Space X announced plans to build a 100-billion dollar rocket launching facility along the coast of Vermilion Parish that would launch thousands of rockets into orbit annually. There are concerns about what this project will mean for the residents of Vermilion Parish. SpaceX says it’s already engaged with LDWF, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and other state agencies to address potential impacts to wildlife, fisheries and their supporting habitats.

Space X  president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell says they also plan to have an open dialogue with the residents of Vermilion Parish…

Cut 12 (14) “…to build.”

Construction is expected to begin next year and the first rockets could be launched from the Louisiana Starbase facility in 2029. The spaceport is expected to employ three thousand workers.

The Louisiana Republican Party makes its choice in the sixth congressional district race. Andrew Greenstein reports instead of unity, that’s led to infighting.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Tonight at 7 PM, LSU is hosting a Celebration of Life for Skip Bertman. Former Tigers pitcher Doug Thompson is expecting a big crowd inside the PMAC…

Cut 27 (11) “…to do it”

The ceremony will be televised on ESPN-plus and you can watch on LSU athletics youtube and facebook pages.

A huge announcement is going down right now in Abbeville as Governor Landry and SpaceX officials are announcing a monumental economic development project that will lead to thousands of jobs and rockets being launched off the coast of Louisiana in Vermilion Parish.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State officials say the new spaceport will become the largest in the world. Construction is expected to start next year with the first launch planned for 2029. The company is expected to create three-thousand new direct jobs.

A Baton Rouge judge granted LSU basketball signee RJ Luis a preliminary injunction allowing him to return to college basketball after signing two NBA and G League contracts. Luis’s attorney, Elliot Abrams, told WBRZ in Baton Rouge that with N-I-L and revenue sharing allowing schools to pay athletes directly, the NCAA is now a professional sports league.

Cut 3 (12) “…cries wolf.”

The NCAA is likely to appeal.

Thumb arthritis affects between 25 and 33-percent of adults over the age of 50, mostly women. Doctor Diego Miranda at Willis Knighten Health in Bossier is performing a new treatment option to help relieve painful, qualify-of-life limiting symptoms….

Cut 15 (08) “…for this procedure”

The procedure takes about an hour and is typically performed as an outpatient surgery.

A huge announcement will take place in the next hour in Abbeville where officials have gathered to announce that Space X will build a spaceport on Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish. Parish president Chad Vallo says this is a monumental day for his parish…

Cut 29 (14) “….very good jobs”

The Pecan Island area is a haven for hunting and fishing, and outdoor enthusiasts are concerned about what the spaceport will mean for them.

A New Orleans teacher is upset with Louisiana’s law that requires public schools to publish the 10 Commandments in every classroom. Chris Dier teaches history at Benjamin Franklin High School, and he’s petitioned the U-S Supreme Court to look at Louisiana’s 10 commandments law, because he believes it violates the Establishment Clause.

Willis Knighton Health in Bossier City is the first facility in the region to offer a new treatment for thumb arthritis. It’s called the TOUCH CMC 1 Prosthesis. The joint surfaces are replaced with a dual-mobility ball-and-socket implant. Dr. Diego Miranda says it’s an outpatient procedure, and the recovery time is three weeks.

Cut 14 (09) “…from then on.”

Tonight at 7 PM it is the Celebration of Life memorial at the PMAC for legendary LSU baseball coach and athletics director Skip Bertman. Before the doors of the PMAC open to the public at 6 PM, there will be a private ceremony for family, staff and former players. Former LSU pitcher Doug Thompson…

Cut 9 (09) “…with his boys”

Governor Landry ordered flags to be flown at half-mast today in Bertman’s honor.

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin defended the program’s decision today to recruit NFL players that have been granted a fifth year of college eligibility. The NCAA approved a new five-year eligibility model this summer that opened the door for hundreds of athletes who just finished their eligibility to file lawsuits to get the fifth year many of their teammates and future athletes will now receive. Kiffin says his obligation is to LSU and its fans and to go recruit the best available players.

Cut 10 (13) “…against them.”

This past Saturday was the one year anniversary of the Smitty’s Supply plant explosion in Roseland. It’s been estimated 12 million gallons of oily liquid and industrial chemical waste were released into the local drainage systems and Tangipahoa River. Local resident Pat Mashburn tells Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge that he’s disappointed in the lack of updates from local leaders…

Cut 4 (09) “…Roseland.”

A Drive Sober, Get Pulled Over campaign is underway across the state as law enforcement will step up its enforcement through the Labor Day weekend for impaired drivers. LDWF Law Enforcement Division Superintendent Colonel Stephen Clark says not only will patrols on roadways be beefed up, so will patrols on Louisiana’s waterways.

Cut 8 (15) “…fatality boat accidents.”

University Medical Center New Orleans opened phase one of its expanded cancer center today. Dr. Amelia Jernigan with UMC New Orleans says the additional space will allow cancer patients to be seen quickly and will help support the needs of oncology patients regionally.

