Banana Ball is coming back to Louisiana – this time, returning to Baton Rouge. Cade Voisin reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Cade Voisin.”

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Up to 60 LSU football players will participate in a study that could change how concussions are detected. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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LSU takes out its frustrations against a depleted Mississippi State team. Andrew Greenstein reports from Tiger Stadium.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Banana Ball is returning to Louisiana in 2027 – this time making a return trip to Baton Rouge. Laura Cating (KATE-ing), the executive vice president of Visit Baton Rouge, says the Savannah Bananas and the Firefighters will play two games in early March, offering two very different experiences.

Cut 4 (11) “…in Tiger Stadium.”

This year, the Savannah Bananas and the Party Animals played two sold-out games in the Superdome. The last time Banana Ball was in Baton Rouge was in August of 2025 for two games between the Party Animals and the Texas Tailgaters. For that series, they received 142-thousand ticket requests for the ballpark that seats only 13-thousand. Cating says by holding one of the games in Tiger Stadium, they can accommodate a lot more fans.

Cut 5 (11) “…to Baton Rouge.”

Cating says if you’d like an opportunity to purchase tickets, they’re very affordable – but you’d better get a move on, because the clock is ticking.

Cut 6 (08) “…through October 31st.”

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Louisiana is once again ranked among the nation’s top 10 states for business competitiveness. The publication Area Development ranks Louisiana ninth in its latest report, marking the second consecutive year the state has made the top 10. Louisiana Economic Development spokesperson Emma Wagner says site selectors recognized the state’s business-friendly tax environment…

Cut 7 (10) “…tax environment.”

Wagner says tax reforms approved in 2024 helped improve Louisiana’s standing. She says the state’s access to electric power was another factor in the ranking…

Cut 8 (11) “rate payers.”

Louisiana also ranked ninth last year, marking its first top-10 finish in five years. Wagner says the state’s fast permitting process also helped, and she expects Louisiana to remain among the top-ranked states for business in the years ahead…

Cut 9 (08)  “…momentum.”

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Researchers are working with up to 60 LSU football players this season to develop a non-invasive sideline test that can use a player’s saliva to detect concussions. FMOL Health lead trauma researcher Dr. Guillaume Spielmann (GEEyulm SPEEL-uh-mun) is leading the study and says concussions are typically identified by looking for changes in specific proteins in blood, but this test tracks the same changes in saliva.

Cut 10 (11) “…in players.”

Researchers will take samples regularly to monitor players’ saliva throughout the season as well as when a concussion is detected to compare biomarkers associated with brain injuries. He says the goal is an accurate test that can be done right there on the sideline.

Cut 11 (13) “…your safety.”

An objective test could eliminate the chance of players trying to beat sideline concussion tests and detect danger even when symptoms are not immediately apparent.

Spielmann adds that the field test could be used in lower-level sports that do not have the same sideline health resources as college football, as well as in other professions.

Cut 12 (13) “…whether they’re not.”

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After last week’s heartbreaking loss in Kentucky, LSU took its frustrations out against a depleted Mississippi State team, blanking the Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium, 31-0. Mississippi State was without starting quarterback Kamario Taylor and its leading running back, Fluff Bothwell. Tigers Head Coach Lane Kiffin said after the game he doesn’t have a whole lot of empathy for injuries, especially since his defensive unit was without many of its top players too.

Cut 13 (09)  “…game after game.” 

With LSU’s second unit into the game late in the 4th quarter, they were able to preserve the shutout – and that’s something sophomore linebacker T.J. Dottery was very proud of.

Cut 14 (11) “…standard for sure.”

On the offensive side, junior quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 31 out of 38 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns. After the game, Leavitt noted that perhaps more importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over once.

Cut 15 (08) “…go make plays.”

LSU improves to 5-and-2 on the season, 2-and-2 in the SEC. They have another early wakeup call this Saturday in Auburn – kickoff is once again at 11 a-m.

