Governor Jeff Landry gave a State of the State address in Monroe and discussed the new jobs that are coming to Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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By a vote of 77-22, the U.S. Senate passes the Protect College Sports Act. It now moves to the House, where its future is uncertain. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Louisiana Tech is investigating a video that recorded racist language coming from the speakers of a fraternity house near campus on Sunday. Kace Kieschnick reports.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
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Governor Jeff Landry is defending the state’s growing data center industry amid concerns about its impact on water supplies and electricity bills. Several data centers are already under construction in Louisiana, with more planned. Speaking at a State of the State luncheon in Monroe, Landry says the projects are important to the state’s economic future.
Cut 4 (13) “…write your future.”
Landry says companies building data centers have pledged not to raise residential electricity rates. He also pushed back on concerns about how much water the facilities will need to cool their equipment.
Cut 5 (11) “…do the math.”
Landry also discussed efforts to lower insurance rates in Louisiana. He says recent legal reforms have attracted more insurance companies to the state than ever before, but he cautions that it will take time for those changes to translate into significantly lower premiums.
Cut 6 (12) “…takes a while.”
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The Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act. Among other things, it codifies an athlete’s right to earn NIL money, establishes a five-year eligibility window with one transfer allowed without needing to sit out a season, requires agent registration with states and caps conference sizes to 20 schools — up from 19 thanks to the adoption of an amendment last night.
The vote was 77-22. John Kennedy ultimately voted in favor of the bill, but he did express some concerns on the Senate floor – specifically saying that it’s heavily tilted in favor of the schools.
Cut 7 (11) “…the antitrust laws.”
Kennedy says an antitrust exemption puts undue limitations on student athletes’ potential earning ability.
Cut 8 (10) “…athletes can make.”
Kennedy says imposing what would essentially be a salary cap on student athletes would be unfair, especially given the millions of dollars a year that some coaches make each year.
Kennedy says as originally drafted, the Protect College Sports Act left out one important group of people.
Cut 9 (10) “…the fans!”
So Kennedy offered an amendment to cap ticket price hikes to four-percent each year – an amendment that required 60 votes to be adopted. It failed to achieve even a simple majority, getting only 42 votes, so it was not adopted.
Louisiana’s other senator, Bill Cassidy, also voted yes. The Protect College Sports Act now advances to the House, where it faces an uncertain future. The House is in recess until after the midterm election, so the last chance it has of taking up the bill would be in the lame-duck session of the current Congress.
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There is the potential for heavy rainfall later this week as a cold front will interact with a very moist air mass associated with the remnants of Hurricane Polo in the Eastern Pacific. National Weather Service Meteorologist Donald Jones says rain chances return tomorrow and increase Thursday through the weekend.
Cut 10 (08) “…chance of rain.”
Jones says there’s the possibility we can see some flash flooding with this storm system.
Cut 11 (08) “…period of time.”
Jones says starting Thursday, outdoor activities could be impacted by the rain.
Cut 12 (11) “…across the area.”
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Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has been named a Guardian Signature Athlete in a partnership with the company behind the Guardian Cap. Olave, who is second in the NFL in receiving yards after three weeks, is one of the most prominent players in the league to wear the over-helmet protection. Guardian Sports cofounder and CEO Erin Hanson says that makes a difference.
Cut 13 (08) “…sometimes they receive.”
Olave chose to wear the cap during games this season after suffering multiple concussions in the last few years. He said that he wanted to focus on ensuring his well-being after football, and it made him feel more comfortable on the field.
The NFL first allowed Guardian caps in practices in 2020 and permitted players to wear them in-game in 2024. They are now mandatory for most players during practice, and more and more players have started to wear them on Sundays. Hanson says the caps were not designed for aesthetics, and she was surprised when players started wearing them in games; but the more they are worn, the better.
Cut 14 (11) “…helmet every season.”
As part of the new partnership, Olave will have the chance to donate Guardian caps and chin straps to his former high school, as well as to high school teams around the New Orleans area. Hanson says Olave can help make a major impact.
Cut 15 (11) “…effect is magical.”
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The LSU football team has suffered significant injuries to starters Whit Weeks, Dashawn Spears and Trey’Dez Green. Coach Lane Kiffin says they are especially impactful now that rosters are less deep than they used to be thanks to the transfer portal. He says he is considering not playing some starters when LSU takes on McNeese this weekend.
Cut 16 (12) “…of what’s happened.”
Quarterback Sam Leavitt also played through a hamstring injury.
Weeks broke his leg in the 35-6 win over Texas A&M. Kiffin says he will miss a lot of time, if not the whole season after undergoing surgery yesterday. He says it is a devastating loss blow for the defense and for Weeks, who chose to return for his senior season instead of going to the NFL draft.
Cut 17 (13) “…rolling into you.”
LSU will turn to junior Davhon Keys at linebacker. Keys was second in the SEC with 92 tackles last season as he stepped up while Weeks was out with an ankle injury. Kiffin says will need to do that again this year.
Cut 18 (15) “…to step up.”
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The Saints yet again found themselves on the wrong end of controversial officiating during their 35-27 loss to the Raiders on Sunday. In a play that reminded many fans of New Orleans’ reversed forced fumble against the Lions, quarterback Tyler Shough was strip-sacked on a crucial third down, and the Raiders took the lead after the turnover. Shough says he disagreed with the decision to let the call stand.
Cut 19 (12) “…get it done.”
In the first half, linebacker Danny Stutsman was called for a roughing the passer call after a third-down stop on the five-yard line. Stutsman hit Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins but wrapped up the quarterback and landed on top of him, drawing the penalty. He says the flag lines up with others around the league.
Cut 20 (12) “…make those calls.”
Saints coach Kellen Moore said the team still had plenty of opportunities to win the game.