A named storm in the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday is a possibility. Jeff Palermo reports regardless of development, heavy rainfall is expected in Louisiana.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has a stern message for all you kamikaze drivers out there. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The National Hurricane Center says there is a medium chance for a tropical depression to form near Louisiana’s southeast coast later this week. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says regardless of development, significant rainfall totals are expected…

Cut 3 (09) “…south Louisiana.”

The rainfall will reach coastal parishes of southeast Louisiana on Wednesday. Keim says Thursday and Friday are the days we could see several inches of rain fall for a good portion of south Louisiana.

Cut 4 (07) “…watch on it.”

Southeast Louisiana is under a flood watch from tomorrow afternoon through late Friday night.

The disorganized system will cross the Florida peninsula today and enter the northeastern Gulf of Mexico by tomorrow. Keim says its ability to organize into a named storm will depend on how long the center of the storm stays over water before making landfall along the northern Gulf coast. He says they are not expecting this system to develop into a hurricane…

Cut 5 (05) “…wind or surge”

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The EPA has approved two State Implementation Plans that will reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. The first addresses emissions at Cabot Corporation’s Ville Platte carbon black plant. State Department of Environmental Quality administrator Jason Meyers says the plant is redesigning and reconstructing a large portion of the plant to bring Evangeline Parish into compliance with EPA standards.

Cut 6 (08) “…90-plus percent.”

Meyers says the submitted plan proves the area will reach attainment with EPA standards, leaving just one non-attainment area in Louisiana- St. Bernard Parish. Meyers says work has been underway there as well, and a plan should be ready soon.

Cut 7 (09) “…submit it to EPA.”

The second plan is one Meyers called an “infrastructure SIP.” He says it’s a necessary first step when an EPA standard changes.

Cut 8 (14) “…outside the state.”

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The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has a stern message for all you kamikaze drivers out there – chill out and slow down! It’s part of a month-long national campaign aimed at reminding drivers that speeding has deadly consequences. Greg Fischer with the LHSC says in 2023, speeding was a factor in almost 29-percent of all fatal crashes nationwide.

Cut 9 (11)  “…speeding is involved.”

Most people think that the majority of speeding-related fatal crashes occur on the Interstates, but Fischer says that’s not correct – in 2023, 83-percent of them in Louisiana happened on non-Interstate roadways. Fischer says chilling out and slowing down doesn’t mean driving at a snail’s pace, either.

Cut 10 (07) “…the speed limits.”

Fischer says the biggest point that they want to drive home through this campaign is that a car is not a toy – it is to be operated safely and responsibly.

Cut 11 (08) “…can’t prepare for.”

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LSU is expecting the return of some key contributors on both sides of the ball from injury. Linebacker Whit Weeks suffered a broken fibula and dislocated ankle in the Tigers’ New Year’s Eve bowl game versus Baylor. At SEC Media Days yesterday, he said he’d be good to go for camp.

Cut 12 (13) “…really good.”

Weeks’ linebacking partner, Harold Perkins, suffered a season-ending ACL injury against UCLA in week four. After a true freshman All-American season in 2022, Perkins has struggled with position changes and now injury. Head coach Brian Kelly says Perkins could have gone to the NFL Draft.

Cut 13 (12)  “…to do so.”

Kelly confirmed Perkins would be ready for the start of camp back at his old position of outside linebacker.

Wide Receiver Chris Hilton has been plagued by injuries at LSU. He missed the first seven games of last season and totaled only nine receptions for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Hilton has always been a big play threat, but quarterback Garrett Nussmeier says he’s improved as he’s gotten healthier.

Cut 14 (11) “…season last year.”

LSU football coach Brian Kelly kicked off SEC Media Days in Atlanta this morning. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Sun Belt CEOs reportedly voted to invite Louisiana Tech to the conference. Jeff Palermo broke down the move with Locked on Sun Belt podcast host Dave Schultz…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly took the podium at SEC Football Media Days this morning. Expectations have been high for Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in his second year starting. Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels posted historic Heisman-winning seasons in year two. Kelly says while that’s a steep comparison, he expects Nussmeier’s experience to help him improve.

Cut 3 (10) “…with that (x2).”

LSU brought in 18 veterans in the top-ranked transfer class this offseason. Kelly expects the class to bolster a defensive unit he acknowledged was improved last season, but not championship level. He says defensive coordinator Blake Baker is elite, and his players should be as well.

Cut 4 (14) “…level defense.”

LSU’s offensive weapons are as loaded as ever, but after four offensive linemen departed in the NFL Draft, there are some question marks in the trenches. Kelly says losing his offensive anchors would be an issue if unprepared, but his staff has been grooming the next generation since Will Campbell and Emery Jones started as freshmen.

Cut 5 (14) “…championship team.”

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A police chase in Lincoln Parish ends with deputies shooting and killing the driver they were chasing. Deputy Amanda Lyon with the Northeast Louisiana Sheriff’s Investigative Unit says deputies attempted a traffic stop Saturday night, but the driver instead took off.

Cut 6 (06) “…driver’s side window.”

Lyon says the pursuit lasted for about 16 miles, coming to an end on U.S. 167 near Paradise Point Lane.

Cut 7 (06) “…drop the weapon.”

But instead, the man pointed his gun at deputies, who shot him.

Cut 8 (06) “…at the scene.”

But those life-saving measures proved to be futile, as the man was pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured. Investigators from surrounding agencies have taken over the investigation, which remains ongoing.

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The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the gulf for the possibility of some tropical activity later this week. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says as of right now, the odds of a tropical system forming are fairly low.

Cut 9 (08)  “…a watch on.”

Keim says whatever does eventually happen with any potential disturbance in the gulf likely will not have much of a major impact on the Louisiana coast.

Cut 10 (09) “…across this area.”

Keim says if anything, this will be a rainmaker, with the biggest likelihood being late in the week and into the weekend.

Cut 11 (10) “…from this event.”

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Louisiana Tech is officially Sun Belt-bound after league officials voted to invite the Bulldogs this morning. Tech was named the obvious candidate to replace Texas State as the Bobcats head to the PAC-12, but Sun Belt East schools preferred expansion into a new market over a third Louisiana program. Locked On Sun Belt Podcast host Dave Schultz says most of the conference’s recent additions have been in the east.

Cut 12 (13) “…ULM dramatically.”

Louisiana Tech’s addition was backed by Western schools like ULM and UL-Lafayette despite historic conflicts between the programs. Schultz says Louisiana schools will save money on bus ride commutes and reignite heated in-state rivalries, especially in Lafayette.

Cut 13 (12)  “…on the field stuff.”

The move will also benefit the Bulldogs, who become the tenth team to leave Conference USA since 2022. Schultz says LA Tech needs to reinvest the money it will save from regional rivalries to compete in one of the top mid-major conferences.

Cut 14 (12) “…the Sun Belt is.”

Louisiana Tech will owe at least a $5 million fee to leave Conference USA. The soonest they can make the move is 2026, the same year Texas State departs for the PAC-12.