Construction continues on Meta’s 50-billion dollar AI data center in Richland Parish, aiming to be fulling operational by 2030. Entergy Vice President of Business Operations Laura Beauchamp says the tech giant’s investment is already paying off locally….

Cut 28 (07) “…in Monroe”

ULM’s construction management enrollment has increased 37-percent.

For the first time in over a decade, the LHSAA will hold cheer and dance team state championships. Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Jessica Barber says the 2026 championships are expected to feature more than 100 cheer and dance teams. She says the level of interest among the spirit community is amazing…

Cut 8 (07) “..their athletes.”

Tthe 2026 Louisiana High School Cheer and Dance Championships will take place November 30^th and December 1^st at the Lake Charles Event Center.

LDWF closed the private recreational Red Snapper season in state and federal waters off the Louisiana coast earlier this month, but there is a hope there will be another Red Snapper fishing opportunity again this summer.  LDWF assistant secretary Ryan Montague says the season had to close because Louisiana is approaching its statewide quota, but LA creel is still counting what was caught during the first week of August…

Cut 9 (04)  “…Labor Day weekend.”

The college football preseason AP Top 25 poll came out today and the LSU Tigers under first year coach Lane Kiffin are ranked 11^th. LSU System President Wade Rousse says he plans on making extensive use of LSU athletics to promote the university to prospective students nationwide…

Cut 5 (11) “…a medical doctor.”

New LSU system president Dr. Wade Rousse is working to create a more connected system by better integrating the regional campuses. While many of those campuses have their own athletic departments, only the flagship campus in Baton Rouge has a football team, and Rousse has put in a program to offer those students an opportunity to attend some of their games.

Cut 4 (08) “…at every campus.”

For the first time in more than a decade the LHSAA will hold Cheer and Dance team state championships.  Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Jessica Barber says they are giving cheer and dance teams a chance to compete on a championship stage.

Cut 6 (09) “…to do.”

The championships will take place November 30th and December 1st at the Lake Charles Event Center.

LSU was ranked number 11 in the preseason AP Poll, but head coach Lane Kiffin says he isn’t buying much stock in that. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s hot outside – and in some parts of the state, it’s also dry. And that’s leading to burn bans. They’re in effect in 13 parishes in north Louisiana, as well as St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington and Jefferson Davis parishes.

One of the objectives of new LSU system president Dr. Wade Rousse is to make the university system more accessible to more students. One way he’s working to accomplish this is by creating a more connected system through its regional campuses.

Cut 3 (13) “…very, very happy.”

Those regional campuses also provide a good starting point for college students.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Richard Nelson has laid out a plan designed to meet Louisiana’s growing workforce needs. Nelson says one of the initiatives is to provide more transparency to prospective students on the types of jobs they can get with an associate’s degree by visiting their website…

Cut 29 (11) “…an hour.”

A week from Tuesday there will be a celebration of life ceremony for legendary LSU baseball coach and athletics director Skip Bertman that will be open to the public at the PMAC at 7 PM.  Former LSU star Ryan Theriot says Bertman’s influence on him went far beyond the baseball diamond, including his eight-year Major League career that included two World Series titles.

Cut 5 (11) “…that you’re running.”

For the first time in more than a decade the LHSAA will hold Cheer and Dance team state championships.  Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Jessica Barber says they are giving cheer and dance teams a chance to compete on a championship stage…

Cut 6 (09) “…to do.”

The 2026 Louisiana High School Cheer and Dance Championships will take place November 30^th and December 1^st in Lake Charles.

In the last academic year, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System awarded nearly 53-thousand credentials to 41-thousand completers with nearly 20-thousand graduates entering high-demand occupations. LCTC President Richard Nelson, who has been on the job for the less than a year, says one of his priorities is to align programs with Louisiana’s workforce needs…

Cut 10 (12) “…they need.”

Ten years after median barriers trapped flood waters on I-12, contributing to the massive flooding in Livingston Parish, DOTD will soon begin work to retrofit those barriers. Brooke Goodrich with DOTD says the 6.4-million-dollar project will involve modifying sections of the existing concrete barrier system.

Cut 14 (12) “…a federal roadway.”

Denham Springs and Walker filed suit against the state for the faulty design of the median barriers and part of that settlement will pay for retrofitting the barriers.

Entergy Vice President of Business Operations Laura Beauchamp says Meta’s Richland Parish investment will be felt across the Bayou state….

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

It was a brutally hot weekend. The high temperature in Monroe and Shreveport yesterday got up to 102-degrees. Unfortunately the Climate Predication Center says rain chances will be below normal and temperatures will be above normal into next week.

