While one insurance company is lowering its homeowners’ insurance premiums, another is raising them. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has approved a rate decrease of 7.5% on average for both SureChoice Underwriters and Elevate. Temple says this is a testament that the insurance reforms passed by the legislature are working.

Cut 4 (11) “…results of that.”

However, Temple says that, unfortunately, State Farm is raising homeowners’ insurance rates by an average of 10 percent. Temple says State Farm uses a different model to calculate rates and the company is projecting higher future losses due to hurricanes.

Louisiana has more money to spend. The Public Affairs Research Council’s Melinda Deslatte says it’s the result of higher-than-expected tax collections…

Cut 8 (08) “…217-million”

How the extra money will be spent will be decided by lawmakers during next year’s regular session.

Of the eight Prep Classic championship games, the Division Two select title game will live on in Louisiana high school football folklore forever. Andrew Greenstein looks back at Friday night’s crazy finish.

Cut 3 (46) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

While one insurance company will be decreasing its homeowners insurance rates, another is getting ready to hike them. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A nine-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was struck by an elderly driver in the parking lot of the Pecanland Mall in Monroe yesterday afternoon. After hitting the child, the driver then drove into a store called Vision Works. No other injuries were reported and the crash remains under investigation.

Louisiana has received an early Christmas gift. The state will not have to worry about a budget deficit next year, and in fact, the Legislature will have more money to spend than anticipated as a result of higher tax collections that were originally projected…..

Cut 9 (08) “…what they forecasted”

That’s Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council. Deslatte says income tax revenues came in higher than projected, even though lower income tax rates went into effect on January 1^st.

The LHSAA Prep Classic ended on Saturday with Edna Karr beating district rival Saint Augustine 49-14 to win their second consecutive state championship. Cougars Coach Brice Brown says what they’ve accomplished the last two years is nothing short of incredible…

Cut 13 (16) “…to their character.”

The Cougars have won 27 in a row.

Haynesville claimed its 18th football state championship on Thursday after beating Mangham, 39-37. The Golden Tornado have the second-most football state titles in Louisiana, just behind John Curtis. Head coach David Franklin says the character of his players this season allowed the team to flourish.

Cut 10 (14) “…on the cake.”

Ruston is making its fourth straight state championship appearance in New Orleans this weekend as the Bearcats look to capture their ninth state title in school history. Head coach Jerrod Baugh says that this year’s senior class may go down as the best in school history.

Cut 15 (15) “…expect that.”

The Iowa Yellow Jackets defeated the North Desoto Griffins by a score of 50-43 to claim their first state championship in school history. Three-star wide receiver and Houston signee Jeremiah Buhsnell caught three touchdown passes.

LSU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will be in New Orleans tomorrow to play in the Compete 4 Cause Classic doubleheader. Women’s coach Kim Mulkey is set to face Louisiana Tech for the first time since becoming the coach at LSU. Mulkey says coaching against her alma mater will bring plenty of emotions.

Cut 16 (17) “…will never dissolve.”

Tip-off at the Smoothie King Center is at 5 p.m.

The Saints are coming off a big 24-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough rushed for 55 yards and two touchdowns in the win and says he is growing more confident with each game he plays.

Cut 18 (16)  “…from that preparation.”

The Saints host the Panthers on Sunday at 3:25 p.m.

Day one of the LHSAA Prep Classic was an entertaining one as Haynesville defeated Mangham by a score of 39-37 in the first game of the day to claim its 18^th football state championship in school history, which is the second most in school history. In the second game of the day, Riverside Academy claimed its second state title after beating Ascension Catholic by a score of 31-21. In the final game of the day, the Dunham Tigers defeated Calvary Baptist Cavaliers by a score of 34-17 behind quarterback Elijah Haven’s 5 total touchdowns to claim their second state title.

Today, the Jena Giants are playing for their first state championship today as they take on the defending champion Sterlington Panthers. Aaron Dietrich, the sports director at KNOE-TV, says the support in LaSalle Parish has taken off.

Cut 10 (14) “…for Jay Roark.”

