After last week’s ice storm, the daunting task of recovery is underway in northeast Louisiana.   Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Certain Delta Utilities customers struggling to pay their natural gas bills can now get some assistance. Sarah McLaughlin Porteous (PORT-ee-uhs) with Delta Utilities says the company has committed up to 200-thousand dollars to fund its new DU Cares initiative.

Cut 4 (07) “…program for us.”

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Lane Kiffin spoke to the media yesterday for the first time since being hired as LSU’s head football coach. One of the first things Kiffin did in Baton Rouge was to sign the two best high school players in the state, Lamar Brown and Richard Anderson. Kiffin says even though he gets a lot of credit for keeping Brown and Anderson in the boot, the program recruits itself.

Cut 10 (15) “…knew it was LSU.”

He’s a Super Bowl champ, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, a five-time All-Pro selection, and in the Saints Ring of Honor. Now Drew Brees is about to be a Hall of Famer. The NFL announces the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 tonight, and Brees is expected to be “in that number.” Luke Johnson covers the Saints for the Advocate and says it would be shocking if Brees is not a first ballot hall of famer.

Cut 13 (05)  “…Drew Brees’ name.”

NFL Honors will air on NBC at tonight at eight.

A state representative from St. Bernard Parish files a bill that would make using images of children to create A-I deepfakes of a sexual nature illegal. Republican Michael Bayham says because it’s such a new technology, A-I is currently not addressed in Louisiana statutes.

Cut 10 (12) “…particularly our children.”

With the next Sugar Bowl being a College Football Playoff Semifinal, the game will be played January 15th, 2027. Not only will it be the latest Sugar Bowl in history, but the teams won’t even be known until after New Year’s Day. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says that in no way will diminish the turnout or the excitement leading up to the game.

Cut 4 (09) “…excitement around them.”

Four state lawmakers are looking to make the jump to Congress. Jeff Palermo has more on the race to replace Julia Letlow in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional district.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A deadly stabbing at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested 43-year-old Dominican Republic native Melvin Lopez for the murder of 35-year-old Jonathan Robertson, who was serving 75 years for armed robbery. Lopez has been at the prison since 2017 and is serving a life sentence for murder.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin was able to sign the two best players in the state of Louisiana in defensive linemen Lamar Brown and Richard Anderson. Kiffin says even though he gets credit for keeping Brown and Anderson in the boot, it was the program that recruited itself.

CUT 21 (20): “knew it was LSU.”

Today is National Signing Day and LSU officially signed three-star junior college transfer offensive lineman Adrian Lamb of Georgia Military College and three-star safety Jackson Williams of Archbishop Shaw High School.

The LSU baseball team came in as the No. 1 team in the 2026 USA Today Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll. It’s the Tigers’ fourth Top-2 ranking and second No. 1 ranking since last month. LSU was rated No. 1 by Perfect Game and No. 2 by D1Baseball and Baseball America in their respective preseason polls. LSU, UCLA, Texas, Georgia Tech and Arkansas rounded out the top five.

The UL-Lafayette men’s basketball team has won three of its last four games, and the Cajuns look to keep it hot as they’re at James Madison tonight. With the team’s recent success, Cajuns head coach Quannas White says he wants his team to remain humble.

Cut 16 (17) “…and be consistent.”

The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team hosts New Mexico State tonight at 6:30 p.m.

The Sun Belt Conference released its Preseason Coaches Poll today, and UL-Lafayette baseball was picked to finish fifth in the conference, receiving 126 votes.

Head baseball coach Matt Deggs announced the Cajuns’ starting pitching rotation today during UL Baseball Media Day. Junior left-hander Ty Roman will serve as the Friday night starter. Roman is a transfer from San Jacinto junior college. Junior right-hander JR Tollett will be the Saturday starter and graduate student left-hander Andrew Herrmann will be the Sunday starter.

Using images of children to create A-I deepfake images of a sexual nature would be illegal if a state lawmaker has his way. Representative Michael Bayham has filed a bill that would classify deepfake content involving children as child sex abuse material if it’s sexually explicit in nature.

Cut 9 (08)  “…abused and exploited.”

Even though Blake Miguez is running for a U.S. House seat in a district he doesn’t live in, that’s perfectly legal – the only requirement is that he live in the state. Still, USA Today Network’s Greg Hilburn says Miguez’s opponents are hitting him hard on that fact.

Cut 7 (10) “…Senator Miguez.”

The primary election is May 16th; qualifying is next week – February 11th through the 13th.

The next Sugar Bowl will be the latest one in its 90-plus-year history. Because it’s a College Football Playoff Semifinal, it will take place Friday, January 15th, 2027. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says while it breaks tradition, it’s for the best.

Cut 3 (09) “…be in it.”

The Sugar Bowl at the end of the 2027 season will be New Year’s Eve, before the Superdome hosts the National Championship Game for that season January 24th, 2028.

