Senate President Cameron Henry has told Governor Landry he opposes his idea of doubling the amount of state funding for the Louisiana Gator Program. L-A Gator is the state’s voucher program that pays the tuition costs for thousands of students to attend private school. Landry’s goal is for the program to grow so that more than just low-income families can receive state assistance.  Henry says if you keep doubling the cost of the program, eventually, you’ll have to stop doubling it…

Cut 13 (07) “….it’s not sustainable”

The state’s sugar industry has grown under the leadership of Jim Simon, the general manager of the American Sugarcane League. Last night he was inducted into the Louisiana Radio Network’s Agricultural Hall of Distinction….

Cut 8 (11) “…be recognized”

Crawfish season is officially here, and that means we begin monitoring crawfish prices. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Video from an interview done in 2025 was shown in court today where the son of former Deridder mayor Misty Roberts admits to seeing her mother having sex with his underage friend. The 43-year-old Roberts is facing charges for allegedly having sex with a teen at a party at her home in 2024 while she was the mayor of DeRidder. Roberts’ denies the allegations.

Governor Landry has asked members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to move West Feliciana Parish from the federal judicial Middle District to the Western District. Federal civil cases involving Angola state prisoners would then be heard in the Western District instead of the Middle District. Governor Landry has said the judges in the Middle District to liberal. But Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says once confirmed to the federal bench, that’s when politics are supposed to come to an end.

Cut 4 (08) “…run for re-election.”

Governor Landry is going to have another tough sell on his hands with the L-A GATOR program. That’s the voucher program that provides tax dollars to allow parents to, among other things, send their kids to private schools. Senate President Cameron Henry is looking to keep the program’s funding at 43.5-million dollars. Landry wants to bump that to 88-million, which Henry says is untenable.

Cut 12 (07) “…to stop it.”

Budget hearings begin in earnest next week in the House and we’ll see how the debate on this issue goes.

David Cupp, Billy Rogers Leonard and Jim Simon were all inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction during a ceremony last night hosted by the Louisiana Radio Network. Leonard is the owner of Integrated Crop Consulting. He spent over 35 years working for the LSU Ag Center, where he worked on over one-thousand scientific and technical articles and mentored dozens of grad students…

Cut 7 (12) “…to be here.”

The sixth ranked LSU women’s basketball team beat Tennessee 89 to 73 last night. It was Flau’jae Johnson’s final regular season game at the PMAC. Coach Kim Mulkey says it’s rare for a talented player like Johnson to play four years at one school and graduate…

Cut 28 (11) “…her back”

LSU closes out the regular season on Sunday at Mississippi State.

Governor Landry wants to shift West Feliciana Parish’s federal judicial districts. Andre Champagne reports while Landry stated his reason to Congress, there’s an ulterior motive in play.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A big weekend of college baseball is on tap. LSU hosts Dartmouth tonight, Louisiana Tech hosts 12^th ranked Southern Miss and the Ragin Cajuns go after their eighth straight win as they host UC San Diego.

Doctor Ramesh Kolluru has been named the seventh president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Kolluru was the University’s vice president for Research for more than a decade. He became the school’s interim president in November and U-L System President Doctor Rick Gallot says he’s led efforts to stabilize the university’s fiscal landscape….

Cut 13 (08) “…evolve”

Kolluru also launched a mental health task force to prioritize student wellness and secured 25-million dollars in federal money to advance research.

Three vital members of the state’s ag industry were inducted into the Louisiana Agricultural Hall of Distinction in a ceremony hosted by the Louisiana Radio Network. They are David Cupp, Billy Rogers Leonard and Jim Simon (Sea-mon). Cupp is the president of the Walsh Timber Company in Sabine Parish and has spent 45 years working in the forestry industry

Cut 6 (09) “…faboulous.”

The sixth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team capped off senior night with an 89-73 win over Tennessee last night. Junior guard Mikaylah Williams recorded a double-double, as she led the team with a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. In her final regular-season home game at LSU, Flau’jae Johnson scored 10 points and had three rebounds. Johnson, who is also a successful hip-hop artist, says she’s been able to accomplish both basketball and music through hard work.

