911 service is back to normal throughout the state. It was down for about three hours earlier today due to a cut fiber optic line. During the outage, police departments, fire departments and ambulance companies were advising people in their respective areas of alternate numbers to call. But again, 911 service is back to normal.

State Representative Mike Bayham says he had the honor of a lifetime as he had the opportunity to shake hands and speak with Pope Leo the 14th. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

While the trend is getting better, Louisiana’s truancy rate is still unacceptably high at over 40-percent. Louisiana defines truancy as five or more unexcused absences in a semester. Steven Procopio, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says the Louisiana Department of Education and BESE are working on a strategy to boost student attendance.

Cut 10 (11) “…a little bit.”

Construction at the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston is finally underway. Equipment moved in last Friday, and construction workers started turning dirt on Monday. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says when it opens in early 2027, it will create hundreds of jobs, and they’re all good-paying jobs.

Cut 7 (05) “…more than that.”

On top of that, Buc-ee’s will offer health benefits and a 401-K.

It’s been nothing short of an eventful week for the Kiffin family. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin’s daughter, Landry Kiffin, launched her relationship with LSU junior linebacker Whit Weeks on Instagram earlier this week. Kiffin says that he is happy for his daughter and approves of Weeks.

Cut 17 (14)  “…the family.”

The Saints will travel to the Buffalo this weekend to face the reigning MVP Josh Allen and the undefeated Bills. Safety Justin Reid says that Allen is such a good quarterback because of his ability to extend plays.

CUT 21 (23): “….great one.”

UL-Lafayette’s football team has dug itself into a deep hole after starting the season 1-3 before entering conference play. The Cajuns will look to get back on track against Marshall this weekend in what will be a very different rematch of the 2024 Sun Belt Championship. Head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says that his team has to continue working on fixing its issues.

Cut 19 (14) “…to work.”

Kickoff on Saturday in Lafayette will be at 7 p.m.

Former LSU and current Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes capped off his incredible season on Wednesday evening after shutting out the Cincinnati Reds. Skenes will end his second season in the MLB with a league best 1.97 ERA. Skenes threw 187 and two-thirds innings pitched while striking out 216 batters. Despite having some of the best numbers, Skenes finishes with a 10-10 record, but is still the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award.

While there’s progress, truancy continues to be a problem

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A fourth-grade math teacher at Robinson Elementary School in Monroe has been arrested after he allegedly arranged to have sex with a 15-year-old at an undisclosed site. Authorities say they arrested Boris Braggs after he set up the meet up over the internet with an undercover officer that he thought was a teenage girl. State Police and the FBI were conducting an undercover operation focused on sex trafficking of minors.

U.S. News and World Report has recognized Northwestern State as one of the best public schools among regional universities in the South. Chief Marketing Officer Cole Young says Northwestern has long made a commitment to individual student attention – something large universities may not be equipped to do as easily.

Cut 14 (05) “…to student ratio.”

Young says the quality of students that Northwestern is bringing in has greatly improved in recent years.

Republican State Representative Mike Bayham from Saint Bernard Parish had the thrill of a lifetime as he met Pope Leo the 14th at the Vatican. Bayham says he gave the first American-born pontiff a copy of a state resolution congratulating him on becoming the head of the Catholic church…

Cut 3 (08) “…he appreciated it.”

Leo the 14’s grandparents on his mother’s side got married and lived in the New Orleans 7^th Ward before moving to Chicago.

While the state is making progress on truancy, it still has quite a ways to go. The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana says statewide, the truancy rate – that is, five or more unexcused absences in a semester – is more than 40 percent. PAR President Steven Procopio says the truancy rate varies by parish…

Cut 9 (08)  “…an immediate connection.”

Louisiana’s absenteeism rate was 22.5 percent for the latest data available, while Alabama is 15-percent.

During a trip overseas, Saint Bernard Parish state representative Mike Bayham had a chance to have a one-on-one meeting with Pope Leo the 14^th…

Cut 5 (07) ‘…first American pope”

Bayham says he gifted Pope Leo a glass oyster shell, a symbol of St Bernard’s rich commercial fishing heritage.

