Louisiana has made strides in reducing the state’s chronic absenteeism rate among public school students. Chronic absenteeism rose following the COVID pandemic to a high of nearly 25-percent for the 2023-24 school year; but last year, the rate dropped two-percent. Misty Davis, the executive director of attendance strategies at the department of education, says a task force was formed to address absences.

Cut 10 (07) “…in school?”

LSU head football coach Brian Kelly says starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has been dealing with a torso injury since fall camp….

Cut 16 (13) “…the football”

The Tigers will host Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday night.

McNeese State is celebrating its largest enrollment increase in 22 years as 65-hundred students are enrolled for the fall semester that’s up from 62-hundred in 2024. President Wade Rousse credits the increase in enrollment to a robust advertising and marketing campaign…

Cut 6 (11) “…a positive impact”

Rousse says 78-percent of McNeese’s enrollment comes from the five-parish area that the school has traditionally focused on.

Authorities continue to investigate a murder-suicide in Bossier City that also saw two officers get shot. Bossier City P-D Sergeant Shawn Poudrier (Poo-dree-ur) says the officers injures are not life threatening, but a man shot himself after fatally shooting a woman in a domestic violence incident. Poudrier says once SWAT officers entered the home, they found a disturbing scene…

Cut 15 (10) “…another room”

The man is in critical condition.

Ground was broken today on a massive liquefied natural gas production and export facility in Calcasieu Parish, named Louisiana LNG. Australian energy firm, Woodside Energy Group, is spending 17-point-five billion dollars to build facility. The project will create thousands of construction jobs and thousands more once production begins in 2029. Governor Jeff Landry thanks Woodside Energy for choosing Louisiana…

Cut 6 (08) “…be delivered.”

Louisiana already has four active LNG terminals.

LSU scores a major commitment in quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston. He’s currently a junior from Evangel Christian Academy in Cotton Valley, and ESPN has him as the top pocket passer in the country. Lee Breechen (brick-KEEN) with Louisiana Football Magazine says Houston has a big time arm.

Cut 3 (09) “…hard to tackle.”

Behind a dominant defensive performance, the third-ranked Tigers beat Florida, 20-10, at Tiger Stadium Saturday night to improve to 3-and-0 on the season. Things got off to a shaky start defensively when Whit Weeks was ejected for targeting on LSU’s third defensive play of the game. Later, his brother West left the game with a calf injury. But Coach Brian Kelly said his defense never flinched in the face of adversity.

Cut 13 (12)  “…but he’s game.”

That third Weeks is their freshman brother Zach.

The Saints are 0-2 for the first time since 2017 after losing to San Francisco 26-21 in the Superdome. New Orleans has been competitive in its two losses, but Coach Kellen Moore’s team is not doing enough to win…

Cut 19 (18) “…go from here”

The Saints are at Seattle Sunday.

LSU’s defense shuts down Florida and sends a clear message to the rest of the SEC. Andrew Greenstein is at Tiger Stadium with more.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU football received a commitment today from one of the top quarterbacks in the Class of 2027, Pop Houston from Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport.

And he’s done it again; Lafayette pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis set a 14^th  world record as he cleared 20 feet 8 inches at the World Championships in Tokyo.

It’s been a record-breaking year for whooping (HOOP-ing) cough, but State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says cases are starting to subside…

cut 5 (15) “…even larger decrease”

Sokol says Louisiana has confirmed 379 whooping cough cases. She says 61 people have been hospitalized, with 70-percent of them being under the age of one. Sokol urges expectant mothers to get vaccinated.

Tens of thousands of Louisiana Blue policyholders will soon be getting rebate checks in the mail. Mike Bertaut (BURR-tow), the senior healthcare economist with Louisiana Blue, says Louisiana Blue has been very proactive in holding the line on healthcare costs.

Cut 10 (07) “…24 and 25.”

And since Louisiana Blue was successful in that regard, Bertaut says Louisiana Blue is required to rebate money back to eligible policyholders.

Louisiana has set a record this year for whooping cough cases. State health officials have confirmed 379 cases, which have led to 61 hospitalizations, with 70-percent of them being under the age of one. State Epidemiologist Thereasa Sokol on why we are seeing so many cases…

Cut 6 (13) “…being detected”

It looks like a long season for the Saints as they have dropped their first two games, both of them at home. Yesterday, San Francisco’s backup quarterback Mac Jones threw three touchdown passes in a 26-21 win over the Black and Gold. New Orleans defensive end Cam Jordan…

Cut 21 (06) “…finish”

The Saints are the road the next two weeks, Seattle this Sunday, than Buffalo.

A groundbreaking ceremony is taking place this morning in Calcasieu Parish for a 17-point-five billion dollar LNG project that will be operated by Woodside Energy, which is based in Australia. It means thousands of jobs for the area and Calcasieu Parish President Judd Barres says they are ready to supply the workforce…

Cut 8 (12) “….big projects”

About 113-thousand Louisiana Blue policyholders will receive a rebate check from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. Spokesperson Mike Bertaut says those who are eligible for a rebate are those who buy their policies directly from Louisiana Blue and not through an employer. He says that amounts to more than 113-thousand policyholders.

Cut 12 (08) “…a big number.”

Eligible policyholders should be receiving their explanation letters soon, and their rebates should arrive sometime in the next few weeks.

State and local officials will break ground this morning on a 17-point-5-billion-dollar LNG export facility in Calcasieu Parish. Louisiana already has four operational LNG export terminals. Calcasieu Parish President Judd Barres says southwest Louisiana is the place for LNG because of all of the natural gas pipelines plus location…

Cut 9 (09)  “…already.”

Governor Landry says this is the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana history. Woodside Energy Group will operate the facility and they are based in Australia.

Blue Cross and Bule Shield of Louisiana announces 113-thousand policyholders who were covered last year by Louisiana Blue or HMO Louisiana will receive rebate checks. Mike Bertaut says the rebate checks are the results of Louisiana Blue’s efforts to hold down healthcare costs…

Cut 11 (10) “…so we are”

The State Fire Marshal’s office continues to investigate an early morning fire at Fat Belly’s Diner in Opelousas that killed three people. The restaurant owner, his girlfriend and her nine-year-old daughter all died in the blaze on Saturday. Investigators do not know the cause, but the building did not have working smoke alarms.

It’s been a record breaking year for whooping (HOOP-ing) cough in Louisiana. Jeanne (“zhahn”) Burns reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

It’s a historic day for southwest Louisiana as state and local officials break ground on a 17.5 billion dollar LNG project that will be built and operated by Woodside Energy Group. The liquified natural gas production and export facility in Calcasieu is called Louisiana L-N-G. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Judd Bares says Louisiana LNG is expected to generate significant economic growth…

Cut 7 (06) “…good job.”

The LNG facility is expected to become operational in 2029 and employ thousands.

It’s been a record-breaking year for whooping (HOOP-ing) cough. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says through the first eight months of this year, Louisiana has confirmed 379 whooping cough cases.

Cut 4 (13) “…had 214 cases.”

Sokol urges expectant mothers to get vaccinated against the disease with each pregnancy.

LSU football is ranked third in the A-P poll and is 3-and-0 after intercepting five passes in Saturday’s 20 to 10 win over Florida in the SEC opener. After the game, Coach Brian Kelly snapped at a reporter for asking him about the team’s struggles on offense…

Cut 15 (16) “…tired of it”

It looks like it will be a long season for the Saints as they fell to 0-and-2 with a 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Quarterback Spencer Rattler threw three touchdown passes but it wasn’t enough…

Cut 20 (19) “…changes the game”

New Orleans is at Seattle this Sunday.