A huge drug bust in Louisiana – 742 suspected gang members and drug dealers are arrested as part of an effort to crack down on drugs tied to Mexican cartels. Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood says drugs are constantly moving through central Louisiana because of I-49.

Cut 4 (14) “…like a hub.”

Non-felon adults being able to carry a gun without a permit became legal in Louisiana in 2024. For the upcoming session, Oil City Representative Danny McCormick has filed a bill that would allow teachers, students and the public to constitutional carry on college campuses.

Cut 7 (08) “…included in that.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill believes she would win a lawsuit against New York and California in her fight to extradite doctors who have been indicted for mailing abortion pills to people in Louisiana. The dispensing of abortion pills is illegal in Louisiana when prescribed outside of a hospital setting. Murrill says according to the Full Faith and Credit Clause in the U.S. Constitution, states must honor each other’s laws.

Cut 10 (12) “…in our state.”

LSU-Alexandria once again sets a new enrollment record, with overall spring enrollment up almost 12-percent year-over-year, with on-campus enrollment up more than 10-percent. Abbey Bain with LSU-A says the school is broadening its appeal beyond its traditional base.

Cut 6 (09) “…in the state.”

Authorities have announced the arrest of 742 suspected gang members and drug dealers across Louisiana as part of an effort to crack down on drugs that enter Louisiana that are tied to Mexican cartels. State Police Superintendent Robert Hodges says this announcement should serve as a strong message to those involved in gang activity or violent crime.

Cut 3 (06) “…bring you to justice” 

Nearly 500 of those arrests occurred in the Alexandria and Shreveport areas.

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is trying again with legislation that would allow teachers, students and the public to constitutional carry on college campuses. University officials have expressed concerns about allowing students to possess guns on campus. But McCormick says a student should have the ability to defend themselves in an active shooter situation.

Cut 9 (06)  “…a college campus.”

State Attorney General Liz Murrill is suing California and New York in her effort to extradite doctors for prescribing abortion pills to people in Louisiana. So far, those two states have ignored Louisiana’s requests because of their respective shield laws. But Murrill says that’s irrelevant, because in both cases, the women were forced to take abortion pills by either their mother or their boyfriend.

Cut 12 (11) “…what they’re doing.”

New Orleans continues its push to land the 2031 Super Bowl. Jay Cicero, the president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says everyone who has covered a Super Bowl in New Orleans has given the city rave reviews.

Cut 15 (06) “…around the country.”

Next year’s Super Bowl is taking place in Inglewood, California; in 2028, it will be in Atlanta, and scheduling conflicts will prevent New Orleans from hosting it in 2029 or 2030.

State Attorney General Liz Murrill is planning on suing New York and California in her fight to extradite doctors indicted for prescribing abortion pills to people in Louisiana. California Governor Gavin Newsom says his state will never help Louisiana criminalize healthcare. Murrill says Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul are playing politics.

Cut 11 (12) “…their gun laws.”

LSU-Alexandria sets a new enrollment record, with overall spring enrollment up almost 12-percent year-over-year. Abbey Bain with LSU-A says two main factors are small class sizes and cost.

Cut 5 (09) “…been possible before.”

Bain says there was also more than a 10-percent increase in on-campus enrollment for the spring semester.

The debate over whether guns should be permitted on college campuses will be up for debate again in the upcoming legislative session. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A teen who shot himself at the end of a high-speed chase through several parishes in southwest Louisiana has died. The chase happened mid-morning last Thursday through Beauregard, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes. The teen attended Oakdale High School. All schools in Oakdale are closed today so that students and faculty can attend his funeral.

LSU-Alexandria sets another enrollment record. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The debate over whether guns should be permitted on college campuses will be up for debate again in the upcoming legislative session. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Santa Clara is done, and Inglewood is now on the clock. Andrew Greenstein reports New Orleans is continuing its push to land the 2031 Super Bowl.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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LSU Alexandria sets another enrollment record, with spring enrollment up 12-percent year-over-year, marking the 12th straight semester of record growth. Abbey Bain with LSU-A says one of the biggest reasons for the continued growth is smaller class sizes.

Cut 4 (08) “…and support them.”

Bain says another reason students choose LSU-A is cost.

Cut 5 (09) “…been possible before.”

Bain says LSU-A is also broadening its appeal beyond its traditional base.

Cut 6 (09) “…in the state.”

Bain says while much of the growth is in continuing education, there was also a 12-percent increase in on-campus enrollment, indicating that more incoming freshmen want to be a part of the campus’ vibrant experience.

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For years, Oil City Representative Danny McCormick sponsored a bill that would allow non-felon adults to carry a gun without a permit. “Constitutional carry,” as many conservatives call it, became legal in Louisiana in 2024. For the upcoming session, McCormick has filed a bill that would allow teachers, students and the public to constitutional carry on college campuses.

Cut 7 (08) “…included in that.”

McCormick says a group of college students encouraged him to file this legislation.

Cut 8 (09) “…bill this year.”

