The holiday season is here – and so is flu and COVID-19 season. Dr. Gabrielle Givens with St. Tammany Hospital says the very best way you can protect yourself is getting vaccinated. She says the vaccines are in abundant supply and have been updated for this winter.

Cut 7 (08) “…influenza or COVID-19.”

Givens says while neither the flu nor the COVID-19 vaccine can prevent someone from contracting either virus, they can minimize symptoms and complications.

Another artificial intelligence data center is coming to Louisiana. This latest one will be in West Feliciana Parish for a company called Hut 8, which operates Bitcoin mining facilities and data centers at 20 sites throughout North America. Parish President Kenny Havard says this new data center will generate some decent tax revenue for the parish.

Cut 12 (08) “…dollars, et cetera.”

The first of the two buildings could be up and running by the end of next year.

Small Business optimism is the highest it’s been since June 2021. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The Saints are preparing to face the Commanders Sunday in the Superdome. They’ve won three of their last four games after firing Dennis Allen.

Yet another artificial intelligence data center is coming to Louisiana. This latest one will be in West Feliciana Parish for a company called Hut 8, which operates Bitcoin mining facilities and data centers at 20 sites throughout North America. Parish President Kenny Havard says two 450-thousand-square-foot buildings will be put up on a 611-acre parcel off Louisiana Highway 964.

Cut 11 (09) “…were looking for.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is teaming up with the Healing Road Foundation to raffle off a black bear harvest permit to a military veteran. Secretary Madison Sheahan says depending on what happens to the black bear population, there could be more opportunities for military veterans to be able to participate.

Cut 15 (13) “…increase those opportunities.”

The largest medical marijuana dispensary is open in Lake Charles. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (27)“…I’m Sean Richardson.”

It’s Army and Marshall in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport. Erik Evenson (EE-vin-son) with the Independence Bowl says just as it has in the past, the city is rolling out the welcome mat for those visiting from West Point, New York, and from Huntington, West Virginia.

Cut 8 (14) “…they have it.”

The largest medical marijuana dispensary is open in Lake Charles. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (27)“…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Shreveport is getting ready to welcome visitors from New York and West Virginia for the Independence Bowl. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Yet another data center is coming to Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports this one will be in West Feliciana Parish.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The largest medical marijuana dispensary story is open in Lake Charles. The ten-thousand-square-foot Good Day Farms facility is located near major casinos and replaces a smaller location. It includes a drive-thru, product displays, and unmedicated taste tests of THC and CBD gummies. Chief Retail Officer Laurie Gregory says the modern, colorful design resembles a sneaker store rather than a pharmacy, aiming to destigmatize cannabis use.

Cut 4 (11) “…in Lake Charles”

Medical cannabis use in Louisiana has surged, with the patient count increasing 60-percent statewide and nearly doubling in Calcasieu Parish over the past year. Gregory says this growth also led to a 61-percent rise in cannabis tax revenue, totaling 993-thousand-dollars in 2023.

Cut 5 (11) “…in Louisiana.”

Gregory says Good Day Farms is positioned to attract local and Texas customers, the dispensary benefits from Louisiana’s lack of residency requirements for medical marijuana use.

Cut 6 (10) “…cannabis products”

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The matchup for the Independence Bowl is set – Marshall against Army. Erik Evenson (EE-vin-son) with the Independence Bowl says this is one of the best matchups in the bowl’s long history.

Cut 7 (10) “…a ranked team.”

Evenson says just as it has in the past, the city is rolling out the welcome mat for those visiting from West Point, New York, and from Huntington, West Virginia.

Cut 8 (14) “…they have it.”

Evenson says there will be several events leading up to the game, especially the day before, on the 27th.

Cut 9 (14)  “…concert as well.”

Then on game day, the free Coca Cola Fan Fest starts at 3:00, with music, games and fun. Kickoff on December 28th is at 8:15.

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Yet another artificial intelligence data center is coming to Louisiana. This latest one will be in West Feliciana Parish for a company called Hut 8, which operates Bitcoin mining facilities and data centers at 20 sites throughout North America. Parish President Kenny Havard says this is a good time for businesses to set up shop in Louisiana

Cut 10 (08) “…to be working.”

The data center is expected to create several hundred permanent jobs in West Feliciana Parish. Havard says two 450-thousand-square-foot buildings will be put up on a 611-acre parcel off Louisiana Highway 964.

