The Bayou State is thawing from the frigid temperatures of the last few days, but winter isn’t over yet. Colleen Crain looks ahead to the warmup and cool down of the next few days…

Cut 1 (29)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson believes the Louisiana Legislature should not draw a new Congressional map. Jeff Palermo reports the Bossier Parish Republican says the state should press for a trial on the current map…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Nicholls State University has received a $3-million donation, which is the largest in the school’s history. Nicholls’ spokesperson Jerad David says the Mary and Al Danos Family Foundation commitment will be used to construct a new College of Business Administration.

Cut 3 (11) “…State University.”

David says Al Danos was always a big fan and supporter of the university and the generous donation from his family will not only go towards funding a new building, but it will also carry on the family’s legacy.

Cut 4 (11) “…Business Administration.”

Approximately one-fifth of Nicholls’ students are business majors.

In addition to the $3-million donation, David says the school is seeking state capital outlay funds and private funds to construct the new Al Danos building.

David says the atrium in the new building will be named after The Brady Family, who’s also from Bayou Lafourche, thanks to their recent donation. He says they hope these donations will inspire others to leave their mark on the university as well.

Cut 5 (11) “…new facility.” 

The new building will be located on the current site of the school’s J.J. Ayo Swimming Pool.

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The Bayou State is coming out of a deep freeze but don’t put away your hats and gloves just yet.  Montra Lockwood with the National Weather Service Lake Charles says to look for a short break from the freeze…

Cut 6 (08) “…on Friday.” 

Tonight, expect temperatures in the 20s north of I-10 and in the lower 30s in the southern part of the state.

After the quick reprieve from the freezing temperatures, expect a frigid weekend says Lockwood…

Cut 7 (08) “…I-10 corridor.” 

The weekend temperatures will still challenge Louisiana’s normal winter lows but as far as snow and freezing rain, Lockwood says…

Cut 8 (09) “…next week.” 

Lockwood says warmer weather, up into the 60s is coming next week.

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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson believes Louisiana’s current Congressional map is constitutional and the state legislature should not approve a new map with two Black majority districts. But Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the state has exhausted all of its legal avenues…

Cut 9 (10) “…map.” 

U-S District Judge Shelly Dick ruled the map the Louisiana Legislature approved in 2022 violates the Voting Rights Act because only one of the six districts provides an avenue for a Black candidate to get elected.

Speaker Johnson says there should be a full-blown trial on Louisiana’s current map, but Murrill says they have to follow Judge Dick’s order to draw a new map by January 30th…

Cut 10 (10) “…my remedies.” 

Governor Jeff Landry is backing a map that makes Republican Garret Graves’ sixth district the second Black voting district. Louisiana’s lone Black Congressman Troy Carter says the governor and the legislature are doing the right thing…

Cut 11 (05) “…African American districts.”

The map Landry supports is up for a vote in the Senate today. Graves calls it a crazy proposal because it runs from Baton Rouge to Shreveport.

Johnson leads a chamber with a slim Republican majority and a new map with two majority minority districts would likely give Democrats another seat in the House.

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As legislators debate changing to closed-party primary elections, US Senator Bill Cassidy believes it’s a waste of money.  A fiscal note on the legislation quotes a $10 million figure for next fiscal year and $6 million for the following fiscal year. Cassidy says a Louisiana pollster has estimated a $90 million cost to taxpayers.

Cut 12 (08)  “…on here.”  

Cassidy also worries the change will disenfranchise the state’s approximately 800-thousand Independent voters. The Republican also believes if the system isn’t broken don’t fix it and that taxpayers shouldn’t pick up the tab.

Cut 13 (07) “…you pay for it.” 

Cassidy says the public doesn’t see closed party primaries as a priority.

Cut  14 (12) “…(x2) roads and bridges.”

Cassidy says voters who have a strong opinion on open or closed primaries should contact their state lawmakers.

