A special session is set to begin in the first week of November as Governor Landry will ask lawmakers to approve his ambitious tax reform plan. It would lower state income taxes for most, but widens the sales tax base. Jason DeCuir (de-QUEER) from Advantus Consulting is an expert on tax law and says legislators are taking a close look at all the new services that would be taxed under the governor’s plan….

Cut 12 (08) “…be taxed.”

A new 10-point grading scale is in place, replacing the previous 7-point system. Shreveport Representative Tammy Phelps, the author of House Bill 424 which dictated the change, says it aims to standardize grading practices and to align Louisiana more closely with many other states.

Cut 9 (10)  “…calculations accurate.”

This shift provides students with a broader range to achieve higher grades, potentially enhancing their GPAs.

Discussing politics is always a stress-inducing activity, and this presidential election season is certainly no exception. Dr. Michelle Moore, the chief of psychology with LSU Health New Orleans, says people should enter such discussions with open minds and to listen carefully to the opposing view.

Cut 6 (16) “…think that way.”

Moore says if you can’t do that, the best thing to do is to avoid those situations altogether.

Taylor Swift’s first of three shows at the Superdome is tomorrow night. Joseph Bocanegra with StubHub says Friday and Sunday are going to be in demand, but nothing compared to Saturday…

Cut 4 (07) “…to get in.”

Swifties from all over the world have been arriving throughout the week, spending money in the city and boosting the city’s economy.

A special session is set to begin in the first week of November as Governor Landry will ask lawmakers to approve his ambitious tax reform plan. It would lower state income taxes for most, but widens the sales tax base. Jason DeCuir (de-QUEER) from Advantus Consulting is an expert on tax law and says legislators are taking a close look at all the new services that would be taxed under the governor’s plan….

Cut 12 (08) “…be taxed.”

Political discussions are often very uncomfortable, especially this year during what will likely be a very close presidential election. Dr. Michelle Moore, the chief of psychology with LSU Health New Orleans, says if people can’t enter into such discussions with an open mind, the best thing to do is to avoid them altogether.

Cut 7 (11) “…engage with people.”

A new 10-point grading scale is in place, replacing the previous 7-point system. Shreveport Representative Tammy Phelps, the author of House Bill 424 which dictated the change, says it aims to standardize grading practices and to align Louisiana more closely with many other states.

Cut 9 (10)  “…calculations accurate.”

This shift provides students with a broader range to achieve higher grades, potentially enhancing their GPAs.

Taylor Swift’s record-breaking “Eras Tour” continues this weekend with three shows at the Superdome tomorrow through Sunday. Joseph Bocanegra with StubHub says the demand is unlike anything they’ve seen in 20 years.

Cut 3 (08) “…certainly up there.”

If you’re still looking for tickets, be prepared to fork over at least a thousand dollars a piece before fees.

Taylor Swift’s ERAS tour is coming to New Orleans for three record-breaking shows this weekend.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Louisiana sues the Department of Homeland Security because a Chinese national who entered the country illegally was found to have tuberculosis. Governor Jeff Landry says patient zero tested positive at Richwood Correction Center in Monroe and was then sent to Acadia Parish…

Cut 9 (05) “….had active tuberculosis”

Discussing politics is always a stress-inducing activity, and this presidential election season is certainly no exception. Friendships and family relationships have been destroyed over political differences. Dr. Michelle Moore, the chief of psychology with LSU Health New Orleans, says people should enter such discussions with open minds and to listen carefully to the opposing view.

Cut 6 (16) “…think that way.”

Moore says if you can’t do that, the best thing to do is to avoid those situations altogether.

Some reassuring words from Governor Landry after a Chinese national being held in a federal prison in the state is shown to be infected with tuberculosis.

Cut 7 (06) “…in any danger.”

Landry says the patient crossed into the U.S. from Mexico illegally, was detained in California and was subsequently transferred to Louisiana. The patient may have come into contact with more than 200 other detainees and countless non-detainees. Attorney General Liz Murrill sued ICE, demanding that it not release any prisoners from the state’s federal prisons without medical clearance from the state department of health.

Speaking of Murrill, she’s speaking out on reports of hotels canceling reservations made months in advance and offering those rooms at jacked-up rates ahead of Taylor Swift’s sold-out shows at the Superdome.

Cut 13 (10)  “…and deceptive practices.”

