Self-driving trucks are taking to the highways between Dallas and Houston and could service the Bayou State as soon as 2027. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

____________________________________________

B.J. Bell, the voice of Grambling State’s World Famed Tiger Marching Band, became the first band announcer to sign an NIL deal. Andre Champagne (SHOM-pine) has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

____________________________________________

Starting this school year, school districts now have the option to accept advertising from politicians and political groups. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Autonomous trucks are now driving between Dallas and Houston at night, and it may not be long before they make their way to Louisiana. Renee Amar, the executive director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association,  says a law was passed in 2019 allowing autonomous trucking in the state.

Cut 4 (09) “…on their own.”

Amar says there have already been test runs for self-driving trucks in the state. She says for now, those drives will remain at night during low traffic hours and with a human driver in the vehicle.

Cut 5 (10) “…on the road.”

Amar says once autonomous trucks are approved for a full rollout, they could transform the industry. She mentioned employment and liability concerns.

Cut 6 (08) “…down the line.”

________________________________________________________

B.J. Bell serves as the Voice of Grambling State’s World Famed Tiger Marching Band, but his job will be a bit different after becoming the first band announcer to land an NIL deal. Bell signed with Monroe-based Attorney Eddie Clark & Associates, and he says the partnership with Clark is unlike any other.

Cut 7 (13) “…NIL deal.”

Bell and Clark were already familiar with each other as they both attended Carroll High School in Monroe. Bell says the partnership will take advantage of his local stardom.

Cut 8 (12) “…came into play.”

Bell always dreamed of playing in the World Famed Tiger Marching Band, so announcing has allowed him to live through those dreams.

Cut 9 (08)  “…great feeling.”

________________________________________________________

Starting this school year, school districts will be permitted to accept advertising from politicians and political groups for athletics and other school clubs. It’s a new law which was written by Gonzales Republican Senator Eddie Lambert, who says rural school districts were put at a huge disadvantage under the old law.

Cut 10 (13) “…support the teams.”

Senator Lambert says rural areas need every source of revenue they can get, and the prohibition under the old law made it more difficult for them to raise the money they needed.

Cut 11 (09) “…year to advertise.”

It’s important to note that while the new law permits school districts to accept political advertising, it does not obligate them to do so – they still have the ability to establish rules and guidelines. Lambert says for any political advertisement placed in a facility that may be used as a polling place, electioneering rules still apply.

Cut 12 (10) “…be taken down.”

_______________________________________________________

A pair of big athletic events are happening in New Orleans this week. The third NOLA Pickle Fest starts today at the Morial Convention Center. Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says the festival is designed for both players and spectators, and money raised goes towards a good cause.

Cut 13 (07)  “…Brees Dream Foundation.”

And the U.S. Gymnastics Championships start tomorrow at the Smoothie King Center. Schulz says the event’s return to New Orleans is a long time coming.

Cut 14 (06) “…some incredible athletes.”

Schulz says you may see some of the athletes competing on the mat at the Smoothie King Center this week in Los Angeles three years from now.

Cut 15 (06) “…incredible talented gymnasts.”

Both events run through Sunday.

________________________________________________________

LSU football enters year four of the Brian Kelly era with lots of faces to get used to. Kelly and his staff brought in 23 enrollees and 18 transfers this offseason to contribute to getting the team back in the college football playoffs. One of those new faces is 5-star running back Harlem Berry, who took second-team snaps at practice. Kelly says Berry’s playing time will depend on his ability to adapt to the next level.

Cut 16 (18) “…playing here.”

Oklahoma transfer tight-end Bauer Sharp is another addition that is consistently making plays for the offense as an effective route-runner. Kelly says Sharp’s experience and maturity are standing out.

Cut 17 (19)  “…the most.”

Kelly also spoke on Florida State defensive end Patrick Payton’s growth. Payton comes off the edge with speed and is a physical mismatch for opposing defenses. Payton totaled four sacks and eleven tackles-for-loss with the Seminoles last season.

Cut 18 (18) “…exceed that.”

______________________________________________

The Ragin’ Cajuns are searching for their next starting quarterback. Former five-star and Lafayette native Walker Howard may be a fan favorite, but head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-mo) says he’s giving all his passers equal opportunity under center.

Cut 19 (17) “…those reps.”

