Louisiana’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway this holiday season. With more parties this time of year there are more impaired drivers on the road, especially at night. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says for some because the holidays can be difficult…

Cut 8 (09) “…on the road.”

The campaign runs through New Year’s Day.

Passenger rail service to North Louisiana’s I-20 corridor may be one step closer to reality. The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded a 500-thousand dollar grant to the Southern Rail Commission to figure out what it would take to get it done. Commissioner Knox Ross says passenger rail service would bring economic development to these cities, especially their downtown areas…

Cut 13 (12) “…all about” 

The proposed rail line would connect Dallas-Fort Worth to Atlanta, with stops in Shreveport, Ruston, Monroe and Vicksburg, Mississippi.

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Number one-ranked Ochsner Children’s Hospital will build a new 343 thousand square foot facility thanks to a historic donation from New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson. Here’s Teiko Foxx
Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 
A federal appeals court yesterday refused to reconsider its ruling setting a January deadline for the Louisiana Legislature to enact a new congressional map after a lower court found that the current political boundaries dilute the power of the state’s Black voters. If lawmakers to not pass a new map by January 30^th, then a lower court judge will likely decide on a plan for the 2024 elections.

North Louisiana mayors are excited about the possibility of passenger rail service along the I-20 corridor. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Ochsner Children’s Hospital is building a massive new facility with a large donation from New Orleans Saints Owner Gayle Benson. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Butch Adolph on the ever growing need.

Cut 3 (13) “…one facility.”
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The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s Greg Fisher says the annual campaign is making a difference. According to the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU for every 1,000 hours of impaired driver patrol, there are four fewer fatalities…

Cut 7 (06) “…fewer fatalities.” 

Whether or not there will be a special season to address the state’s property insurance crisis before the regular session is still up in the air. Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Teeple is promising that if and when one is called, he’ll push for legislation that will help property owners get immediate premium relief. But stresses he’s not suggesting mandates for premium changes, because that only drives carriers away.

Cut 10 (12) “…availability.”

An important step has been taken in bringing passenger rail service to north Louisiana. The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded a 500-thousand dollar planning grant to the Southern Rail Commission. Commissioner Knox Ross says this money will determine what’s needed to bring passenger rail service to the I-20 Corridor…

Cut 12 (06)  “..want to be.”  
The proposed rail line would connect Dallas-Fort Worth to Atlanta, with stops in Shreveport, Ruston, Monroe and Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says over the past five Christmas holidays in Louisiana 26 people were killed and 452 injured in vehicle crashes involving alcohol.

Cut 6 (05) “…any means.”

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There’s been plenty of speculation about a special session before the regular one to address the state’s property insurance crisis next year. But at a recent NOLA-dot-com town hall meeting, Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Temple says it’s highly unlikely…

Cut 9 (11) “…timing issue.” 

If and when one is called, Temple says he’ll push to get legislation introduced, that would focus on bringing property owners immediate premium relief.

Meanwhile a federal appeals court refused Friday to reconsider its ruling setting a January deadline for the Louisiana Legislature to enact a new congressional map after a lower court found that the current political boundaries dilute the power of the state’s Black voters.  If lawmakers to not pass a new map by January 30^th, then a lower court judge will likely decide on a plan for the 2024 elections.

There’s been plenty of speculation about a special session before the regular one to address the state’s property insurance crisis next year. But at a recent NOLA-dot-com town hall meeting, Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Temple says it’s highly unlikely…

Cut 9 (11) “…timing issue.” 

With more parties this time of year there are more impaired drivers on the road, especially at night. And Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says for some the holidays can be difficult…

Cut 8 (09) “…on the road.” 

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway until January 1^st to deter impaired driving. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has given a grant to pay for more officers to be able to patrol this time of year.

A male juror was removed from the jury in the federal trial of former LSU employee Sharon Lewis against the school for wrongful termination and sexual harassment. 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.

North Louisiana mayors are excited about the possibility of passenger rail service along the I-20 corridor. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Ochsner Children’s Hospital announces plans for The Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital made possible through a large donation from New Orleans Saints Owner Gayle Benson.  Chief Medical Officer Dr. Butch Adolph says the placement of departments is easily accessible to speed up time-sensitive procedures.

Cut 4 (12) “…bigger capacity.”

The new pediatric cardiovascular unit will expand from 12 to 20 beds. Ochsner Medical Center-New Orleans expects to break ground around the summer of 2024 and open its doors in late 2027.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign kicks off today and runs through New Year’s Day. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission…..

Cut 7 (06) “…fewer fatalities.” 

In the last five years, 26 people were killed and 452 injured in vehicle crashes involving alcohol during the Christmas holidays. According to the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU for every 1,000 hours of impaired driver patrol, there are four fewer fatalities…

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.”

When Temple’s lone opponent withdrew from the election in the fall, Temple was named commissioner-elect. He says he’s using the extra time to meet with decision-makers so he can hit the ground running on January 8th.

Ochsner Lafayette General has launched a one-million-dollar initiative to combat Louisiana’s rural opioid addiction crisis. The project is made possible by a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration Rural Communities Opioid Response Program.