A 108-year-old Baton Rouge runner who competed in the National Senior Games has passed away.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A pair of Louisianians have been floated as potential cabinet members under Donald Trump, should he win re-election in two weeks. Politico says outgoing Congressman Garret Graves could be considered for transportation secretary and former Governor Bobby Jindal could be tapped for secretary of health and human services. Of course, that’s a big “if” – polls show a very tight race between Trump and Kamala Harris.

If Donald Trump gets re-elected in two weeks, a pair of Louisianians could be up for cabinet positions. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Governor Landry is assuring the people of Louisiana that there is no danger after a Chinese national being held in a federal prison in the state is infected with a drug-resistant form of tuberculosis. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A 108-year-old Baton Rouge runner who competed in the National Senior Games passed away Tuesday.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A pair of Louisianians have been floated as potential cabinet members under Donald Trump, should he win re-election in two weeks. Politico says outgoing Congressman Garret Graves could be considered for transportation secretary and former Governor Bobby Jindal could be tapped for secretary of health and human services. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Graves becoming transportation secretary would be beneficial for Louisiana.

Cut 4 (06) “…we lack money.”

As for Jindal running health and human services, Pinsonat notes that more than 40-percent of Louisiana’s population is on Medicaid, so that would be a plus. In addition, Jindal would bring youth to the White House.

Cut 5 (08) “…and Trump.”

Pinsonat says whether Trump ultimately picks Jindal, should he win the White House, is a big “if.”

Cut 6 (09) “…that’s for sure.”

Polls show a very tight race between Trump and Kamala Harris in the final days before Election Day.

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Governor Landry is assuring the people of Louisiana that there is currently no danger after a Chinese national being held in a federal prison in the state is shown to be infected with tuberculosis.

Cut 7 (13) “…in any danger.”

Landry says the patient came into the U.S. illegally.

Cut 8 (10) “…illegal border crossing.”

So the patient was detained by federal immigration authorities and was subsequently transferred to Louisiana.

Cut 9 (12)  “…had active tuberculosis.”

The patient may have come into contact with more than 200 other detainees and countless non-detainees. Attorney General Liz Murrill sued ICE, demanding that it not release any prisoners from the state’s two federal prisons without medical clearance from the state department of health.

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The oldest woman to compete in the National Senior Games passed away peacefully in Baton Rouge at the age of 108. Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins, who earned her nickname for her incredible speed as a senior sprinter, began running at the age of 100 after being inspired by a 100-year-old who completed a 100-yard dash. Owner of Varsity Sports Jenni Peters says she’s known Hawkins since she was six years old…

Cut 10 (06) “…in her yard.”

Hawkins stayed active throughout her life, enjoying gardening and cycling, but shifted her focus to running when she became the oldest competitor in cycling events, and Peters says that Hawkins would often join her running group…

Cut 11 (08) …fit for years.”

Known for her wit and humility, Hawkins often joked about her running abilities, saying she knew she could run because she used to dash to answer the telephone. Peters says her legacy as a trailblazing athlete and an inspiration to seniors worldwide lives on.

Cut 12 (10) “…age group.”

Hawkins remained busy and vibrant up until her final moments, even receiving a visitor just before her peaceful passing at St. James Place.

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Scammers are getting ready to prey on Swifties descending on New Orleans this week for her three concerts at the Superdome. Attorney General Liz Murrill says her office is getting reports of hotels canceling reservations made months in advance and offering those rooms at jacked-up rates.

Cut 13 (10)  “…and deceptive practices.”

While the concerts have long been sold out, demand for tickets is very high. Murrill says if you’re still looking for tickets, be very vigilant.

Cut 14 (07) “…a credit card.”

And Murrill says do your research before forking over your hard-earned money.

Cut 15 (08) “…to be true.”

All hotels in the city are sold out this weekend, and tickets are going for at least one-thousand dollars apiece on the secondary market.

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Saints running back Alvin Kamara is a happy man about his two-year contract extension that’s worth 24.5 million dollars. Kamara says it’s not about the money, his main priority is to remain a Saint…

Cut 16 (16)   “…anywhere else.”

The Saints could have traded Kamara before this year NFL trade line or released him after the season, but his new contract calls for him to remain in New Orleans through the 2026 season. Kamara says he’s not interested in playing anywhere else…

Cut 17 (09) “…for me.”

