Governor Jeff Landry’s closed party primary proposal is headed to the Governor for his signature, but significant changes were made before it passed the house and senate. Statewide or legislative races were not included but under the bill, Federal elections and elections for Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and BESE will shift to party primaries starting in 2026. New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez says a recent poll shows there is public support for closed primaries…

Cut 5 (08) “…elected officials.” 

The Louisiana Legislature has sent a Congressional map to the governor’s desk that has two majority Black districts. This could result in a second Louisiana Democrat being elected to the U-S House. State Representative Beau Beuallieu says the proposed Congressional boundaries also protect four Republican members…

Cut 13 (15) “…Louisiana” 

A federal judge ordered the Louisiana Legislature to redraw the Congressional map lawmakers approved in 2022, because it violated the Voting Rights Act by not having two majority-minority districts.

Governor Jeff Landry says a new deal has been struck to build a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. The Louisiana Motor Transport Association opposed the financing plan proposed last year by the Edwards administration and they do not like Landry’s plan, even though it reduces the toll for trucks to cross the bridge from $12.50 to $8.25. Director of the L-M-T-A Renee Amar…

Cut 11 (11) “…Louisiana truckers.”

It could cost two billion dollars to replace the Calcasieu River Bridge built in 1952. Amar says no other stretch of I-10 from California and Florida is tolled and believes federal and state tax dollars should pay for construction

Grammy-winning Cajun musician Jo-EL Sonnier will be laid to rest tomorrow in Sulphur. Sonnier was 77. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to AutismSpeaks-dot-org.

The Louisiana Senate has made significant changes to Governor Jeff Landry’s closed party primary proposal. The legislation no longer includes statewide or legislative races, but the bill would shift federal elections to party primaries starting with elections in 2026. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis still believes it’s a bad bill for Louisiana…

Cut 3 (07) “…are going to be frustrated.”

Unaffiliated voters will be able to vote in the primaries. The proposal heads to the House for its concurrence.

2 people died as a result of the recent frigid weather. The Louisiana Department of Health reports coroners confirmed that the deaths of a 36-year-old male in Rapides Parish and a 73-year-old female were weather related due to hypothermia.

Governor Jeff Landry’s plan to finance a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge calls for tolls but at a lower cost than what the Edwards Administration proposed. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Visitation for Grammy-winning Cajun musician Jo-EL Sonnier is being held this afternoon. Sonnier was honored with numerous accolades and he was inducted into seven Music Halls of Fame. Executive Director of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Mike Shepard…

Cut 8 (09) “…his heart.” 

Governor Jeff Landry says a new deal has been struck to build a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Landry says this plan reduces the overall cost of the bridge by 25 percent. He says federal and state dollars will pay for the bridge, plus tolls, but not as high as proposed by the Edwards Administration

Cut 9 (10) “…26 percent” 

But the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, who opposed Edward’s financing plan and they aren’t happy with Landry’s plan either. Director of the L-M-T-A Renee Amar says no other stretch of I-10 from California to Florida is tolled and believes federal and state tax dollars should pay for construction…

Cut 12 (08)  “…money eventually”  

It’s estimated it will cost two billion dollars to replace the Calcasieu River Bridge built in 1952.

2024 is Louisiana’s Year of Music and Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says as part of the celebration they’re launching the Louisiana Music Trail…

Cut 5 (12) “…in Vidalia.” 

You can learn more about it when it goes live on ExploreLouisiana-dot-com.

Visitation for Grammy-winning Cajun musician Jo-EL Sonnier is being held this afternoon, and his funeral will be tomorrow in Sulphur. As a child, he was diagnosed with autism. Executive Director of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Mike Shepard says as a way to cope, Sonnier’s physician told him to learn to play an instrument and the doctor agreed with his choice of the accordion.

Cut 7 (05) “…that happened.” 

Instead of flowers, donations can be made to AutismSpeaks-dot-org. Sonnier was 77.

Governor Jeff Landry says a plan is in place to build a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge and the overall cost is 25-percent lower than what the Edwards administration proposed. Landry says federal and state dollars will be used to pay for the bridge and tolls will be needed too, but 26-percent lower than what was proposed last year. Landry says the state will also get 15-percent equity in the bridge, which means 15-percent of the profits will go back to the area…
cut 10 (08) “….imperial Calcasieu”
The Louisiana Motor Transport Association does not like Landry’s plan, even though it reduces the proposed toll for trucks to cross the bridge from $12.50 to $8.25. Director of the L-M-T-A Renee Amar…
Cut 11 (11) “…Louisiana truckers.”

The regular session begins in March and Oil City Republican Danny McCormick has already filed what he calls a constitutional carry bill that would allow non-felons, 18-years-and-older to conceal carry a gun without a permit..
cut 15 (11) “…God Given right”
The regular session begins March 11th.

Visitation for Grammy-winning Cajun musician Jo-EL Sonnier is being held this afternoon, and his funeral will be tomorrow in Sulphur. The 77-year-old collapsed shortly after a performance in Llano, Texas last Saturday. Executive Director of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Mike Shepard says Sonnier died doing what he loved…
Cut 6 (09) “…go out.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to AutismSpeaks-dot-org. Sonnier was diagnosed with autism as a child.

Governor Jeff Landry says a new deal has been struck to build a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Landry says this plan reduces the overall cost of the bridge by 25 percent. He says federal and state dollars will pay for the bridge, plus tolls, but not as high as proposed by the Edwards Administration

Cut 9 (10) “…26 percent” 

Landry says because of Lake Charles’s proximity to Texas, 60 percent of the people paying the tolls will be from outside of Louisiana.