Cut 11 (09) “…were looking for.”

Havard says this new data center will generate some decent tax revenue for the parish.

Cut 12 (08) “…dollars, et cetera.”

The first of the two buildings could be up and running by the end of next year.

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The state announces a partnership to support black bear conservation and military veterans. Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan says the department is partnering with the Healing Road Foundation.

Cut 13 (07)  “…and to fish.”

Through this partnership, the foundation raffled off a black bear harvest permit for 2024 to a military veteran. Sheahan says this partnership is just in time for the state’s first black bear hunting season since 1987.

Cut 14 (14) “…have a season.”

Sheahan says the black bear population increased to the point that they could have a black bear hunting season – and depending on what happens with the black bear population, there could be more opportunities for military veterans to be able to participate.

Cut 15 (13) “…increase those opportunities.”

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The winter transfer portal opened Monday and the LSU Tigers are looking for receivers. LSU has been named a team to watch for Barion Brown, who had 29 catches for 361 yards and three touchdowns for the Kentucky Wildcats this past season. Blake Ruffino for A-Y-S Sports says other SEC schools will also be interested

Cut 16 (19) “…he does.”

247 sports is reporting former Oklahoma receiver Nic Anderson has narrowed his choices between LSU, Ole Miss and Florida. Ruffino says Anderson had ten touchdown catches in 2023 for the Sooners, but injuries kept him off the field for nearly all of the 2024 season…

Cut 17 (12)  “…athleticism.” 

There are whispers LSU receiver Chris Hilton could enter the transfer portal after an injury plagued 2024 season. Ruffino says its hard to say what Hilton will do…

Cut 18 (13)   “…for you.”

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UL Lafayette will take on TCU in the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque on Saturday, December 28th. Cajuns Head Coach Mike Desormeaux (DEZ-er-mo) says it’s a great way to wrap up a successful season.

Cut 19 (14) “…a part of.”

The Cajuns are coming off a 31-3 loss to Marshall in the Sun Belt Championship Game. Desormeaux says that’s now ancient history, and the task at hand is preparing for the Horned Frogs.

Cut 20 (08) “…regrouping after disappointment.”

The big question mark for the Cajuns is the status of redshirt senior quarterback Chandler Fields. He left the title game in the second quarter with an injury and didn’t return. Kickoff on December 28th is 1:50 p.m.

For the first time in nearly a quarter century, East Baton Rouge Parish elects a Republican mayor-president, as Sid Edwards has unseated two-term incumbent Sharon Weston Broome. At his victory rally, the longtime high school football coach said voters wanted change.

Cut 3 (13) “…going to happen. (cheers fade)” 

Edwards won the race despite being very heavily outspent by both Broome and by Ted James, who finished third in the primary and did not advance in the runoff

Yet another teenager is arrested for making threats against his school on social media. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says the 15-year-old boy sent messages stating that he was going to bring a gun to school and shoot someone who was spreading rumors about him. The boy told deputies that he did not have a gun and did not have access to one. He’s been released to a parent on a custodial agreement to appear in court.

Public library usage in the state is approaching pre-pandemic levels. Last year, more than ten-million people visited public libraries – a double-digit percentage increase from 2022. State Librarian Meg Placke says not only do libraries have volumes of books that can be checked out, but they have lots of programs for the entire family.

Cut 10 (10) “…summer reading programs.”

Placke says many patrons are also taking advantage of the library’s online offerings.

Saints Interim Coach Darren Rizzi is denying reports that quarterback Derek Carr is out for the season. After Carr left yesterday’s win over the Giants with an injury to his non-throwing hand, reports surfaced that Carr would miss the remainder of the season. However, Rizzi says that’s not true.

Cut 12 (07) “…week plays out.”

Rizzi did say that Carr suffered a concussion and is now in concussion protocol.

A shocker in Baton Rouge as the two-term incumbent mayor is ousted by a political newcomer. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The LSU Tigers are headed to the Texas Bowl for the third time, and they’ll battle the Baylor Bears on New Year’s Eve in Houston. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A shocker in Baton Rouge as political newcomer Sid Edwards has unseated two-term incumbent mayor Sharon Weston Broome and will become the parish’s next mayor-president in January. The Republican Edwards got 54-percent of the vote, compared to 46-percent for the Democrat Broome. At his victory rally, the longtime high school football coach said voters wanted change.

