The world’s best skateboarders, BMX and Moto X athletes are in New Orleans this weekend for the first ever X Games Championship event. Joe Gallinaro talked with Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero.
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The general election candidates for U.S. Senate release their latest campaign finance numbers. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Lane Kiffin broke down how he rebuilt the LSU football roster in one offseason. Kace Kieschnick has more.
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New Orleans has been a destination for major sporting events, but this weekend it’s trying something new as the Caesars Superdome is hosting an X Games Championship event. Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero says huge ramps have been built for skateboarding and bike races.
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The X Games Championship features action sports including skateboard, BMX and Moto X. This event is the final competition of the inaugural MoonPay X Games Summer season. More than 100 competitors will participate, including two from Louisiana — Moto X rider Wyatt Fontenot of Opelousas and BMX rider Broc Raiford of Destrehan. Cicero says ESPN and ABC will provide national television coverage.
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Tickets can be purchases at x-games-dot-com. Cicero says having the X games championship is significant for Louisiana, bringing international visibility, economic impact and opportunities for regional businesses.
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The general election candidates for U.S. Senate release their latest campaign finance reports. To no one’s surprise, Julia Letlow is far outraising Jamie Davis, having raised about three times as much money since both launched their campaigns. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan notes that more than three-fourths of Letlow’s 6.2-million dollars in donations have come from the GOP and political action committees.
Cut 7 (14) “…those traditional sources.”
In direct contrast, all of Jamie Davis’ nearly two-million dollars in donations have come from individuals – his report indicates that he has not received a dime from any political action committee. Hogan notes that Davis’ contributions have come from far and wide, which might not necessarily work to his advantage.
Cut 8 (08) “…their home state.”
Furthermore, Davis’ campaign says it raised 1.6-million dollars since he won the runoff last month to become the Democratic nomination. In fact, Davis’ donations from individuals are outpacing Letlow’s, whose campaign has raised just under 1.4-million dollars from individuals. Hogan says despite all that, that likely will not be enough for Davis to spring the monumental upset at the ballot box in November.
Cut 9 (14) “…last few decades.”
Currently, Letlow has more than 1.4-million dollars in cash on hand, compared to less than 480-thousand dollars for Davis.
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Incarcerated people approaching the end of their prison sentences have a new program to get job training, thanks to a new federal grant. Louisiana Works Secretary Susie Schowen (SHAU-in) says the Department of Labor awarded the commission a RESTART Grant of more than five-million dollars, and the money will be put to good use.
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Schowen says Louisiana Works will provide job training in skills essential to Louisiana’s economy, including advanced manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding.
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Schowen says by focusing on skilled labor, Louisiana Works can get inmates the training they need in as short amount of time as possible so that when they are released, they can immediately re-enter the workforce and become productive members of society once again.
Cut 12 (14) “…job generally requires.”
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LSU helped wrap up SEC Media Days in Tampa yesterday. Senior linebacker Whit Weeks could have gone to the NFL Draft after an injury-riddled 2025. Instead, he decided to come back to lead coordinator Blake Baker’s defense back to dominance.
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Weeks will have a new partner in the middle of the defense. Linebacker T.J. Dottery followed Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU this offseason. Dottery explained why he came to LSU.
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Dottery began his college career at Clemson. He led the SEC with 98 tackles last year.
Weeks was named first-team All-SEC in 2024 when he totaled 125 tackles. He said he loves playing alongside Dottery.
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Tight end Trey’Dez Green is LSU’s only returning contributor in the passing game after Kiffin’s roster reset. Green said he was worried about an offense with nine transfer wide receivers.
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Green has a chance to be one of the Tigers’ top receivers this fall in coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.’s tight end-friendly offense.
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LSU hosts Texas November 14th. It will be the first meeting between the schools since the Tigers’ 45-38 win in Austin in 2019. The Longhorns were supposed to make a return trip as part of that series, but it was postponed by COVID and their move to the SEC. Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning says he’s looking forward to playing in to Death Valley.
Cut 17 (07) “…so we’re excited.”
The New Orleans native led the Longhorns to a 10-and-3 record with a Citrus Bowl victory in his first full season as a starter last year. Manning got off to a rocky start in a major week one matchup with Ohio State, but says he’s grown a lot since that 14-7 loss.
Cut 18 (09) “…repeat that game.”
Manning went 17 for 30 for 170 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Texas hosts the Buckeyes in week two this year.