If you need to sign up for or renew your health insurance through HealthCare-dot-gov, time is running out for this year. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says it’s time for the F-D-A to tighten its rules on the mailing of abortion drugs. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

A man who allegedly kidnapped a Louisiana teenager is under arrest. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

______________________________________________

If you need to sign up or renew your health insurance through HealthCare-dot-gov, you have until midnight tonight to do so. Mike Bertaut, a healthcare economist with Louisiana Blue, says for some people, there’s a very important change that will have a major impact on their budgets.

Cut 4 (11) “…of January 1st.”

Bertaut says the elimination of the enhanced tax credits does not mean that there’s no assistance available for everyone.

Cut 5 (10) “…dramatically or disappeared.”

Bertaut says in order to buy health insurance on HealthCare-dot-gov, there are a few requirements.

Cut 6 (13) “…at their workplace.”

New coverage or changes to existing coverage will take effect February 1st.

________________________________________________________

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill went to Washington, D-C, to urge the Food and Drug Administration to end its mail-order abortion pill policy. Murrill says out of state doctors are dispensing the abortion pill mifepristone through the mail to pregnant women in Louisiana, and the results in many cases are devastating.

Cut 7 (14) “…in a toilet.”

Murrill testified at a U.S. Senate hearing on chemical abortion drugs. Mifepristone is a Schedule Four controlled substance in Louisiana. It can be prescribed in Louisiana, but only in hospital inpatient settings.

Murrill says the Biden administration removed a policy that required in-person dispensing, and that has allowed women to obtain mifepristone through the mail from out of state doctors.

Cut 8 (04) “…not health care.”

Murrill says pro-abortion advocacy groups estimate there are now 900 illegal abortions per month in Louisiana. Louisiana’s attorney general had this exchange with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Cut 9 (15)  “…why it happens.”

Louisiana has filed a federal lawsuit to block the FDA’s rule allowing abortion pills to be sent through the mail. Physicians for Reproductive Health say hundreds of studies have determined that mifepristone is effective and safe.

______________________________________________________________

Among the three appropriations bills the Senate is expected to take up this week is one that includes more than 350-million dollars in earmarks for 51 projects in Louisiana. One of those projects would dedicate more than 137-million dollars towards construction and maintenance for flood control work in the Atchafalaya River basin. Senator Bill Cassidy says preventing high water in the Atchafalaya River basin is critical.

Cut 10 (13) “…thar backwater flow.”

Cassidy says the money for these projects would actually be less than the money spent last year.

Cut 11 (12) “…help communities recover.”

Cassidy says the project is part of the greater infrastructure project to protect the coastal parishes of St. Mary, Terrebone and Lafourche.

Cut 12 (07) “…control that water”

_____________________________________________________________

A memorial service takes place today for former Louisiana State Senator Robert Kostelka, who passed away Saturday at age of 92. Kostelka also served as a district attorney and judge for Ouachita and Morehouse parishes. Kostelka was in the state senate from 2003 to 2016 and served alongside longtime Francis Thompson, who is now a House member. Thompson calls Kostelka a good man.

Cut 13 (07)  “…it to be.”

Kostelka was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in 2022.  The Louisiana Political Hall of Fame says he wrote legislation addressing child support, consumer protection, healthcare and education. Thompson says Kostelka was an effective legislator.

Cut 14 (11) “…develop this state.”

Thompson says he also knew Kostelka when he was a prosecutor and judge.

Cut 15 (06) “…the right thing.”

A memorial visitation for Kostelka will be held from five until seven this evening at the Mulhearn Funeral Home in Monroe. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date.

______________________________________________________________

The 2026 LSU baseball season is just about a month away. The defending national champions are ranked as the preseason number-two team by D1Baseball-dot-com. As the team prepares for its home opener against Milwaukee, head coach Jay Johnson says Grand Canyon transfer Zach Yorke looks like the clear-cut starter at first base.

Cut 16 (14) “…that we have.”

After winning the 2025 College World Series, LSU had to replace all of its starting infielders, except for shortstop Steven Milam. At third base, the Tigers are looking to replace Michael Braswell, who only had three errors in 65 games last season. Johnson says one player is standing out.

Cut 17 (12)  “…trending right now.”

There will be another position battle at second base. Johnson says the position has lots of depth and says he could see multiple Tigers playing there.

