The ninth-ranked LSU Lady Tigers were ousted in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament Saturday night, losing to Texas 56-49. LSU was without Flau’Jae Johnson, who’s nursing a shin injury. Aneesah Morrow left the game in the third quarter with an injury to her left ankle, and Mikaylah Williams was on the bench for long stretches due to foul trouble. Coach Kim Mulkey says she had no reason to put Morrow back in the game after she went down with her ankle injury and said both she and Johnson will be back for the NCAA Tournament.

Cut 17 (17)  “…we have everybody.”

LSU will now await their first round opponent, in all likelihood at the P-MAC. Brackets will be released Sunday night at seven.

It looks like Derek Carr will remain with the Saints. The quarterback and the team have agreed to restructure his contract, converting most of his 2025 salary to a signing bonus. It’s biggest indicator that new head coach Kellen Moore will keep Carr as his starting quarterback.

Lake Charles is a basketball mecca this week, with two tournaments being held in the city. The Southland Basketball Tournament got underway yesterday at McNeese University’s Legacy Center. The women’s championship will take place Wednesday, with the men’s championship the following night. Eric Zartler, the executive director of the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority, says locals who want to see the McNeese men play will have to wait until tomorrow, with the Cowboys earning a double bye as the tournament’s top seed.

Cut 14 (12) “…six o’clock.”

Today, the Boys’ Marsh Madness Basketball Championships get underway at the Burton Complex, with scores of high school basketball fans coming from all over the state.

Natchitoches Parish is bracing for the upcoming closure of the International Paper mill in Campti. Colleen Crain has an update

Cut 1 (37) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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There’s a new Central Louisiana State Hospital in Pineville, a modern facility designed for up to 116 patients with severe mental illnesses. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Lake Charles is a basketball mecca this week. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Soon, more than 400 workers at the International Paper mill in Campti will be out of work when the plant closes next month. However, Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois (BOO-zhwah) says most won’t be unemployed for very long, if at all.

Cut 4 (17) “…pulp service work.”

Bourgeois says on the other hand, there is a ripple effect of the plant’s closure that Governor Landry is focused on.

Cut 5 (11) “…International Paper jobs.”

Bourgeois says the closure of the plant means a major loss of tax revenue for Natchitoches Parish, so the state is looking at ways to repurpose the plant’s site.

Cut 6 (12) “…site from them (2x).”

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Early voting starts this Saturday in the state constitutional amendment election. You’ll be voting on four amendments, including Amendment 2, which for all intents and purposes rewrites Article 7 of the state constitution. Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson says it codifies some changes in the tax laws that the legislature passed in the special session last November.

Cut 7 (14) “…make every year.”

Nelson says it also gives teachers a permanent pay raise of at least two-thousand dollars.

Cut 8 (14) “…permanent pay raise.”

Nelson says the passing of Amendment 2 is necessary in order to achieve the objectives of the new tax law.

Cut 9 (09)  “…functions of government.”

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The Louisiana Department of Health unveiled the new Central Louisiana State Hospital in Pineville, a modern facility designed for up to 116 patients with severe mental illnesses. The 33-million-dollar project focuses on rehabilitation, patient-centered care, and recovery. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson says the facility is needed, but far fewer beds are available.

Cut 10 (15) “…two-thousand patients.”

Johnson says the facility features enhanced safety, natural lighting, and privacy-focused designs. It includes two new patient care buildings, a utility plant, and renovated therapy and medical staff structures.

Cut 11 (13) “…or one connected building”

In June 2024, CLSH relocated from its historic Shamrock Street site to the smaller facility on Esler Field Road. Johnson says the need for the hospital is growing and will expand in the future to help facilitate the need in the community.

Cut 12 (13) “…medical problems.”

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Lake Charles is a basketball mecca this week, with two tournaments being held in the city. Eric Zartler, the executive director of the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority, says it’s going to be a huge economic boost for the region.

Cut 13 (07)  “…three-million dollars.”

The  Southland Basketball Tournament is taking place at the Legacy Center on the campus of McNeese State University. The tournament started yesterday with the men’s first round. The women’s championship will take place Wednesday, with the men’s championship the following night. Zartler says locals who want to see the McNeese men play will have to wait until tomorrow, with the Cowboys earning a double bye as the tournament’s top seed.

Cut 14 (12) “…six o’clock.”

