Republicans did what they have long sought to do – they have cut off all federal funding to PBS and NPR stations to the tune of more than one-billion dollars. Senator John Kennedy was among those who led the push because of what he says is a liberal slant in PBS and NPR’s news coverage.

Cut 12 (12) “…the taxpayers’ dime.”

Jay Curtis, the general manager at Monroe NPR station KEDM, says all public radio and TV stations play an important role in their respective local communities.

Cut 10 (07) “…every single day.”

Curtis says the loss in federal funding will hurt rural stations more than big city stations. He says KEDM will now have to make up 145-thousand dollars – about 22-percent of his station’s annual budget.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Lake Tahoe for the annual meeting of the National Lieutenant Governors Association. Nungesser says there, they started the new State Strategies Committee on Aerospace, which will advance aerospace, aviation and defense policy in the states and territories.

Cut 5 (10) “…advantage of that.”

The SEC preseason poll released today has LSU finishing in fourth, close behind Alabama in third. Texas and Georgia took the top two spots, and there’s a clear cutoff between the top four teams and the rest of the field. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says the Tigers need to finish better than predicted.

Cut 13 (11) “…finish fourth.”

For the first time ever, New Orleans is hosting a UFC championship event. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

UL-Lafayette launched the “Cajuns Edge” Fund this week, allowing supporters to contribute directly to revenue sharing. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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In a widely-anticipated move, the state has cancelled the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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For the first time ever, New Orleans is hosting a UFC championship event. Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says the main event at the Smoothie King Center tomorrow night features Louisiana’s own Dustin Poirier in his swan song bout.

Cut 4 (08) “…in his career.”

Poirier takes on Max Holloway as he looks to close out his career with a win in the octagon. Schulz says this is another way for New Orleans to showcase itself to the world.

Cut 5 (10) “…a great destination.”

Schulz says the UFC championship is the latest in a long string of high-profile events to take place in a city that’s built to host.

Cut 6 (11) “…a memorable experience.”

________________________________________________________

UL-Lafayette launched the “Cajuns Edge” Fund through the Ragin’ Cajun Athletic Foundation to allow fans to support revenue sharing in Lafayette. Deputy Athletics Director Trey Frazier says proceeds from the fund will go straight to student-athletes.

Cut 7 (10) “…need their help.”

Following the NCAA House settlement, schools are allowed to pay up to 20.5-million dollars of athletic revenue directly to athletes. Frazier says the department has allocated some state funds to revenue sharing and increased scholarships included in the settlement, but most of the budget will come from donors.

Cut 8 (11) “…starting point.”

Frazier says UL-Lafayette will not pay out the full 20.5-million dollars but is trying to remain competitive with the top of the Sun Belt. He says in the early stages of fundraising, most of the revenue will go toward ticketed sports.

Cut 9 (08)  “…his goals there.”

________________________________________________________

The move was widely expected for a while, but the state made it official yesterday – the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project is cancelled. The state is replacing the three-billion-dollar coastal restoration project with a smaller scale version. Charles Sutcliffe with the National Wildlife Federation is disappointed with the decision.

Cut 10 (13) “…no longer the case.”

Last November, Governor Landry testified in opposition of the project before the Senate Transportation Committee. He said the project was destroying certain aspects of Louisiana’s culture.

Cut 11 (14) “…to oyster fish.”

Sutcliffe says what’s especially disappointing about the cancellation is all the money that has already been invested in the project up to this point.

Cut 12 (11) “…State of Louisiana.”

Landry testified last November that while a lot of the money for the project would come from the settlement from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, continuing the project would cost the state money that it simply doesn’t have.

Cut 13 (14)  “…the whole coast.”

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Senator Bill Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, is once again putting out an urgent recommendation to get vaccinated against measles. He stresses that measles can be deadly – and has proven so.

Cut 14 (09) “…died from measles.”

There have been more measles cases in the U.S. in the first half of 2025 than in any entire year since 2000, when measles was declared eradicated in the country. Cassidy says fortunately, the spike in cases seems to have subsided, and there may be reasons for that.

