If you’re looking for something to do this weekend and you’re in the holiday mood, the 99th Annual Christmas Festival in Natchitoches takes place tomorrow. Andre Champagne has more.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”
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Four months after being blind-sided by the resignation of its athletic director, ULM has its new man. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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A couple of top seeds are on upset alert in the select semifinals of the high school football playoffs. Jeff Palermo has a preview.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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It’s the biggest Christmas celebration in Louisiana. The 99th Annual Christmas Festival in Natchitoches takes place tomorrow. Ariana Rachal (ruh-SHALL) with the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau says the small North Louisiana city looks like it comes straight out of a Hallmark movie.
Cut 4 (09) “…our center circle.”
The festival features the “Mistletoe Market,” which takes place on Front Street from seven a-m to seven p-m. Rachal says festivalgoers can find all sorts of unique items from the market.
Cut 5 (12) “…gifts and toys.”
The Festival of Lights Parade is one of the many things happening at the festival. Rachal says the parade will feature riders and bands from all over the country.
Cut 6 (11) “…Mardi Gras krewes.”
The parade runs from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
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Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson will soon have a new job. When the calendar flips to 2026, he will become the new president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Nelson says his experience as revenue secretary and his prior experience as a member of the Louisiana legislature makes him the right man to take over leading the 12-campus LCTC system.
Cut 7 (08) “…the biggest problems.”
Nelson says with all the economic development projects happening in the state, it’s now more important than ever to have people trained to do the jobs associated with them, and that’s where the LCTC schools come in.
Cut 8 (11) “…to do that.”
Nelson says training people in those essential skills is a major component in keeping home-grown talent in the state.
Cut 9 (08) “…it’s all about.”
Nelson’s deputy in the Department of Revenue, Jarrod Conniglio, will take over as revenue secretary on New Year’s Day when Nelson begins his new job.
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Four months after being blind-sided by the resignation of John Hartwell, ULM introduces its new athletic director. The university introduced S.J. Tuohy as its new man to lead the Warhawks athletic department. During his introduction, Tuohy said his goal is to send the entire athletics program soaring to new heights.
Cut 10 (09) “…eligibility rules anymore.”
The 32-year-old Tuohy says even though he grew up in Memphis, he does have a strong connection to Louisiana – although he did seem a little confused as to some of the specifics.
Cut 11 (09) “…in Louisiana somewhere.”
Tuohy says he chose to go to ULM because it has a strong foundation to build on.
Cut 12 (07) “…build and grow.”
Head football coach Bryant Vincent had been serving as interim athletic director during the last four months following Hartwell’s resignation.
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Two huge matchups in New Orleans highlight tonight’s semifinal action on the select side of the high school football playoffs. Top-seeded Edna Karr, ranked eighth in the country by MaxPreps, will host fourth-seeded Catholic. The Cougars beat the Bears in the semis by two points last year, and the LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett expects another close game.
Cut 13 (10) “…in this one”
The other Division One select matchup is John Curtis versus St. Augustine. Verrett says the Patriots are playing their best football of the season right now.
Cut 14 (11) “…fun to watch.”
One of the hottest teams in the state is Calvary Baptist. Verrett likes the Cavaliers’ chances to knock off second-seeded Notre Dame tonight in Division Three select.
Cut 15 (09) “…lost all year.”
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Number-21 Tulane hosts number-24 North Texas tonight in the American Conference Championship, with the winner likely gaining an invitation to the College Football Playoff. The Mean Green come into the matchup with the top offense in the nation, averaging over 46 points a game. Head coach Jon Sumrall says the Green Wave’s defense has to do a good job of shutting down the pass game.
Cut 16 (14) “…end for sure.”
Sumrall says a huge contributor to the team’s success has been BYU junior transfer quarterback Jake Retzlaff.
Cut 17 (09) “…a big deal.”
Retzlaff leads the Green Wave in rushing, with 561 yards and 14 touchdowns. Sumrall and North Texas head coach Eric Morris will finish out the season with their respective teams before moving on to coach Power Four programs — Sumrall to Florida and Morris to Oklahoma State. Kickoff at Yulman Stadium is seven p-m.
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Four-star offensive tackle Brysten Martinez out of East Ascension High School in Gonzales signed with LSU on Wednesday. Martinez is rated as the number-nine offensive tackle in the country and says his decision to choose the Tigers over Texas came down to the hiring of Lane Kiffin.
Cut 18 (09) “…with LSU already.”