Today, the Boys’ Marsh Madness Basketball Championships get underway at the Burton Complex, with scores of high school basketball fans coming from all over the state. Zartler says it’s an event that the Lake Charles community gets behind.

Cut 15 (05) “…miles per hour.”

The championship games will take place Friday and Saturday.

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The ninth-ranked LSU Lady Tigers were ousted in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament Saturday night, losing to Texas 56-49. LSU was without Flau’Jae Johnson, who’s nursing a shin injury. Aneesah Morrow left the game in the third quarter with an injury to her left ankle, and Mikaylah Williams was on the bench for long stretches due to foul trouble. Still, Coach Kim Mulkey was proud of her team’s defensive effort against the number-one team in the nation.

Cut 16 (22) “…shot 20-percent.”

Mulkey says she had no reason to put Morrow back in the game after she went down with her ankle injury and said both she and Johnson will be back for the NCAA Tournament.

Cut 17 (17)  “…we have everybody.”

Williams led the team with 11 points, but she says she felt that she let her team down by getting into foul trouble.

Cut 18 (10)  “…of a leader.”

LSU will not know their next opponent until the brackets for the NCAA Tournament are released at seven Sunday night. The top four seeds in each regional will host first and second round games, which means in all likelihood, two first round games and a second round game will be played at the P-MAC.

At least one suspect is charged, with more to follow, in connection with the hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson. Police say 23-year-old Caleb McCray was among a group which repeatedly punched Wilson in the chest, killing him. Wilson was pledging to the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards implored the school – and the city – to do better.

Cut 8 (09) “…make better decisions.”

Crawfish are out in full force – and so are crawfish thieves. Thus, farmers are working diligently to protect their hauls. Paul Zaunbrecher, a crawfish farmer in Acadia Parish, says some sophisticated thieves will steal the crawfish from the traps during overnight hours. He says drastic situations call for drastic measures.

Cut 11 (07) “…running the trap.”

A Doyline couple is facing 72 counts of aggravated animal cruelty after finding a dozen dogs abandoned on a rural road and many more living in rough conditions at the home.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

LSU football has hired a familiar name to be its new defensive line coach. Former Tigers All-American defensive tackle Kyle Williams will replace Bo Davis, who left last week to be a part of the new coaching staff with the Saints.

Within the last hour, Baton Rouge Police gave an update on the death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson. Chief Thomas Morse says Caleb McCray was among members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity who repeatedly punched Wilson in the chest during a pledging ritual. McCray is charged with manslaughter and criminal hazing.

A hearing is underway in federal court in Baton Rouge aimed at halting the execution of Jessie Hoffman. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Venture Global announces it will invest an additional 18 billion dollars to expand its liquefied natural gas facility south of New Orleans in Plaquemines Parish. The facility was approved by President Trump in 2019. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the fastest growing source of energy is natural gas, and Louisiana plays a major role…

Cut 15 (13) “…(cheering).”

An LSU grad from Lafayette who owns a vegan ice cream shop in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized as having the best vegan Ice cream shop in the country by Veg News. Kate Williams’ ice cream is made from coconut milk. She currently has two stores with plans to open more.

Cut 12 (11) “…supposed to taste like.”

Senators Mike Fesi of Houma and Patrick McMath of Covington will be introducing a bill this session that would ban fluoride in drinking water. McMath points to a study that found that fluoride concentration that exceeds 1.5 milligrams per liter can cause health issues.

Cut 8 (10) “…measures during childhood.”

One of the reports McMath was alluding to was one done last August by the National Toxicology Program. Felicia Rabito, a professor of epidemiology at Tulane University, says that report is problematic in its methodology.

Cut 10 (12) “…the methodologic flaws.”

Rabito says even if the report is accepted as fact, it’s irrelevant because it cites a fluoride concentration level that’s more than twice the EPA recommended level.

A hearing is happening in federal court aimed at delaying the execution of Jessie Hoffman. The Promise of Justice Initiative is trying to prove that using nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the 8th Amendment. Hoffman is scheduled to be executed March 18th. As such, Loyola University New Orleans law professor Dane Ciolino says he expects Chief Judge Shelly Dick to issue a ruling very quickly.

Cut 6 (09) “…the Fifth Circuit.”

