Senator Bill Cassidy breaks his silence over an early primary challenge to his 2026 re-election bid. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Former state legislator and current New Orleans Councilwoman Helena Moreno has announced her candidacy for Mayor of New Orleans. She promises to be a 24-7 mayor that will work to bring safer neighborhoods and improved infrastructure. Current mayor LaToya Cantrell is term limited.

The American Tort Reform Association has ranked Louisiana as the 10^th worst Judicial Hellhole in the country. A-T-R-A president Tiger Joyce says Louisiana’s civil justice system allows for lawsuit abuse and large judgments that paralyze businesses. Joyce is disappointed Governor Landry vetoed a bill that would have revised the collateral source doctrine…

Cut 6 (08) “…vetoed that’

The Louisiana Legislature is expected to bring up that bill again next year.

A jaguar gave birth to a cub in the United States for the first time since 2022 and it happened at the Baton Rouge zoo. Zoo director Jim Fleshman says the cub’s arrival is especially significant given its mother’s previous experiences with stillborn litters.

Cut 8 (07) “…spit and vinegar.”

The public will not get a chance to see the baby jaguar cub for at least two months, but the Zoo is taking name recommendations on its Facebook page.

A new study ranks Louisiana as one of the top states for lawsuit abuse. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (33)“…I’m Colleen Crain.”

State Police say two pedestrians were struck and killed by two different vehicles as they were walking in the roadway on U-S Highway 84 near the 84 Quick Stop in Concordia Parish. 67-year-old Carleen Smith of Farmerville and Donnie Free of Ferriday died from their injuries. L-S-P continues to investigate.

When State Treasurer John Fleming announced his candidacy for U-S Senate,  Fleming said incumbent Bill Cassidy has failed the people of Louisiana. Cassidy responded to the comment during yesterday’s conference call with reporters…

Cut 12 (12) “…take that blame”

Fleming says Cassidy failed the people of Louisiana when he voted to convict Trump for inciting a riot on the U-S Capitol in January of 2021.

For the first time since 2022 a jaguar gave birth to a cub in the United States and it happened at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Director Jim Fleschman says This birth draws attention to the critical role zoos play in species conservation and the success of the Jaguar Species Survival Plan.

Cut 9 (07)  “…100 years.”

The public can recommend names for the cub on the Baton Rouge Zoo’s facebook page. The cub will make its public debut in the spring.

Senator Bill Cassidy breaks his silence on drawing an early primary challenger for his 2026 re-election campaign. State Treasurer John Fleming announced last week that he will run for Cassidy’s seat, saying among other things that he’s not conservative enough for Louisiana. Cassidy told reporters that he has had better things to do than to read Fleming’s announcement, and that he’s baffled over Fleming’s intentions.

Cut 10 (11) “…out of Louisiana.”

A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of an eight-year-old boy in what investigators in Baton Rouge describe as a targeted attack. Kendrick Profit faces several charges including first-degree murder for the November 27^th drive-by shooting. Sergeant L’Jean (“ell jeen”) McKneely says tips from the public helped lead to the arrest.

Cut 13 (07)  “…vital to this arrest.”

Authorities say Profit shot at the wrong car on Thanksgiving Eve killing eight year old Diellon Daniels.

The American Tort Reform Association ranks Louisiana tenth in the nation for worst Judicial Hellholes. President Tiger Joyce says lawsuit abuse is one reason why we pay some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the country….

Cut 5 (10) “….availability of insurance”

Joyce says Louisiana’s Judicial Hellhole status costs residents 965-dollars annually in a tort tax.

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo announced the birth of a jaguar cub, the first at the zoo in over three decades and the first in the U.S. since 2022. This milestone highlights the zoo’s dedication to wildlife conservation, and director Jim Fleshman says it’s a symbol of hope for the species.

Cut 7 (10) “…Jaguar S-S-P.”

The new cub won’t be seen by the public for the next two months. Meanwhile, the zoo is taking submissions for the young female cub on its Facebook page.

When State Treasurer John Fleming announced last week that he would look to unseat U-S Senator Bill Cassidy in 2026, Fleming said that Cassidy has failed the people of Louisiana. Cassidy responded to that comment during a conference call with reporters yesterday, pointing to his work in helping to bring billions of dollars to Louisiana…

Cut 11 (13) “…roads and bridges”

But Fleming says Cassidy was one of several Republicans who walked away from President elect-Trump when he voted to convict Trump for his role in the January 6^th 2021 attack at the U-S Capitol.

The American Tort Reform Foundation ranks Louisiana as its tenth biggest Judicial Hellhole in the country. President Tiger Joyce points to the lawsuits filed by several coastal parishes against energy companies alleging their work has exacerbated coastal land loss…

Cut 4 (10) “…the energy industry”

For the first time in over 30 years a jaguar cub was born at the BREC Baton Rouge Zoo.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says H-5-N-1, also known as Bird Flu, is causing an increase in deaths of wild birds. Geese and other waterfowl are particularly susceptible to bird flu. LDWF says Bird Flu is a minimal threat to humans, but sick birds should not be handled.

Optimism is the highest it’s been for small business owners since June 2021. That’s according to the latest national survey of small business owners. NFIB State Director Leah Long says the results of the Presidential election signal a major shift in economic policy…

Cut 3 (13) “…small business owners”

Long says unfilled job openings remain a concern.

A nearly ten-thousand square foot cannabis dispensary has opened in Lake Charles. It’s believed to be the largest cannabis dispensary in the South. Good Day Farm chief retail officer Laurie Gregory says medical marijuana is a growing industry…

Cut 26 (11) “…in Louisiana”

The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in Shreveport has its matchup, Army versus Marshall, a battle between two teams that won their respective conferences. The game will take place Saturday December 28^th. Bowl spokesperson Erik Evenson says there will be several events leading up to the game, especially the day before on the 27^th…

Cut 9 (14) “…concert as well”

Then on game day, the free Coca Cola Fan Fest starts at 3:00, with music, games and fun. Kickoff on December 28th is at 8:15.

The transfer portal opened Monday and hundreds of college football players jumped in. 247 sports is reporting former Oklahoma receiver Nic Anderson has narrowed his choices between LSU, Ole Miss and Florida. Blake Ruffino with Are You Series Sports says Anderson had ten touchdown catches in 2023 for the Sooners, but injuries kept him off the field last season

Cut 17 (12)  “…athleticism.”