It’s shaping up to be a record-breaking St. Patrick’s Day – and not the records that we would like to see broken. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says Lake Charles set a new record this morning with a low of 33; and moving further north, a couple cities got to the freezing mark and below.

Cut 7 (12) “…previously in 1978.”

For the second year in a row, Southern University’s college of nursing is rated as the nation’s best by Nurse.org. Sandra Brown, the dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health, says one thing that’s been very beneficial to Southern’s nursing program has been the community partnerships.

Cut 4 (10) “…to train on.”

Julia Letlow’s Senate campaign publishes a poll showing her in the lead in the Senate Republican Primary. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

A bill that would have made it a crime to aggressively throw an object from a parade float to cause an injury has been withdrawn. LaPlace Representative Sylvia Taylor had filed the bill in the wake of several incidents in which people aboard floats aggressively threw beads and other objects at people along the route.

The House Transportation Committee put the brakes on a bill that would have allowed law enforcement to fine pedestrians 25 dollars if they’re caught looking at their phones while walking in a crosswalk. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

____________________________________________

When it comes to turning old buildings into new buildings, few states do it better than Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

McNeese is in uncharted territory with its third straight NCAA men’s basketball tournament berth. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

______________________________________________

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon supports Governor Jeff Landry’s effort to double the state funding of the L-A GATOR Program. The program provides low income families with state dollars that can be used to pay for private school tuition. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says McMahon’s endorsement is a big deal.

Cut 4 (07) “…this incredibly serious.”

The state is spending 44-million dollars on the program this school year, and the money is helping 56-hundred families. Landry has asked lawmakers to increase the funding to 88-million dollars, but Senate President Cameron Henry has expressed concern that the program could get too big to afford. Alford says L-A GATOR also has public backing.

Cut 5 (08) “…of the compromise.”

Landry believes families should pick a school that best fits their child’s needs, but Henry is concerned about how the state can pay for it if you add another 56-hundred families to the program. Alford says it’s a debate to watch during this legislative session.

Cut 6 (09) “…wait and see.”

____________________________________________________

The Louisiana House Transportation Committee rejects a proposal to fine pedestrians 25 dollars for looking at their cell phone while walking on a crosswalk. Chris Alexander with the Louisiana Citizen Advocacy Group testified against the legislation.

Cut 7 (07) “…this state make.”

Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham authored the legislation. Bayham says he did not create the legislation as a way to generate revenue; instead, it’s an effort to reduce crashes involving pedestrians.

Cut 8 (12) “…expensive accidents happening.”

No one on the House Transportation Committee voted for the bill. Hornbeck Representative Rodney Schamerhorn says the legislation is government overreach.

Cut 9 (06)  “…their own body.”

________________________________________________________

When it comes to turning old buildings into new buildings, Louisiana sets the standard. Andrea (AHN-dree-uh) McCarthy, the tax credit program director of the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, says since 2021, Louisiana has rehabilitated more than 400 historic buildings, including several in New Orleans.

Cut 10 (07) “…couple years ago.”

Last year, Louisiana completed 94 projects using federal tax incentives for rehabilitating historic buildings. That’s the second most in the country, ranking only behind New York. McCarthy says in order to qualify for the tax incentive, the rehabilitated building must produce income, like a hotel, and it has to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cut 11 (06) “…Register Historic District.”

McCarthy says the money can be used for projects both small and large, as evidenced by a massive project happening in New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood.

Cut 12 (11) “…of the country.”

___________________________________________________________

The McNeese Cowboys are preparing to play in their third straight NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The South Region’s 12 seed takes on Vanderbilt Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer says McNeese is setting the standard for programs of its stature.

Cut 13 (13)  “…in the country.”

Schroyer says McNeese’s success is forcing everyone else in the Southland Conference to play catch-up.

Cut 14 (10) “…men’s basketball program.”

Schroyer says with three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the men’s basketball team needs to keep it going, and it takes the support of the Lake Charles community to accomplish that.

