Senator Bill Cassidy ended up being the deciding vote in the Senate Finance Committee to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Health Secretary to the full Senate. The vote was 14 to 13, along party lines. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, likely cast his vote to save his political future.

Cut 3 (15) “…his own party.”

A new study from Bankrate finds 45-percent of Americans say they have applied for a loan in the past 12 months and 48-percent of those have faced a denial. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster says lower-income households, Gen Z, millennials, and parents with young children are most affected.

Cut 8 (07) “…credit score and history.”

The LHSAA and the Saints are moving towards making girls flag football a sanctioned high school sport. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says before a high school girls flag football season can take place, a pilot league needs to be established…

Cut 12 (12) “…and also Nike”

Held expects the LHSAA Executive Committee will vote in April to sanction girls high school flag football.

Amite’s Devonta Smith is back in the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles for the second time in three years. Smith’s high school coach at Amite, Zephania Powell…

Cut 15 (13) “….for Philadelphia”

The Chiefs are 1.5-point favorites to win their third consecutive Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl is bringing people from around the world to New Orleans and the state is using this opportunity to show Louisiana’s rise as a global business leader….

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy voted to confirm Robert F Kennedy Junior as  President Trump’s pick as Secretary of Health and Human Services. The vote was 14 to 13 to confirm in Senate Finance, moving the confirmation process to the Senate floor. Cassidy says he had intense conversations with Kennedy over the weekend and he thanks Vice President J-D Vance’s honest counsel. Cassidy has expressed concern with Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance.

A new report from Bankrate finds that nearly half of loan applicants have been rejected over the past 12 months. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster says with interest rates likely to remain elevated for another year, concentrate on keep your credit score in tip-top shape…

Cut 9 (09) “….debit to income ratio as well”

Americans with lower credit scores were more likely to be denied a loan.

Former Amite High star Devonta Smith will play in his second Super Bowl on Sunday when Smith’s Eagles take on the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Longtime Amite head football coach Zephaniah Powell says Smith has earned everything he’s received, including the Heisman Trophy he won in 2020…

Cut 14 (05) “….for him”

The state is using the Super Bowl as an opportunity to pitch Louisiana as a great place to do business. The Louisiana Now Pavilion opens today, next to the Super Bowl Media Center in New Orleans. State Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Louisiana Now showcases the state’s economic strengths, culture and business potential…

Cut 4 (13) “..incredibly impactful.”

Girls flag football could soon be a sanctioned high school sport in Louisiana. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says the LHSAA executive committee is expected to finalize approval at its April meeting…

Cut 11 (06) “…the road”

Held says they heard from over 100 high schools who said they are interested in girls flag football.

There is a large group in Tangipahoa Parish that will be cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

In an exclusive interview on ABC’s Good Morning America, former LSU safety Greg Brooks Junior says he just wants to be normal. Brooks remains wheelchair bound and struggling to write and speak after surgery to remove a tumor from his brain. His family has filed a lawsuit against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital alleging the doctor was not qualified to perform the surgery. Our Lady of the Lake says its neurosurgical team is among the most experienced in Louisiana.

Louisiana is using the Super Bowl to show that the Pelican State is a great place to do business. The Louisiana Now Pavilion opens today near the convention center and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the pavilion will showcase the state’s economic transformation, which includes Meta’s recent announcement that it’s building a ten-billion dollar A-I data center in Richland Parish…

Cut 5 (09) “….the story”

Emails obtained by several media outlets including WWL Louisiana and the Associated Press provide new light on the Saints role in helping the Archdiocese of New Orleans develop a public relations strategy around the clergy sex abuse crisis. One email in particular suggests some names were taken off the list of priests and deacons accused of sexually abusing children. The Saints say no employee had any responsibility in removing or adding any names from that list or supplemental list.

The LHSAA and the Saints are working towards sanctioning girls flag football as a high school sport. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says the interest is definitely there…

Cut 10 (10) “…flag football team.”

At least 80 schools needed to express interest per LHSAA bylaws in order for a formal vote to take place to finalize the approval of girls flag football as a sanctioned sport. Held says the association’s executive committee is expected to finalize approval at its April meeting.

A new report from Bankrate found that 45% of Americans applied for a loan or financial product in the past year, and 48% of those seeking a loan were rejected, with 14% experiencing multiple denials. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster says Americans with lower credit scores were more likely to be denied for a loan…

Cut 7 (12) “…applying for.”

Foster says lower-income households, Gen Z, millennials, and parents with young children are most affected.

The Louisiana Now Pavilion will open this morning next to the Super Bowl Media Center at the convention center. This is the place where the Louisiana Economic Development Department will tell the story about how the Pelican State is a great place to do business. L-E-D Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Louisiana Now will have interactive exhibits…

Cut 6 (13) “….of Louisiana”

The Pavilion will host business executives, athletes, dignitaries and artists from around the world.

In the town of Amite, most people are rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. Homegrown hero Devonta Smith is the Eagles leading receiver and his high school coach, Zephaniah Powell says Smith keeps making plays despite his six-foot, 170-pound frame…

Cut 13 (09) “….pros right now”

Smith won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama and lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in his rookie season.