Cut 3 (13) “…going to happen. (cheers fade)”

John Couvillon (COO-vee-ahn), the owner and founder of JMC Analytics and Polling, says not only can money not buy you love, but it also cannot buy the mayor-president’s seat in Baton Rouge, since Edwards was greatly outspent during the campaign.

Cut 4 (10) “…who finished third.”

Couvillon says two factors in particular worked in Edwards’ favor on Saturday.

Cut 5 (08) “…Coach Sid’s corner.”

Couvillon says another big takeaway from this election was the fact that votes for Ted James in the primary ended up being votes against Sharon Weston Broome, since most of those votes ended up going to Edwards in the runoff. The 61-year-old Edwards is the first Republican to be elected mayor-president in East Baton Rouge Parish in 24 years.

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Planning for this year’s Allstate Sugar Bowl will be a little more challenging than in years past. That’s because given the new College Football Playoff format, one of the two participating teams will not be known until less than two weeks before the game. Georgia will take on the winner of Notre Dame and Indiana, which will take place December 20th in South Bend. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says the planning workload is bigger this year.

Cut 6 (09) “…Dame and Indiana.”

Hundley says the best part about the new format is that unlike in the BCS and the four-team College Football Playoff, the Sugar Bowl will have championship implications every year from now on.

Cut 7 (13) “…sales at all.”

Hundley says in years that the Sugar Bowl hosts the semifinals, the planning will be even more of a challenge, beginning with six possible participants which will not be whittled down to two until a little more than a week before gametime.

Cut 8 (08) “…but we’re excited.”

The 2025 Sugar Bowl takes place New Years Day, with kickoff at 7:45 p.m.

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More and more people are using public libraries in the state. Last year, more than ten-million people visited public libraries – a double-digit percentage increase from 2022. State Librarian Meg Placke says library usage is almost at pre-pandemic levels.

Cut 9 (07)  “…across the board,”

Placke says not only do libraries have volumes of books that can be checked out, but they have lots of programs for the entire family.

Cut 10 (10) “…summer reading programs.”

Placke says these days, you can use the public libraries without setting foot on any of them.

Cut 11 (10) “…the library online.”

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Reports of Derek Carr’s demise for the 2024 season are greatly exaggerated. After Carr left yesterday’s win over the Giants with an injury to his non-throwing hand, reports surfaced that Carr would miss the remainder of the season. However, interim head coach Darren Rizzi says that’s not true.

Cut 12 (07) “…week plays out.”

Rizzi says it does not appear that Carr will need surgery on his non-throwing hand, which means he could return possibly as early as this Sunday against the Commanders.

Cut 13 (14)  “…type of thing.”

But Rizzi says there’s something else in the mix that could jeopardize Carr’s status for Sunday.

Cut 14 (10) “…dealing with both.” (Carr is in the concussion protocol)

Since the team fired Dennis Allen after a seven-game losing streak, the Saints have won three of their last four games and sit in third place, two games behind the Buccaneers.

For the first time in nearly a quarter century, East Baton Rouge Parish elects a Republican mayor-president, as Sid Edwards has unseated two-term incumbent Sharon Weston Broome. At his victory rally, the longtime high school football coach said voters wanted change.

Cut 3 (13) “…going to happen. (cheers fade)” 

Edwards got 54-percent of the vote to Broome’s 46.

Public library usage in the state is approaching pre-pandemic levels. Last year, more than ten-million people visited public libraries – a double-digit percentage increase from 2022. State Librarian Meg Placke says not only do libraries have volumes of books that can be checked out, but they have lots of programs for the entire family.

Cut 10 (10) “…summer reading programs.”

Placke says many patrons are also taking advantage of the library’s online offerings.

Planning for this year’s Allstate Sugar Bowl will be a little more challenging than in years past. That’s because given the new College Football Playoff format, one of the two participating teams will not be known until less than two weeks before the game. Georgia will take on the winner of Notre Dame and Indiana, which will take place December 20th in South Bend. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says the planning workload is bigger this year.

Cut 6 (09) “…Dame and Indiana.”

As Tulane gets set to take on Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, a couple developments within the team. First-year head coach John Sumrall has agreed to a contract extension with the school. Sumrall was already under contract through 2029. The school did not specify the length of the extension or how much it’s worth. And the Green Wave could be without star quarterback Darian Mensah. The redshirt freshman is reportedly entering the transfer portal.

