The next stop on President Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown will be New Orleans, and it’s expected to start as early as December 1st. As many as 250 Border Patrol agents will be in the region for up to two months, fanning out into commercial areas and neighborhoods. Congressman Troy Carter is speaking out calling it a political stunt wrapped in badges and guns.

Cut 4 (11) “…or our people.”

Lainey Wilson from the tiny town of Baskin in Franklin Parish won big at the Country Music Awards last night. She not only hosted the show, she took the honor of Entertainer of the Year, and for the fourth time, she was named female vocalist of the year. Her album Whirlwind took the prize for Album of the Year. It’s the second time Wilson earned that honor.

The percentage of drivers in Louisiana who are not buckled up is down to 11-percent. Jeff Palermo has more from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin is LSU and Florida’s top targets in their head coaching searches. On Wednesday’s SEC weekly media teleconference call, Kiffin refused to speak on rumored trips members of his family took to Gainesville and Baton Rouge.

Cut 17 (13)  “…with other jobs.”

The next stop on President Trump’s immigration crackdown is New Orleans. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

The percentage of drivers in Louisiana who are not buckled up is down to 11-percent. Jeff Palermo has more from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

The second round of the high school football playoffs is tomorrow night. Andre Champagne looks at who is on upset alert on the select side.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

_________________________________________________

The next stop on President Trump’s immigration crackdown will be New Orleans, and it’s expected to start as early as December 1st. As many as 250 Border Patrol agents will be in the region for up to two months, fanning out into commercial areas and neighborhoods. Congressman Troy Carter calls it a political stunt wrapped in badges and guns.

Cut 4 (11) “…or our people.”

Carter says Border Patrol agents do not bring a sense of security; instead, they strike fear in communities.

Cut 5 (07) “…than a neighborhood.”

In prior operations, Border Patrol agents have been recorded on video detaining U.S. citizens. Former New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas says those may have been instances where someone was interfering with a law enforcement operation.

Cut 6 (09) “…or a warrant.”

Serpas says the reason that Border Patrol agents wear masks to conceal their identities is for their own safety and the safety of their families.

Cut 7 (10) “…feds are doing.”

_________________________________________________

Graduating seniors from Louisiana high schools will have something special on their diplomas. Governor Landry announced that in honor of the country’s 250th birthday, those graduates will have a commemorative America 250 seal on their diplomas.

Cut 8 (09) “…our country’s success.”

Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley says as part of the occasion, the Class of 2026 will be the first eligible for a new recognition as part of the state’s Freedom Framework initiative adopted in 2022.

Cut 9 (14)  “…honor cords.”

____________________________________________________________

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission continues to make the push to get everyone in a vehicle to buckle up and to make sure younger children are properly restrained in a child safety seat. Only 11-percent of drivers in Louisiana do not wear seat belts, and Highway Safety Commission Director Lisa Freeman says it will take intense messaging to get that percentage down to zero.

Cut 10 (07) “…so the deterrent.”

Keeping children safe in a vehicle requires a car seat that is properly installed and is the right type for the child’s age and size. Freeman what they are finding out is that many caretakers do not know how to properly install a child seat.

Cut 11 (08) “…share that information.”

The Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force is providing child seat safety information cards to the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, which will distribute the cards to its dealers and their customers. Freeman hopes this will result in more children being properly restrained.

Cut 12 (07) “…we’re seeing here.”

____________________________________________________________

The second round of the Louisiana High School football playoffs begins tomorrow night. Today, we are looking at the Select matchups. Spencer Verrett with the LHSAA Network says the eight-nine matchup between Evangel and St. Paul’s in Division One is one of the better games.

Cut 13 (13)  “…already explosive offense.”

In Division Three, Verrett is looking forward to the eight versus nine matchup between the defending champion Catholic New Iberia Panthers and the Bunkie Panthers.

Cut 14 (11) “…in this one.”

In Division Four, Verrett says two historically storied programs meet in Monroe as Southern Lab visits Ouachita Christian, and he says this game could go either way.

Cut 15 (12) “…to Oak Grove.”

Tomorrow, we will preview some of the best non-select matchups.

____________________________________________________________

Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin is LSU and Florida’s top targets in their head coaching searches. Rebels fans are on edge, but Kiffin says being pursued by other programs speaks volumes for what’s happening at Ole Miss.

Cut 16 (19) “…from that perspective.”

On Wednesday’s SEC weekly media teleconference call, Kiffin refused to speak on rumored trips members of his family took to Gainesville and Baton Rouge.

Cut 17 (13)  “…with other jobs.”