UL-Lafayette had the Sun Belt’s second-best total defense in coordinator Jim Salgado’s first year with the program. The Cajuns lost first-team all-conference linebacker K.C. Ossai, but senior lineman Kadarius Miller says the defense is as stout as ever.

Cut 20 (19) “…pretty good.”

Thanks to a new state law, you can now carry a gun while frog hunting at night. Normally, frog hunters do not use guns when capturing frogs; they use gigs, nets or their bare hands. Still, the law’s author, Gonzales Republican Senator Eddie Lambert, says especially since the activity is normally done under the cover of darkness, having a gun comes in handy as a source of personal protection.

Cut 5 (11) “…wait for you.”

Another new state law provides an 80-percent discount on a combo hunting and fishing license for honorably discharged military veterans. It was crafted with the help of the military advocacy group The Boot. Andrew Ward with The Boot says what Louisiana did was truly innovative.

Cut 6 (08) “…honorably discharged veteran.”

The Saints had their last practice in Metairie before flying out to California tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s preseason opener against the Chargers. Spencer Rattler became the first quarterback to get starting reps in back-to-back practices today but split first-team action with Tyler Shough. Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says the second-year QB has separated himself.

Cut 9 (09)  “…of the trio.”

The application deadline for the Louisiana State Police’s 108th cadet class is less than two weeks away. Captain Johnnie Brown says applicants must apply by August 18th, be 21 or older at the time of application and meet one of four qualification criteria.

Cut 12 (13) “…enforcement experience (2x).”

If you’re out frogging at night, you can now carry a gun with you. Gonzales Republican Senator Eddie Lambert wrote the new law that does away with the previous prohibition of carrying a gun while hunting for the noisy amphibians at night; he says it conflicted with a bill that was passed a couple years ago.

Cut 3 (13) “…were frog hunting.”

The application deadline for the Louisiana State Police’s 108th cadet class is less than two weeks away. There are currently over one-thousand state troopers, a number that Captain Johnnie Brown says is higher than in recent years. He says it’s important state police maintain their robust force.

Cut 14 (10) “…expects of us.”

Applicants can visit joinlsp-dot-org.

The Saints wrapped up the first stretch of camp today but still haven’t announced who will start at quarterback. Kace Kieschnick reports

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

You snooze, you lose! Someone out there is holding onto an Easy 5 lottery ticket worth 60-thousand dollars. It was from the March 5th drawing, and the winning numbers were 2, 7, 20, 27 and 37. If you have that ticket and you don’t come forward by September 1st, you will forfeit 60-thousand dollars.

Thanks to a new state law, you can now carry a gun while frog hunting at night. Normally, frog hunters do not use guns when capturing frogs; they use gigs, nets or their bare hands. Still, the law’s author, Gonzales Republican Senator Eddie Lambert, says especially since the activity is normally done under the cover of darkness, having a gun comes in handy as a source of personal protection.

Cut 5 (11) “…wait for you.”

Another new state law allows honorably discharged military veterans to buy combo hunting and fishing licenses for just 20 dollars instead of the regular price of 100 dollars. Andrew Ward with The Boot, the military advocacy group which helped craft the law, says verifying eligibility is easy.

Cut 8 (07) “…in the military.”

The application deadline for the Louisiana State Police’s 108th cadet class is less than two weeks away. Captain Johnnie Brown says the police academy offers a holistic education. They teach cadets how to be operationally sound and quality leaders. He says an emphasis is placed on taking care of recruits mentally.

Cut 13 (08)  “…total package.”

As the Saints continue to prepare for their preseason opener against the Chargers, Locked on Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says some of the top performers at camp so far are edge rushers Chase Young and Carl Granderson. He says the pass-rushing duo has had standout camps before, but coordinator Brandon Staley’s new scheme has brought them to another level.

Cut 10 (11) “…so far here.”

The new law that allows for a steep discount for combo hunting and fishing licenses for honorably discharged military veterans was crafted with the help of a military advocacy group. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

___________________________________________________

The Saints wrapped up the first stretch of camp today but still haven’t announced who will start at quarterback. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

___________________________________________________

If you’re out frogging at night, you can now carry a gun with you. Gonzales Republican Senator Eddie Lambert wrote the new law that does away with the previous prohibition of carrying a gun while hunting for the noisy amphibians at night; he says it conflicted with a bill that was passed a couple years ago.

