During a traffic stop on Interstate 49, Rapides Area Drug Enforcement recovered a quarter pound of fentanyl that they say has a street value of $18,000. RADE had been conducting surveillance since being informed that 27-year-old Craig Deandre Brown would be trafficking the drug. After stopping Brown for improper lane usage, a subsequent k-9 alert led to a vehicle search and pat down. Officers uncovered the fentanyl in Brown’s pants and he was arrested without incident.

A new poll from JMC Analytics indicates there is still minimal support for changing Louisiana’s elections to a closed primary. In the first special session, lawmakers voted to move Congressional, PSC, BESE and Supreme Court elections to a closed primary starting in 2026. Pollster John Couvillon says he surveyed 660 likely voters and 48 percent of them did not even know it was changed.

Cut 9 (13) “…2026.” 

The State Inspector General has issued a report on the death investigation of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson, who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022 in Baton Rouge. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (39)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The McNeese Cowboys are preparing for their first NCAA Tournament Basketball game since 2002. McNeese is 30-3 and they are just one of four teams in the country with at least 30 wins. Junior forward Christian Shumate says they are ready to play on the big stage…

Cut 13 (06) “…a team”  

The Louisiana Office of Inspector General has issued a report on their investigation of the 2022 fentanyl overdose death of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson. Inspector Stephen Street says even though DCFS was notified of previous overdoses the system failed to protect the toddler and it’s an unfortunate truth that these types of tragedies with children are more common than we want them to be.

Cut 8 (08) “…to handle.” 

The child’s mother Whitney Ard faces murder charges and the father Mitchell Robinson, Junior pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, the new closed primary election system will cost the state an additional 135-million dollars over ten years. JMC Analytics pollster, John Couvillon says when the respondents heard the cost of a party primary system, 72-percent said they oppose switching from open primaries.

Cut 11 (06) “…minimal popularity.”

A bill has been filed in the regular session that seeks to include statewide offices, including elections for governor and legislative seats into the closed primary system.

We are not done with winter yet, below freezing temperatures are possible tomorrow morning. LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin reports freeze warnings and watches have been posted…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Bill Jaquemin.” 

Coushatta Casino Resort will break ground on a new $150 million 204 room hotel expansion in Kinder this week. Director of Marketing Robert Thornton says the new hotel is needed to keep up with consumer demand…

Cut 3 (12) “…that regard.”  

1:30 G

The Office of Inspector General has issued a report on their investigation of the death of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson, who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022 in Baton Rouge. Inspector Stephen Street says ninedays before the child’s death a third call was made to DCFS from a physician asking if any action had been taken and confirmation that fentanyl was found in the child’s system on June 4^th.

Cut 7 (09) “…that was.”  

DCFS says they are hiring more caseworkers acknowledging.

The McNeese Cowboys are preparing for their first NCAA Tournament Basketball game since 2002. The Pokes are a 12 seed and will face fifth-seeded Gonzaga on Thursday night in Salt Lake City. Coach Will Wade says there are only 68 teams left playing and all of them are good…

Cut 12 (09)  “…hard to do.”

A new poll from JMC Analytics indicates minimal support for changing Louisiana’s elections to a closed primary. In the first special session, lawmakers voted to move Congressional, PSC, BESE and Supreme Court elections to a closed primary in 2026. Pollster John Couvillon says their poll indicates closed primaries have become less popular in Louisiana…

Cut 10 (11) “…it had. “

A bill has been filed in the regular session to include statewide offices in the closed primary system.

Coushatta Casino Resort will break ground on a new $150 million 204-room hotel expansion in Kinder this week. Director of Marketing Robert Thornton says the expansion will increase total capacity to over a thousand rooms…

Cut 4 (08) “…the casino.” 

The project is projected to be completed in late 2025.

The State Inspector General has issued a report on the death investigation of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson, who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022 in Baton Rouge. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (39) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Tomorrow is the first day of spring, but we are not done with winter. Freeze warnings and watches are posted as large portion of the northern half of the state will get below freezing tomorrow morning.

A new poll from JMC Analytics indicates there is still minimal support for changing Louisiana’s elections to a closed primary. In the first special session, lawmakers voted to move Congressional, PSC, BESE and Supreme Court elections to a closed primary starting in 2026. Pollster John Couvillon says he surveyed 660 likely voters and 48 percent of them did not even know it was changed.
Cut 9 (13) “…primary anymore.”

Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder will break ground this week on a new 150-million dollar, 204 room hotel expansion. Director of Marketing Robert Thornton says the hotel will create 150 to 200 additional permanent jobs and the new addition will get the tribe’s culture out to the public.
Cut 5 (10) “…historical figures.”
The project is expected to be complete by late 2025.

