A special session begins on Thursday at the state capitol, as lawmakers look at delaying the party primaries for the federal elections. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

____________________________________________

The latest campaign finance reports involving the candidates for the 2026 Senate show Republican Incumbent Bill Cassidy with a large lead over his main challengers. Jeanne Burns has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

____________________________________________

Louisiana’s two national championship baseball teams visit the White House today. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

_________________________________________________

The Louisiana Legislature returns to Baton Rouge on Thursday for a special session that could result in the pushing back of the qualifying period and the primary election dates for the 2026 federal elections. Advocate political reporter Tyler Bridge said on Talk Louisiana on WRKF that The U-S Supreme Court could rule the state’s current Congressional map is unconstitutional, but when that ruling will come down is unknown…

Cut 4 (11) “…coming up with.”

Qualifying for the U-S Senate race and Louisiana’s six U-S House seats is  January 14^th to the 16^th. The first party primary is April 18^th, with the run-off set for May 30^th. The winners of the party primaries would face off in a general election in November. Bridges says the calendar allows for qualifying and the party primaries to be delayed….

Cut 5 (06) “…a month.”

The special session is set to begin Thursday and could last until November 13^th. Legislation to delay qualifying and the primaries will be voted on at that time. Bridges also expects legislation to be filed that would switch next year’s federal elections back to an open primary, which means qualifying would take place in the summer time…

Cut 6 (08) “…open primary system.”

_________________________________________________

Republican U-S Senator Bill Cassidy has 9.5 million dollars in campaign funds as he gears up for his re-election bid. Two of Cassidy’s opponents, state Senator Blake Miguez and Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming report having two million dollars on hand. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Cassidy continues to do well in getting donors to support his campaign…

Cut 7 (09) “…five or six million”

Cassidy’s other two challengers in the Republican party primary, P-S-C member Eric Skrmetta and St. Tammany Parish councilwoman Kathy Seiden have yet to report their donations for the third quarter. Pinsonat says having such a lead when it comes to campaign donations does not guarantee victory, but it’s a significant factor…

Cut 8 (08) “…for Cassidy.”

Cassidy has drawn several well-known challengers because he voted in 2021 to impeach Donald Trump. But Pinsonat says that vote has not weakened Cassidy’s campaign warchest…

Cut 9 (11)  “…next year.”

_________________________________________________

Louisiana’s two national championship baseball teams will be at the White House today. LSU won the College World Series, while LSU-Shreveport wrapped up an undefeated season with an NAIA World Series title. LSU Head Coach Jay Johnson says being celebrated at the White House is something he had always dreamed about as a kid.

Cut 10 (11) “…it’s pretty awesome.”

Johnson says most of the team will be able to make the trip.

Cut 11 (06) “…which is unfortunate.”

LSU-Shreveport Athletic Director Lucas Morgan says this is something that the Pilots baseball team has been looking forward to ever since wrapping up their perfect season.

Cut 12 (04) “…probably remember forever.”

LSU-Shreveport was the first college baseball team at any level to go through an entire season undefeated. Morgan says an unprecedented feat deserves an unprecedented invitation.

Cut 13 (05)  “…the White House.”

_________________________________________________

The Saints capped off a frustrating weekend for most Louisiana football fans by losing to the Chicago Bears 26 to 14. It’s the fourth straight win for the Bears, who have been feasting on takeaways and they forced four more turnovers yesterday. Head Coach Kellen Moore…

Cut 14 (12) “…get it done today.”

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler was responsible for all four turnovers. He was intercepted three times and fumbled in the first quarter to set up a Chicago field goal. Rattler detailed what happened with each turnover…

Cut 15 (20) “…unacceptable.”

The Saints are back home this Sunday to host Tampa Bay.

_________________________________________________

For the first time in 35 years, LSU lost to Vanderbilt on Saturday as the Commodores defeated the Tigers 31-24 in Nashville. LSU had no answers for Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia as he threw for 160 yards and a touchdown. Pavia also rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Coach Brian Kelly says the goal was to prevent Pavia from beating them with his legs…

Cut 16 (13) “…good quarterback.”

Vanderbilt had nearly 400 yards of total offense against an LSU defense that was thought to be good. The Commodores were six for 13 on third down as the Tigers could not get off the field. Kelly explains what went wrong…

Cut 17 (18) “…details.”

The Tigers were missing two defensive starters on Saturday, Bernard Gooden and Whit Weeks. During the game, starting left tackle, Tyree Adams, went down with a left ankle injury. Kelly says injuries are not an excuse for the team’s performance…

Cut 18 (13) “…well today.”

_____________________________________________________

The Cajuns dropped to 2-5 with a 22-10 loss to Southern Miss. UL-Lafayette starting quarterback Lunch Winfield rushed for 98 yards, but only threw for 112 yards as the Cajuns could not capitalize on three turnovers by the Golden Eagles. Winfield says the offense should be scoring more points…

Cut 19 (15) “…game changer.”

________________________________________________

ULM led 17-14 in the third quarter, but Troy scored the next 23 points and went on to win 37-14 in Malone on Saturday. Warhawks Coach Bryant Vincent says his team could not overcome late-game turnovers…

Cut 20 (14) “…next week.”

A close call for one South Louisiana sheriff, as he was shot at by a suspect during a call. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

___________________________________________________

An assistant police chief in Richland Parish finds himself on the other side of the law after allegedly selling firearms that belonged to the police department. Andre Champagne has more…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

___________________________________________________

With its famous namesake on hand, Southeastern Louisiana University officially opens its new Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center. President Dr. William Wainwright says it includes a newsroom, a film studio and a multimedia studio, giving students experience in all facets of broadcasting.

