The College Football National Signing Day was relatively drama free for LSU as all 27 Tiger commits signed today. Regardless of their rank, On3.com’s Shea Dixon says that these recruits signed because they all believe that together, they can help LSU have more than 10 win seasons under Head Coach Brian Kelly.

Cut 18 (12) “… drama free signing day.”

Tight end Trey’Dez Green and safety Dashawn McBryde are the highest ranked offensive and defensive recruits for LSU.

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In an eventful signing day, ULL signed Catholic High quarterback Daniel Beale today, but also lost their starting quarterback Zeon Chris to the transfer portal. Beale committed to ULL in the summer and led Catholic to the Division I Select Championship game this year while Zeon Chris helped lead the Ragin Cajuns to a bowl game against Jacksonville State after Ben Wooldridge was injured earlier in the season.

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In other college signing news, Louisiana Tech has landed the number one junior college quarterback in the country Ty Keyes. Keyes played his juco years at East Mississippi Community College and had 3,350 yards and 33 touchdown passes in 13 games. Nicholls and Southeastern signed some local commits today as Teurlings Catholic quarterback Preston Welch signed with the Colonels and Oak Grove Defensive End James Harris signed with the Lions.

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The Saints will face the Rams tomorrow in a battle of 7 and 7 teams looking to make the NFC playoffs. Saints quarterback Dereck Carr says that his team is ready to make a push for the playoffs, but in order to do so every player will have to execute their jobs against the Rams.

Cut 16 (15) “…lot of fun”

Saints Receiver Chris Olave will return tomorrow after healing an ankle injury that has kept him out of the last 2 games.

State Police have reinstated Trooper Lt. John Clary after criminal charges in the Ronald Greene case were dropped for withholding bodycam footage. In exchange, Clary will testify in the case against two officers. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt believes what’s happening is…

Cut 3 (13) “…being terminated.”

Graphic bodycam footage shows Black motorist Ronald Greene being beaten by officers in 2019. He died while in police custody.

Pope Francis has granted his approval to allow Catholic priests to bless members of same-sex couples. LSU professor of religious studies Michael Pasquier…

Cut 6 (11) “…like marriage.” 

At his end-of-the-year press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards said never say never on a possible return to politics. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (29)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU quarterback and 2023 Heisman-winner Jayden Daniels announces he’s skipping the Reliaquest bowl game against the Wisconsin Badgers. Tigers’ star wide receivers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Junior will play in the Bowl in Tampa on January 1st. Both Nabers and Thomas are expected to go pro after the bowl game.

Pope Francis released a declaration permitting Catholic priests to bless members of same-sex couples. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Louisiana State Police have reinstated a veteran trooper who had been accused of withholding body cam video that showed another officer dragging a black motorist by his ankles during a deadly 2019 arrest in North Louisiana. Officials say Lt. John Clary will return to active duty this week.  This comes weeks after prosecutors dismissed obstruction charges against Clary after agreeing to testify at trial in the death of Ronald Greene.

During his final press conference of the year and the next to last of his administration, Governor John Bel Edwards says while he doesn’t intend to run for office again…

Cut 7 (08) “…with the state.”

Edwards, a Democrat says he’s pulling for Republican Governor-elect Jeff Landry and hopes he does a good job. Edwards, along with his family and future grandchildren, will reside in Louisiana and he wants the state to continue to flourish.

The New Orleans Saints are in the final stretch of their 2023 schedule. Head Coach Denis Allen says they’ll need to finish strong and preferably with a four-game winning streak. He says to be successful in the playoffs, the Saints have to fix issues that have plagued them all season. But in the meantime, they’re concentrating on the Rams.

Cut 18 (18)  “…Rams right now.” 

The New Orleans Saints are now 7 and 7 after their victory over the New York Giants on Sunday. A big factor in their win was the play of quarterback Derek Carr who led the offense to 24 total points and had 218 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game. After receiving some criticism from fans after his performance, Saints Head Coach Dennis Allen says that the criticism was unwarranted.

Cut 17 (15) “… played well.”

The Saints will travel to face the Rams on Thursday Night Football and kickoff will be at 7:15 pm on Prime Video.

