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.

Operation Catahoula Crunch has New Orleans on edge. Jeanne Burns reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Health Professionals and Sciences is launching a Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Lafayette. Department Chair, Dr. Daniel Flowers says interviews are happening soon.

Cut 9 (10)  “…three Mays later.”

After winning the American Conference, the Tulane Green Wave go word they will travel to Oxford, Mississippi, to face the sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels in the first round of the college football playoffs. 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.”

The game will be played Saturday, December 20th; kickoff is at 2:30.

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.

A New Orleans city councilman says the Border Patrol is playing with fire 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.”

LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Health Professionals and Sciences is launching a 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.

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.”

The college football season started with visions of LSU getting into the College Football Playoff. While it didn’t work out that way, Louisiana will be represented. 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.”