There are lawmakers and organizations hailing the 2026 legislative session for the package of bills intended to improve workforce development. Monroe Representative Mike Echols, the chairman of the Legislative Republican Delegation, says they passed legislation that provides exposure to career opportunities for students as early as grade school.

Cut 15 (09) “…straight to work.” 

Adam Knapp, the CEO for Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says legislation was approved that expands eligibility requirements for the TOPS Tech scholarship program for students in community and technical colleges.

Cut 9 (10)  “…part-time student.” 

Knapp says legislators also approved the Learn and Earn Act, which authorizes specialized internships on high school campuses.

The LHSAA Boys’ Basketball Championships are returning to Lafayette for the first time since 2011. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.” 

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee begins discussion on a bill intended to fix college athletics. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey asked Congress to pass a law that would bring much-needed regulations on NIL deals and reduce player movement from school to school. But the SEC and Big 10 issued a joint statement last night saying they oppose the legislation as it is written now.

Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill into law Tuesday, eliminating the vehicle inspection sticker program. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley who authored the bill says he’s been pushing for this a while, but Landry said there was a key difference this time…:
Cut 5 (05) “the right governor”

This session also saw plenty of bills aimed at improving Louisiana’s workforce:
Cut 2 (35) “I’m Andrew Greenstein”

The Louisiana Republican Delegation is happy about what lawmakers pushed through this legislative session. Chairman and Monroe Representative Michael Echols says important measures were approved designed to attract large aerospace companies with property and sales tax breaks…:
Cut 14 (15) “…the aerospace industry.”

The CAJUNDOME is home to the LHSAA Boys’ Basketball State Championships once again. The association announced plans yesterday to move the event to Lafayette after 12 years in Lake Charles. Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission President Ben Berthelot says Acadiana is the perfect location for this event…:
Cut 11 (13) “but the LHSAA”
The championships had been held in Lake Charles for 12 years.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed a law that eliminates the vehicle inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
East Baton Rouge, Livingston, West Baton Rouge, Ascension and Iberville parishes all require a separate emissions test on top of the standard inspection.

Gas prices continue to fall nationwide. Louisiana’s average for a gallon of regular stands at $3.80, which is down 3 cents from the prior day, and 17 cents lower than the same time last week.

The Legislative Republican Delegation is pleased with what they were able to accomplish this session. Chairman and Monroe Representative Michael Echols says lawmakers made smart investments by using state savings to put another $500 million into roads and infrastructure and $360 million into economic development:
Cut 13 (07) “and economic development”

Echols is also happy about the package of bills passed aimed at strengthening jobs in the state. Adam Knapp, the CEO of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says one of the outcomes of the session is a restructured workforce delivery system, including the modernization of the Incumbent Worker Training Program…:
Cut 7 (14) “their existing workers”

Most personal vehicles will no longer need an annual safety inspection sticker starting in 2027 under a bill signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry Tuesday. The current brake tag would be replaced with a $6 QR code tied to the vehicle’s registration. Landry says this was a very popular initiative this session…:
Cut 4 (13) “and start dancing”
Drivers in East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Iberville, and Ascension parishes would still need emissions testing under federal law.

Also Tuesday Landry signed an executive order tied to funding for permanent teacher pay raises. He called for a $168 million dollar reduction in public school funding to pay for $2000 stipends for Louisiana educators. Lawmakers passed a state budget last week that did not include the raises, and Landry’s proposed funding cut will need legislative approval first.

The 2026 legislative session was also packed with bills to strengthen the workforce in Louisiana. Adam Knapp, the CEO of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says some of them expanded career exposure beginning in middle school…:
CUT 8 (13) “want to pursue”
The broad workforce package was a bipartisan one, with many of the laws passed receiving no opposition in either chamber.

