It was an emotional final meeting of the legislative task force on hazing prevention. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

After the Louisiana Department of Health reported this season’s first child death from the, the state is getting the word out on how to prevent the spread of the virus. Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Wyche Coleman says it starts with one simple thing.

Cut 3 (07) “…around you healthy.”

According to CDC data, Louisiana currently has one of the highest rates of flu infections in the country.

Recently, Louisiana became the first state in the country to sign Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment grant agreements with internet service providers, which will provide connectivity to nearly 40,000 households and businesses in rural areas. Connect-LA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar says those in rural areas will soon be able to access affordable high-speed internet across the entire state.

Cut 9 (10)  “…the digital divide.”

The new Buc-ees location in Lafayette, which will be located off of I-10 near Louisiana Avenue, is expected to open by mid-2027. Mandi Mitchell, the CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, says construction is expected to begin soon.

Cut 12 (11) “…here soon.”

Buc-ees is expected to create between 150 to 200 jobs.

At the final meeting of the Hazing Prevention Legislative Task Force that was formed following last year’s hazing death of Southern University Student Caleb Wilson, Caleb’s mother and father testified urging the creation of new laws to prevent hazing tragedies. Task force chair Jason Hughes is stepping down as he will soon be sworn in as a New Orleans city councilmember. He was emotional as he addressed Wilson’s parents.

Cut 8 (07) “…forth meaningful change.”

Lawmakers will present a series of recommendations in March when the legislative session opens. With Hughes’ departure, it’s unclear who will sponsor the legislation.

After reporting the death of a child due to flu, the Louisiana Department of Health is urging prevention by handwashing and Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Wyche Coleman says wash them thoroughly for at least 20 minutes.

Cut 5 (12) “…or anything dirty.”

According to CDC data, Louisiana currently has one of the highest rates of flu infections in the country.

We now know the expected date for the Lafayette Bucees’ opening. Andre Champagne has the update….

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Louisiana is expected to achieve statewide high-speed internet access by 2028, recently becoming the first state in the country to sign Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment grant agreements with internet service providers. Connect-LA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar says they’re continuously working to ensure that the entire state’s need for connectivity is met.

Cut 11 (08) “…services to people.”

According to CDC data, Louisiana currently has one of the highest rates of flu infections in the country and the Louisiana Department of Health is reporting a child has died from the flu. Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Wyche Coleman says to protect yourself from illness and prevent the spread of the flu, wash your hand thoroughly.

Cut 4 (12) “…least 20 seconds.”

There was emotional testimony at the final meeting of the Hazing Prevention Task Force. It was assembled following last year’s hazing death of Southern University Student Caleb Wilson. Wilson’s mother, Urania Brown Wilson, told the task force that new laws are needed to prevent another student from suffering the fate that her son did.

Cut 7 (09) “…son is dead.”

Lawmakers will present a series of recommendations in March when the legislative session opens.

Currently, 93% of Louisiana has access to affordable high-speed internet, but Connect LA is working to achieve the remaining 7% of the state, which includes 127,000 households and businesses. Since Louisiana now has a Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment agreement in place, Connect-LA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar says those in rural areas will no longer have to fight with overpaying for mediocre service.

Cut 10 (06) “…done by 28.” 

A high-profile quarterback that LSU reportedly had interest in signing has decided to stay at his current school. Demond Williams Jr. announced on Tuesday night that he was entering the transfer portal, but last night he announced he’s staying at Washington. Earlier this week, it seemed like former Arizona State Q-B Sam Leavitt was the Tigers top target. Tiger Rag-dot-com editor Glenn Guilbeau says LSU could see if Leavitt is still interested in the Tigers, but there is a health concern.

Cut 26 (07) “…the summer, probably.”

An East Carroll Parish elementary school teacher is missing and hasn’t been seen since just before Christmas and the Sheriff’s office is requesting the public’s assistance in locating Carlton Keyon Osborn, a teacher at Lake Providence Elementary. He was last seen on December 23^rd. Osborn is a 5’9”, black male weighing 150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Authorities believe he may be the Atlanta, Georgia area. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s office immediately at 318-559-2800.

Today marks the two-year anniversary of Jeff Landry’s inauguration as the state’s 57th governor. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry’s biggest accomplishment was the tax reform legislation he urged legislators to approve in 2024.

Cut 9 (11)  “…did it.”

A flat income tax rate of three percent went into effect on January 1st of last year.

17-thousand people in the 10-parish greater Baton Rouge area had their medical debt wiped out. The Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation and Undue Medical Debt teamed up to erase 22-million dollars of medical debt. Tristi Charpentier (SHARP-in-tay) with the foundation says Undue Medical Debt bought the debt, and the foundation chose the beneficiaries based on qualifications.

