Over the last two years, New Orleans has seen a steady drop in crime. Rafael Goyeneche (goy-eh-NECH-ee), the president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, which has been tracking crime trends in the city on a weekly basis, says police are taking a more proactive approach when conducting operations like traffic stops and drug busts.

Cut 29 (11) “…non-fatal shootings.”

Goyeneche says as a result, officers are preventing crimes before they’re committed.

In February, New Orleans will host the Super Bowl. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says more work needs to be done to welcome the thousands of visitors….

Cut 6 (11) “….in horrible shape”

Nungesser says a successful Super Bowl serves as free advertising for other big events.

ULM says enrollment is up four percent over last Fall as first-time freshman enrollment increased 22-percent and international freshman enrollment more than doubled with a 110-percent increase…

Cut 10 (07) “…need for diversity”

That’s Vice President of Enrollment Management Lisa Miller who says the ULM Graduate School is boasting its largest-ever enrollment.

The ULM football team will visit the top ranked team in the country tomorrow night as the Warhawks visit Texas. Meanwhile in Lafayette, the Ragin Cajuns host Tulane. It’s the first time the two schools have met on the Gridiron since 2018 and the Green Wave have won the last two matchups. U-L Lafayette Coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-mo)…

Cut 12 (13) “…we want to be.”

Republican Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves and his Democratic colleague from Virginia Abigail Spanberger have secured enough votes to bring a bill to the House floor that would change a decades old law that calls for millions of police officers, firefighters, teachers and government officials to receive reduced Social Security benefits…

Cut 4 (09) “…been the effect”

Graves is hopeful a vote will take place in November.

The University of Louisiana Monroe says fall enrollment is up four-percent over the last year, one of largest increases in the school’s history. Vice President of Enrollment Management Lisa Miller says this is driven by a remarkable 22% jump in first-time freshmen, reflecting strong recruitment efforts.

Cut 9 (10) “…faculty and staff”

ULM’s graduate school has also seen its largest enrollment ever,

Deer hunting season begins tomorrow with the opening of archery season in Deer Areas 3, 7, 8 and 10, in southwest Louisiana. Johnathan Bordelon, the deer program manager for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, says archery season is very popular.

Cut 14 (04) “…each year statewide.”

Bordelon says last year was the highest reported harvest since tagging started in 2008, and he expects this year to be at least just as big.

LSU is a 24.5 point favorite heading into Saturday’s matchup against UCLA. Tigers receiver CJ Daniels says getting off to a fast start will be a key…

Cut 20 (11) “…this weekend”

The Ragin Cajuns host Tulane at 11 AM, Louisiana Tech hosts Tulsa tomorrow night.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves teams up with one of his Democratic colleagues to bypass House leadership and force a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Today is the final day for homeowners in the state’s coastal zone to put their name into a lottery that could result in upwards of a 10-thousand grant to pay for a fortified roof. The Louisiana Department of Insurance is planning to choose 300 recipients next week.

The Louisiana Wildlife Federation is promoting its “Lights Out Louisiana” campaign, encouraging homeowners and businesses to turn off or dim external and internal lights from 11 PM to 6 AM until November 1^st so that millions of birds can successfully migrate south. L-W-F spokesperson Jimmy Frederick says this simple measure can reduce bird fatalities…

Cut 6 (09) “….makes a big difference”

During the 2023 fall migration, an estimated 500 million birds migrated through Louisiana.

Hurricane Ida made landfall in southeast Louisiana three years ago and Joseph Wendy Roth have been living in a travel trailer since, but today, they move into a new home, built and paid for by Team Rubicon, a veteran led nonprofit organization. Brian Andrus is with Team Rubicon says their mission is not just about the home, they work with families on resiliency…

Cut 11 (09) “…process is completed”

Over the last two years, New Orleans has seen a significant drop in crime.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to WalletHub, Louisiana ranks seventh in the country for the highest levels of financial distress. WalletHub looked at nine different metrics, including credit score. Louisiana has the second lowest average score of 677 and Louisiana has the highest percentage of residents with accounts in distress.

After establishing nesting grounds in Canada and in the northern United States, hundreds of millions of birds are now migrating south. The Louisiana Wildlife Federation is asking the public to reduce what they call light pollution to make sure these birds reach their destination safely….

Cut 4 (12) “…November first”

L-W-F spokesperson Jimmy Frederick says city lights can misguide birds, diverting them off course with often dire consequences.

Team Rubicon, a Veteran-led organization welcomes the Roth family to a newly rebuilt home today. The Roth’s have been living in a trailer in Jean Lafitte since Hurricane Ida destroyed their previous home. This is the 13^th home rebuilt by Team Rubicon since Hurricanes Laura and Ida and Brian Andrus…

Cut 12 (08) “….is out here”

You can donate to Team Rubicon by visiting T-R-U-S-A dot org.

Data from the New Orleans Police Department shows homicides in the Crescent City are down 48-percent this year from 2022, carjackings are down 68-percent, armed robberies have declined 55-percent and juvenile murders have dropped 71-percent. President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission Rafael Goyeneche credits a more proactive approach by police officers when conducting traffic stops or performing drug busts…

Cut 9 (16) “…felony arrests”

It’s been 18 days since the last murder in New Orleans, crime experts say it’s the longest stint in years.

The National Hurricane Center says there’s still a medium chance a tropical depression will form in either the Northwestern Caribbean Sea or the southern Gulf of Mexico. Formation is not expected until next week.

“Lights Out Louisiana” encourages the public to turn off lights between 11 P-M and 6 A-M, particularly high-rise buildings and structures near wetlands where birds congregate.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Tomorrow marks the start of deer hunting season as the archery season gets underway in Areas 3, 7, 8 and 10, which covers southwest Louisiana. LDWF deer program manager Johnathan Bordelon says last year was the highest reported harvest since tagging started in 2008, and this year should be just as big.

Cut 15 (09) “…the previous year.”