Breaking news coming into the Louisiana Radio Network newsroom – 911 phone lines are down throughout the state. It’s unclear what’s causing the 911 outage at this time. Individual police departments, fire departments and ambulance companies are putting out advisories on alternative ways to reach them in the event of an emergency. You can also be proactive – go online right now and take down the number of your local police department, fire department or ambulance company’s dispatch center.

Saint Bernard Parish State Representative Mike Bayham recently met Pope Leo the 14th at the Vatican. Along with a copy of a state resolution congratulating him on becoming the first American to be elected head of the Catholic church, Bayham gifted Pope Leo a glass oyster shell, a symbol of St Bernard’s rich commercial fishing heritage.

Cut 4 (09) “…this is unique.”

Louisiana’s truancy rate – defined as five or more unexcused absences in a single semester – stands at more than 40-percent. Steven Procopio, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says while that’s down from 2018’s peak, it’s still unacceptably high. When considering the national standard of chronic absenteeism, Procopio says Louisiana actually doesn’t rank too badly nationally.

Cut 11 (06) “…about 22.5-percent.”

After months of delays, construction at the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston is finally underway. Equipment moved in last Friday, and construction workers started turning dirt on Monday. Mayor Ronny Walker says the delays will prevent the massive road trip staple from opening in 2026.

Cut 6 (08) “…fine with us.”

Mayor Walker says when the new Buc-ee’s does open, it will create hundreds of jobs with starting hourly wages of 18 to 20 dollars an hour.

While the trend is getting better, Louisiana’s truancy rate is still unacceptably high at over 40-percent. Louisiana defines truancy as five or more unexcused absences in a semester. Steven Procopio, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says the Louisiana Department of Education and BESE are working on a strategy to boost student attendance.

Cut 10 (11) “…a little bit.”

They’ve finally started turning dirt on the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston. The start of construction of the highly-anticipated road trip staple was delayed for months, but it is now underway. The delays will push the opening back to early 2027, but when it does open, it will create hundreds of good-paying jobs. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says the quality of the jobs go far beyond the 18 to 20 dollar an hour starting wage.

Cut 8 (07) “…in North Louisiana.”

State Representative Mike Bayham says he had the honor of a lifetime as he had the opportunity to shake hands and speak with Pope Leo the 14th. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

We’re almost into October; and knock on wood – Louisiana is so far in no danger of any tropical activity. The same, however, cannot be said for the Southeast Atlantic Coast. The National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a disturbance that could become Tropical Storm Imelda, and it could come at least within close proximity to Florida’s east coast.

While the state is making progress on truancy, it still has quite a ways to go. The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana says statewide, the truancy rate – that is, five or more unexcused absences in a semester – is more than 40 percent. PAR President Steven Procopio says the truancy rate varies by parish, and it varies greatly within each region and demographic.

Cut 9 (08)  “…an immediate connection.”

Republican State Representative Mike Bayham from Saint Bernard Parish had the thrill of a lifetime as he met Pope Leo the 14th at the Vatican. Bayham says he gave the first American-born pontiff a copy of a state resolution congratulating him on becoming the head of the Catholic church…

Cut 3 (08) “…he appreciated it.”

Construction at the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston is finally underway. Equipment moved in last Friday, and construction workers started turning dirt on Monday. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says when it opens in early 2027, it will create hundreds of jobs, and they’re all good-paying jobs.

Cut 7 (05) “…more than that.”

On top of that, Buc-ee’s will offer health benefits and a 401-K. Construction is also underway at the Buc-ee’s in Lafayette, which begs the question – which one will open first?

A new area code comes to North Louisiana today, as new numbers will be given the area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the commission made the move, because North Louisiana simply ran out of telephone numbers.

Cut 11 (04) “…to do something.”

Also, throughout North Louisiana, you are now required to dial all ten numbers, including the area code, for all calls, local and long distance.

Cleanup continues more than a month after the massive chemical explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

After months of delays, construction at the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston is finally underway. Equipment moved in last Friday, and construction workers started turning dirt on Monday. Mayor Ronny Walker says the delays will prevent the massive road trip staple from opening in 2026.

Cut 6 (08) “…fine with us.”

The Lafayette Buc-ee’s is not expected to open until 2028.

This Saturday’s ULM-Arkansas State football game has been dubbed the Rice Bowl. Brice Jones with ULM says the resurrection of the game was the brainchild of the school’s new president, Dr. Carrie Castille.

Cut 22 (11) “…the same conference.”

Arkansas is the largest rice-producing state in the country, and Louisiana is third.

Northwestern State is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as being one of the best public schools among regional universities in the South. Chief Marketing Officer Cole Young says it’s a testament to how the school is committed to student success.

Cut 13 (08)  “…in the workforce.”