Cut 15 (10) “…actually getting vaccinated.”

Cassidy points out that both Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and State Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham recommend getting the measles vaccine, agreeing with him that it is safe and effective.

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The Southern Jaguars are the preseason favorites to win the SWAC West in back-to-back years under second-year head coach Terrence Graves. Graves says he wanted to set a foundation of intensity and success in his first year as the Jags’ head coach.

Cut 16 (16) “…for the culture.”

The Jaguars had five preseason All-SWAC selections. Tight end Dupree Fuller was the lone offensive selection, and he’s joined by defensive back Herman Brister on the second team. D-B Horacio Johnson, linebacker Vincent Paige and end Ckelby Givens received first team honors. Givens was also named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Cut 17 (15)  “…for granted.”

Grambling was picked to finish fifth in the West under second-year head coach Mickey Joseph. The Tigers finished in the same position last year with a 5-and-7 record. Joseph says it takes time to rebuild, but he has a sense of urgency.

Cut 18 (17) “…I accept that.”

______________________________________________

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman took the podium on the last day of SEC Media Days yesterday. The fifth-year head coach has three bowl victories but hasn’t posted a winning SEC record or reached nine wins since 2021. Pittman didn’t deny the annual conversations about his job security.

Cut 19 (15) “…win more games.”

Pittman and the Razorbacks will visit LSU November 15th.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko also spoke to the media. Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed was an electric playmaker last season after earning the starting job over Connor Weigman. Elko says he’s only improved after an offseason preparing as the face of the program.

Cut 20 (19) “…being this year.”

Reed led a dominant second-half comeback over LSU with three rushing touchdowns last season. The Tigers will look for revenge October 25th in Death Valley.

Governor Landry awards Alexandria native and Louisiana Tech senior Emma Foltz with the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal for her role in safely evacuating 14 young girls from flash flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas. Landry says it is the highest honor to bestow on a civilian.

Cut 9 (13)  “…and compassion.”

The president of Lafourche Parish is moving on to become the head of the newly-created Office of Louisiana Highway Construction. Archie Chaisson will step down as parish president August 4th after five and a half years at the helm – during which time he led the parish during some trying times.

Cut 8 (08) “…a couple sinkholes.”

The office was created through the passage of HB 640.

Much of South Louisiana will be in for a very wet few days, as a disturbance currently off the coast of Mississippi gets set to make its way westward. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says high winds were never going to be a factor, but heavy rainfalls will still be in certain parts of South Louisiana.

Cut 13 (13)  “…areas even higher.”

Senator Bill Cassidy joined President Trump at the White House as he signed the Halt Fentanyl Act into law. Cassidy says a major component of this new law is that it holds people accountable for trafficking fentanyl-related substances.

Cut 5 (09) “…it’s still fentanyl.”

Cassidy says drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for people 18 to 45 years old, with fentanyl accounting for a large majority of them.

The president of Lafourche Parish is moving on next month to lead a new state office tasked with improving highway construction efficiency. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Governor Jeff Landry honored Alexandria native Emma Foltz with the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal for her heroic evacuation of 14 campers from Camp Mystic flooding. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Senator Bill Cassidy joined President Trump at the White House as he signed the Halt Fentanyl Act into law, which increases penalties for trafficking not only fentanyl, but also fentanyl-related substances. Senator Cassidy says fentanyl is a killer in the United States.

Cut 3 (08) “…majority of them.”

Cassidy says the new law gives law enforcement another tool to combat the fentanyl crisis.

Cut 4 (05) “…homes and communities.”

Cassidy says a major component of this new law is that it holds people accountable for trafficking fentanyl-related substances.

Cut 5 (09) “…it’s still fentanyl.”

________________________________________________

The president of Lafourche Parish is moving on to become the head of the newly-created Office of Louisiana Highway Construction. Archie Chiasson says he’s excited to lead the new effort to improve highway construction.