Cut 15 (10) “…do it again.”

Last year, McNeese won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game when they upset Clemson in the First Round as a 12 seed.

_____________________________________________________________

The U-L baseball team is ranked in the top 25 for the first time since 2024. The Cajuns entered this week’s polls at number-25 in the D1Baseball rankings, number-22 in the Perfect Game rankings and number-25 in the National College Baseball Association rankings. Head Coach Matt Deggs says he’s happy for his players and the fans.

Cut 16 (19) “…to do more.”

The Cajuns will look to stay hot this week in Texas, beginning with a trip to Houston Wednesday before heading to Texas State for a weekend series.

Left-handed graduate student Andrew Hermann tossed his second complete game of the season in the Cajuns’ 4-3 win over South Alabama Saturday. Deggs says his unpredictability makes him extremely difficult for hitters.

Cut 17 (15)  “…his work ethic.”

______________________________________________________________

The ULM baseball team completed a series sweep of Texas State this past weekend to open conference play. The Warhawks scored 36 runs in the series, and head coach Ford Pemberton says he was proud of the way his team battled at the plate.

Cut 18 (14)  “…get caught once.”

ULM used only six pitchers against Texas State. Pemberton says the weekend was a step in the right direction for the pitching staff.

Cut 19 (08) “…improve even more.”

The Warhawks will host New Orleans tomorrow at 6 p-m.

Cut 25 (03) (fade and use as bed)

And when you’re walking to New Orleans, you can continue to stare at your phones while crossing crosswalks. That’s because the House Transportation Committee nixed a proposal to fine pedestrians 25 dollars for doing so. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham authored the legislation. He told the committee he did not create it as a way to generate revenue; instead, it’s an effort to reduce crashes involving pedestrians.

Cut 8 (12) “…accidents happening.” (2x) 

Bayham’s argument fell on deaf ears, though – no one on the committee voted for the bill. Hornbeck Representative Rodney Schamerhorn says the legislation amounted to government overreach.

Cut 9 (06)  “…own body.”

U-S Education Secretary Linda McMahon supports Governor Landry’s effort to double the state funding of the LA GATOR program. The program provides low-income families with state dollars that can be used to pay for private school tuition. LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says McMahon’s endorsement is a big deal.

Cut 4 (08) “…incredibly serious”

Democrats in the legislature say their agenda in this year’s session will focus on affordability. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Kyle Green says while that includes things like prices we pay at the grocery stores and at the gas pumps, what it will not include in this session is a possible reduction in sales taxes.

Cut 4 (11) “…a budget shortfall.”

Cut 25 (03) (Fade and use as bed)

Indeed, what a difference a day makes, as Mother Nature is giving Louisiana one last dose of winter in the final week of the season. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim:

Cut 9 (10)  “…temperatures.”

Whereas yesterday’s highs were in the 80s; today, the temperature only got up into the 50s throughout much of the state.

For Democrats in the legislature, there’s one issue that stands out over all others as the legislative session enters its second week.

Cut 3 (09) “…as a whole.”

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Kyle Green says while that includes things like prices we pay at the grocery stores and at the gas pumps, what it will not include in this session is a possible reduction in sales taxes. He says that’s because there’s talk about phasing out the income tax.

The state transportation department plans to pick a location for a new Mississippi River Bridge in the Baton Rouge area by the end of this year. Secretary Glenn Ledet says DOTD expects to present the final preferred location as part of an Environmental Assessment by December.

Cut 7 (12) “…environmental assessment.”

The McNeese Cowboys are preparing to play in their third straight NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The South Region’s 12 seed takes on Vanderbilt Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer says McNe

This is the final week of winter, and Old Man Winter has one more thing up his sleeve before he packs up and goes home for the year. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says while high temperatures were in the mid-80s yesterday, today they are in the 50s and upper 40s for north Louisiana.

Cut 10 (10) “…top of that.”

Keim says temperatures will get below freezing tomorrow morning for north and central Louisiana.