Cut 30 (18): “allowing me to be me.”

Last night, the Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team defeated Missouri State 72-70 to improve to 16-12 on the year. Junior guard DJ Dudley scored 27 points in the win.

The second-ranked LSU baseball team looks to bounce back tonight against Dartmouth after suffering its first loss of the season to McNeese on Tuesday. The Tigers will most likely be without Chris Stanfield this weekend as he continues to deal with a hand injury. Even without Stanfield, LSU is lighting up the scoreboard, averaging 11.4 runs a game. Coach Jay Johnson says multiple players have done a good job stepping up and producing in his absence.

Cut 18 (15)  “…great player here.”

Louisiana Tech baseball looks to keep its four-game winning streak going as the Bulldogs play host to twelfth-ranked Southern Miss this weekend. First pitch on Friday is at 6 p.m.

The UL-Lafayette baseball team is one of the hottest teams in the country as the Cajuns are riding a seven-game winning streak. The Cajuns will host UC San Diego this weekend and first pitch tonight is at 6 p.m.

Governor Landry is asking Congress to shift West Feliciana Parish’s federal judicial district from the Middle District to the Western District. Landry says it’s to ease the caseload in a district with a growing population. However, legal analyst Franz Borghardt says there’s an ulterior motive – to shift cases involving prisoners at Angola to a court where Landry could get more favorable rulings.

Cut 3 (09) “…the Middle District.”

An Alabama man is potentially facing the rest of his life in prison after being arrested for indecent conduct with a Lafourche Parish teenage girl on an online gaming platform. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says 24-year-old Landen Westfall contacted the girl while playing Roblox.

Cut 14 (12) “…and harming herself.”

It’s likely to happen at any moment – the U-L Board of Supervisors is expected to remove the interim tag from Dr. Ramesh Kolluru and to name him the permanent president of U-L Lafayette. Kolluru is answering the board’s questions at this hour in a special meeting in Baton Rouge. System President and CEO Rick Gallot (“gallow”) says the Presidential Search Committee’s decision to name Kolluru as its sole finalist was obvious.

Cut 12 (11) “…that he’s garnered.”

The West Carroll Chamber of Commerce purchases the West Carroll Gazette, allowing it to continue publishing. Adam Holland owns KWCL Radio and is on the board directors for the chamber; he says the community did not want to lose its local weekly paper.

Cut 4 (09) “..can’t be replaced.”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission will perform an audit of Delta Utilities’ billing and costs this summer. Many customers in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas are upset over their high gas bills. Rahsha Williams is the head of a community center in Baton Rouge, and she told the Public Service Commission that Delta Utilities natural gas bills are a real problem.

Cut 7 (10) “…their grocery budget.”

Delta Utilities spokeswoman Sarah Porteus says gas bills are high because demand is higher in the winter months, and the cost of natural gas increased 150-percent from September to February.

Cut 9 (08)  “…their March bill.”

Porteus says customers who are unable to pay their bill can contact Delta Utilities to work out a payment plan.

The West Carroll Gazette will continue publishing a weekly paper. The 116-year-old publication has been saved because it has been bought by the West Carroll Chamber of Commerce. Local businessman Adam Holland is on the Chamber’s board of directors and says longtime readers of the West Carroll Gazette are thrilled with the news…

Cut 6 (07) “…thing’s been saved”

The cost to purchase the paper from the Louisiana State Newspapers was just one dollar.

An Alabama man has been arrested after he allegedly urged a teenager in Lafourche Parish to kill herself after the two met each other on the online gaming platform Roblox. LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says 24-year-old Landen Westfall also got the girl to send him nude photos of herself. Matherne says Westfall faces multiple charges and might not be a free man again if convicted…

Cut 15 (11) “…for 15 counts”

An Alabama man is accused of indecent conduct with a Lafourche Parish teenage girl on an online gaming platform. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says 24-year-old Landen Westfall contacted the girl while playing Roblox and coerced her to send him nude photos of herself and harm herself. Matherne says incidents like this underscore the importance of parents monitoring their kids’ online activities.

