Dennis Allen has big shoes to fill as he succeeds Sean Payton as head coach of the Saints. If his welcome press conference is any indication, Allen is ready to step into them. David Grubb has more…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m David Grubb.”
__________________________________
Millions will be placing wagers on the Super Bowl this weekend. Brooke Thorington has more on how sports betting has changed since Super Bowl 55.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
_____________________________________
22-percent of small businesses nationwide report inflation remains their single most important business problem. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
____________________________________
Dennis Allen is officially the new head coach of the New Orleans Saints. After interviewing several candidates, the team came back to the man it considered its top candidate from the outset. Allen believes he is the right man at the right time to continue the Saints winning tradition.
Cut 4 (12) “…New Orleans Saints.”
Sean Payton had as good a relationship with the Saints fans as any coach possibly could. He embraced them and they embraced him. Allen spoke to Who Dat Nation directly during his presser, assuring them that the relationship between the team and the city won’t change now.
Cut 5 (07) “…this fanbase has.”
Allen is known for his work defensively but will have to revamp the team’s offense. After a year in which everything went wrong for New Orleans on that side of the ball, Allen was very direct in saying what he expects their offensive identity to be.
Cut 6 (14) “…situationally “
_______________________________________
A record 31 million Americans are expected to place a bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl according to the American Gaming Association. Senior Director of Research, David Forman says after an exciting postseason more folks than ever plan to wager thanks in part to legalized sports betting.
Cut 7 (06) “…all-time records.”
That’s an increase of more than $3-billion from last year.
The Association says part of the increase is that 30 states and the District of Columbia now offer legal sports betting. Forman says ever since Louisiana sports wagering went live at casinos in November and now with online gaming, it’s more accessible to legally bet on the big game.
Cut 8 (11) “….pretty big numbers.”
While the association doesn’t have an estimate for how much they expect Louisianans to bet on the Super Bowl, Forman says gamblers spent an average of $30 to $40 million a month in November and December, and that was before online was active.
Cut 9 (09) “…a month.”
Since last year 45 million more Americans, in ten states can legally wager on the Super Bowl.
_____________________________________________
Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy shares good news for college students in that his bill the College Transparency Act, also known as the CTA, cleared the House of Representatives, as part of a larger package in DC.
Cut 10 (11) “…be the same.”
Cassidy says with the cost of college increasing along with student debt, it’s only fair that students should have all the facts about a school before they enroll and even choose a major.
Cut 11 (11) “…to graduate.”
The state’s senior senator says it’s a popular bill, it passed in the House and has one-third of the Senate signed on as co-sponsors, and over 150 organizations have endorsed the bill.
Cut 12 (08) “…youth alliance.”
The bill now heads to a conference committee where the House and Senate will reconcile their two different versions of the bill and Cassidy says he will push that the CTA is part of the final product.
____________________________________________
The National Federation of Independent Business says one out of every five small businesses nationwide continue to report that inflation is their single most important business problem. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says small businesses are having to raise prices to mitigate supply chain issues and offset increases in higher labor costs
Cut 13 (12) “…labor costs.”
McVea says the net percent of owners raising average selling prices increased to a net 61-percent, the highest reading since 1974…
Cut 14 (11) “..2022″
McVea says many small business owners remain pessimistic about future economic conditions, but there is some hope…
Cut 15 (11) “…begin to improve.”
_____________________________________________
The New Orleans Pelicans have acquired CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., and Tony Snell from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomas Satoransky, Didi Louzada and picks. Oleh Kosel, editor of The Bird Writes-dot-com, says the deal is a big win for the Pels.
Cut 16 (12) “…almost every game.”
McCollum comes to the Pels averaging more than 20 points per game and has made nearly 40 percent of his 3-pointers over his career. Kosel says he’s the player New Orleans has been searching for.
Cut 17 (17) “ …spread the offense.”
The Pelicans haven’t made the postseason in four years. Kosel says that a move like this shows that the Pels are serious about making a run now, and in the seasons ahead.
Cut 18 (10) “ …a lot higher.”