New data from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission shows crash injuries fell to a record low last year, but DWI fatalities increased. Joe Gallinaro has more…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

New Census Bureau data shows Louisiana has the highest poverty rate in the nation, with one in five residents living below the poverty line.  Figures out this week show our state’s median household income sits around $60,000 a year, far below the national average of $87,000.

—————————-
It’s LSU against the world, according to research done by Bet-Online Sports and Casino. The sportsbook tracked tweets, hashtags and key phrases from fans across the country on which team fans are rooting for when LSU faces Ole Miss on Saturday and found Louisiana is the only state pulling for LSU. Josh Barton with Bet-Online Sports and Casino

Cut 7 (07) “…at the moment.”

And more bad news for Tiger fans as the team’s availability report lists Quarterback Sam Leavitt as doubtful for Saturday’s game in Oxford.

Good news out of New Orleans as students there are showing the fastest academic growth in the nation. That’s according to a study from Stanford University. It’s a huge turnaround from before Katrina, when more than 60 percent of New Orleans schools were considered academically unacceptable. Now they’re mostly charter schools.  But education reform advocate Leslie Jacobs says even that doesn’t explain the vast improvement.

Cut 13 (09)  “…organizations”

LSU’s availability report for this weekends Ole Miss game is out and Tigers starting quarterback Sam Leavitt is listed as doubtful.  On3-dot-com’s Pete Nakos is reporting Leavitt has a sore throwing shoulder and has been limited all week. If Leavitt can’t play, Elon transfer Landen Clark is expected to be the starting quarterback.

That Top-10 showdown is happening on Saturday and apparently much of the country is siding with one team.  Kace Kieschnick has details…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

—————————–

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is crediting record-high seat belt use for a record-low number of crash injuries in 2025.  Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says seat belt use in Louisiana reached a record high of 88 percent.

Cut 4 (06) “…seat belt usage”

It’s not all good news. The state recorded 766 motor vehicle fatalities in 2025, up 13 from the year before and that also meant an 11 percent uptick in DWI fatalities.

AAA finds it now costs more than one-thousand dollars a month to own a new car. According to the report, drivers will, on average, spend about $1,071 per month. AAA spokesman Don Redman says the big costs to drivers are the depreciation of a vehicle and the finance charges…

Cut 10 (12) “…just last year.”

US Senator Bill Cassidy blames President Trump and US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy for the worst measles outbreak in 35 years. Cassidy, who’s a doctor, made the swing vote that resulted in Kennedy’s confirmation. He told reporters on Tuesday he supported the nomination because Trump and Kennedy promised they would put guardrails around their actions, but that didn’t happen…

Cut 5 (10) “…live up to it.”

The US has confirmed about 33-hundred measles cases this year, including four people who died.

If you sleep in near total darkness, you could be increasing your heart’s overall health.  That’s according to a new study. Tulane University Professor Dr. Lu Qi (“chee”) led the study says data from more than 11-thousand participants showed negative effects of sleeping with lights on.

Cut 10 (12) “…of cardiovascular diseases.”

———————

LSU and Ole Miss’s top-10 showdown this weekend could be the biggest event ever held in Oxford. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Looks like we will get a little less heat and humidity beginning tomorrow.  LSU health climatologist Barry Keim says a back door front will bring many of us temperatures in the upper 60’s.

Cut 14 (13) “…in the air.”

A multi-agency manhunt continues across Caddo and Bossier parishes for an escaped inmate.  Authorities say 24 year old Tra’veon Jackson escaped the custody of a deputy outside a Shreveport hospital late Monday night and has been on the run since. Jackson is considered armed and dangerous and anyone who sees him is urged to call 911 immediately but do not approach him.

US Senator Bill Cassidy blames President Trump and US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy for the worst measles outbreak in 35 years. The President and Kennedy have linked autism to childhood vaccines. Cassidy, who is a doctor that has done vaccine research, says there is crazy stuff being said about vaccines…

Cut 4 (06) “…pediatrician”

The US has confirmed about 33-hundred measles cases this year, about eight percent of the patients have required hospitalizations and four people have died.

——————————————

Our first taste of fall is coming. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The city of Oxford is preparing to welcome hundreds of thousands of college football fans for Saturday’s the top-10 matchup between LSU and Ole Miss. Executive director of Visit Oxford, Kinney Ferris says the city could surpass it’s standing record for most visitors ever.

Cut 8 (09) “…around it.”

Outgoing Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is blaming President Trump and  Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy for the growing number of measle cases in the U-S. Joe Gallinaro has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

All Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles customer service centers are set to reopen today after being closed for two days. OMV offices were closed Monday for staff training and system upgrades but that closure ended up being extended through yesterday.  Officials have said they appreciate the public’s patience and support during the transition.

————————-

The city of Oxford is preparing to welcome hundreds of thousands of college football fans for the top-10 matchup between LSU and Ole Miss this weekend. Kinney Ferris, the executive director of Visit Oxford, says the game is all anyone in town has been talking about for months.

Cut 7 (12) “…being ranked.”