_______________________________________________________________

UL-Lafayette faces Arkansas State tonight, as the Cajuns look to win their third straight game. The Cajuns are 1-and-4 on the road this season, and head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says his team has to find a way to win on the road as they are just two wins away from becoming bowl eligible.

Cut 18 (18)  “…ready to play.”

UL-Lafayette will be without seven players this week, including six defensive players, after the Cajuns’ postgame scuffle with Texas State two weeks ago. Desormeaux says the defensive line must get to the quarterback tonight as the Cajuns have a depleted secondary.

Cut 19 (10) “…quite a bit.”

Kickoff in Jonesboro is at 6:30.

Three former employees at a Lake Charles Christian school are arrested for allegedly covering up sexual assaults at the school from earlier this year. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory says there was a culture on the Hamilton Christian School football team in which older players would haze the younger players.

Cut 3 (07) “…a sexual assault.”

Lincoln Parish is mourning the death of Ruston Fire Chief Chris Womack. He died at the age of 54 after a brief battle with cancer. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says Chief Womack started with the Ruston Fire Department in the early 1990s.

Cut 10 (10) “…he did.”

Walker says during Womack’s time as Fire Chief, the Ruston Fire Department achieved a Class 1 rating for the first time in the city’s history. He says Womack also played a critical role in the construction of a new fire station and fire tower for training.

College football reporters had a chance today to ask Lane Kiffin about his coaching future. Jeff Palermo has more on what the Ole Miss coach had to say and didn’t say….

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

As for Louisiana’s professional football team, when the Saints schedule comes out for next season, it will likely include a game in Paris. In the more immediate future, fans going to the Superdome Sunday will see the Saints in black from head to toe – black helmet, black jersey, black pants, black socks and black shoes.

Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin was grilled by reporters about his future during the SEC football coaches’ weekly media teleconference, but Kiffin didn’t provide any new insight. Here’s a direct question to Kiffin about coaching the Rebels in the postseason…

Cut 14 (05) “…other jobs.”

Western Kentucky travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU this weekend in Tiger Stadium. There’s a good chance Saturday’s match-up will be a battle of the backup quarterbacks if Michael Van Buren gets his second straight start, as Hilltoppers head coach Tyson Helton says backup Rodney Tisdale Jr. has done enough to continue to start this season.

Cut 18 (18)  “…ready to play.”

Kickoff in Tiger Stadium is at 6:45 p.m.

LSU interim head football coach Frank Wilson told the media on the SEC coaches’ weekly media teleconference that quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is doubtful for the Tigers’ last game in Tiger Stadium this season against Western Kentucky.

Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury in last week’s loss to the Carolina Panthers. In order to stop veteran backup quarterback Kirk Cousins this Sunday, Saints head coach Kellen Moore says the team will have to rely on a collective defensive performance.

Cut 17 (14)  “…a group effort.”

New Orleans released wide receiver Brandin Cooks today. After not finding a trade partner at the trade deadline, Cooks will become a free agent. Cooks was originally drafted by the Saints in 2014 until he was traded to New England in 2017.

Last night, the LSU men’s basketball team remained undefeated to improve to 4-and-0 after defeating Alcorn State by a score of 107-81.

There are reports Ole Miss officials are putting pressure on head football coach Lane Kiffin to decide on his future…is he staying in Oxford or is leaving to take the head coaching job at LSU or Florida. There are also reports that say Ole Miss does not want Kiffin to coach the Rebels in the playoffs. So today, he was asked will he coach in next Friday’s Egg Bowl against Mississippi State…

Cut 13 (09)  “ be at work.”

Lincoln Parish is mourning the death of Ruston Fire Department Chief Chris Womack, who died at the age of 54 after a brief battle with cancer.  Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker appointed Womack as fire chief in 2015 and says his leadership of that department is unparalleled…

Cut 9 (10)  “..was fair.”

Three former employees at a Lake Charles Christian school are arrested for allegedly covering up sexual assaults at the school. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory says there was a culture on the Hamilton Christian football team in which older players would haze the younger players, and it crossed the line into sexual assault. He says Principal Morgan Daugherty and Assistant Coach Dominique Washington knew about the incidents and, as school personnel, were required to report them to law enforcement.

Cut 4 (05) “…reported to us.”

Also, a school cook, Stacy Bargeman, was arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages about the investigation.

Louisiana is approved for almost 1.36-billion dollars in federal funding to expand broadband internet access. Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of Connect-L-A, says it’s a major milestone for the state’s GUMBO 2.0 program.