Cut 4 (08) “…family’s annual income.”

Louisiana is the first state to win two straight Platinum Deal of the Year awards from Business Facilities. This year, the publication Business Facilities singled out the Hyundai Steel mill in Ascension Parish and Louisiana Department of Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the mill will be innovative in every way.

Cut 7 (10) “…steel that exists.”

Last year’s Platinum Deal of the Year was the Meta A-I data center in Richland Parish.

Two years ago today, Governor Jeff Landry the state’s 57th governor. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry’s biggest accomplishment was the tax reform legislation he urged legislators to approve in 2024. His first year in office also saw the passage of a bill requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools which is still awaiting a court ruling on its constitutionality. Pinsonat expects Landry to focus more on economic development in the next two years of his term.

Cut 10 (12) “…get involved in.” 

The publication Business Facilities singled out the Hyundai Steel mill in Ascension Parish in naming the Platinum Deal of the Year making Louisiana the first state to win two straight Platinum Deal of the Year awards. Department of Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says now the big challenge is to do it again.

Cut 8 (06) “…looking at it.”

Last year’s Platinum Deal of the Year was the Meta A-I data center in Richland Parish. Bourgeois says the two projects speak to the diversity of the economic development projects happening in the state.

A late Christmas gift for tens of thousands of people in the greater Baton Rouge area. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reports 16 Louisiana black bears were harvested during the legal bear hunting season that ran from December 6th to the 21st.  LDWF’s Large Carnivore Program manager, John Hanks, says there were three different areas where hunters could legally hunt black bears.

Cut 26 (14) “…that area.”

17-thousand people in the greater Baton Rouge area have had their medical debt erased. The Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation and Undue Medical Debt teamed up to erase 22-million dollars in debt for struggling families. Tristi Charpentier (SHARP-in-tay), the vice president of people-centered initiatives at the foundation, says those people didn’t have to do anything – the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt took the first step.

Cut 3 (06) “…third-party debt collectors.”

The Louisiana Department of Economic Development is celebrating the state’s second straight Platinum Deal of the Year. This year, the publication Business Facilities singled out the Hyundai Steel mill in Ascension Parish for its top honor. Secretary Susan Bourgeois says one of the biggest wins with that project was Hyundai building it in Louisiana in the first place.

Cut 6 (06) “…ultimately choosing us.”

She says it’s the first steel mill built in the U.S. in 60 years and she says they’ll be using the cleanest production methods.

Today marks the two-year anniversary of Governor Jeff Landry’s inauguration as the state’s 57th governor. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry has done a good job in getting most of his legislative agenda approved. The Louisiana Senate failed to go along with his idea for a constitutional convention, and Landry has received criticism for getting too involved in LSU athletics, the firing of A-D Scott Woodward and having a live tiger on the field for the 2024 Alabama game. Pinsonat says those missteps have not hurt him too much.

Cut 11 (07) “…been involved in.”

New dietary guidelines issued by the Trump Administration urge Americans to prioritize proteins and healthy fats, like fats found in red meat and whole milk, and limit ultra-processed foods and added sugar. Cathy Champagne, a professor of nutrition at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, applauds the call to limit processed foods and added sugars.

Cut 13 (10)  “…metabolic risk factors.”

For the second year in a row, Louisiana is number-one in the nation for road rage incidents, ranging from aggressive driving to dangerous interactions, including gunfire. LSU transportation expert Brian Wolshon says it’s easy, and sometimes natural, to be frustrated on the roadway – but he says people should always expect the unexpected.

Cut 12 (06) “…that’s difficult.”

Speed was the cause of a fatal accident in Lafayette yesterday according to Lafayette Police Sgt Robin Green. 3 people died when a vehicle traveling at high speed struck a stopped vehicle at E. Broussard and Johnson St. pushing it into a vehicle stopped at the intersection on Johnson St.  Green says the driver of the first vehicle 21-year-old Joseph Prejean of Lafayette died at the scene.

Cut 10 (09) “..also died.” 

They are identified as 36-year-old Cherita Washington and 17-year-old Chase Washington of Duson.

Governor Jeff Landry plans to attend a dogsledding event in Greenland. Jeff Palermo reports it’s part of his new part-time job as President Trump’s special envoy to Greenland.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

New Orleans is in the running to host the 2031 Super Bowl. NOLA-dot-com columnist Jeff Duncan says the city will have to make a strong pitch to the NFL. The Superdome is 50 years old, but Duncan doesn’t think that will be a problem for 2031 but beyond that…

Cut 5 (09) “…trying to fight.”