A vegan ice cream shop in Portland, Oregon, owned by an LSU grad from Lafayette is recognized as the best vegan Ice cream shop in the United States by Veg News. Kate Williams says her ice cream is made in-house using coconut milk. The big question is how does it taste?

Cut 13 (11)  “…all that flavor.”

A hearing in federal court in Baton Rouge today, aimed at delaying the execution of Jessie Hoffman. Loyola University New Orleans Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the Promise of Justice Initiative is trying to prove that using nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

Cut 4 (13) “…the 8th Amendment.”

Two Republican state senators will be introducing a bill in the upcoming legislative session that would ban the use of fluoride in drinking water. Patrick McMath of Covington says with nearly every toothpaste on the market containing fluoride, there is no reason why it should be in drinking water.

Cut 7 (07) “…what this is.”

Health experts say the EPA standard for concentration levels in drinking water is well below the threshold that would lead to health issues.

An LSU grad from Lafayette who owns a vegan ice cream shop in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized as having the best vegan Ice cream shop in the country by Veg News. Kate Williams’ ice cream is made from coconut milk. She currently has two stores with plans to open more.

Cut 12 (11) “…supposed to taste like.”

Venture Global announces it will invest an additional 18-billion dollars to expand its liquefied natural gas facility south of New Orleans in Plaquemines Parish. Venture CEO Mike Sabel says the LNG export facility will increase annual shipments from 27-million tons to over 45-million.

Cut 14 (12) “…US balance of trade”

Another Carnival season has come and gone in Louisiana. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says it was good to see that the severe weather on Tuesday did not damper the spirits across south Louisiana, even though parade times were moved up and two major parades in New Orleans were shortened.

Cut 3 (12) “…get home safely” 

A man whose remains were discovered back in 1984 is still unidentified, and the coroner in St. Tammany Parish needs your help. Hunters found the remains below the I-59 bridge on the bank of the West Pearl River near the Mississippi state line. Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape says even though only the bones remained, through genetic genealogy, investigators were able to establish some characteristics.

Cut 7 (06) “…when he died.”

It’s unclear how long the remains were there before the hunters found them more than 40 years ago.

Clocks spring forward an hour this weekend, and it’s a great time to check smoke alarms too. Ken Pastorick with the Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal says smoke alarms are proven to save lives and that’s what happened last Saturday in Hammond.

Cut 9 (13)  “…minimal damage.”

DOTD is working to implement its strategic improvement plan. Secretary Joe Donahue says the department identified a few deficiencies in its operation – among them is the lack of consistency in the department’s messaging.

Cut 15 (08) “…get different answers.”

Donahue says another deficiency identified is the inability to deliver projects on schedule, saying in recent years, a small percentage of them were actually in the Highway Priority Program’s pipeline

If a new poll is any indication, Senator Bill Cassidy’s re-election bid could be a tough one. A new poll by JMC Analytics commissioned by the John Fleming campaign shows the current state treasurer leading Cassidy by 13 points in a head to head matchup. JMC Analytics Founder and President John Couvillon (KOO-ve-ahn) says the closed primary could create significant headwinds for Cassidy.

Cut 4 (13) “…Republicans and independents.”

Louisiana’s small business owners are urging legislators to address rising insurance costs in the upcoming legislative session. According to NFIB State Director Leah Long, lawsuit abuse is a major factor driving up insurance rates, and common sense reforms are necessary to stabilize the market and create a fair legal system.

Cut 7 (11) “…2025 session.”

We’re learning one of the names of the victims in the deadly Mardi Gras concert shooting in Mamou. Lafayette Renaissance Charter High School says Alaya Christian was one of the two kids killed in the shooting. The school says Christian was on the student council, a player on the softball team and an active participant in clubs and organizations. In addition to the two killed, 12 others were hurt, with two in critical condition.

DOTD is working to implement its strategic improvement plan. Secretary Joe Donahue says among the issues identified is the inability to deliver projects on schedule. He says of the projects completed in recent years, a small percentage were actually in the Highway Priority Program’s pipeline, and that’s something that will change.

Cut 14 (14) “…course of development.”

Donahue says another deficiency identified was the lack of consistency in the department’s messaging.

A new poll suggests that Senator Bill Cassidy could be in for a tough re-election campaign. The poll by JMC Analytics commissioned by the John Fleming campaign shows the current state treasurer leading Cassidy by 13 points in a head to head matchup. JMC Analytics Founder and President John Couvillon (KOO-ve-ahn) says now that the U.S. Senate primary in Louisiana is a closed primary, the challenge for Cassidy is that the electorate will be much more conservative than in years past.

