Kenner Police seize a scam website that mimicked the Geaux Pass website. Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley says people, including some of his officers, got a text message with an image demanding the payment of a $3.75 toll. 

Cut 13 (12)  “…out of Russia.”

Chief Conley says the scammers were using that small amount to gain access to other valuable information.

Louisiana Tech says this year’s freshman class is the largest in the school’s 130-year history. There are more than 12-thousand students enrolled in the 2024 Fall Quarter and 24-hundred are freshman.

Cut 10 (06) “…competitive advantage.”

University President Jim Henderson says Louisiana Tech’s investment in modern facilities, leading-edge research, and personalized student service also contributes to its rising enrollment.

The Louisiana Board of Regents is asked to develop plans to accommodate a potential 250-million-dollar systemwide budget cut for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This, as a point-four-five-percent sales tax would be scheduled to sunset then. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says such a budget cut would be devastating.

Cut 7 (14) “…would be applied.”

Hunter Reed says those cuts would have a disastrous ripple effect.

Lafayette Congressman Clay Higgins is coming under fire for a post on X he made about Haitians. After a Haitian nonprofit sued Former President Donald Trump and running mate J.D. Vance over their claims of them eating pets, Higgins repeated that claim in his post, telling them they’d better get out of the country on January 20th. Higgins has deleted the post.

Kenner Police has seized a fraudulent website operating on a Russian server. The website is responsible for a phishing scam that sent out fraudulent text messages claiming the recipient of the text message has an unpaid toll fee of $3.75. Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley says Detective Brad Ricky worked hard on this case…

Cut 15 (11) “…of that nature”

Conley says people need to know that no government agency will ever ask for money through any electronic means.

The Landry Administration has told the Board of Regents that Louisiana’s public colleges and universities could face a 250-million dollar budget cut as a result of a temporary sales tax expiring in July. Lawmakers are looking at ways to mitigate the revenue shortfall and Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed has this message for them….

Cut 9 (13) “…in our communities”

The chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus is pushing for the House to censure Louisiana Congressman for sending out a tweet that called Haitian migrants thugs and slapstick gangers who need to leave the United States. Higgins has since deleted the tweet. Higgins and other Republicans have made claims Haitian immigrants are eating pets of residents in Springfield, Ohio.

Louisiana Tech’s enrollment for this fall quarter is the largest in school history. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Don Molino.”

The sunsetting of a .45-percent state sales tax has Louisiana’s public colleges and universities preparing for a big reduction in state funding. Andrew Greenstein…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.

Could Louisiana residents receive a tax break soon? The state department of Revenue says because of a 2021 law, income and corporate tax rate cuts can occur if tax, fee and license collections hit a set threshold and if the state’s rainy day fund reaches a certain level. State economists will not know if those conditions are met until after January 1^st.

The Kenner Police Department has received permission from a state judge to seize a fraudulent website that is operating from a Russian server. It’s all related to scam where Louisiana residents were receiving a text message claiming they had unpaid toll fees of $3.75 or face a 30-dollar fine if the amount is not paid. Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley says the scammers were using that small amount to gain access to other valuable information.

Cut 14 (09) “…lick at it.”

It’s unknown how many people may have fallen victim to this scam.

As Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is working on his Social Security Reform bill with a Democratic colleague from Virginia, Senator Bill Cassidy is working on the Senate’s version. Like Graves’ bill, Cassidy’s Senate bill would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset

Cut 4 (08) “…to be corrected.”

This legislation would benefits millions of teachers, police and fire fighters who are receiving a reduced social security benefit because they also receive a pension.

The Kenner Police Department seizes a foreign website that spoofed the state’s Geaux Pass website. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A 14-year-old girl has been arrested after she allegedly threatened to blow up Bunkie High School. The Avoyelles 9-1-1 Communication Center received the prank call yesterday morning. The teenager made the call from a cellphone while on campus. Bunkie Police charged the girl with terrorizing and she was released to her parents.

Louisiana’s Congressional delegation is working on social security reform and attempting to end the current policies that result in millions receiving a reduced Social Security benefit because they receive a pension for their work as a teacher or a first responder. Senator Bill Cassidy says the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset need to go

Cut 5 (10) “…pay for it”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves has forced a vote in the House on a bill called the Social Security Fairness Act.

