In a long-threatened move, Republicans have withdrawn all federal funding from PBS and NPR stations. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Lake Tahoe for the annual meeting of the National Lieutenant Governors Association.

Cut 3 (06) “…and share ideas.”

Lieutenant Governor Nungesser says the lieutenant governors are discussing a wide range of topics affecting their respective states.

————————-

Lafayette native and former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier is returning to Louisiana to call it a career tonight versus Max Holloway. It has been ten years since Poirier fought in his home state, but he says now is not the time for reminiscing.

Cut 6 (12) “…love Louisiana (cheers).”

Poirier has defeated Holloway twice before.

The SEC preseason poll released Friday has LSU finishing in fourth, close behind Alabama in third. Texas and Georgia took the top two spots, and there’s a clear cutoff between he top four teams and the rest of the field. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says the Tigers need to finish better than predicted.

Cut 13 (11)  “…finish fourth.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Lake Tahoe for the annual meeting of the National Lieutenant Governors Association.  He says they’ll be discussing a wide range of topics affecting their respective states.

Cut 4 (12) “…do with that.”

Republicans had been trying to cut off all federal funding for PBS and NPR for years and they’ve finally made it happen. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says the broadcasting landscape has changed dramatically since in the last fifty years.

Cut 11 (11) “…that are left.”

The bill that strips more than one-billion dollars from public TV and radio is now awaiting the president’s signature

——————————

The SEC preseason poll released yesterday has left LSU fans shocked as the Tigers are projected to finish fourth.  And South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers was voted preseason first team All-SEC over LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, another big surprise for another shocking decision for Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne.

Cut 15 (10) “…by that one.”

The poll has Texas, Georgia and Alabama finishing in the top three spots.

Lafayette native and former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier closes out his career tonight taking on Max Holloway tonight at the Smoothie King Center.  Poirrier will be raising money for his The Good Fight Foundation, auctioning off everything he wears in his final fight to support the Lafayette area.
Cut 7 (11) “…the good fight.”

The Smoothie King Center will host Lafayette native Dustin Poirier’s final UFC fight tonight. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The latest SEC preseason poll has LSU finishing in fourth, behind Texas, Georgia, and Alabama. But with the top incoming transfer class, Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne thinks LSU has enough to prove voters wrong.

Cut 14 (10) “…in the SEC.”

—————————

Republicans did what they have long sought to do – they have cut off all federal funding to PBS and NPR stations to the tune of more than one-billion dollars. Senator John Kennedy was among those who led the push because of what he says is a liberal slant in PBS and NPR’s news coverage.

Cut 12 (12) “…the taxpayers’ dime.”

Jay Curtis, the general manager at Monroe NPR station KEDM, says all public radio and TV stations play an important role in their respective local communities.

Cut 10 (07) “…every single day.”

Kennedy said the broadcasting landscape has changed dramatically since the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was founded more than 50 years ago.

In a long-threatened move, Republicans have withdrawn all federal funding from PBS and NPR stations. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Lake Tahoe for the annual meeting of the National Lieutenant Governors Association.

Cut 3 (06) “…and share ideas.”

Lieutenant Governor Nungesser says the lieutenant governors are discussing a wide range of topics affecting their respective states.

————————-

Lafayette native and former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier is returning to Louisiana to call it a career tonight versus Max Holloway. It has been ten years since Poirier fought in his home state, but he says now is not the time for reminiscing.

Cut 6 (12) “…love Louisiana (cheers).”

Poirier has defeated Holloway twice before.

The SEC preseason poll released Friday has LSU finishing in fourth, close behind Alabama in third. Texas and Georgia took the top two spots, and there’s a clear cutoff between he top four teams and the rest of the field. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says the Tigers need to finish better than predicted.

Cut 13 (11)  “…finish fourth.”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow announced last week she’s co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment to ban the burning of the U.S. flag.  She says it’s about protecting the flag and what it represents.  In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled in a landmark cast that flag burning is a form of symbolic speech protected under the First Amendment.  Letlow says…

Cut 15 (13) “…is just wrong.”

A proposed amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both the House and Senate and then ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Louisiana Tech has officially accepted the invitation to join the Sun Belt and will discuss the decision today at a 3 p-m press conference. KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich says it will be a big step towards saving money and selling tickets for both Louisiana Tech and ULM.

Cut 4 (09) “…fired up.”

—————————————-

If you hold a library card at the state library or at the library systems in Iberville, Livingston, Tangipahoa or Rapides parishes, you can now use your card to get into a museum! It’s an expansion of the State Library’s “Check Out Louisiana” program, which was originally developed to allow cardholders to obtain passes to state parks. State Librarian Meg Placke (PLACK-ee)

Cut 8 (08) “…with our museums.”

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center has launched the Pennington Generation research study to study childhood obesity. Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, an associate executive director for population and public health science at Pennington Biomedical, says the study just got underway, with about 90 kids having participated so far. In all, he says about 15-hundred will participate over 10-20 years..

Cut 12 (08) “…of getting pregnant.”