Cut 6 (09) “…across the state.”

Chiasson says the main role of the new Office of Louisiana Highway Construction is to make the construction process faster and more efficient.

Cut 7 (10) “…that makes sense.”

Chiasson will step down as Lafourche Parish president August 4th after five and a half years at the helm – during which time he led the parish during some trying times.

Cut 8 (08) “…a couple sinkholes.”

Chiasson also highlighted a couple of wins, including reforming the local tax structure and establishing partnerships with the school system, including giving teachers pay raises to keep them in the parish.

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Alexandria native and Louisiana Tech senior Emma Foltz was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal for her role in safely evacuating 14 young girls from flash flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas. Governor Jeff Landry says it is the highest honor to bestow on a civilian.

Cut 9 (13)  “…and compassion.”

A counselor at Camp Mystic, Foltz acted quickly and decisively as waters rose in the early morning July 4th. She says she and her fellow counselors made sure their campers were calm and comfortable.

Cut 10 (14) “…stuff together.”

Foltz was praised for her compassion and resilience. She reassured the girls as helicopters circled overhead.

Cut 11 (11) “…girls were safe.”

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Much of South Louisiana appears to be out of significant danger with the disturbance brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, but it will still be a very wet few days coming up. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the nexus of the storm is currently off the coast of Mississippi.

Cut 12 (10) “…around on Sunday.”

Keim says high winds were never going to be a factor with this storm system, but heavy rainfalls will still be a factor in certain parts of South Louisiana.

Cut 13 (13)  “…areas even higher.”

Keim says while this weather will bring some cooler temperatures, it will be gloomy outside and will remain so from now until likely the end of the weekend.

Cut 14 (06) “…this into Sunday.”

Much of South Louisiana appears to be out of significant danger with the disturbance brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, but it will still be a very wet few days coming up. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the nexus of the storm is currently off the coast of Mississippi.

Cut 12 (10) “…around on Sunday.”

The president of Lafourche Parish is moving on to become the head of the newly-created Office of Louisiana Highway Construction. Archie Chiasson says the main role of the new office is to make the construction process faster and more efficient.

Cut 7 (10) “…that makes sense.”

Chiasson will step down as Lafourche Parish president August 4th to assume his new role with the new office.

Governor Landry honored Alexandria native Emma Foltz with the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal for her heroic evacuation of 14 campers from the flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The president of Lafourche Parish is moving on to become the head of the newly-created Office of Louisiana Highway Construction. Archie Chiasson will be moving into his new role August 4th. Chiasson says he’s excited to lead the new effort to improve highway construction.

Cut 6 (09) “…across the state.”

Chiasson will step down as Lafourche Parish president after five and a half years at the helm – during which time he led the parish during some trying times, including Hurricane Francine and a couple of plane crashes.

Senator Bill Cassidy was on hand at the White House as President Trump signed the Halt Fentanyl Act into law. Cassidy says the new law gives law enforcement another tool to combat the fentanyl crisis.

Cut 4 (05) “…homes and communities.”

The new law increases penalties for trafficking not only fentanyl, but also fentanyl-related substances.

Rivalries renewed — the Sun Belt officially welcomes Louisiana Tech at a press conference in Ruston. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 23 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Louisiana State Police is now accepting applications for Cadet Class 108. Captain Johnnie Brown says you can fill out the application on the state police website.

Cut 13 (08)  “…police application process.”

The deadline is August 18th; the class begins January 4th of next year.

The law enforcement community in Louisiana is shaken to the core over the arrests of four Louisiana law enforcement officers in a massive visa fraud scheme. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Governor Landry is holding a news conference this morning to discuss severe weather preparations. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Rivalries renewed — the Sun Belt officially welcomed Louisiana Tech at a press conference in Ruston yesterday. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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The indictment of four law enforcement officers in a major visa fraud scheme has shaken the law enforcement community to the core. The officers, including two current police chiefs and one former police chief, are accused of accepting money to fabricate police reports so that foreign nationals and their families could obtain U-Visas to remain in the U.S. IRS Criminal Investigations Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman says incidents like these are a black eye to the law enforcement community.

