Saints legend Drew Brees is the first player in franchise history to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The formal announcement was made on Thursday night. No one could have predicted that Brees would become one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the NFL history when he was selected in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft…

Cut 12 (12) “…different way.”

Brees became the first quarterback to surpass 80-thousand career passing yards and his 571 touchdown passes are the second most in NFL history. His career completion percentage is the highest in league history.

The fifth-ranked LSU women’s basketball dropped a crucial SEC matchup 77-64 at fourth-ranked Texas last night. In the loss, the Tigers turned the ball over 19 times. With the loss, LSU only has a 9% chance to win at least a share of the regular-season SEC title. The Tigers will wrap up their weeklong road trip on Sunday when they face Auburn at 1 p.m.

There will be four former LSU Tigers playing in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Anthony Bradford is a starting guard for Seattle, and the Patriots have K’Lavon Chaisson, Will Campbell and Kayshon Boutte. Campbell never played for a championship at Neville High School or at LSU. But as a rookie in the NFL, he gets his opportunity after the Patriots used the fourth overall pick to select him.

Cut 17 (17)  “…it’s been awesome.”

The LSU men’s basketball team will host Georgia at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team will host Sam Houston tomorrow at 2 p.m.

UL-Lafayette goes for its fourth straight win tomorrow as the Cajuns host Central Michigan at 3 p.m.

McNeese men’s basketball looks to bounce back from a loss to Stephen F. Austin earlier this week as the Cowboys host Incarnate Word tomorrow at 4 p.m.

You can call Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees a Pro Football Hall of Famer. An official announcement was made last night. Brees started his NFL career in San Diego, but he became one of the quarterbacks in the games when he signed with the Saints prior to the 2006 season. Brees gives a lot credit to General Manager Mickey Loomis and Coach Sean Payton…

Cut 13 (11) “…be”

The Enshrinement ceremonies will take place in August in Canton, Ohio.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking for the person who shot a bald eagle to death. Sergeant Michael Hebert says it happened in Erath on December 5th.

Cut 6 (10) “…to its wounds.”

The reward for information leading to the arrest has increased to 15-thousand dollars as the Center for Biological Diversity has added nine-thousand dollars to the six-thousand dollars the U-S Fish Wildlife Service put up.

Another enhanced drunk driving enforcement operation begins today. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Power has been restored to all 130,000 North and Central Louisiana Entergy Customers who can safely receive it after the widespread damage from the recent ice storm. Entergy says many customers had to have their power restored multiple times as ongoing ice damage continued to cause outages and delay assessments. Rural and heavily wooded areas were hardest hit.

All eyes will be on the U.S. Senate race and the fifth congressional district when qualifying takes place next week. After initially challenging Bill Cassidy for the Senate, Blake Miguez is now running in the fifth district, even though he doesn’t live close to there. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says we’ve seen that before.

Cut 11 (10) “…anchored House district.”

Drew Brees is the first New Orleans Saint in history to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The formal announcement was made last night. Brees acknowledged that no one could have predicted that he would become one of the most prolific quarterbacks in history when he was taken in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

Cut 12 (12) “…different way.”

You drink, you drive, you lose – Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over starts today and runs through Mardi Gras, February 17th. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says Carnival is one of four times a year the state does a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, in which it gets federal funding to pay law enforcement officers overtime to look for impaired drivers.

Cut 5 (09) “…enforcement units available.”

It’s the biggest return of unclaimed property in Louisiana – more than 400-thousand dollars. State Treasurer John Fleming presented a pair of checks to Shreveport native James Willett earlier this week. He says a family member who had been managing the Willetts’ mineral royalties had passed away a few years ago, and the money ended up going untouched.

Cut 8 (09) “…to the state.”

Qualifying for Louisiana’s federal elections will take place next week. Incumbent Bill Cassidy could face three well-known challengers in the Republican U.S. Senate primary — John Fleming, Julia Letlow and Eric Skrmetta. LaPolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says President Trump’s endorsement of Letlow will help with fundraising.

Cut 10 (12) “…to Julia Letlow.”

Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees is a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Bress said it was a privilege to play and he was honored.

Cut 22 (05) “…everyday”

He said the honor was still surreal.

