Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson will soon have a new job. When the calendar flips to 2026, he will become the new president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Nelson says his experience as revenue secretary and his prior experience as a member of the Louisiana legislature makes him the right man to take over leading the 12-campus LCTC system.

Cut 7 (08) “…the biggest problems.”

Four months after being blind-sided by the resignation of John Hartwell, ULM introduces its new athletic director. The university introduced S.J. Tuohy as its new man to lead the Warhawks athletic department. During his introduction, Tuohy said his goal is to send the entire athletics program soaring to new heights.

Cut 10 (09) “…eligibility rules anymore.”

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend and you’re in the holiday mood, the 99th Annual Christmas Festival in Natchitoches takes place tomorrow. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Two huge matchups in New Orleans highlight tonight’s semifinal action on the select side of the high school football playoffs. Top-seeded Edna Karr, ranked eighth in the country by MaxPreps, will host fourth-seeded Catholic. The Cougars beat the Bears in the semis by two points last year, and the LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett expects another close game.

Cut 13 (08)  “…the answer”

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend and you’re in the holiday mood, the 99th Annual Christmas Festival in Natchitoches takes place tomorrow. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Four months after being blind-sided by the resignation of its athletic director, ULM has its new man. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A couple of top seeds are on upset alert in the select semifinals of the high school football playoffs. Jeff Palermo has a preview.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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It’s the biggest Christmas celebration in Louisiana. The 99^th Annual Christmas Festival in Natchitoches takes place tomorrow. Ariana Rachal (ruh-SHALL) with the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau says the small North Louisiana city looks like it comes straight out of a Hallmark movie.

Cut 4 (09) “…our center circle.”

The festival features the “Mistletoe Market,” which takes place on Front Street from seven a-m to seven p-m. Rachal says festivalgoers can find all sorts of unique items from the market.

Cut 5 (12) “…gifts and toys.”

The Festival of Lights Parade is one of the many things happening at the festival. Rachal says the parade will feature riders and bands from all over the country.

Cut 6 (11) “…Mardi Gras krewes.”

The parade runs from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

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Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson will soon have a new job. When the calendar flips to 2026, he will become the new president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Nelson says his experience as revenue secretary and his prior experience as a member of the Louisiana legislature makes him the right man to take over leading the 12-campus LCTC system.

Cut 7 (08) “…the biggest problems.”

Nelson says with all the economic development projects happening in the state, it’s now more important than ever to have people trained to do the jobs associated with them, and that’s where the LCTC schools come in.

Cut 8 (11) “…to do that.”

Nelson says training people in those essential skills is a major component in keeping home-grown talent in the state.

Cut 9 (08)  “…it’s all about.”

Nelson’s deputy in the Department of Revenue, Jarrod Conniglio, will take over as revenue secretary on New Year’s Day when Nelson begins his new job.

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Four months after being blind-sided by the resignation of John Hartwell, ULM introduces its new athletic director. The university introduced S.J. Tuohy as its new man to lead the Warhawks athletic department. During his introduction, Tuohy said his goal is to send the entire athletics program soaring to new heights.

Cut 10 (09) “…eligibility rules anymore.”

The 32-year-old Tuohy says even though he grew up in Memphis, he does have a strong connection to Louisiana – although he did seem a little confused as to some of the specifics.

Cut 11 (09) “…in Louisiana somewhere.”

Tuohy says he chose to go to ULM because it has a strong foundation to build on.

Cut 12 (07) “…build and grow.”

Head football coach Bryant Vincent had been serving as interim athletic director during the last four months following Hartwell’s resignation.

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Two huge matchups in New Orleans highlight tonight’s semifinal action on the select side of the high school football playoffs. Top-seeded Edna Karr, ranked eighth in the country by MaxPreps, will host fourth-seeded Catholic. The Cougars beat the Bears in the semis by two points last year, and the LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett expects another close game.

Cut 13 (10)  “…in this one”

The other Division One select matchup is John Curtis versus St. Augustine. Verrett says the Patriots are playing their best football of the season right now.

Cut 14 (11) “…fun to watch.”

One of the hottest teams in the state is Calvary Baptist. Verrett likes the Cavaliers’ chances to knock off second-seeded Notre Dame tonight in Division Three select.

Cut 15 (09) “…lost all year.”