Cut 4 (09) “…at every level.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp says law enforcement officers must hold themselves to a higher standard, and those indicted in this fraud scheme failed to do so.

Cut 5 (09) “…for personal gain.”

Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood says the indicted law enforcement officers do not represent law enforcement as a whole.

Cut 6 (10) “…is what happens.”

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Governor Landry will be holding a news conference at GOHSEP headquarters this morning to give an update on the heavy rains that are expected to pound South Louisiana. Forecasters are calling for several inches of rain, possibly resulting in flooding in some areas. As such, parishes throughout South Louisiana are getting ready. Chris Anderson, the homeland security director of the Livingston Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the parish is already on top of things.

Cut 7 (10) “…local fire stations.”

Anderson says as Livingston and other parishes do their part in preparing, you can do your part as well – and that involves listening to and heeding the latest forecasts.

Cut 8 (06) “…saying is credible.”

Among other things, Landry is expected to urge you to use this storm to get your emergency kit together for later this summer, when the risk for hurricanes intensifies. Anderson says one very good thing to have in your kit is a NOAA weather radio.

Cut 9 (06)  “…NOAA weather radio.”

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Louisiana Tech and the Sun Belt Conference held a press conference in Ruston, officially welcoming the Bulldogs to the conference yesterday. University President Jim Henderson is looking forward the return of heated rivalries for Louisiana sports fans.

Cut 10 (13) “…student athletes.”

Since missing the May 1st deadline to leave Conference USA next season, officials are negotiating a departure date for the 2026 or 2027 football season. Tech will be the 14th school in one of the premier mid-major conferences. Henderson says this is a significant moment.

Cut 11 (13) “…as a whole.”

Louisiana Tech will owe a Conference USA exit fee of at least five-million dollars. With lowered costs and increased revenues from Sun Belt West opponents, Henderson says the Bulldogs are committed to returning to their athletic pedigree.

Cut 12 (12) “…conference championships.”

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Louisiana State Police is now accepting applications for Cadet Class 108. While the class does not start until January 4th, 2026, the application deadline is August 18th – a little more than one month from now. Captain Johnnie Brown says you can fill out the application on the state police website.

Cut 13 (08)  “…police application process.”

And Captain Brown says that application process lasts several months and has several components.

Cut 14 (09) “…the application process.”

Brown says there are certain requirements in order to be a Louisiana State Police trooper.

Cut 15 (07) “…of college credit.”

Or they can have a combination of the two, such as one year of law enforcement experience and 30 semester hours of college credit. Or they can have three years of continuous active duty military service.

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Florida quarterback DJ Lagway stole the show at SEC Media Days yesterday. The sophomore went 6-and-1 as a starter last year. He recalled the Gators’ win over LSU last season in a week he struggled with injury.

Cut 16 (15) “…gonna be fun.”

The Tigers will open SEC play against the Gators September 13. There are high expectations for Lagway entering its second season despite Florida facing perhaps the toughest schedule in the country. He’s looking forward to the expectations and a Saturday night matchup in Death Valley.

Cut 17 (13)  “…put on a show.”

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LSU has made some moves in the transfer portal following the MLB Draft. Oregon State third baseman Trent Caraway went undrafted as a top 150 prospect. Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball says Caraway was a big-name recruit who struggled during the regular season.

Cut 18 (16) “…really really good.”

Caraway hit .267 last year with 12 homers and 47 RBI. He hit half of his home runs in the NCAA tournament.

The Tigers also brought in first baseman Zach Yorke from Grand Canyon University. Rogers says Yorke’s six-foot-two, 290-pound frame isn’t your prototypical SEC baseball player, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a spot for him in the league.

Cut 19 (14) “…pure hitters.”

Yorke slugged 13 homers with a .339 batting average in 48 games last season.