State Treasurer John Fleming presented the largest unclaimed property checks in Louisiana history to a Shreveport native and his son Tuesday at a Logansport Chamber of Commerce meeting. It was two checks totaling more than 400 thousand dollars and Fleming said he wanted to present them publicly to increase public awareness of the state’s unclaimed property fun which currently stands at about 1.2 billion dollars.

Cut 9 (09)  “…not the legislature.”

He says one in six people in Louisiana has unclaimed property, averaging about 900 dollars

Louisiana Tech and head football coach Sonny Cumbie have agreed on a new three-year contract worth 760-thousand dollars a year. It’s a 155-thousand dollar annual pay cut for Cumbie. Athletic Director Ryan Ivey says 155-thousand dollars will go towards revenue sharing deals with the players, which will help with recruiting efforts and roster retention.

Cut 14 (12) “…character as well.”

Ivey says Cumbie could earn more per year if he reaches several different performance-based incentives.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign begins today and runs through Mardi Gras, February 17^th. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says Carnival is on of four times per year that the state receives federal funding to pay law enforcement overtime to look for impaired drivers.

Cut 5 (09) “…enforcement units available.”

Primaries in Louisiana’s federal elections are quickly approaching with qualifying happening next week. President Trump has endorsed State Senator Blake Miguez to represent the 5^th Congressional district though Miguez does not live in the 5^th district. La Politic editor Jeremy Alford says it remains to be seen whether the president’s endorsement can overcome the issue of the Acadiana lawmaker wants to represent a district that’s based in northeast Louisiana and stretches to Baton Rouge.

Cut 12 (06) “…of that chatter.”

Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie has agreed to a three-year reconstructed contract. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Power has been restored to all 130,000 North and Central Louisiana Entergy Customers who can safely receive it after the widespread damage from the recent ice storms.  Entergy says many customers had to have their power restored multiple times as the ongoing ice damage continued to cause outages and delay assessments. Rural and heavily wooded areas were hardest hit.

Qualifying is next week and the Republican primary for the fifth district congressional race has announced candidates as they look to replace U.S. Senate candidate, Julia Letlow, who currently represents a district that stretches from northeast Louisiana to Baton Rouge. State Senator Blake Miguez is running, though he doesn’t live in the district. LaPolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says we’ve seen this before.

Cut 11 (10) “…anchored House district.”

Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees is a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Brees was elected on his first ballot, and says it’s an absolute honor…

Cut 19 (11) “…I would say”

Another enhanced drunk driving enforcement operation begins today. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State Treasurer John Fleming presented two unclaimed property checks totaling more than $400,000 to Shreveport native James Willett and his son Tuesday – for the largest unclaimed property award in state history. Fleming says he was simply returning their unclaimed property

Cut 7 (10) “…he passed away.”

Qualifying for Louisiana’s federal elections will take place next week, and there are two interesting races to watch. Incumbent Bill Cassidy could face three well-known challengers in the Republican U.S. Senate primary — John Fleming, Julia Letlow and Eric Skrmetta. LaPolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says President Trump’s endorsement of Letlow will help with fundraising.

Cut 10 (12) “…to Julia Letlow.”

Another enhanced statewide drunk driving enforcement operation gets underway today. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over goes from now through Mardi Gras, February 17th. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says Carnival is traditionally one of the deadliest periods in Louisiana.

Cut 4 (12) “…an impaired driver.”

State Treasurer John Fleming was in a giving mood this week. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana Tech and head football coach Sonny Cumbie have agreed on a new three-year contract worth 760-thousand dollars a year. It’s a 155-thousand dollar annual pay cut for Cumbie, but Athletic Director Ryan Ivey says Cumbie could earn more per year if he reaches several different performance-based incentives.

Cut 13 (10)  “…that moving forward.”

Another enhanced drunk driving enforcement operation begins today. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

State Treasurer John Fleming was in a giving mood this week. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie has agreed to a three-year reconstructed contract. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Another enhanced statewide drunk driving enforcement operation gets underway today. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over goes from now through Mardi Gras, February 17th. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says Carnival is traditionally one of the deadliest periods in Louisiana.

Cut 4 (12) “…an impaired driver.”

Fischer says Carnival is one of four times a year the state does a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, in which it gets federal funding to pay law enforcement officers overtime to look for impaired drivers.

Cut 5 (09) “…enforcement units available.”

