Republican Congressman Garret Graves believes the Louisiana legislature did not have to draw a new congressional map with a second Majority-Black district. Grave says federal Judge Shelly Dick made it clear she didn’t like the map passed in 2022, it was still making its way through the courts.

Cut 4 (07) “…existing map.”

Graves says the new map puts the Republicans majority in the House in jeopardy.

Frequent accidents involving big truck in the construction zone on I-20 in Bossier City has State Police issuing reminders to drivers of large trucks to avoid the area. DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchanan…

Cut 7 (13) “…and Bossier.” 

Drivers of commercial trucks and 18 wheelers should use I-220 as a detour.

Several inches of rain has fallen across most of Louisiana today and more rain is on the way. LRN chief meteorologist Bill Jacquemin reports this weather system has already delivered when it comes to producing flooding rains…

Cut 2 (29)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin” 

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says he’s planning to run for congress in the reconfigured black majority 6^th congressional district.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Flash flood warning and watches are posted in Louisiana with the heaviest rainfall falling right now in northeast Louisiana and the Acadiana region. According to the National Weather Service four to six inches of rain has already fallen across Acadiana with more rain on the way.

In a partnership with MD Clinics, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is expanding it’s reach to Central and North Louisiana. Chief Operating Officer, Jodi Conachen …

Cut 4 (08) “…across the state.” 

Conachen says until recently you had to leave the state to find that level of research and availability of clinical trial and they plan to bring the trial to the expanded clinics.

Livingston Parish Schools has partnered with Daybreak, a digital school based mental health company, to provide teletherapy to high school students struggling with mental illness. Federal Program Coordinator at Livingston Schools, Charlene Lilly, says they are the first school district in the state to offer free mental health support for students.

Cut 10 (12) “…perfect storm.”

Today Baton Rouge Democratic Senator Cleo Fields announced he’s running for congress in the newly created 6^th district which is a majority minority district. Republic Garrett Graves currently represents the 6^th district and has said he will run for congress again this year. LA politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says if Graves is not elected, his days in politics is not over…

Cut 4 (13) “..somewhere.”

The new congressional map is expected to receive a legal challenge. St. Bernard Parish Representative Mike Bayham doesn’t see how the map is constitutional when a neighborhood in his own district is separated…

Cut 7 (11) “…absurb.” 

The map that stretches the 6^th congressional district from parts of East Baton Rouge Parish to parts of Caddo Parish resembles one the courts struck down in the 90s.

Louisiana U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says the state will benefit immensely from investments in broadband through The Biden Administration’s Infrastructure bill, especially in northwest Louisiana…

Cut 9 (05) “…investment there.” 

Cassidy says it will also help prepare students in the Bayou State for careers in computer science.

LSU quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Jayden Daniels was named the winner of the 2023 Manning Award today. The award goes to the top collegiate quarterback in the nation. Daniels led with nearly five-thousand yards of total offense.

Cut 12 (12)  “…being here”  

Daniels is the third LSU honoree to receive the award.

A group of Republicans plan to challenge the new congressional map passed by Governor Jeff Landry that makes the 6th congressional district a majority to minority district. St. Bernard Parish Representative Mike Bayham…

Cut 8 (10) “…Federal map.” 

Bayham says the map also separates a neighborhood in his own legislative district of St. Bernard Parish.

Louisiana’s new Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan is committed to making Louisiana a more attractive Sportsmen’s Paradise for hunters and fishermen across the globe. The 26-year-old from Ohio says she’s been meeting with staff to see how to improve the state’s agency…

Cut 10 (10) “…this department.”

Most of the state north of Interstate 10 is under a flood watch, with the heaviest rains expected to come tomorrow. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has the latest…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin” 

The congressional map with a second majority-Black district passed in the special session is getting pushback from some Republicans. St. Bernard Parish Representative Mike Bayham says the map that stretches the 6^th congressional district from parts of East Baton Rouge Parish to parts of Caddo Parish resembles one the courts struck down in the 90s.

Cut 6 (12) “…demographics” 

Bayham is among a group that plans to challenge the map in court.

State Police Lt. Melissa Matey says more than 130 troopers will be in New Orleans during Mardi Gras season. She says to fill vacancies in the state when troopers are relocated to the Crescent City, the department will increase recruitment.

Cut 15 (11) …our state.“

Some officers will stay in the Crescent City after Fat Tuesday. Matey says the goal is for State Police to have a permanent presence in New Orleans….

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries New Secretary believes she can bring fresh ideas to improve the department. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

LSU will promote current assistants Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton to co-offensive coordinator. The two have been with Brian Kelly since he arrived in Baton Rouge. Sloan is expected to be the play caller on game days and he is a former offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed his first bills into law. They come from last week’s special session and they include a measure that will bring party primaries to federal elections in 2026. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the governor wanted closed party primaries for nearly all elections, but didn’t push the issue…

Cut 3 (10) “…he’s known for.”

Landry also signed the Congressional District map that makes the 6th district a majority minority district. Republican Garret Graves’s sixth district looks much different with this new map as it extends from Shreveport to Baton Rouge. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says Senator Cleo Fields may challenge Graves and believes he could win…

Cut 8 (09) “…African-American district.” 

New Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan is new to the Pelican State and the 26-year-old from Ohio is committed to making the Sportsmen’s Paradise as great as it can be…

Cut 11 (10) “…in the past.”  

