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 the letter very clear that it’s an invitation to bless the individuals in a same-sex marriage, not a blessing of a marriage. He stresses that the church wants to avoid confusion….

Cut 13 (11) “…relationships.” 

LSU’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback has played his last college football game. In a video announcement, Jayden Daniels said he’s opting out of the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day…

Cut 15 (08) “…moving forward.”

Garrett Nussmeier will get the start at QB against the Badgers.

Grambling State has hired Marrero native and former LSU assistant coach Mickey Joseph as its new head coach.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

An emu at the Monroe Zoo was killed by two stray dogs over the weekend. A spokesperson for the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo says the dogs entered the emu enclosure Saturday afternoon and staff members followed protocol and shot the two dogs.

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.

Louisiana is the first state to receive approval for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) proposal to bring high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet to residents. State Broadband Office Director Veneeth Iyengar says this will give the state first access to key resources to close the digital divide…

Cut 3 (09) “…for Louisianans.”

The state can now request access to more than 42 billion dollars from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Today is the last day to mail greeting cards and packages via Priority Mail if you want them to reach their continental United States destination by Christmas. Believe it or not, Christmas is a week from today. Or you can spend a little more and send them Priority Mail Express, that deadline is Wednesday.

State Representative Randal Gaines of LaPlace wants to be the next chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party. He says he was recruited by several state and national officials to run. Gaines says voter turnout in the last election is reflective of failed leadership and not conveying the party’s message…

Cut 14 (12) “…we represent.” 

The current chair is Katie Bernhardt.

On his last radio show “Ask the Governor” Governor John Bel Edwards was asked about his biggest regrets in office. The outgoing two-term governor says he has two, not raising the minimum wage and not closing the gender pay gap.

Cut 6 (12) “…so forth.”

Edwards says he’s well aware, however, that many individuals are paid more than the legal wage of $7.25 an hour in Louisiana.

Among Governor John Bel Edwards’ proudest accomplishments in office is Medicaid expansion. While many hardline conservatives are against it Edwards, a pro-life Democrat, says allowing the working poor to have healthcare is a pro-life value.

Cut 12 (10) “…is pro-life.” 

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

After an extremely hot and dry summer, mudbugs are starting to emerge in south Louisiana crawfish ponds, which could push the season back… St. Landry Parish crawfish farmer Zack Herbert says crawfish supply will likely be a major issue in 2024…

Cut 9 (12)  “… industry-wide.”

Ochsner receives a million-dollar grant to help combat the opioid crisis in rural Louisiana. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Today is the last day to mail greeting cards and packages via Priority Mail if you want them to reach their continental United States destination by Christmas. Yes, Christmas is a week from today. If you want to spend a little more and send them Priority Mail Express, that deadline is Wednesday.

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” 

Governor Edwards is holding an end of the year press conference at 3 PM. He’ll likely talk about his two terms in office and Edwards’ has consistently said his proudest accomplishment is expanding the Medicaid program….
cut 2 (30) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

A federal appeals court has refused to hold a rehearing on a case that’s resulted in Louisiana lawmakers being ordered to redraw the state’s congressional map by January 30th. If state lawmakers do not redraw the map, a federal trial will be held on the current map that allegedly violates the Voting Rights Act, because it dilutes the voting power of blacks.

After an extremely hot and dry summer, mudbugs are starting to emerge in south Louisiana crawfish ponds. That’s according to LSU AgCenter Crawfish Specialist Todd Fontenot, who says the emergence started a few weeks later than normal, which could push back the crawfish season…
Cut 7 (09) “…their survival”
Fontenot says the intrusion of salt water into freshwater marshes and bayous also has many crawfish farmers concerned.

Ochsner Lafayette General is launching a million-dollar initiative to confront opioid addiction and abuse head-on in rural communities. Family Doctor James McNally at Ochsner Health Center in Jennings says the project provides critical resources to rural communities that lack services and focuses on…
Cut 4 (12) “…the future.”
The initiative funds preventative and educational programming expenses related to treatment and recovery support.

Governor John Bel Edwards is holding his final end of the year press conference today at 3 PM. It’s the second to last public appearance as governor for Edwards. He’s been making the rounds discussing his two terms in office and has said expanding Medicaid coverage to thousands of Louisiana residents is his biggest accomplishment…
cut 11 (12) “…the country”
Arkansas is the only other state in the southeast with expanded Medicaid.

State Representative Randal Gaines of LaPlace is term limited, but is now seeking to be the next chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Gaines says he was recruited to run by several state and national officials…
Cut 13 (09) “…get people elected.”
Current Democratic Party chair, Katie Bernhardt, has been criticized for not energizing Democratic voters prior to the 2023 statewide elections.

Ochsner receives a million-dollar grant to help combat the opioid crisis in rural Louisiana. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

An Emu at Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo in Monroe has died after it was attacked by two stray dogs. The City of Monroe says staff members at the zoo followed protocol and fatally shot the dogs. City spokesperson Emily Stogner says zoo staff members ensured the surrounding area was safe before firing shots.

Democrat John Bel Edwards has 21 more days as Louisiana’s governor. Edwards says he’ll leave office knowing that his decision to expand the Medicaid program on his first day of the job was his biggest accomplishment. He says it’s cheaper for a person to be on Medicaid for 10 cents on the dollar as opposed to paying 40 cents on the dollar when they’re uninsured and get care…
Cut 10 (12) “…to do.”
Approximately a half-million Louisiana residents have Medicaid coverage as a result.

State health officials are doing what they can to control the opioid overdose crisis. Ochsner Lafayette General is using a one-million dollar grant from the federal government to comat opioid addiction and abuse in rural communities. Family doctor James McNally at Ochsner Health Center in Jennings says southwest Louisiana is a hot spot for opioid deaths…
cut 5 (08) “…the country”

State Representative Randal Gaines of Laplace is running to be the next chairperson of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Colleen Crain has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Katie Bernhardt is the current chairperson and has received criticism for the poor showing Democrats had in the 2023 state elections as turnout was low among Democratic voters.

Ochsner Children’s Hospital is building a massive new facility to grow the pediatrics program and treat critical conditions. That’s thanks to a large donation from New Orleans Saints Owner Gayle Benson. Chief Medical Officer Doctor Butch Adolph says the placement of departments is easily accessible to speed up time-sensitive procedures.

Cut 4 (12) “…bigger capacity.”

Will there be a special session to address the state’s property insurance crisis next year? Despite an incentive program to bring new carriers to the Bayou State, Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Temple says it’s highly unlikely but property owners won’t see the benefits connected to the initiative immediately…

Cut 11 (09) “…to change.”

————

A big announcement regarding a proposed passenger rail service along the I-20 corridor as The Federal Railroad Administration awards the Southern Rail commission a 500-thousand dollar grant to study what it would take to make it happen. Yesterday’s news conference was held in downtown Monroe. Mayor Friday Ellis spoke about what a train station would mean.

Cut  14 (13) “..every day”

A male juror was removed from the jury in a federal trial yesterday as LSU faces wrongful termination and sexual harassment accusations from for employee Sharon Lewis.  According to Tiger Rag editor Todd Horne the juror, had been seen noticeably responding to a thumbs-up gesture from LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward during the trial.