Reading scores are up among the state’s youngest learners. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles says its system is back up after a statewide outage this morning. OMV field offices can once again process transactions. If you had an appointment this morning at your local OMV, you are asked to reschedule at express-lane-dot-org.

Louisiana’s teacher workforce is significantly less diverse than its population of college-educated adults, according to a National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) report. Teach for America Executive Director Ge’ron Tatum says some of this is due to limited pathways and elimination of teacher prep programs.

Cut 9 (07)  “…teacher pay is inadequate,”

Louisiana teachers earn 5-thousand-dollars less than the Southern regional average and 15-thousdand dollars below the national average, deterring people of color from entering or staying in the profession.

An Opelousas man faces numerous charges after he allegedly stole a school bus and crashed into several vehicles on Pinhook Road in Lafayette last night. Lafayette Police Senior Corporal Ashley Wood says following the collision, which resulted in moderate injuries for several people, 26-year-old Marion Baker stoke a truck from a bystander who stopped to help…

Cut 4 (11) “….by law enforcement”

Wood says Baker’s crime spree started after he fled from a mental health facility in Youngsville.

Students in kindergarten through third grade are improving their reading scores, thanks to a new focus on phonics-based literacy instruction. Assistant State Superintendent Dr. Jenna Chiasson (CHASS-on) says those students improved their reading proficiency by more than two percentage points.

Cut 6 (09) “…level in literacy.”

Chiasson credits tutoring and a method of teaching called the Science of Reading.

An Opelousas man was arrested after fleeing a Youngsville mental health facility on foot, stealing a school bus and causing a four-vehicle crash in Lafayette on Sunday night. Lafayette PD Senior Corporal Ashley Wood reported that 26-year-old Marion Baker, who was being transported to a mental health facility.

Cut 3 (10) “…collision with four vehicles.”

Wood says after fleeing the bus Baker stole and truck and was eventually arrested in Rayne.

Alexandria Senior High’s first appearance in the Cesars Superdome did not go well as the Trojans lost to Edna Karr 53 to 8 in the division one select state championship game. It was the first loss of the season for ASH. Coach Thomas Bachman…

Cut 13 (09) “…proud of them”

Ruston was seeking back-to-back state championships, but ran into a buzzsaw on Saturday afternoon as the Central Wildcats walloped the Bearcats 42 to nothing. Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh took responsibility for his team’s performance.

Cut 15 (19) “…out to be.”

That was Ruston’s third straight state title game appearance.

Crawfish farmers and fishermen are expecting the 2025 crawfish season to be night and day from last year.  LSU AgCenter Crawfish Agent Todd Fontenot says conditions have been favorable for farmers.

Cut 7 (12) “…normal like conditions.”

Fontenot reassures crawfish enthusiasts that the upcoming season is on track to recover.

The Louisiana Department of Health detects the first possible human case of Bird Flu. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says the symptoms of bird flu are not unlike those for human flu.

Cut 11 (13) “…headaches, fatigue.”

But Sokol cautions that in order for it to be bird flu, the person must have come into contact with an infected animal such as a bird or a cow.

Senator John Kennedy wants to give teachers who spend their own money on school supplies a bigger tax break. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

If you need to go to the Office of Motor Vehicles, your best bet is to do it another day. The OMV says its systems are down; and as such, it is unable to process driver’s license, vehicle registration or reinstatement transactions. Currently, no estimate on when those systems will be back up and running.

A man is shot and injured outside the Superdome Friday night following the Prep Classic. The suspected shooter is under arrest. At this time, it’s unclear what led to the shooting.

Late last week, the Louisiana Department of Health detected the first possible human case of the highly pathogenic strain of Bird Flu. The state says the person lives in southwest Louisiana and is hospitalized. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says while public risk is low, the risk is there.

Cut 10 (09) “…from infected cows.”

To boost NIL efforts at LSU, head football coach Brian Kelly announced the one-million dollar match challenge. Kelly says he and his wife will match up to one million dollars in new money donated through NIL for football. Tiger Rag magazine editor Glenn Guilbeau says one thing that may have motivated Kelly to put up his own money is better job security.

