Cut 24 (04) “…It’s all over!”

The 2026 legislative session is all over! The Senate adjourned sine die shortly before four this afternoon, and the House followed suit a short time later. Of course, this year’s session will be forever remembered for how the legislature seemed to stop in its tracks to redraw the congressional district map after the Supreme Court ruled the previous map an unconstitutional gerrymander. Following several lengthy debates, the legislature passed and Governor Landry signed a map that closely resembles the one the state used in 2022.

One year after vetoing a similar bill, Governor Landry allows a bill to ban balloon releases to become law without his signature. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is grateful that Landry allowed Harahan Representative John Illg’s balloon release ban to become law this time around, saying it will save wildlife in the long run.

Cut 9 (06)  “…tangled in them.”

Among the bills that didn’t make it onto Governor Landry’s desk was one that would have named a potential new Mississippi River bridge after President Trump. Monroe Representative Michael Echols says naming the bridge after Trump was not absolute; it was contingent on him securing federal funding during his term.

Cut 14 (09) “…dollars to Louisiana.”

While it sailed through the House, Echols says the Senate had no interest in road or bridge-naming bills this year. As such, a bill by Moore Representative Pat Moore to name a one-mile stretch of Highway 15 after President Obama also went nowhere.

Hurricane season is underway. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says the agency has done its part in preparing – now it’s time to do your part.

Cut 5 (13) “…and your property.”

The 2026 Legislative session has ended and a bill that gained headlines early in the session never made it to the governor’s desk and that is the proposal to name a third Baton Rouge area Mississippi River bridge after President Trump. Monroe Representative Michael Echols says the purpose behind his bill was to coax the Trump administration to give the state a hefty portion of the three-billion dollars it would cost to build the additional bridge.

Cut 12 (10) “…this done faster.”

But Senate President Cameron Henry said the upper chamber did not want to take up road or bridge-naming bills.

Governor Landry has allowed a bill to become law without his signature that prohibits ceremonial balloon releases. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser supported the legislation and says balloons can cause a multitude of problems…

Cut 10 (08) “…waterways or drains”

Today is day one of Hurricane Season, and GOHSEP is ready. Spokesman Mike Steele says the agency has spent the last several months preparing for the 2026 hurricane season.

Cut 3 (11) “…the same page.”

Steele notes that due to changes with FEMA, there may be more that would need to be asked of first responders at the state and local levels. But he notes that those are things that they had already started doing.

The season ended last night in Starkville for the Ragin Cajuns baseball team as U-L Lafayette lost to Mississippi State 19 to 5 in the Regional Finals. Coach Matt Deggs expects the Cajuns will go farther next year…

Cut 8 (14) “…with this group”

The lottery for grants of up to ten-thousand dollars through the Fortified Homes Program is open. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 28 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Today is the first day of the 2026 hurricane season. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says Louisiana is ready for whatever this season brings and so is the entire Gulf South…

Cut 4 (12) “…lot of times”

This is the final day of the legislative session and one bill that did not make it across the finish line is a measure to name a proposed third Baton Rouge area bridge over the Mississippi River after President Donald Trump. Monroe Representative Michael Echols says he filed the legislation to get more federal dollars for the multi billion dollar project, but the Louisiana Senate refused to take up the bill, despite the House overwhelmingly approving it…

Cut 13 (04) “….with that effort”

Echols says Senate President Cameron Henry told him he had no desire to take up any road or bridge-naming bills this year.

The season ended last night for the U-L Lafayette baseball team as the Cajuns were routed by Mississippi State 19 to 5. The Bulldogs hit seven home runs as Coach Matt Deggs’ says his team was not feeling the effects of playing 11 games in 13 days…

Cut 6 (12) “….great starts”

Mississippi State advances to play Georgia in the Super Regionals.

Today is the final day of the legislative session and this session will be remembered for the Congressional map that will give Republicans another seat in the U-S House as Louisiana will likely have five Republicans in their House delegation to one Democrat, instead of the current four-two split. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says now that the map has been signed into law, the next stop will very likely once again be the courts.

Cut 20 (08) “…this map stands.

Governor Jeff Landry has allowed a bill to become law without his signature that prohibits ceremonial balloon releases. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser supported the legislation and says balloons can cause of a multitude of problems…

Cut 10 (08) “…waterways or drains”

A House approved bill to name a third Mississippi River Bridge in the Baton Rouge area after President Trump never made it through the Louisiana Senate. In fact, the Senate never took up the bill after it was overwhelmingly approved by the House. The bill’s author, Monroe Representative Michael Echols, says naming the bridge after the President was contingent on him securing the federal funding during his term…

Cut 14 (09) “…to Louisiana”

Echols says the Senate did not take up his bill, because Senate President Cameron Henry said the upper chamber was not taking up any legislation to name highways or bridges after a person.

The season ended last night in Starkville for the Ragin Cajuns baseball team as U-L Lafayette lost to Mississippi State 19 to 5 in the Regional Finals. Coach Matt Deggs expects the Cajuns will go farther next year…

Cut 8 (14) “…with this group”

Today is day one of hurricane season. GOHSEP says it’s ready, and it wants you to be too. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Registration opened today for another round of fortified roof grants. 3,000 individuals within a 130-mile-per-hour wind zone will be selected to receive a ten-thousand-dollar grant. For more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the Louisiana Department of Insurance website. Registration closes June 19 and winners will be selected June 22.

The UL Lafayette baseball season came to a close after a 19-5 loss to Mississippi State in the Starkville Regional final last night. The Cajuns ran out of gas after a stellar end to the season and postseason push that included 11 games over the last 13 days. Head coach Matt Deggs says they had more in the tank.

Cut 16 (17) “…there yet.”