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LSU Heisman and All-American quarterback Jayden Daniels has opted out of the 2024 Reliaquest Bowl. Daniels says that even though he is from California and played most of his career at Arizona State …

Cut 16 (07) “… Bayou boy.”

Daniels is projected to be a top 10 pick and the third quarterback to be taken in next year’s draft.

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Grambling State has named former LSU and Nebraska assistant Mickey Joseph as its new football head coach. Joseph says that all the talent he needs to build a winning program at Grambling can be found in Louisiana and that he and his staff will have to prioritize in state recruiting in order to win.

Cut 10 (12) “… these kids.”

Joseph was hired after former Head Coach Hue Jackson was fired at the end of this season.

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In basketball news, the Pelicans set a franchise record number of three pointers in their 146 to 110 win over the Spurs yesterday. New Orleans made 22 three pointers in their second win over the Spurs this season which was one more than the previous record of 21.

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In college basketball news, McNeese defeated ULL 74 to 72 yesterday and improved to 10 and 2 on the year and in a major upset earlier today, the University of Jacksonville beat ULM 75 to 66.

Big news from the Vatican today as Pope Francis has formally approved to allow Catholic priests to bless same-sex married couples. Loyola Professor of Theology Tom Ryan says it’s not necessarily a blessing of the relationship, but the people in the relationship.

Cut 12 (12)  “…permitted.”  

Ryan says Pope Francis is very clear that he doesn’t want the invitation to bless individuals in a same-sex marriage to be mistaken for the blessing of a marriage.

Former LSU and Nebraska assistant Mickey Joseph has been named Grambling State’s new head football coach.  This will be Joseph’s second stint with Grambling…

Cut 9 (09) “…very aggressive” 

During his Ask the Governor radio program, John Bel Edwards says one of his biggest regrets in office is not raising the minimum wage. He says he presented legislation every year as governor to raise the state’s minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

Cut 8 (09) “…to accomplish.” 

Governor Edwards is holding his end-of-the-year press conference today at 3 PM.

Louisiana is the first state to receive approval for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment proposal to bring high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet to residents. State Broadband Office Director Veneeth Iyengar says the funds will also expand broadband access to businesses that lack adequate internet.

Cut 5 (12) “ …that problem.”  

During his final radio call-in monthly show “Ask the Governor”, John Bel Edwards says he’s tried to close the gender pay gap in Louisiana so women who are doing the same job as men are paid equally.

Cut 7 (05) “…the country.” 

He says just about every state has seen fit to do better than the Bayou State by raising their minimum wage above the federal requirement of $7.25 an hour. The governor’s “farewell address,” will be held in Amite in January.

Term-limited State Representative Randal Gaines of LaPlace plans to enter the race to be the next chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Gaines says he recently shared a positive message with Edwards…

Cut 15 (05) “…the Deep South.”

He says he was recruited to run as many state and national officials reached out to him. Gaines seeks to replace the current Democratic Chair, Katie Bernhardt.

Louisiana is the first of 49 states in the nation to have its broadband grant proposal approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. State Broadband Office Director Veneeth Iyengar says the state’s plan stressed the importance of high-quality resilient infrastructure.

Cut 4 (13) “…of crisis.”

He says this will give the state first access to key resources to eliminate the digital divide.

Term Limited Randal Gaines may be leaving the Louisiana Legislature but he isn’t leaving service to the Louisiana Democratic Party. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold his annual end-of-the-year news conference today at 3 pm. The governor’s “farewell address,” will be held in Amite, on January 3 at 6:30 p.m.

Ochsner Lafayette General has launched a million-dollar initiative to combat opioid addiction and abuse in rural communities. More than two thousand Louisianans died from a drug-related overdose in 2021 nearly doubling the national average, according to the CDC. Family Doctor James McNally at Ochsner Health Center in Jennings says it’s vitally important to remove the stigma associated with opioid addiction.

Cut 6 (13) “…more people.”

LSU AgCenter Crawfish Specialist Todd Fontenot, says there is an emergence of mudbugs in the Bayou State but the intrusion of salt water into freshwater marshes and bayous have many crawfish farmers concerned…

Cut 8 (11) “…talked about”