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Number-21 Tulane hosts number-24 North Texas tonight in the American Conference Championship, with the winner likely gaining an invitation to the College Football Playoff. The Mean Green come into the matchup with the top offense in the nation, averaging over 46 points a game. Head coach Jon Sumrall says the Green Wave’s defense has to do a good job of shutting down the pass game.

Cut 16 (14) “…end for sure.”

Sumrall says a huge contributor to the team’s success has been BYU junior transfer quarterback Jake Retzlaff.

Cut 17 (09)  “…a big deal.”

Retzlaff leads the Green Wave in rushing, with 561 yards and 14 touchdowns. Sumrall and North Texas head coach Eric Morris will finish out the season with their respective teams before moving on to coach Power Four programs — Sumrall to Florida and Morris to Oklahoma State. Kickoff at Yulman Stadium is seven p-m.

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Four-star offensive tackle Brysten Martinez out of East Ascension High School in Gonzales signed with LSU on Wednesday. Martinez is rated as the number-nine offensive tackle in the country and says his decision to choose the Tigers over Texas came down to the hiring of Lane Kiffin.

Cut 18 (09)  “…with LSU already.”

One of the three inmates who escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail is dead. 26-year-old Joseph Harrington shot himself to death during a standoff with Port Barre Police. The other two inmates – 24-year-olds Keith Eli and Johnathan Joseph – are still on the run. Mark LeBlanc with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says they chiseled through degrading concrete, got onto the roof and used construction equipment to make their escape.

Cut 10 (12) “…the building completely.”

Meanwhile in Vermilion Parish, 23-year-old Gavin Garnica, who’s facing drug and firearm charges, escaped that parish’s jail by scaling the jail’s fence. Ashley Adams with the sheriff’s office says if you see him, do not approach him under any circumstances.

Cut 11 (10) “…drugs and weapons.”

CDC advisors open a two-day meeting, during which they could make changes to recommended childhood vaccinations, and Senator Bill Cassidy has something to say about that. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Lane Kiffin may not get to coach Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff, but he will be appearing at the SEC Championship Game. The new LSU coach will be a guest on ESPN’s College Gameday as it broadcasts from Atlanta, the site of the SEC title game between Georgia and Alabama.

Four-star wide receiver Brayden Allen out of Lafayette 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 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.

One of LSU’s top-rated commitments and the No. 1 defensive lineman in the country, Richard Anderson, out of Edna Karr High School in New Orleans, is set to formally sign with the Tigers on Thursday after a clerical hold up kept him from signing on Wednesday. Anderson’s revised documents will be sent to LSU on Thursday.

The No. 5 LSU women’s basketball team looks to stay undefeated on the season as the Tigers travel to Durham, North Carolina to face the Duke Blue Devils tonight at 8 p.m.

Tomorrow night is the semifinals of the high school football playoffs. In Division Two non-select, Plaquemine is in the semifinals for a second straight season, but LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett says the Green Devils have a touch matchup against top-seeded North DeSoto.

Cut 15 (10) “…ready to go.”

Louisiana Tech junior defensive back has been named Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Year after intercepting three passes, breaking up five passes and recording a team-high 92 tackles. Fields will not play his senior season for the Bulldogs as he entered the transfer portal on Wednesday.

The LSU men’s basketball team defeated Boston College in overtime last night by a score of 78-69 to remain undefeated on the season. Junior guard DJ Thomas led the Tigers in scoring with 23 points while also dishing out seven assists.

South Louisiana saw jail breaks in two parishes yesterday. In St. Landry Parish, Major Mark LeBlanc with the sheriff’s office says 24-year-olds Keith Eli and Johnathan Joseph and 26-year-old Joseph Harrington escaped through one of the cells in an upper corner of the building.

Cut 9 (10)  “…of a hole.”

At that point, they were able to get outside and onto the roof.

In Vermilion Parish, a 23-year-old facing drug and firearm charges escaped that parish’s jail late last night. Deputies believed they saw Gavin Garnica sleeping covered by a blanket in his bunk, but they later discovered video showing him scaling the jail’s fence. Ashley Adams with the sheriff’s office says Garnica is known to be violent, but the big question is how Garnica was able to escape the jail in the first place.

Cut 12 (07) “…have been violated.”