LSU is holding a celebration of life for Skip Bertman a week from tomorrow at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. It starts at seven p-m; doors open at six. Dan Canevari, who served on Bertman’s coaching staff at LSU after playing for him at Miami when he was their pitching coach, says Bertman was much more than a coach; he was a mentor.

Cut 7 (10) “…a better worker.”

The public event will be preceded by a private ceremony for family and former players, coaches and staffers.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Richard Nelson lays out a plan designed to boost enrollment. Nelson says it includes providing students with strong advising, childcare, transportation and ways to reduce student debt.

Cut 9 (11)  “…all these gaps.”

State Police are investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting in Lake Charles from over the weekend. State Police say officers from the Lake Charles Police Department responded to a home late Saturday night and negotiated with a man barricaded inside. During negotiations, they say 28-year-old Khylin Stevens showed a gun, and that’s when an officer shot Stevens, who died at a hospital. No officers were hurt during the incident.

Entergy says Meta’s Richland Parish data center will help fund improvements to its power grid statewide.  It’s building 10 new power plants funded by Meta – six near the Richland Parish facility and four in St. Charles and Pointe Coupee parishes. V-P of Business Operations Laura Beauchamp says the project could actually save customers billions of dollars over the next 20 years.

Cut 12 (12) “…because of Meta.”

Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges president Richard Nelson has a plan to expand opportunities for students seeking an associate’s degree to meet Louisiana’s growing workforce needs. Jeanne Burns has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

LSU will host a Celebration of Life Ceremony for legendary Tigers baseball coach Skip Bertman August 25^th at 7 p.m. in the PMAC. The memorial is open to the public, and doors open at 6 p.m. Family, former players and coaching staff will hold a private service before the event.

Entergy VP of Business Operations Laura Beauchamp says Louisiana construction job opportunities are nearing their peak with massive projects across the state like Meta’s Richland Parish data center, which also includes 10 new power plants. She says nearly all of Entergy’s work is done by Louisiana contractors, and they’ve asked Meta to make that a priority as well.

Cut 13 (13)  “…local families.”

Ten years after median barriers trapped flood waters on I-12, stranding drivers for hours, DOTD will soon begin work to retrofit those barriers. Brooke Goodrich with DOTD says the 6.4-million-dollar project will involve modifying sections of the existing concrete barrier system.

Cut 14 (12) “…a federal roadway.”

There are concerns Meta’s AI data center will cause electricity bills to rise. To power the data center, Entergy is building 10 new power plants funded by Meta. Entergy Vice President of Business Operations Laura Beauchamp says the project could save customers billions of dollars over the next 20 years.

Cut 12 (12) “…because of Meta.”

Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Richard Nelson has laid out a plan designed to meet Louisiana’s growing workforce needs. Nelson says one of the initiatives is to provide more transparency to prospective students on the types of jobs they can get with an associate’s degree by visiting their website…

Cut 8 (11) “…an hour.”

Funeral services have been announced for legendary LSU baseball coach and athletic director Skip Bertman. There will be a celebration of Life Ceremony on August 25^th at 7 PM at the PMAC that will be open to the public. Dan Canevari, who served on Bertman’s coaching staff at LSU, says Bertman was an incredible influence on so many people

Cut 6 (08) “…I’ve ever known.”

The Saints lost their preseason opener to Jacksonville on Saturday 24-20, but 27-year-old Zach Wilson made a case that he should be the backup quarterback to Tyler Shough. The former number overall two pick, who is entering his sixth season, threw for 145 yards and a touchdown…

Cut 19 (13) “…happens, happens.”

Entergy Vice President of Business Operations Laura Beauchamp says Meta’s Richland Parish investment will be felt across the Bayou state.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Louisiana Department of Health says eleven people have now died as a result of heat related illness. That’s up from the eight deaths they reported last week.

LSU is planning to hold a celebration of life ceremony for Skip Bertman, a week from Tuesday at 7 PM at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The public is invited to attend.  The former LSU head baseball coach and athletic director passed away Friday at the age of 88. Ryan Theriot, who won a College World Series title while playing for Bertman in 2000, says the hard work that Bertman did in building the LSU baseball program rubbed off on the entire Baton Rouge community.

Cut 4 (09) “…baseball for us.”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation will soon begin work retrofitting the median barriers on I-12 in East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes. DOTD spokesperson Brooke Goodrich says the barriers will be modified to allow water to flow through them, which was an issue in the Great Flood of 2016…

Cut 15 (10) “….sections of those”