A plan to sell Toledo Bend water to Texas is off for now, and a Vernon Parish legislator wants to make sure it never happens. Hornbeck Republican Rodney Schamerhorn says he will be filing a bill that would block any future water sale. He says if Texas wants Louisiana water, it can supply Louisiana with some of its jobs. 

Cut 4 (12) “…living in Louisiana.”

Tulane has an extra incentive to beating Ole Miss on December 20th – if that happens, it would get a virtual home game in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Georgia New Year’s Day. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says a Sugar Bowl appearance for the hometown Green Wave would not be unprecedented – but it would be a VERY long time coming.

Cut 7 (10) “…be tremendous enthusiasm.”

For mudbug lovers, the holiday season means another crawfish season is right around the corner. Jeff Palermo has an outlook on the upcoming season.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

For the first time ever, the Iowa Yellow Jackets will play in a state championship football game. Iowa head coach Tommy Johns says the team has the Calcasieu Parish town buzzing.

Cut 13 (06)  “…a long time.”

Iowa will play North DeSoto, who’s the top seed in Division Two non-select.

A Vernon Parish legislator plans on filing a bill to make it illegal to sell water from Toledo Bend Reservoir to Texas. Hornbeck Republican Rodney Schamerhorn says people who bought property along the lakefront paid a premium for it; and if Louisiana sells too much of that water, they may ultimately not get their money’s worth.

Cut 6 (12) “…a beautiful lake.”

The holiday season is here; and in Louisiana, that can mean only one thing – crawfish season is right around the corner! LSU AgCenter crawfish extension agent Todd Fontenot says in certain areas, especially along the coast, hot boiled crawfish is available right now.

Cut 11 (10) “…our growing region.”

If Tulane can find a way to beat Ole Miss a week from Saturday, and they lost to them by five touchdowns four months ago, they’ll play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl literally in their own backyard – in the Superdome. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says Tulane fans, while perhaps overly ambitious, are dreaming big.

Cut 8 (10) “…out about tickets.”

Tulane has played in the Sugar Bowl once – back in 1939.

We continue previewing the high school football state championship games. In Division Two non-select Friday, Iowa faces North DeSoto. Iowa Coach Tommy Johns says winning the time of possession battle will be one of the keys to victory.

Cut 14 (05) “…a track meet.”

Both teams are undefeated, and both are looking for their first football state title. Kickoff Friday is noon.

A plan to sell Toledo Bend water to Texas is off for now, and a Vernon Parish legislator plans on filing a bill in the next session to ensure that it never happens. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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For mudbug lovers, the holiday season means another crawfish season is right around the corner. Jeff Palermo has an outlook on the upcoming season.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A school in Calcasieu Parish will make history on Friday when the Iowa Yellow Jackets will play in their first state championship football game. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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A plan to sell Toledo Bend water to Texas is off for now, and a Vernon Parish legislator wants to make sure it never happens. The plan would have called for the reservoir to supply 200-thousand acre-feet from Louisiana’s share per year to Texas in order for that state to address potential water shortages in its metro areas. Hornbeck Republican Rodney Schamerhorn says he will be filing a bill that would block any future water sale. He says if Texas wants Louisiana water, it can supply Louisiana with some of its jobs.

Cut 4 (12) “…living in Louisiana.”

Schamerhorn notes that the populations of Texas and Louisiana are going in opposite directions.

Cut 5 (11) “…abundance of water.”

Furthermore, Schamerhorn says if Louisiana gives Texas water from Toledo Bend, people who bought property along the lakefront and paid a premium for it may ultimately not get their money’s worth.

Cut 6 (12) “…a beautiful lake.”

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As if advancing in the College Football Playoff wasn’t enough, Tulane has an extra incentive to beating Ole Miss on December 20th – they would get a virtual home game in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Georgia New Year’s Day. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says a Sugar Bowl appearance for the hometown Green Wave would not be unprecedented. But let’s just say it would be a long time coming – a VERY long time coming.

Cut 7 (10) “…be tremendous enthusiasm.”

But in order to play in the Sugar Bowl in front of their home fans, they will have to beat a team that beat them by five touchdowns just four months ago. But Hundley says that’s not stopping overly-ambitious Tulane fans from dreaming.

Cut 8 (10) “…out about tickets.”

Hundley says while it would be cool for Tulane to play the Sugar Bowl in the stadium they called home from 1975 through 2013 until Yulman Stadium opened, he’s not picking sides in Oxford.

Cut 9 (10)  “…best game possible.”

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The holiday season means that the crawfish season is right around the corner. LSU AgCenter crawfish extension agent Todd Fontenot says the 2026 season looks like a normal season.

Cut 10 (10) “…look pretty favorable.”

Fontenot says hot boiled crawfish is available, especially along the coast.

Cut 11 (10) “…our growing region.”

