After reports that the runoff between her and State Treasurer John Fleming could be a nailbiter, Julia Letlow won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate Saturday night by 14 percentage points. Fleming’s campaign strategist, Roy Fletcher, told Talk Louisiana on WRKF, the Letlow campaign spent a lot on advertising in the days leading up to the run-off election…

Cut 13 (09) “…never heard of.”

Letlow is now the favorite to be elected to the U.S. Senate in the November 3 general election versus Democratic nominee Jamie Davis. During the closed party primaries, Letlow geared her messaging towards fellow Republicans. Now that the race has shifted to the general election phase, Letlow says her strategy will remain consistent with the approach she’s had since entering the race in January.

Cut 7 (10) “…earn their vote.”

Baton Rouge officials are planning a massive search of the Baton Rouge North Landfill to find the remains of missing 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather. Police believe Minnieweather was beaten to death and picked up on a routine collection route to the landfill. Fire Chief Michael Kimble says the search will be conducted entirely by hand and compares the process to combing through the wreckage of 9/11.

Cut 11 (11) “…no more.”

Director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Joey Frank says more than 15-hundred households in the parish have reported flood damage in the historic rainfall two weeks ago. As recovery efforts begin, he says 120 displaced residents are staying in hotel rooms or in RVs at the Paragon Casino, with the state picking up the tab.

Cut 4 (10) “…just so sad.”

The closed party primaries are over; and thus, the race for the U.S. Senate moves to the general election phase. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

So, what’s next for John Fleming following the loss? LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow says the 74-year-old will continue working as State Treasurer and will likely seek re-election next year…

Cut 12 (05) “…stature.”

Recovery efforts are underway in Avoyelles Parish following the historic flooding two weeks ago.  Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says they’re winding down the emergency supply distribution centers.

Cut 5 (10) “…and in Dupont.”

Over 15-hundred households in the Parish have reported flood damage. The state urges any homeowners who have not already done so to report damages to damage-dot-la-dot-gov.

The Manning Passing Academy brought some of the top college quarterbacks in the nation to Thibodaux this weekend, including Texas quarterback Arch Manning. Manning will return to his home state November 14 as the Tigers host the Longhorns. The New Orleans native says he’s looking forward to playing in Death Valley.

Cut 18 (08) “…we’re excited.”

It is the first meeting between the schools since 2019.

Researchers at LSU Health Shreveport are finding new ways to prevent heat-related illness in high school athletes. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Governor Landry has used his line-item veto power to slash 12-million dollars from three budget bills. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Republican and Democratic voters have nominated their candidates for U.S. Senate. Andrew Greenstein is at Julia Letlow’s watch party with details.

Cut 3 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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LSU Health Shreveport Associate Professor Dr. Cory Coehoorn (KOO-horn) received a grant of over 200-thousand dollars to research heat-related illness in high school athletes. The study will work with around 100 football players around the state. Coehoorn says the goal is to use A-I and machine learning to predict internal temperatures.

Cut 4 (13) “…it even starts.”

Coehoorn says heat-related illness is a major problem for high school athletes, especially in the south, and heat-related deaths are steadily rising. He says football players in particular are susceptible due to their pads and equipment.

Cut 5 (11) “…gear prevents that.”

While early morning and late evening practices that avoid the highest temperatures can certainly help, Coehoorn says it’s a blanket solution. He says every athlete reacts to heat differently.

Cut 6 (09) “…a detrimental state.”

While the technology is being developed, Coehoorn recommends coaches let athletes acclimate themselves to the heat, ensure they stay hydrated and provide ample rest.

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Governor Landry vetoed 78 projects from three budget bills, slashing more than 12-million dollars from the state’s budget in the process. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says her organization’s concerns about these projects are not about the projects themselves, but rather how they were added to the budget.

Cut 7 (14) “…statewide holistic basis.”

Deslatte points out that unlike last year, when Landry’s vetoes were aimed at his fellow Republicans, namely those who voted against his signature insurance reform measure, this year’s vetoes were aimed at Democratic districts.

Cut 8 (10) “…area as well.”

Unlike other vetoes that Landry issued, which were accompanied by letters explaining his reasons for those vetoes, Landry’s letter only listed the line items he was vetoing and offered no explanation. Deslatte says that leaves people to speculate that Landry only did this for political retaliation; and if that’s indeed the case, Landry would by no means be the first governor to take this approach.

Cut 9 (13)  “…political party affiliation.”