Cut 26 (02) (SFX ends)

It’s a pretty safe bet that Drew Brees will hear that sound on his front door tomorrow from a Pro Football Hall of Famer, letting him know that he’s a member of the Class of 2026. Luke Johnson covers the Saints for the Advocate and says it would be shocking if Brees is not a first-ballot hall of famer.

Cut 13 (05)  “…Drew Brees’ name.”

The race for the district 5 U.S. House seat that Julia Letlow gave up to run for U.S. Senate is getting crowded. State Senator Blake Miguez dropped out of the senate race to seek the District 5 House seat. Miguez joins fellow state senators Stewart Cathey and Rick Edmonds, along with state representative Dixon McMakin and Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell as candidates. With qualifying a week away, USA Today Network’s Greg Hilburn says its a wild race.

Cut 6 (09) “…musical chairs.”

What a person can do with A-I is wild, which is why state representative Michael Bayham has filed a bill that would add sexually explicit AI deepfakes to what’s considered child sex abuse materials. Bayham says while some may have concerns that regulating A-I could stifle free speech, this is not what his bill is all about.

Cut 11 (06) “…images of children.”

The dates for the next two Sugar Bowls have been announced. Andrew Greenstein reports the latter one will be followed by an even bigger game.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin held his first press conference in more than two months and said that quarterback Sam Leavitt, the transfer from Arizona State, who is recovering from foot surgery, will be able to compete in seven on seven drills in the spring. Leavitt is expected to be LSU’s starting quarterback in 2026.

Four state lawmakers are looking to make the jump to Congress. Jeff Palermo has more on the race to replace Julia Letlow in the 5th Congressional district.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

If your kids dread going to school on Mondays, perhaps you should consider moving to East Feliciana Parish. That’s because schools there will be moving to a four-day schedule starting this fall – Tuesday through Friday, with slightly longer days. The school board says this is to give students more time to focus on high-quality instruction.

Using images of children to create A-I deepfakes of a sexual nature would be illegal if a state lawmaker has his way. Representative Michael Bayham has filed a bill that would classify such content as child sex abuse material. The Republican from St. Bernard Parish says because it’s such a new technology, A-I is currently not addressed in Louisiana statutes.

Cut 10 (12) “…particularly our children.”

The Sugar Bowl announces the dates of its next two games – and both are in the calendar year 2027. The game for next season is not until January 15th, since it’s a CFP Semifinal, and the game for the 2027 season is New Year’s Eve. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says the College Football Playoff works around the NFL when scheduling its games.

Cut 5 (10) “…to work with.”

A proposed new state law aims to protect children. Using images of children to create A-I deepfake images of a sexual nature would be illegal if a state lawmaker has his way. Representative Michael Bayham has filed a bill that would classify deepfake content involving children as child sex abuse material.

Cut 9 (07)  “…St. Tammany Parish.”

An illegal immigrant in the Louisiana State Penitentiary stabbed another inmate to death Tuesday. West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested 43-year-old Dominican Republic native, Melvin Lopez for the murder of 35-year-old Jonathan Robertson who was serving 75 years at Angola for armed robbery. Lopez has been at the prison since 2017 and is serving a life sentence for murder.

The race to represent District 5 in the U.S. House of representatives is getting crowded. 5 candidates including State Senators Blake Miguez, Steward Cathey, and Rick Edmonds, state Representative Dixon Wallace McMakin, and Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell. Qualifying for the May 16^th primary begins next week, February 11^th through 13^th. USA Today Network’s Greg Hilburn says that leaves almost no time for campaigning or campaign fundraising.

Cut 8 (13) “…these campaigns.”

The next Sugar Bowl will be held in the middle of January instead of New Year’s night. The teams won’t even be known until after the New Year. That’s Because it’s a College Football Playoff Semifinal game. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says that will not diminish the turnout or the excitement leading up to the game.

Cut 4 (09) “…excitement around them.”

State Senator Blake Miguez dropped out of the U.S. Senate race but he’s announced he’s running for the District 5 U.S. House seat. The fact that Miguez does not live in District 5 isn’t keeping him from seeking to represent it and he says his focus is delivering wins for all of District 5. USA Today Network’s Greg Hilburn says, it’s legal and it’s been done before, but he says, Miguez’s opponents are not holding back

Cut 7 (10) ” Senator Miguez…”

In October, two young sisters were killed in a house fire in Shreveport – and now, two people, including their grandmother, have been arrested. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese Jr. announced the arrest of 50-year-old Rita Montgomery in connection with the fire that killed eight-year-old Aaliyah Robinson and five-year-old Danielle Spearman.

Cut 15 (08)  “…forget them.”

The dates for the next two Sugar Bowls have been announced. Andrew Greenstein reports the latter one will be followed by an even bigger game.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Families in north Louisiana that rely on SNAP will see additional benefits because of the ice storm. Officials say there are thousands of households who have less money and less food because of road closures and extended power outages. Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen)…

Cut 4 (12) “…twenty percent.”