Fontenot says crawfish will become more plentiful in January and February, as long as the state stays away from lengthy periods of below-freezing temperatures.

Cut 12 (11) “…to our crawfish.”

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For the first time ever, the Iowa Yellow Jackets will play in a state championship football game. Iowa head coach Tommy Johns says the team has the Calcasieu Parish town buzzing.

Cut 13 (06)  “…a long time.”

Iowa will play North DeSoto, who’s the top seed in Division Two non-select. Johns says winning the time of possession will be crucial on Friday.

Cut 14 (05) “…a track meet.”

Mangham is looking for its first state championship since 1956 as the Dragons will take on Haynesville on Thursday at noon in the Division Four non-select title game. Mangham Coach Scott Wilcher says they are playing for their Richland Parish town.

Cut 15 (08) “…going to do.”

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UL-Lafayette is set to face Delaware in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, on Wednesday, December 17th, at 7:30 p.m. The Blue Hens come into the matchup with the number-six passing offense in the country, averaging 302 passing yards per game. Head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says the Cajuns’ defense will have to do a couple of things to limit Delaware in the air.

Cut 16 (16) “…things like that.”

After starting the season 2-6, the Cajuns won four straight games to close out the regular season. Desormeaux says he doesn’t want his team to be satisfied with a bowl berth, but he wants to close the year out with a fifth straight win and its first bowl win in three years.

Cut 17 (14)  “…to go do.”

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Louisiana Tech will face Coastal Carolina in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in Shreveport on Tuesday, December 30th, at 1 p.m. Several high-profile players have already entered the transfer portal, but head coach Sonny Cumbie says there are a few players that want to finish the season out for the Bulldogs.

Cut 18 (14)  “…to their character.”

Cumbie says defensive back Jacob Fields and linebacker Mekhi Mason will not play in the bowl game.

Cumbie will coach against his former defensive coordinator, Jeremiah Johnson, when the Bulldogs and Chanticleers face off. Johnson is the interim head coach for Coastal, and Cumbie says he’s looking forward to the matchup.

Cut 19 (14) “…and swarming around.”

Only one escapee from last week’s twin jailbreaks in South Louisiana remains on the loose – 24-year-old Keith Eli. Major Mark LeBlanc with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says on Friday, deputies captured 24-year-old Johnathan Joseph after tips led detectives to a home in Opelousas.

Cut 11 (09) “…surrendered to officers.”

Amid the ongoing illegal immigration crackdown, New Orleans City Councilman J.P. Morrell stated that Louisiana is an open carry state and has a robust stand-your-ground law. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino points out, as Morrell did, that in the event of a stand-your-ground shooting, an officer’s only line of defense is by fully identifying oneself as a law enforcement officer.

Cut 5 (11) “…along those lines.”

Haynesville is looking for its 18th state championship in football, while North DeSoto is looking for its first. Jeff Palermo has more on these two northwest Louisiana schools as they prepare for the Prep Classic.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Documents show that a contractor in Tangipahoa Parish recovered dozens of oil-covered and injured animals in the aftermath of the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. The contractor said it had recovered 74 wild animals – mainly raccoons and opossums – of which 59 were covered in oil. Eight were listed as dead.

As Operation Catahoula Crunch continues, people may be wondering what exactly the law says about these sweeps. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says if agents have no reasonable grounds to detain you, you’re under no obligation to talk to them. However: 

Cut 4 (14) “…their basic questions.”

One escapee from a pair of South Louisiana jailbreaks remains on the loose. 24-year-old Keith Eli escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail last Wednesday, along with two others. Major Mark LeBlanc with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says investigators are going to great lengths to find him.

Cut 10 (14) “…of our agency.”

It’s Prep Classic week in high school football, with 16 teams vying for state titles in eight divisions. North DeSoto is seeking its first title in Division Two non-select as it faces Iowa Friday at noon. The Griffins are a perfect 13-and-0, and Coach Dennis Dunn says a selfless attitude has helped the team get to this point.

Cut 7 (07) “…all of that.”

For the second year in a row, Louisiana Tech will make the 70-mile trek to Shreveport to play in the Independence Bowl. But unlike last year, when they were a last-minute stand-in for Marshall, the Bulldogs were the I-Bowl’s first choice to take on Coastal Carolina. Executive Director Missy Setters says there are several fan and community events the night before the December 30th game.

Cut 14 (12) “…hurricane alley.”

Only one escapee from last week’s twin jailbreaks in South Louisiana remains on the loose – 24-year-old Keith Eli, who escaped with two others from the St. Landry Parish Jail. Major Mark LeBlanc with the sheriff’s office says deputies captured 24-year-old Johnathan Joseph Friday after tips and information led detectives to a home in Opelousas.

Cut 11 (09) “…surrendered to officers.”