A tip and a traffic stop led to a major meth bust in Calcasieu Parish. State Police Trooper Roy Jones says when 48-year-old Brent Touchet of Lake Charles stopped, investigators found. Around 85 pounds of methamphetamine the vehicle, along with a weapon and other contraband. Touchet was arrested, along with the two people who were with him – 45-year-old Jessica Robinson of Lake Charles and 41-year-old Josh Reeves of Sulphur.

Cut 15 (10) “…a stolen vehicle.”

Some Louisiana royals will be aboard Louisiana’s float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, New Year’s Day. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says Joining Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain will be the Oyster Queen, and the Jambalaya Queen and they will be doing more than simply smiling and waving to the crowd.

Cut 8 (11) “…of the state.”

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices opened its two-day meeting today to discuss possible changes to its recommended childhood vaccination schedule. The long-standing recommendation for the Hepatitis B is in question after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. linked it to autism. Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, says it has never been proven that vaccines cause autism, and any changes to the Hepatitis B vaccine recommendation would be very dangerous.

Cut 5 (06) “…of scientific fact.”

He says the vaccine is safe and effective.

Some notable people will be aboard Louisiana’s float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, New Year’s Day. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the people onboard are as diverse as the state itself.

Cut 6 (06) “…Commissioner Mike Strain.”

Nungesser says they will also help decorate the float and promote Louisiana through interviews.

Not one, but TWO jail breaks in South Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A major meth bust in Calcasieu Parish leads to the arrest of three people. State Police Trooper Roy Jones says investigators stopped 48-year-old Brent Touchet of Lake Charles and found narcotics and contraband in the vehicle.

Cut 14 (10) “…more drug paraphernalia.”

Two people who with Touchet were also arrested – 45-year-old Jessica Robinson and 41-year-old Josh Reeves.

CDC advisors open a two-day meeting, during which they could make changes to recommended childhood vaccinations, and Senator Bill Cassidy has something to say about that. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Not one, but TWO jail breaks in South Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices opened its two-day meeting today to discuss possible changes to its recommended childhood vaccination schedule. The most consequential of potential changes involves the Hepatitis B vaccine, which has been universally recommended since 1991. Senator Bill Cassidy says since then, the virus has nearly been eradicated.

Cut 3 (11) “…shortly after birth.”

The vaccine’s long-standing recommendation is in question after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. linked the vaccination to autism. Senator Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, says the numbers don’t lie – the Hepatitis B vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective.

Cut 4 (11) “…time of birth.”

Cassidy says it has never been proven that vaccines cause autism, and any changes to the Hepatitis B vaccine recommendation would be very dangerous.

Cut 5 (06) “…of scientific fact.”

During his confirmation hearing, Kennedy assured Cassidy that he would not peddle any conspiracy theories about vaccines causing autism. Last month, Kennedy went back on his word, posting on the CDC website that the notion that vaccines do not cause autism is not based on scientific fact.

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Some notable people will be aboard Louisiana’s float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, New Year’s Day. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the people onboard are as diverse as the state itself.

Cut 6 (06) “…Commissioner Mike Strain.”

Lieutenant Governor Nungesser says those three and all the other riders are sponsored by tourism organizations and convention and visitors bureaus throughout the state, with the notable exception of New Orleans.

Cut 7 (10) “…partnered with us.”

Nungesser says those who are riding on the float will be doing a lot more than just simply putting on a smile and waving for the crowd and the TV cameras.

Cut 8 (11) “…of the state.”

The previously-announced musical guest aboard the float, named “Gulf to Gumbo,” is Louisiana’s own “American Idol” runner up John Foster.

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Not one, but two jail breaks in South Louisiana yesterday. In St. Landry Parish Jail, three inmates escaped from the jail there. Major Mark LeBlanc with the sheriff’s office says 24-year-olds Keith Eli and Johnathan Joseph and 26-year-old Joseph Harrington escaped through one of the cells in an upper corner of the building.

Cut 9 (10)  “…of a hole.”

At that point, they were able to get outside and onto the roof. LeBlanc says due to construction that was happening, they were able to use certain equipment to make their escape.

Cut 10 (12) “…the building completely.”

And in Vermilion Parish, a 23-year-old facing drug and firearm charges escaped that parish’s jail late last night. Deputies believed they saw Gavin Garnica sleeping covered in his bunk, but they later discovered video showing him scaling the jail’s fence. Ashley Adams with the sheriff’s office says Garnica is known to be violent, so anyone who sees him should not approach him under any circumstances.

