Voters will have a chance in November to decide whether two-term governors can still seek to reprise their roles after sitting out four years. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

A Hammond police officer finds himself on the other side of the law. The unidentified officer was arrested on allegations involving cockfighting activities, with charges ranging from misusing state computer systems to retaliating against a witness. The officer has been placed on administrative leave.

Governor Landry signed a bill today that adds an additional 50-million dollars to the state’s fortified roof program. At a news conference, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says they will be distributing more grants this summer, and a lottery to receive a grant of up to ten-thousand dollars will begin next week.

Cut 10 (13) “…to homeowners.” 

The Fortified Roof Program has been around since 2023 and since that time 49-hundred homeowners have used the grant program to install fortified roofs. 

At the SEC Spring Meetings, LSU Coach Lane Kiffin made his first public comments since adding former head coach Ed Orgeron to his coaching staff.

Cut 6 (08) “..of it.”

Kiffin also says quarterback Sam Leavitt’s rehab from a foot injury continues to go well. He’s running at 21 miles per hour.

Governor Landry signed a bill today that adds an additional 50-million dollars to the state’s fortified roof program. Landry says this is important legislation because fortified roofs can limit storm damage.

Cut 9 (14)  “…the benefit.”

A constitutional amendment that would limit governors to two lifetime terms will be on the November 3rd ballot. Some Democrats expressed concern that Chalmette Representative Mike Bayham was specifically targeting John Bel Edwards, who would otherwise be eligible to run for re-election next year – although this amendment would also apply to Republican Bobby Jindal. Bayham says neither one expressed any concern to him about the amendment.

Cut 5 (07) “…or Governor Edwards.”

The Pelicans officially introduce Jamahl Mosley as their new head coach. During his introductory news conference, Mosley says he likes what he sees in his new team.

Cut 14 (09) “…says a lot.”

At the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida, LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin was asked his thoughts on his highly anticipated return to Oxford when the Tigers play Ole Miss Rebels on September 19th. Lane did not take the bait.

Cut 8 (09) “…at it”

Kiffin coached at Tennessee for one season; and when he returned there as the head coach of Ole Miss in 2021, fans threw objects at him, including a golf ball and a mustard bottle. Kiffin certainly didn’t relish the moment.

In November, voters will get to weigh in on yet another constitutional amendment. This one would limit governors to two lifetime terms. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham says he’s confident that this one will pass, pointing to how the 1995 legislative term limit amendment passed with more than 75-percent of the vote. He says if voters approve this one, it will mark a new day in Louisiana. 

Cut 4 (07) “…haunted us.”

Applied Digital Corporation plans to build a 3.6-billion-dollar A-I data center in the Rapides Parish town of Boyce. Public Service Commissioner Jean-Paul Coussan says this is a huge day for Cenla.

Cut 13 (09)  “…we can win.”

The campus will support advanced A-I and cloud computing workloads. Pineville-based Cleco will provide the power to support it

Public money that universities pay directly to college athletes will be concealed from public view under legislation one vote away from final passage. The measure passed the Senate on a 22-13 vote. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell voiced her opposition to the legislation while questioning one of the co-sponsors of the bill, Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil.

Cut 9 (12)  “…for state funding.”

LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin spoke at the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida. While he had a lot to talk about, reporters wanted to focus on his decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU. Kiffin says he enjoyed his time with the Rebels, but LSU was an opportunity for him to do something new.

Cut 7 (11) “..new challenge.”

Nearing final legislative passage is a bill that would prevent the public from getting details on the revenue share contracts that universities have with their athletes. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly opposes the idea of creating a new public records exemption…

Cut 10 (09) “…be on education.”

Supporters of the legislation say the contracts between the athletes and schools should be concealed to the public, because it would create a competitive disadvantage for a school like LSU and it prevents an athlete from being harassed over how much money they are receiving. The measure heads back to the House for final legislative approval.

At the SEC Spring Meetings, LSU Coach Lane Kiffin was asked about the highly anticipated return to Oxford when the Tigers play the Ole Miss on September 19th. …

Cut 8 (09) “…at it”

The ability for two-term governors to make another run for the state’s top job after sitting out four years is now in the hands of the voters. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham’s constitutional amendment limiting governors to two lifetime terms has passed both houses by the requisite two-thirds majority and will be on the November 3rd ballot. Bayham says prior history has shown that nothing good results when governors keep coming back time and time again.

Cut 3 (09) “…to federal prison.”

Again this amendment will show up on the November third ballot.

New Pelicans Coach Jamahl Mosley has his work cut out for him as he takes over a franchise that missed the playoffs the last two seasons. Getting Zion Williamson to play a superstar level is a priority. Mosley says Zion has not scratched the surface of what he can do…

Cut 15 (07) “….being healthy”

Williamson played in 62 games last season, second highest number of his career.

Governor Jeff Landry says after lawmakers approve the budget, which they are expected to do in the next week, he’ll look at it and see where they can find money to make sure teachers do not receive a pay cut. A two-thousand-dollar stipend they received back in 2023 is set to go away because Constitutional Amendment three failed on May 16^th.

Legislative leaders are also forming a task force that will look at ways to provide teachers with a permanent pay raise. Landry says there should be money available to do this since, funding for public education has gone up, while public school enrollment has declined….

Cut 4 (15) “…students”

The Louisiana Senate approved a spending plan for the next fiscal year, it contains pay raises for judges, firefighters, and prison guards. The House still has to sign off on it.

