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.”

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Woodside Energy Group breaks ground on the 17.5 billion dollar liquefied natural gas production and export facility it’s building in Calcasieu Parish.  Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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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.”

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It’s been a record-breaking year for whooping (HOOP-ing) cough, and we still have three and a half months to go. 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 says 61 people have been hospitalized with whooping cough this year, with 70-percent of them being under the age of one. Sokol says over the last couple months, cases have started to subside.

Cut 5 (15) “…even larger decrease.”

Sokol says part of the reason why we’ve had so many cases of whooping cough this year is because of increased awareness.

Cut 6 (14) “…are being detected.”

Sokol says the best way to prevent whooping cough is for expectant mothers to get vaccinated against the disease with each pregnancy.

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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 state economic development department says the project will support thousands of jobs during the construction phase as well as thousands more once operational. Bares says Calcasieu is ready to supply the workforce…

Cut 8 (12) “…big projects.”

Governor Landry says this is the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana history. Once operational in 2029, Louisiana LNG will produce up to 16.5 million metric tons of LNG per year. Louisiana already has four operational LNG export terminals. Barres says southwest Louisiana is the place for LNG because of all of the natural gas pipelines plus location…

Cut 9 (09)  “…already.”

The groundbreaking ceremony will be at around 10 AM.

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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.

Cut 11 (10) “…so we are.”

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.

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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 defense stepped up and intercepted Florida quarterback D.J. Lagway five times, including a 58-yard pick-six by Dashawn Spears that gave LSU the 20-10 lead that would hold up the rest of the game. The interception was Spears’ second of the game, and Kelly said his performance was a long time coming.

Cut 14 (06) “…on the field.”

After Kelly opened his postgame news conference by praising his defense who essentially won the game for the Tigers, WBRZ-TV reporter Michael Cauble asked him about his team’s struggles on offense. Kelly was furious and let Cauble have it.

Cut 15 (16) “…tired of it.”

One offensive touchdown, just 10 first downs, 4-for-14 on third downs, and only 51 yards rushing until Caden Durham finally broke free for a 51-yard run with 1.49 left, but LSU coach Brian Kelly was not in the mood in the postgame to talk about the Tigers’ problems on offense.

Cut 16 (15) “…some respect.”

LSU hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday night.

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Louisiana Tech started Conference USA Play with an emphatic 49-14 win over New Mexico State. Redshirt sophomore Blake Baker made his first start and threw for 182 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 103 yards and a score. Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie says his guys played hard…

Cut 17 (22)  “…played well.”

It was also a good game for the defense as Tech did not allow a score in the second half, limiting New Mexcio State to just 27 yards rushing in the second half. Kam Franklin and Jakari Foster intercepted passes. Cumbie on the play of the defense…

Cut 18 (13) “…control the front.”

Tech hosts Southern Miss this Saturday.

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The Saints are 0-2 for the first time since 2017 after losing to San Francisco 26-21 in the Superdome. San Francisco’s backup quarterback, Mac Jones, threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers were 8-of-15 on third down and converted on several third-and-long situations. Coach Kellen Moore says his team is still a work in progress…

Cut 19 (18) “…go from here”

San Francisco took a 9-0 lead in the second quarter, and the Saints never could catch up. Saints starting quarterback Spencer Rattler completed just one of his first seven passes and he finished the night throwing for 207 yards and three touchdowns. Rattler is still winless as a starting QB

Cut 20 (19) “…changes the game.”

A police chief in a small city in Rapides Parish finds himself on the other side of the law. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The case of the stolen Abraham Lincoln statue appears to be solved, but the statue is in pieces, and its owner is upset. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The acting police chief in Cheneyville, a town of less than 500 in Rapides Parish, finds himself on the other side of the law. State Police Master Trooper Casey Wallace says 37-year-old Charles Isaac is charged with molestation of a juvenile and sexual battery of a child under the age of 13.

Cut 3 (13) “…to that individual.”

Wallace says Isaac was not on duty when the alleged abuse occurred. He says all defendants will be treated the same way, regardless of their occupations.

Cut 4 (14) “…citizens of Louisiana.”

Wallace says if Isaac is found guilty, he will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of his role in law enforcement, let alone as a police chief.

Cut 5 (14) “…for the law.”

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Three people have been arrested for allegedly stealing a 64-pound, solid silver statue of former President Abraham Lincoln from the Houmas House Estate and Gardens in Ascension Parish. Houmas House owner Kevin Kelly says unfortunately the suspects cut up the statue in several pieces and sold parts at a pawn shop and a gold and silver shop in Metairie…

Cut 6 (09) “…it is.”

Kelly credits the pawn shop owner for recognizing the solen statue from Kelly’s Facebook post and calling the authorities. The three people arrested are 28-year-old Steve Coronado of Raceland, 20-year-old Alma Fontenot of New Iberia and 49-year-old Bruce Shelvin of Avondale. Kelly believes more people were involved…

Cut 7 (15) “…Houmas House even exists.”

The statue’s value is estimated at 166-thousand dollars. Detectives say the thieves broke a window and grabbed the statue, without setting off the motion detectors in the historic mansion. Kelly says many of his guests called the statue of Abraham Lincoln their favorite item on the tour. He says he’ll try to put it on display again, but he doesn’t have Lincoln’s head…

Cut 8 (14) “..what it was.”

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The website RV Trader is out with its rankings for the best tailgating destinations in the SEC, and LSU emerged as the number one destination in the conference. Scott Smith, a tailgating expert with RV Trader, says many factors rose LSU to the top.

Cut 9 (12)  “…really a festival.”

Smith says Louisiana’s world famous cuisine had a lot to do with LSU taking the top spot in its SEC tailgating destination ranking.

Cut 10 (11) “…part of that.”

Smith says he also noticed that LSU tailgaters are also very willing to share their culture with others.

Cut 11 (14) “…and the inclusiveness.”

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The LSU rush attack comes in at 85^th in the country, averaging just 118 yards on the ground a game. Head coach Brian Kelly knows the overall offense needs to better and he says that he wants to make sure that his team wins the line of scrimmage when it plays Florida on Saturday.

Cut 12 (14) “…doing it”

With sophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green listed as a game-time decision with an MCL sprain, LSU will have to rely heavily on Bauer Sharp to be effective against Florida. Head coach Brian Kelly likes the traits and intensity Sharp brings to the field each week.

Cut 13 (13)  “…four quarters.”

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The Saints defense will have to contain one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league in 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. Linebacker Demario Davis says that McCaffrey’s versatility makes it difficult for defenses to stop him.

Cut 14 (14) “…too much.”

It’s going to be “Return of the Mac” in New Orleans on Sunday as former Patriots starting quarterback Mac Jones is expected to get the start for the San Francisco 49ers with Brock Purdy injured. Defensive end Cameron Jordan says that although Jones is not very mobile, it will be important for the Saints’ pass rush to throw him off his timing and make him uncomfortable.

Cut 15 (13) “…his spot.”