Cut 11 (10) “…drugs and weapons.”

Adams says one big question is how Garnica was able to escape the jail in the first place.

Cut 12 (07) “…have been violated.”

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An investigation leads to a major meth bust in Calcasieu Parish. State Police Trooper Roy Jones says detectives received a tip about narcotics trafficking in the area. So they set up surveillance in the area and developed probable cause to stop 48-year-old Brent Touchet of Lake Charles.

Cut 13 (11)  “…they located narcotics”

Jones says the investigators found a slew of narcotics in the vehicle, along with other contraband.

Cut 14 (10) “…more drug paraphernalia.”

Jones says Touchet was arrested, along with the two people who were with him – 45-year-old Jessica Robinson of Lake Charles and 41-year-old Josh Reeves of Sulphur.

Cut 15 (10) “…a stolen vehicle.”

An investigation leads to a major meth bust in Calcasieu Parish. State Police Trooper Roy Jones says detectives received a tip about narcotics trafficking in the area. So, they set up surveillance in the area and developed probable cause to stop 48-year-old Brent Touchet of Lake Charles.

Cut 13 (11)  “…they located narcotics”

Around 85 pounds of meth was found in the vehicle.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is looking at their childhood vaccination schedule including the long-standing recommendation for the Hepatitis B vaccine. This after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. linked the vaccination to autism. Senator Cassidy, who is a physician, says the B vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective.

Cut 4 (11) “…time of birth.”

The Hepatitis B vaccine has been universally recommended since 1991

Not one, but two jail breaks in South Louisiana yesterday. In St. Landry Parish, three inmates escaped from the jail there. Major Mark LeBlanc with the sheriff’s office says 24-year-olds Keith Eli and Johnathan Joseph and 26-year-old Joseph Harrington escaped by removing mortar from an aging part of the building and get onto the roof where they found construction materials…

Cut 10 (12) “…the building completely.”

And in Vermilion Parish, a 23-year-old Gavin Garnica escaped that parish jail there. video showed him scaling the jail’s fence after he was believed to have been sleeping in his bunk. Ashley Adams with the sheriff’s office says Garnica is known to be violent, so anyone who sees him should not approach him under any circumstances.

Cut 11 (10) “…drugs and weapons.”

The search continues for three inmates who escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail. Major Mark LeBlanc with the sheriff’s office says 24-year-olds Keith Eli and Jonathan Joseph and 26-year-old Joseph Harrington escaped through one of the cells in an upper corner of the building.

Cut 9 (10)  “…of a hole.”

At that point, they were able to get outside and onto the roof. LeBlanc says due to construction that was happening, they were able to use certain equipment to make their escape.

And in Vermillion Parish a 23-year-old facing drug and firearm charges escaped the parish jail there. The Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office says deputies believed they saw Gavin Garnica sleeping covered in his bunk but later discovered video showing Garnica scaling the jail’s fence just after 11:00 p.m. Wednesday night. Authorities say Garnica has a well-documented criminal history and is known to be violent.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices opened its two-day meeting today to discuss possible changes to its recommended childhood vaccination schedule. The most consequential of potential changes involves the Hepatitis B vaccine, which has been universally recommended since 1991. Senator Bill Cassidy says since then, the virus has nearly been eradicated.

Cut 3 (11) “…shortly after birth.”

Cassidy, a physician, says the vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective.

The State of Louisiana will again have a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the riders including the Oyster and Jambalaya Queens are sponsored by many of the tourism organizations and convention and visitors’ bureaus throughout the state…

Cut 7 (10) “…partnered with us.”

CDC advisors open a two-day meeting, during which they could make changes to recommended childhood vaccinations, and Senator Bill Cassidy has something to say about that. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The search is ongoing for three inmates who escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail. One is facing murder charges and Two are convicted felons. Authorities say 24-year-olds Keith Eli and Jonathan Joseph and 26-year-old Joseph Harrington escaped by removing a section of decaying concrete blocks.

Some Louisiana royals will be aboard Louisiana’s float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, New Year’s Day. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says Joining Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain will be the Oyster Queen, and the Jambalaya Queen and they will be doing more than simply smiling and waving to the crowd.

Cut 8 (11) “…of the state.”

The previously announced musical guest aboard the float, named “Gulf to Gumbo,” is Louisiana’s own “American Idol” runner up John Foster.