LSU Police are looking for whoever stole approximately 40 championship rings from legendary gymnastics coach D-D Breaux’s. Breaux retired as coach in 2020 and still works for the university in an ambassador role. Breaux says whoever stole the rings was apparently only after the rings and nothing else.

Cut 4 (14) “…took my rings.”

Facebook parent company Meta is planning to build a five-billion-dollar artificial data center near Monroe in Richland Parish. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says this would be huge…

Cut 6 (06) “…comes true.”

While Congressman Garret Graves was considered for Transportation Secretary, the role went to Sean Duffy.  Graves conveyed optimism about Trump’s leadership and his dedication to Louisiana’s interests, particularly in energy policy and economic growth.

Cut 11 (09) “…gonna make change.”

The U.S. Senate has passed a bill by Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy to rename the U.S. Postal Service facility in Rayville, as the “Luke Letlow Post Office Building.” Cassidy says the legislation honors Luke Letlow, a Louisiana native, elected in 2020 to represent the state’s 5th Congressional District, who died of COVID-19 complications five days before taking office.

Cut 12 (11) “…fellow Americans.”

Facebook parent company Meta is planning to build a five-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center near Monroe in Richland Parish. The facility would employ as many as 500 people with an average salary of 82-thousand dollars. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says northeast Louisiana is one of the poorest areas in the country…

Cut 7 (12) “…about it.”

Congressman Garret Graves says President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet selections are a sign of significant change, particularly in energy policy. Graves anticipates that Trump will open areas like the Gulf of Mexico for production.

Cut 10 (11) “…begin future production.”

LSU Police are looking for whoever stole approximately 40 championship rings from legendary gymnastics coach D-D Breaux’s offic. Breaux retired as coach in 2020 and still works for the university in an ambassador role. She says she normally keeps her door locked when she leaves for the day; but one day earlier this month, she didn’t. She says she first realized that something was amiss when a news article she kept on top of the case of rings was moved.

Cut 3 (09) “…of this case.” 

The value of each ring stolen is believed to be more than three-thousand dollars. So far, police have no suspects.

And now, a look at today’s commodities.

Time is running out on the special session on tax reform. The biggest sticking point involves sales taxes, with House members now considering just adding 19 services to the sales tax base instead of the 41 originally proposed by Governor Landry. LaPolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says it looks like lawmakers are making some headway.

Cut 23 (11) “…initially brought up.”

Alford says if the House can’t agree on a sales tax plan, the entire tax reform plan could be in jeopardy.

While Congressman Garret Graves was considered for Transportation Secretary, the role went to Sean Duffy. Graves expressed support for Duffy and their collaboration. He highlighted Trump’s cabinet selections as a sign of significant change.

Cut 9 (09)  “…us from Mexico.”

Researchers at Tulane University are working on a nasal vaccine aimed at curbing the spread of whooping cough. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Luke Letlow will be immortalized with a post office in Rayville bearing his name. Letlow was elected to represent Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District in 2020 but died of COVID just five days before he was to be sworn in. The designation passed the Senate last night and now awaits a signature from President Biden to make it official.

Facebook parent company Meta is planning to build a five-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center near Monroe in Richland Parish. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says this would be huge…

Cut 6 (06) “…comes true.”

The facility would employ as many as 500 people with an average salary of 82-thousand dollars.

Tulane University researchers are working on a nasal vaccine aimed at reducing the spread of whooping cough. Lead study author Lisa Morici (mo-REE-see) says while current vaccines are effective at preventing whooping cough, they fail to clear the bacteria from the upper respiratory tract, allowing even vaccinated people to spread the disease. The vaccine she and her team are working on aims to address this.

Cut 15 (10) “…from the animals.”

Morici’s study is published in the journal npj Vaccines.

Louisiana Workforce Commission showed sustained growth, with seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs reaching 1.9 million in October 2024. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

We now know the names of the two young men shot and killed during a second line parade in New Orleans on Sunday. They were 21-year-old Rasean Carter and 19-year-old Malachi Jackson. They were killed in the second of two separate shootings at the Nine Times second line. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the two shootings were unrelated.

In the special session on tax reform, lawmakers have a long way to go, and a short time to get there. Part of Governor Landry’s plan involved ending tax breaks on certain sectors, like the state’s film industry. The film industry has vehemently pushed back on that, and LaPolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says that seems to have struck a chord with those in the State Senate.

Cut 12 (07) “…in the industry.”

The special session must end by six p-m Monday.