Louisiana Tech’s freshman class is the largest in the school’s history as nearly 25-hundred freshmen are taking classes during the Fall Quarter. University president Jim Henderson says students are attracted to Tech because they know they develop to their full potential…

Cut 11 (11) “…an employer”

Overall enrollment is more than 12-thousand, the highest since 2018.

The sunsetting of a .45-percent state sales tax has Louisiana’s public colleges and universities preparing for a big reduction in state funding. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Louisiana Tech’s enrollment for this fall quarter is the largest in school history. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Don Molino.”

____________________________________________

The Kenner Police Department seizes a foreign website that spoofed the Geaux Pass website. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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As Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is working on his Social Security Reform bill with a Democratic colleague from Virginia, Senator Bill Cassidy is working on the Senate’s version. Like Graves’ bill, Cassidy’s Senate bill would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset

Cut 4 (08) “…to be corrected.”

The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security while the Government Pension Offset reduces by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension. Cassidy says one way or the other, those two provisions will be gone one day.

Cut 5 (10) “…pay for it.”

Cassidy says those who spend only a portion of their work career in the public sector are paying too high a penalty for doing so.

Cut 6 (11) …be getting cut.”

This is not a controversial bill; the vast majority of House members from both parties have signed a discharge petition to force a vote by the full house. Cassidy says the bill likely will not get onto President Biden’s desk until after the November election.

__________________________________________________

The Louisiana Board of Regents is asked to develop plans to accommodate a potential 250-million-dollar systemwide budget cut for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This, as a point-45-percent sales tax would be scheduled to sunset then. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says such a budget cut would be devastating.

Cut 7 (14) “…would be applied.”

And those cuts would, in turn, have additional negative impacts.

Cut 8 (07) “…would be untouched.”

Hunter Reed says higher education is a solution to the state’s economy, so everything needs to be done to fully support it.

Cut 9 (13)  “…in our communities.”

The Board of Regents will be presenting a worst-case scenario budget on February 28th.

_____________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech says this year’s freshman class is the largest in the school’s 130-year history. There are more than 12-thousand students enrolled in the 2024 Fall Quarter and 24-hundred are freshman. University President Jim Henderson on why students are choosing La Tech…

Cut 10 (06) “…competitive advantage.”

Henderson says Louisiana Tech’s faculty has shown they can develop a student to their full potential and prepare team to thrive in a future of boundless opportunity….

Cut 11 (11) “…an employer.”

Total enrollment for the quarter is 12,039, a nearly four percent increase over 2023 and it’s the school’s highest enrollment since 2018. Henderson says a student at Tech has more than 135 degree programs to choose from., which is one of many reasons why a student wants to be a Bulldog..

Cut 12 (08) “…the city.”

Henderson says Louisiana Tech’s investment in modern facilities, leading-edge research, and personalized student service also contributes to its rising enrollment.

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Kenner Police take down a scam website that mimicked the Geaux Pass website. Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley says people, including some of his officers, were alerted to the website after getting a text message from an unknown number with an image demanding the payment of a $3.75 toll.

Cut 13 (12)  “…out of Russia.”

Chief Conley says the scammers were using that small amount to gain access to other valuable information.

Cut 14 (09) “…lick at it.”

Conley especially singled out Detective Brad Ricke (“Ricky”) for his diligent work that ultimately culminated with the department seizing the website.

Cut 15 (11) “…of that nature.”

Conley says people need to know that no government agency will ever ask for money through any electronic means. While you can certainly pay online, all payment requests are done through the U.S. Mail.

________________________________________________

Saints Coach Dennis Allen says starting Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy is headed to injured reserve because of a groin injury that requires surgery. It’s been reported McCoy will miss six to eight weeks. Allen is not providing a timetable, but in the meantime, the team needs to keep pushing forward…

Cut 16 (15)   “…with it”

McCoy has been called the glue of the offensive line and someone who is relied on to communicate blocking schemes at the line of scrimmage. Veteran Lucas Patrick is expected to replace McCoy at center. Allen says McCoy will be missed, but they have others who can step up…

Cut 17 (17) “…absence .”

