The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the gulf for the possibility of some tropical activity later this week. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says whatever does eventually happen likely will not have much of a major impact on the Louisiana coast.

Cut 10 (09) “…across this area.”

Keim says if anything, this will be a rainmaker, with the biggest likelihood being late in the week and into the weekend.

A police chase in Lincoln Parish ends with deputies shooting and killing the driver they were chasing. Deputy Amanda Lyon with the Northeast Louisiana Sheriff’s Investigative Unit says the pursuit lasted for about 16 miles, coming to an end on U.S. 167 near Paradise Point Lane.

Cut 7 (06) “…drop the weapon.”

But instead, the man pointed his gun at deputies, who shot him. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

One of the biggest question marks for LSU football going into this season is the offensive line, having lost four of last year’s starters to the NFL. Coach Brian Kelly says his staff has been preparing the next generation since Will Campbell and Emery Jones started as freshmen.

Cut 5 (14) “…championship team.”

Louisiana Tech is officially Sun Belt-bound after league officials voted to invite the Bulldogs this morning. Locked On Sun Belt Podcast host Dave Schultz says this is a departure, since most of the conference’s recent additions had been in the east.

Cut 12 (13) “…ULM dramatically.”

For the first time, the number of active registered Republican voters in Louisiana exceeds the number of active registered Democratic voters – active voters having voted in at least one of the last two federal elections. John Couvillon (KOO-vee-ahn) with JMC Analytics and Polling, says there are many more inactive Democrats as Republicans.

Cut 5 (10) “…early next year.”

It was thought to have been eradicated a quarter century ago; but apparently, measles is back with a vengeance. Dr. Fred Lopez, a professor of medical education at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, says your very best defense against the highly contagious and deadly disease is to get vaccinated – the vaccines will at least keep symptoms down to a minimum.

Cut 15 (10) “…immune to it.”

SEC football media days kick off today. One big storyline is the future format of the College Football Playoff. It will almost certainly expand to 16 teams for the 2026 season. Locked On SEC Podcast host Chris Gordy says the SEC wants four teams guaranteed, but it’s a likely moot point in the long run.

Cut 9 (12)  “…gonna happen.”

Leaders from Sun Belt schools are expected to vote today to invite Louisiana Tech into the league as the 14th member of the conference. Locked on Sun Belt podcast host Dave Schultz says momentum began building last week for the Bulldogs to join the Sun Belt…

Cut 16 (15) “…the votes.”

Senator Bill Cassidy’s campaign says he raised a little more than two-million dollars in the second quarter this year and now has nine-million dollars in cash on hand. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat expects Cassidy to build on his campaign warchest…

Cut 4 (10) “…on hand.”

Cassidy is facing two prominent Republicans in the newly-closed primary in April.

Fort Johnson is once again Fort Polk. The state’s largest military base was rededicated in a ceremony Friday morning. Its new namesake is General James H. Polk. His son, James H. Polk the Third, told those gathered that his father was a true hero, not only to the country, but to his family.

Cut 7 (10) “…who knew him.”

Some rough seas for LSU’s proposed arena project as the CEO of the sole finalist to build the facility was indicted for allegedly rigging the bid process for a similar project at the University of Texas at Austin. Tiger Rag magazine executive editor Todd Horne says Oak View Group CEO Timothy Leiweke has already agreed to pay a 15-million-dollar fine, hoping to stave off imprisonment.

Cut 13 (14)  “…fully investigated.”

The funeral service for Reverend Jimmy Swaggart will be held in Baton Rouge this weekend. Swaggart family spokeswoman Megan Kelly says the hours of the wake had to be extended due to overwhelming support.

Cut 9 (09)  “…big attendance.”

LSU’s proposed new arena project is facing yet another delay after the CEO of the firm, who was the sole finalist to build the facility, was indicted for allegedly rigging the bid process for a similar project at UT Austin. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says there are a lot of unknowns.

Cut 12 (11) “…right now reeling.”

The funeral service for Reverend Jimmy Swaggart will be held at Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge this weekend. Public viewing and wake will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, and a celebration of life service will be held at 6:00 Sunday evening. Swaggart family spokeswoman Megan Kelly says hours of the wake had to be extended due to the overwhelming support.

Cut 9 (09)  “…big attendance.”

Senator Bill Cassidy keeps adding to his campaign warchest. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Today is the final day of qualifying for the October 11th election in Orleans Parish, and there had been speculation as to whether Sheriff Susan Hutson would seek a second term. She has confirmed that she will indeed do so. Hutson had suspended her campaign following the May jailbreak, in which ten inmates escaped and one remains on the loose. Hutson, however, faces at least three challengers.