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Louisiana Tech is 2-0 in the Sun Belt play after blanking ULM 24 to 0 in the first game between the I-20 rivals since 2000. The first half was scoreless, but the Bulldogs offense finally got going in the second half, taking advantage of turnovers forced by the Tech defense. Coach Sonny Cumbie on the message he delivered to his team at halftime…

Cut 16 (16) “…the football.”

ULM remains winless on the season. The Warhawks had just 228 yards of offense and 118 penalty yards. Coach Bryant Vincent is pleased with what he saw from his defense, but disappointed in how the offense played…

Cut 17 (16) “…to win.”

ULM has now lost 14 straight and will visit Troy this Saturday. Louisiana Tech is back home to host Old Dominion.

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The Ragin Cajuns bounced back from a tough loss last week to Louisiana Tech to topple Troy 33 to six. U-L Lafayette rushed for 243 yards and committed just three penalties in a well-played game by Coach Michael Desormeaux’s team

Cut 18 (15)  “…one year.” 

The Cajuns are 5-2 overall, 2-1 in the Sun Belt and will travel to Southern Miss this Saturday.

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The Saints responded to owner Gayle Benson’s demand for better play by beating the New York Giants 34-27. New Orleans had its usual slow start and fell behind 10-0, but rallied to score 34 unanswered points and held on for a seven-point win. Head coach Kellen Moore says there was a sense of urgency…

Cut 19 (13) “…proud of guys.”

The game turned in the second quarter, when the Saints forced a fumble on a kick-off return. That led to the first of three touchdown passes by Tyler Shough. The defense intercepted three passes. Cornerback Martin Emerson intercepted two of the passes…

Cut 20 (14) “…did that”

The Saints left after the game for Paris, where New Orleans will play the 4-and-2 Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat the Buccaneers in overtime in Tampa.

Saints owner Gayle Benson said her team’s performance this season has been unacceptable, but what does that really mean for the Black and Gold? Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Louisiana finished the fiscal year that ended on June 30th with a 565-million-dollar budget surplus. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The Saints will have their chance to answer owner Gayle Benson’s call to action on Sunday against the Giants. Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan says Benson’s rare public appearance admonishing the team’s performance was eye-opening. Her speech came before a big road trip to New York, then to Paris for the first-ever NFL game in France.

Cut 3 (14) “…so bad.”

The Black and Gold are 1-and-4 to start the season, and only six teams in the last 20 years have made the playoffs after such a bad start. New Orleans has not been to the postseason in five years, and Duncan says if they miss out again, it would be the longest playoff drought in a long time.

Cut 4 (13) “…out this way.”

Duncan says everything in the organization would have to be considered, including the job security of GM Mickey Loomis and head coach Kellen Moore.

Duncan says the team is dealing with injuries, but they are also just not playing well in all three phases of the game. He says questions of the game planning are emerging, and they need to get back on track this weekend.

Cut 5 (09) “…as well.”

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A north Louisiana theater which was one of the focal points during the civil rights movement is awarded a 750-thousand-dollar grant from the National Park Service for the first phase of a major restoration project. Janice Simmons, the assistant director of Greater North Louisiana Community Development Commission, says the money will go towards much-needed repairs for the 102-year-old Palace Theater in Jonesboro.

Cut 6 (11) “…disrepair right now.”

In 1965, the year after President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, then-U.S. Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach sued the theater in Jackson Parish, along with two nearby restaurants, for refusing to admit Black patrons. In response, the theater and restaurants opted to close down rather than serve Black patrons. Dr. Herbert Simmons Jr., the co-founder of the Greater North Louisiana Community Development Commission, says it’s all the more reason why restoring the theater is of utmost importance.

Cut 7 (10) “…in the 1960s.”

In all, the renovation will cost up to four-million dollars and will take place over the course of up to five years. Herbert Simmons says they have big plans for the theater when the renovations are complete.

Cut 8 (09) “…past and present.”

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All the numbers have been tabulated, and it turns out Louisiana finished last fiscal year with a 565-million-dollar budget surplus. House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says a huge percentage of that surplus is the result of higher-than-expected tax collections.

Cut 9 (09)  “…160-million.”