Democrats in the legislature say their agenda in this year’s session will focus on affordability. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Kyle Green says while that includes things like prices we pay at the grocery stores and at the gas pumps, what it will not include in this session is a possible reduction in sales taxes.

Cut 4 (11) “…a budget shortfall.”

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office says the deaths of three people, including a six-year-old boy, near Youngsville appears to be a double murder-suicide. They say 36-year-old Brett Richardson shot his 33-year-old wife, Kasie, and their son before turning the gun on himself.

The state department of transportation hopes to identify the location for the proposed Mississippi River Bridge south of Baton Rouge by the end of the year. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Cut 25 (03) (Fade and use as bed)

Indeed, what a difference a day makes, as Mother Nature is giving Louisiana one last dose of winter in the final week of the season. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim:s.

Cut 9 (10)  “…temperatures.”

Keim says high temperatures were in the mid-80s yesterday, today they are in the 50s and upper 40s for north Louisiana.

For Democrats in the legislature, there’s one issue that stands out over all others as the legislative session enters its second week.

Cut 3 (09) “…as a whole.”

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Kyle Green says while that includes things like prices we pay at the grocery stores and at the gas pumps, what it will not include in this session is a possible reduction in sales taxes. He says that’s because there’s talk about phasing out the income tax.

Tiger Rag Magazine explains its involvement in a lawsuit against LSU over whether the athletic department’s direct payments to student athletes should be public. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Speaking of LSU, the Lady Tigers are the two seed in the Sacramento Two Region, and they open play in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament Friday evening against Jacksonville at the P-MAC. If they win, they face the winner of Texas Tech-Villanova.

A New Orleans court watchdog group is speaking out against a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the State Senate the power to remove elected judges and district attorneys at the recommendation of the governor. Jesse Manley, the interim executive director of Court Watch NOLA, says the people who put them in their offices are more than capable of doing the deed.

Cut 5 (08) “…choice from them.”

For now, Louisiana Tech’s football team has quite the 2026 schedule – 20 games over 13 weeks, including two days in November in which they have two road games simultaneously. This, after both Conference USA and the Sun Belt included the Bulldogs in their schedules. Dave Schultz, the host of the Locked On Sun Belt podcast, says Tech has been trying to negotiate an exit from C-USA, but the conference is having none of it.

Cut 11 (08) “…in good faith.”

Three Louisiana teams – two women’s teams and one men’s team – are going dancing in their respective NCAA tournaments. On the women’s side, the LSU Lady Tigers host Jacksonville Friday at 5 p-m. If the Lady Tigers beat the Dolphins, Coach Kim Mulkey’s squad will then host the winner of Texas Tech-Villanova.

Cut 13 (11)  “…the right time.”

LSU’s Baton Rouge siblings, the Southern Jaguars, take on Samford in the First Four play-in round in Columbia, South Carolina, Thursday evening at six.

On the men’s side, McNeese is Louisiana’s sole representative, and the South Region’s 12th seed takes on fifth-seeded Vanderbilt Thursday at 2:15 in Oklahoma City. Cowboys head coach Bill Armstrong says the team is going to enjoy the ride.

Cut 16 (12) “…get it again.”

A six-year-old boy is among three people shot to death outside Youngsville in Lafayette Parish yesterday. The three victims were found inside a home, and deputies say all were pronounced dead at the scene. The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office says it will be releasing more information on the incident later today.

We’re hearing from a court watchdog group that opposes a proposed constitutional amendment that creates a mechanism for the Senate to remove judges and district attorneys at the recommendation of the governor. Jeanne Burns reports. 

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

The LSU Lady Tigers are a two-seed in the Sacramento Two Region, and they open play in the NCAA Tournament Friday against Jacksonville at the P-MAC. Head Coach Kim Mulkey is questioning why her team was not placed into one of the Fort Worth brackets, so they could play the regionals a lot closer to home.

Cut 15 (13) “…I’m being facetious.”

