There’s news of another artificial data center coming to Louisiana, bringing hundreds of permanent jobs. This one would be in West Feliciana built by Hut 8. Hut 8 mines Bitcoin and operates energy infrastructure in North America. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard says this A-I data center would contain ten-billion dollars’ worth of computers and equipment and will be a major tax revenue generator …

Cut 12 (08) “…dollars et cetera”

The first of two buildings could be operational by the end of next year.

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 in the state…

Cut 5 (11) “…in Louisiana”

The matchup for the Independence Bowl in Shreveport is set – Marshall against Army. Erik Evenson (EE-vin-son) with the Independence Bowl says this is one of the best matchups in the bowl’s long history.

Cut 7 (10) “…a ranked team.”

Army is ranked 22^nd and will play this Saturday against Navy. The Independence Bowl is set for Saturday night on December 28th.

The state’s first black bear hunting season since 1987 is underway in a section of northeast Louisiana. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan says it’s a remarkable milestone in the state’s conservation efforts of the black bear….

Cut 14 (14) “…have a season”

Ten black bear hunting tags were allocated through a lottery, but the state made sure the first tag went to a Louisiana military veteran through a partnership with Healing Road Foundation.

Yet another artificial intelligence data center is coming to Louisiana. This latest one will be in West Feliciana Parish for a company called Hut 8, which operates Bitcoin mining facilities and data centers at 20 sites throughout North America. Parish President Kenny Havard says this is a good time for businesses to set up shop in Louisiana

Cut 10 (08) “…to be working.”

The data center is expected to create several hundred permanent jobs in West Feliciana Parish.

The largest medical cannabis store in the South has opened in Lake Charles. Good Day Farm Chief Retail Officer Laurie Gregory says the ten-thousand square foot facility is located near Golden Nugget and L’Auberge casinos…

Cut 6 (10) “….cannabis products”

State law does not say you have to be a Louisiana resident to participate in the state’s medical marijuana program. And in Texas, it’s harder to qualify for a medical marijuana prescription than in Louisiana.

Shreveport is getting ready to welcome visitors from New York and West Virginia for the Independence Bowl. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Voters in Monroe approved the renewal of the one-percent Capital Infrastructure Sales Tax. The tax has been around since 1994 and it helps pay for better streets, sewers, drainage, waterworks, bridges and public facilities. Mayor Friday Ellis says the vote reflects the community’s commitment to long-term planning and efficient use of tax dollars.

Yet another data center is coming to Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports this one will be in West Feliciana Parish.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Cooler weather is moving today because of a cold front. High temperature around 60-degrees for north Louisiana. In central Louisiana, temps are in the mid 60s, but the temperature will drop as the day goes on. Still seeing some thunderstorms in south Louisiana.

The largest medical marijuana dispensary store in the South is open in Lake Charles. The ten-thousand-square-foot Good Day Farms facility is located near the major casinos and replaces a smaller location. It includes a drive-thru, product displays, and unmedicated taste tests of THC and CBD gummies. Chief Retail Officer Laurie Gregory says the modern, colorful design resembles a sneaker store rather than a pharmacy, aiming to destigmatize cannabis use.

Cut 4 (11) “…in Lake Charles”

The state announces a partnership to support black bear conservation and military veterans. Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan says the department is partnering with the Healing Road Foundation.

Cut 13 (07)  “…and to fish.”

Through this partnership, the foundation raffled off a black bear harvest permit for 2024 to a military veteran. Sheahan says this partnership is just in time for the state’s first black bear hunting season since 1987, which began last Saturday.

Time is running out to reauthorize the Farm Bill. Don Molino reports.

Cut 1 (31)“…I’m Don Molino.”

The flu seems to be hitting Louisiana hard right now.  According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Louisiana is among four spots now experiencing high levels of the flu.   The other four are Georgia, Arizona, and Washington D.C. The CDC recommends everyone six months and older gets a flu shot each year.

Longtime high school football coach Sid Edwards pulled off a stunning victory on Saturday night as he defeated two-term Democratic incumbent Sharon Weston Broome in the Baton Rouge mayor-president race. John Couvillon says Edwards was a longshot in the race as the Republican political newcomer was greatly outspent during the campaign.

Cut 4 (10) “…who finished third.”

Edwards received 54-percent of the vote.

