Louisiana saw a population increase for 2024 according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Colleen Crain has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”
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Governor Jeff Landry’s first year in office was eventful with major legislation getting approved. Jeanne Burns looks back….
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”
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New voting machines will soon be coming to Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Looking for something to do New Year’s Day? The climate here in Louisiana is a little too warm for the Polar Bear Plunge, so why not take a hike? Louisiana State Parks Director Brandon Burris says all state parks are taking part in conjunction with America’s State Parks’ First Day Hikes, which started in Massachusetts in 1992.
Burris says it’s a way for the state to introduce its state parks to those either new to the state or to those who don’t regularly use them.
Cut 5 (09) “…marshes and byways.”
Burris says many hikes are led by rangers.
Cut 6 (11) “…great animals here.”
For more information, visit the Louisiana State Parks First Day Hikes webpage.
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Louisiana’s population grew slightly in 2024 according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The state’s estimated population on July first was over 4.59-million up nearly 10-thousand from 2023. Demographer Greg Rigamer says this a small increase after three straight years of decline.
Cut 7 (13) “…lot of pepeople.”
Population losses have been widespread, particularly in central and northeast Louisiana. Caddo and Plaquemines parishes have also seen declines, but Rigamer says southeastern parishes like East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Livingston are growing.
Cut 8 (08) “…significant factors.”
Governor Landry says his tax reform package will help end migration out of the state and bring more people to Louisiana. Rigamer says we’ll have to wait and see if that happens
Cut 9 (09) “…within our region.”
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It was a busy first year in office for Governor Jeff Landry. Landry got lawmakers to pass legislation that seeks to reduce crime, he also got lawmakers on board with a school choice bill, and he capped off 2024 by getting lawmakers to approve a major overhaul of the state’s tax code…
Landry says the tax reform legislation will lower everyone’s income taxes on January 1st, but it will also increase the state sales tax to five percent. He says the tax reform plan will also eliminate the corporate franchise tax and help lure new businesses to the state, while also helping the ones currently here…
Part of the tax reform plan still needs voter approval and a Constitutional Amendment revising Article Seven of the state constitution will go before voters in March. Landry says there’s a lot packed into that amendment, including a permanent increase to teacher salaries…
Cut 12 (15) “…our businesses.”
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New voting machines will soon be coming in Louisiana. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says while the new model has not yet been selected, one thing that’s for certain is that in accordance with a new state law, there will be a paper component.
Landry says having the paper ballot will allow the state to easily verify the machine vote tally.
Cut 14 (11) “…recount is necessary.”
Landry says the state has not yet issued a request for proposals and there’s a lengthy approval process. Therefore, it will be a few years before voters will start casting their ballots on the new machines.
Cut 15 (08) “…testing it out.”
Landry says the current machines are 30 years old and as such, there are no replacement parts available for them.
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It was a great season for U-L Lafayette football, but the Cajuns had a couple of ugly postseason games. U-L Lafayette followed up a blowout loss in the Sun Belt Championship game with another blowout loss on Saturday. T-C-U trounced the Cajuns 34 to 3 in the New Mexico Bowl. Coach Michael Desormeaux’s team was playing without several starters who left the program for the transfer portal…
Cut 16 (20) “…going to compete.”
Desormeaux also feels good about the future and is eager to develop the chemistry needed for another winning season in 2025….
The Cajuns finished 2024, 10-and-4.
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The Saints wanted to give their fans something to cheer about, but other than a nice trick play that resulted in a touchdown, there was not much to cheer about Sunday in a 25 to 10 loss to the Raiders. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi says the third down stat tells the story, the Saints only converted once on third down, while Las Vegas was 10-of-18 on third down…
Cut 18 (12) “…like turnovers.”
Rookie Spencer Rattler got the start and looked sharp in the first half, but New Orleans could do nothing in the second half. Rattler finished 20 of 36 for 219 yards. He threw one touchdown pass, but he was intercepted twice and sacked three times…
Cut 19 (17) “…in the second half.”
The Saints are now 5-and-11 and wrap up the regular season on Sunday at Tampa Bay.
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The LSU Tigers will play Baylor tomorrow in the Texas Bowl to close out the 2024 season. The Bayou Bengals received good news for the 2025 season as star linebacker Harold Perkins announced he’s returning for his senior season. Perkins played only four games in 2024 because of a season-ending knee injury. Coach Brian Kelly is happy Perkins is coming back