Senator Bill Cassidy is speaking out after a CDC panel voted to remove the universal recommendation for the Hepatitis B vaccine immediately after birth. Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, says decisions like these ought to be about protecting children’s health.

Cut 3 (06) “…a personal prejudice.”

Because the vaccine had been recommended, insurance providers had covered it. Cassidy says with the change in recommendation, that’s now in limbo.

The holiday season can be a stressful time for many people. The Louisiana Surgeon General’s office says it’s okay not to be okay, and the 988 helpline is available if you need help. Holly Howatt, the interim assistant secretary of the Office of Behavioral Health, says the office operates two 988 call centers – one in North Louisiana and one in New Orleans.

Cut 14 (09) “…within the state.”

Global technology company SLB announces plans to expand its technology center at the former GM assembly plant in Shreveport resulting in hundreds of new jobs. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Here we go again – Powerball mania is gripping Louisiana and the country. There have been no jackpot winners since the September 6th drawing, so the estimated jackpot for tomorrow’s drawing is 930-million dollars.

Senator Bill Cassidy says a CDC panel acted irresponsibly in removing the universal recommendation for the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Cassidy says because the vaccine had been recommended, insurance providers had covered it. But with the change in recommendation, that’s now in limbo.

Cut 4 (12) “…to be assured.”

Global technology company SLB will expand its operations in Shreveport, resulting in hundreds of new jobs. Paige Carter, the chief development officer for the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, says SLB could have expanded anywhere, but it chose northwest Louisiana.

Cut 8 (14) “…doubling down.”

LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson will coach the Tigers in the Texas Bowl, but his future with the team is uncertain afterwards. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Judges throughout the state could be seeing a little extra dough in their paychecks. A state government panel has recommended that the legislature increase judges’ salaries by just over 25-thousand dollars a year for district judges, by more than 29-thousand for appellate judges and by more than 27-thousand for Supreme Court justices.

Senator Bill Cassidy is speaking out after a CDC panel voted to change the recommendation for the Hepatitis B vaccine. Since 1991, it had been recommended for all babies immediately after birth; last week, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to change that recommendation to include only babies born to mothers who test positive for the virus. Cassidy says decisions like these ought to be about protecting children’s health.

Cut 3 (06) “…a personal prejudice.”

The holiday season means that the crawfish season is right around the corner. LSU AgCenter crawfish extension agent Todd Fontenot says the 2026 season looks like a normal season.

Cut 23 (10) “…look pretty favorable.”

SLB announces plans to expand its technology center at the former GM assembly plant in Shreveport resulting in hundreds of new jobs. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The holiday season can be a stressful time for many people. Louisiana Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham is urging you to reach out if you’re struggling. 

Cut 12 (07) “…somebody who cares.”

A plan to sell Toledo Bend water to Texas is off for now, and a Vernon Parish legislator wants to make sure it never happens. Hornbeck Republican Rodney Schamerhorn says he will be filing a bill that would block any future water sale. He says if Texas wants Louisiana water, it can supply Louisiana with some of its jobs. 

Cut 4 (12) “…living in Louisiana.”

Tulane has an extra incentive to beating Ole Miss on December 20th – if that happens, it would get a virtual home game in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Georgia New Year’s Day. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says a Sugar Bowl appearance for the hometown Green Wave would not be unprecedented – but it would be a VERY long time coming.

Cut 7 (10) “…be tremendous enthusiasm.”

For mudbug lovers, the holiday season means another crawfish season is right around the corner. Jeff Palermo has an outlook on the upcoming season.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

For the first time ever, the Iowa Yellow Jackets will play in a state championship football game. Iowa head coach Tommy Johns says the team has the Calcasieu Parish town buzzing.

Cut 13 (06)  “…a long time.”

Iowa will play North DeSoto, who’s the top seed in Division Two non-select.

A Vernon Parish legislator plans on filing a bill to make it illegal to sell water from Toledo Bend Reservoir to Texas. Hornbeck Republican Rodney Schamerhorn says people who bought property along the lakefront paid a premium for it; and if Louisiana sells too much of that water, they may ultimately not get their money’s worth.

Cut 6 (12) “…a beautiful lake.”

The holiday season is here; and in Louisiana, that can mean only one thing – crawfish season is right around the corner! LSU AgCenter crawfish extension agent Todd Fontenot says in certain areas, especially along the coast, hot boiled crawfish is available right now.

Cut 11 (10) “…our growing region.”

If Tulane can find a way to beat Ole Miss a week from Saturday, and they lost to them by five touchdowns four months ago, they’ll play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl literally in their own backyard – in the Superdome. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says Tulane fans, while perhaps overly ambitious, are dreaming big.

Cut 8 (10) “…out about tickets.”

Tulane has played in the Sugar Bowl once – back in 1939.

