Some of the state’s best high school football prospects are signing with LSU today. Jeff Palermo has more on the first day of the early signing period…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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As part of Operation Swamp Sweep comes Operation Catahoula Crunch. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Remembrances and tributes are pouring in for former LSU System president, Dr. William Jenkins who passed away last week. Former head of the LSU Foundation, Stephen Moret (More ray) spoke with Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana and remembered not only the leadership and mentorship of Dr. Jenkins but the man whom he said was the same caring man in private as he was in public.

Cut 3 (10) “…the same way.”

Dr. Jenkins served as LSU President twice. He also served as dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. And when he served as Chancellor of LSU, Moret says Dr. Jenkins took over at a time when there had been a loss of confidence in the university.

Cut 4 (11) “…trust in him”

Dr. Jenkins is credited with shaping LSU for decades. He’s been called a “consummate Tiger”. Moret says he had a deep love for LSU and expressed deep care for everyone who made up the university from star professors to students and those who kept the university going.

Cut 5 (10) “…the future.”

Dr. Jenkins was 88 years old.

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Louisiana’s best high school football players are signing with colleges today as a three-day early signing period began today. Lafayette Christian Academy star Brayden Allen was one of LSU’s first signees. Lee Brecheen of Louisiana Football Magazine says the Tigers are getting a good one in Allen.

Cut 6 (09) “…slot corners.”

After reports surfaced that he was going to hold off on signing, the nation’s number one defensive tackle, Richard Anderson from Edna Karr High School, has indeed signed with LSU. Brecheen says Anderson’s teammate, four-star safety Aiden Hall, also signed with LSU.

Cut 7 (12) “…and hit”

LSU’s first signee of the day was Destrehan receiver Jabari Mack. Brecheen says Mack reminds him of former LSU star Ja’Marr Chase.

Cut 8 (05) “..strong kid.”

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As part of Operation Swamp Sweep, the two-month immigration enforcement operation that’s getting underway in New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana, the Department of Homeland Security is launching what it calls Operation Catahoula Crunch. This operation is targeting specific undocumented aliens with violent crime arrests who had been released by police departments who it says have refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Once arrested, those people could be sent to the newly refurbished Camp J at the State Penitentiary in Angola, which Governor Landry said would be used specifically for these people.

Cut 9 (12)  “…and holding facility.”

When Landry announced the so-called “Louisiana Lockup” on September 3rd, he stressed that it would be used to house what he called the “worst of the worst” criminal undocumented aliens.

Cut 10 (07) “…in this country.”

Landry says Louisiana Lockup will help secure America.

Cut 11 (10) “…criminal civil population.”

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Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the signing of the bipartisan IRS Math Act that he had helped sponsor. Cassidy says the bill improves fairness, transparency and clarity when the IRS notifies taxpayers of errors in their tax returns.

Cut 12 (08) “…This addresses that.”

Under the new law, when the IRS notifies a taxpayer of an adjustment to his or her tax return, it must now specify the line number, a clear explanation of the error and the reason for the adjustment. Cassidy says if it results in the taxpayer owing additional money, he or she now has 60 days to make the payment without penalty.

Cut 13 (06)  “…all is clear.”

Cassidy says he’s happy that the bill passed in the House by a voice vote and in the Senate by a unanimous vote.

Cut 14 (08) “…get in trouble.”

The number of homeowners insurance policies written by the so-called insurer of last resort remains near its 20-year high. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A task force has started meeting to discuss energy use in Louisiana with the possibility multiple data centers could be built in this state. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Today is early national signing day and LSU’s 2026 recruiting class looks much different than it did 48 hours ago. Andre Champagne has more…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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The number of homeowners insured by Citizens Insurance, the state’s insurer of last resort, remains near its 20-year peak. As of the end of last month, Citizens accounted for more than 122-thousand policies. Ben Albright, the president and CEO of the Independent Agents and Brokers Association of Louisiana, says in some areas, the only option besides Citizens are smaller insurance companies.

Cut 4 (13) “…much more capitalized.”

Albright says in some instances, Citizens is a more attractive option since the legislature suspended the ten-percent surcharge that is customary for all insurance carriers of last resort. Albright says it’s important that the surcharge be reinstated so that people have an incentive to move to a private insurer.

Cut 5 (14) “…because of claims.”

Albright says the insurance reforms that the legislature recently passed are starting to show positive returns, but he says they’re going to take time.

Cut 6 (14) “…passed onto policyholders.”

The 20-year low came in February of 2021, when Citizens had less than 36-thousand policies.

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New LSU football coach Lane Kiffin is a “yogi” which means he is a yoga lover and has already found his spot in Baton Rouge. Since arriving in the capitol city, Kiffin has been taking morning classes at the Yoglates Studio on Perkins Road in Baton Rouge. Yoglates owner Kate Fox says her clients were shocked to see the new LSU football coach at their 6:30 AM class…

Cut 7 (11) “…everyone did awesome.”

