The state is receiving 208 million dollars from the federal government that’s intended to improve healthcare in rural Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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From now on, holding a cell phone to your ear while driving could cost you a few bucks. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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The college football transfer window opens today and Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg expects Lane Kiffin and LSU to be active buyers. Kace Kieschnick reports.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
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The Louisiana Department of Health says the state will receive 208-million dollars through the Rural Health Transportation Program, established when Congress approved President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein (Green-steen) says this funding will improve healthcare access in rural communities…
Cut 4 (15) “…live longer.”
Greenstein says this money will improve access to care, strengthen local healthcare systems and expand workforce capacity…
Cut 5 (12) “…entire state.”
Greenstein says the goal is also for this money to help rural residents with chronic or complex health conditions. He says these dollars will also help sustain operations at rural healthcare facilities and upgrade infrastructure…
Cut 6 (11) “…bigger cities.”
Nearly 1.1 million Louisiana residents live in rural parishes with 37% covered by Medicaid and 22% covered by Medicare. Louisiana’s award am0unt of $208 million is among the highest in the nation, and among the top three in the Southeast.
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I hope you’ve gotten used to using your hands-free cell phone device while driving; because from now on, holding a phone to your ear while driving will cost you a few bucks if you’re caught. State Police Trooper Shelby Mayfield says the purpose of the ban on hand-held cell phones while driving is to increase everyone’s safety.
Cut 7 (12) “…result of that.”
The ban officially went into effect last August 1st; but officers were initially issuing warnings. That grace period ended when the calendar flipped to 2026. There had been a ban on texting while driving in place for quite some time; Trooper Mayfield says this new law takes it one step further.
Cut 8 (08) “…hands-free manner.”
During debate in the legislature, some noted that this new law would be discriminatory against those who drive older vehicles which don’t have Bluetooth built-in to allow hands-free phone conversations in which you can listen to the person you’re talking to on your car stereo speakers. Mayfield says that’s no excuse.
Cut 9 (10) “…the steering wheel.”
This is a secondary offense, meaning you cannot be pulled over for that offense alone. Instead, it would yield an additional fine if you’re observed using a hand-held cell phone while committing a moving violation, like speeding or running a red light.
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The big political story for 2026 will be the U-S Senate race as Republican Incumbent Bill Cassidy faces several challengers from his own party. State Treasurer John Fleming, state senator Blake Miguez, state representative Julie Emerson and PSC Commissioner Eric Skrmetta are seeking to unseat Cassidy. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Cassidy has one big advantage…
Cut 10 (07) “…really tough re-election.”
Cassidy is facing a difficult re-election campaign, because he voted to impeach President Donald Trump 2021 after the January 6th Capitol attack, which angered many pro-Trump Republicans.
Adding to Cassidy’s challenge is the change to a closed primary election system. Pinsonat says registered no party voters can vote in the primaries, but the Secretary of State’s office and the campaigns will need to educate voters…
Cut 11 (11) “..to declare.”
The primary election will take place in May, a party primary run-off will take place in June. The General election will be in November.
The 2026 legislative session begins in March. Pinsonat expects a quiet session after lawmakers in 2025 approved a package of property insurance reform laws. Some of those measures didn’t got into effect until January 1st, so Pinsonat doesn’t expect Governor Landry to be pushing even more insurance reform bills..
Cut 12 (10) “…reforming insurance.”
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The college football transfer window officially opens today, and Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg expects an eventful cycle with all of the coaching moves across the nation. Bromberg says Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin is one of the best at adapting to the portal, but he’s in for a tough task as he’s only been at LSU for a month.
Cut 13 (06) “…right away.”
The Tigers will almost certainly look to bolster the quarterback room alongside Michael Van Buren. Kiffin’s former passer, Trinidad Chambliss, is awaiting a response from the NCAA on whether he’ll get another year of eligibility, but with names like Sam Leavitt, DJ Lagway, and Dylan Raiola Bromberg says the Tigers won’t be waiting around.
Cut 14 (12) “…2026 season.”
Bromberg also expects Kiffin to target the position groups that helped build Ole Miss’s playoff roster: defensive line and wide receiver. He says LSU’s reputation and Kiffin’s offense is a match made in pass catcher heaven.
Cut 15 (09) “…system is.”
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It was a Sugar Bowl for the ages. In a game that came down to the last ten seconds, Ole Miss beat Georgia, 39-34, to advance to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Lucas Carneiro kicked a 47-yard field goal with six seconds left to give OIe Miss the win, with the final margin coming on the ensuing kickoff when a botched lateral by Georgia hit their own end zone pylon for a safety. After the game, Hammond’s own Pete Golding, the head coach of Ole Miss, said he made some adjustments with his Rebels down 21-12 at halftime.
Cut 16 (14) “…have all year.”
Not only do the Rebels advance to the Fiesta Bowl, where they will face Miami, but they avenged a 43-35 loss to Georgia, which was their only loss of the regular season that ultimately kept them out of the SEC Championship Game. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss says the Sugar Bowl was basically the polar opposite of that October 18th game in Athens.
Cut 17 (12) “…and we executed.”
For Georgia, it was their second straight loss in the Sugar Bowl, on the heels of their 23-10 loss to Notre Dame a year ago. Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said the back-and-forth game was like every SEC game they played all season long.
Cut 18 (13) “…didn’t finish it.”
The game-winner notwithstanding, Carneiro had a game for the ages. In the first quarter, he set a new Sugar Bowl record with a 55-yard field goal – and just over three and a half minutes later, he broke his own record with a 56-yarder.