2.6 that struck this morning near Pleasant Hill. It comes on the heels of a magnitude 3.4 earthquake that struck Coushatta Friday. No reports of any damage from either quake.

Amazon Web Services holds an open house tomorrow at the Shreveport Convention Center to discuss the three data centers it’s building in the Shreveport-Bossier area. The data centers are expected to create more than 700 permanent jobs, and AWS Vice President of Economic Development Roger Wehner says Amazon will focus on hiring workers from the local community.

Cut 15 (08) “…workforce development.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin is defending his decision to sign former NFL tight end Dae’Quan Wright. The undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss was released by the Browns after not playing a single down in either of the team’s first two preseason games. Kiffin says he and his staff will continue to do whatever it takes to make LSU better.

Cut 11 (10) “…no matter what.”

This past weekend marked the one-year anniversary of the Smitty’s Supply plant explosion in Roseland. The blast released stored motor oils, lubricants and fuel additives into the local environment and the Tangipahoa River. Pat Mashburn lives 35 miles south of the explosion site and told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge that wildlife still has not come back…

Cut 3 (08) “…not one.”

A new mRNA vaccine to reduce the risk of melanoma returning is showing great promise when combined with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda. Dr. Katherine Chang, an assistant professor of ear, nose and throat surgery at LSU Health Shreveport, says this vaccine could be a game-changer, especially in states like Louisiana.

Cut 12 (10) “…a death sentence.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin defended the program’s decision today to recruit NFL players that have been granted a fifth year of college eligibility. The NCAA approved a new five-year eligibility model this summer that opened the door for hundreds of athletes who just finished their eligibility to file lawsuits to get the fifth year many of their teammates and future athletes will now receive. Kiffin says his obligation is to LSU and its fans and to go recruit the best available players.

Cut 10 (13) “…against them.”

This past Saturday was the one year anniversary of the Smitty’s Supply plant explosion in Roseland. It’s been estimated 12 million gallons of oily liquid and industrial chemical waste were released into the local drainage systems and Tangipahoa River. Local resident Pat Mashburn tells Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge that he’s disappointed in the lack of updates from local leaders…

Cut 4 (09) “…Roseland.”

A Drive Sober, Get Pulled Over campaign is underway across the state as law enforcement will step up its enforcement through the Labor Day weekend for impaired drivers. LDWF Law Enforcement Division Superintendent Colonel Stephen Clark says not only will patrols on roadways be beefed up, so will patrols on Louisiana’s waterways.

Cut 8 (15) “…fatality boat accidents.”

University Medical Center New Orleans opened phase one of its expanded cancer center today. Dr. Amelia Jernigan with UMC New Orleans says the additional space will allow cancer patients to be seen quickly and will help support the needs of oncology patients regionally.

Cut 16 (14) “…systemic therapy.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin responds to the criticism he’s receiving for recruiting a football player that was competing for an NFL roster spot. Kace Kieschnick has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A couple of former LSU football players are on the move. Kayshon Boutte, who starred at Westgate High School in New Iberia has been traded by the Patriots to the Houston Texans. And the Saints have traded linebacker Deion Jones to San Francisco for running back Zamir White.

Amazon Web Services will hold an open house tomorrow at the Shreveport Convention Center to discuss the three data centers they are building in the Shreveport-Bossier area. There are concerns about how much water and electricity the facilities will use. AWS Vice President of Economic Development Roger Wehner says the data centers will use water for cooling only when temperatures climb above 85 degrees — which he says is expected to happen less than 13 percent of the year.

Cut 13 (11)  “…load on the grid.”

Saturday marked the one year anniversary of the Smitty’s Supply Plant explosion in Roseland. Pat Mashburn who lives on the Tangipahoa River told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge he believes there’s still oil  and toxins in that river…

Cut 5 (07) “…a year ago”

It’s the new NFL-to-college pipeline, and LSU is poised to be the first beneficiary. After being waived by the Browns, tight end Dae’Quan Wright is set to return to college football, committing to LSU. This is due to a ruling by a Baton Rouge judge granting him a fifth season of eligibility. LSU Coach Lane Kiffin says this is unprecedented.

Cut 9 (11)  “…unique circumstance.”

It’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” time once again in Louisiana. Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse says go out and have a good time this Labor Day weekend, but don’t ruin it by driving home when you’re in no condition to do so.

Cut 7 (13) “…all ideal options.”

18 people were killed and 271 people were injured in crashes during Labor Day weekends from 2020 through 2024.

Saturday marked the one-year anniversary of the Smitty’s Supply explosion in Roseland, and contamination concerns remain. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Colleges throughout the state are divvying up one-million dollars to help minimize food insecurity among students. 34 schools are participating in the program. A recent study has shown that some 3.8-million college students across the country – almost one out of every four – experience food insecurity.

This past weekend marked the year anniversary of the Smitty’s Supply plant explosion in Roseland. The blast released stored motor oils, lubricants and fuel additives into the local environment and the Tangipahoa River. Pat Mashburn lives 35 miles south of the explosion site and told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge that wildlife still has not come back…

Cut 3 (08) “…not one”

It’s been estimated 12 million gallons of oily liquid and industrial chemical waste were released into the local drainage systems and Tangipahoa River.

Louisiana’s Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is underway and runs through September 7th. State Police Superintendent Frank Besson (beh-SAHN) says officers will be out in full force specifically looking for impaired drivers during this campaign.

Cut 6 (10) “…and proactive patrol.”

A new mRNA vaccine to reduce the risk of melanoma returning is showing great promise. Dr. Katherine Chang, an assistant professor of ear, nose and throat surgery at LSU Health Shreveport, says the vaccine being developed by Merck and Moderna works by removing the melanoma tumor, test it for genetic mutation and create an mRNA vaccine specific to that patient’s genetic profile – and that vaccine is taken with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda.

Cut 10 (09) “…it from coming back.”

Dr. Chang says clinical trials of the new vaccine have been very successful.

Monroe, Ruston and the Delta parishes are getting some much needed rain today and there’s the possibility we can see strong thunderstorms in southeast Louisiana later today. Unfortunately, the western half of the state continues to bake.

LSU has received a commitment from an NFL player. Former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright is expected to come to Baton Rouge if he clears waivers after being released by the Browns. Wright is one of the 16 football players granted a temporary restraining order by a Baton Rouge judge to return for a fifth season. An initial hearing in the case is scheduled for next week.

Will Wade is also hoping to welcome a former pro. 2025 Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis has a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled in Baton Rouge this afternoon as he tries to return to college basketball after signing two NBA G League contracts, though he never played a game. Tiger Rag editor Glenn Guilbeau says even LSU’s lawyers thought he might not make it to campus.

Cut 7 (09) “…gonna happen.”

The Saints are signing two-time All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson. Carlson made 22 of 27 attempts with the Raiders last season and joins a kicker battle with Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown.

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt’s most reliable target this season could be a tight end. Junior Trey’Dez Green is a preseason All-American and first-team All-SEC selection, and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis says he has all of the physical and intangible attributes a coach could dream of.

Cut 17 (16) “…with him.”

The Saints are back at their training facility in Metairie after finishing their week in California with a brutal 34-0 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Coach Kellen Moore says a performance like that, even in the preseason, is unacceptable…

Cut 19 (17) “…really frustrating.”