A groundbreaking ceremony takes place tomorrow in Ascension Parish for the construction of the River Parishes Community College Donaldsonville campus. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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President Trump makes another endorsement, and one analyst says this one’s a jaw-dropper. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Tomorrow afternoon officials will break ground on the new River Parishes Community College Donaldsonville campus. Louisiana Community and Technical College System president Richard Nelson says this facility will train workers for the Hyundai Steel mill that will be built over the next few years on the Westbank of the Mississippi River in Donaldsonville….
Cut 3 (04) “…advanced manufacturing.”
Construction on the Hyundai Steel Mill is expected to be completed by 2029. It will employ 13-hundred workers with an average salary of 95-thousand dollars a year.
Nelson says the RPCC Donaldsonville campus will expand technical training opportunities, strengthen the regional talent pipeline and support future workforce needs of industry partners in the River Parishes…
Cut 4 (06) “…these jobs.”
Nelson says construction of the RPCC Donaldsonville campus will cost the state 30-million dollars…
Cut 5 (10) “…game changer.”
Hyundai is making a nearly six-billion dollar investment in the construction of this steel mill in Ascension Parish
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President Trump has endorsed State Senator Blake Miguez in the District Five U.S. House race, just one day after Miguez announced his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race to run for the House. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says when he heard that, his jaw dropped to the ground.
Cut 6 (09) “…crowded Republican field.”
Stockley says Trump’s endorsement of Miguez will almost certainly make that crowded field significantly less so.
Cut 7 (07) “…to some degree.”
Miguez lives in New Iberia, which is quite a distance from the Fifth District boundary. By law, candidates do not have to live in the district they run in; they just need to live in the state. Still, Stockley says it’s in their best interest if they do.
Cut 8 (10) “…in that district?”
Other Republicans who have confirmed their intention to enter the race include state senators Stewart Cathey of Monroe and Rick Edmonds of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge State Representative Dixon McMakin and Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell of Monroe. Religious scholar Larry Foy, who has never held elected office, announced his candidacy as a Democrat before Julia Letlow launched her Senate run, abandoning her House re-election bid.
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The city of Monroe, which has debris all over the place from the ice storm, is waiting to see if the disaster will be classified as Category A Emergency Work. This designation would mean Monroe and other communities will be reimbursed by the federal government at a higher rate for debris removal. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis is confident this disaster will receive the Category A designation…
Cut 9 (11) “…designation.”
Ellis estimates the cost of debris removal for Monroe is 15-million dollars.
The ice storm knocked out power to more than 45-thousand customers in Ouachita Parish. Today there are still hundreds without power. Ellis says once the power is fully restored, they will begin talking with utility providers about a more resilient power grid…
Cut 10 (12) “…start there.”
Despite the lengthy power outages, the cleanup and the cold weather last week, Ellis says the people of Monroe have kept a positive attitude….
Cut 11 (09) “…spirits are up.”
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LSU’s football roster has undergone a massive turnover. 38 football players from the 2025 football team entered the transfer portal and coach Lane Kiffin says after a 7-6 season, the personnel needed to change.
Cut 12 (14) “…needed to be changes.”
When it comes to recruiting, Kiffin doesn’t like to take no for an answer. When top transfers Sam Leavitt and Jordan Seaton left Baton Rouge without committing, Kiffin hopped on a plane in an effort to secure a pledge from both. Kiffin says he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Cut 13 (13) “…how I work.”