Senator Bill Cassidy will serve as chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee during the 119th Congress. Cassidy addressed Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose controversial views on public health topics like fluoride in drinking water have sparked significant debate.

Cut 5 (13) “…it is safe.” 

Tulane University researchers are working on a vaccine aimed at reducing the spread of whooping cough. Lead study author Lisa Morici (mo-REE-see) says this is a nasal vaccine.

Cut 14 (14) “…a needle delivery.”

Morici says the new vaccine combines the traditional pertussis antigens with an innovative adjuvant that boosts the body’s immune response, specifically in the respiratory tract. Morici’s study is published in the journal npj Vaccines.

A massive AI data center could be coming to North Louisiana. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and others, is planning the five-billion-dollar project in Richland Parish near Monroe, and it would create as many as 500 jobs with an average salary of 82-thousand dollars. If approved, the data center could be up and running in about three years.

The tax reform special session continues today, but not much activity is expected in public view. That’s because the Louisiana Senate is gearing up to vote on several tax bills tomorrow and that includes proposal to lower the state’s income tax to a flat three percent. The income tax cut would mean an estimated one-point-three billion dollar loss in state revenues. Lapolitics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says lawmakers need to make up that loss with increased sales taxes or else a tax reform plan will not pass…

Cut 11 (050 “…to carry forward”

The special session must end by 6 PM Monday.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state added 77-hundred jobs in the month of October. L-W-C economist Emily Dipalma says 44-percent of those new jobs are in the construction sector…

Cut 8  (12) “…in that sector”

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Robert F Kennedy as the next Secretary for Health and Human Services. Kennedy is a known a vaccine skeptic. In the next Congress, Bill Cassidy will serve as chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.  Cassidy, who is a  doctor, is expected to play a critical role in shaping healthcare reforms, addressing workforce challenges, and overseeing educational initiatives. His leadership could influence debates on contentious issues such as vaccine mandates.

Cut 6 (13) “…on anything else.”

President-elect Trump has taped WWE co-founder Linda McMahon has the next Secretary of Education. There was a push for Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley to get this job.

The clock is ticking on the special session. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is reportedly planning to build a multi-billion dollar artificial data center near Holly Ridge in Richland Parish. The five billion dollar project would reportedly mean 500 jobs. For the project to become a reality, the Public Service Commission would have to approve three new natural gas power plants, which would provide power to the facility.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state added 77-hundred jobs in October. L-W-C Economist Emily DiPalma says construction, private education and health services and manufacturing showed the largest gains over the month and Dipalma expects those industries to keep adding jobs…

Cut 9 (06) “….ten year outlook”

The Houma market added 500 jobs over the last month, 300 additional jobs for Lafayette and Shreveport, but Monroe lost 200 jobs.

Tulane University researchers are working on a nasal vaccine aimed at reducing the spread of whooping cough. Lead study author Lisa Morici (mo-REE-see) says the new vaccine combines the traditional pertussis antigens with an innovative adjuvant that boosts the body’s immune response, specifically in the respiratory tract.

Cut 13 (11)  “…that are susceptible.”

Negotiations continue at the State Capitol on a tax plan that would lead to lower income taxes, but higher sales taxes. The Landry Administration originally sought to tax 41 services that are currently not taxed, but La-Politics Publisher Jeremy Alford says that list has been pared down to 19 services…

Cut 10 (11) “….initially brought up”

Spa services, computer software installation and repair, cable and satellite services and car washes would be taxed.

Starting May 7^th you’ll need a REAL ID or you’ll need a passport or some other federally acceptable document to fly domestically. Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Dan Casey says most Louisiana residents do not have a REAL Id…

Cut 30 (07) “…are real ID”

Casey urges Louisiana residents to visit their local OMV office to upgrade their current driver’s license or state ID to a real ID, if you have not done so already.

Louisiana’s employment figures show sustained growth. Workforce Commission Economist Emily DiPalma says seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs reached 1.9 million last month — up 7,700 from September and 9,500 over the year. Private sector employment also rose to 1.6 million, adding 7,100 jobs monthly and 3,900 annually.

Cut 7 (07) “…to include agriculture.”

This marks 43 consecutive months of year-over-year growth.

Robert F Kennedy Junior is a controversial pick to lead the U-S Department of Health and Human Services and the coming Republican-held Senate will ultimately decide whether to confirm him. Cassidy will serve as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in the next Congress. Cassidy on the confirmation process…

Cut 4 (10) “….will take place”

Cassidy says his role as HELP Committee Chairman will prioritize advancing policies rooted in scientific consensus.