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.”

With northeast Louisiana thawing out from the ice storm, the daunting recovery task is getting underway in earnest. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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Lane Kiffin speaks! Andre Champagne was at Kiffin’s first press conference since his introductory news conference that was held two months ago.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees is expected to be announced tonight as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Certain Delta Utilities customers who are struggling to pay their natural gas bills can now get some much-needed assistance. Sarah McLaughlin Porteous (PORT-ee-uhs) with Delta Utilities says the company has just launched an initiative called DU Cares.

Cut 4 (07) “…program for us.”

There are eligibility requirements, including income relative to household size, and customers facing unexpected financial hardship need to fill out an application either online or in person. Porteous says the assistance is meant to be limited in nature. (People can get up to 250 dollars one time in a 12-month period.)

Cut 5 (04) “…12-month period.”

Porteous says the response so far has been very encouraging.

Cut 6 (09) “…than 300 applications.”

Delta Utilities has committed up to 200-thousand dollars to fund the program. Once all the money is allocated, the program will be temporarily paused until additional funding is available.

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Northeast Louisiana is thawing out from last week’s ice storm. Now, the daunting task of recovery is getting underway. In Monroe, Mayor Friday Ellis says the destruction rivals that caused by Hurricane Laura in 2020.

Cut 7 (07) “…to the ground.”

Mayor Ellis says when you drive around Monroe, the city looks like a war zone.

Cut 8 (09) “…like hurricane cleanup.”

The damage is not just limited to what you can see outside. With many losing power for days on end, they were left with refrigerators full of spoiled food. Ellis says that’s been keeping the local food bank very busy. 

Cut 9 (08)  “…in spoiled food.”

Ellis says the damage is so widespread, it will cost about 15-million dollars just in debris removal.

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Lane Kiffin spoke to the media yesterday for the first time since being hired as LSU’s head football coach. One of the first things Kiffin did in Baton Rouge was to sign the two best high school players in the state, Lamar Brown and Richard Anderson. Kiffin says even though he gets a lot of credit for keeping Brown and Anderson in the boot, the program recruits itself.

Cut 10 (15) “…knew it was LSU.”

Kiffin brought in quarterbacks Sam Leavitt of Arizona State, Husan (HOO-sahn) Longstreet of USC and Landen Clark of Elon to play for the Tigers. Kiffin says he’s most proud of the staff’s ability to build one of the best quarterback rooms in the country through the portal.

Cut 11 (13) “…about their competitiveness.”

Kiffin gave an update on Leavitt’s foot injury, saying he will be able to throw in spring practice but will miss team drills.

Over the past couple of weeks, Kiffin and his staff traveled across the country to get a head start on recruiting the Class of 2027. Kiffin says his trips in Louisiana have stood out.

Cut 12 (14) “…it’s awesome.”

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Drew Brees is a Super Bowl champion, a two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, a five-time All-Pro selection, and he’s in the Saints Ring of Honor. Later today, you will likely be able to call him a Hall of Famer. Tonight, the NFL announces the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, and Brees is expected to be “in that number.” Luke Johnson covers the Saints for the Advocate and says it would be shocking if Brees is not a first ballot hall of famer.

Cut 13 (05)  “…Drew Brees’ name.”

Brees played in the NFL for 20 seasons and threw for 80-thousand yards and 571 touchdowns. Only Tom Brady threw for more yards and touchdowns. Brees holds the record for highest career completion percentage. Johnson says while the numbers are impressive, the impact Brees had on the Saints franchise is immeasurable.

Cut 14 (09) “…run of success.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be introduced during tonight’s NFL Honors program. Also tonight, we will find out if Saints linebacker Demario Davis will be awarded the NFL Man of the Year Award. Johnson says quarterback Tyler Shough is also up for Offensive Rookie of the Year, which is impressive when you considered he only started half the season.

Cut 15 (09) “…these overwhelming stats.”

NFL Honors will air on NBC at 8 p.m. Central Time.

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Big game in women’s college basketball tonight as fifth-ranked LSU visits fourth-ranked Texas. It’s a rematch of the game played in the PMAC on January 11th, won by LSU 70 to 65. The Longhorns have one of the best defenses in the country, allowing only 55 points per game. Cory Diaz covers LSU women’s hoops for the USA Today Network. Diaz says handling Texas’ pressure will be a key for LSU tonight…

Cut 16 (09) “…of this game.”

Diaz also expects Texas coach Vic Schaefer to instruct his team to get the ball to six-foot-six center Kyla Oldacare.

Cut 17 (14)  “…in this game.”

Tip off is at 8 PM.

The dates for the next two Sugar Bowls have been announced. Andrew Greenstein reports the latter one will be followed by an even bigger game.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Four state lawmakers are looking to make the jump to Congress. Jeff Palermo has more on the race to replace Julia Letlow in Louisiana’s 5^th Congressional district…

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The next Sugar Bowl will be the latest one in its 90-plus-year history. Because it’s a College Football Playoff Semifinal, it will take place Friday, January 15th, 2027. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says while it breaks tradition, it’s for the best.

Cut 3 (09) “…be in it.”

Throughout its history, the Sugar Bowl knew the participating teams at the end of the regular season – with the last two years knowing one team and two possible opponents. However, for the upcoming season, the participating teams will not be known until after New Year’s Day. Hundley says that in no way will diminish the turnout or the excitement leading up to the game.

Cut 4 (09) “…excitement around them.”

For the 2027 season, the Sugar Bowl reverts back to a quarterfinal matchup, and that will be played New Year’s Eve, which falls on a Friday. Hundley says the College Football Playoff has to work around the NFL when scheduling its games.

Cut 5 (10) “…to work with.”

Weeks later, on Monday, January 24th, 2028, the Sugar Bowl Committee will help host the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in the Superdome. Hundley points out that the last four times that the Superdome hosted the college football national title game, LSU was playing in it, with the Tigers winning three of them.

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The race for the district 5 U.S. House seat that Letlow gave up to run for U.S. Senate is getting crowded. Blake Miguez dropped out of the senate race to seek the District 5 House seat. State Senators Steward Cathey of Monroe and Rick Edmonds of Baton Rouge, state Representative Dixon Wallace McMakin of Baton Rouge, and Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell of Monroe all confirmed their commitment to run. With qualifying just over a week away, USA Today Network’s Greg Hilburn called it a wild race.

Cut 6 (09) “…musical chairs.”

The fact that Miguez does not live in District 5 isn’t keeping him from seeking office to represent it and he says his focus is delivering wins for all of District 5. Hilburn says, it’s legal and it’s been done before but he says, Miguez’s opponents aren’t holding back.

Cut 7 (10) “…Senator Miguez.”

Qualifying for the May 16^th primary begins next week, February 11^th through 13^th. Hilburn says that leaves almost no time for campaigning or campaign fundraising.

Cut 8 (13) “…these campaigns.”

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Using images of children to create A-I deepfake images of a sexual nature would be illegal if a state lawmaker has his way. Representative Michael Bayham has filed a bill that would classify deepfake content involving children as child sex abuse material if it’s sexually explicit in nature.

Cut 9 (08)  “…abused and exploited.”

The Republican from St. Bernard Parish says because it’s such a new technology, A-I is currently not addressed in Louisiana statutes, and he’s looking to close that loophole to protect the most vulnerable.

Cut 10 (12) “…particularly our children.”

Bayham says while some may have concerns that regulating A-I could stifle free speech, this is not what his bill is all about.

Cut 11 (06) “…images of children.”