When you’re enjoying this holiday weekend, make sure you bring your umbrella, because it’s going to be a wet one. In fact, some areas could see as much as 15 inches of rain over the next seven days! Chanelle Stigger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says a stationary frontal system over the Southern Plains is helping to produce all of this rain.

Cut 10 (11) “…of moisture”

Now, don’t let all this rain keep you from going out to your favorite crawfish spot this weekend. Laney King, the co-founder of the Crawfish App, says that’s because after this weekend, if your crawfish fix cannot wait until after Mardi Gras next year, good luck.

Cut 5 (08) “…your favorite spot.”

Fortunately, crawfish prices are down 50 cents over the last week.

A memorial service takes place Saturday in Lake Charles for hall of fame former coach Bobby Keasler. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

As for McNeese’s baseball team’s quest for the NCAA Tournament, the Cowboys will need to win two in a row to gain an automatic berth. McNeese lost to Lamar last and will need to beat the Cardinals tonight and tomorrow to win the Southland tournament and earn that automatic bid.

This Memorial Day weekend is going to be a wet one. Chanelle Stigger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says rain chances are higher on Saturday and Sunday, and they drop off for Monday – just in time for your backyard barbecue. She says the clouds and rain will ultimately make it more comfortable to be outside once it does dry out.

Cut 11 (10) “…near average.”

On the roadways, not only does that mean use your wipers and turn your headlights on, it also means Click It Or Ticket! Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says law enforcement is putting an extra emphasis on looking for people not wearing their seatbelts from now through June 1st.

Cut 6 (13) “…wearing their seatbelts.”

Despite strong opposition from Black lawmakers, the House Governmental Affairs Committee approved a Congressional map with one majority-minority district. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris’ measure would most likely result in five Republicans and one Democrat representing Louisiana in the U.S. House of Representatives, upsetting Black lawmakers who want two majority-minority districts.

Cut 27 (11) “…white or Black.”

Baton Rouge Senator Denise Marcelle says having a congressional map where a Democrat can win only one of the six districts is unfair, considering a third of the state’s population is Black.

Cut 23 (08) “…egregious to me.”

The map was amended during committee discussion that changes some of the political boundaries; so if it’s approved by the full House, the measure will go back to the State Senate for approval of House changes.

A Senate committee approves a budget that takes into account a revenue shortfall of 104-million dollars. Senate Finance Chairman Glen Womack says the fewer dollars available is the result of the Revenue Estimating Conference adopting an economic forecast less robust than previously predicted. Womack says this means additional dollars for school vouchers and education operation costs had to be cut.

Cut 8 (11) “…increases in MFP.”

If this spending plan is approved, teachers could lose out on two-thousand dollars they are currently receiving through a stipend.

The summer travel season begins this weekend and motorists are having to pay more than four-dollars a gallon for gasoline. Triple-A’s Don Redman says Americans will not cancel their summer plans, but they may alter them as a result of the high gas prices…

Cut 15 (13) “….for the summer”

A bill awaiting the governor’s signature is a measure that would eliminate the need for drivers to get an inspection sticker for their vehicle. It will be replaced by a six-dollar Q-R code that you would get the mail, just like you get your registration sticker for your license plate. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says service station owners opposed his bill, citing that this legislation will lead to a drop in business…

Cut 21 (08) “…all over”

The governor is expected to sign the legislation.

It will be a good weekend to consume some mudbugs. Laney King of the Crawfish App says prices have dropped 50-cents a pound this week and a sack of live crawfish is selling for less than three dollars a pound and boiled crawfish is going for about $550 a pound…

Cut 4 (10) “…prices are right”

Another long day of debate over a new congressional map; and despite strong opposition from Black lawmakers, the Republican-led legislature is poised to pass a map with one majority-minority district. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (38) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The debate wasn’t without some infighting among Republicans, however, as they discussed an amendment that moved Morehouse, Lincoln and Jackson parishes from District 5 to District 4.

It will be a wet Memorial Day weekend as the state is stuck in a rainy weather pattern that will stick around into next week. National Weather Service Meteorologist Chanelle Stigger in Lake Charles says we are looking at some impressive rain totals for the next week.

Cut 9 (09)  “…seven days.”

Stigger says as far as this weekend goes, rain chances will be higher on Saturday and Sunday.

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Memorial Day or graduation, how about with one of Louisiana’s most famous delicacies? Laney King, the co-founder of The Crawfish App, says crawfish prices this holiday weekend are averaging $2.99 a pound for live crawfish and $5.50 a pound for boiled crawfish.

Cut 3 (07) “…in the season.”

King says get them while you can – this is likely the last weekend you’ll be able to enjoy crawfish this year.

