Isaias became the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 at 10:30 last night, breaking the old record for the latest first hurricane by 26 days. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says landfall will occur tomorrow night well east of Louisiana.

Cut 5 (08) “…on Friday evening.”

Despite that, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the coastal regions of southeast Louisiana.

The University of Louisiana System names its presidential search committee which will help the Board of Supervisors select the next president of Louisiana Tech. It includes State Representative Chris Turner, who says while the search will stretch coast to coast, he would like to see the next president to be hired from within.

Cut 8 (14) “…and our city.”

There are ten constitutional amendments on the November 3rd ballot — five of them deal with property taxes. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The parents of a Lafayette Parish teenager who was killed in a mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge back in April have sued the mall. 17-year-old Martha Odom’s parents allege that mall management was negligent in providing security, leading to the shooting that resulted in their daughter’s death.

The University of Louisiana system names its presidential search committee which will help select the next president of Louisiana Tech. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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There are ten constitutional amendments on the November 3rd ballot — five of them deal with property taxes. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Will Wade’s LSU basketball team tips off against McNeese in an exhibition game tonight, but don’t think that means you’ll finally get to see the full roster. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Up until now, the 2026 hurricane season had been so slow that there was a question of whether there would be any hurricanes at all this year. Those questions were put to rest this morning as Isaias (ee-sah-EE-ahs) has strengthened to become the first Atlantic hurricane of the year. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says in fact, this storm will eventually be right on the cusp of a major hurricane.

Cut 4 (08) “…Category Two strength.”

Not only that, it will be the first hurricane in nearly two years to make landfall in the U.S. Keim says, however, that landfall will occur well east of Louisiana.

Cut 5 (08) “…on Friday evening.”

Keim says even though landfall will be too far east to have a major impact on Louisiana, the state could still see some effects from the storm.

Cut 6 (05) “…be prepared for.”

By a wide margin, this is the latest in the year in which the first Atlantic hurricane has formed. The previous record was September 11th, which occurred in 2002 and 2014. That means this year broke the previous record by a whopping 27 days.

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The University of Louisiana System names its presidential search committee which will help the Board of Supervisors select the next president of Louisiana Tech. The committee consists of 18 members, including Tech faculty, students and alumni; U-L Board members and members of the Ruston community. Among those on the committee is State Representative Chris Turner, who says the search will begin with an open forum meeting today.

Cut 7 (11) “…some good candidates.”

Turner says while the search will stretch coast to coast, he would like to see the next president to be hired from within, so to speak.

Cut 8 (14) “…and our city.”

In order to receive full consideration in the initial review, candidates should submit their applications by November 6th. The board expects to select Tech’s new president less than two weeks later, on November 19th, with the new president taking office January 1st. Turner says he would like to make the process more confidential.

Cut 9 (12)  “…in their name.”

The new president will succeed Dr. Jim Henderson, who’s retiring on December 31st.

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Louisiana voters will have plenty to consider on the November 3rd ballot, including ten proposed constitutional amendments. Five deal with property taxes. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says Amendment One would let a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran move to another home and keep a special property tax exemption.

Cut 10 (07) “…do that once.”

Procopio says Amendment Six would allow parishes and municipalities to increase the property tax exemption for some homeowners as they age, from 65 up to 81.

Cut 11 (11) “…in their area.”

A vote against Amendment Six would leave the current statewide exemption for homeowners 65 and older unchanged.

Procopio says Amendment Nine would raise the income limit for a property tax assessment freeze from 100-thousand to 150-thousand dollars.

Cut 12 (06) “…to pay more.”

Amendment Two would give local taxing authorities more flexibility in deciding when to set property tax rates, while Amendment Ten would allow parishes to offer tax exemptions for property that’s been rehabilitated after being blighted.

For more information on all ten amendments, check out PAR’s Guide to the Fall 2026 Constitutional Amendments on its website.

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The second Will Wade era of LSU basketball tips off tonight as the Tigers head to McNeese for an exhibition game. Wade, though, told the Baton Rouge Rotary Club yesterday that only about eight of his players will play as others wait for eligibility rulings from the NCAA.