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U-S Representative Julia Letlow took a major step on Saturday night to becoming the next U-S Senator for Louisiana as she won the Republican Party primary runoff in the senate race. Letlow received 57-percent of the vote to defeat State Treasurer John Fleming…

Cut 10 (12) “..win this thing.”   (cheering) 

Letlow, who hails from the Monroe area has served in the U-S House since 2021. She won a special election after her husband, Luke Letlow, died from COVID complications days before he was set to be sworn in as the Representative for the 5^th Congressional District. Letlow is on the verge of replacing outgoing Senator Bill Cassidy…

Cut 11 (15) “…all of you.”    (cheering)

There was some thought that Fleming had the momentum heading into Saturday’s election, but LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says Fleming could not overcome President Trump’s endorsement of the Congresswoman…

Cut 12 (10) “…begin with.”

Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Letlow will likely win easily on November third…

Cut 13 (08)  “…United States Senate.”

Letlow’s main competition on November third will be Tensas Parish crop farmer Jamie Davis, who easily won the Democratic Party nomination, receiving 80-percent of the vote to defeat Gary Crockett. Davis says his grassroots campaign is just getting started…

Cut 14 (13) “…ground up.”  (woo-hoo) 

Davis says Letlow has voted for policies that have made it harder on Louisiana families…

Cut 15 (15) “…as for a promotion.”

Letlow’s supporters are excited about her big win on Saturday night…

Cut 16 (15) “…for her.”

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LSU women’s basketball great Sylvia Fowles was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame this weekend. Fowles helped the Lady Tigers to four straight Final Fours, averaging a double-double and being named SEC and National Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time All-American along the way. The Florida native says it was head coach Sue Gunter who brought her to Baton Rouge.

Cut 17 (18) “…you want.”

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The Manning Passing Academy brought some of the top college quarterbacks in the nation to Thibodaux this weekend. Texas quarterback Arch Manning will return to his home state November 14 as the Tigers host the Longhorns. The New Orleans native says he’s looking forward to playing in Death Valley.

Cut 18 (08) “…we’re excited.”

Like Manning, Texas received another commitment from a top-rated Crescent City prospect in five-star Brother Martin receiver Easton Royal. Royal committed to the Longhorns in November, but Florida and LSU are still fighting to flip the playmaker. Manning says that he’s been involved in Royal’s recruitment.

Cut 19 (17) “…he does next.”

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was also at the camp. There may be no game on the 2026 college football schedule more highly anticipated than Lane Kiffin and LSU’s trip to Ole Miss. Chambliss says he can’t wait for that gameday atmosphere.

Cut 20 (13) “…win that day.”

A state park in Calcasieu Parish will undergo a multi-year restoration. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Lake Charles five-star offensive lineman Albert Simien announced his commitment to Notre Dame live on ESPN today. The top-ranked o-lineman in the state faked out a packed Sam Houston gym with an LSU hat before switching to Ole Miss and finally landing on the Irish. 247Sports ranks Simeon third at his position nationwide.

Jefferson Parish officials and Loop Linen Service broke ground on a 25-million-dollar project to keep the family-owned company in the parish. Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission Executive Director Jerry Bologna says the location near the intersection of U.S. 90 and Louisiana Highway 18 had lots of green space but lacked required infrastructure. He says the project also includes half-a-million-dollars from the state and 350-thousand-dollas from the parish council.

Cut 5 (07) “…future development.”

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inducts its 2026 class tomorrow night. Former Florien coach Dewain Strother is the second-winningest high school girls basketball coach in the nation. Strother says he was blessed by talented players.

Cut 11 (13) “…that I love.”

Jefferson Parish officials and Loop Linen Service broke ground on a 25-million-dollar project to keep the family-owned company in the parish. Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission Executive Director Jerry Bologna says Loop Linen had outgrown their previous facilities and was looking to move. He says retaining these businesses is key to economic development.

Cut 3 (11) “…support them.”

Sam Houston Jones State Park in Calcasieu Parish will be undergoing a major restoration after sustaining significant damage from Hurricane Laura and other storms. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says Woodside Energy is exclusively funding the project, committing five-million dollars for the restoration.

Cut 8 (13) “…State of Louisiana.”

The race to represent the Republican Party in the 2026 U-S Senate election comes to an end Saturday night as the primary runoff between Julia Letlow and John Fleming will be decided. Negative ads have been prominent in this campaign as the two sides try to distinguish themselves as the more conservative candidate. Letlow has continuously pointed out that she has the endorsement of President Trump…

Cut 12 (12) “…desperate ads.”

Fleming says Letlow supported DEI initiatives during her interview to become president of ULM. Letlow, however, says she is anti-DEI and that is why she authored the Parents Bill of Rights Act. Flemming says that act did not pass, and there’s very little Letlow can point since she was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2021…

Cut 14 (10) “..into law.”