Fischer says with so many options for you to get home safely, there is simply no excuse for you to ever get behind the wheel after you’ve had too much to drink.

Cut 6 (06) “…designated driver option.”

______________________________________________________

State Treasurer John Fleming was in a giving mood this week. On Tuesday, while speaking to members of the Logansport Chamber of Commerce, Fleming presented a pair of checks totaling more than 400-thousand dollars to Shreveport native James Willett and his son. Fleming says he was simply returning their unclaimed property — presenting the largest unclaimed property checks in state history.

Cut 7 (10) “…he passed away.”

Fleming says after the family member passed away, the money went untouched for a few years.

Cut 8 (09) “…to the state.”

Fleming says he wanted to present it publicly to create public awareness of the state’s unclaimed property fund, which currently stands at about 1.2-billion dollars. He says one in six people in Louisiana has unclaimed property, averaging about 900 dollars – and he says that money always belongs to its rightful owner.

Cut 9 (09)  “…not the legislature.”

______________________________________________________________

Qualifying for Louisiana’s federal elections will take place next week, and there are two interesting races to watch. Incumbent Bill Cassidy could face three well-known challengers in the Republican U.S. Senate primary — John Fleming, Julia Letlow and Eric Skrmetta. LaPolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says President Trump’s endorsement of Letlow will help with fundraising.

Cut 10 (12) “…to Julia Letlow.”

The Republican primary for the fifth district congressional race has announced candidates as they are looking to replace Letlow, who represents a district that stretches from northeast Louisiana to Baton Rouge. State Senator Blake Miguez is running, even though he doesn’t live in the fifth district. Alford says we’ve seen that before.

Cut 11 (10) “…anchored House district.”

Miguez also has President Trump’s endorsement. Alford says it remains to be seen if the endorsement of the President trumps the issue of an Acadiana lawmaker representing a district that’s based in northeast Louisiana.

Cut 12 (06) “…of that chatter.”

______________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech and head football coach Sonny Cumbie have agreed on a new three-year contract worth 760-thousand dollars a year. It’s a 155-thousand dollar annual pay cut for Cumbie, but Athletic Director Ryan Ivey says Cumbie could earn more per year if he reaches several different performance-based incentives.

Cut 13 (10)  “…that moving forward.”

Some of Cumbie’s notable incentives include 50-thousand dollars for five conference wins, which increases by 25-thousand with each conference win. Cumbie could also make 50-thousand dollars for a conference title game appearance or 100-thousand dollars for a conference title game win.

Ivey says the 155-thousand dollars that are no longer part of Cumbie’s annual salary will go towards revenue sharing deals with the players, which will help with recruiting efforts and roster retention.

Cut 14 (12) “…character as well.”

Cumbie is 19-and-31 at Tech and is coming off an 8-5 season with an Independence Bowl victory. Ivey says Cumbie’s reconstructed contract is more than just a financial move.

Cut 15 (08) “…to do that.”

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There will be four former LSU Tigers playing in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Anthony Bradford is a starting guard for Seattle, and the Patriots have K’Lavon Chaisson, Will Campbell and Kayshon Boutte. Boutte averages 18 yards a catch and has a touchdown in the postseason. The New Iberia native has the utmost confidence in second-year quarterback Drake Maye.

Cut 16 (13) “…of the day” 

Campbell never played for a championship at Neville High School or at LSU. But as a rookie in the NFL, he gets his opportunity after the Patriots used the fourth overall pick to select him.

Cut 17 (17)  “…it’s been awesome.”

Super Bowl 60 is on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. in Santa Clara, California. Campbell says he will certainly take a moment to take it all in before kickoff.

Cut 18 (09)  “…ready to go.”

The Patriots also have former Louisiana Tech standout Milton Williams. The defensive tackle won a Super Bowl with the Eagles last season.

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.

More than a week and a half after an ice storm ravaged northeast Louisiana, there are still hundreds without power. The storm had knocked out power to more than 45-thousand customers in Ouachita Parish. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis says once the power is fully restored, they’ll 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.”

Another Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over begins tomorrow and runs through Mardi Gras, February 17th. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says with so many options for you to get home safely, there is simply no excuse for you to ever get behind the wheel after you’ve had too much to drink.

Cut 6 (06) “…designated driver option.”