The Pelicans took on one of the better teams in the Western Conference last night, without Zion Williamson, and could not hang with the Oklahoma City Thunder. O-K-C held New Orleans to a season low in points, 83, as the Pels lost 107 to 83. The Pelicans shot just 39 percent from the field and committed 20 turnovers. Coach Willie Green knows they can play better against the better teams in the NBA…
cut 19 (12) “…room for improvement”
The Pelicans finished a four-game homestand with a 2-2 record. They are in Milwaukee tonight. Williamson, who missed last night’s game with a sore foot, his status for tonight’s game is unknown.

The LSU men’s basketball team is at Alabama tonight. The Tigers are looking for their first win in Tuscaloosa since 2019. Tip-off is at 9 PM.

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The Ragin Cajuns won their fourth consecutive game yesterday as U-L Lafayette beat Arkansas State 81-75. Kobe Julien had 21 points.

Louisiana Tech goes for its fifth win in a row as the Bulldogs host New Mexico State, who is 3-and-2 in Conference USA. Tip-off is at 2 PM today.

The Atlanta Falcons have requested permission to talk with LSU’s co-offensive coordinator Cortez Hankton about being the Dirty Birds O-C.

The defending national champion LSU baseball team has begun full squad workouts. Catcher Hayden Travinski could have decided to pursue a professional baseball career, but the Shreveport native wanted one more season in purple and gold…
cut 18 (16) “…our job”

The 9th-ranked LSU Lady Tigers led for most of the game last night, but South Carolina played with poise down the stretch and left Baton Rouge with a 76-70 victory. The Gamecocks outscored LSU 24-14 in the fourth quarter and LSU star player Angel Reese fouled out with about four minutes left. Coach Kim Mulkey says it’s a tough loss, but there’s still plenty of season left…
Cut 20 (14) “…just one game.”
The loss ended LSU’s home winning streak at 29 games.

In other action last night, Louisiana Tech dribbled past UTEP 68-54 to remain perfect at home this season. The Bulldogs also improved to 4-and-1 in Conference USA play.

ULM won its second straight, an 80-66 win over South Alabama and the Warhawks will face Arkansas State at 1 PM on Sunday.

Sunday is championship Sunday in the NFL. At 2 PM, the Chiefs battle the Ravens in Baltimore in the AFC Title Game and then at 5:30 it’s the 49ers hosting the Detroit Lions for the NFC Championship Game. Former Saints defensive back C-J Garner Johnson is trying to help the Lions get the Super Bowl for the first time ever…
cut 15 (14) “…for the conference championship”
The 49ers are favorite by a touchdown.

The LSU men’s basketball team is at Alabama tomorrow night. The Tigers are trying to split on the road this week after losing at Georgia on Wednesday. Bam a is 5-and-1 in the SEC.

In the Southland…McNeese hosts UNO. The Cowboys are 17-2 overall and just beat Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi. Northwestern State hosts the Islanders at 3 PM.

In the NBA….the Pelicans host Oklahoma City. The Thunder are 31-and-13 and in second place in the West.

Thursday’s night’s Top ten matchup between LSU and South Carolina lived up to the hype, but the Gamecocks played with the poise and toughness needed to get the victory and they stay undefeated with a 76-70 victory over the Lady Tigers. LSU led for most of the game, but when Angel Reese fouled out with about four minutes left, top ranked Carolina took control. Coach Kim Mulkey…
cut 21 (21) “….we could”
LSU’s home winning streak ends at 33 straight games.

The La Tech men’s team won its fourth straight, a 68-54 win over UTEP as Daniel Batcho had 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

ULM has its second two game winning streak of the season as the Warhawks defeated South Alabama 80-66 yesterday. Makai Willis had a career-high 21 points.

The Ragin Cajuns game against Arkansas State was postponed until 4 PM today because of a power outage at the Cajundome.

Former LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been arrested for allegedly placing thousands of bets on sporting events with FanDuel, when he was 20-years-old. Which is illegal. State Police say he created account with another person’s name and birthday. Some of the bets were on LSU and himself to do well.

Three weeks from today, the college baseball season begins. LSU Catcher Hayden Travinski will wear the coveted number eight jersey, which goes to one of the team’s leaders…
cut 17 (13) “…return the favor”
LSU opens the season against VMI on February 16.

On the eve of 2^nd anniversary of legal mobile sports betting in Louisiana, former LSU football star Kayshon Boutte turns himself in on charges he allegedly made illegal sports bets while underage and at LSU. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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The 2024 crawfish season remains murky despite a couple of days of heavy rainfall. Teiko Foxx explains…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Congressman Garret Graves says what fellow Republicans did to his district when they revised the map to have a second majority -Black district won’t hold up in court. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The arrest of former LSU football star Kayshon Boutte for allegedly making illegal sports bets when he was a minor and at LSU comes the day before the 2^nd anniversary of legal mobile sports betting in Louisiana. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman  Ronnie Johns says protecting the integrity of gaming is something the state takes seriously…

Cut 4 (08) “…who it is.”

Boutte’s arrest warrant says more than $637,000 in wagers were allegedly made from a fraudulent FanDuel Sportsbook account he allegedly made. An alert was triggered and sent to the State Police when seven different bets were made on one game. Johns says when it comes to enforcing the rules, the board is on top of their game…

Cut 5 (07) “…things like this.” 

Investigators were following Boutte’s activities from April 2022 to May 2023 and say he placed more than 89-hundred wagers including 17 on NCAA football games. Boutte was playing football for LSU in 2022 but Johns confirms evidence shows Boutte was not throwing games…

Cut 6 (06) “…in any way.”

