Thousands of new jobs are coming to St. Mary Parish, as a shipbuilder announces plans to expand a shipyard there.Here’s Jeff Palermo.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Tis the season for many things right now, including the flu…and according to the CDC,  Louisiana has the highest rate of flu or flu-like illness in the country.  Ochsner Health family medicine physician Dr. Madeleine Dehner (DAY-ner) says there are things you can do to lower your chances of getting the flu.

Cut 10 (06) “…time of year.”

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The ACLU of Louisiana is suing the state over a law that makes interfering with immigration enforcement operations a crime. Legal Director Nora Ahmed says the ACLU filed the suit on behalf of Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy, which has been providing outreach to let people know their rights with Border Patrol agents potentially arriving in their neighborhoods.

Cut 7 (12) “…Security is undertaking.”

Tomorrow night is the semifinals of the high school football playoffs.  In Division One non-select, Zachary is at top seeded Ruston. The LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett says the Bearcats have beaten the Broncos the last three years in the postseason.

Cut 13 (10)  “…heading up there”

Another match-ups will feature St. James versus Sterlington in a rematch of last year’s state championship game.

Thousands of new jobs are coming to the Bayou Region, as a shipbuilder announces plans to expand a shipyard in St. Mary Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The ACLU of Louisiana is suing the state over its law making it a state crime to interfere with an immigration enforcement operation. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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In the non-select high school football playoffs, there are three double-digit seeds left in the semifinal rounds. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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An estimated 32-hundred jobs are coming to Louisiana’s Bayou Region as Saronic Technologies announces it’s investing 300-million dollars to expand the Franklin Shipyard in St. Mary Parish. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says this major investment will result in Saronic building more autonomous boats.

Cut 4 (09) “…purposes as well.”

Bourgeois says the company is expected to create 15-hundred direct new jobs and an additional 17-hundred indirect jobs. She says this is great news for the bayou region’s economic future.

Cut 5 (09) “…just naturally does.”

Bourgeois says Louisiana has a long history of shipbuilding and this project builds on that proud legacy by integrating innovative technology to ensure the state continues to be at the forefront of America’s defense economy.

Cut 6 (09) “…advantage of that.”

Saronic broke ground on the expansion last month and expects construction to be completed next year, with expanded operations starting in 2027.

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The ACLU of Louisiana is suing the state over its law making it a state crime to interfere with immigration enforcement operations. Legal Director Nora Ahmed says the ACLU filed the suit on behalf of Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy, which has been providing outreach to let people know of their rights with Border Patrol agents potentially arriving in their neighborhoods.

Cut 7 (12) “…Security is undertaking.”

Ahmed says the way the law is written, someone could be arrested simply for letting people know that Border Patrol agents are in the vicinity.

Cut 8 (11) “…of the statute.”

Ahmed says the law is essentially silencing ISLA in violation of its First Amendment rights.

Cut 9 (11)  “…that they can.”

In a statement, Attorney General Liz Murrill says the state law is constitutional, and she looks forward to defending it in court.

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Christmastime is here – and, unfortunately, so is flu season. What’s worse is that according to the CDC, Louisiana has the highest rate of flu or flu-like illness in the country. Ochsner Health family medicine physician Dr. Madeleine Dehner (DAY-ner) says there are things you can do to lower the chances of getting the flu – and they actually go beyond simply washing your hands and covering your mouth.

Cut 10 (06) “…time of year.”

Dr. Dehner says take extra precautions if you’re near anyone exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

Cut 11 (09) “…much as possible.”

Dehner says you’ll want to take precautions if you’re the one experiencing those symptoms.

Cut 12 (12) “…start getting worse.”

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Tomorrow night is the semifinals of the high school football playoffs, and several south Louisiana teams will head to north Louisiana in the hopes of playing in the Superdome next week. In Division One non-select, Zachary is at top seeded Ruston. The LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett says the Bearcats have beaten the Broncos the last three years in the postseason.

Cut 13 (10)  “…heading up there”

In Division Three non-select, St. James versus Sterlington in a rematch of last year’s state championship game won by the Panthers, who beat the Wildcats by a touchdown. Verrett expects another close game.

Cut 14 (09) “…a crazy matchup.”

In Division Two non-select, Plaquemine is in the semifinals for a second straight season, but Verrett says the Green Devils have a touch matchup against top-seeded North DeSoto.

Cut 15 (10) “…ready to go.”

Tomorrow we’ll look at some of the select matchups.

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Four-star wide receiver Brayden Allen signed with LSU yesterday on day one of the early signing period. Allen was committed to Oklahoma going into last weekend, but he decommitted the night Lane Kiffin was hired. Allen says he’s happy to play for the purple and gold and to stay in his home state.

Cut 16 (10) “…great at LSU.”

Allen met with Kiffin Sunday night as the new coaching staff pushed to get his commitment. Allen says he’s ready to ride the Lane train.

Cut 17 (11)  “…championships over here.”

Kiffin and his offensive staff led the Rebels to the number-three total offense and number-11 scoring offense in the nation this season. Allen says there’s a lot to like about Kiffin’s offensive system.

Cut 18 (12)  “…really great feeling.”

Allen will join the Tigers in the summer as a late enrollee.

As part of Operation Swamp Sweep comes Operation Catahoula Crunch. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

If you bought Great Value shredded cheese from Walmart, or the Target Store brand Good and Gather or Happy Farms by Aldi, Food Club and Always Save, throw that shredded cheese away. Great Lakes Cheese company has ordered a massive recall over metal fragment contamination.