Saturday night was a disappointing night for Cajun fans as U-L Lafayette lost the Sun Belt Championship game to Marshall 31 to 3. Redshirt senior quarterback Chandler Fields left the game in the second quarter with an injury and freshman Daniel Beale failed to throw for 100 yards. Receiver Lance LeGendre (le-ZHAHN) says the team has a next-man-up mentality, and this was no different.

Cut 16 (12) “…running the ship.”

The Cajuns will play in the New Mexico Bowl on December 28^th against TCU.

A shocker in Baton Rouge as political newcomer Sid Edwards has unseated two-term incumbent mayor Sharon Weston Broome and will become the parish’s next mayor-president in January. At his victory rally, the longtime high school football coach said voters wanted change.

Cut 3 (13) “…going to happen. (cheers fade)”

Edwards received 54-percent of the vote in the low turnout election.

The first bear hunt in Louisiana since 1987 got underway this weekend. John Hanks, the large carnivore program manager at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, says the season will last 16 days, and ten hunters were chosen by lottery to participate.

Cut 7 (10) “…and not harvest.”

Two more Louisiana teachers have been recognized with a Milken Educator Award.  Band director at Maplewood Middle School from Sulphur was honored with the prestigious Milken Educator Award and a $25,000 cash prize to Kyle Cook during a school assembly, with State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley in attendance. Cook says it was a total surprise.

Cut 10 (08) “…very grateful.”

The other winner is Charday Wilson, a master teacher at Logansport High School.  Born and raised in DeSoto Parish, Wilson attended LHS as a student before excelling as a collegiate athlete and becoming the first in her family to graduate college at Louisiana Tech. Her return to LHS as a math and science master teacher has been transformative, playing a key role in the school’s rise from a ‘B’ to an ‘A’ rating.

Cut 12 (07) “…combination school.”

Two more teachers from Louisiana were awarded with 25-thousand -dollars as they are Milken Educator Award winners.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a 15-year-old after he made statements on social media about planning to bring a gun to school today and shoot a classmate who was spreading rumors about him. Deputies say the teenager admitted he didn’t have a gun and didn’t have access to one, but he was still charged with terrorizing.

There’s only a few more days left on the calendar for Congress to pass a new Farm Bill this year. Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Director Buck Vandersteen says without the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, many important resources would stand to greatly suffer.

Cut 6 (13) “…of that nature”

If Congress fails to send a Farm Bill to the President by the end of the session, the 119th Congress will have to start from square one to reauthorize it.

The Ragin Cajuns were blown out Saturday night in the Sun Belt Championship game as the Marshall Thundering Herd trampled U-L Lafayette 31 to 3. Cajuns Coach Michael Desormeaux says regardless of the lopsided result, he’s proud of everything that his team has accomplished to this point…

Cut 15 (16) “….we wanted tonight”

The Cajuns will now get ready to play TCU in the New Mexico Bowl on December 28^th.

Time is running out for Congress to pass a new Farm Bill. Executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association, Buck Vandersteen, says federal lawmakers are supposed to pass a new Farm Bill every five years…

Cut 5 (10) “….a year overdue”

The Louisiana Farm Bureau says a Farm Bill provides essential risk management tools, nutrition programs, and conservation efforts and without one, farmers, ranchers and rural economies face uncertainty.

The first black bear hunting season in Louisiana started on Saturday in northeast Louisiana and it will last 16 days. The only tags awarded were through a lottery and each tag holder can only harvest one bear….

Cut 9 (04) “….to a family”

John Hanks is the large carnivore program manager at L-D-W-F and a black bear hunting season was reinstated because the black bear population is at a more healthy number now.

Charday Wilson, a math and science master teacher at Logansport High School in DeSoto Parish is a 25-thousand dollar Milken Educator Award recipient. Wilson works with teachers to create individualized game plans needed for lesson pacing, classroom management, formative assessments, and co-teaching at her alma mater…

Cut 13 (10) “…quality citizens”

It wasn’t a master piece, but the Saints beat the New York Giants 14 to 11 yesterday to improve to five and eight, two games back of first place Tampa Bay. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi says being in playoff contention motivates the team…

Cut 18 (16) “….for us”

But Saints quarterback Derek Carr reportedly fractured his non-throwing hand and could miss this Sunday’s game against Washington.