This year’s drought has had a tremendous economic impact on Louisiana. Colleen Crain has the story…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Angel Reese returned from a four-game unexplained absence and scored 19 points as the seventh ranked Lady Tigers defeated ninth ranked Virginia Tech 82-64 in a rematch of last year’s national semi-final game. Aneesah Morrow also had 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. It was win number 700 for Coach Kim Mulkey. She became the quickest coach in men’s or women’s Division basketball history to reach 700 wins.

A new report by the C-D-C reveals the suicide rate in the U-S last year reached a record high. More than 49 thousand people took their own life. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Rahn Bailey says the rate of suicides involving guns in the U-S has reached its highest level…
Cut 10 (07) “…with pills.”
The federal data shows the rate of suicide by any method has increased by one-third in the past two decades, more than half of those involve firearm, a figure that translates to about one every 20 minutes.

It’s the semifinal round of the high school football playoffs. The top-seed in Division One non-select, Ruston, is seeking its first state championship since 1990 but they face a red-hot Mandeville team tonight. Sports Scouting Report Podcast host Lee Brecheen says the Bearkats are one of the best teams in the state…
Cut 13 (11) “…college prospects.”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s race gets its day in court today as Republican John NIckelson is demanding that a judge rule a new election should take place after he lost on November 18th by one vote. NIckeson says several of the absentee ballots counted did not include the voter’s signature…
cut 10 (08) “…be certified”
But Democrat Henry Whitehorn says the lawsuit filed by his opponent is asking the court to disregard the election process and it…
cut 11 (12) “…doesn’t matter”
Retired Supreme Court justice, Joseph Bleich, is hearing the case and is expected to deliver a ruling tomorrow.

The new Louisiana legislature has until January 30th to redraw the state’s congressional map to include a second majority-minority district after a federal judge granted a two-week extension. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this still presents a challenge for lawmakers.
Cut 12 (07) “…probably create.”
Governor-Elect Jeff Landry and new lawmakers will take office on January 8th but Louisiana law says a special session can not start until January 15th.

Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain plans to ask the next Legislature for 43-million dollars to purchase equipment to fight wildfires. Strain says the state needs air tankers…
cut 4 (13) “…these fires”
Numerous wildfires in Louisiana this year charred 62-thousand acres and destroyed 71-million dollars in forestland from August through October.

A retired state Supreme Court Justice is hearing a lawsuit today filed by Caddo Parish Sheriff candidate John Nickelson who lost the election by one vote. During the recount, Nickelson says the Board of Election Supervisors only rescanned mail-in ballots instead of a hand count. The Republican says two people voted twice, and…
Cut 8 (13) “…is counted.”
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, a ballot cast in early voting still counts, even if the person dies before election day.

Henry Whitehorn, who was declared the winner in the recount, says the results should stand. The Democrat says he’s always been told the person with the most votes wins whether it’s by 1,000 votes or even just one vote…
Cut 9 (11) “…this election.”
Whitehorn says the lawsuit is asking the court to disregard the election process.

Showers and thunderstorms are moving through the northern half of the state. LRN Meteorologist John Wetherbee says the severe weather risk is marginal…
cut 7 (08) “…big problem”
For south Louisiana, rain chances are high through Saturday.

It’s a new day for the Northwestern State football program as 47-year-old Blaine McCorkle takes over as the new head coach of the Demons. McCorkle replaces Brad Laird, who resigned six games into the season following the murder of safety Ronnie Caldwell. The Demons did not play their final four games of the season so McCorkle understands emotions are still raw…
Cut 13 (12) “…right in the tail.”
McCorkle turned around a losing program at Belhaven University, a division three school in Jackson, Mississippi.

Attorney General-elect Liz Murrill announces plans to conduct a thorough review of State Police practices. Brooke Thorington reports the U-S Justice Department has its own review in response to the 2019 fatal arrest of black motorist Ronald Greene….
cut 1 (28) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

One of the top players in women’s college basketball returns to the court tonight when seventh ranked LSU hosts ninth ranked Virginia Tech. Lady Tigers star Angel Reese has missed the last four games. Coach Kim Mulkey is not providing details for Reese’s absence, calling it a locker room issue that should stay behind closed doors.

Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain says he’ll ask lawmakers next year to approve 43-million dollars for new firefighting equipment and personnel after the state’s worst wildfire season in history. Strain says there’s an urgent need for more resources and he has prioritized a list of equipment.
Cut 3 (12) “….and transports.”
Wildfires in the Bayou State charred 62 thousand acres and destroyed $71 million in forestland from August through October.

Every parish in the state should see rain today as a wet weather pattern begins, especially for the southern half of Louisiana. LRN Meteorologist John Wetherbee says there’s a slight risk for flash flooding in central and southwest Louisiana…
cut 6 (06) “…embedded thunderstorms”
Southwest Louisiana is also under a slight risk for severe weather. Most of the rest is under a marginal risk. Wetherbee says heavy rainfall appears to be the biggest threat from this storm system that’s receiving energy from the Gulf of Mexico.

Governor-elect Jeff Landry announces the next leader of State Police when he takes office in January. Major Robert Hodges, a 28-year veteran of LSP and a New Orleans native will be the next superintendent of the state’s leading law enforcement agency.
Cut 28 (08) “…state safe.”
Landry also announced a partnership with Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams that would allow the state attorney general’s office to prosecute any case led by State Police.

Speaking of State Police, Attorney General-elect Liz Murrill announced the appointment of former federal prosecutor Ed O’ Callahan as the state’s point person to conduct a review of the L-S-P. Murrill says this is in conjunction with the U-S Department of Justice’s own inquiry…
cut 4 (10) “….going forward”

It’s the final day of the hurricane season. The 2023 season produced 20 named storms, tied for the fourth most in recorded history, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says the Bayou State was never threatened…
cut 8 (12) “…of that”
Most of the state will see rainfall today.

The governor’s office has released a series of reports that provides the public with a list of accomplishments that occurred during the Edwards administration. Deputy Chief of Staff for the governor, Eric Holl, says the state has made tremendous progress in every possible metric including…
cut 12 (09) “…billion dollars”

The U-S Department of Justice has been conducting a pattern and practice inquiry of Louisiana State Police after reports surfaced that troopers were unfairly targeting minorities. The 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene is the most publicized example. Attorney General-elect Liz Murrill says the state will also conduct its own review…
cut 6 (11) “….lasting improvements”
28-year veteran Robert Hodges will serve as the state’s next Louisiana State Police Superintendent, replacing the retiring Lamar Davis on January 8th.

There is a slight risk for flash flooding for southwest Louisiana and into central Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says several locations will receive at least two inches of rain and rainfall amounts of three to four inches are possible. Keim says the state can use the rain…
cut 9 (04) “…to bed”

LSU’s Bayou Barbie is back as Angel Reese will be on the floor tonight when 7th ranked LSU hosts 9th ranked Virginia Tech. Colleen Crain has the story…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Caddo Sheriff candidate John Nickelson’s lawsuit gets a hearing today. Nickelson lost to Henry Whitehorn by one vote, but he’s asking the courts to call for a new election, because he says several mail-in ballots counted did not have a signature and he claims six deceased people voted. Whitehorn says he’s the undisputed winner.

Attorney General elect Liz Murrill has tapped long-time federal prosecutor Ed O’Callahan to conduct a review of the Louisiana State Police, which has been under the microscope since the fatal arrest of black motorist Ronald Green in 2019. Murrill says O’Callahan will work with the U-S Department of Justice who is already conducting a pattern and practice inquiry…
cut 5 (11) “….this country”

Northwestern State has hired former LSU long snapper Blaine McCorkle as its new head coach. McCorkle has a big job in front of him as the Demons football program suspended its 2023 season after the murder of safety Ronnie Caldwell. But McCrokle believes he’s the right guy for the job…
cut 14 (14) “…football games
Northwestern State has not had a winning season since 2008.

A federal judge is giving the Louisiana Legislature a two week extension to redraw a Congressional district map that would comply with the Voting Rights Act. The new deadline is January 30th, but it’s still a tight time frame for a new Legislature that will be sworn in on January 8th.

The hurricane season ends today and after initial predictions of a below average season, the 2023 hurricane season produced 20 named storms and seven hurricanes. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”