Lafayette will host the high school boys basketball championships after spending the past 12 years in Lake Charles. The LHSAA announced plans Tuesday to move the event to the Cajundome and Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission President Ben Berthelot says they are thrilled…:
Cut 10 (05) “they support it”
Lafayette hosted the event from 1997 to 2011.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed a law that eliminates the vehicle inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The 2026 legislative session was one full of bills aimed at strengthening the workforce in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The LHSAA Boys’ Basketball Championships are returning to Lafayette for the first time since 2011. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill into law yesterday, eliminating the vehicle inspection sticker program. The current sticker will be replaced by a QR code sticker sent in the mail when owners secure or renew registration. Landry says this was easily the most popular bill he’s signed.

Cut 4 (13) “…and start dancing.”

Most states, including all of Louisiana’s neighbors, have already replaced vehicle inspection stickers. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley authored the bill and has advocated for ones like it for years before finally getting this one into law. Landry says there was one key difference between then and now.

Cut 5 (05) “…the right governor.”

QR Code stickers will be a one-time six-dollar cost compared to the ten-dollar annual sticker. The only information on the code is a VIN number. Safety inspections will still be required for some commercial vehicles, school buses and some farm vehicles. Bagley credited Landry for helping pass the legislation.

Cut 6 (07) “…answer the questions.”

New Orleans, Kenner and Westwego can require their own local inspections.

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One thing the 2026 legislative session will be known for is for its litany of bills aimed at strengthening the workforce in Louisiana. Adam Knapp, the CEO of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says one of the outcomes of the session is a restructured workforce delivery system, including the modernization of the Incumbent Worker Training Program.

Cut 7 (14) “…their existing workers.”

Knapp says the legislature also passed bills to expand career exposure beginning in as early as middle school.

Cut 8 (13) “…want to pursue.”

Knapp says the legislature also passed bills to expand access to workforce financial aid, particularly when it comes to the TOPS Tech scholarship.

Cut 9 (10)  “…part-time student.”

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The CAJUNDOME is home to the Sugar Bowl LHSAA Boys’ Basketball State Championships once again. The association announced plans yesterday to move the event to Lafayette after 12 years in Lake Charles. Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission President Ben Berthelot says the community could not be more excited.

Cut 10 (05) “…they support it.”

Lafayette hosted the event from 1997 to 2011 and set a six-day attendance record of nearly 70-thousand fans in 1999. Berthelot says the CAJUNDOME is the best venue in the state for an event like this, and Lafayette’s location at the intersection of I-10 and I-49 is accessible for schools and fans across Louisiana.

Cut 11 (13) “…but the LHSAA.”

The CAJUNDOME is, of course, home to UL-Lafayette men’s and women’s basketball and has undergone significant renovation in recent years. Berthelot says bringing the championships to the city could not have happened without the support of the university.

Cut 12 (12) “…great recruiting tool.”

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The Legislative Republican Delegation believes the GOP-led Legislature delivered meaningful results in the just-completed legislative session. Chairman and Monroe Representative Michael Echols says it was a wise move to use the state’s savings account to invest an additional 500-million dollars in roads and infrastructure and 360-million dollars in economic development initiatives.

Cut 13 (07)  “…and economic development.”

Echols says there was also important legislation approved that will benefit the state maybe not this year, but some time in the near future — and that’s a pair of bills to attract large aerospace companies with property and sales tax breaks.

Cut 14 (15) “…the aerospace industry.”

Echols says there’s also several bills dealing with workforce development that were approved, including legislation that prepares students as early as grade school for their professional lives.

Cut 15 (09) “…straight to work.”

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NCAA baseball Super Regionals begin Friday after a historic regional round. Little Rock and St. John’s became the first two four-seeds to advance in one tournament, and three-seeds Troy and Cal Poly also won their regionals. ESPN analyst Todd Walker says the upsets defy logic.

Cut 16 (17) “…of the game.”

Seven SEC teams advanced to the Super Regional round, including four hosts. At least two SEC schools are guaranteed a spot in Omaha thanks to conference matchups between Georgia and Mississippi State and Auburn and Ole Miss. Walker says he likes the Tigers in the Auburn Super Regional.

Cut 17 (18)  “…of free passes.”

Third-overall seed Georgia is the top team left in the country after number-one UCLA and number-two Georgia Tech were both upset in the regionals. The Bulldogs have appearances in six of the last eight tournaments but haven’t reached Omaha since 2008. Walker says this year’s team has something those didn’t — pitching.