Cut 13 (09)  “…to be eligible.”

LSU’s roster has returning fifth-year seniors and former international pros who are still going through the NCAA eligibility process. Wade says some of his players have former overseas teammates who have gained NCAA eligibility already.

Cut 14 (11) “…going to take.”

All the proceeds from the trip to Lake Charles will go to the McNeese basketball program. Wade says he owes everything he has to the people of Lake Charles for sticking their necks out and saving his career by hiring him after he was fired by LSU.

Cut 15 (11) “…for their program.”

Tip-off is set for 6:30.

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Southern is still searching for its first SWAC win under head coach Marshall Faulk. The Jaguars will have another tough conference game with a trip to defending champs Prairie View A&M Saturday. Faulk says his offense will need to be ready for a tough Panther defense.

Cut 16 (12) “…how they play.”

Kickoff was moved back an hour to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on HBCU Go.

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Grambling got a big win over Alcorn State last weekend and will look to keep its momentum as it hosts undefeated Jackson State Saturday. Tigers quarterbacks Jacobe Robinson and Ashton Frye put up big numbers against the Braves, and head coach Mickey Joseph says he rotates Q-Bs like any other position.

Cut 17 (14) “…for this team.”

Kickoff in Grambling is set for 4 p.m.

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LSU will take on a familiar face when it heads to Kentucky this weekend. Kentucky’s offense is led by coordinator Joe Sloan, who was fired from LSU last season. Wildcats head coach Will Stein says he and LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker have familiarity coaching against one another, but…

Cut 18 (15)  “…what it is”

Kentucky is off to a 4-and-1 start under the first-year head coach. Stein made headlines in the offseason when he said he would be the reason Kentucky would turn its program around. LSU coach Lane Kiffin says that attitude was familiar.

Cut 19 (09) “…a great job.”

Another thing LSU fans may know a thing or two about — Kentucky has struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks this season. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers ran for 147 yards against the Wildcats last week, and Stein says his defense needs to improve with Sam Leavitt coming to town.

Cut 20 (19) “…on third down.”

Based on its current projected path, Louisiana could see minimal effects from Tropical Storm Isaias. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The LHSAA executive committee upholds the cancellation of the remainder of Carroll High School’s football season. The LHSAA pulled the plug on the season of the school in the City of Monroe last month following a post-game fight involving some of its football players and students at Assumption High School.

The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety is expected to make a significant change – only certifying fortified roofs as such for 15 years. That means after 15 years, those fortified roofs would no longer qualify for property insurance premium discounts.  Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says despite the likely change, getting a fortified roof is still a great investment.

Cut 5 (12) “…an insurance discount.”

State Police detectives have arrested the owner and an employee of a Ville Platte tobacco shop as part of an investigation into the death of a 17-year-old boy. Sergeant Peggy Bourque says they’re not releasing the exact name of the drug that Tobacco Tavern allegedly sold to Taylon Hebert or the over-the-counter herbal supplemental pills seized during a search warrant.

Cut 7 (07) “..this time.”

It looks like Louisiana is going to escape any significant impacts from what will soon be Hurricane Isaias. The National Hurricane Center’s official forecast track continues to shift farther to the east, pinning landfall near the Alabama-Florida state line. National Weather Service Meteorologist Phil Grigsby says the steering currents are pushing the storm away from Louisiana.

Cut 9 (11)  “…the east.”

A teacher and coach in Ponchatoula is arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with a student. According to jail records, 30-year-old Trey Sparks is charged with one count of prohibited sexual contact between an educator and a student. He’s also charged with possessing child sexual abuse material, depicting victims under 13 years old. Sparks teaches at DC Reeves Elementary School and coaches at Ponchatoula Junior High School. We do not know which of those schools, if either one, the victim attends.