Kiffin arrived in Baton Rouge on Sunday and Fox got a call from someone at LSU about Kiffin’s desire to get a class in on Monday before he went back to work…

Cut 8 (10) “…yes (giggles)

Fox hopes Kiffin is a longtime client at her studio…

Cut 9 (12)  “…part of it”

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Meta is building a ten-billion-dollar AI data center in Richland Parish and state economic development officials say more data centers are on the way. That is why a new task force has begun meeting to make sure Louisiana has enough power to provide electricity for everyone. Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry says it’s a valid question to ask…

Cut 10 (10) “…current businesses.”

Entergy Louisiana broke ground this week on two new power plants in Rayville that will support Meta’s A-I data center. Entergy says Meta is paying for the state-of-the-art generation facilities, but environmental groups have raised concerns that the data centers will lead to higher energy costs for everyone. Henry says that’s what they want to find out with this task force…

Cut 11 (12) “…with that”

Henry says energy costs are going up nationwide and one of the driving forces behind that is the consumption of power by data centers. He says the task force will produce its findings to the Senate by March first…

Cut 12 (08) “…some adjustments.”

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The early national signing day period begins today and there have already been several de-commitments and new additions to LSU’s Class of 2026. Jerit Roser with Louisiana vs All Y’all says the major changes that have occurred are what come with a coaching change.

Cut 13 (09)  “…fit differently.”

LSU’s two top commitments, Lamar Brown and Richard Anderson are expected to delay signing to a school until February. Roser says that it’s possible that the two players’ NIL packages could have changed due to the new coaching staff.

Cut 14 (15) “…for college.”

Four-star wide receiver Jabari Mack is one of LSU’s top commitments. Mack is rated as the No. 34 wide receiver in the nation. Roser says there’s many things to like about the 6 foot, 200-pound receiver out of Destrehan.

Cut 15 (14) “…to be a weapon.”

Governor Jeff Landry says he’s been told by President Donald Trump that National Guard troops will arrive in Louisiana in a couple of weeks. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Entergy Louisiana breaks ground on two new power plants in Rayville that will supply power for Meta’s massive A-I data center it’s building in Richland Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor Jeff Landry has received assurances from President Trump that the federal government will pay for the deployment of troops to New Orleans. Landry says he’s been told by the President that they will be in Louisiana in two weeks to help local law enforcement keep the city safe…

Cut 3 (13) “…a year ago.”

Landry made the comments following an event commemorating the victims killed on Bourbon Street during the January 1^st terrorist attack.

In September, Landry sent a request to the Trump Administration seeking the assistance of one-thousand National Guardsmen that would be deployed to New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport.

Guard deployments to other cities in the U-S have drawn criticism from Democratic politicians and others who say they are not needed and it only increases tension. But Landry says the Guardsmen are not there to harm people, they are added security…

Cut 4 (11) “…in time of need”

Landry says the National Guard troops will operate daily in New Orleans and other cities where violent crime is causing people to feel unsafe…

Cut 5 (11) “…are here today.”

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Entergy has started construction on two new electricity plants that will supply power to Meta’s massive artificial intelligence data center in Richland Parish. Entergy Louisiana’s Vice President of Business Operations and Strategy, Laura Beauchamp, says the construction of Franklin Farms Power Station is a major milestone…

Cut 6 (08) “…in Louisiana.”

The gas-fired plants are located near the data center and will begin generating natural gas in 2028.

Cut 7 (07) “…all customers”

Beauchamp says these two new state of the art generation facilities use less fuel to produce more, resulting in lower emissions and improved system reliability…

Cut 8 (10) “…these resources” .”

Entergy Louisiana also plans to build a third plant in St. Charles Parish and that project is awaiting permits.

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LSU new head coach Lane Kiffin’s contract is seven years, worth 90-million dollars plus. But Kiffin says his personal wealth was not in consideration when taking the LSU job. He says he was mainly concerned about enough NIL funding to help attract the best players. Athletics director Verge Ausberry says the LSU fan base has stepped up…

Cut 9 (16)  “…best players.”

After becoming the permanent A-D on November 4th, Ausberry and the LSU administration landed their top candidate in Kiffin nearly just a month later. Ausberry says the interview with Kiffin was a short, but impressive one.

Cut 10 (10) “…for your program.”

Kiffin will be focused on signing a recruiting class this week, as a three-day early signing period begins tomorrow. Kiffin, who declared himself the “Portal King” at Ole Miss for his ability to sign players out of the transfer portal, says LSU is committed to financially supporting his rosters each year.

Cut 11 (12) “…care of financially.”

The transfer portal window opens on January 2.