Cut 3 (13) “…were frog hunting.”

Senator Lambert says his bill eliminates any conflicts in state law that resulted from the newly-passed constitutional amendment.

Cut 4 (07) “…remove that ‘prohibitation.’”

Normally, frog hunters do not use guns when capturing frogs; they use gigs, nets or their bare hands. Still, Lambert says especially since the activity is normally done under the cover of darkness, having a gun comes in handy as a source of personal protection.

Cut 5 (11) “…wait for you.”

________________________________________________

The new state law that provides an 80-percent discount on a combo hunting and fishing license for honorably discharged military veterans was crafted with the help of The Boot, an organization seeking to make Louisiana an attractive place for military veterans to set roots in. Andrew Ward with The Boot says what Louisiana did was truly innovative.

Cut 6 (08) “…honorable discharged veteran.”

Normally, a combination hunting and fishing license is 100 dollars a year. Ward says The Boot wanted to take that down to zero. That was untenable, so they settled on 20 dollars a year, which Ward says still achieves The Boot’s objective in making Louisiana veteran friendly.

Cut 7 (07) “…in the country.”

Ward says verifying eligibility for the 20-dollar combo license is very easy.

Cut 8 (07) “…in the military.”

________________________________________________

The Saints had their last practice in Metairie before flying out to California tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s preseason opener against the Chargers. Spencer Rattler became the first quarterback to get starting reps in back-to-back practices today but split first-team action with Tyler Shough. Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says the second-year quarterback has separated himself.

Cut 9 (09)  “…of the trio.”

Jackson expects the staff to have a good idea of who the starter will be after the preseason game. Head coach Kellen Moore said a decision has not been made on who will start versus the Chargers.

Jackson highlighted wide receiver Rashid Shaheed and edge rushers Chase Young and Carl Granderson as some of he biggest winners of camp. He says the pass-rushing duo has had standout camps before, but coordinator Brandon Staley’s new scheme has brought them to another level.

Cut 10 (11) “…so far here.”

There are still plenty of question marks for the Saints down the depth chart. Who can step up behind the top wide receivers? Who can stand out in a crowded running back room to back up Alvin Kamara? Jackson says his biggest concern is on the offensive line.

Cut 11 (08) “….center depth.”

Rookie running back Devin Neal went down with a hamstring injury, and Moore says he will miss a couple weeks.

________________________________________________

The application deadline for the Louisiana State Police’s 108th cadet class is less than two weeks away. Captain Johnnie Brown says applicants must apply by August 18th, be 21 or older at the time of application and meet one of four qualification criteria.

Cut 12 (13) “…enforcement experience (2x).”

Brown says the police academy offers a holistic education. They teach cadets how to be operationally sound and quality leaders. He says an emphasis is placed on taking care of recruits mentally.

Cut 13 (08)  “…total package.”

And on top of all that, Brown added the job pays well.

There are currently over one-thousand state troopers, a number Brown says is higher than in recent years. He says it’s important state police maintain their robust force.

Cut 14 (10) “…expects of us.”

Applicants can visit joinlsp-dot-org or text join LSP to 225-777-8162.

The military advocacy group The Boot helped write the new law that allows honorably discharged military veterans to buy combo hunting and fishing licenses for just 20 dollars a year. Andrew Ward with The Boot says it’s part of the organization’s objective in making Louisiana a great place for veterans to set roots in at the conclusion of their military careers.

Cut 7 (07) “…in the country.”

From now on, you can have a gun on you when you’re out frog hunting at night. Gonzales Republican Senator Eddie Lambert wrote the new law that does away with the previous prohibition. He says his bill eliminates any conflicts in state law that resulted from a newly-passed constitutional amendment.

Cut 4 (07) “…remove that ‘prohibitation.’”

People don’t normally use guns to hunt frogs; they use gigs, nets or their bare hands.

The Saints had their last practice in Metairie before flying out to California tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s preseason opener against the Chargers. Spencer Rattler became the first quarterback to get starting reps in back-to-back practices today but split first-team action with Tyler Shough. Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says the second-year QB has separated himself.

Cut 9 (09)  “…of the trio.”