Huge economic development news for St. Mary Parish as Saronic Technologies announces a 300-million dollar investment to expand the Franklin Shipyard so that the shipbuilder can build more autonomous boats for the Department of Defense and commercial companies. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the expansion is expected to create 15-hundred direct new jobs and an additional 17-hundred indirect jobs, for a total of 32-hundred jobs…

Cut 5 (09) “…natural does”

LSU signed the nation’s best defensive tackle in the country on the opening day of the early signing period. Richard Anderson of Edna Karr will be a Tiger and so will his teammate, four-star safety Aiden Hall. Lee Brecheen of Louisiana Football Magazine on Hall…

Cut 7 (12) “…and hit”

As part of Operation Swamp Sweep, the Department of Homeland Security is launching what it calls Operation Catahoula Crunch. This operation is targeting specific undocumented aliens with violent crime arrests who had been released by police departments who it says have refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Once arrested, those people could be sent to the so-called “Louisiana Lockup” in Angola, which Governor Landry said would be used specifically for these people.

Cut 9 (12)  “…and holding facility.”

Louisiana’s best high school football players started signing with colleges today. LSU’s first signee of the day was Destrehan receiver Jabari Mack. Lee Brecheen of Louisiana Football Magazine says Mack reminds him of former LSU star Ja’Marr Chase.

Cut 8 (05) “..strong kid.”

Remembrances and tributes are pouring in for Dr. William Jenkins. The former LSU System president passed away last week at the age of 88. Stephen Moret, the former head of the LSU Foundation, spoke with Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana and remembered not only the leadership and mentorship of Dr. Jenkins but the man whom he said was the same caring man in private as he was in public.

Cut 3 (10) “…the same way.”

Senator Bill Cassidy helped sponsor the bipartisan IRS Math Act that was just signed into law. Cassidy says the bill improves fairness, transparency and clarity when the IRS notifies taxpayers of errors in their tax returns.

Cut 12 (08) “…This addresses that.”

Now when the IRS notifies a taxpayer of an adjustment to his or her tax return, it must specify the line number, a clear explanation of the error and the reason for the adjustment.

Remembrances and tributes are pouring in for former LSU System president Dr. William Jenkins, who died last week at the age of 88. Stephen Moret, the former head of the LSU Foundation, says Dr. Jenkins had a deep love for LSU and expressed deep care for everyone who made up the university from star professors to students and those who kept the university going.

Cut 5 (10) “…the future.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the signing of the bipartisan IRS Math Act that he had helped sponsor.

Cut 14 (08) “…get in trouble.”

Now, among other things, when the IRS notifies a taxpayer of an adjustment to his or her tax return, it must now specify the line number, a clear explanation of the error and the reason for the adjustment.

Some of the state’s best high school football prospects signed with LSU today. Jeff Palermo has more on the first day of the early signing period.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

If you’re a fifth or sixth grade girl attending school in Zachary, leave the skirt at home. Two months from now, a new rule will go into effect banning those students from wearing skirts in school. The school board made the decision due to alleged disruptions to the learning environment.

As part of Operation Swamp Sweep comes Operation Catahoula Crunch. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The IRS Math Act cosponsored by Senator Bill Cassidy has been passed and signed.

Under the new law, when the IRS notifies a taxpayer of an adjustment to his or her tax return, it must now specify the line number, a clear explanation of the error and the reason for the adjustment. Cassidy says if it results in the taxpayer owing additional money, he or she now has 60 days to make the payment without penalty.

Cut 13 (06)  “…all is clear.”

The three-day early signing period when Louisiana’s best high school football players sign with colleges began today. Lafayette Christian Academy star Brayden Allen was one of LSU’s first signees. Lee Brecheen of Louisiana Football Magazine says the Tigers are getting a good one in Allen.

Cut 6 (09) “…slot corners.”

Two-time former LSU president, Dr. William Jenkins passed away last week. Dr. Jenkins is credited with shaping LSU for decades. He’s been called a “consummate Tiger”. Former head of the LSU Foundation, Stephen Moret (More ray) remembered his leadership and mentorship. He says Jenkins had a deep love for LSU and expressed deep care for everyone who made up the university from star professors to students and those who kept the university going.

Cut 5 (10) “…the future.”

Dr. Jenkins was 88 years old.

Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the signing of the bipartisan IRS Math Act that he had helped sponsor. Cassidy says the bill improves fairness, transparency and clarity when the IRS notifies taxpayers of errors in their tax returns.

Cut 12 (08) “…This addresses that.”

As part of Operation Swamp Sweep, the two-month immigration enforcement operation underway in New Orleans, Operation Catahoula Crunch is targeting those with violent crime arrests and they could be sent to Louisiana Lock up at the State Penitentiary in Angola which Governor Landry says will help secure America.

Cut 11 (10) “…criminal civil population.”

Louisiana’s best high school football players are signing with colleges today as a three-day early signing period began today. And after reports surfaced that he was going to hold off on signing, the nation’s number one defensive tackle, Richard Anderson from Edna Karr High School, has indeed signed with LSU. Lee Brecheen of Louisiana Football Magazine says Anderson’s teammate, four-star safety Aiden Hall, had signed with LSU earlier in the day.

Cut 7 (12) “…and hit”

Former LSU president, Dr. William Jenkins passed away last week at the age of 88 and former head of the LSU Foundation, Stephen Moret remembered him on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster. Dr. Jenkins also served as dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. And when he served as Chancellor of LSU, Moret says Dr. Jenkins took over at a time when there had been a loss of confidence in the university.

Cut 4 (11) “…trust in him”