Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson and Governor Landry are in New York, trying to lure two major sporting events to New Orleans. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A law that went into effect with the new year requires contractors to have a residential construction or roofing license to legally perform roofing work. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson and Governor Landry are in New York to try to lure two major events to New Orleans – the 2031 Super Bowl and a future NBA All-Star Game. NOLA-dot-com columnist Jeff Duncan says if New Orleans fails to land the 2031 Super Bowl, the city’s next opportunity would not come until 2038. 

Cut 3 (07) “…chance we have.”

Benson and Landry will try to convince NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to re-enter the competition, since they missed a key deadline as they were finalizing the Superdome lease renewal; and Duncan says he’s confident that Goodell will grant their request. Duncan says the NFL would like to see more high-end hotel room inventory – a problem he says is not unique to New Orleans.

Cut 4 (07) “…and Las Vegas.”

The Smoothie King Center has hosted the NBA All-Star Game three times, most recently in 2017. Duncan says in order for the building to host a fourth, it’s going to need a lot of renovations. He says the team and the city would like to, among many other things, improve the seating in the lower bowl. 

Cut 5 (07) “…important revenue streams.”

Duncan says there are also plans to transform Champions Square into a mixed-use area, incorporating entertainment, retail and possibly residential.

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The Old Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge has a new exhibit. It’s called “Three Decades of Change” and it examines the tenure of nine governors who lived at the old governor’s mansion from 1929 to 1962. Executive Director of the Old Governor’s Mansion, Sinella Aghasi, says these men guided Louisiana through some of the most challenging days in the state’s and nation’s history…

Cut 6 (13) “…Civil Rights Movement.”

Aghasi says the exhibit features images and artifacts from that time. The time period covers World War Two. Sam Houston Jones and James Houston Davis were the governor’s during that time and Aghasi says the state took on a major initiative to help fund combat operations…

Cut 7 (07) “…war bonds.”

Admission to the Old Governor’s Mansion is free and the museum is open from 9 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday and noon to 4 PM on the first Sunday of each month.

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If you need a new roof, a new law went into effect on January 1^st that you should know about. Executive Director of the State Licensing Board for Contractors, Brad Hassert, says only contractors with a residential construction or roofing license can legally perform roofing work…

Cut 8 (09) “…lower them rates”

Hassert says the change in the law will ensure that roofing work is conducted by qualified professionals who received a license after passing a roofing exam…

Cut 9 (08)  “…install a roof.”

Prior to January 1^st, state law allowed for home improvement contractors to install roofs, but Hassert says they do not have the necessary qualifications…

Cut 10 (11) “…control that.” 

Hassert says it’s also now a criminal offense to do contracting without the proper license class.

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Saints’ veteran defensive tackle Cam Jordan just wrapped up his 15^th season playing in the NFL. Jordan says playing a 16th season will come down to his wife, Nikki’s, approval.

Cut 11 (11) “…where it takes us.”

Jordan finished his 15^th season in New Orleans with 10-and-a-half sacks, which was tied for 13^th in the NFL. Jordan says he believes he can still hang with the younger players in the league.

Cut 12 (12) “…who I’ve always been.”

Jordan says that he is grateful for the New Orleans community and knows he has the physical ability to continue playing if he chooses to do so.

Cut 13 (13)  “…longer career.”

Planning for the 2026 legislative session will intensify now that it’s a new year. Jeff Palermo reports on the big issues lawmakers will tackle this year…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Dr. Marie Vasquez Morgan with LSU Health Shreveport has the info you need not to fail your health resolutions for 2026. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnck.”

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A statue is unveiled in Avoyelles Parish to commemorate the 165th anniversary of the liberation of a wrongfully enslaved man. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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In three months, state lawmakers will head to Baton Rouge for the regular legislative session. Senate President Cameron Henry anticipates a lengthy discussion about the state’s future energy needs, with construction beginning on two massive data centers, and the possibility of more data centers being built in the Bayou State…

Cut 4 (10) “…long run”

Lawmakers will not have to worry about budget cuts. That’s because of stronger than expected tax collections could result in a nearly 300-million-dollar surplus when the current fiscal year ends on June 30th. Henry says he’s not looking to go on a spending spree, instead the legislature should practice fiscal restraint…

Cut 5 (08) “…to have.”

