LSU’s new system president is a Louisiana native who grew up in Golden Meadow. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (38) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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We are now in the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Saints were very active in yesterday’s NFL trade deadline. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Livestock owners throughout Louisiana and elsewhere are on the lookout for the New World screwworm. Currently, it’s been found as far north as Mexico. LSU AgCenter veterinarian Christine Navarre says if it returns to the U.S. for the first time since the 1960s, it could cause big problems.

Cut 4 (11) “…can be deadly.”

Navarre says while the New World screwworm mainly targets livestock, it can target other species as well, including humans.

Cut 5 (08) “…and also birds.”

Since the screwworm targets newborn calves, Navarre recommends that beef producers diligently monitor their herds.

Cut 6 (11) “…it under control.”

Navarre says while the screwworm is a live animal problem and will not affect beef, beef prices could be affected if an outbreak occurs.

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McNeese State President Dr. Wade Rousse has been named the new president of the LSU system. Rousse is a Louisiana native and grew up in Golden Meadow. Rousse has been at McNeese as an administrator since 2019 and was named president last year. Rousse says he’s eager to build on LSU’s strong foundation.

Cut 7 (11) “…ahead of us.”

Before Rousse was named president by the LSU Board of Supervisors, several students voiced their opposition to him being named president. Ryan Spalt was one of seven students arrested last month during LSU presidential search meeting for speaking past their allotted time. He’s upset that Rousse is perceived as Governor Landry’s handpicked choice.

Cut 8 (11) “…Landry lap dog.”

Another student questioned Rousse’s experience.

Cut 9 (14)  “…main campus alone.”

LSU Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott Ballard calls Dr. Rousse a results-oriented leader, who has demonstrated the ability to lead with vision, discipline and care. Rousse believes with his leadership skills, the governor knows the LSU system is in good hands.

Cut 10 (12) “…a leadership void.”

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This is now the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. Today is the 36th day of the shutdown, eclipsing the old record of 35 days that started at the end of 2018 and continued into the beginning of 2019, in the middle of Donald Trump’s first presidency. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says the shutdown is over one single issue – healthcare subsidies – and what’s frustrating is that neither party is willing to negotiate.

Cut 11 (11) “…a subsidy extension.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson has halted business in the House until the shutdown is over. Stockley says that is not a barrier in ending the shutdown.

Cut 12 (10) “…for a compromise.”

Stockley says the two parties digging in and refusing to budge from their positions is not how this whole thing is supposed to work.

Cut 13 (14)  “…it should be.”

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The Saints sent speedy wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2026 fourth and fifth-round pick. Mike Detillier, the host of “SportsTalk” on WWL Radio, says the move comes as a step for New Orleans to acquire draft capital so it can start rebuilding.

Cut 14 (11) “…make this work.”

The Saints also sent offensive lineman Trevor Penning to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Detillier says Penning, who was a first-round pick, was one of the biggest letdowns in franchise history.

Cut 15 (15) “…struggled there too.”

Detillier says giving up Penning and Shaheed are only the beginning of the rebuilding process for New Orleans.

Cut 16 (10) “…those draft choices.”

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New LSU president Wade Rousse has been added to the head football coach search committee. It features five other members, including Verge Ausberry, who is now LSU’s full-time athletic director after Rousse removed his interim tag. Rousse says he will be involved very quickly and aggressively in the search for a new football coach.

Cut 17 (13) “…in that process.”

Governor Jeff Landry has said he would like to see contracts for coaches to be incentive-based, but Rousse says the number one priority is hiring the best coach available.

Cut 18 (17)  “…next national championship.”

And the winner is – Wade Rousse. The LSU Board of Supervisors has tapped the president of McNeese State University as the next president of the LSU system. One of the other finalists, Alabama provost Jim Dalton, has been named LSU’s Chancellor and Executive Vice President. Rousse made it clear during the interview process, he felt for LSU to become a better academic and research institution, there needed to be a president overseeing the system and the Baton Rouge campus needed a chancellor.

Cut 9 (09)  “…educate Louisiana.”

A Jefferson Parish eighth grade English teacher gets the surprise of a lifetime. Sarah Watkins, who teaches at Stella Worley Middle School in Westwego, was surprised with a 25-thousand-dollar Milken Educator Award. Watkins, who was overcome with emotion, says her classes are discussion-based.

Cut 8 (12) “…its fun.”

