A Baton Rouge businessman is seeking to form a public-private partnership to buy a financially troubled airline. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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This past weekend, Leland and Gussie Lacaze (luh-KAH-zuh) of Natchitoches Parish were honored as the state’s longest married couple. Jeff Palermo ahs the story.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Legendary West Monroe football coach Jerry Arledge has died at the age of 83. Andre Champagne has more.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”
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A Baton Rouge businessman is looking to form a public-private partnership to buy Spirit Airlines and move its headquarters to New Orleans. John Miller, who’s the founder of the Country Club of Louisiana, says if he’s successful in his quest to buy the financially troubled ultra-low-cost airline, take everything you know about the airline and throw it in the garbage.
Cut 4 (08) “…of these extras.”
Miller says the purchase of Spirit Airlines is the first step in making Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport a hub airport, which he says would be the foundation of a 12-billion-dollar annual economic impact for New Orleans, with five-million new visitors to one of the most visited cities in the country.
Cut 5 (05) “…to almost 500.”
Miller says making New Orleans Airport a hub can further transform Spirit Airlines by opening it up to international destinations.
Cut 6 (12) “…international markets overseas.”
Frontier and JetBlue have both previously attempted to buy Spirit Airlines. Spirit’s shareholders rejected Frontier’s offer in July of 2022, and JetBlue’s 3.6-billion-dollar offer was blocked by a judge in 2024.
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On Valentine’s Day, Leland and Gussie Lacaze (luh-KAH-zuh) of Robeline were honored as this year’s longest known married couple. For 79 years, the Natchitoches Parish couple has been husband and wife. Family forum president Gene Mills says the couple met in May 1945.
Cut 7 (13) “…they got married.”
Mrs. Lacaze said the secret to a lasting marriage with joy is patience and hard work. She says they took the slow steady route, and it paid big dividends. Despite their advanced years, Mills says the couple is talkative and alert.
Cut 8 (10) “…for America’s freedom.”
Along with the honor of being recognized as Louisiana’s Longest Known Married Couple 2026, Mills says the couple receives recognition from the governor, cakes, and gifts. They will also receive a wish from Mr. Lacaze’s bucket list, a trip to the World War Two Museum in New Orleans.
Cut 9 (09) “…them down there.”
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It’s just Tuesday for most of the country today; but here, it is Fat Tuesday, filled with Mardi Gras parades across south Louisiana. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser will be riding in the Krewe of Bogue Falaya in Covington at 10 a-m with six travel writers.
Cut 10 (06) “…on a float.”
Nungesser says hundreds of thousands of people travel to Louisiana for the Mardi Gras weekend, and the out of state revelers are not just going to New Orleans.
Cut 11 (10) “…up every year.”
Nungesser says Mardi Gras is a time for everyone to come together.
Cut 12 (10) “…to be great.”
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Legendary high school coach Jerry Arledge died this past weekend at the age of 83. Arledge served as West Monroe’s defensive coordinator from 1992 to 2012 and then succeeded the legendary Don Shows as head coach from 2013 to 2022. Arledge was the D-C for the Rebels’ eight state championships, and KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich says his defenses were elite.
Cut 13 (11) “…period of time.”
As West Monroe’s head coach, Arledge went 103-and-22 with two 5A state championship game appearances. Dietrich says Arledge took great pride in coaching.
Cut 14 (12) “…every single day.”
Dietrich says Arledge and Shows changed the trajectory of West Monroe’s football program.
Cut 15 (07) “…Louisiana ever again.”