Young says Northwestern has long made a commitment to individual student attention

Cleanup continues in Tangipahoa Parish more than a month after the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland that spewed oil and other toxic substances into the Tangipahoa River. Adam Adams, a federal on-scene coordinator with the EPA, says the EPA set up a website to keep the public updated on the cleanup progress.

Cut 4 (12) “…waste we’ve recovered.”

Adams says crews have recovered more than five and a half million gallons of waste from the Tangipahoa River and affected ponds

Louisiana has a new area code today. North Louisiana exhausted all of the numbers with a 318 area code so they added the new area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says you now must dial all ten numbers to make a call in the region, including local calls. There had been optional testing of the 10 number requirement, but Campbell says that expired a month ago; so if you omit the area code, you’ll get nowhere.

Cut 12 (02) “…dial the 318.”

September is National Rice Month and ULM and Arkansas State are ending the month this Saturday by playing each other in football and calling it the Rice Bowl. Brice Jones with ULM says the Rice Bowl is a great way to promote the rice industry in two of the country’s top rice producing states.

Cut 9 (10)  “…in our backyard.”

The Rice Bowl Rivalry game is Saturday at 2 PM and the winner will take home the Rice Bowl trophy.

The Saints are off to a rough 0-and-3 start, but Coach Kellen Moore says there is still a lot of the season left…

Cut 22 (11) “…getting better”

Owner Gaye Benson was at yesterday’s practice, watching and talking with Coach Moore. New Orleans is at Buffalo this Sunday.

Crews in Tangipahoa Parish have contained the waste and recovered more than five and a half million gallons of waste from the Tangipahoa River and affected ponds from last month’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. EPA On-Scene Coordinator Adam Adams says yesterday, they started SCAT – Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Techniques — the final step in the cleanup of the river.

Cut 6 (13) “…a soft flush?”

Northwestern State is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as being one of the best public schools among regional universities in the South. Chief Marketing Officer Cole Young the quality of students that Northwestern is bringing in has greatly improved in recent years.

Cut 15 (11) “…at this point.”

A new area code comes to North Louisiana today. New phone numbers will be given the area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says existing phone numbers will not change.

Cut 10 (08) “…into the area.”

The Public Service Commission made the move, because North Louisiana ran out of telephone numbers.

The Rice Bowl makes a comeback this year. The first edition is this Saturday between ULM and Arkansas State. Brice Jones with ULM says the two schools are using the game for more than football.

Cut 8 (12) “…with our industry.”

Arkansas is the highest rice-producing state in the country, and Louisiana is third highest.

Clean up crews say they have contained the waste from last month’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland and so far, they have recovered more than five and a half million gallons of waste from the Tangipahoa River and affected ponds. EPA on scene coordinator, Adam Adams says that represents more than half of the overall waste to be recovered. Adams says you can see the progress in the ponds.

Cut 5 (08) “…products on there.”

You can get updates on the clean up at response.epa.gov and click on the region that includes Louisiana.

Louisiana has a new area code today. North Louisiana exhausted all of the numbers with a 318 area code so they added the new area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says you now must dial all ten numbers to make a call in the region, including local calls. There had been optional testing of the 10 number requirement, but Campbell says that expired a month ago; so if you omit the area code, you’ll get nowhere.

Cut 12 (02) “…dial the 318.”

Ole Miss head football coach Lake Kiffin calls LSU linebacker Whit Weeks an awesome kid. Jeff Palermo reports he’d better – Weeks could end up being his son-in-law.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

September is National Rice Month and ULM and Arkansas State are ending the month the Saturday with the return of the Rice Bowl Brice Jones with ULM says the Rice Bowl is a great way to promote the rice industry in the two of the country’s top rice producing states.

Cut 9 (10)  “…in our backyard.”

U.S. News and World Report has recognized Northwestern State as one of the best public schools among regional universities in the South. Chief Marketing Officer Cole Young says Northwestern has long made a commitment to individual student attention – something large universities may not be equipped to do as easily.

Cut 14 (05) “…to student ratio.”

Young says the quality of students that Northwestern is bringing in has greatly improved in recent years.

North Louisiana has run out of phone numbers for area code 318 so they’re getting the new area code 457 today. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell…

Cut 11 (04) “…to do something.”

Residents will now have to dial all ten numbers when making a phone call even if they are calling someone in the same area code.

Cleanup continues more than a month after the massive chemical explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A new take on a longtime college football rivalry game, as the Rice Bowl is making a comeback this year. The first edition is being held this Saturday between ULM and Arkansas State. Brice Jones with ULM says the resurrection of the game was the brainchild of the school’s new president, Dr. Carrie Castille.

Cut 7 (11) “…the same conference.”

Arkansas is the largest rice-producing state in the country, and Louisiana is third.