For the first time ever, New Orleans is hosting a UFC championship event. Jeff Palermo reports.
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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UL-Lafayette launched the “Cajuns Edge” Fund this week, allowing supporters to contribute directly to revenue sharing. Kace Kieschnick reports.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
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In a widely-anticipated move, the state has cancelled the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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For the first time ever, New Orleans is hosting a UFC championship event. Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says the main event at the Smoothie King Center tomorrow night features Louisiana’s own Dustin Poirier in his swan song bout.
Cut 4 (08) “…in his career.”
Poirier takes on Max Holloway as he looks to close out his career with a win in the octagon. Schulz says this is another way for New Orleans to showcase itself to the world.
Cut 5 (10) “…a great destination.”
Schulz says the UFC championship is the latest in a long string of high-profile events to take place in a city that’s built to host.
Cut 6 (11) “…a memorable experience.”
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UL-Lafayette launched the “Cajuns Edge” Fund through the Ragin’ Cajun Athletic Foundation to allow fans to support revenue sharing in Lafayette. Deputy Athletics Director Trey Frazier says proceeds from the fund will go straight to student-athletes.
Cut 7 (10) “…need their help.”
Following the NCAA House settlement, schools are allowed to pay up to 20.5-million dollars of athletic revenue directly to athletes. Frazier says the department has allocated some state funds to revenue sharing and increased scholarships included in the settlement, but most of the budget will come from donors.
Cut 8 (11) “…starting point.”
Frazier says UL-Lafayette will not pay out the full 20.5-million dollars but is trying to remain competitive with the top of the Sun Belt. He says in the early stages of fundraising, most of the revenue will go toward ticketed sports.
Cut 9 (08) “…his goals there.”
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The move was widely expected for a while, but the state made it official yesterday – the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project is cancelled. The state is replacing the three-billion-dollar coastal restoration project with a smaller scale version. Charles Sutcliffe with the National Wildlife Federation is disappointed with the decision.
Cut 10 (13) “…no longer the case.”
Last November, Governor Landry testified in opposition of the project before the Senate Transportation Committee. He said the project was destroying certain aspects of Louisiana’s culture.
Cut 11 (14) “…to oyster fish.”
Sutcliffe says what’s especially disappointing about the cancellation is all the money that has already been invested in the project up to this point.
Cut 12 (11) “…State of Louisiana.”
Landry testified last November that while a lot of the money for the project would come from the settlement from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, continuing the project would cost the state money that it simply doesn’t have.
Cut 13 (14) “…the whole coast.”
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Senator Bill Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, is once again putting out an urgent recommendation to get vaccinated against measles. He stresses that measles can be deadly – and has proven so.
Cut 14 (09) “…died from measles.”
There have been more measles cases in the U.S. in the first half of 2025 than in any entire year since 2000, when measles was declared eradicated in the country. Cassidy says fortunately, the spike in cases seems to have subsided, and there may be reasons for that.
Cut 15 (10) “…actually getting vaccinated.”
Cassidy points out that both Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and State Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham recommend getting the measles vaccine, agreeing with him that it is safe and effective.
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The Southern Jaguars are the preseason favorites to win the SWAC West in back-to-back years under second-year head coach Terrence Graves. Graves says he wanted to set a foundation of intensity and success in his first year as the Jags’ head coach.
Cut 16 (16) “…for the culture.”
The Jaguars had five preseason All-SWAC selections. Tight end Dupree Fuller was the lone offensive selection, and he’s joined by defensive back Herman Brister on the second team. D-B Horacio Johnson, linebacker Vincent Paige and end Ckelby Givens received first team honors. Givens was also named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Cut 17 (15) “…for granted.”
Grambling was picked to finish fifth in the West under second-year head coach Mickey Joseph. The Tigers finished in the same position last year with a 5-and-7 record. Joseph says it takes time to rebuild, but he has a sense of urgency.
Cut 18 (17) “…I accept that.”
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Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman took the podium on the last day of SEC Media Days yesterday. The fifth-year head coach has three bowl victories but hasn’t posted a winning SEC record or reached nine wins since 2021. Pittman didn’t deny the annual conversations about his job security.
Cut 19 (15) “…win more games.”
Pittman and the Razorbacks will visit LSU November 15th.
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko also spoke to the media. Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed was an electric playmaker last season after earning the starting job over Connor Weigman. Elko says he’s only improved after an offseason preparing as the face of the program.
Cut 20 (19) “…being this year.”
Reed led a dominant second-half comeback over LSU with three rushing touchdowns last season. The Tigers will look for revenge October 25th in Death Valley.