Cut 18 (13)   “…from getting fired.”

The 2024 Prep Classic saw three teams from the Acadiana area win state championships. Jeanne (ZHAHN) Burns has more…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

One week after dominating U-L Lafayette in the Sun Belt championship game, Marshall has pulled out of the Independence Bowl. With scores of players opting out or entering the transfer portal, the Thundering Herd did not have enough players to take the field against Army. Louisiana Tech, with a record of 5-and-7, is stepping in to take on the American Athletic Conference champion Black Knights.

Senator John Kennedy introduces a bill that would double the maximum that teachers can deduct from their taxable income for spending their own money on school supplies.

Cut 4 (17) “…to 600 dollars.”

Kennedy says he introduced the bill mainly to get a head start on it. He’ill reintroduce it when the 119th Congress convenes next month.

Late last week, the Louisiana Department of Health detected the first possible human case of the highly pathogenic strain of Bird Flu. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says while symptoms of bird flu are similar to those of regular flu, the person must have come into contact with an infected animal such as a bird or a cow.

Cut 12 (10) “…not bird flu.”

The state says the person lives in southwest Louisiana and is hospitalized. 

Two blowouts punctuated the Prep Classic at the Superdome. In the Division One Select Championship, Edna Karr out of New Orleans beat Alexandria Senior High, 53-8. Alexandria coach Thomas Bachman says that one loss does not take away from the team’s accomplishments all season long.

Cut 13 (09)  “…proud of them.”

Later, in the Division One Non-Select title game, Central, out of Baton Rouge, annihilated Ruston, 42-0. Central coach David Simoneaux said his team proved a lot of people wrong.

Cut 16 (20) “…close-knit group.”

Cecilia, Sterlington, South Plaquemines, Archbishop Shaw, Catholic New Iberia and Vermilion Catholic also won state championships.

U-S Senator John Kennedy has filed legislation that would double the maximum teachers can deduct from their taxable income for spending their own money on school supplies…

Cut 5 (10) “….their income tax”

This legislation is not expected to be approved this year, but he’s filed the bill now in the hopes it’s something the next Congress will take up early next year.

Another crawfish season is not too far off and LSU AgCenter Agent Todd Fontenot says the 2025 crawfish season is showing signs it will be much better than what we experienced this year. Fontenot says recent rainfall has mudbugs moving in crawfish ponds…

Cut 9 (09) “…they will grow”

High temperatures will be in the 70s between today and Wednesday and then cold front comes dropping our highs in the 60s beginning on Thursday.

The final day of the LHSAA Prep Classic saw two blowouts. Edna Karr won its fifth championship in ten years by dismantling Alexandria Senior High 53 to 8. Cougars Coach Brice Brown says the win speaks to the talent that’s in Algiers…

Cut 14 (21)”…but great academics”

In the final game of the Prep Classic, Central completely dominated Ruston 42 to 0 for the Wildcats first state championship since 1966. Bearcats head coach Jerrod Baugh took responsibility for his team’s performance…

Cut 15 (19) “….out to be”

U-S Senator John Kennedy has filed legislation to increase the educator expense deduction from 300 to 600 dollars for an individual and six-hundred to 12-hundred dollars for married couples who filed jointly…

Cut 6 (12) “….an unlimited deduction”

Kennedy it’s unlikely this legislation will be taken up this year, but he filed the bill now, so that the Congress that comes in January can hopefully vote on this legislation right away.

The first human case of bird flu has been detected in Louisiana. The state Department of Health says a southwest Louisiana resident has been hospitalized with H-5-N-I. L-D-H says the individual became infected after being exposed to sick and dead birds likely infected with bird flu. The state health department did not describe this person’s symptoms, but state epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says typically H-5-N-1 can cause…

Cut 11 (13) “….headaches, fatigue”

Crawfish lovers are hopeful for a better crawfish season this year.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The Saints lost 20 to 19 to the Washington Commanders yesterday, but quarterback Spencer Rattler sparked the offense in the second half as he replaced an ineffective Jake Haener…and nearly led New Orleans all the way back from a 17 point deficit. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi…

Cut 27 (15) “…not all on Jake”

The Saints fall to five and nine and visit Green Bay next Monday night.