Among the bills pre-filed for the regular legislative session is Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s conceal carry. Currently, Louisiana residents need a permit and must undergo firearm training. McCormick argues a gun owner can legally open carry and training is not required…

Cut 14 (08) “…their right.” 

2024 is Louisiana’s Year of Music and Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says as part of the celebration they’re launching the Louisiana Music Trail…

Cut 5 (12) “…in Vidalia.” 

You can learn more about it when it goes live on ExploreLouisiana-dot-com. And Nungesser hopes this is the year to bring back the Music Commission to lure more artists to record in the Pelican State.

And speaking of music, the 2024 Jazz Fest lineup is out. We already knew the Rolling Stones were on the bill for May 2nd, but producer Quint Davis released the entire lineup yesterday and it runs the gamut…

Cut 7 (13) “…fell in.”
Weekend passes are on sale now. You can see the full line-up at NOjazzfest-dot-com.

Governor Landry’s proposal to shift Louisiana elections to closed party primaries underwent major changes yesterday. A Senate committee removed statewide and legislative elections and only federal and state supreme court elections would move to closed party primaries starting in 2026. The full Senate will debate the bill today.

Once again Oil City Representative Danny McCormick files a bill for debate in the regular session to make it legal to conceal carry a gun without a permit.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The 2024 New Orleans JazzFest lineup has been released and there are 624 acts and some of the biggest groups and singers in music. Including the Rolling Stones, Chris Stapleton, Neil Young, and the Foo Fighters. Jazz Fest Producer Quint Davis says it’s a massive undertaking to book hundreds of acts for two weekends in April and May…
cut 8 (09) “…aligned”
Tickets are now on sale.

The Louisiana Office of Tourism is launching the “Year of Music” campaign, which will be used to lure music lovers from other states to visit the Pelican State. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says they’ll be at CMA Fest in Nashville and DC Jazz Festival as a way to promote Louisiana’s musical culture…
cut 6 (11) “…trip here”

Governor Jeff Landry unveiled a plan last night to build a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles and he says this proposal is not as costly as the one proposed last year by the Edwards Administration. Landry says the new proposal costs 25-percent less and tolls have been reduced by 26-percent across the board.

Louisiana has launched the Year of Music Campaign to emphasize the state’s musical culture as a reason to visit the state. Colleen Crain has more…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain”

The Louisiana House and Senate are scheduled to meet at 9 AM to debate a proposal to move federal elections to closed party primaries and up for debate in the House is a Congressional map that would add a second-majority minority district. That second district would extend from Shreveport to Baton Rouge. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell…
cut 12 (15) “…support from”

The 2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Musical Festival line-up is out and and music lovers are making plans to be in the Big Easy during the final weekend of April and the first weekend of May. Jazz Fest Producer Quint Davis…
cut 9 (12) “….and state”
Tickets are on sale.

A Congressional map redesign that makes Republican Congressman Garret Graves’s sixth district a majority minority district continues to advance at the special session. The House Governmental Affairs Committee approved the map proposal, but Representative Ed Larvadain does not like that the second black voting district stretches from Shreveport to Baton Rouge…
cut 11 (11) “….zig zagging”
Senator Glen Womack is the author of the map and he says it accomplishes their goals, two majority-minority districts and it protects the re-election chances for Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Julia Letlow and Clay Higgins. It will be debated on the House floor today.

The regular session begins in March and Oil City Republican Danny McCormick has already filed what he calls a constitutional carry bill that would allow non-felons, 18-years-and-older to conceal carry a gun without a permit..
cut 15 (11) “…God Given right”
The regular session begins March 11th.

The 2024 New Orleans Jazz Fest Line-up is out and festival producer calls it a “Killer” line-up….
cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The state Office of Tourism will emphasize music this year in promoting Louisiana to visitors…
cut 4 (09) “…January 22nd”
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the Year of Music coincides with the launch of the Louisiana Music Trail which will go live on explore-louisiana-dot-com.

The House Governmental Affairs Committee votes for a proposed Congressional district map that makes Republican Garret Graves’ district a second Black majority district in Louisiana. A federal judge has ordered the Louisiana Legislature to draw a map with two majority-minority districts. Catahoula Parish Senator Glen Womack says his bill does that and it also…
Cut 10 (12) “…Scalise.”
Sulphur Representative Les Farnum added an amendment that puts all of Ouachita Parish in Julia Letlow’s district and all of Calcasieu Parish in Speaker Mike Johnson’s district. But it splits Rapides and East Baton Rouge between three different Congressional districts. Baton Rouge Representative has a problem with that…
cut 18 (09) “….that’s insane” (2x)
The bill will be debated some more today on the House floor.

State lawmakers have begun filing bills for the regular session that starts in March and north Louisiana Republican Danny McCormick has already filed his legislation to allow non-felons, 18 and over to conceal carry a firearm without a permit. McCormick’s measure ran into trouble in the state Senate last year…
Cut 13 (07) “…constitutional carry bill.”
This is the fifth consecutive year McCormick has authored a conceal carry bill. In 2021, Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed it.

The 2024 Jazz Fest lineup is out. We already knew Rolling Stones on May 2nd but producer Quint Davis released the entire lineup yesterday with much fanfare….
cut 7 (13) “…..fell in”
Tickets and weekend packages are on sale now.