The country’s newest historically Black medical school earns preliminary accreditation. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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After 26 years of waiting, the I-20 Rivalry returns tomorrow. Kace Kieschnick has more.
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If you’ve been waiting on fall-like weather, you are in luck — it arrives today. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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The newest historically Black medical school earns preliminary accreditation. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which is the accrediting body for U.S. programs granting medical doctorate degrees, gave its preliminary accreditation to Xavier University’s Ochsner College of Medicine in New Orleans. University President Dr. Reynold Verret says the school is the only HBCU college of medicine in the Gulf South and the first HBCU medical school to be on the path to full accreditation in a very long time.
Dr. Leonardo Seoane (say-oh-AH-nee), the president and founding dean of the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine, says it’s the culmination of a ten-year quest, and the school is gearing up to welcome its first class in the summer of 2027.
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Dr. Seoane says while the initial class will be 50 students, he expects future classes to grow in size.
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ULM hosts Louisiana Tech tomorrow in the first installment of the I-20 Showdown in 26 years. The Sun Belt rivals are separated by just 35 miles, and Warhawks Athletic Director S.J. Touhy told KNOE-TV in Monroe that he expects a big crowd.
It is just the third home game of the season for ULM. Touhy told KNOE-TV in Monroe that the students have been great supporters so far this season, and the Warhawks are working to make Saturday’s game day extra special.
The Warhawks are 0-and-5 to start the season and have now lost 13 straight. Head coach Bryant Vincent is still confident in his team, and Touhy told KNOE-TV the administration is behind him.
Cut 9 (11) “…him showing that.”
Kickoff in FMOL Health St. Francis Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
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The 89th annual International Rice Festival is underway in Crowley. Festival Coordinator Shanna (SHAA-nah) Monk says the weather will be perfect, so bring the entire family.
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Plus, there will be a children’s parade at 1:30 this afternoon, and the grand parade is tomorrow afternoon at three.
Monk says the live music will be rocking the two stages until midnight tonight and tomorrow night.
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Of course, no festival centered on a food item would be complete without a cooking contest, and Monk says the Rice Festival is no different.
There’s also a carnival midway, with rides that are open from ten a-m to ten p-m today and tomorrow, and from noon to six p-m Sunday. Admission to the Rice Festival is free, and you can ride all the rides you want for 30 dollars today and tomorrow, and 25 dollars on Sunday.
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The first real cold front of Fall moves through the state on Friday. Temperatures will be much cooler this weekend, but LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says the threat of wildfires increases because of dry and breezy conditions.
Cut 13 (11) “…is pretty high.”
Nearly all of north and central Louisiana is under an outdoor burn ban. And there’s a red flag warning out for central and north Louisiana, which means any fires that develop could spread rapidly.
The National Weather Service says this cold front could bring gusts of more than 30 miles per hour and humidity levels will fall below 40-percent.
Keim says if you’re going to a high school football game tonight, bring a jacket.
Keim says much of the state will see morning lows in the 40s, with Sunday being the coldest morning.
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Number-22 LSU takes on 16th-ranked Mississippi State at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Coach Lane Kiffin will face another former coordinator in Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby. Lebby was the Ole Miss offensive coordinator for two seasons, and Kiffin says his offense can be lethal.
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That offense is commanded by quarterback Kamario Taylor. Taylor is off to a stellar start to his sophomore campaign, but he is listed as questionable with a right foot injury. Kiffin says he can be a dangerous player.
Cut 17 (16) “…quarterback college friendly.”
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After losing three straight at home, the Saints kick off a long road trip against the Giants on Sunday. Former Saints quarterback Jameis Winston has led New York to two wins and a tie since taking over for an injured Jaxson Dart. Saints D-end Carl Granderson says the Black and Gold will need to capitalize on any mistakes.
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UL Lafayette hosts Troy tomorrow as the Cajuns try to rebound from a disappointing loss to Louisiana Tech. Head coach Michael Desormeax says the team is angry after blowing a 12-point fourth-quarter lead, and they should be. But now they have to turn to a Trojans team hitting their stride.
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Troy has extended rest coming off a Tuesday night win over Southern Miss last week. The Trojans are scoring 28 points a game and rank fourth in the Sun Belt in yards per game. Desormeaux says they still haven’t abandoned their run-heavy philosophy.
Cut 20 (16) “…down the field.”
Troy leads the conference in rushing yards per game.