They’ve finally started turning dirt on the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston. The start of construction of the highly-anticipated road trip staple was delayed for months, but it is now underway. The delays will push the opening back to early 2027, but when it does open, it will create hundreds of good-paying jobs. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says the quality of the jobs go far beyond the 18 to 20 dollar an hour starting wage.

Cut 8 (07) “…in North Louisiana.”

LSU football coach Brian Kelly says running back Caden Durham is questionable for Saturday’s game against Ole Miss after suffering an ankle injury against Southeastern. Kelly says the staff will continue to monitor how Durham practices before upgrading or downgrading his status.

Cut 18 (14) “…during practice.”

Breaking news coming into the Louisiana Radio Network newsroom – 911 phone lines are down throughout the state. It’s unclear what’s causing the 911 outage at this time. Individual police departments, fire departments and ambulance companies are putting out advisories on alternative ways to reach them in the event of an emergency. You can also be proactive – go online right now and take down the number of your local police department, fire department or ambulance company’s dispatch center.

Saint Bernard Parish State Representative Mike Bayham recently met Pope Leo the 14th at the Vatican. Along with a copy of a state resolution congratulating him on becoming the first American to be elected head of the Catholic church, Bayham gifted Pope Leo a glass oyster shell, a symbol of St Bernard’s rich commercial fishing heritage.

Cut 4 (09) “…this is unique.”

Louisiana’s truancy rate – defined as five or more unexcused absences in a single semester – stands at more than 40-percent. Steven Procopio, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says while that’s down from 2018’s peak, it’s still unacceptably high. When considering the national standard of chronic absenteeism, Procopio says Louisiana actually doesn’t rank too badly nationally.

Cut 11 (06) “…about 22.5-percent.”

After months of delays, construction at the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston is finally underway. Equipment moved in last Friday, and construction workers started turning dirt on Monday. Mayor Ronny Walker says the delays will prevent the massive road trip staple from opening in 2026.

Cut 6 (08) “…fine with us.”

Mayor Walker says when the new Buc-ee’s does open, it will create hundreds of jobs with starting hourly wages of 18 to 20 dollars an hour.

While the trend is getting better, Louisiana’s truancy rate is still unacceptably high at over 40-percent. Louisiana defines truancy as five or more unexcused absences in a semester. Steven Procopio, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says the Louisiana Department of Education and BESE are working on a strategy to boost student attendance.

Cut 10 (11) “…a little bit.”

They’ve finally started turning dirt on the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston. The start of construction of the highly-anticipated road trip staple was delayed for months, but it is now underway. The delays will push the opening back to early 2027, but when it does open, it will create hundreds of good-paying jobs. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says the quality of the jobs go far beyond the 18 to 20 dollar an hour starting wage.

Cut 8 (07) “…in North Louisiana.”

State Representative Mike Bayham says he had the honor of a lifetime as he had the opportunity to shake hands and speak with Pope Leo the 14th. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

We’re almost into October; and knock on wood – Louisiana is so far in no danger of any tropical activity. The same, however, cannot be said for the Southeast Atlantic Coast. The National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a disturbance that could become Tropical Storm Imelda, and it could come at least within close proximity to Florida’s east coast.

While the state is making progress on truancy, it still has quite a ways to go. The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana says statewide, the truancy rate – that is, five or more unexcused absences in a semester – is more than 40 percent. PAR President Steven Procopio says the truancy rate varies by parish, and it varies greatly within each region and demographic.

Cut 9 (08)  “…an immediate connection.”

Republican State Representative Mike Bayham from Saint Bernard Parish had the thrill of a lifetime as he met Pope Leo the 14th at the Vatican. Bayham says he gave the first American-born pontiff a copy of a state resolution congratulating him on becoming the head of the Catholic church…

Cut 3 (08) “…he appreciated it.”

Construction at the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston is finally underway. Equipment moved in last Friday, and construction workers started turning dirt on Monday. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says when it opens in early 2027, it will create hundreds of jobs, and they’re all good-paying jobs.