The Saints have fired offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael after 18 seasons with the organization, 15 as the offensive coordinator. Beau Gaspard has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Beau Gaspard”

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The House Governmental Affairs Committee approves a bill to move Louisiana from a jungle primary to closed party primaries. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (35)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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The congressional map backed by Governor Landry, that drastically changes Congressman Garret Graves district advances from committee. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 3 (43) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Saints have fired offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. Carmichael was the offensive coordinator for the last 15 seasons and he’s been with the franchise for 18 years. After missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season, change felt inevitable according to the host of the Locked On Saints podcast Ross Jackson…

Cut 4 (12) “…offensive system.”

Many in the Who Dat Nation believe head coach Dennis Allen should be fired, but Jackson says the Saints look at the inconsistency of the offense as a reason why Carmichael needed to be replaced.

Cut 5 (13) “…improve here.” 

Jackson on some possible replacements for Carmichael…

Cut 6 (11) “…in the NFL.”

Senior offensive assistant Bob Bicknell and wide receivers coach Kodi Burns were also let go.

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The House Governmental Affairs Committee approves a closed-party primary bill supported by Governor Jeff Landry. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson’s proposal would shift, federal, statewide, and certain judicial elections from a jungle primary to closed-party primaries. New Orleans Democrat Candace Newell says the Legislature should not rush to do this

Cut 7 (12) “…dedicate to it.”

Governor Jeff Landry wants lawmakers to pass this legislation during the current special session which ends next Tuesday.

Opponents also raised concerns that Independents will be disenfranchised because they can’t vote in the primaries. But Emerson says that’s not accurate…

Cut 8 (12) “…party.” 

Supporters of the closed primary system say it will lead to better candidates on the ballot for the general election. Emerson says voters who identify with a party should be in control of that process

Cut 9 (11)  “…nominee.”

Louisiana uses a closed-party system to nominate a President and the state had closed primaries for the 2008 and 2010 federal elections. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says voters found closed primaries confusing and demanded the state goes back to the jungle primary system…

Cut 10 (07) “…rid of it.”

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The congressional map redesign Governor Jeff Landry supports in the special session, Senate Bill 8, makes drastic changes to Congressman Garret Graves’s district and the Baton Rouge Republican is not happy about it. The proposal would make the sixth district the second Black majority district and it extends from Baton Rouge to Caddo Parish. Graves says…

Cut 11 (10) “…State of Louisiana.” 

Graves points out that the congressional map passed by a two-thirds majority in the legislature two years ago has not been through what’s called a merits trial, to determine if it violates redistricting principles or not.

Cut 12 (13) “…incredibly premature.” 

Graves also wonders why the Republican-controlled legislature would just roll over without fighting for the current map and accept the proposed map in Senate Bill 8 because it would weaken the GOP majority in the US House.

While presenting Senate Bill 8 in committee, Catahoula Parish Senator Glen Womack says the map’s boundaries assure Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who serves on US Appropriations and Agriculture committees remains unimpaired by any other congressional incumbents…

Cut 13 (06) “…this decade.”

Because of the geographical makeup of the state’s Black population, Womack says this particular map creates two Black-majority districts; District 2 represents minorities in New Orleans, and District 6, includes minorities in Baton Rouge and extends to include Blacks in Shreveport. He says this map also ensures Letlow will remain in Congress and…

Cut 14 (11) “…of Louisiana.” 

Senate Bill 8 which advanced from committee is one of several maps lawmakers are considering during the special session.

US District Judge Shelly Dick, of the Middle District of Louisiana, issued an end-of-the-month deadline for lawmakers to redraw the state’s Congressional map with two Black-majority districts.

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Louisiana Tech’s Athletic Director is heading to Ole Miss. After serving the university for three years marked by some major challenges, Dr. Eric Wood will become a Senior Deputy AD at Ole Miss. Tech President Dr. Jim Henderson says Wood will be missed

Cut 15 (11) “…in the classroom”

After tornados destroyed athletic facilities, Wood raised funds and oversaw the rebuilding of a new baseball park, and a softball and soccer complex Henderson called a marvel of innovation. Henderson says Wood supports the student in the student-athlete…

Cut 16 (10) “..proud of them” 

Dr. Wood will serve through the end of January then Deputy Athletic Director Mary Kay Hungate will serve as interim AD. Henderson says in the next few weeks, Louisiana Tech will develop a process to select the next athletic director worthy of the Bulldogs…

Cut 17 (10) “…towards that vision.”