Voting system vendors seeking certification by the State of Louisiana batted a thousand. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Tomorrow, North DeSoto and Iowa will take the field, each with a chance to win the first state championship in school history. Andre Champagne has more.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”
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Secretary of State Nancy Landry has announced that all six voting system vendors that her office tested earlier this year passed certification. It comes as the office is working to select a new voting system to replace the current outdated one. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says the office did not reach out to the vendors; the vendors reached out to the office.
Cut 3 (08) “…answered that invitation.”
Watson says the fact that all six vendors passed certification is a testament to their commitment to playing a role in secure elections.
Cut 4 (09) “…the procurement process.”
Watson says now that all six systems will go through the procurement process, Secretary Landry will either put out a request for proposals or an invitation to negotiate at some point next year, and the office will ultimately select one system that will be used by every voter in the state.
Cut 5 (09) “…same voting system.”
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It’s been a very successful season for Christmas tree farms throughout the state this year. Kevin Steele, who owns Steele’s Christmas Tree Farm in Angie, in Washington Parish, says business was brisk this year.
Steele says those who bought trees got excellent quality trees this year.
Cut 7 (07) “…are very healthy.”
Steele says while it’s always difficult to predict the future, given the weather we had this year and the current condition of the trees, it’s shaping up to be a successful season next year too.
Cut 8 (09) “…expect any hiccups.”
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The LHSAA Prep Classic is underway and runs through Saturday. Tomorrow opens with a Division 2 non-select matchup between the North Desoto Griffins and the Iowa Yellow Jackets. Iowa head coach Tommy Johns says playing in the state championship for the first time in school history is special.
The Yellow Jackets will be tasked with facing North DeSoto’s fire-powered offense, which is led by quarterback Luke Delafield. Johns says his defense has come up when it’s mattered most this season and believes they can continue to do so.
Delafield led the Griffins to the state championship game as a freshman in 2022. He returns to the Dome as a senior and says he’s stoked to be back in New Orleans.
North DeSoto’s offense is averaging over 53 points a game. Delafield says the offense has all the ability in the world to execute; but he says in order to beat Iowa, the Griffins have to limit turnovers.
Cut 12 (15) “…something like that.”
The Griffins and Yellow Jackets kick off at noon tomorrow.
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In the nightcap of day two of the 2025 LHSAA Prep Classic tomorrow, St. Charles Catholic will take on Archbishop Shaw for the title in Division Two select. St. Charles Catholic coach Wayne Stein says the Comets did a lot of soul searching after finishing last season with a record of 4-and-7.
Cut 13 (15) “…to happen again.”
The two teams met in the regular season finale back on November 7th, with St. Charles Catholic winning 24-0. Coach Stein says he knows that the Comets will be facing a very different Eagles team tomorrow night.
Cut 14 (11) “…be the champion.”
Kickoff is scheduled for seven p-m.
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A bill sponsored by Senator Bill Cassidy to redirect Affordable Care Act subsidies to patients in the form of health savings accounts has failed. The vote in the Senate was 51-to-48, falling nine votes short of the 60 votes needed to advance. Republican Rand Paul joined all Democrats in voting no. Before the vote, Cassidy responded to Democratic criticism that his plan amounted to what they call “junk insurance.”
Cut 15 (09) “…one we’re using.”
Cassidy said his goal is to come up with a solution that works for everyone, regardless of political affiliation.