Flag football will be an Olympic Sport in 2028 and may soon be a sanctioned Louisiana high school girl’s sport. Colleen Crain explains…

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Authorities have arrested a man from the St. Landry Parish village of Cankton after he allegedly tried to meet up with a teenage girl at a hotel in Pineville. Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Agents arrested 59-year-old Keith Stuckey when he showed up at the hotel and charged him with computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with juveniles. Stuckey also has active arrest warrants out of Concordia Parish.

The Super Bowl is bringing people from around the world to New Orleans and the state is using this opportunity to show Louisiana’s rise as a global business leader. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

_____________________________________________

Flag football will be an Olympic Sport in 2028 and may soon be a sanctioned Louisiana high school girl’s sport. Colleen Crain explains…

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

_____________________________________________

One Louisiana high school coach will be watching the Super Bowl with great interest. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

______________________________________________________

The state is using the Super Bowl as an opportunity to pitch Louisiana as a great place to do business. The Louisiana Now Pavilion opens today, next to the Super Bowl Media Center in New Orleans. State Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Louisiana Now showcases the state’s economic strengths, culture and business potential…

Cut 4 (13) “..incredibly impactful.”

The Pavilion will host business executives, athletes, dignitaries and artists from around the world. Bourgeois says Louisiana Now will provide visitors with compelling stories about Louisiana’s economic strength and that includes Meta building a ten-billion-dollar A-I data center in Richland Parish…

Cut 5 (09) “…the story.”

Bourgeois says Louisiana Now will have interactive exhibits…

Cut 6 (13) “…of Louisiana.”

______________________________________________________

A new report from Bankrate found that 45% of Americans applied for a loan or financial product in the past year, and 48% of those seeking a loan were rejected, with 14% experiencing multiple denials. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster says Americans with lower credit scores were more likely to be denied for a loan or financial product…

Cut 7 (12) “…applying for.”

Foster says lower-income households, Gen Z, millennials, and parents with young children are most affected.

Cut 8 (07) “…credit score and history.”

Foster says one of the best course of actions to take is request a free credit report to look back at your credit score and look at specific factors that would impact your rating as well as…

Cut 9 (09)  “…debt-to-income ratio as well.”

______________________________________________________

The LHSAA and the Saints are working towards sanctioning girls flag football as a high school sport. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says the interest is there…

Cut 10 (10) “…flag football team.”

At least 80 schools needed to express interest per LHSAA bylaws in order for a formal vote to take place to finalize the approval of girls flag football as a sanctioned sport. Held says the association’s executive committee is expected to finalize approval at its April meeting.

Cut 11 (06) “…the road.”

Held says before an actual high school girls flag football season can take place, a pilot league needs takes to place first. But he says they have a head start as the Saints organization launched a ten-team girls flag football league for ten high schools in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes…

Cut 12 (12) “…and also Nike”

Flag football will officially be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program.

__________________________________________________________

Many people in the Tangipahoa Parish town of Amite are rooting for local hero DeVonta Smith and the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. Zephaniah Powell coached Smith at Amite (ay-MEET) High School. Coach Powell says the Eagles leading receiver keeps making plays despite his six-foot, 170-pound frame…

Cut 13 (09)  “…pros right now”

Powell says Smith has earned everything he’s got, including the Heisman Trophy he won at Alabama in 2020.

Cut 14 (05) “…for him.”

Smith was on the Eagles team that fell to the Chiefs two years ago. Powell says Smith and his teammates now have an opportunity to exact revenge and win a title of their own.

Cut 15 (13) “…for Philadelphia.”

In case you’re wondering – Powell will not be hitting his former star receiver up for Super Bowl tickets.

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Eagles Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore flew out to New Orleans with the rest of the team over the weekend for Sunday’s Super Bowl. He might not need his return flight. That’s because the 36-year-old is widely considered to be the frontrunner to be the new head coach of the Saints. The Saints have interviewed Moore once and will meet with him after the Super Bowl. Moore said despite the Super Bowl being on the Saints’ home field this year, he’s not thinking about the Saints this week.

Cut 16 (10) “…of the way.”

That said, Moore said becoming a head coach in the NFL would be the opportunity of a lifetime.

Cut 17 (12)  “…excited about it.”

Moore spent six seasons as a backup quarterback – three with the Lions and three with the Cowboys. Following one season as the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach, he has spent the last six seasons as an offensive coordinator – four with the Cowboys and one each with the Chargers and Eagles.

___________________________________________________________

Saints fans may be wondering why their team couldn’t get a player like linebacker Zack Baun. Well, actually, they did have him for four seasons, during which he primarily played on special teams. Baun joined the Eagles this off-season and proceeded to make the Pro Bowl and is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year after registering 151 tackles, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Baun says many players helped him be the dominant force that he was this season.

Cut 18 (14)   “…position I am.”

Baun says it’s surreal to be playing on the biggest stage in American sports – on the same field where he played his first four seasons at that.

Cut 19 (09) “…green in it.”