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Eighth ranked LSU will take a six-game winning streak into College Station on Saturday night when they battle 14th ranked Texas A&M. The Tigers defense is getting better and safety Sage Ryan says they want to build on last week’s performance against Arkansas…

Cut 18 (16)   “…we have.”

Texas A&M’s strength is its ground game. The Aggies are 12th in the country in rushing yards per game, averaging 219 yards a game. Ryan says their main focus is to stop the run…

Cut 19 (13) “….the plan”  

LSU’s improved defense is a reason why the Tigers are 6-and-1, 3-and-0 in the SEC. Ryan says after a tough season last year, he’s glad to be part of this defense…

Cut 20 (15) “…off the field.”

Governor Landry is assuring people that there is no danger, even as an inmate in a federal prison in the state is found to have a rare, drug-resistant form of tuberculosis. Landry said in a news conference that the patient came from China and crossed into the U.S. illegally.

Cut 14 (15) “…worked to eradicate.”

Landry says the patient was transferred to a federal prison in Louisiana; and from there, to a medical facility.

LSU unveils plans for a new 107-million dollar Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building.  Dean of the College of Engineering Vicki Colvin says the project will enhance the university’s construction management program.

Cut 9 (11)  “…on Mars.”

A die-hard Taylor Swift fan from Metairie books practically an entire downtown New Orleans hotel for the Taylor Swift concerts, but not to make an easy profit. Rebecca Fox booked 191 rooms at the Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome hotel for about 500 dollars each for four nights this week and resold them at that price. She feels that Taylor Swift fans are being price-gouged, and that’s not right.

Cut 5 (08) “…for the stuff (2x)”

Tickets to the shows are going for a minimum of one-thousand dollars on the resale market.

Sunny and dry conditions persist in Louisiana, and the fire danger continues to increase. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says Washington Parish fire fighters were busy battling a wildfire yesterday…

Cut 12 (10) “…very, very dry.”

Governor Landry is assuring the people of Louisiana that there is no danger, even as an inmate in a federal prison is found to be infected with a rare form of tuberculosis. Surgeon General Ralph Abraham says the patient has a very resistant strain of the bacteria.

Cut 16 (13)   “…a foreign country”

The state says the patient may have come into contact with more than 200 other detainees and countless other non-detainees.

Following hurricanes Helene and Milton, Louisiana’s insurance outlook remains stable. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple advises caution, as the global market for reinsurance affects rates in Louisiana.

Cut 8 (09) “…next two months bring.”

The state has only faced one major storm this year.

LSU has unveiled plans for a new 107 million dollar Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building.  Dean of the College of Engineering Vicki Colvin says it will offer advanced lab and faculty spaces to support cutting-edge research and to prepare students for Louisiana’s growing construction industry.

Cut 10 (07) “…technology for them.”

The new building will be located on South Stadium Drive next to Tiger Stadium.

Sunny and dry conditions persist in Louisiana, and the fire danger continues to increase. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says a chain hanging from a vehicle likely started a roadside fire in Washington Parish last night….

Cut 13 (11) “…very, very dry.” 

And those conditions are expected to linger for at least the next week.

Louisiana is working to contain a rare strain of tuberculosis. The patient from China had crossed into the U.S. illegally, was transferred to a federal prison in Louisiana, then went to a medical facility. Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga (ag-win-YAH-ga) says Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit against ICE in an effort to prevent the release of detainees from the state’s two federal prisons.  

Cut 15 (20) “…make that commitment.”

The state says the patient may have come into contact with more than 200 other detainees and countless non-detainees. Still, Governor Landry assured the people of the state in a news conference that there is currently no danger to public health.

A new $107 million Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building project was announced recently by LSU.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Fire danger continues to increase amid sunny and dry conditions. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says Washington Parish firefighters were busy battling a wildfire yesterday…

Cut 12 (10) “…very, very dry.”

A die-hard Taylor Swift fan from Metairie books nearly an entire hotel near the Superdome – but not to make a profit. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A new $107 million Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building project was announced recently by LSU.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A die-hard Taylor Swift fan from Metairie books practically an entire downtown New Orleans hotel for the Taylor Swift concerts, but not to make an easy profit. Rebecca Fox booked 191 rooms at the Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome hotel for about 500 dollars each for four nights this week. She says since she booked the rooms immediately after the Superdome shows were announced, she got a relative bargain

Cut 3 (07) “…for quad occupancy.”