The SEC revealed the 2026 league schedule for all 16 teams last night. LSU will open up the Lane Kiffin era at home where the Tigers will face Clemson. LSU’s SEC schedule opens up in week three on September 19th, where Lane Kiffin will return to Oxford for the first time to face his former team in Ole Miss. LSU is tasked with a brutal November schedule as the Tigers will host Alabama and Texas in back to back weeks and then will finish the season on the road at Tennessee and at Arkansas. The Tigers will also be at Kentucky and at Auburn this season.

The LSU men’s basketball team will face SMU in the Compete 4 Cause Classic tomorrow night in New Orleans. The Tigers are coming off an ugly loss to Texas Tech, and head coach Matt McMahon says the team has to do better moving forward, starting with the offensive side of the ball.

Cut 17 (13)  “…three-point shot.”

Tipoff between the Tigers and Mustangs in the Smoothie King Center is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.

The LSU Board of Supervisors approved contracts for several new football coaches today, including head coach Lane Kiffin, defensive coordinator Blake Baker, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., tight ends coach Joe Cox, offensive line coach Eric Wolford, wide receivers coach George McDonald, quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, and strength and conditioning coach Nick Savage.

LSU freshman cornerback DJ Pickett was named to the SEC Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC Team after recording 30 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions.

LSU Athletics and Nike have announced an extension to their five-decade-long partnership through 2036, Director of Athletics Verge Ausberry announced on Thursday. In addition to the school extending its partnership, Nike has signed a total of 10 LSU athletes across seven different sports, which include Kailin Chio of gymnastics, Derek Curiel and Casan Evans of baseball, Tori Edwards and Jayden Heavener of softball, DJ Thomas of basketball, ZaKiyah Johnson of basketball and Jurnee Robinson of volleyball.

The Haynesville Golden Tornadoes became the first Louisiana High School team to bring home a state title this year after they defeated Mangham in a thriller by a score of 39-37 in the Division 4 non-select championship game. Four-star safety and LSU signee Isaiah Washington rushed for 86 yards with two touchdowns and had an 81-yard pick-six. With the win, Haynesville now has 18 total state championships in school history.

The LHSAA Prep Classic is underway and runs through the end of Saturday. Tomorrow’s first matchup of the day features a Division 2 non-select matchup between the North Desoto Griffins and Iowa Yellow Jackets. North Desoto senior quarterback Luke Delafield led the Griffins to the state championship game as a freshman in 2022. Delafield returns to the Dome as a senior and has the chance to bring North Desoto its first football title in school history. Delafield says he’s stoked to be back in New Orleans.

Cut 11 (11) “…super excited.”

Kickoff in New Orleans tomorrow is at noon.

LSU’s hiring of Lane Kiffin as its new head football coach is poised to yield a big economic impact for both the school and the City of Baton Rouge. Ever since LSU poached Kiffin from Ole Miss, the team has had more than 15-thousand new season ticket requests, as well as a large uptick in corporate partner and donor interest. LSU economics professor Dek Terrell says the real impact will come later.

Cut 10 (09) “…of that nature.”

LSU Athletics and Nike have announced an extension to their five-decade-long partnership through 2036, Director of Athletics Verge Ausberry announced on Thursday. In addition to the school extending its partnership, Nike has signed a total of 10 LSU athletes across seven different sports, which include Kailin Chio of gymnastics, Derek Curiel and Casan Evans of baseball, Tori Edwards and Jayden Heavener of softball, DJ Thomas of basketball, ZaKiyah Johnson of basketball and Jurnee Robinson of volleyball.

The LHSAA Prep Classic in the Superdome starts today. The second game of the day is a Division Four select matchup between the Riverside Rebels and the Ascension Catholic Bulldogs. Spencer Verrett of the LHSAA Network says the Rebels have an advantage at the line of scrimmage.

Cut 5 (12) “…defensive line operate.”

A new professional football team is coming to Monroe this summer. The city is getting a team in the Arena League. The new Monroe team will play its games at the Monroe Civic Center, and league owner Jeff Holmes says the games will feature some exciting entertainment to go along with the exciting football action.

Cut 15 (08) “…of that nature.”

The league is holding a name-the-team contest for Monroe’s newest professional sports franchise.

The New Orleans Pelicans return to action tonight as they face the Portland Trail Blazers at 7 p.m.