Super Bowl Week is underway in New Orleans. Andrew Greenstein is at the Morial Convention Center.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is in New Orleans to make sure the proper security measures are in place. Noem took time this morning to visit Bourbon Street, the site of the New Year’s Day terror attack that killed 14 people…

Cut 7 (11) “….while they do that”

Shreveport Police have arrested a teenager who stole a vehicle that had a one-year-old inside. It happened Friday night and Corporal Christopher Bordelon says the owner of the vehicle ran inside to grab a coat for herself and her baby, when the vehicle was taken…

Cut 5 (09) “…suspect in this case”

The infant was recovered safely in the parking lot of a Walmart and the vehicle was in a Circle K Parking lot.  17-year-old Marcus Madden was arrested at an apartment complex and faces several charges including simple kidnapping.

Girls flag football could soon be a sanctioned high school sport in Louisiana. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held says the LHSAA executive committee is expected to finalize approval at its April meeting…

Cut 11 (06) “…the road”

Held says they heard from over 100 high schools who said they are interested in fielding a girls flag football team.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is in New Orleans to make sure the proper security measures are in place for the biggest sporting event of the year. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

All Schools in Morehouse Parish were closed Monday and will remain closed tomorrow. A mass parish-wide bomb threat led authorities to close all Morehouse Parish schools including Louisiana Delta Community College Monday and Tuesday. Law enforcement officials are investigating the threat and say they made the decision to close the schools out of an abundance of caution. Some schools may participate in virtual learning activities.

The Super Bowl is about more than the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, the half-time show, and the commercials. Superbowl in New Orleans is a whole week and it’s underway. Peter O’Reilly with the NFL says the league is using this week to show off New Orleans, and that includes getting the local business community involved through its NFL Source program.

Cut 9 (08)  “…225 local businesses.”

Jack Bech was named the Senor Bowl MVP this past weekend, but he says he would rather have his brother than the M-V-P honor. Tiger Bech was killed in the New Years Day terror attack on Bourbon Street and Jack believes it was his brother who helped him achieve great things…

Cut 14 (11) “…legacy on .”

Bech starred at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette, just like his older brother Tiger. Jack Bech played two seasons at LSU and became one of the nation’s best receivers after transferring to TCU.

A suspect was shot and killed by a Bossier City Police Officer early Monday morning. The officer was responding to a 9-1-1 hang-up call and Police say, when the officer arrived became involved in a life-threatening encounter. The officer discharged their weapon resulting in a fatal shooting. The incident was turned over to the Louisiana State Police who is now investigating.

Fortunately, a one-year-old Shreveport child sleeping in a car when it was stolen was found unharmed. The child’s mother had left her car running while she went inside to get jackets. An hour after the theft, an officer working extra duty at a Walmart found the child safe in the parking lot. The stolen car was later found at a Circle K near an apartment complex.  SPD CPL. Chris Bordelon says officers tracked 17-year-old Marcus Madden who allegedly stole the vehicle there.

Cut 4 (07) “…Madden into custory.”

The Superbowl is Sunday, and Superbowl week here.  Peter O’Reilly with the NFL says one goal of the week-long festivities is to make the Super Bowl accessible to everyone, not just those who cannot attend the game. Tonight is Super Bowl Opening Night at the Superdome.

Cut 11 (10) “…really engaging event.”

The NFL Experience opens Wednesday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

One of the highlights of this past weekend was the performance by TCU wide receiver Jack Bech in the Senior Bowl. One month after his older brother, Tiger Bech, died tragically in the New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street, Bech was named the Senor Bowl MVP with had six catches for 68 yards and he caught the game winning touchdown pass on the final play of the game.

Cut 12 (12) “…did today.”

Bech starred at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette.

A mass bomb threat in Morehouse Parish has led authorities to close all Morehouse Parish schools today and Tuesday. Law enforcement officials are investigating a parish-wide threat and say out of an abundance of caution, they’ve closed all schools in the parish including Louisiana Delta Community College Monday and Tuesday. Some schools will participate in virtual learning activities.

A Shreveport mother’s car was stolen with her one-year-old child inside when she left her car running with the sleeping child inside while she went into her home to get jackets for the child and herself Friday night. Fortunately, an hour later, the child was found unharmed in a Walmart parking lot by a police officer working extra duty. SPD CPL. Chris Bordelon says officers responded to a stolen vehicle shortly after 8 pm.

Cut 3 (10) “…in the area.”

17-year-old Marcus Madden was arrested and faces charges of simple kidnapping, motor vehicle theft, and child desertion.

Superbowl is Sunday but Superbowl Week has already begun. Andrew Greenstein reports from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center…

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

To kick off Super Bowl week, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Governor Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell held a moment of silence at the corner of Bourbon Street and Canal Street to recognize the victims of the New Year’s Day terror attack. Afterwards, Noem spoke with reporters and said federal, state and local governments are on the same page when it comes ensuring the Super Bowl will be safe….

Cut 6 (08) “…on my watch.”

An enhanced security zone will go into effect on Wednesday for Bourbon Street and surrounding streets.