Cut 3 (13) “…also digital media.”

Wainwright says the university is proud to have the name of one of its most prominent graduates affixed to its new broadcast media center, and she’s a main catalyst behind its construction.

Cut 4 (11) “…state facility renovation.”

The Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center is part of the renovation and expansion of D. Vickers Hall, adding an additional 33-thousand square feet to the 80-thousand-square-foot facility. Wainwright says it’s a building for the entire student body.

Cut 5 (15) “…Broadcast Media Center.”

___________________________________________________

A close call for the sheriff of Assumption Parish, as he’s shot by a shooting suspect he was confronting. Sheriff’s spokesman Lonny Cavalier says Sheriff Leland Falcon was close to the scene when the call for assistance came down, so he responded and encountered the suspect.

Cut 6 (08) “…the left torso.”

While Sheriff Falcon never fired his weapon, one of his deputies returned fire and hit the suspect. Cavalier says that suspect and the victim of the original shooting that led to the 911 call were taken to hospitals.

Cut 7 (14) “…with moderate injuries.”

Cavalier says one deputy suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, while Falcon was grazed by the suspect’s bullet and was briefly hospitalized.

Cut 8 (08) “…of the process.”

___________________________________________________

You can vote for America’s Best Haunted Destination on The 64-dot-com. Site founder Jason Woo says two Louisiana destinations are among the 64 in the field – The Myrtles in St. Francisville and the LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans.

Cut 9 (04)  “…and different things.”

The Myrtles has long been recognized as one of the spookiest places in Louisiana, and Woo says he’s not at all surprised at that.

Cut 10 (05) “…quite a bit.”

Woo says the voting is in the form of a six-round single-elimination tournament, until one emerges as the most haunted destination in the country. 

Cut 11 (07) “…the next round.”

First round voting is underway right now, and it ends Saturday.

___________________________________________________

A northeast Louisiana assistant police chief finds himself on the other side of the law. State Police arrested Rayville Assistant Police Chief Czyz (“chizh”) Williams for theft and malfeasance in office. Trooper Ryan Davis says Williams was selling department property and pocketing the money.

Cut 12 (08) “…for personal gain.”

Davis says all those police department firearms Williams had sold have since been recovered. And Davis says that’s not all Williams allegedly did.

Cut 13 (12)  “…crime prevention programs.”

Davis says none of the money that Williams collected for these nonexistent crime prevention programs went to the Rayville Police Department – he kept the money himself. He says it’s unclear whether any of that money has been recovered and returned to the donors. Davis says having a member of the law enforcement community do these things erodes trust.

Cut 14 (04) “…we’re held to.”

According to the Rayville Police Department’s website, Williams is still employed by the department.

LSU announces enhanced security measures for football home games for the rest of the season. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

___________________________________________________

A new survey finds strong support for more federal funding for afterschool programs. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

___________________________________________________

For the remainder of the football season, those going to LSU home games can expect beefed-up security following a pair of shootings outside the stadium last week. Scott Ballard, the chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, says there will be additional police presence – not only those you can see, but also those you CAN’T see.

Cut 3 (09) “…behavior very quickly.”

Part of that surveillance support includes the use of drones. Ballard says accessibility to campus will be restricted for those who do not have gameday parking permits.

Cut 4 (07) “…have interior permits.”

Highland Road runs parallel to Burbank Drive, which is one of the main routes to get to Tiger Stadium. Ballard says law enforcement is also cracking down on the use of marijuana, which people have complained about for a while.

Cut 5 (09) “…on the spot.”

Ballard says people have even been smoking marijuana inside the stadium. Those who are caught doing so will be ejected; and if they’re season ticket holders, their tickets for the next home game will be forfeited. Ballard is also reminding fans that LSU is a firearm-free campus, and no one except law enforcement should be bringing firearms onto campus.

___________________________________________________

About four in five Louisiana children are missing out on afterschool programs according to a survey conducted by the Afterschool Alliance. Afterschool Alliance executive director Jodi Grant says 48-percent of Louisiana parents say the programs are too expensive…

Cut 6 (10) “…programs.”

Grant says the survey also found that 44-percent say afterschool programs are unavailable in their community…

Cut 7 (08) “…long waiting list.”

Grant says they conducted this study in response to the Trump Administration withholding funds Congress appropriated for afterschool and summer learning programs. After a huge public outcry, the Trump administration released the one-point-four billion dollars this past summer, but federal funding going forward is uncertain. Grant says their study found that parents support more public funding for these programs…

Cut 8 (12) “…huge difference.”

___________________________________________________

The EPA has returned the Smitty’s Supply site back to the company and the Tangipahoa River and connecting ponds back to the State of Louisiana. EPA Region Six Administrator Scott Mason says this is the result of the cleanup progress following the explosion at the chemical plant in August. Mason says the EPA, however, is not going away.

Cut 9 (10)  “…are being met.”

Mason says while it’s handed what’s left of the facility back to Smitty’s, there is still some cleanup left to go.

Cut 10 (11) “…prevent further releases.”

Mason says there will be a coordinated approach with Smitty’s handling the facility cleanup and the state leading the river and pond cleanup under EPA oversight, with Tangipahoa Parish serving as the local coordinator.

Cut 11 (08) “…this case, Smitty’s.”