Looks like we will get some relief from the heat and humidity. LSU health climatologist Barry Keim says a back door cold front will swing through the state today and you’ll feel difference starting on Thursday…

Cut 13 (11)  “…some time”

Commercial property owners who have Louisiana Citizens Insurance will have a chance to get coverage from private insurer, Property Insurance Company of America.  The Louisiana Department of Insurance says there are 51-hundred commercial policies in Louisiana. Governor Jeff Landry s…

Cut 11 (11) “…PICA.”

LSU coach Lane Kiffin makes his long-awaited return to Ole Miss as the seventh-ranked Tigers and eighth-ranked Rebels face off on Saturday.  While there’s no doubt a lot of excitement surrounding this match up, Coach Kiffin says wants to make sure his team is focusing on  playing their best.

Cut 14 (11) “…on game day.”
Kickoff is at 6:30 on Saturday.

———————————

A Minden man faces a second-degree murder charge for allegedly killing his uncle in a domestic dispute. Authorities say 21-year-old Luther David Hair was arrested for the shooting of his 58-year-old uncle, Daniel Hair.  Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker…

Cut 9 (10)  “…in my opinion.”

Louisiana is seeing improvements when it comes to absenteeism rates for public school students, thanks in part to the “Power of Presence” Campaign that kicked off last year.  According to Misty Davis, Executive director of attendance strategy for the Department of Education, nearly 22-percent of public-school students were counted as chronically absent during the last school year…down from 28 percent in 2021, but still higher than pre-COVID numbers.

Cut 6 (09) “…the past.”

Commercial property owners who have Louisiana Citizens have an opportunity to lower their insurance costs. Jeff Palermo explains.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A Houma man is facing fines and potential jail time after a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent pulled him over for a traffic stop near LeCompte and discovered a live spotted fawn in the man’s vehicle.  We’re told the violations can mean a fine of up to$950 dollars and 120 days in jail.

——————————
A Minden man is charged with second degree murder after allegedly killing his uncle in a domestic dispute. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker says 58 year old Daniel Hair and his sister were arguing were arguing when 21-year-old Luther David Hair got a gun.

Cut 8 (13) “…at the time.”

Louisiana is seeing improvements when it comes to absenteeism among public school students. Executive director of attendance strategy for the Department of Education, Misty Davis, on the “Power of Presence” campaign launched last year.

Cut 4 (10) “…attendance issues.”

Davis says nearly 22-percent of public-school students were counted as chronically absent during the last school year; that’s down from 28 percent in 2021.

Louisiana is making strides in reducing absenteeism rates for public-school students. Here’s Joe Gallinaro.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Commercial property owners who have Louisiana Citizens Insurance will have a chance to get coverage from a private insurer. Governor Jeff Landry …

Cut 10 (10) “…Louisiana Citizens.”

That company is Property Insurance Company of America.

———————-

A Minden man faces a second-degree murder charge for allegedly killing his uncle in a domestic dispute. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker says 21-year-old Luther David Hair was arrested for the shooting of his 58-year-old uncle, Daniel Hair, at a home in the 34-hundred block of Dorcheat Road.

Cut 7 (12) “…in the head.”

LSU coach Lane Kiffin makes his long-awaited return to Ole Miss as the seventh-ranked Tigers and eighth-ranked Rebels face off on Saturday. Both fan bases have circled the Magnolia Bowl since Kiffin left Oxford for LSU as Ole Miss prepared for the playoffs. He says he knows a lot of hate is coming his way.

Cut 13 (10)  “…any touchdowns.”

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating its first ever quadruple homicide. Jeff Palermo has the tragic details out of Houma…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Election Day is now just 50 days away.  The two biggest races are in districts five and six, which are the two open seats. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says while four prominent Republicans are battling it out, there’s only one prominent Democrat – Pat Moore – on the ballot.

Cut 8 (07) “…their message out.”

————————

A documentary on legendary LSU Heisman winner Billy Cannon premieres tonight,on Louisiana Public Broadcasting.  Cannon won the 1959 Heisman at LSU and spent 11 years in the pros and is revered as an LSU legend.  His daughter Bunnie Cannon…

Cut 5 (12) “…after that.”

“Circles: The Life of Billy Cannon” premieres tonight at 7 on LPB.

The Saints lost their season opener 31-30 versus the Lions in Overtime. Coming back from a 21-nothing deficit in the first half, the black and gold had five straight scoring drives to force an overtime where they came up just short.  Wide receiver Chris Olave had a career-high 182 yards on 10 catches, but he says he didn’t get the most important stat.

Cut 15 (13) “…moving forward.”

Election Day is just 50 days away. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

All Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles customer service centers will be closed today to accommodate staff training and ongoing system modernization efforts. The closure affects both state-run offices and third-party partners. Normal operations are expected to resume tomorrow.

—————————-

A horrific scene for Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s investigators over the weekend after they say 47-year-old Kaegan Solet fatally stabbed four people. Lt. Blake Tabor says a juvenile who was wounded managed to make it to a neighbor’s and was flown to a hospital, listed as critical, but stble.   Tabor says they are not discussing a possible motive with the public.

Cut 11 (09) “…reasons.”

LSU turned it over four times in the first half against Louisiana Tech, but eventually pulled away from the Bulldogs for a 45-14 win. Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 344 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for three touchdowns. But he also threw three interceptions, which he knows can’t happen this Saturday at Ole Miss..…

Cut 16 (13) “…go to work.”