Auto insurance reform was a significant issue in last year’s legislative session as lawmakers approved legislation intended to reduce court settlements and frivolous lawsuits that insurance companies say are resulting in the highest rates in the nation. Henry says several of those new laws did not take effect until January 1^st, and they need to see how they impact rates…

Cut 6 (11) “…auto insurance”

The legislative session begins March 9th and ends June 1st.

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If the New Year resolved to lead a healthier lifestyle, LSU Health Shreveport Director of Institutional Wellness Dr. Marie Vasquez Morgan has some advice. She says maintaining any resolution starts with setting S.M.A.R.T goals.

Cut 7 (13) “…time-bound.”

She says we are what we eat, and everything starts with the food you choose to fuel your body. Dr. Morgan says focus on balanced meals with lean protein, whole grains, and lots of fruits and vegetables.

Cut 8 (10) “…and antioxidants.”

If you’re looking to be more active in 2026, she recommends finding exercises you enjoy. If you feel you can’t make time for activity, small changes in your daily life can make a world of impact. Dr. Morgan says consistency is most important.

Cut 9 (14)  “…big difference.”

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A statue was unveiled in Avoyelles Parish to commemorate the 165th anniversary of the liberation of a wrongfully enslaved man. Solomon Northup was born a free man in upstate New York in 1807; Melissa Howell, a direct descendant, says in 1841, two men approached him with what seemed to be a lucrative offer.

Cut 10 (14) “…nearly 12 years.”

That change was not for the better. Howell says the men tricked Northup into slavery.

Cut 11 (11) “…in the Capitol.”

Northup’s 12-year slavery journey ultimately led him to Louisiana, where a carpenter named Samuel Bass befriended him and ultimately helped him escape. Howell says the location of the statue of Northup, who was given the name “Platt Hamilton” by his slavemasters, is very significant. 

Cut 12 (11) “…his reclaimed freedom.”

The statue was sculpted by Wesley Wofford. Northup’s story is immortalized in his 1853 autobiography, “12 Years a Slave,” which was adapted in 2014 into an Academy Award-winning picture of the same name. A screening of that film was held over the weekend in Marksville.

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The federal government minted its last penny about two months ago, but it will be decades before the penny becomes a rare coin. Newly confirmed U.S. Mint Director Paul Hollis from Mandeville says enough pennies have been minted to stack them to the moon and back.

Cut 13 (08)  “…I hope.”

In addition to the massive amount already in circulation, the fact that Americans rarely use cash anymore will prolong the penny’s survival. Hollis says consumers are using coins less and less.

Cut 14 (09) “…or coin.”

Some stores are already price-rounding to eliminate the need for pennies. Hollis hopes retailers will do so in favor of the consumer.

Cut 15 (06) “…of the customers.”

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The Saints’ season ended with a hard-fought19-17 loss to Atlanta. New Orleans finishes with 6-11, but there’s a lot of optimism about what next year will bring. That’s because of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who led the team to a four-game winning streak that ended with the loss to the Falcons. Linebacker Demario Davis believes the Saints have their Q-B 1…

Cut 16 (24) “…trust.”

Shough threw for 259 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for a touchdown. But he also threw a critical interception in the fourth quarter when New Orleans had a chance to take the lead. The loss to the Dirty Birds resulted in Carolina winning the NFC South, instead of Tampa Bay. Shough says he wanted to finish the season on a five-game winning streak…

Cut 17 (12)  “…encouraging.”

The Saints went 5-4 in the nine games he started at quarterback.

Davis says he plans to return for year 15 in the NFL. He believes the Black and Gold have a good nucleus of players on defense…

Cut 18 (20)  “…Chase Young.” 

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The fifth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team is off to a 0-2 start in SEC play for the first time under head coach Kim Mulkey. The Lady Tigers followed up a two-point loss to 11th-ranked Kentucky with a 65-61 loss to 12th-ranked Vanderbilt. In both games, LSU could not hold on to a seven-point fourth-quarter lead. Coach Kim Mulkey has questioned her team’s toughness after both losses…

Cut 19 (18) “…Ole Miss previously.”

LSU’s next game is Thursday against 15-1 Georgia. Following the trip to Athens, the Lady Tigers face two teams ranked in the Top 10, Texas and Oklahoma. Mulkey on the difficult schedule her team faces…

Cut 20 (12) “…get better.”