Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans is getting ready to expand. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Come Friday, one political party in Louisiana will be extinct. Colleen Crain reports.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”
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The LSU Tigers report for fall camp today, and WWL’s Mike Detillier broke down the roster on Tiger Rag Radio. Kace Kieschnick reports.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
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A second terminal is in the works for Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans. The city’s aviation director, Kevin Dolliole (DOE-lee-ohl), outlined the master plan to the city’s transportation committee last week, saying a steady increase in passengers necessitates the expansion.
Cut 4 (06) “…more baggage claim.”
Dolliole says to accommodate those added gates, they would need additional parking – and that’s included in phase one of the expansion plan.
Cut 5 (08) “…in that demand.”
The plan would be for that to be completed by 2031. But Dolliole says the city can’t stop there – they’re planning on growing even more.
Cut 6 (10) “…expand beyond that.”
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Come Friday, the Independent Party will officially cease to exist as a recognized political party in Louisiana. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office says the Independent Party will be short-lived in the state.
Cut 7 (11) “…law this year.”
On that day, people who registered as “Independent” will have their affiliations changed to “No Party,” and Watson says there’s a practical reason behind the change.
Cut 8 (10) “…the Independent Party.”
Watson says with the change, those registered as “No Party” will be allowed to vote in a closed primary of either the Democratic or the Republican party.
Cut 9 (11) “…through that runoff.”
In other words, you cannot vote in one party’s primary and the other party’s runoff. Also, if you do not vote in either party’s primary, you CAN vote in either party’s runoff.
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The LSU football team reports for fall camp today. There are high hopes for Brian Kelly’s fourth campaign in Baton Rouge, led by returning quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. WWL’s Mike Detillier says Nussmeier is the only sure first-round draft pick on the roster right now, but he has another breakout candidate.
Cut 10 (10) “…in his life.”
Hilton has struggled with injuries since coming to LSU as a four-star in 2021. He brought in six catches for 298 yards and three touchdowns in the final two games of last season.
Detillier says his biggest question mark is on the offensive line. Four of last year’s five starters left in the NFL Draft, with only center DJ Chester returning. Chester will likely move to the guard spot, where Detillier has questions on the interior. He is confident in young tackles Tyree Adams and Weston Davis.
Cut 11 (12) “…pick it up.”
Detillier expects the Tigers’ defensive front to be improved, and he hopes to see linebacker Harold Perkins return to his role as a pass rusher. He has questions about the LSU secondary but was wowed by six-four freshman cornerback DJ Pickett. He says he hasn’t heard as much buzz about a freshman corner since Patrick Peterson.
Cut 12 (13) “…very intriguing.”
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According to the latest numbers from the Louisiana Department of Health, the number of Louisianans on Medicaid has fallen to pre-pandemic levels. As of June, about 1.6-million people in Louisiana receive their health care coverage from Medicaid – that’s down more than 20-percent from the 2023 peak of two-million. Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana President Steven Procopio says the expansion started in earnest nine years ago.
Cut 13 (08) “…you had COVID.”
And for the next three years following the start of the COVID pandemic, the number of people on Medicaid spiked to its peak. Procopio says that was driven in large part because while people were being added, no one was being taken off the rolls during that time.
Cut 14 (10) “…disenrolled from Medicaid.”
Procopio says when eligibility checks resumed two years ago, that’s when the enrollment numbers took a huge nosedive.
Cut 15 (08) “…call the unwinding.”
Still, with almost one-third of its population on Medicaid, Louisiana has one of the highest percentages of its population on Medicaid, trailing only four states and the District of Columbia.
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The Saints put on pads for the first time yesterday, giving the team and fans a first look at the trenches. Defensive end Carl Granderson had a solid performance and said the offensive line looked fast and confident. He was most impressed by his edge rushing partner, Chase Young.
Cut 16 (15) “…be special.”
It will be the second time through the quarterback rotation as Jake Haener gets his second crack at the starting reps today. Each young Q-B has shown flashes, but there’s no clear favorite yet. Veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks says they all have the right approach.
Cut 17 (15) “…young guys.”
Safety Julian Blackmon has already made an impact after signing with the Saints at the start of camp. The five-year vet says Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has been trying to get ahold of him since the 2020 draft, and he was looking to come to New Orleans even before Tyrann Mathieu’s retirement. He’s ready to show what he can do.
Cut 18 (14) “…what I’m seeing.”
Blackmon says there’s no replacing the Honey Badger, but he wants to uphold the standard he’s set.