Sheahan says since taking office, she’s been meeting with staff to see how the state agency can run more efficiently…

State Police is forming a Troop Nola which will be in New Orleans beyond the Mardi Gras Celebration. Louisiana State Police Public Information Officer, Lt. Melissa Matey says they anticipate sending more than 130 troopers to the Crescent City for Mardi Gras.

Cut 13 (06) “…of New Orleans.” 

Matey says it’s a partnership with Attorney General Liz Murrell’s office, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department.

Governor Jeff Landry and Louisiana lawmakers has signed off on a new congressional map that creates a 2^nd Majority Black district. Political insiders weren’t surprised that Garret Graves’ district was sacrificed in the map. LSU Political Science Professor, Robert Hogan…

Cut 7 (10) “…Democratic district.”

A tropical system moving off the Gulf of Mexico will bring rainfall to the Bayou State this week.  While 92 percent of the state is still experiencing some level of drought, LSU Climatologist Barry Keim says expected rainfall totals should help saturate the soil. 

Cut 6 (06) “…situation.”

Louisiana’s new Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary is looking to modernize the state agency. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Number nine ranked LSU Tigers women basketball and number one ranked South Carolina team will meet up Thursday at the Pete Maravich Center. Tiger fans should expect to pay as high as 13 hundred for a pair of tickets in the 112 section. The going rate for a single ticket is around 80 dollars.

Saints long time offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael was let go today after spending 18 years with the Black and Gold. Ross Jackson, host of the Locked On Saints podcast, says that the Saints are spending most of their time looking outside of the organization for his replacement.

Cut 6 (11) “… in the NFL.”

The Saints have also let go of Senior Offensive Assistant Bob Bicknell and Wide Receivers Coach Kodi Burns.

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In the 2024 NFL playoffs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be moving on as Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes in the Buccaneers 32-9 win over the fifth seeded Eagles. One of those touchdown passes went to former Kentwood star Trey Palmer.

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And in LSU baseball news, the Tigers are 4th in the opening 2024 D1 Baseball Preseason Poll. The Tigers are only behind Wake Forest, Florida, and Arkansas and are scheduled to play 19 games in the 2024 regular season against Preseason top 25 teams.

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An influential factor in the Mavericks 125 to 120 win against New Orleans yesterday was the play of Dallas Center Dereck Lively II who had a big night with 12 rebounds. Pelicans Head Coach Willie Green says that most of Lively’s rebounds were during big moments and created key opportunities for the Mavs.

Cut 18 (23) “ … back out.”

The Pelicans will host the Hornets tomorrow with tipoff at 7pm.

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McNeese is now in first place in the Southland conference after their 88 to 69 win over Lamar last night and with the success of this season the university is now receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time in program history. Nicholls also defeated their Southland opponent, UNO, 78 to 75 last night.

The LSU Men’s basketball team suffered its first SEC loss against Auburn on Saturday 78 to 93. The game saw Louisiana’s own Jordan Wright score 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists on the night. The Tigers struggled to keep possession of the ball against what LSU Head Coach Matt McMahon says is an elite Auburn team.

Cut 19 (19) “ … in transition.”

LSU will host Ole Miss on Wednesday with tip off at 6:00 pm on the SEC Network.

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The LSU Lady Tigers also suffered their first SEC loss to Auburn 67 to 62 on Sunday. Angel Reese had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Aneesah Morrow had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the game. The loss dropped LSU from number 7 to number 10 in the newest AP Rankings and LSU Head Coach Kim Mulkey says that there’s a lot of room to improve after the loss.

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In other college basketball news, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defeated the Liberty Flames in an overtime thriller on Sunday 80 to 76. Bulldogs Head Coach Talvin Hester says that a big reason the Bulldogs won was because of the play of forward Daniel Batcho.

Cut 16 (13) “… tough team.”

Daniel Batcho was named the Conference USA player of the week after averaging 18.5 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks in Louisiana Tech’s wins over Middle Tennessee and Liberty.

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And a big day for McNeese’s men’s basketball team as it received it’s first ever Associated Press Top 25 Men’s Basketball Poll vote. The Cowboys are 14 and 2 on the season and 3 and 0 in Southland conference play with a 74 to 65 win over Southeastern on Saturday.

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In LSU Transfer Portal news, Liberty wide receiver CJ Daniels has transferred to LSU after a 1,067 yard and 10 touchdown performance last season.

Legislators are in Baton Rouge today for a special session where the main objective is to draw congressional map with two majority minority districts. Senate President Pro Tem Regina Barrow says Republicans and Democrats are offering different opinions on what the new congress district map should look like in order to have two black congressional districts.

Cut 10 (09) “..to be submitted.” 

Winter precipitation has fallen north of I-20 today. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says south Louisiana will experience cold temperatures possible freezing rain this afternoon into tomorrow morning.

Cut 8 (09) “…into tomorrow” 

A Cajun music legend passed away following a concert in Texas over the weekend. Colleen Crain has more on the life of Jo-El Sonnier…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.” 

Bogalusa Police have arrested a two adults and a minor for their in connection with last week’s shooting outside a Bogalusa High Basketball game that left a 14-year-old dead and left a 13 year old hospitalized. 21 year old Jamichael Spikes has been charge with several offenses including principal to attempted second degree murder. 18 year old Caleb Moss was arrested on several charges including accessory after the fact of first degree murder. The 16 year old has been charged with first degree murder. The investigation is ongoing.