The application deadline for the Louisiana State Police’s 108th cadet class is less than two weeks away. Captain Johnnie Brown says applicants must apply by August 18th, be 21 or older at the time of application and meet one of four qualification criteria.

Cut 12 (13) “…enforcement experience (2x).”

The new state law that provides an 80-percent discount on a combo hunting and fishing license for honorably discharged military veterans was crafted with the help of The Boot, an organization seeking to make Louisiana an attractive place for military veterans to set roots in. Andrew Ward with The Boot says what Louisiana did was truly innovative.

Cut 6 (08) “…honorably discharged veteran.”

If you’re out frogging at night, you can now carry a gun with you. Gonzales Republican Senator Eddie Lambert wrote the new law that does away with the previous prohibition of carrying a gun while hunting for the noisy amphibians at night; he says it conflicted with a bill that was passed a couple years ago.

Cut 3 (13) “…were frog hunting.”

The Saints wrapped up the first stretch of camp today but still haven’t announced who will start at quarterback. Kace Keischnick reports

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Death row convicts can no longer drag out their appeals for decades, thanks to a new law that went into effect last Friday. Slidell Republican Representative Brian Glorioso says under the old law, they and their attorneys were incentivized to delay the proceedings for as long as possible, forcing the families’ victims to wait until final justice is served.

Cut 6 (12) “…up the system.”

The Trump administration announced the cancellation of plans to use more than 3.5 million acres of federal waters for offshore wind farms, ending plans to have wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico. Greg Upton, the executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says planning got underway to construct wind farms in the gulf during the Biden administration.

Cut 7 (06) “…wind energy.”

The Southern Shrimp Alliance is applauding President Trump’s 25-percent tariff on shrimp imports from India, which is by far the biggest exporter of shrimp to the U.S. Board member Cheri Blanchard of Houma says the low cost of imported shrimp is costing local shrimpers their livelihoods.

Cut 10 (10) “…make a profit.”

Big shakeup at ULM as Athletic Director John Hartwell announces his resignation after only 18 months on the job. ULM’s athletics budget is one of the smallest in the country among FBS schools and recently eliminated its women’s tennis program. Sean Fox, the sports director at Sports Talk West Monroe, says athletics money has been an issue at ULM for years.

Cut 15 (12) “…case here.”

Among the new laws that went into effect last Friday is one that relates to the post-conviction appeals process. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

The Southern Shrimp Alliance is applauding President Trump’s 25-percent tariffs on shrimp imports from India. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

____________________________________________

The search is on for a new athletics director at ULM after John Harwell suddenly resigns after 18 months on the job. Andre Champagne (SHOM-pine) has the story…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

____________________________________________

Death row convicts can no longer drag out their appeals for decades, thanks to a new law that went into effect last Friday. Slidell Republican Representative Brian Glorioso authored House Bill 675, which, among other things, speeds up deadlines in death-row cases.

Cut 4 (07) “…or 25 years.”

Glorioso says the purpose of the new law is to give the victims’ families the swift justice that they deserve.

Cut 5 (14) “…off the books.”

Glorioso says under the old law, death row convicts and their attorneys were incentivized to delay the proceedings for as long as possible, forcing the families’ victims to wait until final justice is served.

Cut 6 (12) “…up the system.”

Glorioso says the convict is still afforded due process, including the ability to get DNA testing. They just no longer have an infinite amount of time to do so.

________________________________________________________

The Trump administration announced the cancellation of plans to use more than 3.5 million acres of federal waters for offshore wind farms, ending plans to have wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico. Greg Upton, the executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says planning got underway to construct wind farms in the gulf during the Biden administration.

Cut 7 (06) “…wind energy.”

There are three operating offshore wind farms off the eastern coast of the United States and four more projects under construction off the Northeastern coast. Upton expects those projects to continue, but any plans to build a wind farm off of Louisiana’s coast have been eliminated.

Cut 8 (11) “…right now.”

Upton says several Louisiana-based energy companies were excited about the development of offshore wind energy projects. He says in May, shipbuilder Edison Chouest Offshore completed construction of a ship to service the five-billion-dollar Empire Wind project off the New York coast.

Cut 9 (09)  “…the Northeast.”

________________________________________________________

The Southern Shrimp Alliance is applauding President Trump’s 25-percent tariff on shrimp imports from India, which is by far the biggest exporter of shrimp to the U.S. Board member Cheri Blanchard of Houma says the low cost of imported shrimp is costing local shrimpers their livelihoods.