The state constitution dictates how the surplus dollars can be spent. McFarland says at least half of it will be used to add dollars to the rainy day fund and the paying down of state employee retirement debt. He says the rest of the money will be used on one-time expenses.

Cut 10 (12) “…college campuses.” 

McFarland says another reason for the surplus, the Landry Administration and this state legislature have limited the growth of state government. He expects Louisiana will avoid tough budget times in the future, because of the job creation that’s happening.

Cut 11 (09) “…Louisiana.”

State lawmakers will decide during next year’s legislative session how the money will be exactly spent.

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A dry cold front will bring Louisiana fall-like temperatures this weekend and into early next week. Meteorologist Brad Bryant with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says we finally see relief from the humidity, and high temperatures will only be in the 80s.

Cut 12 (09) “…big change’

But this cold front is elevating the risk for wildfires. Bryant says outside of southeast Louisiana, the state is experiencing severe drought to exceptional drought conditions. He says combine that with low humidity and breezy conditions, it will not take much for a wildfire to spread quickly.

Cut 13 (08) “…dried out.”

A red flag warning, which means elevated fire weather conditions, has been issued for much of the state. Bryant says gusty winds will subside in north Louisiana today, but continue for central and southeast Louisiana tomorrow.

Cut 14 (08) “…breezy.”

A new survey says increasing access to child care would mean big bucks for the state’s economy. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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A new ferry boat has been put into service the Cameron Crossing in southwest Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A new survey says increasing access to child care could unlock billions of dollars in economic growth for the state. Dr. Heather Cope, the chief of policy and research at the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, says increasing access to early childhood education could allow almost 30-thousand parents to re-enter the workforce, leading to 3.2-billion dollars in additional earnings.

Cut 3 (11) “…for the state.”

Cope says there are more than 250-thousand children under the age of five in Louisiana; and without adequate access to child care, mothers have no other choice but to stay out of the workforce.

Cut 4 (11) “…the workforce entirely.”

Cope says the state needs to come up with a way to make child care more affordable, with child care in Louisiana currently costing up to 12-thousand dollars a year per child.

Cut 5 (06) “…any family’s budget.”

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A new ferryboat is in operation for the Cameron Crossing in Cameron Parish. Department of Transportation Secretary Glenn Ledet says the Holly Beach ferryboat will replace the Cameron Two, which has been in service since 1964…

Cut 6 (08) “..100 miles”

The Cameron cross is not getting just one ferryboat, it’s getting two. The second ferry boat is expected to be completed in late November.

Each boat will measure 190- feet, by 50 feet, by 13 feet. Ledet says putting these new boats in service will ensure uninterrupted loading and unloading of commercial vehicles across the Calcasieu Ship Channel…

Cut 7 (10) “…often.”

About 800 vehicles a day depend on this ferry service across the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

Nearly 50-million dollars was invested in these new ferries, which will ensure safe evacuations from hurricanes. DOTD says they will also lower greenhouse gas emissions by using battery-powered electric thrusters charged by diesel generators on board.

Ledet says a private company will also handle operation, which will be good for DOTD…

Cut 8 (08) “…longtime.”

Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors in Houma built the ferries.

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The SEC is not dismissing its federal lawsuit against LSU, but Attorney General Liz Murrill told 104.5 ESPN in Baton Rouge that goes directly against the wishes of the member institutions.

Cut 9 (14)  “…wrongdoing.”

The SEC claims that even though the Tigers never rostered any former NFL or NBA players, Will Wade’s recruitment of former NBA G League player RJ Luis still threatens its pro player ban and its right to enforce its rules. Wade has said he intends to follow conference protocols.

Murrill told 104.5 ESPN in Baton Rouge that SEC lawyers could not negotiate a joint statement in which LSU implied it had done something wrong and would not do anything wrong in the future.

Cut 10 (14) “…any violation.” 

Murrill told 104.5 ESPN in Baton Rouge that she invites the SEC to submit whatever claim it may have of LSU’s wrongdoing. Since no team ever officially rostered any former domestic professionals, LSU did not violate the SEC pro player ban.

Cut 11 (10) “…bizarre.”