Fox says she booked early to avoid what would almost certainly have been a huge price increase.

Cut 4 (09) “…taxes and fees.”

Fox says she re-sold all the rooms that she booked at exactly the price she paid, so she’s not making any profit. She says she did so so that other Taylor Swift fans could meet and connect this weekend. Fox says she feels that Taylor Swift fans are being price-gouged, and that’s not right.

Cut 5 (08) “…for the stuff (2x)”

All hotels in New Orleans are completely booked for the three nights of Taylor Swift’s Superdome shows. Tickets to the shows are going for a minimum of one-thousand dollars on the resale market.

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Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Louisiana’s insurance outlook remains stable, with officials maintaining a positive stance. State Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple describes the situation as “manageable,” saying that the storms’ impact falls below the catastrophic level seen in hurricanes like Ian in 2022…

Cut 6 (11) “…half of that.”

Temple says Louisiana has escaped significant damage this season,  but the global nature of reinsurance must be considered. This means that events worldwide could still influence local insurance rates.

Cut 7 (06) “…out of this year yet”

The state has only faced one major storm, and Temple is optimistic that the remainder of the season may pass with minimal disruption. However, he advises caution, as the global market for reinsurance affects rates in Louisiana.

Cut 8 (09) “…next two months bring.”

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LSU has unveiled plans for a new $107 million Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building.  Dean of the College of Engineering Vicki Colvin says the project will enhance the university’s construction management program.

Cut 9 (11)  “…on Mars.”

Colvin says the new building will be located on South Stadium Drive next to Tiger Stadium and will offer advanced lab and faculty spaces to support cutting-edge research and prepare students for Louisiana’s growing construction industry.

Cut 10 (07) “…technology for them.”

The project has received a $15 million donation from Art Favre, a 1972 LSU graduate and founder of Performance Contractors. Colvin says LSU is actively raising more money for the construction of the building…

Cut 11 (05) “…time to do it.”

Groundbreaking for the building is expected to start in 2026.

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Sunny and dry conditions persist in Louisiana and the fire danger continues to increase. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says Washington Parish fire fighters were busy battling a wildfire yesterday…

Cut 12 (10) “…very, very dry.”

Strain says they believe a chain hanging from a vehicle started a roadside fire in Washington Parish last night….

Cut 13 (11) “…very, very dry.” 

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Governor Landry is assuring the people of Louisiana that there is no danger, even as an inmate in a federal prison in the state tests positive for a rare, drug-resistant form of tuberculosis. Landry said in a news conference that the patient came from China and crossed into the U.S. illegally.

Cut 14 (15) “…worked to eradicate.”

Landry says the patient was transferred to a federal prison in Louisiana; and from there, to a medical facility. Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga says Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit against ICE in an effort to prevent the release of detainees from the state’s two federal prisons.

Cut 15 (20) “…make that commitment.”

Surgeon General Ralph Abraham says the patient, who the state is referring to as “Patient Zero,” has a very resistant strain of tuberculosis.

Cut 16 (13)   “…a foreign country”

The state says the patient may have come into contact with more than 200 other detainees and countless other non-detainees.

Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Louisiana’s insurance outlook remains stable. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the storms’ impact falls below the catastrophic level seen in hurricanes like Ivan.

Cut 6 (11) “…half of that.”

Temple emphasized that while Louisiana has largely escaped significant damage this season, the global nature of reinsurance must be considered.

Investigators in St. Tammany Parish now have a name to go with a body recovered from Lake Pontchartrain 38 years ago. Using genealogy and DNA testing, they have identified the body as that of Pamela Lee Hupp. Lieutenant Suzanne (soo-ZAWN) Carboni says the process was long and hard, but it was worth it. 

Cut 11 (13) …identify this individual.”

A die-hard Taylor Swift fan from Metairie books practically an entire downtown New Orleans hotel for the Taylor Swift concerts, but not to make an easy profit. Rebecca Fox booked 191 rooms at the Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome hotel for about 500 dollars each for four nights this week. She says since she booked the rooms immediately after the Superdome shows were announced, she got a relative bargain

Cut 3 (11) “…for quad occupancy.”

Fox says she re-sold all the rooms that she booked at exactly the price she paid, so she’s not making any profit.