Inspection station owners are not happy the state legislature is poised to pass legislation to eliminate the need for vehicle owners to get an inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

For the 32 people who had been running for U.S. House in Louisiana, all their efforts have now gone to waste. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

As a result of this week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision, Louisiana’s legislative leaders say they plan to approve a new congressional district map during the final month of this legislative session. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

______________________________________________

A House bill that would eliminate vehicle inspection stickers is nearing final passage, despite strong opposition from the businesses that conduct the inspections. Janice Aucion of Morgan City says she’s been inspecting vehicles for 26 years and told Senate Transportation that inspection stations keep unsafe vehicles off the road.

Cut 4 (14) “…that’s not obvious.”

The bill author’s, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, says it’s inconvenient for drivers to have to get a vehicle inspection sticker every year or two. He’s seeking to replace the inspection sticker with a six-dollar QR code that drivers would pay through the mail instead of going to an inspection station.

Davey Quinn of Hammond says passage of Bagley’s bill will result in more uninsured motorists, vehicles with tinted windows that are darker than they should be and vehicles that not fit for the road.

Cut 5 (10) “…the people first.”

Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Bryan Adams says the state does not need inspection stations to help find uninsured motorists.

Cut 6 (09) “…all understood that.”

Bagley downplayed the role inspection stations have in preventing unsafe and uninsured drivers from getting behind the wheel.

Cut 7 (09) “…safety issue here.”

The bill heads to the Senate floor. If the upper chamber approves, the full House will have to agree to the Senate amendments before it goes to the governor’s desk. Governor Landry supports the bill.

____________________________________________________________

With the U.S. House elections now suspended in light of the state’s congressional map being declared unconstitutional, that means all campaigns are now null and void. Once a new map is adopted, the process will start all over from square one, with candidates going through the qualifying process in the new districts. Political strategist Lionel Rainey notes that all this comes after the 32 candidates from both parties had already raised and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on an election that now will not happen.

Cut 8 (08) “…not exist anymore.”

Rainey says Louisiana has entered uncharted waters with this last-minute suspension of the primary election; and as such, there are many unanswered questions – particularly when it comes to how much money the candidates will be able to raise, should they choose to run in a newly-drawn district. He points out that the federal government puts a cap on how much an individual can give to a specific candidate.

Cut 9 (09)  “…raise more money?”

Rainey says if the Federal Elections Commission does not grant a waiver given the unique circumstances, that’s going to put the candidates who decide to continue their quest for U.S. House in a very tough spot.

Cut 10 (07) “…they can raise.”

____________________________________________________________

The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is soaring towards four dollars a gallon. Regular unleaded at many service stations is currently selling for more than $3.80 a gallon. Patrick DeHaan from GasBuddy says it seems inevitable gas prices in Louisiana will eclipse four dollars a gallon soon.

Cut 11 (09) “…a gallon mark.”

DeHaan says this latest surge in gas prices is connected to the rising cost of oil.

Cut 12 (10) “…prices going up.”

The highest statewide average gas price ever recorded in Louisiana was $4.56 a gallon in June of 2022. DeHaan says if peace negotiations don’t improve between the U.S. and Iran, there’s a chance we could see a new record this year.

Cut 13 (07) “…of getting there.”

____________________________________________________________

With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s congressional map, legislative leaders say they will approve a new map before the session is required to end on June 1st. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says a session that was coasting along could experience some turbulence over the next few weeks.

Cut 14 (10) “…a fast track.”

Four Republicans and two Democrats currently make up Louisiana’s U.S. House delegation. Alford says Wednesday’s historic Supreme Court ruling gives legislative leaders a chance to pass a map that would add to the number of Republicans in the U.S. House.

Cut 15 (06) “…five-one map.”

Yesterday, Governor Landry announced the suspension of the U.S. House races. But absentee ballots have already been sent out, and early voting begins tomorrow. Alford says the late delay to the congressional primaries is also adding more work for the secretary of state’s office and the local clerks of court.

Cut 16 (06) “…off the ballot.”

______________________________________________________________

The LSU baseball team begins a must-win three-game series against South Carolina tonight. Both the Tigers and Gamecocks are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive, and coach Jay Johnson believes South Carolina will give his team its best shot.

Cut 17 (18)  “…be highly competitive.”

LSU has not only struggled to hold leads in SEC play over the past three weeks, but it has also had trouble closing out one and two-run games. But Johnson believes that could change soon.

Cut 18 (19)  “…season so far.”