Similar legislation has failed to receive legislative approval in previous years. University officials have expressed concerns about allowing students to possess guns on campus. But McCormick says a student should have the ability defend themselves in an active shooter situation.

Cut 9 (06)  “…a college campus.”

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Attorney General Liz Murrill believes she would win a lawsuit against New York and California in her fight to extradite doctors who have been indicted for mailing abortion pills to individuals in Louisiana. The dispensing of abortion pills is illegal in Louisiana when prescribed outside of a hospital setting. Murrill says according to the Full Faith and Credit Clause in the U.S. Constitution, states must honor each other’s laws.

Cut 10 (12) “…in our state.”

Murrill has yet to file the lawsuits against these two states, as the state is trying to extradite the doctors accused of mailing abortion pills into Louisiana. California Governor Gavin Newsom says his state will never help Louisiana criminalize healthcare. Murrill says Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul are playing politics.

Cut 11 (12) “…their gun laws.”

California and New York have ignored Louisiana’s extradition requests, because shield laws in their state protect abortion providers from out of state civil or criminal charges. But Murrill says this has nothing to do with reproductive rights, because in both cases, the women were forced to take abortion pills by either their mother or their boyfriend.

Cut 12 (11) “…what they’re doing.”

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The Santa Clara Super Bowl is in the books, and Inglewood is now on the clock. After that, the 2028 Super Bowl will be held in Atlanta, and the NFL has yet to award Super Bowls beyond that point. New Orleans is continuing to make a strong bid to host the 2031 Super Bowl – and Jay Cicero, the president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says New Orleans has proven eleven previous times to be the perfect Super Bowl host.

Cut 13 (06)  “…ambience, planning, experience.”

Cicero says what especially works for New Orleans is visitors do not need to rent a car to get around.

Cut 14 (09) “…host the event”

Cicero says everyone who has covered a Super Bowl in New Orleans has given the city rave reviews.

Cut 15 (06) “…around the country.”

2031 is the earliest that New Orleans could host the Super Bowl due to conflicts with Mardi Gras in 2029 and a convention in 2030.

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It’s officially game week for the LSU baseball team. The Tigers will open their season against Milwaukee on Friday at 2 p.m. Fifth-year senior infielder Seth Dardar is one of the new transfers LSU added in the offseason. Dardar, who’s a Mandeville native, says he was only in the portal for an hour before committing to the Tigers.

Cut 16 (13) “…to come home.” 

LSU sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide enters his second year with the program after putting together an impressive freshman season. Last year, Arrambide hit .242 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 36 games. Arrambide says his main focus in the offseason was improving his plate discipline.

Cut 17 (17 )  “…hard on that.”

One of LSU’s key returners is senior pitcher Zac Cowan (COW-in), who struck out 60 hitters in 52 innings of work last season. Cowan only threw a fastball and changeup last season, but says he’s added to his arsenal.

Cut 18 (11)  “…working on too.”

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Ford Pemberton enters his first season as the ULM head baseball coach. The Warhawks finished last in the Sun Belt last season and are predicted to finish last this season, but Pemberton says he believes the future is bright in Monroe.

Cut 19 (11) “…trust our clubhouse.”

Pemberton says freshman infielder Sutton Lewis from Monroe is one of the players who has stood out leading up to the regular season.

Cut 20 (11) “…have that problem.”

A multi-parish drug trafficking investigation in central Louisiana leads to a 12-count indictment against 11 people who were allegedly buying and selling large amounts of meth and cocaine. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Dixon McMakin is staying put. The Baton Rouge state representative announced on social media that he will not be seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Julia Letlow as she runs for U.S. Senate.

Super Bowl commercials always get people talking; and this year is no exception. Google Search and Trends Expert Jennifer Jones says a few of them stood out in Google searches during last night’s game.

Cut 7 (08) “…top searched one.”

As for the action on the field, the Seahawks are celebrating their second Super Bowl title in franchise history, beating the Patriots, 29-13. For the Patriots, it was a bitter end to an incredible turnaround season, one which followed a season in which they went 4-and-13. Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte from LSU says the Super Bowl loss stings.

Cut 4 (09) “…it do hurt.”

For Seahawks fans, the win is sweet revenge, making up for the 28-24 loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl 49.

A Lafayette grand jury indicts 11 people in an alleged multi-parish drug trafficking organization. Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte Murphy says the drugs originated in Mexico and were trafficked across the border.

Cut 10 (14) “…central Louisiana.”

In the 12-count federal indictment, the 11 are accused of possessing or conspiring to possess large amounts of meth and cocaine with an intent to distribute. Nine are from Vernon Parish; two are from Sabine Parish.

LSU Alexandria sets another enrollment record, with spring enrollment up 12-percent year-over-year, marking the 12th straight semester of record growth. Abbey Bain with LSU-A says one of the biggest reasons for the continued growth is smaller class sizes.

Cut 23 (08) “…and support them.”

While the Seahawks are celebrating a Super Bowl title today, the Patriots are taking pride in what they accomplished this season. Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams of Louisiana Tech, who won the Super Bowl last season with the Eagles, says the team came a long way after finishing 4-and-13 one season ago

Cut 3 (13) “…the coaches, everybody.”

