Legislation continues to move through the state capitol that would allow for the Louisiana Wildlife Commission to establish rules and regulations for a recreational alligator hunting season. The Louisiana Senate unanimously approved the bill by Franklin Senator Robert Allain, who says the alligator population has become too large.

Cut 6 (07) “…side of the road.”

Have you seen the price of diesel lately? Some truck stops have it at north of five dollars a gallon! Nearly all semis are powered by diesel engines. As such, Dr. Walter Lane, the chairman of the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at UNO, says the more it takes to keep them fueled, the more the goods they transport will end up costing us.

Cut 5 (10) “…chain to us.”

Tragedy in Rapides Parish as a former sheriff is run over and killed. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The Lane Kiffin era is officially underway at LSU. Spring football began today in Baton Rouge, giving Kiffin his first opportunity to lead his team through drills. Kiffin joins the Tigers from SEC rival Ole Miss, where he spent the last six seasons. Kiffin, of course, isn’t the only new face in town, as the Tigers have several new players, including two high-profile transfer quarterbacks.

Even if you don’t drive an 18-wheeler, you will be paying the high price of diesel one way or another. Andrew Greenstein explains.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A hit and run crash claimed the life of former Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton yesterday. The crash occurred just before 1:00 PM and the suspect driver has been identified as 53-year-old Ladonna Delrie of Pollock.

The winningest football coach in Northwestern State history has died. Sam Goodwin, who led the Demons to 102 wins in 17 seasons, died last Friday at the age of 82. Former Northwestern Sports Information Director Doug Ireland says Goodwin turned the program into a perennial powerhouse in the Southland Conference.

Cut 9 (06)  “…coaching tenure here.”

Goodwin won the three Southland championships from 1988 to 98.

The Louisiana Senate has approved legislation to create a recreational alligator hunting season. Franklin Senator Robert Allain says the gator population exceeds three-million in this state and Allain is concerned about alligator-human interactions that can turn deadly,….

Cut 8 (06) “….this bill”

A nonverbal autistic, 12-year-old boy died near his New Orleans home after he was attacked by an alligator last August. The measure now heads to the House.

As fast as the price of gasoline is rising, the price of diesel is soaring as fast as an 18-wheeler speeding down a six-percent grade hill after losing its brakes. Some stations are selling diesel for more than five dollars a gallon. Dr. Walter Lane, the chairman of the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at UNO, says that’s going to make nearly everything you buy more expensive.

Cut 4 (09) “…comes by truck.”

Gonzales Representative Kathy Edmonston is proposing that proceedings in the Family Court for East Baton Rouge Parish be live-streamed for remote public access. Since family court almost always involves children in one way or another; there can be privacy issues. Edmonston says as such, she will likely be amending her bill accordingly.

Cut 8 (12) “…the general public.”

The Louisiana House approves a bill to name a proposed new bridge in Baton Rouge after President Trump, but only if there’s a strong financial commitment from the federal government. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Tragedy in Rapides Parish as former Sheriff William Hilton is killed in a hit-and-run. Hilton served as sheriff for 16 years, from 1992 until 2008. Deputies eventually had to use spike strips to stop the suspect vehicle and arrest the suspect. William Hilton was 80 years old.

If you think gasoline prices are high, get a load of diesel fuel prices! Some truck stops are selling diesel at more than five dollars a gallon. Dr. Walter Lane, the chairman of the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at UNO, says even if you don’t commute to and from work via semi truck, you will feel the effects.

Cut 3 (08) “…comes by truck.”

Lane says the more it takes to keep 18-wheelers fueled, the more the goods they transport will end up costing us

This past weekend, we got a glimpse of what a renovated Smoothie King Center will look like, thanks to reporting from NOLA.com and the Advocate. A major emphasis will be more seats in the lower bowl. NOLA-dot-com’s Jeff Duncan says the Pelicans also want to upgrade fan amenities and hospitality areas, including grab-and-go concessions, VIP club lounges, an upper-level party deck, and bunker suites. Duncan says other NBA venues have similar features.

Cut 14 (12) “…in the past.”

Duncan says the Pelicans can pay for the renovations by using money the franchise will soon likely receive by the NBA adding two new teams.

The House approved a bill to name a new Mississippi River bridge after President Trump.  The state is looking at building a bridge south of Baton Rouge in Iberville Parish with a three-billion-dollar price tag. Livonia Representative Jeremy Lacombe says if naming the bridge after the President helps bring home the federal dollars to build it, he’s all for it.

Cut 10 (11) “…host of issues.”

Lacombe amended the bill to say the bridge will only be named after President Trump if the federal government provides a substantial amount of funding,

The Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved what they call demand response programs that can lead to Entergy Louisiana customers saving money and also helping to reduce the strain on the electricity grid. The three new programs for residents include the smart thermostat program, an electric vehicle charging program and a battery storage program. Entergy Louisiana vice president of customer service, Nyka Scott, says for those who have solar panels, the battery storage program will compensate customers for using their stored solar energy to support the grid during peaks…

Cu 6 (10) “…on our system”

Over the weekend, NOLA-dot-com published proposed plans for a major upgrade to the Smoothie King Center, the home of the New Orleans Pelicans, aimed at bringing the arena up to modern NBA standards. NOLA-dot-com’s Jeff Duncan says adding more seats to the lower bowl is one of the more significant aspects of the plan.