Cut 5 (16) “…on his re-election.”

Speaker Mike Johnson’s chief of staff is accused of driving under the influence. Hayden Haynes was arrested Tuesday following President Trump’s address to Congress. Capitol Police say Haynes backed into a parked vehicle just before midnight Tuesday night. Haynes has been Johnson’s chief of staff since 2023.

Louisiana’s small business owners are urging legislators to address rising insurance costs through legal reforms in the upcoming legislative session. NFIB State Director Long says the organization supports legislation that would place medical damages in a trust to prevent excessive costs, cap non-economic damages at 750-thousand dollars for predictability, and bar individuals more than 50-percent at fault from recovering damages to reduce frivolous claims.

Cut 8 (11) “…taking the case”

It’s a reacquaintance of sorts – Cleo Fields is back on Capitol Hill as a congressman for the first time in 28 years. If Congress seems much more polarized to you now compared to back then, Fields says you’re exactly right.

Cut 12 (08) “…to come back.”

A new poll suggests that Bill Cassidy’s re-election bid could be a tough one. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Small Business owners are urging lawmakers to focus on tax reform in the upcoming legislative session. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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DOTD is working to implement its strategic improvement plan. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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If a new poll is any indication, Senator Bill Cassidy could be in for a tough re-election campaign. A new poll by JMC Analytics commissioned by the John Fleming campaign shows the current state treasurer leading Cassidy by 13 points in a head to head matchup. JMC Analytics Founder and President John Couvillon (KOO-ve-ahn) says the fact that Cassidy will be participating in a closed primary could create significant headwinds for his re-election bid.

Cut 4 (13) “…Republicans and independents.”

And as such, Couvillon says the primary electorate in April of 2026 will be much more conservative than in the open primaries that Cassidy had previously ran in.

Cut 5 (16) “…on his re-election.”

Couvillon says this will be a hotly-contested primary, and the campaign will begin in earnest in a few months.

Cut 6 (11) “…and this fall.”

Couvillon says Fleming’s standing among Republican voters greatly improved when they consider his background. Like Cassidy, Fleming is a medical doctor by trade. Prior to becoming state treasurer, he served as deputy White House chief of staff during Donald Trump’s first presidency.

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Louisiana’s small business owners are urging legislators to address rising insurance costs through legal reforms in the upcoming legislative session starting April 14. According to NFIB State Director Long, lawsuit abuse is a major factor driving up insurance rates, and common sense reforms are necessary to stabilize the market and create a fair legal system.

Cut 7 (11) “…2025 session.”

Long says the NFIB supports legislation that would place medical damages in a trust to prevent excessive costs, cap non-economic damages at 750-thousand dollars for predictability, and bar individuals more than 50-percent at fault from recovering damages to reduce frivolous claims.

Cut 8 (11) “…taking the case”

Long argues that lawsuit abuse stifles business growth and hiring while increasing costs. Passing these reforms would ensure fairness and give small businesses the stability they need to support Louisiana’s economy.

Cut 9 (05)  “…small business owners.”

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It’s a reacquaintance of sorts – Cleo Fields is back on Capitol Hill as a congressman for the first time in 28 years. Since the day that Fields left office the first time, only 19 representatives remain, none from Louisiana.

Cut 10 (09) “…across the aisle.”

The sixth district Congressman says in terms of the House floor, the biggest difference is the use of modern technology.

Cut 11 (07) “…done through iPhones”

And if Congress seems much more polarized to you these days, Fields will tell you you’re exactly right.

Cut 12 (08) “…to come back.”

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DOTD is working to implement its strategic improvement plan. Secretary Joe Donahue says the department identified a few deficiencies in its operation – among them is the inability to deliver projects on schedule.

Cut 13 (13)  “…fall off track.”

Donahue says of the projects completed in recent years, a small percentage were actually in the Highway Priority Program’s pipeline, and that’s something that will change in the strategic improvement plan.

Cut 14 (14) “…course of development.”

Donahue says another deficiency identified was the lack of consistency in the department’s messaging.

Cut 15 (08) “…get different answers.”

Donahue says as a result, what the department was telling people was not the same as what it was reporting to the federal government each year.