Cut 16 (14) “…systemic therapy.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin responds to the criticism he’s receiving for recruiting a football player that was competing for an NFL roster spot. Kace Kieschnick has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A couple of former LSU football players are on the move. Kayshon Boutte, who starred at Westgate High School in New Iberia has been traded by the Patriots to the Houston Texans. And the Saints have traded linebacker Deion Jones to San Francisco for running back Zamir White.

Amazon Web Services will hold an open house tomorrow at the Shreveport Convention Center to discuss the three data centers they are building in the Shreveport-Bossier area. There are concerns about how much water and electricity the facilities will use. AWS Vice President of Economic Development Roger Wehner says the data centers will use water for cooling only when temperatures climb above 85 degrees — which he says is expected to happen less than 13 percent of the year.

Cut 13 (11)  “…load on the grid.”

Saturday marked the one year anniversary of the Smitty’s Supply Plant explosion in Roseland. Pat Mashburn who lives on the Tangipahoa River told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge he believes there’s still oil  and toxins in that river…

Cut 5 (07) “…a year ago”

This past weekend marked the year anniversary of the Smitty’s Supply plant explosion in Roseland. The blast released stored motor oils, lubricants and fuel additives into the local environment and the Tangipahoa River. Pat Mashburn lives 35 miles south of the explosion site and told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge that wildlife still has not come back…

Cut 3 (08) “…not one”

It’s been estimated 12 million gallons of oily liquid and industrial chemical waste were released into the local drainage systems and Tangipahoa River.

Louisiana’s Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is underway and runs through September 7th. State Police Superintendent Frank Besson (beh-SAHN) says officers will be out in full force specifically looking for impaired drivers during this campaign.

Cut 6 (10) “…and proactive patrol.”

A new mRNA vaccine to reduce the risk of melanoma returning is showing great promise. Dr. Katherine Chang, an assistant professor of ear, nose and throat surgery at LSU Health Shreveport, says the vaccine being developed by Merck and Moderna works by removing the melanoma tumor, test it for genetic mutation and create an mRNA vaccine specific to that patient’s genetic profile – and that vaccine is taken with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda.

Cut 10 (09) “…it from coming back.”

Dr. Chang says clinical trials of the new vaccine have been very successful.

Monroe, Ruston and the Delta parishes are getting some much needed rain today and there’s the possibility we can see strong thunderstorms in southeast Louisiana later today. Unfortunately, the western half of the state continues to bake.

Very sad news out of north Louisiana as an eight-year-old Ruston girl has died after contracting a rare brain amoeba infection that she acquired from swimming in Lake Claiborne. Lillian Smart had been in the hospital since August 15^th. Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba that’s found in warm bodies of water and it can infect the brain if water rushes up the nose.

At this hour, University Medical Center New Orleans’ expanded cancer center officially opens. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Amazon Web Services will meet with residents from 4 to 8 pm tomorrow at the Shreveport Convention Center to discuss their plans to build three data centers in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Watchdog and local advocacy groups have raised concerns that residential and business utility bills will go up But AWS Vice President of Economic Development Roger Wehner says Amazon will cover the cost of the energy improvements needed…

`          Cut 14 (12) “…customers.”

LSU has received a commitment from an NFL player. Former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright is expected to come to Baton Rouge if he clears waivers after being released by the Browns. Wright is one of the 16 football players granted a temporary restraining order by a Baton Rouge judge to return for a fifth season.

Amazon Web Services will meet with residents tomorrow at the Shreveport Convention Center to discuss their plans to build three data centers in the Shreveport-Bossier Area. The project is expected to create more than 700 permanent jobs and AWS Vice President of Economic Development Roger Wehner says they plan to hire local folks to man these jobs…

Cut 15 (08) “….workforce development”

The open house will run from 4 to 8 PM.

The ribbon gets cut today on an expanded cancer center at University Medical Center New Orleans. Dr. Amelia Jernigan with UMC New Orleans says this expansion is possible thanks to federal funding that Congressman Troy Carter helped secure.

Cut 6 (10) “…to our community.”

Jernigan says the expansion will allow them to care for more patients.

College athletics continues to be at an interesting place as Dae’Quan Wright has been waived by the Cleveland Browns and according to his agents, Wright, who was an All-SEC tight end at Ole Miss last season, plans to enroll at LSU and play for Lane Kiffin and the Tigers. Wright is one of several athletes granted a fifth year of college eligibility by a Baton Rouge judge last week.

Twenty-three-year-old RJ Luis’s (Lewis) case for another year of eligibility goes before another Baton Rouge judge today as the former Big East Player of the Year wants to play for Will Wade and LSU. Tiger Rag Editor Glen Guilbeau says Luis has previously signed with NBA teams, but did not play in a regular season game…

Cut 9 (11) “…it’s ridiculous”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has said athletes who sign with a professional team in America should not be allowed to return to college athletics.