Cut 13 (14)  “…sit up high.”

Diesel prices have reached an average of $5.00 per gallon in Louisiana, up from $3.25 a month ago. Regular gasoline is averaging $3.59 per gallon today up from $2.52 a month ago, according to AAA. Prices typically rise in the summer months but the situation in Iran has intensified the spike in prices. Some bargain shoppers are joining merchants’ discount clubs or using apps to find the lowest prices.

A Gonzales Republican is proposing that proceedings in the Family Court for East Baton Rouge Parish be live streamed for remote public access. Representative Kathy Edmonston says she’s proposing the bill to bring transparency to the court and under her bill, the only way the cameras can be turned off is by mutual agreement.

Cut 9 (07)  “…the cameras off.”

A bill that would name a planned new Mississippi River bridge south of Baton Rouge after President Trump is heading to the Senate after the House approved an amended version of the bill to say the bridge will only be named after President Trump if the federal government provides a substantial amount of funding for construction by January 20^th, 2029. The author of the legislation, Monroe Representative Michael Echols, says a new bridge is needed to alleviate traffic congestion in the capital city.

Cut 11 (07) “…across that river.”

The full House approved a bill to the name a planned new Mississippi River bridge south of Baton Rouge after President Trump. Monroe Representative Michael Echols says he introduced the legislation to get the President’s attention that another bridge is needed in the Baton Rouge area, and it needs support from the federal government.

Cut 12 (06) “…for 30 years.”

The bill now heads to the Senate for more discussion.

Entergy Louisiana announces money saving programs. Nyka Scott, the vice president of customer service, says Entergy is giving rebates on up to two smart thermostats – and that’s not all.

Cut 5 (12) “…that as well.”

That EV charging credit is for charging your vehicle during off-peak hours. These programs are for Entergy Louisiana customers as Entergy New Orleans customers have separate programs.

Proposed upgrade plans for the Smoothie King Center aimed at bringing the arena up to modern NBA standards were released this weekend. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A hit and run crash claimed the life of former Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton yesterday. The crash occurred just before 1:00 PM and the suspect driver allegedly ran over Hilton who was transported to a hospital by helicopter but succumbed to his injuries.  Authorities say they used spike strips to finally stop the suspect, driving a blue Nissan Moreno at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The incident is still under investigation and Sheriff’s office asked for prayers for the former sheriff’s family, friends, and the RPSO family.

A proposed bill would live-stream East Baton Rouge Parish Family Court proceedings. Representative Kathy Edmonston says she’s proposing the bill to bring transparency to the court. Edmonston says she is aware of privacy concerns involving children and she will likely amend her bill to protect juveniles…

Cut 8 (12) “…the general public.”

The bill only applies to the Family Court for East Baton Rouge Parish, since it’s the only constitutionally mandated family court in the state.

The House approved a bill to name a new Mississippi River bridge after President Trump.  The state is looking at building a bridge south of Baton Rouge in Iberville Parish with a three-billion-dollar price tag. Livonia Representative Jeremy Lacombe says if naming the bridge after the President helps bring home the federal dollars to build it, he’s all for it.

Cut 10 (11) “…host of issues.”

If you’re an Entergy Louisiana customer, you will soon have three new ways to take a load off the power grid – and to save yourself some money. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Diesel prices have reached an average of $5.00 per gallon in Louisiana, up from $3.25 a month ago. Regular gasoline is averaging $3.59 per gallon today up from $2.52 a month ago, according to AAA. Prices typically rise in the summer months but the situation in Iran has intensified the spike in prices. Some bargain shoppers are joining merchants’ discount clubs or using apps to find the lowest prices.

Entergy Louisiana customers will soon have three new ways to save money. Nyka Scott, the vice president of customer service at Entergy Louisiana, says those who install smart thermostats can turn the temperature up by a degree or two during peak hours. She says by doing so, they can take a huge strain off the grid, creating a win-win situation.

Cut 4 (05) “…reliable as well.”

Scott says Entergy is giving rebates on up to two smart thermostats

Over the weekend, NOLA-dot-com published proposed plans for a major upgrade to the Smoothie King Center, the home of the New Orleans Pelicans, aimed at bringing the arena up to modern NBA standards. NOLA-dot-com’s Jeff Duncan says if approved, it would be the most extensive renovation to the Smoothie King Center since it opened in 1999. He expects the Pelicans to use the 400 to 500-million dollars they could receive from the two new NBA franchises to help pay for the renovations.

Cut 15 (07) “…Pelicans’ front office.”

The Louisiana House approves a bill to name a proposed new bridge in Baton Rouge after President Trump, but only if there’s a strong financial commitment from the federal government. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A Gonzales Republican is proposing that proceedings in the Family Court for East Baton Rouge Parish be live-streamed for remote public access. Representative Kathy Edmonston says she’s proposing the bill to bring transparency to the court.

Cut 7 (07) “…bringing the bill.”