A non-profit organization is teaming up with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office on an anti-human trafficking operation during Super Bowl Week. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Leading up to Super Bowl 59, Mardi Gras world thew a party for six-thousand media guests to promote Louisiana, and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says it put Louisiana in the Global Spotlight. Sean Richardson reports.
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LSU football coach Brian Kelly says a nerve was struck when Greg Brooks’ family said the LSU coaching staff has failed to reach out after a tumor was removed from Greg’s brain …
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The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with the nonprofit group In Our Backyard to host anti-trafficking operations during Super Bowl Week. Human traffickers often use major events like the Super Bowl to exploit vulnerable people, especially children. Cheryl Csiky (“Chicky”), the executive director of In Our Backyard, says human trafficking is not the same as kidnapping or human smuggling.
Cut 4 (11) “…it’s a relationship.”
Csiky says, in fact, that more than 50-percent of human trafficking victims knew the person who was trafficking them. She says this is the 15th year that her organization has teamed up with law enforcement in the Super Bowl host city to raise awareness of the issue.
Csiky says the group offers actionable tips and gathering intelligence on suspected human trafficking activity.
Cut 6 (08) “…a positive light.”
Csiky says so far in this 10-day operation, they have already turned in 27 instances of suspected human trafficking.
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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser highlights the excitement and preparations for the Super Bowl in New Orleans, emphasizing a major party at Mardi Gras World. He stresses the importance of showcasing Louisiana’s culture, food, and hospitality, noting the invaluable media exposure.
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Nungesser discusses the impressive privately funded light show at Jackson Square, which has gained global attention. Originally planned for Super Bowl week
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Nungesser underscores strategic efforts to leverage the Super Bowl to boost tourism and promote Louisiana’s unique charm and safety to a global audience.
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LSU football coach Brian Kelly strongly denies the accusation he was not there for former Tigers safety Greg Brooks Junior following his brain surgery. According to Brooks’ family, the surgery to remove a tumor, resulted in multiple seizures that left him permanently disabled. In an interview on ABC’s Good Morning America, Brooks’ father says no one from LSU’s coaching staff has reached out since October 2023, right after the surgery
However, Kelly says he does love Greg Brooks Junior, and it is factually incorrect to say he was not there by his side through this ordeal…
The Brooks family is suing LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, because they believe the school and neurosurgeon mishandled his diagnosis and the surgery.
Kelly will not comment on the lawsuit, because its pending litigation. But Kelly the accusation he was not there for Brooks following the surgery is not true and he wanted to set the record straight
The Good Morning America interview conducted by former NFL football player Michael Strahan aired on Monday. It was the first appearance of Brooks Junior since his surgery and much of the report was on the lawsuit filed by his family. Kelly says Brook Sr’s accusation struck a nerve with Kelly and he could not stay silent…
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Security was always going to be tight for the Super Bowl. Then it became even more so following the New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street. Now, that’s ratcheted up a notch now that President Trump will be attending the game. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says while The White House just made the announcement, it’s something the department had been preparing for.
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Kirkpatrick says that will involve additional street closures.
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Lieutenant Anthony Micheu, the department’s special events coordinator, says the impact for the Superdome will be outstretched for Trump’s arrival.
Trump will be the first sitting President to attend a Super Bowl.
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A couple key players suiting up for the Eagles Sunday have deep Louisiana roots. Wide Receiver DeVonta Smith played his high school football at Amite (ay-MEET) High School. He says Coach Zephaniah Powell was a true mentor who set him on the path to success, first at Alabama then with the Eagles.
Defensive Tackle Milton Williams played his college ball at Louisiana Tech under Skip Holtz. Even though Ruston is several miles from New Orleans, Williams says it will still be special stepping onto sports’ biggest stage in his college home state.
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Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is one of two former Saints who will be playing in their former home stadium in the Super Bowl on Sunday – the other being linebacker Zack Baun. Gardner-Johnson says it was tough for him being traded from the Saints just prior to the start of the 2022 regular season.
Cut 19 (05) “…to keep pushing.”
Gardner-Johnson says it was a surreal moment when he stepped onto the Superdome turf for the first time this Super Bowl week.