With Louisiana Tech’s conference affiliation for the 2026 football season still unresolved, the Bulldogs find themselves on both Conference USA’s and the Sun Belt’s schedules for the upcoming season. That means for now, they have 20 games over the course of 13 weeks! Dave Schultz, the host of the Locked On Sun Belt podcast, says it should never have come to this.

Cut 12 (07) “…football is happening.”

We’re hearing from a court watchdog group that opposes a proposed constitutional amendment that creates a mechanism for the Senate to remove judges and district attorneys at the recommendation of the governor. Jeanne Burns reports.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

____________________________________________

Tiger Rag Magazine explains its involvement in a lawsuit against LSU over whether the athletic department’s direct payments to student athletes should be public. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

Louisiana Tech’s 2026 football schedule consists of 20 games over 13 weeks, including two days when they’re playing two opponents on the road simultaneously! Andrew Greenstein explains how that happened.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

______________________________________________

A court watchdog group in New Orleans is speaking out against a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a mechanism to allow the Senate to remove a judge or a district attorney upon the recommendation of the governor. Jesse Manley, the interim executive director of Court Watch NOLA, says the problem he has with that is that since judges and district attorneys are elected, it would allow the governor and the Senate to disregard the will of the voters.

Cut 4 (13) “…in that system.”

Under Senate Bill 123 by Monroe Republican Jay Morris, the governor would have the power to suspend a judge or D-A for up to six months, during which time the Senate can remove that person with a two-thirds majority. Morris says the people who put the judges and district attorneys in their positions are more than capable of doing the deed if necessary.

Cut 5 (08) “…choice from them.”

Morris cited what he calls a disturbing and repeated pattern of breakdowns within Louisiana’s juvenile justice system. He used as an example the murder of tourist Jacob Carter in the French Quarter by a teenager whose ankle monitoring contract expired without the judge of D-A realizing it. But Manley says Morris’ bill is an unnecessary step in holding judges accountable.

Cut 6 (09) “…to be misconduct.”

____________________________________________________

One of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against LSU over the use of public dollars to pay student athletes through revenue sharing explains the reasoning for the suit. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says the lawsuit is attempting to get clarity on whether public funds that LSU’s athletic department pays to student-athletes, as part of revenue sharing, are subject to the public records law.

Cut 7 (09) “…no other recourse.”

The landmark federal case known as the House Settlement allows universities, starting with this athletic season, to pay their student-athletes directly. Each university athletic department can spend up to 20.5-million dollars in direct payments to student athletes.

Horne says LSU rejected Tiger Rag, the Louisiana Illuminator and WAFB-TV’s Freedom Of Information requests on payments to players, because LSU claims the payments are protected under federal student privacy laws. But Tiger Rag argues that the state’s public records law requires the university to make public compensation paid to the player. Horne says the main objective of the suit is clarity.

Cut 8 (09) “…to be clarified.”

Every year, Tiger Rag Magazine publishes a money issue. It lists the salaries of all of the employees of the LSU athletic department, including the janitors who work in the football office. Horne says the lawsuit speaks to a bigger issue. He says that with college athletics moving to a professional sports model, it is conflicting with current state laws.

Cut 9 (12)  “…hybrid professional model.”

Tiger Rag is owned by Kingfish Communications, which also owns Louisiana Radio Network.

________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech’s 2026 football schedule consists of 20 games over 13 weeks, including two days when they’re playing two opponents on the road simultaneously! That’s because Conference USA and the Sun Belt BOTH included the Bulldogs in their just-released schedules. Dave Schultz, the host of the Locked On Sun Belt podcast, says it all started when Tech missed a deadline to depart C-USA.

Cut 10 (07) “…over their head.”

Schultz says ever since, Louisiana Tech has been trying to negotiate a payment to Conference USA to allow it to make the move for the fall of 2026, but Conference USA has been having none of it.

Cut 11 (08) “…in good faith.”

Schultz says the dispute should never have gotten to this point.