Louisiana’s Inspector General has issued a report on their investigation of the death of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson, who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022 in Baton Rouge. Stephen Street says even though DCFS was notified of previous overdoses the system failed to protect the toddler.
Cut 6 (10) “…child’s safety.”
The report points out the assigned caseworker was overwhelmed with multiple high-profile cases and DCFS says they are trying to rectify that by hiring more staff.

Today begins the second week of the regular legislative session and lawmakers will soon dive into bills that attempt to stop the rise in homeowners insurance premiums. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says the legislature can’t tell insurance companies to lower rates, they have to create a market that results in multiple companies vying for your business…
Cut 15 (08) “…listeners business”
Talbot has legislation to clarify the claims process.

Coushatta Casino Resort will break ground on a new $150 million 204 room hotel expansion in Kinder this week. Director of Marketing Robert Thornton says the new hotel is needed to keep up with consumer demand…
Cut 3 (12) “…to stay”
Thornton says the expansion will increase total capacity to over one-thousand rooms.

To help the crawfish industry with financial assistance after last summer’s drought severely impacted the crop, Congressman Troy Carter is holding three workshops for crawfish producers, boil houses, restaurants, grocery stores, and others who depend on crawfish.
Cut 7 (10) “…of Louisiana.”
The first of three workshops is at Southern University at New Orleans today.

Beginning today the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control will resume the enforcement of state laws concerning the sale of vapor products. Products that aren’t registered with the state’s VAPE directory can be seized from retailers. Commissioner Ernest Legier says the legislature passed Act 414 to eliminate flavored vape products…

Cut 12 (11) “…elected officials.” 

The law is being challenged but ATC is resuming enforcement today.

Clarifying the claims process is one idea lawmakers will discuss in the legislative session to bring more insurers into Louisiana. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says they’ve been told by Lloyd’s of London that Louisiana’s claims process is ambiguous and unclear.

Cut 13 (06)  “…in Louisiana”
Talbot has filed a bill that makes it more clear on when the clock starts for claims to be paid.

To help the crawfish industry with financial assistance Congressman Troy Carter is holding three workshops for those who depend on crawfish. He says the workshops are one-stop-shops.

Cut 9 (12)  “…it most.”

The first one will be held today in New Orleans and for a detailed listing of the workshops visit LouisianaRadioNetwork.com

McNeese is the 12th seed in the Midwest Region and will face 5th seeded Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Thursday night. Coach Will Wade has led the Cowboys to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002 and they’ll play a Gonzaga team ranked 17th in the AP poll…

Cut 19 (14) “….get there”  

State lawmakers will use this legislative session to pass legislation that will seek to bring homeowners insurance rates down. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot has filed a bill that makes it more clear on when the clock starts for claims to be paid. He also wants to give insurers 60-days, instead of 30 days, for a claim to be paid after a hurricane…
Cut 14 (12) “…do it”
Talbot says the current system leads to more lawsuits and insurers are hesitant to do business in a litigious environment.

New speed limit signs will begin to go up on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge as the speed limit is changing for truckers. It will go up from 55 to 60-miles per hour, which matches the speed limit for vehicles. But truckers will continue to be restricted to right lane travel only. Louisiana Motor Transport Association Director Renee Amar says it would be better to allow truckers access to both lanes…
Cut 5 (09) “…going forward.”

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control will resume enforcing a ban on certain vape and alternative nicotine products, such as Elf and Puff Bars. ATC Commissioner Ernest Legier says a law passed in 2023 says vape products that have not applied for FDA approval can not be sold in Louisiana. That law is being challenged in the courts, but Legier says their attorneys have said they can move forward with the ban…
cut 11 (11) “…are written”

To help the crawfish industry with financial assistance after last summer’s drought severely impacted the crop, Congressman Troy Carter is holding three workshops for crawfish producers, boil houses, restaurants, grocery stores, and others who depend on crawfish.
Cut 7 (10) “…of Louisiana.”
The first of three workshops in conjunction with the Small Business Administration will be at Southern University at New Orleans today,

Today begins the second week of the regular legislative session and lawmakers will soon dive into bills that attempt to stop the rise in homeowners insurance premiums. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says the legislature can’t tell insurance companies to lower rates, they have to create a market that results in multiple companies vying for your business…
Cut 15 (08) “…listeners business”
Talbot has legislation to clarify the claims process.

Congressman Troy Carter is hosting workshops in New Orleans, Reserve and Baton Rouge this week that will help crawfish farmers apply for federal assistance. Carter says crawfish farmers are having trouble making money because of a low supply of mudbugs…
cut 8 (12) “…for us”

New speed limit signs begin to go up this week on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Colleen Crain has the details…
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The McNeese men’s basketball team will play Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Salt Lake City. Grambling State is in the tourney for the first time ever and they’ll play Montana State on Wednesday night in Dayton, Ohio. The Lady Tigers are a three-seed and they’ll face Rice on Friday afternoon in Baton Rouge.