Governor Landry allowed a bill banning the release of balloons to become law without his signature. Landry vetoed a similar bill previously, citing enforceability concerns. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says when balloons end up in waterways, they can threaten marine wildlife and more

Cut 11 (04) “…in the waterway.”

It’s the first of June, which also means it is the first day of hurricane season. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Tragedy in West Monroe, as two girls drowned in Ouachita River yesterday. They were among three who went swimming in the river yesterday evening. A boy was able to get out and call for help when the girls failed to resurface. Divers pulled the girls’ bodies from the water at around 7:30 yesterday evening.

One year after vetoing a similar bill, Governor Landry allows a bill to ban balloon releases to become law without his signature. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is grateful that Landry allowed Harahan Representative John Illg’s balloon release ban to become law this time around, saying it will save wildlife in the long run.

Cut 9 (06)  “…tangled in them.”

A great run by the U-L Lafayette baseball team has come to an end, as the Cajuns were eliminated in the NCAA regionals by Mississippi State last night, 19-5. The Cajuns relied on a deep and talented freshman class, who head coach Matt Deggs says only got better as the season went on.

Cut 7 (14) “…of season, man.”

Today marks the official beginning of the 2026 hurricane season. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says NOAA is predicting a below average season, with eight to 14 named storms. Keim says says El Niño conditions will result in fewer storms this year.

Cut 29 (05) “…from really blossoming.”

Just because NOAA and Colorado State researchers are forecasting a quieter season that doesn’t mean we should let our guard down, so says Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness…

Cut 5 (13) “….and your property”

Steele says a great resource is the Get A Game Plan website and app.

Today is the final day of the legislative session and the major piece of legislation that made it to the governor’s desk was a bill that reduced the number of majority-Black Congressional districts from two to one. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council…

Cut 13 (11) “…map in 2024”

The so-called Five-one-map, meaning five Republicans likely representing the state’s six congressional districts will likely face a legal challenge.

Today, homeowners seeking a grant of up to ten thousand dollars to pay for a fortified roof can get register to be selected to receive the grant dollars. Three-thousand homeowners will be selected, and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the eligible area has been expanded to include Acadia, Jefferson Davis and Lafayette parishes, as well as portions of eight other parishes previously excluded from the program.

Cut 12 (08) “…hurricane-force winds.”

For more information go to the Department of Insurance’s website.

The 2026 regular session ends today, and lawmakers must complete their work by six PM. They have already done their heavy lifting for the session, passing a new Congressional map that features five Republican districts and one Democratic district. The Republican led-Legislature’s decision to eliminate one of the Black majority districts upset Democrats and a lawsuit contesting the map will likely be filed.

Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says  a fair congressional map is something that precisely no one at the Capitol can agree on, and the battle has actually been going on for many years, even before the 2022 drawing of the map that started the chain of events that has led us to this point.

Cut 15 (10) “…up in court.”

It remains to be seen what the map will look like for the November House elections.

Today is day one of Hurricane Season, and GOHSEP is ready. Spokesman Mike Steele says the agency has spent the last several months preparing for the 2026 hurricane season.

Cut 3 (11) “…the same page.”

Steele notes that due to changes with FEMA, there may be more that would need to be asked of first responders at the state and local levels. But he notes that those are things that they had already started doing.

Registration for a new round of fortified roof grants opens today. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says it opened at eight this morning.

Cut 10 (09) “…a potential grantee.”

This round of funding will be for three-thousand roofs, and Temple says history has shown that the number of people registering for the lottery will exceed that number several times over. For more information go the Department of Insurance’s website.

Today is the final day of the legislative session and this session will be remembered for the Congressional map that will give Republicans another seat in the U-S House as Louisiana will likely have five Republicans in their House delegation to one Democrat, instead of the current four-two split. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says now that the map has been signed into law, the next stop will very likely once again be the courts.

Cut 14 (08) “…this map stands.

Today is the first day of the hurricane season as forecasters are predicting a below average hurricane season. But as we all know, all it takes is one major storm to make it a bad season. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says take the time now, to Test flashlights, batteries and generators, and make sure your family is on the same page in case of evacuation.

Cut 6 (07) “…just be prepared.”

Registration for a new round of fortified roof grants opens today. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

A great season for the Ragin Cajuns ended last night with a 19 to five loss to Mississippi State, the number 14 overall seed in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. U-L Lafayette reached the Regional Finals by beating Cincinnati eight to six. The Cajuns finished with a 41-25 record.

Today is June first, which in Louisiana means the start of hurricane season. Experts say this year’s season has been forecasted to be below average, thanks to El Niño conditions.  And while there may be fewer storms, LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says we should all stay alert, because all it takes is one storm to ruin your year.

Cut 5 (09) “…relatively quiet season.”

Registration for a new round of fortified roof grants opens today. Insurance Commissioner Temple says this year, they’re focusing on areas within a 130-mile-an-hour wind zone. Therefore, the eligible area is expanded to include Acadia, Jefferson Davis and Lafayette parishes, as well as portions of eight other parishes previously excluded from the program.

Cut 12 (08) “…hurricane-force winds.”

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Today’s the final day of the legislative session  as Louisiana lawmakers will be in an all-out game of Beat The Clock to get those last-minute bills onto Governor Landry’s desk. While this year’s session will be remembered for the congressional map redistricting that lawmakers suddenly became tasked with near the end of the session, Barry Erwin, the chief policy officer of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says lawmakers did pass several bills aimed at strengthening Louisiana’s workforce.  And he says while most bills looking to make changes to the TOPS program went nowhere this year, the discussion isn’t over yet. discussion.

Cut 8 (08) “…study it further.”

Erwin says one surprising bill that ultimately became law is one that gives colleges and universities a great deal of flexibility to raise tuition.

Cut 9 (11)  “…of the legislature.”