At the state capitol, intense debate broke out over a bill to push back the closed party primaries by a month. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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Nicholls State is ranked as the best value college in Louisiana. Andre Champagne has the story.
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The Superdome emerges at the top of one list, but it’s unclear as to whether it’s cause for celebration. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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On the first day of the special session, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved legislation to push back qualifying and the primary election dates for the 2026 federal elections by one month. Black lawmakers oppose the move — Shreveport Senator Sam Jenkins told the bill’s author, Caleb Kleinpeter from Port Allen, that the legislature should not be changing election laws this close to the election.
Qualifying for the party primaries is currently scheduled for January, and the primary elections are set for April and May. Klieinpeter’s bill, which now heads to the Senate floor for another vote, pushes qualifying back to February and the closed party primary would be in May and the run-off in June. Jenkins says the legislature should not change the election procedure when the elections are months away.
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Republican lawmakers are looking to push the election back, because it’s possible the U-S Supreme Court will rule the state’s current congressional map as unconstitutional. Jenkins believes it’s premature for Louisiana to act, since the nation’s highest court has not ordered Louisiana to move its election dates back, and delaying the elections could influence the Supreme Court’s decision. Here’s Kleinpeter’s response.
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For Buc-ee’s fans in North Louisiana, the big day is finally here – groundbreaking on the massive 70-thousand-square-foot Buc-ee’s in Ruston. Mayor Ronny Walker says it follows after major progress on site prep.
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For those of you who don’t know, inside Buc-ee’s, you can buy its world famous Beaver Nuggets, delicious barbecue sandwiches or some unique souvenirs, and it has the cleanest bathrooms on the planet. Mayor Walker says it will help keep all vehicles moving, including those that do not run on gasoline.
…and, of course, 120 gas pumps. Walker says people can’t wait for the new Buc-ee’s to open in early 2027.
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Nicholls State ranks as the number-one best value college in Louisiana, according to Niche.com. The ranking is based on net price, alumni earnings, graduation rates and student debt. Dr. Todd Keller, the provost and vice president for academic affairs, says Nicholls’ average cost and tuition are significantly lower than the national and state averages and students feel at home.
Nicholls’ alumni median earnings five years after graduation average 49-thousand dollars per year, which is four-thousand dollars more than the national average. Keller says 95-percent of its alumni are employed one year after graduation, and the surveys find that students really enjoy their time at Nicholls.
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Nicholls also ranks third for safest college campuses in Louisiana. Keller says Nicholls’ in-state tuition of eight-thousand dollars is almost half of Louisiana’s average.
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Louisiana Tech ranks second for value, followed by U-L Lafayette, Louisiana Christian and ULM.
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When you go to a Saints game in New Orleans, you are going to the most haunted stadium in the NFL – and it has nothing to do with the team’s dismal record the last two years. That rating is courtesy of the sports website Pickswise. George Rogan with Pickswise says one major factor is the close proximity to St. Louis Cemetery.
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Rogan says the fact that the Superdome is 50 years old also has a lot to do with it.
Of course, you can’t mention evil spirits without bringing up the 2018 NFC Championship Game, in which three officials didn’t call an obvious pass interference against the Rams that would have all but sealed a trip to the Super Bowl for the Saints. Rogan says the overall spookiness of the state played a role in the Superdome’s ranking.
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The least haunted stadium is Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
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Last year, LSU’s defense allowed Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed to come off the bench and rush for three touchdowns in the 38-23 loss. LSU sophomore defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux remembers it all too well and says the team is more prepared this time around.
With two losses on the season already, LSU’s margin for error is now zero. Moving forward, Breaux says the Tigers have the ability to change the trajectory of the season around with a win against number-three Texas A&M on Saturday.
Kickoff in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night is at 6:30.
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With running back Kendre Miller out for the year, Saints rookie and sixth-round draft pick Devin Neal is expected to take on a larger role this week against the Buccaneers. Neal says his play as a running back can be described as balanced.
Kickoff in New Orleans is 3:05 p.m.
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UL-Lafayette’s football team is 2-and-5 on the year heading into the heart of conference play. Head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says his team has to do a better job of executing more important plays when the game is on the line.
With the disappointing start, Desormeaux still has belief in his team despite the outside noise and says the Cajuns will continue to play hard for the remainder of the season.
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The Cajuns travel to Alabama to take on Troy on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. as they look to win their first game since week five.