Cut 18 (18) “…country as well.”

Governor Landry announced his solution today to prevent a potential pay cut for teachers. The governor has signed an executive order that directs BESE to find 168-million dollars that’s NOT used on instruction from the state’s public school budget and use that money to pay a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers and a one-thousand-dollar stipend for support workers.

Cut 9 (10)  “…sitting on”

The National Federation of Independent Business is pleased with how the legislative session went. State Director Leah Long says among the bills that passed that the organization is happy about is one that modernizes the state’s workers comp system and helps reduce costs for small businesses.

Cut 4 (12) “…employee making money.”

It’s been seven months since LSU announced the hiring of new President Wade Rousse. In that time, he’s committed to making improvements across the Baton Rouge campus. He says things students ask him about the most include parking and housing, along with a project currently underway near the softball field.

Cut 6 (14) “…and we will.”

A former Louisiana congressman is recounting his recent visit to war-torn Ukraine. Charles Boustany told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana that on his final day in the country, May 23rd, the area in Kyiv where he was staying came under attack, and to say that it was a harrowing experience is putting it very mildly.

Cut 12 (06) “…close and rattling.” 

The attack left four people dead and dozens of others injured.

Governor Jeff Landry unveils his plan to make sure that teachers continue to get a two-thousand dollar stipend that they’ve received since 2023. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

We’re getting new information on a Hammond police officer who’s being held in Mississippi without bond. Denver Golmon is accused of retaliating against a federal informant who helped get his uncle arrested on cockfighting charges. Golmon was deemed to be a danger to the public and a flight risk.

The organization that advocates for small businesses in Louisiana is generally pleased with how the legislative session went. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says one bill which passed that the organization is very pleased about creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program, or BayouWorks.

Cut 3 (11) “…earn industry certificates.”

Wade Rousse has been on the job as LSU’s president for seven months now. Rousse says his top priority is raising funds to build a new library. He says that LSU needs to reach a threshold of private funding for the project before the state can provide capital outlay, and they’re very close to their goal.

Cut 8 (12) “…to me.”

Governor Jeff Landry provided his plan for making sure teachers continue to receive a two-thousand dollar stipend that they have been getting since 2023. The stipend is on the verge of going away because two different constitutional amendments failed to pass over the last two years and the stipend was not funded in the budget just approved by lawmakers.

But the governor believes the money to pay for the stipend can be found in the non-instructional section of the state’s public school funding formula.

Cut 11 (07) “…teachers.”

Landry will need the support of the Legislature, before 168-million dollars can be removed from the Minimum Foundation Program. It will take a two-thirds vote by both the House and Senate.

Before Landry discussed teacher pay, he signed into law the bill that ends the vehicle sticker inspection program.

The NFIB is pleased the Louisiana Legislature approved a workers comp reform bill that they say will reduce costs for small businesses. The NFIB also says lawmakers passed a landmark small business workforce bill that will give employers a new tool to train workers quickly and effectively. NFIB director Leah Long says that was two great victories, but she wishes a centralized sales tax collection bill was approved…

Cut 5 (13) “…we’ll get there”

Former Louisiana Congressman Charles Boustany has returned from Ukraine where he says he was near an attack that left four people dead and dozens injured. Boustany said on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana says it’s not a good situation over there and Trump Administration has not paid much attention…

Cut 14 (14) “…these people”

The organization that advocates for small businesses in Louisiana is generally pleased with how the legislative session went. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Governor Jeff Landry unveils his plan to make sure that teachers continue to get a two-thousand dollar stipend that they’ve received since 2023. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The organization that advocates for small businesses in Louisiana is generally pleased with how the legislative session went. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says there were two bills in particular which passed that the organization is very pleased about. She says one of them creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program, or BayouWorks.

Cut 3 (11) “…earn industry certificates.”

Long says another bill that passed that the organization is pleased about is one that modernizes the state’s workers comp system and helps reduce costs for small businesses.

Cut 4 (12) “…employee making money.”

Long says there were also bills the organization was advocating for which went nowhere, including a centralized sales tax collection bill.