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Public money that universities pay directly to college athletes will be concealed from public view under legislation one vote away from final passage. The measure passed the Senate on a 22-13 vote. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell voiced her opposition to the legislation while questioning one of the co-sponsors of the bill Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil.

Cut 9 (12)  “…for state funding.”

Foil argues that this is not taxpayer dollars. It’s money generated by the athletic department through ticket sales and TV contracts.

At the SEC Spring Meetings, LSU Coach Lane Kiffin made his first public comments since adding former head coach Ed Orgeron to his coaching staff…

Cut 6 (08) “…of it”

Kiffin added that Coach O will also be an asset in recruiting.

As Governor Landry promises he and the legislature will find a way to give teachers another two-thousand-dollar stipend, he also announced the formation of a bipartisan MFP permanent pay raise task force.  The Governor says while public school enrollment has gone down by 100-thousand over the last four decades, per-student spending has increased dramatically. All while teacher pay has not kept up with inflation.

Cut 6 (11) “…it for inflation.”

Applied Digital Corporation announced plans to build a massive A-I data center in the town of Boyce. The 3.6-billion-dollar artificial intelligence factory will bring with it 200 direct high-paying jobs.  Louisiana Central President and CEO Chris Massingill says this project has the potential to be one of the most transformational in the history of Rapides Parish.

Cut 12 (10) “…get to work.”

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The Louisiana House approves legislation that would prevent the public from seeing how much universities are paying college athletes. Joe Gallinaro explains.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.” 

Pelicans new head coach Jamahl Mosley has officially been introduced.  The man who led the Orlando Magic to the playoffs over the last three seasons Mosley is known as a defensive minded coach and he talked about why it’s important.

Cut 16 (12) “…high level.”

Governor Landry says there’s no logical reason that teachers should not get a permanent pay increase. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Gov. Jeff Landry will discuss the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program and sign bills on this morning at the State Capitol.   The program allows eligible homeowners to apply for grants to cover costs for strengthening their roofs against hurricane-force winds.  That news conference is set for 9:30.

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A proposal to prevent the public from seeing the revenue share contracts between universities and their athletes was approved by the Senate by a  22-13 vote. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil argued that if other SEC schools know how much LSU is giving to a particular player, it could give them too much bargaining power.  But, Norco Senator Gregory Miller says the state is losing sight of its priorities with this legislation.

Cut 8 (16) “…trying to protect.”

A 3.6-billion-dollar artificial intelligence factory is coming to Rapides Parish, as Applied Digital Corporation plans to build a massive A-I data center in the town of Boyce. The project will create more than one-thousand construction jobs, and the new campus will bring in 200 direct jobs once the facility is open.  Governor Jeff Landry…

Cut 11 (13) “…you very much.”

As Governor Landry announced that he and the legislature will find a way to give teachers another two-thousand-dollar stipend, he says there’s no logical reason not to find the money to permanently increase teacher pay in Louisiana. Landry teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation, while over the past forty years per-student spending has steadily increased.

Cut 5 (15) “…dollars for students.”

Speaking of money, a proposal that would keep the public from seeing the revenue share contracts between universities and their athletes has been approved by the Senate. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil says…

Cut 7 (09) “…are doing it.”

Several Senators spoke out against this legislation.

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A 3.6-billion-dollar AI data center will be built in Rapides Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Pelicans have officially introduced new head coach Jamahl Mosley. Mosley comes to New Orleans from Orlando, where he led the Magic to the playoffs in the last three seasons.  Mosley says he likes what he sees in his new team.

Cut 14 (09) “…says a lot.”

Governor Landry tells public school teachers at a press conference that the state will indeed plan to fund a stipend as part of their salary for the next school year. Landry says as lawmakers will approve a budget in the coming days and once the spending plan hits his desk, they will decide how to pay for the two-thousand dollar stipend for the coming school year.

Cut 9 (11)  “…my own.”

There’s currently no state funding for the stipend or permanent pay raise, because Constitutional Amendment 3 failed at the ballot box on May 16th.

Landry also announced the formation of a bipartisan MFP permanent pay raise task force.

Cut 10 (13) “…raise or not.” 

A proposal to shield the public from seeing the revenue share contracts between universities and their athletes has received approval from the Senate on a 22-13 vote. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil says if other SEC schools know how much LSU is giving to a particular player, it could result in other universities offering that athlete more money to play at their school…

Cut 7 (09) “…doing it.”

Several senators spoke out against the legislation that’s supported by LSU. Norco Senator Gregory Miller says the state is losing sight of its priorities with this legislation…

Cut 8 (16) “…trying to protect.”

The measure heads back to the House for final legislative approval.

Governor Landry says teachers will get their stipend for next school year, one way or another. Andrew Greenstein has some insight.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The governor also made a big announcement in Central Louisiana today as Applied Digital Corporation has announced plans to develop a three-point-six billion dollar artificial intelligence factory campus in Rapides Parish in the town of Boyce. The new campus will support 200 new full-time jobs with operations beginning next year.

At the SEC Spring Meetings, Commissioner Greg Sankey said the league will not take a firm stance this week on expanding the College Football Playoff from 12 to 24 teams. Sankey says any position that the SEC takes on this issue, will be after school leaders and coaches receive all of the information…

Cut 7 (12) “…moving forward.”

There is a concern a 24-team playoff will devalue the regular season.

Southeastern Louisiana has won the honor of best college campus in the state according to a study done by Niche, which is a college search website. S-L-U president Doctor Wiliam Wainwright says the school received high marks for its campus food, housing, diversity and social scene and all of that helps a student perform well…

Cut 4 (08) “…and graduation”