We’re learning new information about the tiger being brought into Baton Rouge for LSU’s game tomorrow – along with its owner. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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The GOP Leadership election is set for next week and with House control still not clear Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise push to secure their leadership roles in the House.
Cut 2 (00) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”
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We’re learning new information about where the live tiger taking the field for tomorrow night’s LSU game is coming from, as well as the man who owns him. The tiger is a one-and-a-half-year-old Bengal tiger named Omar Bradley. He’s owned by 62-year-old Mitchel Kamlanson of Maitland, Florida, which is near Orlando. Kalmanson owns an insurance company that, according to its website, insures rare and unusual risks such as exotic animals. Kalmanson also has a lengthy rap sheet with PETA, with the organization listing more than three-dozen USDA violations since 2000. Klayton Rutherford, the associate director of captive wildlife research at the PETA Foundation, says this underscores how bad of an idea this is.
Cut 3 (12) “…to celebrate them.”
Governor Landry had been pushing for the university’s live mascot, Mike The Tiger, to take the field. The school pushed back on that, and apparently bringing in a live tiger from out of state was the compromise, although LSU has not confirmed this and has ignored all requests for comment. Rutherford says no matter if the tiger is a year and a half old or eight years old as Mike the Seventh is, tigers do not belong in 100-thousand-seat football stadiums.
Cut 4 (11) “…drop this idea.”
Rutherford says he’s disappointed that the school appears to be caving in to Landry’s request, despite advice from its school of veterinary medicine.
Cut 5 (10) “…into the stadium.”
We reached Kalmanson by phone as he was en route to Baton Rouge from Florida, but he refused comment.
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Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise are seeking reelection to their House leadership roles in advance of the GOP’s internal elections scheduled for next week. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says their requests come as Republicans face uncertainty over control of the House.
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Johnson outlined his agenda to advance conservative policies aligned with President-elect Trump’s administration, emphasizing plans to prioritize American interests, strengthen border security, reduce regulations, promote energy independence, and expand school choice.
Cut 7 (06) “…for the state.”
Scalise emphasized his commitment to Trump’s agenda, pledging to secure tax cuts, expand U.S. energy production, and fund Trump’s border wall.
Even votes are still being counted and a Republican House isn’t official yet… Stockley says current forecasts suggest they should retain it.
Cut 8 (12) “…Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise.”
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A new casino resort in Bossier City set to open early next year has the help wanted sign out. Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana is looking to fill more than 750 positions. Human Resources Director Wesley Garcia says the jobs run the gamut.
Cut 9 (11) “…leadership-level positions.”
Garcia says most of these jobs are career-level positions with an average pay – including salaries, wages and tips – of about 45-thousand dollars a year.
Cut 10 (15) “…of those gaps.”
Advertising and public relations manager Shelli Murphy is inviting everyone interested in working at the resort to apply, regardless of experience – or the lack thereof.
Cut 11 (07) “…you don’t know.”
All positions are posted on the careers page of the resort’s website, and the site is ready to receive applications. (louisiana.livecasinohotel.com/Careers)
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11th ranked Alabama meets 15th ranked LSU on Saturday night in what amounts to a College Football Playoff elimination game. The loser will suffer its third loss. Bama quarterback Jalen Milroe ran wild on LSU last year with 155 rushing yards and four touchdowns. LSU Coach Brian Kelly on keeping Milroe contained
Cut 12 (12) “…back end.”
The Ragin Cajuns can take firm control of the western division of the Sun Belt Conference with a homecoming win over Arkansas State on Saturday. U-L Lafayette is trying to improve 5-and-0 in the league and 8-and-1 overall. They are a 15 point favorite to beat the Red Wolves, but Coach Michael Desormeaux doesn’t care about the point spread…
Cut 13 (10) “…for the birds.”
The Saints will try to end their seven-game losing streak on Sunday when the host the Falcons. Darren Rizzi will serve as the interim head coach and running back Alvin Kamara hopes the change at head coach will lead to a victory…
Cut 14 (13) “…things right.”
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Several Black people across the country, including here in Louisiana, have been receiving hate-filled spam text messages referencing slavery. State Attorney General Liz Murrill says her investigators have traced the messages to an encrypted virtual network in Poland. But she says that doesn’t necessarily pinpoint the perpetrator there.
Cut 15 (05) “…to investigate it.”
Murrill says the best thing that people who receive these texts can do is to ignore them.
Cut 16 (04) “….to my office.”