We continue previewing the high school football state championship games. In Division Two non-select Friday, Iowa faces North DeSoto. Iowa Coach Tommy Johns says winning the time of possession battle will be one of the keys to victory.

Cut 14 (05) “…a track meet.”

Both teams are undefeated, and both are looking for their first football state title. Kickoff Friday is noon.

A plan to sell Toledo Bend water to Texas is off for now, and a Vernon Parish legislator plans on filing a bill in the next session to ensure that it never happens. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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For mudbug lovers, the holiday season means another crawfish season is right around the corner. Jeff Palermo has an outlook on the upcoming season.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

A school in Calcasieu Parish will make history on Friday when the Iowa Yellow Jackets will play in their first state championship football game. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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A plan to sell Toledo Bend water to Texas is off for now, and a Vernon Parish legislator wants to make sure it never happens. The plan would have called for the reservoir to supply 200-thousand acre-feet from Louisiana’s share per year to Texas in order for that state to address potential water shortages in its metro areas. Hornbeck Republican Rodney Schamerhorn says he will be filing a bill that would block any future water sale. He says if Texas wants Louisiana water, it can supply Louisiana with some of its jobs.

Cut 4 (12) “…living in Louisiana.”

Schamerhorn notes that the populations of Texas and Louisiana are going in opposite directions.

Cut 5 (11) “…abundance of water.”

Furthermore, Schamerhorn says if Louisiana gives Texas water from Toledo Bend, people who bought property along the lakefront and paid a premium for it may ultimately not get their money’s worth.

Cut 6 (12) “…a beautiful lake.”

_________________________________________________

As if advancing in the College Football Playoff wasn’t enough, Tulane has an extra incentive to beating Ole Miss on December 20th – they would get a virtual home game in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Georgia New Year’s Day. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says a Sugar Bowl appearance for the hometown Green Wave would not be unprecedented. But let’s just say it would be a long time coming – a VERY long time coming.

Cut 7 (10) “…be tremendous enthusiasm.”

But in order to play in the Sugar Bowl in front of their home fans, they will have to beat a team that beat them by five touchdowns just four months ago. But Hundley says that’s not stopping overly-ambitious Tulane fans from dreaming.

Cut 8 (10) “…out about tickets.”

Hundley says while it would be cool for Tulane to play the Sugar Bowl in the stadium they called home from 1975 through 2013 until Yulman Stadium opened, he’s not picking sides in Oxford.

Cut 9 (10)  “…best game possible.”

_____________________________________________

The holiday season means that the crawfish season is right around the corner. LSU AgCenter crawfish extension agent Todd Fontenot says the 2026 season looks like a normal season.

Cut 10 (10) “…look pretty favorable.”

Fontenot says hot boiled crawfish is available, especially along the coast.

Cut 11 (10) “…our growing region.”

Fontenot says crawfish will become more plentiful in January and February, as long as the state stays away from lengthy periods of below-freezing temperatures.

Cut 12 (11) “…to our crawfish.”

____________________________________________________________

For the first time ever, the Iowa Yellow Jackets will play in a state championship football game. Iowa head coach Tommy Johns says the team has the Calcasieu Parish town buzzing.

Cut 13 (06)  “…a long time.”

Iowa will play North DeSoto, who’s the top seed in Division Two non-select. Johns says winning the time of possession will be crucial on Friday.

Cut 14 (05) “…a track meet.”

Mangham is looking for its first state championship since 1956 as the Dragons will take on Haynesville on Thursday at noon in the Division Four non-select title game. Mangham Coach Scott Wilcher says they are playing for their Richland Parish town.

Cut 15 (08) “…going to do.”

_______________________________________________________

UL-Lafayette is set to face Delaware in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, on Wednesday, December 17th, at 7:30 p.m. The Blue Hens come into the matchup with the number-six passing offense in the country, averaging 302 passing yards per game. Head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says the Cajuns’ defense will have to do a couple of things to limit Delaware in the air.

Cut 16 (16) “…things like that.”

After starting the season 2-6, the Cajuns won four straight games to close out the regular season. Desormeaux says he doesn’t want his team to be satisfied with a bowl berth, but he wants to close the year out with a fifth straight win and its first bowl win in three years.

Cut 17 (14)  “…to go do.”

______________________________________________-

Louisiana Tech will face Coastal Carolina in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in Shreveport on Tuesday, December 30th, at 1 p.m. Several high-profile players have already entered the transfer portal, but head coach Sonny Cumbie says there are a few players that want to finish the season out for the Bulldogs.

Cut 18 (14)  “…to their character.”

Cumbie says defensive back Jacob Fields and linebacker Mekhi Mason will not play in the bowl game.