Cut 16 (12) “…all of them.”

Westfall has been booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex.

Crawfish prices dropped fifty cents per pound this week. It’s the second price drop this Lenten Season. Crawfish App Co-founder, Laney King, says the drop is a strong indicator that supply remains steady despite the recent cold weather. According to the Crawfish App live crawfish is running around $4.48 per pound and boiled crawfish $7.30 per pound.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission will perform an audit of Delta Utilities billing and costs this summer as many Delta Utilities customers are upset over their high gas bills. Rahsha Williams who heads a community center in Baton Rouge told the Public Service Commission seniors on fixed incomes are worried about their gas bills and that is impacting their health…

Cut 8 (06) “…abstract things.”

Delta spokesperson Sarah Porteus says gas bills are high because demand is higher in the winter months, but prices are coming down and customers should see that in their March bills.

West Carroll Chamber of Commerce has purchased the West Carroll Gazette, saving the 116-year-old publication after Louisiana State Newspapers announced it would no longer publish the paper. Adam Holland owns KWCL Radio and is on the board directors of the chamber…

Cut 5 (11) “…of this community.”

Many Delta Utilities customers in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas are upset over their high gas bills. Rahsha Williams who heads a Baton Rouge community center told the Public Service Commission that seniors on fixed incomes are trying to figure out how to pay their gas bills.

Cut 8 (04) “…public health impact.”

Delta Utilities spokeswoman Sarah Porteus says gas bills are high because demand is higher in the winter months, and the cost of natural gas increased 150-percent from September to February.

Cut 9 (08)  “…their March bill.”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission will perform an audit of Delta’s billing and costs this summer.

In Caddo Parish a man was found guilty of vehicular homicide in the 2022 death of his wife. The jury deliberated only 45 minutes before finding 61-year-old Steven Rubey guilty.  Reports show Steven Ruby’s blood alcohol was well over the legal limit at the time of the motorcycle crash that claimed the life of 52-year-old Tammy Lynn Rubey.

An Alabama man has been arrested for indecent conduct with a Lafourche Parish teenage girl online. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Interim UL Lafayette President Ramesh Kolluru will lose his interim title as he is named President of ULL. The search committee will present Dr. Kolluru to the Board of Supervisors during a special meeting in Baton Rouge today, at which time the board is expected to make the appointment official. Kolluru was named as the sole finalist for the job earlier this week. System President Rick Gallot says the choice was obvious.

Cut 12 (06) “…university well.”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission will perform an audit of Delta Utilities’ billing and costs this summer. Many customers in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas are upset over their high gas bills. Rahsha Williams is the head of a community center in Baton Rouge, and she told the Public Service Commission that Delta Utilities natural gas bills are a real problem.

Cut 7 (10) “…their grocery budget.”

Delta spokeswoman Sarah Porteus says gas bills are high because demand is higher in the winter, and the cost of natural gas increased from September to February. Porteus says customers who are unable to pay their bill can contact Delta Utilities to work out a payment plan, and she also encourages customers to utilize levelized billing.

Cut 10 (06) “…amount every month.”

While gas prices are up. Crawfish prices dropped fifty cents per pound this week. Crawfish App Co-founder, Laney King, says the drop is a strong indicator that supply remains steady despite the recent cold weather.

Great news for readers of the West Carroll Gazette. Joe Gallinaro has the details of how the paper was saved.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The UL System is expected to name Dr. Ramesh Kolluru as President of UL Lafayette today. Kolluru has been serving as interim president and was named as the sole finalist for the job earlier this week, beating out 11 other candidates. System President Rick Gallot (“gallow”) says Kolluru has been very effective during his time as interim president, so it only makes sense to give him the job permanently.

Cut 13 (08)  “…change and evolve.”