Thanks to modern technology, many fans had one eye on their TVs and one eye on their phones doing Google searches during the Super Bowl. Google Search and Trends Expert Jennifer Jones says while many fans during the game were searching for quarterbacks Drake Maye and Sam Darnold, as well as MVP Kenneth Walker the Third, there was someone else who was also dominating the searches.

Cut 6 (10) “…five field goals.”

A multi-parish drug trafficking investigation in central Louisiana leads to a 12-count indictment against 11 individuals that were allegedly involved in buying and selling large amounts of meth and cocaine. Jeff Palermo has the story..

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

In Baton Rouge, one school ended up closing for the day due to a massive sick-out. Classes were cancelled at Sacred Heart of Jesus School after more than 40-percent of students and 41-percent of staffers fell ill. 

Former LSU and current Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte and his teammates are licking their wounds following their team’s 29-13 loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 last night. Boutte says he and the rest of the offense had no answers for the Seahawks’ stifling defense.

Cut 5 (07) “…up short today.”

While Boutte and fellow LSU Tiger Will Campbell are wondering what could have been, it’s a different story for their former Tigers teammate Anthony Bradford, who’s busy celebrating with his Seahawks teammates today.

Of course, this year, the biggest show besides the game was the Bad Bunny show at halftime. Google Search and Trends expert Jennifer Jones says while there were many memorable moments during Bad Bunny’s 13-minute performance, one stood out in particular among those on Google.

Cut 8 (11) “…the halftime show.”

Super Bowl commercials always get people talking; and this year is no exception. Google Search and Trends Expert Jennifer Jones says a few of them stood out in Google searches during last night’s game.

Cut 7 (08) “…top searched one.”

As for the action on the field, the Seahawks are celebrating their second Super Bowl title in franchise history, beating the Patriots, 29-13. For the Patriots, it was a bitter end to an incredible turnaround season, one which followed a season in which they went 4-and-13. Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte from LSU says the Super Bowl loss stings.

Cut 4 (09) “…it do hurt.”

For Seahawks fans, the win is sweet revenge, making up for the 28-24 loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl 49.

Louisiana residents can learn what makes each parish unique in a new original travel series that debuts tonight on L-P-B. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

You can cross one name off the list of candidates for the Fifth Congressional District. Dixon McMakin announced on social media that he will not be seeking the seat being vacated by Julia Letlow as she runs for U.S. Senate. McMakin says there’s too much unfinished business at the state level to launch a bid for Congress at this time.

As of the beginning of this month, all public and charter school special education classrooms in Louisiana are required to have cameras installed inside them. Livingston Representative Shane Mack, who authored Act 479, says the purpose is so that parents or guardians can get involved if there’s an incident in the classroom.

Cut 11 (11) “…in the classrooms.”

The Humane Society of Louisiana is once again implementing the Mardi Gras Horse Adoption Program. Executive Director Jeff Dorson says ever since launching the program in 2017, every horse that it has taken in after Mardi Gras has been adopted into permanent homes.

Cut 14 (10) “…be part of.”

Dorson says he hopes to have all of this year’s horses adopted by March 4th.

While the Seahawks are celebrating a Super Bowl title today, the Patriots are taking pride in what they accomplished this season. Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams of Louisiana Tech, who won the Super Bowl last season with the Eagles, says the team came a long way after finishing 4-and-13 one season ago

Cut 3 (13) “…the coaches, everybody.”

Thanks to modern technology, many fans had one eye on their TVs and one eye on their phones doing Google searches during the Super Bowl. Google Search and Trends Expert Jennifer Jones says while many fans during the game were searching for quarterbacks Drake Maye and Sam Darnold, as well as MVP Kenneth Walker the Third, there was someone else who was also dominating the searches.

Cut 6 (10) “…five field goals.”

Drew Brees has become the first New Orleans Saint to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Brees started his NFL career in San Diego, but in the season before he was set to become a free agent, he suffered a career-threatening shoulder injury. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton took a chance on him in 2006, and the rest is history.

Cut 13 (11) “…I could be.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking for the person who shot a bald eagle to death. Sergeant Michael Hebert says it happened in Erath on December 5th.

Cut 6 (10) “…to its wounds.”

A reward of up to 15-thousand dollars is being offered for information leading to a conviction in this incident.

Construction is getting underway on the Donaldsonville campus in the River Parish Community College system. Chancellor Quintin Taylor says for the first three to four years after it opens in 2028, the campus in Ascension Parish will be used specifically to train workers for the new Hyundai Steel mill, until it fills all 13-hundred jobs.

Cut 3 (08) “…in the area.”

Moderna and Merck have recently announced that a vaccine they’re working on to treat melanoma is showing lasting benefits for patients, and it could eventually be a game-changer in the treatment of all types of cancer. Dr. Kyle Holen, the head of development of oncology and therapeutics at Moderna, says the vaccine uses the same mRNA technology as the COVID vaccine.

Cut 9 (11)  “…cells as foreign.”