As Operation Catahoula Crunch continues in the greater New Orleans area, people may be wondering what exactly the law says about these enhanced immigration sweeps – what the Border Patrol agents can and can’t do under the law. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says in order for agents to detain anyone, they need a good reason to do so.

Cut 3 (11) “…the federal government.”

Haynesville is looking for its 18th state championship in football, while North DeSoto is looking for its first. Jeff Palermo has more on these two northwest Louisiana schools as they prepare for the Prep Classic.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Four Louisiana teams are headed to postseason play in college football, headlined by Tulane as the 11 seed in the College Football Playoff. LSU is playing in the Texas Bowl, Louisiana Tech is headed to the Independence Bowl, and UL-Lafayette earned its way to the 68 Ventures Bowl.

One escapee from a pair of South Louisiana jailbreaks remains on the loose. 24-year-old Keith Eli escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail last Wednesday, along with two others. Major Mark LeBlanc with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says investigators are going to great lengths to find him.

Cut 10 (14) “…of our agency.”

As Operation Catahoula Crunch continues, people may be wondering what exactly the law says about these sweeps. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says if agents have no reasonable grounds to detain you, you’re under no obligation to talk to them. However: 

Cut 4 (14) “…their basic questions.”

Haynesville is looking for its 18th state championship in football Thursday when it takes on Mangham in the Division Four non-select title game. This is the third year in a row Coach David Franklin and the Golden Tornado have made it to the state title game, but the last two years they came up short.

Cut 8 (07) “…go and win.”

Haynesville is led by four-year starter Isaiah Washington, who signed with LSU last week.

Louisiana Tech is heading back to Shreveport, as the Bulldogs will play Coastal Carolina in the 49th edition of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. I-Bowl Executive Director Missy Setter on what the game means for northwest Louisiana.

Cut 13 (13)  “…during December.”

The Bulldogs played in the Independence Bowl last year after Marshall pulled out and lost to Army.

A Louisiana college football team has a chance later this month to shock the world. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The greater New Orleans area remains on edge as Operation Catahoula Crunch enters its second week. Jeanne Burns reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

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The Hondo Rodeo Fest, which was a sold-out event last month in Phoenix, is set to make its debut at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans in April. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The college football season started with visions of LSU getting into the College Football Playoff. While it didn’t exactly work out that way, Louisiana will be represented in the CFP. Fresh off winning the American Conference championship Friday night, Tulane got into the field of 12. Senior tackle Derrick Graham says the moment seeing Tulane revealed as the 11 seed was surreal.

Cut 4 (09) “…time for us.”

The Green Wave will travel to Oxford, Mississippi, to face the sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels. This is not the first time they’ll play at Vaught Hemmingway Stadium this season – on September 20th, Ole Miss pounded Tulane, 45-10. Head Coach Jon Sumrall says things will be different four months later.

Cut 5 (06) “…a better game.”

Sumrall says ending his two-year tenure at Tulane in the College Football Playoff will be really cool, as long as one thing does not happen.

Cut 6 (05) “…our ass beat.”

The game will be played Saturday, December 20th; kickoff is at 2:30. In case you’re curious, Oxford is just under 350 miles north of New Orleans straight up I-55.

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LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Health Professionals and Sciences is launching a first-of-its-kind Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Lafayette this spring. Department of Physical Therapy Chairman Dr. Daniel Flowers says it will expand access to physical therapy education in Southwest Louisiana.

Cut 7 (08) “…year in Lafayette.”

Dr. Flowers says by setting up shop in Lafayette, LSU Health Shreveport is helping fill a void in the state.

Cut 8 (12) “…so to speak.”

Flowers says interviews for admission into the program are starting very soon.

Cut 9 (10)  “…three Mays later.”

The program utilized a hybrid model that combines online coursework with hands-on clinical education through partnerships with Ochsner Lafayette General and other healthcare providers.

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A New Orleans city councilman says the Border Patrol is playing with fire in the city with its aggressive tactics of detaining people it believes to be in the country illegally. Like in many other cities where they’ve conducted operations, masked agents are going up to people in unmarked vehicles and are detaining people without identifying themselves. J.P. Morrell points out that Louisiana is an open carry state with a stand-your-ground law.

Cut 10 (09) “…and defends themselves.”

Morrell says the only defense law enforcement has against a stand-your-ground claim is by officers clearly identifying themselves.

The operation, now dubbed “Catahoula Crunch,” has a stated goal of arresting five-thousand people in the country illegally, with the Department of Homeland Security saying the focus is on the most violent criminals. Morrell says setting a goal like that essentially establishes a quota, and it’s an unrealistic one at that.

Cut 11 (06) “…meet that number.”

DHS has said it has released the identities of about a half dozen people with violent criminal histories who Border Patrol agents arrested. Morrell says, however, that the department is not being transparent, because the big picture tells a very different story.