The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety is expected to make a significant change, certifying roofs as fortified for only 15 years. That means after 15 years, those with fortified roofs would stand to lose their insurance premium discounts. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says that does not mean that fortified roofs older than 15 years are ineffective.

Cut 4 (12) “…discount going on.”

The owner and an employee of a Ville Platte tobacco shop are arrested in connection with the death of a 17-year-old boy who purchased herbal supplement pills from there. State Police Sergeant Peggy Bourque says 34-year-old Musa Saleh Salem, who owns Tobacco Tavern, and 29-year-old Ghaleb Mohammed Mousa are charged with Distribution of a Schedule One Controlled Dangerous Substance.

Cut 8 (08) “…Evangeline Parish jail.”

Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to become the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 by early tomorrow. That will break the record for the latest date for the first Atlantic hurricane in a given year by a whopping 27 days. For now, Isaias is a tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles an hour. It’s still located in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, but it’s expected to start making its way east this afternoon before taking a northward turn tomorrow morning. National Weather Service Meteorologist Phil Grigsby says Louisiana will escape any major impacts, seeing less than an inch of rain from the storm that’s expected to make landfall east of Mobile, Alabama, either late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Cut 11 (14) “…rain even.”

Isaias is expected to become a strong Category two storm before weakening to a Category one storm before landfall.

Those with fortified roofs may see their homeowners insurance discounts disappear several years from now. That’s because the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety is expected to change the way it designates roofs, certifying them as fortified for only 15 years. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says without the fortified certification, insurance companies would no longer offer premium discounts for fortified roofs.

Cut 3 (07) “…discount drops off.”

State Police detectives have arrested the owner and an employee of a Ville Platte tobacco shop as part of an investigation into the death of a 17-year-old boy in Turkey Creek. Sergeant Peggy Bourque says they’re not releasing the exact name of the drug that Tobacco Tavern allegedly sold to Taylon Hebert or the over-the-counter herbal supplemental pills seized during a search warrant.

Cut 7 (07) “..this time.”

Based on its current projected path, Louisiana could see minimal effects from Tropical Storm Isaias. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Should you ever feel the urge to go out TP’ing homes, make sure you know which home you’re targeting. Police in Addis arrest a man for allegedly firing a shot at two teens who were TP’ing his house. Police say the teens thought the house belonged to a friend of theirs. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Josiah Arrington is charged with aggravated assault with a firearm.

State Police detectives arrest the owner and an employee of a Ville Platte tobacco shop as part of an investigation into the death of a 17-year-old boy in Turkey Creek. Sergeant Peggy Bourque says the day before Taylon Hebert’s death, he purchased over the counter herbal supplement pills from Tobacco Tavern, which were suspected to contain a Schedule One Controlled Dangerous Substance.

Cut 6 (10) “…same location.”

The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety is expected to make a significant change – only certifying fortified roofs as such for 15 years. That means after 15 years, those fortified roofs would no longer qualify for property insurance premium discounts.  Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says despite the likely change, getting a fortified roof is still a great investment.

Cut 5 (12) “…an insurance discount.”

It looks like Louisiana will not be in the path of what is expected to become Hurricane Isaias. The current forecast track has it making landfall east of Mobile, Alabama, Friday evening. That doesn’t mean Louisiana is completely in the clear. National Weather Service Meteorologist Phil Grigsby says a storm surge watch and tropical storm watch has been issued for Plaquemines, St. Bernard and Orleans parishes, and the southeastern corner of St. Tammany Parish.

Cut 10 (10) “…into Friday night.” 

DCFS revamps foster caregiver training and certification by launching HomeReady. Secretary Rebecca Harris says the biggest change is that everything is now done entirely online.

Cut 23 (11) “…in one spot.” 

The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety is expected to make a significant change, certifying roofs as fortified for only 15 years. That means after 15 years, those with fortified roofs would stand to lose their insurance premium discounts. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says that does not mean that fortified roofs older than 15 years are ineffective.

Cut 4 (12) “…discount going on.”

