LSU’s women’s basketball star Angel Reese receives a huge honor as she’s named as the Sporting News Athlete of the Year. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Louisiana lawmakers are preparing for four legislative sessions in the first half of 2024. Teiko Foxx has the story…

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

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State Police have reinstated Trooper Lt. John Clary after criminal charges in the Ronald Greene case were dropped for withholding bodycam footage. In exchange, Clary will testify in the case against two officers. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt believes what’s happening is…

Cut 3 (13) “…being terminated.”

Graphic bodycam footage shows Black motorist Ronald Greene being beaten by officers in 2019. He died while in police custody.

Borghardt admits while it “looks bad” that Clary has gotten his job back he points out that it’s easier to prosecute someone who destroyed evidence versus withholding it. He says terminating a civil employee is much different than a private one.

Cut 4 (05) “…firing someone.”

Greene’s mother Mona Hardin told the Associated Press she was surprised and disgusted Clary has been restored to duty. Borghardt says while Hardin is understandably upset…

Cut 5 (09) “ …(x2) evidence there.”  

Master Trooper Kory York faces negligent homicide and malfeasance charges, and Union Parish Sheriff’s deputy Chris Harpin is charged with three counts of malfeasance in the Ronald Greene death.

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LSU announced the commitment of transfer quarterback AJ Swann. Swann has played in 15 games over two seasons at Vanderbilt. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is expected to take over for the Tigers as Jayden Daniels leaves for the NFL, but Shea Dixon of On3.com  says Swann will bring exactly what the Tigers need to the young QB room…

Cut 6 (09) “…heir apparent.”

Swann passed for almost 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns at Vanderbilt leading the team to a 4-11 record. Dixon says the former four-star recruit was expected to transfer to South Carolina until deciding he wanted to go somewhere he could compete for a national championship…

Cut 7 (13) “…and develop.” 

Swann will join Nussmeier, Freshman Rickie Collins, and incoming four-star 2024 recruit Collin Hurley in the LSU quarterback room. Dixon says Nussmeier, who is getting his first start in the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 1^st, will still have the inside track at the starting spot after waiting behind Daniels for two seasons but there could be a competition this offseason…

Cut 8 (07) “…SEC games.” 

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Louisiana lawmakers are gearing up for Sessionpalooza in 2024. An organizational session, one for the congressional map, another on crime, and then the regular session in March.  LAPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says the last time the legislature had this many sessions on the calendar was in 2008.

Cut 9 (12) “…something comparable.” 

The organizational session begins on January 8^th. It could wrap up that day or take until January 10th to complete. Alfred says a special session to redraw the Congressional map is tentatively scheduled to take place from January 15^th through 23rd…

Cut 10 (12) “…on this.”

A federal judge has given the Louisiana Legislature until January 30th to redraw a Congressional map with two majority-minority districts. Alford says a criminal justice reform special session from February 16 to March 6th could change some of the sentencing laws that were approved in 2017 as part of Governor Edwards’ criminal justice reform package…

Cut 11 (13) “…council reports.”

The talk of property insurance reform will have to wait until a regular session that’s set to begin March 11th and end June third.

Ochsner receives a million-dollar grant to help combat the opioid crisis in rural Louisiana. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Among Governor John Bel Edwards’ proudest accomplishments is Medicaid Expansion. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Term Limited Randal Gaines may be leaving the Louisiana Legislature but he isn’t leaving service to the Louisiana Democratic Party. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Ochsner Lafayette General is launching a million-dollar initiative to confront opioid addiction and abuse head-on in rural communities. Family Doctor James McNally at Ochsner Health Center in Jennings says the project provides critical resources to rural communities that lack services and focuses on…

Cut 4 (12) “…the future.”

The initiative funds preventative and educational programming expenses related to treatment and recovery support.

McNally says Louisiana recorded more than two thousand overdose deaths in 2021 and fentanyl is largely to blame. Among parishes, he says per capita, there are higher numbers of cases in southwest Louisiana.

Cut 5 (08) “…the country.”

More than two thousand Louisianans died from a drug-related overdose in 2021 nearly doubling the national average, according to the CDC. McNally says it’s vitally important to remove the stigma associated with opioid addiction.

Cut 6 (13) “…more people.”

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After an extremely hot and dry summer, mudbugs are starting to emerge in south Louisiana crawfish ponds. That’s according to LSU AgCenter Crawfish Specialist Todd Fontenot, who says the emergence started a few weeks later than normal, which could push back the crawfish season…

Cut 7 (09) “…their survival”

Fontenot says the intrusion of salt water into freshwater marshes and bayous has many crawfish farmers concerned…

Cut 8 (11) “…talked about” 

St. Landry Parish crawfish farmer Zack Herbert says crawfish supply will likely be a major issue in 2024…

Cut 9 (12)  “… industry-wide.”

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Among Governor John Bel Edwards’ proudest accomplishments in office is Medicaid expansion. He says it’s cheaper for a person to be on Medicaid for 10 cents on the dollar as opposed to paying 40 cents on the dollar when they’re uninsured and get care…

Cut 10 (12) “…to do.”

Approximately a half-million Louisiana residents have Medicaid coverage as a result.

Louisiana is also one of two states in the deep south that opted for Medicaid Expansion under the Affordability Care Act, and as a result Edwards’ says….

Cut 11 (12) “…the country.” 

Arkansas is the only other state in the southeast with expanded Medicaid.

While many hardline conservatives are against Medicaid expansion, Edwards, a pro-life Democrat, says allowing the working poor to have healthcare is a pro-life value.

Cut 12 (10) “…is pro-life.” 

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State Representative Randal Gaines of LaPlace is term limited, but is now seeking to be the next chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Gaines says he was recruited to run as many state and national officials reached out to him…

Cut 13 (09) “…get people elected.”

Gaines says, the Democrats represent a cross-section of Louisiana and he wants to assess what’s important to the people. He says the turn out in the last election shows leadership failed in its responsibility to reach the people and convey the party’s message and identity.

Cut 14 (12) “…we represent.” 

Gaines says he has support of business and faith-based leaders. He seeks to replace the current Democratic Chair, Katie Bernhardt. Gaines says hhe recently shared a positive message with Edwards…

Cut 15 (05) “…the Deep South.”

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The Saints put together one of their better performances of the season as the Black and Gold defeated the New York Giants 24-6. New Orleans held the Giants to 193 total yards and the offense converted on both of its red zone opportunities. Coach Dennis Allen says it was great complimentary..

 Cut 16 (15) “…our team”

Unprovoked, Allen said it was a good game from quarterback Derek Carr, who has received a bunch of criticism from the fan base.

Cut 17 (15) “….played well” 

Carr threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns. There were very few boos from the home crowd in this game and he appreciated the love the fans showed…

Cut 18 (14)  “…our team.” 

The Saints are now 7-7 and tied with Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South. New Orleans will visit the L-A Rams on Thursday night.

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For the second straight year, the Ragin Cajuns lost their bowl game, and finish with a losing record of 6-7. Despite scoring three defensive touchdowns, Jacksonville State beat U-L Lafayette 34-31 in overtime in the New Orleans Bowl. Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux’s offense only had 247 yards of offense…

Cut 19 (18) “…with me” 

Desormeaux says it was a tough way to end the season…

Cut 20 (20) “…like this”