With 10 percent tariffs on all imports now in effect and higher tariffs on imports from key trading partners like China (34%) and the European Union (20%), some Louisiana industries are expressing concern.  Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris believes costs will potentially go up and low profit margin businesses like restaurants will have to do some belt-tightening.

Cut 8 (11) “…period of time.”

ULM students approved a 75-dollar per semester fee in a 711 to 650 vote. The extra 600-thousand dollars the fee is expected to generate in its first year is going to the athletic department. ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell…

Cut 10 (10) “…sports medicine program.”

The family of a 73-year-old man who cares for his wife who has dementia is pleading for his release after immigration enforcement agents took him into custody near his home in Lafayette. Cuba native, Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez has lived in the U.S. for 45 years. His stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs took to Facebook saying she understands the there’s an immigration problem, but a 45-year resident who works and cares for his family is not the problem…

Cut 14 (05) “…a machete.”

Riggs says, for 10 years, Rodriguez’s attempts to become an official citizen have been unsuccessful because he committed a crime when he first arrived in the U.S. but since then has been a model immigrant.

Do you want to know how public-school districts and charter schools are spending their money? You can find that information at treasury-dot-la-gov.  State Treasurer John Fleming says click the box that reads Louisiana K-12 School Transparency Project.

Cut 13 (11)  “…want to know”

A 73-year-old native of Cuba who has lived in the United States for the last 45 years was picked up by enforcement agents near his Lafayette home. Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriguez’s family is calling for his release…

Cut 13 (13) “…not the solution”

That’s Rodriguez’s stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs. Riggs is hoping the public will hear their story and contact their elected officials and demand for Rodriguez’s release.

President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs of 10 percent on all imports and higher rates on key trading partners, such as China (34%) and the European Union (20%), has sparked concerns across Louisiana industries.  Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says it could cost more to eat out…

Cut 6 (10) “…no question about it.”

It is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Louisiana and state officials are making the case again, when behind the wheel put the phone down. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Bryan Adams went from State Fire Marshal to Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner this week as Governor Landry has called on Adams to lead the effort in modernizing the outdated OMV system. The current mainframe system is 50 years old, and keeps crashing, causing delays at OMV offices, forcing customers to make another appointment for another day.  Adams says enough is enough.

Cut 5 (11) “…really deserve.”

It is Distracted Diving Awareness Month and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission plans to push lawmakers in the upcoming session to approve a hands-free primary law, which would allow police officers to ticket drivers who use a hand held cell phone while driving. The Commission’s executive director Lisa Freeman…

Cut 26 (07) “….tremendous results”

ULM students have approved a 75-dollar fee per semester that will generate 600-thousand dollars in its first year for the school’s athletic department. ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell says the fee goes into effect for the 2025 Fall Semester…

Cut 9 (11)  “…21 million dollars.”

Hartwell says they plan to use the money to install a new video board in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The A-D says there’s also plans to spend the money on improving the nutrition program, mental health services and strength and training programs for the school’s 17 athletic teams.

LSU star women’s basketball player Flau’Jae Johnson is reportedly returning for her senior season. Reed Darcey of the Advocate says Johnson said after the team’s season-ending loss to UCLA, she wanted to get past the Elite Eight…

Cut 16 (19) “…own championship.”

The family of a 73-year-old grandfather is pleading for his release after immigration enforcement agents took him into custody near his home in Lafayette while on his way to work. He’s at an ICE processing center in Evangeline Parish. The family says Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez has lived in the U-S for 45 years since he fled Cuba. Rodriguez’s stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs posted this emotional plea on Facebook…

Cut 12 (15) “…to our country”

Riggs says Rodriguez tried to become an official citizen for the last ten years, but because he committed a crime in the first couple of years of his time in the U-S, he’s been unsuccessful.

It is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Cell phones are believed to be a major contributor to distracted or inattentive crashes. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple urges parents to set an example of not using a phone while behind the wheel…

Cut 8 (09) “…your kids.”