Louisiana is expected to add 55-thousand jobs over the next two years. Dr. Loren Scott puts together this economic forecast annually, and he’s projecting more jobs than usual because of the boom in data centers in north and central Louisiana.

Cut 13 (11)  “…just about Alexandria.”

We now have our ninth tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season; and tomorrow, it’s expected to become the first hurricane of the year. Tropical Storm Isaias is in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico packing maximum sustained winds of 40 miles an hour, and it has started making its eastward trek before taking a turn north. On its current track, it’s expected to make landfall east of Mobile, Alabama, Friday night, completely missing Louisiana. That doesn’t mean Louisiana is completely out of the woods – the far eastern tip of Plaquemines Parish is still in the cone of uncertainty, and the forecasted track could still shift between now and Friday.

State Treasurer John Fleming is urging school funding to be focused on classrooms and teacher salaries.  Fleming says the K-through-12 Transparency Project showed some questionable expenditures.

Cut 5 (13) “…and Uber Eats.”

An economic forecast projects Louisiana to add 55-thousand jobs over the next two years. Lake Charles is expected to have the highest percentage growth over the next two years, adding about six-thousand jobs. Dr. Loren Scott, who put this forecast together, says the big number in Lake Charles is almost exclusively due to three new LNG export facilities – two in Cameron Parish and another just south of Sulphur.

Cut 14 (05) “…of projects underway.”

The Department of Children and Family Services is revamping foster caregiver training and certification by rolling out HomeReady, which officially launched today. Secretary Rebecca Harris says by moving everything online, it simplifies the process and creates much less paperwork.

Cut 12 (12) “…a temporary home.”

Families can use either a computer or a mobile device to complete their forms, upload their documents and track their progress.

We now have a tropical depression in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, and the National Hurricane Center says it’s expected to become Tropical Storm Isaias by early tomorrow – and Hurricane Isaias Thursday. It’s expected to reach Category Two strength by the time it makes landfall Friday afternoon. National Weather Service Meteorologist Jacob Zeringue says the big question is, where along the U.S. Gulf Coast will the storm make landfall?

Cut 14 (11) “…Friday and Saturday.” 

President Trump signs an executive order that immediately cuts diesel costs by authorizing highway use of tax-free dyed diesel and deferring the federal diesel excise tax through the end of the year. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says it puts money back in the pockets of farmers, ranchers, truckers and loggers.

Cut 10 (06) “…right direction.” 

Repeating our top story – southeast Louisiana could be hit by a hurricane Friday afternoon. The National Hurricane Center says the storm that’s expected to become Hurricane Isaias could reach Category Two strength when it makes landfall Friday afternoon, anywhere from southeast Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.

The Superdome crowd was silenced last night as the Saints fell to the Falcons 45-24 on the 20th anniversary of the team’s return to the stadium after Katrina. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

It looks like we’re not going to get through 2026 without an Atlantic hurricane. The disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico is now a tropical depression, and the National Hurricane Center says it’s expected to become Tropical Storm Isaias by early tomorrow – and Hurricane Isaias Thursday. National Weather Service Meteorologist Jacob Zeringue says conditions became favorable for hurricane development.

Cut 12 (14) “…increase after that.” 

President Trump signs an executive order that waives the off-road requirement to use tax-free red-dye diesel. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says red-dye diesel is cheaper because it’s exempt from state and federal highway excise taxes.

Cut 9 (11)  “…federal tax.”

The Department of Energy awards Entergy almost 14-million dollars in federal grants to strengthen its power grid in Louisiana, as well as in Mississippi and Arkansas. Kristen Granier (GRAHN-yay), the director of federal infrastructure policy at Entergy, says part of that money will be used to deploy a dynamic line rating sensor.

Cut 3 (11) “…as it’s flowing.”

A night of celebration in the Superdome went sour quickly as the Falcons spoiled the 20th anniversary of the Domecoming with a 45-24 thrashing of the Saints. New Orleans trailed by two scores for much of the game, and quarterback Tyler Shough says there’s no way to sugarcoat it.

Cut 6 (13) “…eyes forward.”