_____________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech is in Dallas this weekend to take on Dallas Baptist in a pivotal three-game series. The Patriots rank first in Conference USA and fifth nationally in home runs with 91 and counting. In addition to hitting home runs, head coach Lane Burroughs says DBU can beat teams in other ways.

Cut 19 (14) “…an offensive standpoint.”

Senior catcher Matt Houston has been on a hot streak over his last several games. Houston hit two home runs earlier this week against ULM, and Burroughs says that he has earned the opportunity to become an everyday player.

Cut 20 (11) “…every day now.”

Just when they thought they had it all figured out comes the curveball of curveballs. With the Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s congressional map just two days before the start of early voting, the U.S. House election is now on hold until the legislature can pass a new congressional map. La-politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says a session that was coasting along could experience some turbulence over the next few weeks.

Cut 14 (12) “…fast track.”

Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says he’s not worried – bills were filed weeks ago in anticipation of this very scenario.

Cut 8 (07) “..that we need.”

Seabaugh says he’s confident that the legislature can pass a new map by June 1st, which is the date when the session must end.

A House bill that would eliminate vehicle inspection stickers is nearing final passage, despite strong opposition from the businesses that conduct the inspections. Janice Aucion of Morgan City says she’s been inspecting vehicles for 26 years and told Senate Transportation that inspection stations keep unsafe vehicles off the road.

Cut 4 (14) “…not obvious.”

The bill author, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, downplayed the role inspection stations have in preventing unsafe vehicles from the roads and uninsured drivers from getting behind the wheel.

Cut 7 (11) “…safety issue here.”

Bagley’s bill advanced to the full Senate without objection in committee. If the Senate approves, the House will have to agree to the Senate amendments before it goes to the governor’s desk.

The LSU baseball team picked up a much-needed win over Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday night. Even though LSU’s bats are heating up at the right time, the pitching staff continues to struggle. The Tigers have allowed 36 runs over their last five games and rank last in the SEC with a 5.32 ERA. Coach Jay Johnson says Pitching Coach Nate Yeskie and Director of Pitching Development Jamie Tutko met to address the issues and says the staff has to execute better in order to turn things around.

Cut 18 (16)  “…than they have.”

Johnson says sophomore pitcher Casan Evans will throw at practice today for the first time since being scratched from his start at Mississippi State last week. He added that it is still uncertain whether Evans will pitch at any point during this weekend’s series against South Carolina.

LSU football’s cornerback room took a hit earlier this month when sophomore Aidan Anding suffered a torn Achilles during a scrimmage. Head coach Lane Kiffin says the position group is a concern due to limited depth and believes the Tigers will need several players to step up this summer.

Cut 20 (17) “…what you have?”

McNeese opened up the Southland Conference Softball Tournament with a 5-4 win over Stephen F. Austin on Thursday. The Cowgirls will play the winner of Northwestern State and Nicholls on Friday at 2 p.m.

Louisiana Tech softball picked up its fifth straight win today after shutting out UTEP, 5-0.

The 2026 LHSAA Softball Tournament has been rescheduled to Saturday and Sunday due to inclement weather expected to impact the Sulphur area throughout the day on Friday.

The ACLU of Louisiana calls yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map “disgraceful.” The Supreme Court threw out the map, ruling it an unconstitutional gerrymander. Executive Director Alanah Odoms says it’s not just people of color who will suffer in the long run because of this ruling.

Cut 5 (07) “…upon name change.”

In light of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, next month’s U.S. House primaries in Louisiana are now suspended until a new congressional map can be drawn. Political analyst Scott Hughes says once that happens, the process will need to start all over again; and with only six months to hold an election essentially from square one, that would make a closed primary untenable.

Cut 10 (11) “…we’ll be done.”

Legislative leaders say approving a new Congressional map in this regular session is possible. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The timing of all this makes last October’s special session that much more consequential. That’s the session that adjusted the primary election dates. The Supreme Court ruling came down 18 days after the original primary date of April 18th. Had the dates not been changed, the current maps would have likely had to remain in place for the rest of the election cycle.

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled Louisiana’s congressional map an unconstitutional gerrymander, next month’s U.S. House primaries are now suspended. Andrew Greenstein reports….

Cut 2 (34) “….I’m Andrew Greenstein”

Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh agrees with the governor’s decision to suspend the U-S House primaries, because you can’t hold an election based on a map that’s been determined to be unconstitutional…

Cut 6 (11) “…exist anymore”

With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s Congressional map, legislative leaders say they will approve a new map before the session is required to end on June 1^st. La-politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says a session that was coasting along, could experience some turbulence…

Cut  14 (12) “…fast track”

Ground has been broken on the new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. When Governor Landry took office in 2024, he made it one of his priorities to find a way to fund a new Lake Charles Bridge. His solution was a public-private partnership with Calcasieu Bridge Partners that will use federal, state and toll dollars to build the bridge. Landry says 15-percent of the tolling revenues will go right back into the area.

