Louisiana steps onto the worldwide stage tomorrow with a float at the Tournament of Roses Parade. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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Backed with an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump, Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson is confident he will be re-elected as House Speaker. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Tonight is a big night for fireworks and the State Fire Marshal’s office is urging everyone to enjoy them the safest way possible. That means detonating devices 200 feet away from structures and vehicles. Never allowing children to light fireworks, lighting devices one at time and Deputy Chief Nick Heinen says never use fireworks while impaired…

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A recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that fireworks-related injuries are on the rise across the country.

Heinen says there have been over 300 retail fireworks permits issued for this end-of-the-year season and to only buy fireworks from certified fireworks retailers.

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Heinen says to ensure a safe celebration, set up a Safety Zone.  Use stakes, twine, or decorations to mark a safe area away from the fireworks display.

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Just one more day before Louisiana steps onto the worldwide stage at the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has been hands-on in the design and construction of the float, which ties in beautifully with this year’s theme.

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Nungesser says the float features all the unique things that make Louisiana such a special place to live.

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And what better way to showcase “Louisiana Saturday Night” than with a rendition of a song by that same title! Timothy Wayne, who’s currently studying at LSU, majoring in history, released his version of the 1980 Mel McDaniel hit earlier this month, and he will be on the float performing that song in front of a worldwide television audience. Nungesser says it will be a very proud moment for Wayne, for LSU and for the State of Louisiana.

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The Tournament of Roses Parade airs tomorrow morning at ten on NBC and ABC. Tune in early, the float and Timothy Wayne will be featured sometime in the first hour.

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Louisiana Republican Congressman Mike Johnson says President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement of him for House Speaker was supposed to come on New Year’s Day, but Johnson told News Radio 710 KEEL in Shreveport he would like the endorsement to come earlier

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In a social media post, Trump said Speaker Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man who will do the right thing. Because the GOP has a razor thin majority in the House, Johnson’s re-election as House Speaker is not a guarantee. Louisiana’s Fourth District Congressman says Trump’s complete and total endorsement will certainly help in his re-election chances…

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A new Congress will be sworn in on Friday and that’s when the U-S House will vote on Speaker. A serious challenger to Johnson has not emerged…

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The Republican from Bossier Parish has been House Speaker since October 2023. Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie has already said he will not vote for Johnson, so Johnson can not afford to lose anymore Republican votes.

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Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is departing Congress after nearly a decade, choosing not to run for reelection due to redistricting that significantly altered his constituency.

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Graves focused on practical infrastructure and disaster recovery projects rather than high-profile legislation. His accomplishments include the Red Snapper regulation returned to the state, using technology to comply with the Privacy Act, and upgrades to Baton Rouge-area highways like the Washington Street exit.

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Reflecting on Congress, Graves criticized the rise of theatrics over substance and emphasized his pride in meaningful achievements.

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Mike Johnson just got a huge boost in his quest to retain the speaker’s gavel. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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A lifelong Louisiana Democrat remembers President Jimmy Carter who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed Mike Johnson to return as Speaker of the House. In a post on social media, Trump says Johnson would provide, in his words, immediate relief from all the destructive policies of the last administration. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says Trump’s endorsement is a 180 of sorts.

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With Republicans holding a very slim majority in the 119th Congress, it will take a nearly unified G-O-P caucus to agree on a speaker. Hogan says Trump’s endorsement is intended to achieve that unanimity.

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Hogan says it’s in Trump’s best interest to get the House Republican caucus on the same page, and quickly.

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Hogan says it’s unlikely that Hogan will draw any significant challengers to his speakership.

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America is mourning the death of our 39^th president. Jimmy Carter passed away yesterday at the age of 100. The Democrat from Georgia served only one term in the White House, but might be best known for what he did after politics. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says Carter went around the world to resolve conflict, promote democracy, protect human rights and prevent disease….

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He and his wife also helped rebuild thousands of home for Habitat for Humanity, including several in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina.

When he ran for President in 1976, he held a rally in Jackson Square in New Orleans, and Campbell remembers the personal touch he provided in northwest Louisiana

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Carter lost in his re-election bid to Ronald Reagan in 1980. But Campbell says Carter didn’t stop trying to make the world a better place…

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Lafourche Parish has joined the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, aligning its boundaries with the historical Atchafalaya Basin.  Executive Director Justin Lemoine aims to develop a recreational master plan and identify culturally significant sites in Lafourche.

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Previously excluded due to an oversight when the Heritage Area was established in 2006, Lafourche’s inclusion rectifies a gap in representing Louisiana’s unique culture. Lemoine says this inclusion allows the parish to access federal funding for recreational projects and historical preservation through the National Park Service’s program.

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The bipartisan legislation, spearheaded by U-S House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and supported by Louisiana lawmakers, passed swiftly and was signed into law by President Biden.  Lemoine says the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area spans 15 parishes and over 11,000 square miles, showcasing Louisiana’s distinct food, music, and cultural ties to the land.

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