Cut 10 (10) “…make a profit.”

Blanchard says shrimp exporters, including India, Indonesia and Vietnam, do not abide by the same rules that domestic shrimpers have to abide by, and that makes imported shrimp a lot less healthy.

Cut 11 (12) “…tits natural state.”

Blanchard says she hopes the tariffs will level the playing field between local shrimpers and the exporters

Cut 12 (10) “…those sources out.”

_______________________________________________________

Big shakeup at the University of Louisiana at Monroe as Athletic Director John Hartwell announces his resignation after only 18 months on the job. Hartwell is responsible for several major hires, in particular football head coach Bryant Vincent, who led the Warhawks to a 5 and 1 start last season. Sean Fox, the sports director at Sports Talk West Monroe, says Hartwell gained a lot of credibility from the Vincent hire.

Cut 13 (11)  “…of the town.”

Fox says Hartwell’s resignation comes as a surprise and an exact reason for his departure is unknown. He says ULM hired a new president in May, Doctor Carrie Castille, and it’s unknown if the two had a falling out.

Cut 14 (12) “…they were behind.”

ULM’s athletics budget is one of the smallest in the country among FBS schools and recently eliminated its women’s tennis program. Hartwell’s official statement explained that he was planning to pursue other professional opportunities. Fox says funding of ULM’s athletic department has been an issue for years.

Cut 15 (12) “…case here.”

Hartwell’s next destination is a question, but some are speculating that he might return to Troy University, where he served as the Athletic Director from 2012 to 2015.

________________________________________________________

The LSU defense will be anchored by preseason All-SEC linebackers Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins. Perkins has been a dominant pure pass rusher, but head coach Brian Kelly says he’s grown more comfortable with the other aspects of the position as well.

Cut 16 (15) “…not distracted.”

On the outside, LSU features a secondary with four incoming four-star transfer defensive backs, along with returning corners Ashton Stamps and PJ Woodland. Add in five-star freshman corner D.J. Pickett and five returning safeties, and Kelly says playing time becomes the ultimate motivator.

Cut 17 (15)  “…entire unit.”

South Florida transfer defensive lineman Bernard Gooden has been one of the early standouts of camp. Gooden received All-AAC honors after totaling 35 tackles, 10 TFL’s and one and a half sacks in 13 games last season. Kelly says his performance has elevated the defense.

Cut 18 (17) “…difficult to block.”

______________________________________________

The Louisiana Tech defense is coming together under new coordinator Luke Olson. Olson led a Jacksonville State defense that was second in the conference in takeaways last season, and cornerback Cedric Woods says he’s brought that same mentality to Ruston.

Cut 19 (15) “…that ball.”

The Bulldogs were anchored by a dominant defense last year, but much of the defensive front has moved on. Redshirt sophomore Judd Royeau says he welcomed eight new guys to the D-line room.

Cut 20 (18) “…to be better (2x).”

We’re now hearing from the representative who helped get a ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving across the finish line in the legislature and into law. Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso says it was a long time coming.

Cut 3 (09) “…matters and issues.”

The new law makes handling a cell phone while driving a secondary offense.

A new study from Bankrate finds Louisiana has a cool housing market and New Orleans and Shreveport are among the coldest for their market size in the country. Data analyst Alex Gailey says the Bankrate Housing Heat Index looks at data from a variety of sources and Louisiana ranks below average in every category…

Cut 10 (08) “…population growth.”

Gailey says on the flip side, a cool housing market means more options for buyers.

Researchers determined the 2025 Gulf of Mexico dead zone is about the size of Connecticut. The zone represents an area of low to no oxygen, unable to support marine life. The most common way these nutrients make it to the Gulf is through runoff from fertilizers used throughout the Midwest. LSU Oceanography Professor Nancy Rabalais says many farmers are aware of the issue, and their efforts can help.

Cut 7 (10) “…Gulf of Mexico.”

LSU is ranked ninth in the preseason Coaches Poll. Head coach Brian Kelly has seen a motivated group of players, especially in the trenches. He says ongoing position battles and a competitive culture make for great practices.

Cut 12 (10) “…those traits.”

LSU opens the 2025 season on the road against Clemson.