Genetic testing found that all shrimp sold at the Louisiana Shrimp Festival in New Orleans came from Gulf Waters. Andrew Greenstein reports it’s the latest in a venture started a year ago by a Texas man whose goal is to keep restaurants honest.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Saints were busy on this NFL trade deadline day. They traded wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks for a fourth and fifth round pick in next year’s draft. And just before the buzzer, they sent offensive lineman Trevor Penning to the Chargers for a future draft pick.

The LSU Board of Supervisors names Wade Rousse as the new president of the LSU system. And in a surprise move, the board also named one of the other finalists, Jim Dalton, as LSU chancellor and executive vice president, overseeing the Baton Rouge campus. In 2012, the roles of the LSU System President and Baton Rouge campus chancellor were combined. With this move, the two roles have been separated once again. Dalton has been provost at the University of Alabama since 2020; he says he’s excited about his move from Tuscaloosa to Baton Rouge.

Cut 11 (14) “…Biomedical Research Center.”

Rousse comes to LSU from McNeese, where he currently serves as that school’s president. The vote to hire him was 12 to one, with Laurie Lipsey Aronson casting the lone dissenting vote.

A surprise of a lifetime for a Jefferson Parish English teacher. Sarah Watkins, who teaches eighth grade at Stella Worley Middle School in Westwego, is awarded a 25-thousand dollar Milken Educator Award. The 2009 graduate from Dillard University has been teaching for 16 years. She’s known for having lively academic discussions in her classroom where students are participating in civil debate.

Cut 7 (08) “…key to it.”

Genetic testing by SeaD Consulting has confirmed that all shrimp sold at the Louisiana Shrimp Festival in New Orleans came from Gulf waters. Founder David Williams started the venture a year ago to test shrimp served in restaurants to find out which ones were serving imported shrimp. He says through his efforts, restaurants are starting to switch to domestic shrimp, and that’s helping the local shrimping industry.

Cut 4 (08) “…to respect themselves.”

The LSU Board of Supervisors names a new president, and the Baton Rouge campus will have a new chancellor as well. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Saints were big sellers on this trade deadline day. They traded Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks for a fourth and fifth round pick in next year’s draft; and just before the three p-m Central deadline, they dealt offensive lineman Trevor Penning to the Chargers for a future draft pick.

Genetic testing from SeaD (“seed”) consulting has shown that all shrimp served at the Louisiana Shrimp Festival in New Orleans came from Gulf waters. The company uses the RIGHTTest to determine whether the shrimp is actually Pacific white shrimp, which is not native to U.S. waters. Founder David Williams says through his efforts, several Louisiana restaurants which had been serving imported shrimp have changed to domestic shrimp.

Cut 3 (13) “…lot higher now.”

A Jefferson Parish English teacher gets the surprise of a lifetime today as she received a 25-thousand-dollar Milken Educator Award. Sarah Watkins of Stella Worley Middle School in Westwego was overcome with emotion when she learned that she had won the prestigious national award.

Cut 6 (11) “…everything.”

And the winner is – Wade Rousse. The LSU Board of Supervisors has tapped the president of McNeese State University as the next president of the LSU system. One of the other finalists, Alabama provost Jim Dalton, has been named LSU’s Chancellor and Executive Vice President. Rousse made it clear during the interview process, he felt for LSU to become a better academic and research institution, there needed to be a president overseeing the system and the Baton Rouge campus needed a chancellor.

Cut 9 (09)  “…educate Louisiana.”

A surprise of a lifetime for a Jefferson Parish English teacher. Sarah Watkins, an eighth grade language arts teacher at Stella Worley Middle School in Westwego, is awarded a 25-thousand dollar Milken Educator Award.

Cut 7 (08) “…key to it.”

Genetic testing has shown that all shrimp at the Louisiana Shrimp Festival in New Orleans originated from Gulf waters. It’s the latest audit by SeaD Consulting. Founder David Williams has been testing restaurant shrimp for the past year, and he says his company will soon be expanding to other seafood in other parts of the country to test their origins.

Cut 5 (08) “…lot of protection.”

Going from the basement to the penthouse, even though buildings in New Orleans don’t have basements – you know what I mean. Anyways, at the trade deadline, the 1-and-8 Saints have traded wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the 6-and-2 first-place Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fourth round pick and a fifth round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Shaheed has 499 receiving yards this season and has scored two touchdowns. He reunites with Klint Kubiak, who was the Saints’ offensive coordinator last season.