Cut 12 (06) “…here not illegally.”

The advocacy group Union Migrante says so far, Border Patrol agents have arrested several people with no criminal records, including at least three U.S. citizens.

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The biggest rodeo ever is coming to Louisiana as the Hondo Rodeo Fest will make its New Orleans debut at the Caesars Superdome April 10 to 12, 2026.  Co-Founder Blake Cody says the Hondo Rodeo Fest is a three-day premium rodeo competition with a one-million-dollar prize purse.

Cut 13 (07)  “…for the fans.”

The rodeo takes place during the day and at night big-name musical performers take the stage. On Friday Lynyrd Skynyrd will open for country music icon on Jason Aldean.

On Saturday, CMA Male Vocalist of the Year award winner Cody Johnson will perform and Sunday night rock band Creed will take the stage.

Cody says there’s also Western-themed Street Fest.

Cut 14 (09) “…with the sheep.”

Hondo Rodeo Fest launched in November of 2024 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona and returned for a sold-out event last month. Cody says they are excited to bring this massive event to Louisiana.

Cut 15 (08) “…their home state.”

Pre-sale tickets go on sale on Wednesday and with general on-sale tickets going on sale Friday. Tickets start at 40 dollars.

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The Saints avenge a bad loss to the Buccaneers six weeks ago, flipping the script and beating them in Tampa, 24-20. Head Coach Kellen Moore says despite being eliminated from playoff contention a week ago, the team put forth a great effort to earn its third win of the season.

Cut 16 (17) “…with the win.”

In the Saints’ last game against the Bucs, Tyler Shough entered the game in relief of the benched Spencer Rattler, and he’s been the starter ever since. Yesterday afternoon in the rain, Shough completed 13 of 20 passes for only 144 yards and had one of his passes picked off. However, he also rushed for 55 yards and scored two of the Saints’ three touchdowns; the other scored by Devin Neal. Shough said the Saints are turning the corner.

Cut 17 (08)  “…get those wins.”

The Saints will try to make it two in a row and four in 2025 next Sunday afternoon at the Superdome against the Panthers. Kickoff is 3:25.

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The Prep Football Classic begins Thursday in the Caesars Superdome, and the marquee matchup that day will be the Division 3 select state title game between Dunham and Calvary Baptist. The Tigers are led by one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in the Class of 2027, Elijah Haven. Dunham Coach Neil Weiner says his three-year starter at quarterback has played at a high level since he walked on campus…

Cut 18 (19)  “…everything he does.”

Calvary Baptist is a sixth seed as they are looking for their fifth state championship and first since 2023. Cavaliers coach Rodney Guinn says they had to re-load after losing in the semifinals last year…

Cut 19 (20) “…first year playing.”

After five years of construction, the massive Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project in St. Bernard Parish is done. Lake Borgne is a critical first line of defense from hurricanes from the Gulf of Mexico that threaten the greater New Orleans area, and this project provides an added layer of defense. Michael Hare, the executive director of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, says to say that this was a massive project is a mild understatement.

Cut 4 (06) “…three times over.”

Netflix has announced that it has purchased Warner Brothers. Haggai Davis, the host of the radio show TechGumbo, says while that purchase will include HBO Max, that service will not be going away entirely.

Cut 7 (13) “…your Netflix subscription.”

The deal is expected to close sometime in the second half of next year.

A 13-year-old is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of a 21-year-old family member. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The ACLU has dismissed its suit against the state over the law that makes it a state crime to interfere with an immigration enforcement operation. The ACLU said it dismissed it because it got assurances from the state that the law would not be used to stifle free speech. But Attorney General Liz Murrill said the ACLU dropped it because it knew it was a frivolous case.

The massive Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project in St. Bernard Parish is finished. The lake is a critical first line of defense from hurricanes from the Gulf of Mexico that threaten the greater New Orleans area. Michael Hare, the executive director of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, says the final price tag will come in about five-million dollars less than the original projections.

Cut 5 (09) “…engineer on this.”

A 35-hundred-dollar reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot and killed a black bear last weekend in Concordia Parish. Sergeant Cole Cupip (CUE-pip) says while black bears can be shot legally, this was not one of those instances – one of the reasons being that it happened in the Richard K. Yancy Wildlife Management Area.

Cut 12 (11) “…of the state.”

A 13-year-old is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of a 21-year-old family member. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Three escapees in two South Louisiana jailbreaks remain on the loose. 23-year-old Gavin Garnica escaped from the Vermilion Parish Jail, and 24-year-olds Keith Eli and Johnathan Joseph escaped from the St. Landry Parish Jail. The other inmate who broke out of St. Landry, 26-year-old Joseph Harrington, died by suicide during a standoff with Port Barre Police.