Boutte face charges of computer fraud and gaming prohibited and placing sports bets under the age of 21.  Anyone who needs help can reach out to Gamblers Anonymous by calling 855- CALL GA

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Despite several inches of rainfall, LSU AgCenter Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley says Louisianans will not see a boost in what’s expected to be a dismal crawfish season. He says the rain will help flush ponds but will not increase crawfish harvest.

Cut 7 (13) “…normal year.”

Last summer’s historic drought impacted this year’s crawfish harvest. Eighty-eight percent of the Bayou State is still experiencing some level of drought, according to today’s U-S drought monitor.

Shirley says some farmers produced zero crawfish, while others did not have quite an average production. He says prices have sky-rocketed for buyers who are purchasing less this year.

Cut 8 (09) “…of year.” 

Louisiana farmers on average produce 100 to 120 million pounds of crawfish per year, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Shirley says he’s hopeful for an increase in harvest this year, but it’s still a waiting game.

Cut 9 (13)  “…and see.”

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Republican Congressman Garret Graves, whose district was redrawn says he still intends to run for office despite that his district is now more likely to elect a Democrat. Graves criticizes lawmakers for passing a map he believes was haphazardly drawn to satisfy only a demographic versus communities of interests.

Cut 10 (12) “…of Louisiana.”

Graves says the map is almost a carbon copy of the one the courts rejected in the 90s and he’s confident it will happen again. While some lawmakers say they had no choice but to pass a map with two majority-Black districts Graves says otherwise, that the map had yet to make its way to a merits trial.

Cut 11 (10) “…ridiculous.” 

In the meantime, he says he’ll see how it plays out in the courts and because he’s in line to become the new chair of House Transportation, which oversees funding for roads and bridges, coastal restoration, and FEMA, to name a few.  Graves says he might look at running in another one of the four congressional districts that include Baton Rouge.

Cut 12 (09) “…Transportation Committee.” 

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On a 3-to-2 vote, the Louisiana Public Service Commission votes to create a statewide energy efficiency program. Opponents say it will lead to higher bills, but PSC member Davante Lewis says Entergy, Cleco, SWEPCO, and other utility companies regulated by the commission can tap into federal dollars to make their homes more energy efficient.

Cut 13 (10)  “…is low.”

Commissioners Craig Greene and Foster Campbell also voted for the energy efficiency plan. Campbell believes it will lead to less energy usage for many, helping to lower customers’ bills…

Cut 14 (08) “…unnecessary energy.” 

The P-S-C will hire a third-party administrator to design and implement the program and monitor utilities for compliance and progress. PSC member Eric Skrmetta this is why he voted against this plan…

Cut 15 (08) …waste of money.“

Skrmetta says utility companies already have energy efficiency programs that customers can use, so there’s no need for a third-party administration. He believes in the long run this deal will end up costing customers…

Cut 16 (11) “…the state.” 

Mike Francis of Crowley also voted no.

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We are three weeks away from opening day and the defending LSU baseball champions are once again contenders to win another national title. Shreveport’s Hayden Travinski is one of the stars who is returning from last year’s team and he’ll wear jersey number eight this year, which goes to an upperclassman for their leadership and dedication to the LSU program. Travinski on learning to be a leader…

Cut 17 (13) “…the favor.” 

Travinski could have decided to pursue a professional baseball career after last season, but the former Airline star wanted one more year in purple and gold…

Cut 18 (16)  “…our job.” 

LSU’s top two starting pitchers from last year, Paul Skenes and Ty Floyd, have moved on. Thatcher Hurd is expected to be the Tigers Friday night starter. After some early season troubles, Hurd finished the season strong and was the winning pitcher in the championship game. Travinksi expects a big season from Hurd…

Cut 19 (12) “…get to work.” 

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The 9th-ranked LSU Lady Tigers led for most of the game, but South Carolina played with poise down the stretch and left Baton Rouge with a 76-70 victory. The Gamecocks outscored LSU 24-14 in the fourth quarter and LSU star player Angel Reese fouled out with about four minutes left. Coach Kim Mulkey says it’s a tough loss, but there’s still plenty of season left…

Cut 20 (14) “…just one game.”

Mulkey says South Carolina was the tougher team.

Former LSU football star Kayshon Boutte has been arrested after he allegedly created a fraudulent sports betting account on FanDuel Sportsbook when he was 20 years old. You have to be 21 to bet. State Police says Boutte’s alias account shows at least six of his wagers were on LSU football. But East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says the evidence shows he was not throwing games…
Cut 14 (06) “…do well”
Boutte has been charged with computer fraud and gaming prohibited and placing bets when under 21.

The big game is tonight as the ninth-ranked Lady Tigers host top-ranked South Carolina in a huge matchup in women’s college basketball. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 20 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Louisiana Tech brings a three-game winning streak into tonight’s home game against UTEP at 6 PM. The Bulldogs will also host New Mexico State on Saturday. Tech coach Talvin Hester says winning at home is a must…
cut 18 (19) “…the goal”

The Ragin Cajuns begin a six-game homestand tonight as U-L Lafayette hosts host Arkansas State U-L Lafayette has also won three straight and the winning streak started with a win over the Red Wolves 12 days ago.

ULM is looking to win its second straight as the Warhawks host South Alabama at 7:30 in Fant-Ewing Colisum. The Warhawks snapped a nine-game losing streak with a seven point win over Old Dominion on Saturday. The Jaguars are 10-9 overall, 3-and-4 in the Sun Belt.

LSU men’s basketball lost a tough game last night, falling to Georgia in the final seconds 68-66.