A Jefferson Parish English teacher gets the surprise of a lifetime today as she received a 25-thousand-dollar Milken Educator Award. Sarah Watkins is an eighth grade English language arts teacher at Stella Worley Middle School in Westwego and was overcome with emotion when she learned that she was a recipient of this prestigious national accolade.

Cut 6 (11) “…everything.”

Genetic testing by SeaD Consulting has confirmed that all shrimp sold at the Louisiana Shrimp Festival in New Orleans came from Gulf waters. Founder David Williams started the venture a year ago to test shrimp served in restaurants to find out which ones were serving imported shrimp. He says through his efforts, restaurants are starting to switch to domestic shrimp, and that’s helping the local shrimping industry.

Cut 4 (08) “…to respect themselves.”

The number-five ranked LSU women’s basketball team begins their season tonight as the Tigers host Houston Christian at 7 p.m. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 23 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

And now, a look at today’s commodities.

The LSU Board of Supervisors is in executive session, deliberating between the three finalists for the next president of the university system. McNeese President Wade Rousse is viewed as the favorite to land the job; he says he’d like to see a separate person appointed as president of the flagship Baton Rouge campus, whereas currently, the president of the Baton Rouge campus oversees the entire system.

Cut 10 (07) “…the outlining campuses.”

Food Banks throughout Louisiana are feeling the burden of the federal government shutdown. Pat Van Burkleo, the executive director of Feeding Louisiana, says food banks already came under financial hardship earlier this year, with the change in presidential administrations.

Cut 4 (13) “…the food banks.”

Van Burkleo says the best way you can help is by donating cash.

Genetic testing from SeaD (“seed”) consulting has shown that for the second year in a row, all shrimp served at the Louisiana Shrimp Festival in New Orleans was wild-caught Gulf shrimp. David Williams founded the company a year ago and began using what’s called the RIGHTTest to determine the species of the shrimp – specifically whether it’s Pacific white shrimp, which is not native to U.S. waters. Williams says through his efforts, several restaurants which had been serving imported shrimp have changed to domestic shrimp.

Cut 3 (13) “…lot higher now.”

Pelicans’ coach Willie Green is officially on the hot seat after the team’s 0-and-6 start to the season, with half of those losses by lopsided scores. Green says he takes responsibility for the poor start.

Cut 13 (12)  “…get on track.”

The LSU Board of Supervisors is meeting at this hour to decide who the school’s next president will be. It’s down to Alabama Provost James Dalton, Former Arizona President Robert Robbins and McNeese President Wade Rousse, who’s viewed as the front-runner. Rousse says if he lands the job, he wants to tackle the deferred maintenance issues at all campuses.

Cut 12 (10) “…inspiration of curiosity.”

Food insecure families are turning to food banks amid the federal government shutdown which is now in its record-tying 35th day. Feeding Louisiana Executive Director Pat Van Burkleo says not only are food banks not designed to replace SNAP, but they had federal funding slashed at the beginning of the second Trump administration. He says, fortunately, others are stepping up to help.

Cut 5 (08) “…has matched that.”

Now that it’s getting dark much earlier with the resumption of Standard Time, pay attention to your body and don’t get behind the wheel if you feel too tired. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says driving after getting less than four hours of sleep is like driving with a blood-alcohol level of point-one-two.

Cut 8 (08) “…average-sized man.”

If the New Orleans Pelicans could turn back time, they’d probably go back to 2007-08, when they won their one and only division title when they were known as the Hornets. This season, they’re off to an 0-and-6 start, with three of those losses coming by lopsided scores. Head Coach Willie Green says his discussions with executive VP Joe Dumars are focused on finding a quick solution to the team’s problems.

Cut 14 (10) “…to be better.”

Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, the already cash-strapped food banks are stretched even more thin with food insecure families turning to them for help. Feeding Louisiana Executive Director Pat Van Burkleo says Governor Landry and Our Lady of the Lake have each donated 100-thousand dollars – and if you’d like to help, the very best thing to donate is not food, but cash.

Cut 6 (09) “…kind of things.”

Governor Landry, meanwhile, has used this past weekend’s return to Standard Time to proclaim this week as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, now that it’s getting dark much earlier. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says drowsy driving has had deadly consequences in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (09)  “…to drowsy driving.”

We will find out later today who LSU’s new president will be. McNeese President Wade Rousse is viewed as the front-runner. While McNeese is a non-research regional university, LSU’s goal is to become one of the top 50 public research universities in the country. Rousse says he understands how the research process works.