Cut 5 (13) “…we’ll get there.”

Long says the organization was also playing defense with some bills that it did not agree with, including those which would have imposed new labor mandates and regulatory mandates on small businesses.

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It’s been seven months since LSU announced the hiring of new President Wade Rousse. In that time, he’s committed to making improvements across the Baton Rouge campus. He says things students ask him about the most include parking and housing, along with a project currently underway near the softball field.

Cut 6 (14) “…and we will.”

Rousse says the administration has been searching for the optimal enrollment number as they face record application numbers. He says both the main and satellite campuses are expanding, but growth for the sake of growth can be dangerous.

Cut 7 (10) “…wise manner.”

Rousse says his top priority is raising funds to build a new library. He says that LSU needs to reach a threshold of private funding for the project before the state can provide capital outlay, and they’re very close to their goal.

Cut 8 (12) “…to me.”

_____________________________________________________________

Governor Jeff Landry announced his solution today to prevent a potential pay cut for teachers. The governor has signed an executive order that directs BESE to find 168-million dollars that’s NOT used on instruction from the state’s public school budget and use that money to pay a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers and a one-thousand-dollar stipend for support workers.

Cut 9 (10)  “…sitting on”

This plan will likely not sit well with school superintendents who say they need more money because of rising fuel costs, insurance and other expenses.

But Landry says since 1988, Louisiana’s K-through-12 enrollment has dropped by more than 111-thousand students, yet the cost to education each child has increased 67-percent.

Cut 10 (07) “…priorities problem.”

Landry says when you take into account inflation, Louisiana public school teachers are actually making less than what educators made in the 1980s.

Teachers have received a two-thousand-dollar stipend since 2023, but it’s on the verge of going away because two different constitutional amendments failed to pass over the last two years and the stipend was not funded in the budget just approved by lawmakers.

But the governor believes the money to pay for the stipend can be found in the non-instructional section of the state’s public school funding formula.

Cut 11 (07) “…teachers.”

Landry will need the support of the Legislature, before 168-million dollars can be removed from the Minimum Foundation Program. It will take a two-thirds vote by both the House and Senate.

______________________________________________________

A former Louisiana congressman is recounting his recent visit to war-torn Ukraine. Charles Boustany told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana that on his final day in the country, May 23rd, the area in Kyiv where he was staying came under attack, and to say that it was a harrowing experience is putting it very mildly.

Cut 12 (06) “…close and rattling.”

The attack left four people dead and dozens of others injured.

Boustany was in Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and to observe some of the country’s humanitarian efforts. He says the images from Ukraine that Americans see do the situation in that country no justice.

Cut 13 (11) “…we are now.”

Boustany was joined in Ukraine by another former Republican congressman, Geoff Davis of Kentucky. Boustany says it seems as if the U.S. has forgotten about Ukraine since the new administration took office.

Cut 14 (14) “…to these people.”

Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order directing BESE to reallocate 168-million dollars of non-instructional funding in the public school budget to prevent a potential teacher pay cut. School superintendents, however, say they need more money because of rising fuel costs, insurance and other expenses.

Landry says since 1988, Louisiana’s K-through-12 enrollment has dropped by more than 111-thousand students, yet the cost to educate each child has increased 67-percent……

Cut 10 (07) “…priorities problem.”

Former Louisiana Congressman Charles Boustany told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana about his visit to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and observe some of the country’s humanitarian efforts. He says the images we see at home do not tell the whole story.

Cut 13 (11) “…we are now.”

Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says the organization is pleased with how the legislative session went. One bill spurring the sentiment is one that modernizes the state’s workers’ comp system and helps reduce costs for small businesses.

Cut 4 (12) “…employee making money.”

Long says the organization was also playing defense with some bills that it did not agree with, including those which would have imposed new labor mandates and regulatory mandates on small businesses.

The LHSAA announced it would be relocating three State Championships this upcoming school year. The Boys’ Basketball State Championships will return to the CAJUNDOME in Lafayette for the first time since 2011. The Powerlifting State Championships will move to the West Monroe Sports and Events Complex, and the State Wrestling Championships will return to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.