A vote on a healthcare bill co-sponsored by Bill Cassidy is expected in the Senate today. He says under his plan, instead of insurance companies deciding how patients’ are treated, money would go to taxpayers’ health savings accounts and they would be in control of how money is spent on their health care.

Cut 6 (10) “…an Obamacare policy.”

Cassidy says his plan has the support of some Democrats. He needs seven to advance the bill.

There’s optimism among small businesses says State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, Leah Long. She says positives in 2025 include making the 20% small business deduction permanent and the state’s action on insurance reform. In 2026, she would like to see state lawmakers continue to work on lawsuit abuse.

Cut 9 (09)  “…those employers too.”

Requirements for unemployment insurance benefits are increasing. Beginning January 4^th, claimants must complete five work-search activities per week, up from three. Robert Wooley with Louisiana Works says there are also new rules that if broken could cause a person to lose their unemployment benefits.

Cut 15 (09) “…lose your benefit.”

The Jena High School football team is preparing for its first ever state championship game appearance. Jena is 13-and-0 and the top seed in Division Two non-select. Coach Jay Roark says he’s proud of how the defense improved throughout the season.

Cut 11 (12) “…and getting better.”

The Giants will face defending champion Sterlington Friday afternoon at 3:30.

A vote on the healthcare reform bill co-sponsored by Bill Cassidy is expected in the Senate today. Cassidy says the current Affordable Care Act grants insurance companies 20% of funds and allows the insurance companies to release 80% for what the insurance company believes the patient needs but under his plan, insurance companies would no longer get that money.

Cut 5 (07) “…health savings account.”

He says his plan has the support of some Democrats; whether it has the support of the seven Democrats needed to advance the bill remains to be seen.

Changes are coming to unemployment insurance benefits. They’re the result of legislation approved earlier this year and Robert Wooley with Louisiana works says the number of work search requirements is going up. So what are work-search activities?

Cut 14 (11) “…instead of three.”

As 2026 approaches, small businesses are a little more optimistic. Andre Champagne explains.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

The Jena High School football team will compete in their first ever state championship game this weekend. The Giants are the top seed in Division Two non-select and will face defending champion, Sterlington Friday afternoon at 3:30. Coach Jay Roark expects a big crowd from LaSalle Parish to cheer on the Giants.

Cut 12 (05) “…this weekend.”

Starting January 4th, to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits, a claimant will need to complete at least five work-search activities each week — an increase from the current requirement of three. Robert Wooley with Louisiana Works says the new rule is not intended to punish an unemployed individual.

Cut 13 (10)  “…to live on (2x).”

As we approach 2026, the National Federation of Independent Business says there’s more optimism among small businesses. NFIB State director, Leah Long, says optimism spikes with the passage of the when the Big Beautiful Bill made the 20% small business deduction permanent and she was glad to see the Louisiana legislature tackle insurance reform which will be a huge help for small businesses.

Cut 8 (09) “…your bottom line.”

The Senate is expected to vote on Bill Cassidy’s health care insurance reform bill today. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

United Healthcare will no longer be an insurer for Louisiana’s Medicaid program which means over 300,000 recipients may have to find a new primary care provider who is in-network with one of the other 5 Louisiana Medicaid insurers by January first. LDH made the decision to not renew United’s contract due to some legal issues that according to Attorney General Liz Murrill involves the state’s requests for documents on how United manages prescription drug benefits.

Louisiana Works is alerting you that new requirements to qualify for unemployment will be in place starting January 4th. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Senate is expected to vote on the healthcare bill co-sponsored by Bill Cassidy’s today and Cassidy says his bill is an alternative to a Democratic proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which he says disproportionately benefits insurance companies.

Cut 4 (09) “…release the money.”

Small businesses are a little more optimistic as we approach 2026. State director of the National Federation of Independent Business, Leah Long, says the biggest challenges for small business owners heading into the new year are operating costs and labor shortages. She says 2025 was a good year for small businesses, spearheaded by legislation at all levels.

Cut 7 (11) “…was made permanent.”

The Jena High School football team is preparing for its first ever state championship game appearance. After losing in the semifinals the last two seasons, head coach Jay Roark says it’s nice to get over the hump.