Senator Bill Cassidy’s campaign says he raised a little more than two-million dollars in the second quarter this year and now has nine-million dollars in cash on hand. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat expects Cassidy to build on his campaign warchest…

Cut 4 (10) “…on hand.”

Cassidy is facing two prominent Republicans in the newly-closed primary in April.

Fort Johnson is once again Fort Polk. The state’s largest military base was rededicated in a ceremony this morning. Its new namesake is General James H. Polk. His son, James H. Polk the Third, told those gathered that his father was a true hero, not only to the country, but to his family.

Cut 7 (10) “…who knew him.”

Funeral services for world-renowned televangelist Jimmy Swaggart will be held in Baton Rouge this weekend.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

One of the biggest conversations coming out of the tax cuts and spending bill that President Trump just signed is the fate of rural hospitals. Democrats have been sounding the alarm, saying that 33 of them across the state will close as a result of cuts to Medicaid. Rustin Loyd, a nurse from Hammond and a former hospital administrator, says those closures will cost lives.

Cut 10 (06) “…of these cuts.”

But Mark Ballard, who covered the hearings on Capitol Hill for The Advocate, told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana that it’s important to note that the Medicaid cuts don’t happen for another two to three years, and hospitals are hoping they can get Congress to reconsider those cuts by then. If they can’t, only then would the effects of those cuts be felt.

Cut 13 (07)  “…a few years.”

Furthermore, the bill also sets up a 50-billion-dollar fund to help struggling rural hospitals.

Senator Bill Cassidy’s re-election campaign announces he has raised a little more than two-million dollars during the second quarter of this year and he now has nine million in cash on hand. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Cassidy needs to be well-funded, with two well-known Republican candidates challenging him in an April primary

Cut 3 (10) “…to spend.”

They made it official in Vernon Parish this morning – Fort Johnson is now Fort Polk once again. They rededicated Louisiana’s largest military base in a 30-minute ceremony this morning. However, it is not named for its prior namesake, Confederate General Leonidas Polk. Instead, it is now named for General James H. Polk. His son, James H. Polk the Third, addressed the ceremony.

Cut 6 (10) “…James H. Polk.”

The tax and spending bill will mean more money for Louisiana for coastal protection and restoration projects. Neal McMillan, the director of federal affairs of the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources, says Louisiana will get an additional 50-million dollars a year.

Cut 7 (07) “…lifting the cap.”

The MLB Draft gets underway in Atlanta this weekend. LSU is sure to have several names come off the board following their national championship-winning season. Along with projected number-one overall pick Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson is also expected to be taken early. His stock skyrocketed after a dominant season in Baton Rouge, and D1 Baseball analyst Aaron Fitt says it might not be done rising.

Cut 15 (13) “…in Omaha.”

The rift between Shreveport Republican Senator Alan Seabaugh and GOP Governor Jeff Landry widens after Seabaugh tells KEEL Radio that Landry is not doing a good job as governor. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

They made it official in Vernon Parish this morning – Fort Johnson is now Fort Polk once again. They rededicated Louisiana’s largest military base in a 30-minute ceremony this morning, now naming it for General James H. Polk.

The rift between Shreveport Republican Senator Alan Seabaugh and GOP Governor Jeff Landry widens after Seabaugh tells KEEL Radio that Landry is not doing a good job as governor. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

One of the biggest questions surrounding the tax and spending bill that President Trump signed last week is what will happen to rural hospitals. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

The MLB Draft begins Sunday night, and three LSU pitchers are hoping to hear their names called early. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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An outspoken GOP lawmaker in north Louisiana says Republican Governor Jeff Landry has been a huge disappointment. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh made that statement on KEEL Radio. A rift between Landry and Seabaugh has been growing since last year, and Seabaugh says it got more personal after the governor used his line-item veto power to scrap funding for four projects in his district.

Cut 4 (07) “…isn’t.”

Seabaugh is one of several Republican lawmakers who were on the wrong end of governor’s veto pen for funding of local projects. The governor said funding for some of the projects was removed because the construction budget was over-funded. But the Republican legislators who lost funding for their district also voted against an insurance reform bill supported by the governor.

Seabaugh says he had a lot of hope when Landry was sworn in, but he’s no longer a fan.

Cut 5 (11) “…huge disappointment.”

Landry’s spokeswoman, Kate Kelly, says during the regular session, the governor focused on passing real reforms that will move the state forward and the results were historical.

But Seabaugh questions why the governor would take away funding for a road project to make it safer to enter and exit Parkway High School in Bossier City.

Cut 6 (08) “…hurts people.”