Cut 7 (05) “…more than that.”

On top of that, Buc-ee’s will offer health benefits and a 401-K. Construction is also underway at the Buc-ee’s in Lafayette, which begs the question – which one will open first?

A new area code comes to North Louisiana today, as new numbers will be given the area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the commission made the move, because North Louisiana simply ran out of telephone numbers.

Cut 11 (04) “…to do something.”

Also, throughout North Louisiana, you are now required to dial all ten numbers, including the area code, for all calls, local and long distance.

Cleanup continues more than a month after the massive chemical explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

After months of delays, construction at the new Buc-ee’s in Ruston is finally underway. Equipment moved in last Friday, and construction workers started turning dirt on Monday. Mayor Ronny Walker says the delays will prevent the massive road trip staple from opening in 2026.

Cut 6 (08) “…fine with us.”

The Lafayette Buc-ee’s is not expected to open until 2028.

This Saturday’s ULM-Arkansas State football game has been dubbed the Rice Bowl. Brice Jones with ULM says the resurrection of the game was the brainchild of the school’s new president, Dr. Carrie Castille.

Cut 22 (11) “…the same conference.”

Arkansas is the largest rice-producing state in the country, and Louisiana is third.

Northwestern State is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as being one of the best public schools among regional universities in the South. Chief Marketing Officer Cole Young says it’s a testament to how the school is committed to student success.

Cut 13 (08)  “…in the workforce.”

Young says Northwestern has long made a commitment to individual student attention

Cleanup continues in Tangipahoa Parish more than a month after the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland that spewed oil and other toxic substances into the Tangipahoa River. Adam Adams, a federal on-scene coordinator with the EPA, says the EPA set up a website to keep the public updated on the cleanup progress.

Cut 4 (12) “…waste we’ve recovered.”

Adams says crews have recovered more than five and a half million gallons of waste from the Tangipahoa River and affected ponds

Louisiana has a new area code today. North Louisiana exhausted all of the numbers with a 318 area code so they added the new area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says you now must dial all ten numbers to make a call in the region, including local calls. There had been optional testing of the 10 number requirement, but Campbell says that expired a month ago; so if you omit the area code, you’ll get nowhere.

Cut 12 (02) “…dial the 318.”

September is National Rice Month and ULM and Arkansas State are ending the month this Saturday by playing each other in football and calling it the Rice Bowl. Brice Jones with ULM says the Rice Bowl is a great way to promote the rice industry in two of the country’s top rice producing states.

Cut 9 (10)  “…in our backyard.”

The Rice Bowl Rivalry game is Saturday at 2 PM and the winner will take home the Rice Bowl trophy.

The Saints are off to a rough 0-and-3 start, but Coach Kellen Moore says there is still a lot of the season left…

Cut 22 (11) “…getting better”

Owner Gaye Benson was at yesterday’s practice, watching and talking with Coach Moore. New Orleans is at Buffalo this Sunday.

Crews in Tangipahoa Parish have contained the waste and recovered more than five and a half million gallons of waste from the Tangipahoa River and affected ponds from last month’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. EPA On-Scene Coordinator Adam Adams says yesterday, they started SCAT – Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Techniques — the final step in the cleanup of the river.

Cut 6 (13) “…a soft flush?”

Northwestern State is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as being one of the best public schools among regional universities in the South. Chief Marketing Officer Cole Young the quality of students that Northwestern is bringing in has greatly improved in recent years.

Cut 15 (11) “…at this point.”

A new area code comes to North Louisiana today. New phone numbers will be given the area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says existing phone numbers will not change.

Cut 10 (08) “…into the area.”

The Public Service Commission made the move, because North Louisiana ran out of telephone numbers.

The Rice Bowl makes a comeback this year. The first edition is this Saturday between ULM and Arkansas State. Brice Jones with ULM says the two schools are using the game for more than football.

Cut 8 (12) “…with our industry.”

Arkansas is the highest rice-producing state in the country, and Louisiana is third highest.