A Louisiana college football team has a chance later this month to shock the world. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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The greater New Orleans area remains on edge as Operation Catahoula Crunch enters its second week. Jeanne Burns reports.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”
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The Hondo Rodeo Fest, which was a sold-out event last month in Phoenix, is set to make its debut at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans in April. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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The college football season started with visions of LSU getting into the College Football Playoff. While it didn’t exactly work out that way, Louisiana will be represented in the CFP. Fresh off winning the American Conference championship Friday night, Tulane got into the field of 12. Senior tackle Derrick Graham says the moment seeing Tulane revealed as the 11 seed was surreal.
Cut 4 (09) “…time for us.”
The Green Wave will travel to Oxford, Mississippi, to face the sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels. This is not the first time they’ll play at Vaught Hemmingway Stadium this season – on September 20th, Ole Miss pounded Tulane, 45-10. Head Coach Jon Sumrall says things will be different four months later.
Cut 5 (06) “…a better game.”
Sumrall says ending his two-year tenure at Tulane in the College Football Playoff will be really cool, as long as one thing does not happen.
Cut 6 (05) “…our ass beat.”
The game will be played Saturday, December 20th; kickoff is at 2:30. In case you’re curious, Oxford is just under 350 miles north of New Orleans straight up I-55.
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LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Health Professionals and Sciences is launching a first-of-its-kind Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Lafayette this spring. Department of Physical Therapy Chairman Dr. Daniel Flowers says it will expand access to physical therapy education in Southwest Louisiana.
Cut 7 (08) “…year in Lafayette.”
Dr. Flowers says by setting up shop in Lafayette, LSU Health Shreveport is helping fill a void in the state.
Cut 8 (12) “…so to speak.”
Flowers says interviews for admission into the program are starting very soon.
Cut 9 (10) “…three Mays later.”
The program utilized a hybrid model that combines online coursework with hands-on clinical education through partnerships with Ochsner Lafayette General and other healthcare providers.
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A New Orleans city councilman says the Border Patrol is playing with fire in the city with its aggressive tactics of detaining people it believes to be in the country illegally. Like in many other cities where they’ve conducted operations, masked agents are going up to people in unmarked vehicles and are detaining people without identifying themselves. J.P. Morrell points out that Louisiana is an open carry state with a stand-your-ground law.
Cut 10 (09) “…and defends themselves.”
Morrell says the only defense law enforcement has against a stand-your-ground claim is by officers clearly identifying themselves.
The operation, now dubbed “Catahoula Crunch,” has a stated goal of arresting five-thousand people in the country illegally, with the Department of Homeland Security saying the focus is on the most violent criminals. Morrell says setting a goal like that essentially establishes a quota, and it’s an unrealistic one at that.
Cut 11 (06) “…meet that number.”
DHS has said it has released the identities of about a half dozen people with violent criminal histories who Border Patrol agents arrested. Morrell says, however, that the department is not being transparent, because the big picture tells a very different story.
Cut 12 (06) “…here not illegally.”
The advocacy group Union Migrante says so far, Border Patrol agents have arrested several people with no criminal records, including at least three U.S. citizens.
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The biggest rodeo ever is coming to Louisiana as the Hondo Rodeo Fest will make its New Orleans debut at the Caesars Superdome April 10 to 12, 2026. Co-Founder Blake Cody says the Hondo Rodeo Fest is a three-day premium rodeo competition with a one-million-dollar prize purse.
Cut 13 (07) “…for the fans.”
The rodeo takes place during the day and at night big-name musical performers take the stage. On Friday Lynyrd Skynyrd will open for country music icon on Jason Aldean.
On Saturday, CMA Male Vocalist of the Year award winner Cody Johnson will perform and Sunday night rock band Creed will take the stage.
Cody says there’s also Western-themed Street Fest.
Cut 14 (09) “…with the sheep.”
Hondo Rodeo Fest launched in November of 2024 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona and returned for a sold-out event last month. Cody says they are excited to bring this massive event to Louisiana.
Cut 15 (08) “…their home state.”
Pre-sale tickets go on sale on Wednesday and with general on-sale tickets going on sale Friday. Tickets start at 40 dollars.
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The Saints avenge a bad loss to the Buccaneers six weeks ago, flipping the script and beating them in Tampa, 24-20. Head Coach Kellen Moore says despite being eliminated from playoff contention a week ago, the team put forth a great effort to earn its third win of the season.
Cut 16 (17) “…with the win.”
In the Saints’ last game against the Bucs, Tyler Shough entered the game in relief of the benched Spencer Rattler, and he’s been the starter ever since. Yesterday afternoon in the rain, Shough completed 13 of 20 passes for only 144 yards and had one of his passes picked off. However, he also rushed for 55 yards and scored two of the Saints’ three touchdowns; the other scored by Devin Neal. Shough said the Saints are turning the corner.
Cut 17 (08) “…get those wins.”
The Saints will try to make it two in a row and four in 2025 next Sunday afternoon at the Superdome against the Panthers. Kickoff is 3:25.
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The Prep Football Classic begins Thursday in the Caesars Superdome, and the marquee matchup that day will be the Division 3 select state title game between Dunham and Calvary Baptist. The Tigers are led by one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in the Class of 2027, Elijah Haven. Dunham Coach Neil Weiner says his three-year starter at quarterback has played at a high level since he walked on campus…
Cut 18 (19) “…everything he does.”
Calvary Baptist is a sixth seed as they are looking for their fifth state championship and first since 2023. Cavaliers coach Rodney Guinn says they had to re-load after losing in the semifinals last year…
Cut 19 (20) “…first year playing.”