Cumbie will coach against his former defensive coordinator, Jeremiah Johnson, when the Bulldogs and Chanticleers face off. Johnson is the interim head coach for Coastal, and Cumbie says he’s looking forward to the matchup.

Cut 19 (14) “…and swarming around.”

Only one escapee from last week’s twin jailbreaks in South Louisiana remains on the loose – 24-year-old Keith Eli. Major Mark LeBlanc with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says on Friday, deputies captured 24-year-old Johnathan Joseph after tips led detectives to a home in Opelousas.

Cut 11 (09) “…surrendered to officers.”

Amid the ongoing illegal immigration crackdown, New Orleans City Councilman J.P. Morrell stated that Louisiana is an open carry state and has a robust stand-your-ground law. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino points out, as Morrell did, that in the event of a stand-your-ground shooting, an officer’s only line of defense is by fully identifying oneself as a law enforcement officer.

Cut 5 (11) “…along those lines.”

Haynesville is looking for its 18th state championship in football, while North DeSoto is looking for its first. Jeff Palermo has more on these two northwest Louisiana schools as they prepare for the Prep Classic.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Documents show that a contractor in Tangipahoa Parish recovered dozens of oil-covered and injured animals in the aftermath of the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. The contractor said it had recovered 74 wild animals – mainly raccoons and opossums – of which 59 were covered in oil. Eight were listed as dead.

As Operation Catahoula Crunch continues, people may be wondering what exactly the law says about these sweeps. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says if agents have no reasonable grounds to detain you, you’re under no obligation to talk to them. However: 

Cut 4 (14) “…their basic questions.”

One escapee from a pair of South Louisiana jailbreaks remains on the loose. 24-year-old Keith Eli escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail last Wednesday, along with two others. Major Mark LeBlanc with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says investigators are going to great lengths to find him.

Cut 10 (14) “…of our agency.”

It’s Prep Classic week in high school football, with 16 teams vying for state titles in eight divisions. North DeSoto is seeking its first title in Division Two non-select as it faces Iowa Friday at noon. The Griffins are a perfect 13-and-0, and Coach Dennis Dunn says a selfless attitude has helped the team get to this point.

Cut 7 (07) “…all of that.”

For the second year in a row, Louisiana Tech will make the 70-mile trek to Shreveport to play in the Independence Bowl. But unlike last year, when they were a last-minute stand-in for Marshall, the Bulldogs were the I-Bowl’s first choice to take on Coastal Carolina. Executive Director Missy Setters says there are several fan and community events the night before the December 30th game.

Cut 14 (12) “…hurricane alley.”

Only one escapee from last week’s twin jailbreaks in South Louisiana remains on the loose – 24-year-old Keith Eli, who escaped with two others from the St. Landry Parish Jail. Major Mark LeBlanc with the sheriff’s office says deputies captured 24-year-old Johnathan Joseph Friday after tips and information led detectives to a home in Opelousas.

Cut 11 (09) “…surrendered to officers.”

As Operation Catahoula Crunch continues in the greater New Orleans area, people may be wondering what exactly the law says about these enhanced immigration sweeps – what the Border Patrol agents can and can’t do under the law. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says in order for agents to detain anyone, they need a good reason to do so.

Cut 3 (11) “…the federal government.”

Haynesville is looking for its 18th state championship in football, while North DeSoto is looking for its first. Jeff Palermo has more on these two northwest Louisiana schools as they prepare for the Prep Classic.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Four Louisiana teams are headed to postseason play in college football, headlined by Tulane as the 11 seed in the College Football Playoff. LSU is playing in the Texas Bowl, Louisiana Tech is headed to the Independence Bowl, and UL-Lafayette earned its way to the 68 Ventures Bowl.

One escapee from a pair of South Louisiana jailbreaks remains on the loose. 24-year-old Keith Eli escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail last Wednesday, along with two others. Major Mark LeBlanc with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says investigators are going to great lengths to find him.

Cut 10 (14) “…of our agency.”

As Operation Catahoula Crunch continues, people may be wondering what exactly the law says about these sweeps. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says if agents have no reasonable grounds to detain you, you’re under no obligation to talk to them. However: 

Cut 4 (14) “…their basic questions.”

Haynesville is looking for its 18th state championship in football Thursday when it takes on Mangham in the Division Four non-select title game. This is the third year in a row Coach David Franklin and the Golden Tornado have made it to the state title game, but the last two years they came up short.

Cut 8 (07) “…go and win.”

Haynesville is led by four-year starter Isaiah Washington, who signed with LSU last week.

Louisiana Tech is heading back to Shreveport, as the Bulldogs will play Coastal Carolina in the 49th edition of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. I-Bowl Executive Director Missy Setter on what the game means for northwest Louisiana.

Cut 13 (13)  “…during December.”

The Bulldogs played in the Independence Bowl last year after Marshall pulled out and lost to Army.