A Senate committee approves a budget that takes into account a revenue shortfall of 104-million dollars. Senate Finance Chairman Glen Womack says the fewer dollars available is the result of the Revenue Estimating Conference adopting an economic forecast less robust than previously predicted. Womack says this means additional dollars for school vouchers and education operation costs had to be cut.

Cut 8 (11) “…increases in MFP.”

If this spending plan is approved, teachers could lose out on two-thousand dollars they are currently receiving through a stipend.

The summer travel season begins this weekend and motorists are having to pay more than four-dollars a gallon for gasoline. Triple-A’s Don Redman says Americans will not cancel their summer plans, but they may alter them as a result of the high gas prices…

Cut 15 (13) “….for the summer”

Despite strong opposition from Black lawmakers, the House Governmental Affairs Committee approved a Congressional map with one majority-minority district. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris’ measure would most likely result in five Republicans and one Democrat representing Louisiana in the U.S. House of Representatives, upsetting Black lawmakers who want two majority-minority districts.

Cut 4 (11) “…white or Black.”

Baton Rouge Senator Denise Marcelle asked Morris why Republicans should determine who represents the state in Congress, when only a third of the voters are registered Republican.

Cut 5 (11) “…Republicans in Congress.”

The congressional map debate will continue on the House floor next week.

Inspection stickers in Louisiana are now one gubernatorial signature away from disappearing for good. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A Congressional map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority Black districts was approved by the House Governmental Affairs Committee. Democrats strongly oppose the map and there is a difference of opinion among Republicans on what the six districts should look like.

The Senate Finance committee has approved a spending plan for next fiscal year that does not contain additional funding for the state’s voucher program known as L-A Gator. Also, there is no funding in the bill to supply teachers with a two-thousand-dollar stipend they have received since 2023. But Senate Finance Chairman Glen Womack says they are using money from the rainy-day fund to pay for highway projects…

Cut 9 (09) “…400-million”

The full Senate takes up the budget bill on Tuesday.

Triple-A projects 3.6-million Americans will travel by air this weekend, which is a slight increase over last year. Spokesperson Don Redman says a popular destination for Louisiana residents is Alaska.

Cut 14 (10) “…popular starting now.”

The House Governmental Affairs Committee has approved a proposed Congressional map that eliminates one of the state’s majority Black districts. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says race was not used as a factor in drawing the map, but New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd countered by saying it sure seems the map is drawn to benefit White Republicans…

Cut 7 (12) “….they’re white Republicans”

The proposed map heads to the House floor where it’s expected to be voted on next week.

The end of inspection stickers in Louisiana is just Governor Landry’s expected signature away from becoming official, as House Bill 1085 has achieved final legislative passage. The author, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, says that ten-dollar inspection sticker will be replaced with a six-dollar QR code…

Cut 10 (05) “…color, I think.”

And that information can only be read by special equipment available to law enforcement.

Despite four-dollar-plus gasoline prices, a record 45-million American plan on traveling this Memorial Day weekend. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

If you are traveling in the state this week, expect to run into some heavy downpours. A flash flooding risk is possible today and tomorrow across a large portion of the state. Overall rainfall amounts should range from three to six inches with some locally higher amounts through Tuesday,

The Congressional map Republican lawmakers are pushing cleared another legislative hurdle yesterday as the House Governmental Affairs Committee approved the new map on a ten-seven vote after a ten hour plus debate. If the proposed map is signed by the governor, one of the state’s two majority Black districts will be eliminated and Republicans will likely represent five of the six Congressional districts…

Cut 6 (08) “…egregious to me.”

That’s Baton Rouge Democrat Denise Marcelle who asked West Monroe Republican Jay Morris why Republicans should determine who represents the state in Congress, when only a third of the voters are registered Republican.

Cut 5 (11) “…Republicans in Congress.”

The proposed map heads to the House floor for another vote next week.

Despite gasoline prices over four dollars a gallon, a record 39-million people will travel by car to a destination 50 miles or more this Memorial Day weekend. Triple-A’s Don Redman says a little pain at the pump will not keep people from having a good time this weekend.

Cut 13 (05)  “…for Memorial Day.”

Triple-A projects 3.6-million Americans will travel by air this weekend, which is a slight increase over last year.

This is the last year of the vehicle inspection sticker as a result of legislation approved by lawmakers. There was opposition from businesses who say the vehicle inspection forces drivers to make sure their vehicle is safe to drive and it’s a viable business for many. But the bill’s author, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, says vehicle inspections is not intended to be a money maker…

Cut 12 (08) “…even answer that”

Assuming Landry signs the bill like he said he would, you will no longer have to renew your inspection sticker as of January 1st of next year.