________________________________________________________

The tax and spending bill will mean more money for Louisiana for coastal protection and restoration projects. Neal McMillan, the director of federal affairs of the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources, says Louisiana will get an additional 50-million dollars a year.

Cut 7 (07) “…lifting the cap.”

The cap McMillan is referring to is the 500-million dollars of offshore oil and gas revenue shared among the four Gulf states for coastal projects. McMillan says that cap will now be lifted to 650-million dollars.

Cut 8 (08) “…than that limitation.”

McMillan says there’s a wide range of projects that money can be used for.

Cut 9 (16)  “…projects as well.”

________________________________________________________

One of the biggest conversations coming out of the tax cuts and spending bill that President Trump just signed is the fate of rural hospitals. Democrats in Louisiana have been sounding the alarm, saying that 33 rural hospitals across the state will close as a result of cuts to Medicaid. During a press conference at Louisiana Democratic Party headquarters, Rustin Loyd, a nurse from Hammond and a former hospital administrator, says those closures will cost lives.

Cut 10 (06) “…of these cuts.”

Loyd says closures to rural hospitals will have a profound effect on hospitals in urban areas.

Cut 11 (10) “…more people dying.”

But Mark Ballard, who covered the hearings on Capitol Hill for The Advocate, told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana that one important thing to note is that the Medicaid cuts don’t happen for another two to three years, and hospitals and medical providers are confident that they can get Congress to reconsider those cuts before they take effect.

Cut 12 (08) “…the state treasurer.”

Ballard says only at that time would we start to see any impacts from Medicaid cuts, should they ever occur.

Cut 13 (07)  “…a few years.”

Furthermore, the bill also sets up a 50-billion-dollar fund to help struggling rural hospitals.

________________________________________________________

The MLB Draft gets underway in Atlanta this weekend. LSU is sure to have several names come off the board following their national championship-winning season. D1 Baseball analyst Aaron Fitt expects pitcher Kade Anderson to go first overall to the Nationals. He says he’s already the best pitcher in college baseball.

Cut 14 (13) “…even harder.”

Anderson’s pitching partner, right-hander Anthony Eyanson, is another top-50 prospect. After transferring from UC San Diego, his stock skyrocketed after a dominant season in Baton Rouge, and Fitt says it might not be done rising.

Cut 15 (13) “…in Omaha.”

Many Tigers will be faced with the tough decisions of beginning their MLB careers or returning to Baton Rouge to improve their draft stock and defend their national title. Junior D-H Ethan Frey hit .331 in his first full season but hasn’t had a chance to show off his fielding ability. While Tigers fans hope to see him back in purple and gold, Fitt isn’t holding his breath.

Cut 16 (12) “…would expect.”

A survey paid for by the state shows Louisiana’s menhaden industry is not killing as many red fish as feared. The study shows that about 30-thousand redfish were killed by the industry last year, and Golden Meadow Representative Joe Orgeron wants that number to come down.

Cut 13 (13)  “…is good.”

Paul McCartney is returning to New Orleans as his “Got Back Tour” will make a stop at the Smoothie King Center on October 29th. NOLA-dot-com entertainment reporter Keith Spera says Sir Paul has a long history with New Orleans…

Cut 5 (14) “…studio.”

University Lab five-star defensive lineman Lamar Brown committed to LSU live on ESPN 2 today. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A man who killed a state trooper and a female relative in October of 2021 reached a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty. 35-year-old Matthew Mire (“meer”) was sentenced in Ascension Parish to two consecutive life prison terms, plus nearly 350 years, without the possibility of parole. Mire killed Master Trooper Adam Gaubert (go-BEAR) and Pamela Adair during the three-parish rampage.

A deadly two-vehicle crash in Richland Parish, and State Police say the lack of seatbelt use may have made the difference between life and death. Trooper Ryan Davis says in one vehicle, 28-year-old driver Billie Myers and 59-year-old James Washington were killed; and in the other vehicle, 18-year-old Alexis Cox is in stable condition with serious injuries.

Cut 6 (12) “…head on.”

U-High football star Lamar Brown has announced that he will be playing his college ball at LSU. Brown is ranked as the number one athlete in the country and is highly touted as both an offensive and defensive lineman. Brown, though, told schools he’d rather get after the quarterback than protect him.

Cut 11 (07) “…defensive line.”

Brown chose LSU over Texas A-and-M.

Paul McCartney is bringing his “Got Back Tour” to New Orleans. Michelle Southern has more on his October 29th show at the Smoothie King Center…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

Some scary moments in the French Quarter this afternoon as a building on St. Louis Street partially collapsed. Crews were working on the gutter system of the LTD Building, which houses an art gallery on the ground floor and five apartments above, when brick and concrete started to fall. No one was hurt.