Senator John Kennedy wants to give teachers who spend their own money on school supplies a bigger tax break. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Lafayette Police say several people were injured last night when an Opelousas man stole an unoccupied school bus and drove recklessly on Pinhook Road causing a crash involving four vehicles. The suspect, 26-year-old Marion Baker, was being transported to a mental facility when he fled and stole the bus. After the crash with the bus, police say he stole a truck from a bystander who stopped to assist. Baker was eventually apprehended in Rayne.

Late last week, the Louisiana Department of Health detected the first possible human case of the highly pathogenic strain of Bird Flu in the state. Officials say the person lives in southwest Louisiana and is hospitalized. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says while public risk is low, the risk is there.

Cut 10 (12) “…from infected cows.”

Sokol says never touch a sick or dead animal or their droppings and keep pets away from sick or dead animals and their feces.

Crawfish farmers are seeing signs that the crawfish crop will rebound in 2025. LSU AgCenter Crawfish Agent Todd Fontenot says recent rainfalls have helped produce a strong crop of young crawfish emerging from their burrows

Cut 8 (08) “…into the ponds.”

Fontenot anticipates a robust harvest for 2025 allowing people to plan their crawfish boils for March, April, and May.

At the Prep Classic in New Orleans today, Edna Karr will go after its seventh state championship when they face Alexandria Senior High in the Division One select state championship game. The Cougars are undefeated and Coach Brice Brown says his team does a lot of things well…

Cut 9 (13)  “…(laughs),”

It’s Alexandria’s very first state championship game.  Meanwhile Ruston looks to defend its state title against Central.

Archbishop Shaw beat ED White yesterday for the Eagles first state championship since 1987.  In game two, Catholic High of New Iberia held off a strong fourth quarter rally by Dunham to beat the Tigers 31 to 28. And in the nightcap, Ceclia scored a late touchdown to beat Franklinton 35 to 32.

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The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act, co-authored by Baton Rouge Republican Congressmen Garret Graves has been approved by the house.  Here’s Sean Richardson.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Meanwhile the anti hazing bill co-authored by Senator Bill Cassidy is on the President’s desk now.  It requires college campuses to post all instances in which an organization has been found guilty of hazing and establishes a hazing education and prevention program.

Cut 4 (13) “…that have violated.”

A bill to address hazing on college campuses is now on President Biden’s desk. The bill passed both houses unanimously. The bill requires college campuses to post all instances in which an organization has been found guilty of hazing and establishes a campus-wide research-based hazing education and prevention program. Senator Bill Cassidy co-authored the bill says fraternities and sororities across the country are in full support of this legislation.

Cut 5 (11) “…endorse this concept.”

The legislation was spurred in part by the September 2017 hazing death of LSU freshman Max Gruver.

The Louisiana Department of Health has detected the first possible human case of the highly pathogenic strain of Bird Flu. The state says the person lives in southwest Louisiana and is hospitalized. It says while the current public risk for Bird Flu is relatively low, those who work with or have recreational exposure to birds, poultry or cows are at higher risk.

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Billy Cannon’s legacy is being celebrated through an extensive exhibit at Baton Rouge’s Capitol Park Museum “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend,” showcases nearly 200 artifacts, including his Heisman Trophy and celebrates Cannon’s redemption story following a 1983 counterfeiting arrest. Daughter Bunnie Cannon hopes that time in her father’s life doesn’t overshadow his legacy.

Cut 13 (10)  “…anything for anybody.”

The exhibit is set to open next Tuesday.

In football action today Ruston is looking to defend its Division one non-select state championship against Central at the Prep Classic.  Bearcats Coach Jerrod Baugh says starting quarterback Josh Brantley is playing at a high level…

Cut 11 (16) “…for us.”