Speaking at a recent NOLA-dot-com town hall meeting, Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Temple says it’s unlikely we’ll have a special session to address the property insurance crisis before the regular one next year but when we do, he’ll push to get legislation introduced focusing on bringing immediate premium relief but he’s not suggesting mandates for premium changes, because he says that drives carriers away.

Cut 10 (12) “…availability.”

Ochsner Children’s Hospital is building a new 343 thousand square foot facility with a large donation from New Orleans Saints Owner Gayle Benson. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Butch Adolph says this will help advance the growing need to help children throughout the region.

Cut 3 (13) “…one facility.”

The donation will come from the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation, a private foundation founded in 2007 to make a positive impact.

North Louisiana mayors are excited about the possibility of passenger rail service along the I-20 corridor. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says over the past five Christmas holidays in Louisiana 26 people were killed and 452 injured in vehicle crashes involving alcohol.

Cut 6 (05) “…any means.”

There’s been plenty of speculation about a special session before the regular one to address the state’s property insurance crisis next year. But at a recent NOLA-dot-com town hall meeting, Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Temple says it’s highly unlikely…

Cut 9 (11) “…timing issue.” 

An important step has occurred in bringing passenger rail service to north Louisiana. The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded a 500-thousand dollar planning grant to the Southern Rail Commission. Commissioner Knox Ross says this money will determine what’s needed to bring passenger rail service to the I-20 Corridor…

Cut 12 (06)  “..want to be.”  

Number one-ranked Ochsner Children’s Hospital will build a new 343 thousand square foot facility thanks to a historic donation from New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson. Teiko Foxx has the story…

Cut 1 (34)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

With more parties this time of year there are more impaired drivers on the road, especially at night. And Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says for some the holidays can be difficult…

Cut 8 (09) “…on the road.” 

After the worst wildfire season on record, proactive steps are being taken to help reduce the impact of future wildfires in the Bayou State. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign runs through New Year’s Day and Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says it’s making a difference.  According to the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU for every 1,000 hours of impaired driver patrol, there are four fewer fatalities…

Cut 7 (06) “…fewer fatalities.” 

The LHSC helps pay for overtime so more law enforcement officers can stop impaired drivers.

The Ragin Cajuns will face Jacksonville State in tomorrow’s R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Kick-off is set for 1:15. U-L Lafayette Coach Michael Desormeaux says Motivation is a big part of who wins bowl games and he says his guys should be excited to play…

Cut 20 (13) “…problem.”

This is the Cajuns seventh appearance in the New Orleans Bowl and they are five and one in this game.

Ochsner Children’s Hospital is Ranked the number one hospital for kids in Louisiana, and their plans to build a new 343 thousand square foot facility with a large donation from New Orleans Saints Owner Gayle Benson will expand the new pediatric cardiovascular unit from 12 to 20 beds. The 14-bed intensive care unit will expand to 20 beds.

Cut 5 (00) “ …and region.”  

Ochsner Children’s Hospital is building a new 343 thousand square foot facility with a large donation from New Orleans Saints Owner Gayle Benson. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Butch Adolph says the new five-story structure helps support its commitment to the pediatrics program and treat critical conditions such as pediatric heart and liver transplants.

Cut 4 (12) “…bigger capacity.”

It’s likely LSU will have three players from the NFL draft selected in the first round. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, and receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Junior. WWL sports talk show host and draft analyst Mike Detillier says Daniels is one of the top players this draft….

 Cut 16 (08) “…as high as two.”

Detillier says Nabers should hear his name called in the 2024 draft a few names after Daniels gets picked…

A documentary about the reality of human sex trafficking in Louisiana airs tonight on LPB. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU has three potential first-round picks in Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. WWL sports talk show host and draft analyst Mike Detillier says that Daniels has always been a first-round pick and his draft stock is rapidly increasing.

Cut 16 (08) “… as high as two.”

The NFL draft will take place next year on April 25th through the 27th in Detroit.

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The ULL Rajin Cajuns will face Jacksonville State Gamecocks tomorrow in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. ULL Head coach Michael Desormeaux has his team prepared for the matchup and he says that motivation is a key factor in who will be crowned the New Orleans Bowl champion.

Cut 20 (13) “… problem.”

The game will kick off tomorrow at 1:15 pm on ESPN.

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The Pelicans will travel to face the Charolette Hornets tonight, but even with the home crowd advantage New Orleans is still favored to beat Charolette by six and a half points. Zion Williamson is not expected to play for the Pelicans, but Brandon Ingram will be on the court for New Orleans and he is expected to be a key part of their offense, after his 40-point performance against Washington.

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In hunting news, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries State Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon says that 14 positive cases for chronic wasting disease (CWD) have been confirmed in Tensas Parish and that the LDWF has set up 13 free CWD collection sites throughout the region. Bordelon says that the process is free and relatively simple.

Cut 8 (12) “… off site.”

The process normally takes about two to three weeks and hunters must match their sample I-D number to data online to receive test results.