Preliminary data shows that distracted driving crashes led to 180 fatalities in 2024 in Louisiana.

On the state Department of Treasury’s website, there is a portal that provides information on how public-school districts and charter schools spend their money. State Treasurer John Fleming says they are still collecting data, so not every school’s financial information is published yet…

Cut 15 (110 “….data to come”

Fleming is incredibly proud of the website, which was enacted as a result of a state law passed in 2023. He says sunlight is the best disinfectant to fight efficiency and waste.

This week, Governor Jeff Landry appointed Bryan Adams as the new leader for the Office of Motor Vehicles following Commissioner Dan Casey’s resignation. OMV is suffering from system outages due to outdated technology. Adams was serving as the State Fire Marshal and he’s optimistic OMV customers will start to see improvements as early as next week…

Cut 4 (10) “…citizens of Louisiana.”

The current mainframe system is 50 years old and it keeps crashing,

It is Distracted Driving Awareness Mont. Department of Transportation Secretary Joe Donahue says preliminary data from 2024 shows that distracted driving crashes led to 180 fatalities and 1,295 serious injuries in Louisiana…

Cut 7 (12) “…fully recover”

Cell phones are believed to be a major contributor to distracted or inattentive crashes.

The rejection of Constitutional Amendment 2 in last Saturday’s election could result in a decrease in teacher pay, if state lawmakers cannot find 200-million dollars in revenues to make sure they continue to receive a two-thousand dollar stipend. Randal Gaines, the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, says he’s calling for a permanent pay raise for teachers with no strings attached.

Cut 12 (15) “…as  a whole.”

We’ll see if the state legislature can find the money to keep teacher pay at its current level. A fiscal session begins April 14^th.

What a performance by sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson last night! The Tigers ace struck out 14 hitters as LSU shutout Oklahoma two to nothing. Anderson threw 135 pitches in the complete game shutout.

New Office of Motor Vehicles leader Bryan Adams is optimistic OMV can run more efficiently despite outdated computer system. Sean Richardson has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The execution dates were set this week for two death row inmates from Caddo Parish and their attorneys have filed challenges with the Louisiana Supreme Court. They are arguing their death warrants are premature. Darrell Draughn is set to diet on May 29^th and Marcus Reed for June 4^th. Nitrogen gas would be the method of execution.

The Louisiana Democratic Party is hailing the defeat of all four constitutional amendments last weekend. Voters turned back amendments that would have rewritten Article 7 of the state constitution, created specialty courts, made it easier to send minors to adult prisons and change the way that judicial vacancies are filled. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says the vote was a unified message.

Cut 10 (12) “…work collaboratively together.”

The public now has the ability to see how public school systems and charter schools are spending their money. The portal is located on the Department of Treasury’s website. State Treasurer John Fleming says it gives the parents the opportunity to hold school leaders accountable for how they spend taxpayer dollars…

Cut 14 (12) “…spending practices”

Bryan Adams went from State Fire Marshal to Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner this week as Governor Landry has called on Adams to lead the effort in modernizing the outdated OMV system. The current mainframe system is 50 years old, and keeps crashing, causing delays at OMV offices, forcing customers to make another appointment for another day.  Adams says enough is enough.

Cut 5 (11) “…really deserve.”

The Louisiana Democratic Party held a press conference and Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan said last Saturday’s vote where four constitutional amendments were voted down was a rebuke of the Landry administration…

Cut 11 (11) “…gubernatorial election”

Governor Landry has blamed far left liberals for the amendments failure, including Amendment Two, which would have made significant changes to Louisiana’s tax laws.

The search is on for a man who my have killed his parents. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office found the bodies of 75-year-old Marc Brocato and 66-year-old Priscilla Brocato on the property of the couple’s home in the Amite area. Authorities say 34-year-old Joshua Brocato is a person of interest in the case. He’s traveling in a white 2014 Ford utility van. Joshua Brocato’s last known location was in Lafayette earlier this week.