Infielder Tanner Reaves, center fielder Chris Stanfield and pitcher Zac Cowan announced they’d be returning after going undrafted. Rogers says Cowan will give the Tigers a strong foundation on the pitching staff.

Cut 20 (15) “…back-to-back championships (2x).”

The Tigers also landed Kansas right-hander Cooper Moore. Moore recorded a 3.93 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 14 starts for the Jayhawks.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announces a 62-count indictment against five people, including four law enforcement officers, in connection with a visa fraud scheme. The indicted officers are Oakdale Police Chief Chad Boyle; Michael Slaney of the Ward 5 Marshal’s Office in Oakdale, Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon and Former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea. The fifth suspect is businessman Chandrakant Patel.  Alex (“Alec”) Van Hook, the acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, says this involves U-Visas, which foreign nationals who are victims of or are witnesses to crimes can obtain to remain in the country during the investigation.

Cut 5 (12) “…United States Government.”

The indictment says Patel paid the officers five-thousand dollars for each foreign national placed on the report, in an effort to keep them and their family members in the United States.

South Louisiana is bracing for rain – and a lot of it. While a current disturbance in the gulf is not expected to grow into a tropical storm, it is expected to hover over the area for quite some time. So LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says while wind won’t be a factor, rainfall certainly will be.

Cut 8 (13) “…rain on us.”

LSU faces Alabama in Tuscaloosa November 8th, as they try to snap a two-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide. Alabama went 9-and-4 in their first season under Head Coach Kalen DeBoer and missed the College Football Playoff. DeBoer says that team last season fell short of the Alabama standard.

Cut 13 (09)  “…because of it.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announces a 62-count indictment against five people, including four law enforcement officers, in connection with a visa fraud scheme. Alex (“Alec”) Van Hook, the acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, told a news conference this morning that the five are charged with fraudulently obtaining non-immigrant U-visas.

Cut 3 (12) “…witnesses to crime.”

The five indicted are – Oakdale Police Chief Chad Boyle, Michael Slaney with the Ward 5 Marshal’s Office in Oakdale, Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, Former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea and businessman Chandrakant Patel. According to the indictment, the foreign nationals would pay Patel five-thousand dollars, who in turn would give that money to a law enforcement officer for a phony police report in order to obtain a U-Visa to remain in the country.

Heavy rains are heading for the Louisiana coast this week. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

In preparation for the storm, many parishes are handing out sandbags. Make sure you bring your ID, since many locations require proof of residency. Some locations will provide the shovels but will require you to bring your own bags; in others, it’s the other way around. So be sure to check ahead of time. In any event, you’re urged only to take what’s necessary to protect your property from floodwaters.

A major indictment announced in Lafayette this morning against five people, including four Louisiana law enforcement officers. Alex Van Hook, the acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, announced the 62-count indictment.  

Cut 23 (06) “…non-immigrant U-Visas.”

The law enforcement officers arrested are Oakdale Police Chief Chad Boyle, Michael Slaney of the Ward 5 Marshal’s Office in Oakdale, Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon and Former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea. The other man arrested is businessman Chandrakant Patel. Van Hook says the five conspired to produce false police reports in order to obtain these U-Visas to allow foreign nationals and their families to remain in the United States.

Cut 24 (08) “…law enforcement report.”

If convicted, each defendant faces decades in federal prison.

Forecasters are now urging those of you near the Gulf Coast to be weather aware for the next few days. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a disturbance brewing in the gulf; however, it will not rise to the level of a major storm. 

Cut 6 (07) “…have to watch.”

Keim says while wind will not be a factor, heavy rainfall will be. Governor Landry will be holding a news conference at GOHSEP headquarters tomorrow morning to give an update on the state’s emergency response, should it be necessary.

The Ouachita River is set for designation as a U.S. Marine Highway. Congresswoman Julia Letlow says numerous industries will benefit, but it will have a particularly positive impact on a region dominated by commodities.

Cut 11 (11) “…Arkansas as well.”