Cut 10 (10) “…great teammates.”

A plan that would have sold a large portion of Louisiana’s share of Toledo Bend water to Texas is off, and Hornbeck Republican Rodney Schamerhorn says he will be filing a bill that would block any future water sale and he realizes the populations of Texas and Louisiana are going in opposite directions.

Cut 5 (11) “…abundance of water.”

But he says, if during a drought, Louisiana couldn’t get out of a contract, the lake could become a mud hole.

Crawfish season will be here soon and LSU AgCenter crawfish extension agent Todd Fontenot says some farmers are already offering mudbugs and as long as Louisiana doesn’t have long periods of below freezing temperatures, crawfish will be mor plentiful in January and February.

Cut 12 (11) “…to our crawfish.”

As if advancing in the College Football Playoff wasn’t enough, Tulane has an extra incentive to beat 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.

The Pelicans rallied from a 20-point halftime deficit, only to lose to San Antonio 135 to 132. Career night for rookie Derik Queen as the Pelicans center had a triple-double, 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. But he missed a game-winning three-point attempt in the final seconds.

As a plan to sell Toledo Bend water to Texas is shut down, Hornbeck Republican Rodney Schamerhorn says he will be filing a bill that would block any future water sale. He says if Louisiana gives Texas water from Toledo Bend, people who paid a premium for property along the lakefront would lose

Cut 6 (12) “…a beautiful lake.”

Crawfish season is right around the corner and LSU AgCenter crawfish extension agent Todd Fontenot says early hot boiled crawfish is already available.

Cut 11 (10) “…our growing region.”

He says the supply will be more plentiful in January and February as long as we don’t see long periods of below freezing temperatures.

A Calcasieu Parish school makes history Friday with their first state football championship appearance. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

If Tulane beats Ole Miss on December 20^th in the first round of the college football playoffs – they would play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says while it would be cool for the GreenWave to play the Sugar Bowl in the stadium they called home from 1975 through 2013, he’s not picking sides.

Cut 9 (06)  “…decades now.”

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 a large part of Louisiana’s share to Texas every year for that state to address potential water shortages in its metro areas. Hornbeck Republican Rodney Schamerhorn says he will be filing a bill to 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 fans are dreaming of a Allstate Sugar Bowl appearance and it could happen if they beat Ole Miss who beat them by five touchdowns four months ago. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley…

Cut 8 (10) “…out about tickets.”

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.”

The High School football state champions will be decided this week and 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.”

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.”

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.”

As if advancing in the College Football Playoff wasn’t enough, Tulane has an extra incentive to beat 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.”

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.

The Department of Homeland Security says it has released the identities of about a half dozen immigrants in the country illegally with violent criminal histories who have been arrested by Border Patrol agents in Operation Catahoula Crunch. New Orleans Council person J.P. 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.

Tulane is in the college football playoff as the 11 seed and will take on the sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford. The Green Wave traveled to Oxford earlier this season and Coach Jon 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.

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

Cut 7 (08) “…year in Lafayette.”

The program combines online coursework with hands-on clinical education through partnerships with Ochsner (Ox ner) Lafayette General and other healthcare providers.

It’s the biggest rodeo ever and it’s coming to Louisiana.  The Hondo Rodeo Fest will be at the Caesars Superdome April 10 to 12 .  Co-Founder Blake Cody says the Hondo Rodeo Fest is a three-day premium rodeo competition with a one-million-dollar prize purse and there’s also Western-themed Street Fest.

Cut 14 (09) “…with the sheep.”

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

Operation Catahoula Crunch underway in the New Orleans area 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. New Orleans Councilman, J.P. 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.

Physical Therapy education is coming to Lafayette this spring. LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Health Professionals and Sciences is adding a Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Lafayette. Department Chairman Dr. Daniel Flowers says the program that combines online coursework with clinical education through partnerships with Ochsner (Ox ner) Lafayette General and other healthcare providers will help fill a void in the state.

Cut 8 (12) “…so to speak.”

Louisiana will be represented in the college football playoffs. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The biggest rodeo ever is coming to Louisiana. Hondo Rodeo Fest launched in November of 2024 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 for the event at the Ceaser’s Superdome go on sale on Wednesday with general tickets going on sale Friday.