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The injury to veteran defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory has given freshman Ahmad Breaux a chance to start on LSU’s defensive line. Breaux was a defensive end for the Ruston Bearcats last season, a state champion football team. With LSU short on defensive tackles, Breaux was asked to beef up so they can move him to the interior…

Cut 18 (18)  “…for months.”

Breaux says he’s added nearly 35 pounds since arriving in Baton Rouge and he’s up to 285 pounds. But Breaux says thanks to LSU defensive line coach Bo Davis, he plays much bigger than his listed weight…

Cut 19 (18) “….play like one.”  

LSU hosts South Alabama on Saturday

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The Ragin Cajuns will be at Wake Forest on Saturday. U-L Lafayette is coming off a loss to Tulane, where they gave up 272 rushing yards. Cajuns Coach Michael Desormeaux expects the Demon Deacons to run the football…

Cut 20 (18) “…help em too” 

At least for the time being, the scorching hot days in Louisiana are coming to an end, as a cold front is barreling towards Louisiana. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says as a result, fans attending Saturday’s LSU football game should not have brutally hot temperatures to contend with.

Cut 8 (11) “…be about 82.”

And there’s virtually no chance of rain.

A new pilot program begins next Tuesday, in which library card holders can obtain a free one-day pass to any of Louisiana’s state parks or historic sites.

Cut 3 (08) “…be return users.”

State Librarian Meg Placke (PLACK-ee) says when they obtain a park pass at the library branch, they can also check out a backpack for the occasion, containing all the essentials needed when visiting a state park.

A DOTD worker assisting a disabled vehicle was struck and killed by a driver who veered off the road on I-610 in New Orleans.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Entergy Louisiana is sending 130 lineworkers and support personnel to assist Georgia Power in response to the potential impacts from Hurricane Helene. Dylan Granger is leading a convoy of bucket trucks to the Peach State.

Cut 15 (07) “…the lights on.”

An Arabi man is arrested after he allegedly struck and killed a DOTD worker on I-610 in New Orleans. Investigators say 23-year-old Eric Anthony Jr. was assisting a disabled vehicle yesterday when 26-year-old Oscar Perez-Moran veered onto the shoulder, hitting Anthony and two other vehicles. Trooper Jacob Pucheu (PEE-shoo) says by law, in the event of any crash involving serious injury or death, blood or breath tests are automatically taken…

Cut 10 (08) “…to come back.”

Perez-Morgan has been charged with negligent homicide.

Police in Natchitoches are investigating the deadly shooting of a 17-year-old. Matthew Daniels was shot on July Street; and died at a nearby hospital. Sergeant John Greely says at this point, it’s unclear what led to the shooting.

Cut 13 (07) “…that we have.” 

During an eight-hour period, there were three separate shootings that left one dead.

The state is launching a pilot program next week to introduce people to the state parks. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

130 Entergy Louisiana line workers and support personnel left for Georgia today as they will with power restoration efforts from Hurricane Helene. Dylan Granger is leading a convoy of bucket trucks to the Peach State…

Cut 15 (07) “…lights on”

A DOTD worker assisting a disabled vehicle was struck and killed by a driver who veered off the road on I-610 in New Orleans.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Natchitoches Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old Matthew Daniels, who was shot on July Street late yesterday afternoon. Police Sergeant John Greely says the location of the shooting is one officers know well…

Cut 14 (04) “…in the area”

The investigation is ongoing.

The calendar says fall, but it’s felt more like summer. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim has good news…a cold front is moving through Louisiana, and it’s also pushing Hurricane Helene away from the state and towards Florida.

Cut 7 (09) “…to the bayou.”

But in Florida, thousands are being evacuated as Helene is expected to be a Category Three hurricane when it makes landfall along the Florida panhandle on Thursday night.

Library cardholders in 18 parishes will be able to receive a free day pass to visit a State Park starting in October. State Librarian Meg Placke (PLACK-ee) says when they obtain a park pass at the library branch, they can also check out a backpack for the occasion, containing all the essentials needed when visiting a state park.

Cut 4 (11) “…that Louisiana has.”

For more information go to Check-Out-Louisiana-dot-org.