Cut 7 (09) “…next 24 months.”

Ole Miss Coach Lane Kiffin spoke today on the SEC football coaches weekly media teleconference and was asked directly if he will coach the Rebels in the College Football playoffs…

Cut 14 (05) “…other jobs”

Kiffin has emerged as LSU and Florida’s top target to be their next head football coach. Although there is a report today that Florida is also meeting with Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall.

Lincoln Parish is mourning the death of Ruston Fire Chief Chris Womack, who died at the age of 54 from cancer. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says Chief Womack will be missed…

Cut 11 (11) “…the state”

Walker says Womack found out just a few months ago he had cancer after the disease was detected because of a new-mandatory state cancer screening for current and former firefighters.

Three former employees at a Lake Charles Christian school are arrested for allegedly covering up sexual assaults involving football players.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State Representative Chad Brown from Plaquemine has resigned from the Louisiana House of Representatives to become the commissioner of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. Brown, who is an attorney, was also employed at the Department of Insurance, before he was elected to the House in 2015.

Lincoln Parish is mourning the death of Ruston Fire Chief Chris Womack. He died at the age of 54 after a brief battle with cancer. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says Chief Womack started with the Ruston Fire Department in the early 1990s.

Cut 10 (10) “…he did.”

Louisiana is the first state to secure 1.36-billion dollars in federal funding to boost broadband infrastructure in rural areas. The announcement comes on the heels of Connect-L-A completing a major broadband expansion project in Vernon Parish. Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar says despite the scope of that project, it still left out three-thousand locations in the parish, and this federal funding will allow it to finish the job.

Cut 8 (10) “…1.36-billion-dollar announcement.”

College football reporters had a chance today to ask Lane Kiffin about his coaching future. Jeff Palermo has more on what the Ole Miss coach had to say and didn’t say.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Plastipak Manufacturing announces a major expansion of its Rapides Parish manufacturing facility. The nearly 54-million-dollar plan will add 200-thousand square feet to its facility, and it will create 15 direct jobs and 25 indirect jobs while retaining 340 current positions. The project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

A now-former principal and assistant football coach at Hamilton Christian School in Lake Charles are among three arrested in an investigation into hazing within the football team. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory says Principal Morgan Daugherty and Coach Dominique Washington failed to report the incidents, which he said crossed the line into sexual assault.

Cut 5 (04) “…of our investigation.”

A former school cook, Stacy Bargeman, is also arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages about the investigation.

Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin was grilled by reporters about his future during the SEC football coaches weekly media teleconference, but Kiffin didn’t provide any new insight. Kiffin was asked if Rebels athletics director Keith Carter has given him an ultimatum to decide on where he plans to coach next season, whether it’s at Ole Miss, LSU or Florida.

Cut 12 (10) “…this point.”

Lincoln Parish is mourning the death of Ruston Fire Department Chief Chris Womack, who died at the age of 54 after a brief battle with cancer.  Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker appointed Womack as fire chief in 2015 and says his leadership of that department is unparalleled.

Cut 9 (10)  “..was fair.”

Womack found out months ago he had cancer because of a new-mandatory state cancer screening for current and former firefighters.

Louisiana is approved for almost 1.36-billion dollars in federal funding to expand broadband internet access across the state. Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of Connect-L-A, says it’s a major milestone for the state’s GUMBO 2.0 program. 

Cut 7 (09) “…next 24 months.”

A bill to force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files is now on President Trump’s desk. This, after the House and Senate overwhelmingly voted in favor of forcing their release. During floor debate, Speaker Mike Johnson said even though he had planned to vote “yes,” it was nothing but a show vote by the Democrats.

Cut 13 (13)  “…word about it.”

Louisiana is the first state in the country to be approved for almost 1.36-billion dollars in federal funding to expand broadband internet access across the state. Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of Connect-L-A, says it will allow the state to provide everyone with reliable, cost-effective high-speed internet.

Cut 6 (10) “…get to historically.”

Three former employees at a Lake Charles Christian school are arrested for allegedly covering up sexual assaults at the school from earlier this year. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory says there was a culture on the Hamilton Christian School football team in which older players would haze the younger players, and it crossed the line into sexual assault. He says Principal Morgan Daugherty and Assistant Coach Dominique Washington knew about the incidents and, as school personnel, were required to report them to law enforcement.

Cut 4 (05) “…reported to us.”

Daugherty and Washington are being held on more than a million dollars bond apiece. Also, a school cook, Stacy Bargeman, was arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages about the investigation. No football players have been arrested so far.