Certain library cardholders can use their library cards to obtain free admission to state museums. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A Flood Watch has been issued for all of Southeast Louisiana through Saturday due to the threat of tropical rain.  Experts say whether or not a tropical depression or storm develops, Louisiana should still be prepared for multiple days of rain. Latest forecasts show some areas of Southeast Louisiana could get see more than five inches of rain.

——————————-

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center has launched the Pennington Generation research study to study childhood obesity. Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, an associate executive director for population and public health science at Pennington says Louisiana has several characteristics that may contribute to childhood obesity.

Cut 11 (06) “…related to food.”

Katsmarzyk says so far about 90 kids have participated in the study.

Louisiana Tech has officially accepted the invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference and will discuss the decision today at a 3 p-m press conference. The bulldogs can depart for the Sun Belt as soon as 2026 and were invited to join no later than July of 2027. . KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich hopes things will move quickly.

Cut 6 (13) “…would generate?”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow announced last week she’d be co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment to ban the burning of the U.S. flag with Arkansas Republican Steve Womack. Letlow says this amendment is about protecting the flag and what it represents.

Cut 13 (11)  “…from desecration.”

A proposed amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both the House and Senate and then ratified by three-fourths of the states.

The leader of a local rap label has been arrested as part of a drug bust in East Baton Rouge Parish, along with several others.   Authorities say the rap leader is 31 year old Jornell Keelen, who’s facing several charges.  East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says more than 2,200 lethal doses of fentanyl, along with other drugs and items, were seized during the drug bust.

———————————————

After 21 years, Louisiana Tech is headed back to the Sun Belt. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center has launched the Pennington Generation research study to study childhood obesity. Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, an associate executive director for population and public health science at Pennington says the study looks at lifestyle factors.

Cut 10 (08) “…treat childhood obesity.”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow is cosponsoring a constitutional amendment banning the burning of the American flag. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

A Flood Watch has been issued for all of Southeast Louisiana through Saturday due to the threat of tropical rain.  That, as the National Hurricane Center monitors a tropical disturbance that models indicate could form a tropical depression or storm.  Regardless of development, experts say Louisiana should prepare for multiple days of rain. Latest forecasts show some areas of Southeast Louisiana could get see more than five inches of rain.

——————————-

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center has launched the Pennington Generation research study to study childhood obesity. Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, an associate executive director for population and public health science at Pennington Biomedical, says the study is designed to examine the influence of lifestyle factors in Louisiana as they relate to childhood obesity.

Cut 10 (08) “…treat childhood obesity.”

If you hold a library card at the state library or at the library systems in Iberville, Livingston, Tangipahoa or Rapides parishes, you can now use your card to get into a museum! State Librarian Meg Placke (PLACK-ee) says a limited number of passes are available.

Cut 7 (12) “…World War Two Museum.”

Senator Bill Cassidy keeps adding to his campaign warchest. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The funeral service for Reverend Jimmy Swaggart will be held at Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge beginning this morning at 10. Swaggart family spokesperson Megan Kelly

Cut 10 (13) “…not in..”

——————

Naming rights for LSU’s new on campus arena appear to be nearly done. The university and Our Lady of the Lake Health are in negotiations could be finalized in the coming months.  The question is who will build the arena after the CEO of the firm, which was the sole finalist to build it, was indicted for allegedly rigging the bid process for a similar project at UT Austin. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says there’s a lot of unknown.

Cut 12 (11) “…right now reeling.”

A Louisiana State Trooper was arrested yesterday, following a domestic violence investigation.  Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s officials say 28 year old Brent Crochet of Gray is facing felony counts of domestic abuse, aggravated assault, and simple criminal damage to property after he hit a woman in the face, threatened her with a firearm, and damaged her cellphone.  Crochet turned himself in yesterday and was released after posting $45-thousand dollar bail.

LSU’s  new arena project is facing another delay after the CEO of the firm, who was the sole finalist to build the facility, was indicted for allegedly rigging the bid process for a similar project. The arena was originally scheduled to break ground in July of last year. But plans to award the bid to Oak View Group weren’t announced until May of this year. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne said the arena was expected to be finished in 2029.

Cut 14 (12) “…of this year.”

There is word that Our Lady of the Lake and the University are in talks about naming rights for the new facility.  We’re told that could be finalized in the coming months.

Latest reports suggest Louisiana Tech now has the votes to become the newest member of the Sun Belt Conference. Earlier this week, rumors began swirling that Louisiana Tech was the favorite to join the conference, which would make it the third Louisiana team in the Sun Belt.  We’re told the vote is slated for Monday.

—————————
Funeral services for world-renowned televangelist Jimmy Swaggart will be held in Baton Rouge this weekend.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

They made it official in Vernon Parish Friday morning – Fort Johnson is now Fort Polk once again. But instead of being named for Confederate General Leonidas Polk, it’s now named for General James H. Polk. His son, James H. Polk the Third says his father was a true hero.

Cut 7 (10) “…who knew him.”