Cut 11 (11) “…get their trust.”

While Rousse may be on the verge of landing a new lucrative job, Pelicans coach Willie Green could lose his soon if his team doesn’t turn things around in a hurry. Green says he’s blocking out the noise and is focused on turning things around.

Cut 15 (12) “…work at it.”

The Pelicans will try for their first win of the season tonight against the Hornets at the Smoothie King Center.

People who need food assistance are turning to food banks amid the federal government shutdown. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The LSU Board of Supervisors selects a new president today. Jeff Palermo has more from the perceived front-runner, McNeese president Wade Rousse.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The number-five ranked LSU women’s basketball team begins their season tonight as the Tigers host Houston Christian at 7 p.m. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Food Banks throughout Louisiana are feeling the burden of the federal government shutdown. Pat Van Burkleo, the executive director of Feeding Louisiana, says food banks already came under financial hardship earlier this year, with the change in presidential administrations.

Cut 4 (13) “…the food banks.”

Van Burkleo says amid those funding cuts, other entities are stepping up to help.

Cut 5 (08) “…has matched that.”

Van Burkleo says you can help too – and while the thought of a food donation is certainly appreciated, leave the food at home and simply donate cash.

Cut 6 (09) “…kind of things.”

Van Burkleo says it’s important to note that food banks were never intended to replace federal programs like SNAP during government shutdowns, and that the federal government needs to take the lead in handling this.

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With Sunday’s time change, that means it is now getting dark much earlier. If you get off work at six p-m, you will be driving home in total darkness. Governor Landry has used the occasion of the end of Daylight Saving Time to proclaim this week as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, which is a national campaign led by the National Sleep Foundation. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says sleep deprivation is on par with intoxication.

Cut 7 (13) “…point-one-two.”

Fischer says when it comes to driving, doing so after depriving yourself of sleep is the same as doing so after drinking to the point of exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit.

Cut 8 (08) “…average-sized man.”

Fischer says drowsy driving has had deadly consequences in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (09)  “…to drowsy driving.”

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The LSU Board of Supervisors meets this morning to select a new president. The three finalists are University of Alabama provost James Dalton, former University of Arizona president and Mississippi native Robert Robbins and McNeese State president Wade Rousse, who is the favorite. Currently, the LSU president oversees the entire system and the Baton Rouge campus. Rousse believes they should be separated.

Cut 10 (07) “…the outlining campuses.”

Rousse believes there should be an LSU system president and a chancellor for the flagship campus. That’s how it was for many years before those roles were combined in 2012.

Rousse has been serving as McNeese’s president in 2024. Before becoming president, Rousse served in several administrative positions at the Lake Charles school since 2019.

McNeese is a non-research regional university and LSU’s goal is to become one of the top 50 public research universities in the country. But Rousse says he understands how the research process works.

Cut 11 (11) “…get their trust.”

Rousse says if named the next president, he wants to tackle the deferred maintenance issues at the LSU campuses.

Cut 12 (10) “…inspiration of curiosity.”

The LSU Board of Supervisors’ meeting will begin at 9 a.m.

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Pelicans’ coach Willie Green is officially on the hot seat after the team’s 0-and-6 start to the season, with half of those losses by lopsided scores. Green says he understands the criticism and takes responsibility for the poor start.

Cut 13 (12)  “…get on track.”

Green’s discussions with the Pelicans front office, including executive vice president Joe Dumars, remain focused on finding a quick solution to improve the season.

Cut 14 (10) “…to be better.”

New Orleans most recently extended Green’s contract in the 2023 offseason.

Green acknowledges the outside noise about his job security but says he is focused on blocking it out and turning the season around.

Cut 15 (12) “…work at it.”

In Green’s four season with the Pelicans, New Orleans has made the playoffs twice.

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LSU will play its first game since Brian Kelly was fired this weekend against fourth-ranked Alabama. Interim head coach Frank Wilson believes that the Tigers are a much better team than they were when they played Texas A&M.

Cut 16 (17) “…were last week.”

Wilson says LSU will go through a more physical Tuesday practice, which will feature more game-like simulations for both the offensive and defensive units.

Cut 17 (23) “…not been realistic.”

LSU’s rushing offense ranks 15th in the SEC, averaging just 106 yards on the ground a game. In Alabama’s lone loss of the season, Florida State rushed for 230 yards. Wilson says running the ball effectively will be a key to beating the Crimson Tide this Saturday.

Cut 18 (19)  “…can do it.”