It is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Louisiana and state officials are making the case again, when behind the wheel put the phone down. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The new commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles, Bryan Adams, says he has a big job in front of him, but he believes he’s making progress as he tries to put a band-aid on an outdated computer system that keeps crashing causing customers to have to return to their local OMV office on another day. Adams was the State Fire Marshal, but Governor Jeff Landry gave Adams a new job this week…

Cut 6 (11) “…ready to put it out”

Do you want to know how public-school districts and charter schools are spending their money? You can find that information at treasury-dot-la-dot-gov.  State Treasurer John Fleming says click the box that reads Louisiana K-12 School Transparency Project and you find out all kinds of information…

Cut 13 (11) “…want to know”

Fleming says it’s the most comprehensive website of its kind in the country.

Louisiana Democrats are hailing the failure of the four constitutional amendments. Andrew Greenstein has more from a press conference held by the Louisiana Democratic Party…

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The family of a 73-year-old grandfather is pleading for his release after immigration enforcement agents took him into custody near his home in Lafayette while on his way to work. He’s at an ICE processing center in Evangeline Parish. The family says Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez has lived in the U-S for 45 years since he fled Cuba. Rodriguez’s stepdaughter says he has a heart condition and is the primary caretaker of his wife with dementia.

Two people are dead from a plane crash in south Louisiana. The small aircraft went down near Raceland. Authorities have identified the victims as Lyle Pannepinto and Lauren Menkemeller. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says Pannepinto is the owner of Southern Seaplanes and Menkemeller was training as a pilot for the company…

Cut 13 (09)  “…went down.”

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.

The new tariffs President Trump has imposed on nearly all of the United States trading partners, means shrimp coming from India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand will have a tariff rate of 26 to 46-percent. Leann Bosard, a board member at the Southern Shrimp Alliance is glad to see the cost of imported shrimp will now be higher…

Cut 4 (13) “…antibiotics”

Bossard hopes this will result in an increase in consumption for domestic caught shrimp.

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State University is calling for an above-average hurricane season. Researcher Lauren Beard says warm water in the Atlantic will help produce 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes and the chances of an El Nino developing in the season are low. Beard says based on their research; there’s a 33-percent chance that a major hurricane will hit the Gulf Coast…

Cut 7 (06) “…from that”

The C-S-U team will update its forecast on June 11^th.

Gas prices are on the rise. Supply is down as refineries shut down to switch to a summer blend gasoline. The statewide average for a regular gallon of gasoline in Louisiana is $2.82, but Triple-A’s Don Redman says if you go out west it’s much more expensive…

Cut 11 (12) “…a gallon in Louisiana”

The State Fire Marshall’s office is asking for help in identifying the person who intentionally set a Monroe church on fire Sunday March 30th. The Monroe Fire Department was able to quickly extinguish the fire at St. Mary’s Number 2 Baptist Church around 2:00 P.M. Sunday afternoon but not before destroying the building. Investigators say surveillance video shows a person intentionally setting the fire. Anyone with information can report it anonymously to the Arson Hot Line at 844-954-1221 or online at lasfm.org.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance is applauding President Trump’s tariffs on imported shrimp. Leann Bosard, a board member at the Southern Shrimp Alliance, says she hopes the tariffs will provide a boost to the U.S. shrimping industry.

Cut 3 (12) “…for decades now.”

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gas jumped three cents from yesterday to $2.82.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The defending national champion LSU gymnastics squad begins its NCAA postseason journey tonight as they will compete in the Penn State Regional. LSU won the SEC regular season championship, and they won the SEC Gymnastics meet. Mike Smith, the announcer at LSU gym meets says the Tigers are the favorites to repeat as national champs…

Cut 14 (10) “…convincingly.”

If the Tigers finish in the top two of tonight’s session, they advance to the regional final on Saturday.