Cut 12 (10) “…Imperial Calcasieu forever.”

In light of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, next month’s U.S. House primaries in Louisiana are now suspended. Secretary of State Nancy Landry made the announcement this afternoon ahead of Governor Landry’s expected executive order. Political analyst Scott Hughes says with this suspension, the entire process will need to start all over again, since the districts will have changed and there are specific qualifying rules.

Cut 9 (09)  “…a huge issue.”

The decision comes just two days before early voting in the primaries was set to begin. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says postponing the U.S. House elections is the right thing to do so that the legislature can approve a legal congressional map.

Cut 7 (06) “..now and then.”

All other races and the constitutional amendments are still on.

The ACLU of Louisiana is outraged over yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map. Executive Director Alanah Odoms says she fears that this ruling will be the catalyst for making life a lot more difficult for minorities.

Cut 4 (13) “…orders and policies.”

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles, Governor Landry said he plans to put more pressure on the federal government to provide more money for the construction of the bridge.

Cut 13 (09) “…around the area.” 

More federal money also means lower tolls to cross the bridge. The tolls haven’t been established yet; they will be collected for 50 years.

The U.S. House primaries in Louisiana are suspended after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the congressional map an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh agrees with the decision.

Cut 6 (11) “….exist anymore.

With the suspension of the House primaries, the process would need to start all over from square one once a new map is in place. Political analyst Scott Hughes says if the process is not completed by January 3rd, when the next Congress is sworn in, Louisiana would be left with no representation at all in the House, so it might be in the legislature’s best interest to scrap the closed primary for the U.S. House race.

Cut 11 (13) “…for closed primaries.”

The ACLU of Louisiana calls yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map “disgraceful.” Executive Director Alanah Odoms says by chipping away at the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court is dialing back civil rights as a whole.

Cut 3 (13) “…opportunities of others.”

The first Louisiana patient to receive sickle cell gene therapy is back at home after six weeks at Manning Family Children’s Hospital New Orleans. Gene Therapy Program Director Dr. Benjamin Watkins says sickle cell disease is a chronic condition that causes intense pain throughout the body.

Cut 14 (08) “…in the country.” 

Watkins says this new FDA approved treatment can provide a functional cure for sickle cell.

The ACLU of Louisiana calls yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map “disgraceful.” The Supreme Court threw out the map, ruling it an unconstitutional gerrymander. Executive Director Alanah Odoms says it’s not just people of color who will suffer in the long run because of this ruling.

Cut 5 (07) “…upon name change.”

So in light of this ruling, next month’s U.S. House primary election is now in limbo. Governor Landry is expected to suspend the primary, saying the state is now restricted from using the current congressional map. Political analyst Scott Hughes says if that happens, that would leave only six months to essentially hold an election from square one, which could make a closed primary untenable.

Cut 10 (11) “…we’ll be done.”

One state senator says approving a new congressional map in this regular session is possible.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Outgoing Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson got quite the going-away present – a 30-count indictment related to last year’s jailbreak. The charges include malfeasance in office and payroll fraud. Hutson lost her re-election bid to Michelle Woodfork, who will be sworn in Monday. Chief Financial Officer Bianka Brown is also indicted on 20 counts.

In light of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, the status of the U.S. House primaries is now in limbo. Governor Landry is expected to suspend the primary, saying the state is now restricted from using the current congressional map that the Supreme Court has ruled an unconstitutional gerrymander. Political analyst Scott Hughes says if Landry follows through on that, that means the qualifying process would have to start all over again, because the districts would have changed and there are specific qualifying rules.

Cut 9 (09)  “…a huge issue.”

There is a little more than a month left in the regular session to approve a new Congressional map. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says bills were filed before Wednesday’s historic ruling by the Supreme Court, in case the nation’s highest court ruled that the current map is unconstitutional…

Cut 8 (07) “..that we need.”

The ACLU of Louisiana calls yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map “disgraceful.” Executive Director Alanah Odoms says by chipping away at the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court is dialing back civil rights as a whole.

Cut 3 (13) “…opportunities of others.”

But Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the ruling vindicates a position that the state has taken from the beginning in that it shouldn’t be sorting voters by race…

Cut 21 (08) “…constitution”

The Supreme Court ruling means race can not be used as the main factor in drawing political maps, but states are legally permitted to draw districts to favor a political party.