Cut 12 (07) “…football is happening.”

All this comes amid a lawsuit that the U-L system filed on behalf of Tech against Conference USA earlier this month. There’s a hearing coming up Thursday, and Schultz says he would be shocked if the result of that hearing is not allowing Tech to move to the Sun Belt for the 2026 season.

___________________________________________________________

The LSU Tigers are hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. LSU will face Jacksonville Friday at 5 p-m. If the Lady Tigers beat the Dolphins, Coach Kim Mulkey’s squad will play the winner of Texas Tech-Villanova.

Cut 13 (11)  “…the right time.”

In Mulkey’s first four seasons, LSU was a three-seed, this year they are a two-seed.

Cut 14 (12) “…to be written.”

LSU is the two-seed in the Sacramento Two Region. UCLA is the top seed and Duke is the three seed in the region. Mulkey questioned why LSU was placed in one of the Sacramento brackets, when the other two regionals will be played a lot closer to home in Fort Worth, Texas.

Cut 15 (13) “…I’m being facetious.”

LSU is not the only Baton Rouge team in the women’s tournament. The Southern Jaguars take on Samford in the First Four play-in round in Columbia, South Carolina, Thursday evening at six. The winner becomes the 16 seed in the Sacramento Four Region.

_____________________________________________________________

After winning their third straight Southland Conference championship last Wednesday, the McNeese men’s basketball team learned of their position in the bracket yesterday. They’re the number-12 seed in the South Region and will face the fifth-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. Cowboys head coach Bill Armstrong says the team is going to enjoy the ride.

Cut 16 (12) “…get it again.”

It’s not the first time for senior guard D.J. Richards Jr. – he’s been with the Cowboys all three years of the Southland three-peat. He says especially after leading McNeese to an upset win over Clemson in the first round last year, he’s not intimidated by the big stage.

Cut 17 (08)  “…a regular game.”

Armstrong, who spent 11 non-consecutive years as an SEC assistant coach, says he’s familiar with Vanderbilt, and he will have his Cowboys ready to play Thursday.

Cut 18 (07)  “…very entertaining game.”

Those of you partaking in Office Pool Monday, give serious consideration to picking McNeese to spring the upset. Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, at least one 12-seed has advanced to the second round in all but five years.

_______________________________________________________

The high school boys basketball state championships wrapped on Saturday night with an absolute classic. The Zachary Broncos overcame a 34-point, 24-rebound performance from Ruston’s Ahmad Hudson to beat the Bearkats, 63-60, in the Division One Select State Championship Game. While Ruston had two players doing most of the scoring, Zachary had eight players contribute. Head Coach Jon McClinton…

Cut 19 (14) “…our locker room”

Right before the Zachary-Ruston game, Marksville won its second state title in three years, beating the Madison Jaguars 66-45. Armonii Benjamin was the Most Valuable Player with 21 points and hit five three pointers.

Cut 20 (06) “…on the court.”

The legislative package of the Secretary of State’s office for 2026 consists of three bills pertaining to election security. Senate Bill 319 by Thomas Pressly would list specific forms of ID that people can use to verify their identities at the polling place. Secretary Nancy Landry says this closes a loophole in the current law.

Cut 5 (13) “…with a signature.”

Crawfish prices are starting to come down. According to The Crawfish App, the statewide average is $4.15 a pound for live crawfish and $6.83 for boiled crawfish. App co-founder Laney King says those are down 35 cents and 50 cents, respectively, from two weeks ago – despite this being a slow time for crawfish farmers. 

Cut 11 (08) “…prices industry-wide.”

New Saints running back Travis Etienne (AY-chan) speaks on his decision to come back to his home state. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Louisiana Tech has quite the football schedule for 2026 – 20 games over the course of 13 weeks, including two days in November when they’re expected to be two places at the same time! That’s because Conference USA and the Sun Belt both included Louisiana Tech in their just-released football schedules. Tech’s lawsuit against C-USA in its quest to move to the Sun Belt is still pending.