Cut 18 (17)  “…third base mix.”

Johnson also says freshmen Jack Ruckert and Ethan Clauss are fighting for playing time in the infield.

_________________________________________________________

USC freshman transfer quarterback Husan (HOO-sahn) Longstreet of USC became the third portal quarterback addition for LSU on Wednesday. Longstreet joins Sam Leavitt of Arizona State and Landen Clark of Elon in what will be an uber-talented 2026 room. Mike Detillier of WWL radio says Lane Kiffin was able to pick up all three due to his successful track record of developing quarterbacks.

Cut 19 (15) “…of Trinidad Chambliss.”

247Sports has Longstreet as its number-six quarterback in the transfer portal. Detillier says the former five-star quarterback could be the Tigers’ quarterback for the future, but he also believes there’s a way that he could see quality snaps this season.

Cut 20 (20) “…on the field.”

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is reminding you of the importance of having working smoke alarms in the wake of a pair of deadly house fires this week. A 77-year-old man was killed near Shreveport Sunday afternoon, and a 76-year-old woman was killed in Catahoula Parish Monday night. Ashley Rodrigue with the State Fire Marshal’s Office says neither home had a working smoke alarm.

Cut 9 (09)  “…life and death.”

While cold wasn’t a factor in either of those fires, sub-freezing temperatures are expected tonight for North Louisiana. National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Knapp says we’ll see a brief warm-up on Friday before we get hit with another shot of cold air this weekend.

Cut 14 (09) “…upper 40s.”

LSU coach Lane Kiffin, who Andre Champagne affectionately dubs “The Portal King,” signs another top quarterback.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

According to Louisiana Clean Fuels, there are now more than 21-thousand electric vehicles registered statewide. Jefferson Parish leads the way with more than 35-hundred. Per capita, Orleans Parish comes out on top, with almost one and a half percent of all vehicles registered being EVs.

Monroe Police are looking for a 14-year-old who they believe shot two 17-year-olds, one of them died at a local hospital. The suspected teenage gunman has been identified Rayveon Lewis. The shooting happened back on December 28^th.

Especially with tax season upon us, the Better Business Bureau is urging you to be extra vigilant when it comes to scams. Andrew Greenstein reports they’re becoming more prevalent – and more sophisticated.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU Coach Lane Kiffin has added another quarterback to his roster by signing  Husan Longstreet, who entered the transfer portal after one season at USC. WWL radio pro and college football analyst Mike Detillier says Longstreet provides LSU with good protection in the case Leavitt does not recover fast enough from foot surgery. Like Leavitt, Detillier says Longstreet has good mobility….

Cut 8 (08) “….downfield”

State Fire Marshal investigators are trying to determine if separate fatal fires in the northern half of the state this week were caused by electrical failures. The deadly fires took place in the towns of Sarepta and Jonesville and in both cases, elderly residents died. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue reminds the public not to connect extension cords together…

Cut 11 (10) “…fire hazard there”

According to data from the U-S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people employed in Louisiana has exceeded two-million people for seven consecutive months, which is a record in Louisiana’s economic history. Adam Knapp, the CEO of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says the next economic record the state can hit is a record for the number of nonfarm jobs, which was set in 2014. Knapp says breaking the all-time jobs record is likely since the state’s economic outlook for this year looks strong.

Cut 15 (10) “…and job expansion”

LSU has added another quarterback to its roster as the Tigers signed former five-star recruit Husan Longstreet, who entered the transfer portal after one season at USC. Longstreet joins a Q-B room that already has Sam Leavitt, the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, and Landen Clark, an FCS All-American at Elon. W-W-L’s college and pro football analyst Mike Detillier…

Cut 7 (04) “…quarterback room.”

Leavitt is expected to start in 2026, but if he’s slow to recover from season-ending foot surgery, Detillier says Longstreet is a solid plan B.

The State Fire Marshal’s office says two elderly residents died in two separate house fires this week. A 77-year-old man died in a house fire in Webster Parish and the other fatal house fire occurred in Catahola Parish, in the town of Jonesville. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the causes of both fires are unclear at this time…

Cut 10 (10) “…potential cause here”

Neither of these homes had working smoke alarms.

The Better Business Bureau says scams in Louisiana are becoming more prevalent and more sophisticated. Carmen Million, the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana, says scammers used to mainly target senior citizens; but now, scammers have broadened their potential target base.