A shocker in Baton Rouge as political newcomer Sid Edwards unseats two-term incumbent mayor-president Sharon Weston Broome and will become the parish’s next mayor-president. John Couvillon, the owner and founder of JMC Analytics and Polling, says two factors in particular worked in Edwards’ favor.

Cut 5 (08) “…Coach Sid’s corner.”

Edwards is the first Republican to be elected mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish in 24 years.

As for the statewide amendments on this past Saturday’s ballot – all four passed by wide margins.

More and more people are using public libraries in the state. Last year, more than ten-million people visited public libraries – a double-digit percentage increase from 2022. State Librarian Meg Placke says library usage is almost at pre-pandemic levels.

Cut 9 (07)  “…across the board,”

The LSU Tigers are headed to the Texas Bowl for the third time, and they’ll battle the Baylor Bears on New Year’s Eve in Houston. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Saturday is Election Day in Louisiana, and every voter in the state will be deciding on four constitutional amendments. Amendment 1 would increase the number of people on Judiciary Commissions from nine to 14, with the additional members being appointed by the legislature. Steven Procopio, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says while the purpose is to speed up investigations of judges, the argument against is that it would politicize the process.

Cut 13 (05)  “…at the case.”

Amendment 2 would require a 48-hour waiting period before the legislature can vote on budget-related bills. Amendment 3 would allow for up to three, two-day extensions of the session to finish budget work. And Amendment 4 would establish a tax lien system for delinquent properties.

A 30-year-old Lafayette man is charged with killing a black bear in Concordia Parish. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says Christopher Buck told agents he thought he shot a pig, but investigators didn’t buy that story.

Wind Chill Advisories and Freeze Warnings are out; Cold Weather Advisories and Extreme Cold Warnings are in. That’s the new terminology that the National Weather Service is using from now on. Lead Meteorologist Danielle Manning says the thresholds depend on where in the state you’re at.

Cut 4 (14) “…the northern area.”

The NWS made the change to make things a little simpler for people.

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office breaks ground on a three-million dollar training facility. Major Ginny Higgins says it’s crucial for law enforcement to be well rounded and this facility aims to train all aspects of law enforcement.

Cut 8 (12) “…really exciting.”

With Old Man Winter bearing down on Louisiana, there’s some new terminology from the National Weather Service to get used to.

Cut 3 (08) “…wind chill warnings.” 

Danielle Manning, the lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in New Orleans, says that’s all changed. Now, the service issues “cold weather advisories” and “extreme cold warnings.” Manning said they made the change to make it simpler, since for most people, cold is cold, no matter what kind of cold it is.

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office breaks ground on a three-million dollar training facility to benefit law enforcement agencies across the state. Major Ginny Higgins says it would not only enhance law enforcement capabilities in Acadiana, but it would also strengthen community and inter-agency collaboration.

Cut 7 (07) “…things like that.”

Saturday is Election Day in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo recaps the four amendments that all voters will be deciding.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A 30-year-old Lafayette man is charged with killing a black bear in Concordia Parish. Wildlife and Fisheries Lt. Chad Watts says investigators spoke with Christopher Buck after encountering a dead black bear in the Richard Yancey Wildlife Management Area.

Cut 9 (08)  “…black bear”

Wind Chill Advisories and Freeze Warnings are out; Cold Weather Advisories and Extreme Cold Warnings are in. That’s the new terminology that the National Weather Service is using from now on. Lead Meteorologist Danielle Manning says the thresholds depend on where in the state you’re at.

Cut 4 (14) “…the northern area.”

The NWS made the change to make things a little simpler for people.

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office breaks ground on a three-million dollar training facility. Major Ginny Higgins says it’s crucial for law enforcement to be well rounded and this facility aims to train all aspects of law enforcement.

Cut 8 (12) “…really exciting.”

Saturday is Election Day in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo recaps the four amendments that all voters will be deciding.

Cut 2 (32) “….I’m Jeff Palermo” 

A 30-year-old Lafayette man is charged with killing a black bear in Concordia Parish. Wildlife and Fisheries Lieutenant Chad Watts says Christopher Buck told agents he thought he shot a pig, but investigators didn’t buy that story…

Cut 10 (08) “…he thought it was a pig.”

Buck faces several years in prison because he was a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.