The three people lost their lives in an early morning crash at the major Lafayette intersection of E. Broussard Rd. and Johnson Street Tuesday have been identified. Lafayette Police Sgt Robin Green says the driver of the first vehicle struck the second causing what she called a domino effect. He is identified as 21-year-old Joseph Prejean of Lafayette. In the second vehicle, a mother and daughter, both of Duson are identified as 36-year-old Cherita Washington and 17-year-old Chase Washington. The occurred around 5 am and the warm winter weather is causing early morning fog, but Sgt Green says fog was not a factor in this crash.

Cut 11 (04) … to occur

The driver of a third vehicle sustained moderate injuries.

By now, we’ve all heard that Louisiana’s moving to closed party primaries this year.  And now the primaries, which were set to happen in April, have been moved to May 16^th. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says she and her office have done a great deal of outreach to get the word out about the change in advance of the primaries.

Cut 12 (08) “…hand out.”

New Orleans is in the running to host the 2031 Super Bowl NOLA-dot-com columnist Jeff Duncan says the NFL is seeking high-end hospitality and event space. By the time the 2031 Super Bowl comes around, the Superdome could potentially be the second oldest stadium in the NFL.

Cut 4 (12) “…a new stadium.”

If New Orleans fails to land the 2031 Super Bowl, the city’s next opportunity will not come until 2038, given scheduling conflicts due to major conventions and Mardi Gras.

An audit of 24 restaurants on the Westbank of New Orleans found that eight of them were not complying with a new law that requires disclosure of serving imported shrimp. SeaD (“seed”) Consulting found that of those eight, seven falsely advertised their shrimp to be locally caught, while staff at the eighth said they didn’t know where the shrimp came from. SeaD Consulting Founder David Williams…

Cut 13 (09)  “…serving local shrimp.”

Governor Jeff Landry tells Fox News Radio he will travel to Greenland in a couple of months as part of his new part-time job as special envoy to Greenland. Landry says he wants to talk with the residents of the arctic island about the benefits of having a closer relationship with the United States…

Cut 6 (09) “…I’m going.”

President Trump has said Greenland is important to the United States for national security purposes.

Three people lost their lives in an early morning crash at major intersection of E. Broussard Rd. and Johnson Street in Lafayette Tuesday, Lafayette Police Sgt Robin Green…

Cut 9 (12) …Johnson Street

Both the second and third vehicles were stopped at a traffic light preparing to turn. The driver of the first vehicle was killed along with a mother and daughter who were in the second vehicle. The driver of the third vehicle sustained moderate injuries.

New Orleans is now back in the running to host the 2031 Super Bowl. So what are the city’s chances of landing the game that year? Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The CDC announced a revised vaccine schedule for children this week. Under the new schedule, vaccines for polio and measles remain on the list of recommended vaccines. But those for the flu, COVID, Hepatitis A & B and others have been moved to the shared decision-making list.  Senator and physician Bill Cassidy says these vaccinations, which have been proven to be safe, can often make the difference between life and death.

Cut 25 (08) “…is so preventable.”

An early morning crash in Lafayette took the lives of three people. It happened a little after 5:00 am when a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on E. Broussard struck another vehicle stopped at a traffic light and the stopped vehicle was pushed through the intersection into another vehicle while the striking vehicle ran into a utility pole. The driver of the initial crash, 21-year-old Joseph Prejean of Lafayette died at the scene. Two people in the second vehicle, 36-year-old Cherita Washington and 17-year-old Chase Washing of Duson also died as a result of their injuries. The person in the last vehicle struck suffered moderate injuries.

Last year in Louisiana, five law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty, compared to three in 2024. That’s the fifth highest in the country and second highest per capita. Nationwide in 2025, the number of line-of-duty deaths reached historic lows says Bill Alexander, the CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Cut 8 (09) “…to be going.”

Across the country, 44 officers were killed in firearm-related incidents, down from 52 in 2024 and 34 officers were killed in traffic-related incidents, down from 44 from the year before.

2026 is going to be a big year for elections in Louisiana, including the U.S. Senate race and several special elections to fill vacancies in the legislature. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Today is Epiphany, the day Christians around the world eat King Cake and celebrate the worship of baby Jesus by the Wisemen. Here in Louisiana January 6^th marks the beginning of Carnival season. Dave Haydel of Haydel Bakery says Mardi Gras comes earlier this year with two fewer weeks in the season but he says last year, we had two weeks of snow and he says king cake prices are the same as last year too.

Cut 13 (02)  “…for everybody.”