Cut 4 (08) “…amount of people”

Million says if the caller says he or she is from the IRS or the Social Security Administration, you should hang up the phone.

We are looking at a cold night, especially in north Louisiana where temperatures are expected to fall below freezing. National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Knapp says when you factor in the wind chill, the real feel temperature will be in the mid-20s for much of north Louisiana. He says dry conditions will also continue…

Cut 13 (07) “….your parish”

Vernon, Caddo, Bossier, Winn, Jackson and Union parishes all have outdoor burn bans in effect.

The Better Business Bureau says scams are becoming more prevalent – and more sophisticated. Carmen Million, the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana, says before, you could tell which calls and emails were scams, based on improper or broken English – but not anymore.

Cut 3 (10) “…if it’s legitimate.”

Lane, “The Portal King” Kiffin signs another top quarterback from the transfer portal. Andre Champagne has more…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Ragin Cajuns quarterback Walker Howard is heading back to Ole Miss. Howard started this past season as the starting Q-B for U-L Lafayette, but he injured his oblique and did not regain his starting spot. Howard was at Ole Miss during the 2023 and 24 seasons and if Trinidad Chambliss gains another year of eligibility through the court system, Howard will be a backup once again for the Rebels.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is reminding you of the importance of having working smoke alarms in the wake of a pair of deadly house fires this week. The first happened Sunday afternoon near Shreveport, in which a 77-year-old man was killed. The second happened the following evening in Catahoula Parish, in which a 76-year-old woman died. Ashley Rodrigue with the State Fire Marshal’s Office says neither home had a working smoke alarm.

Cut 9 (09)  “…life and death.”

While cold wasn’t a factor in either of those fires, sub-freezing temperatures are expected tonight for Louisiana. National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Knapp says they are expecting temperatures to get below 32 degrees as far south as Natchitoches and Jena…

Cut 12 (06)“…to Monroe”

Especially with tax season upon us, be extra vigilant for scams. The Better Business Bureau says scams are becoming more prevalent – and more sophisticated. Carmen Million, the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana, says regardless of how legitimate these scammers are starting to sound, there are still a few specific things that should immediately indicate that the communication is not legitimate.

Cut 5 (12) “…would already have.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin has signed another quarterback out of the transfer portal. Former five-star recruit Husan Longstreet is a Tiger after spending one season at USC. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier of WWL Radio says Longstreet threw for 85-hundred yards and 83 touchdowns during his high school career in California…

Cut 6 (04) “…biggest strength.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin has signed another quarterback out of the transfer portal. Former five-star recruit Husan Longstreet is a Tiger after spending one season at USC. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier of WWL Radio says Longstreet threw for 85-hundred yards and 83 touchdowns during his high school career in California…

Cut 6 (04) “…biggest strength”

Detillier says Longstreet is also an accurate downfield passer.

Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields announced he’ll visit 52 schools this year –kindergarten through college…all in the Sixth District he represents. Fields says he’s using the opportunity to highlight the education initiatives he’s working on in Congress.

Cut 12 (12) “…to address it.”

Especially with tax season upon us, the Better Business Bureau is urging you to be extra vigilant when it comes to scams. Andrew Greenstein reports they’re becoming more prevalent – and more sophisticated.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Better Business Bureau says scams in Louisiana are becoming more prevalent and more sophisticated. Carmen Million, the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana, says scammers used to mainly target senior citizens; but now, scammers have broadened their potential target base.

Cut 4 (08) “…amount of people”

Several people who have made living a healthier lifestyle a new year’s resolution are participating in Dry January – laying off alcohol for the month. But here in Louisiana, with Carnival in full swing, that’s understandably a tad difficult. That’s where Ochsner Health’s Alcohol Free for 40 Days Challenge comes in. Allie Foreman, a nutrition specialist with Ochsner Eat Fit Baton Rouge, says think of it as a second chance. 

Cut 13 (08)  “…during lent season.”

Louisiana has set an economic performance record with seven consecutive months of more than two-million people employed in the state. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Police in Iberia Parish are looking for a woman who escaped court while being sentenced. Jada Landry had been convicted of aggravated battery. But prior to sentencing, she exited the courthouse and left the area in a vehicle. The vehicle has been located, but Landry has not.