The soaring cost of insurance is expected to dominate the upcoming regular legislative session. Ben Riggs with Real Reform Louisiana says the cost of insurance is taking a huge chunk out of families’ budgets statewide.

Cut 3 (09) “…pay for insurance.”

Riggs says the high price of insurance could lead to a housing crisis in the state.

Whooping (HOO-ping) cough, a preventable respiratory illness, is spreading among children in Louisiana, with two reported deaths in the last six months. Manning Family Children’s Hospital Physician in Chief Dr. Mark Kline says numbers are way up. He says in 2023 there were only around a dozen cases in the state.

Cut 7 (13) “…from whooping cough.”

Kline says nearly 120 cases have been reported so far in 2025 and there is a vaccine available to help prevent the respiratory illness and reduce symptoms.

McNeese men’s basketball is regular season champs of the Southland Conference for a second straight season. The Cowboys clinched the title with a 100 to 65 win over UT Rio Grande Valley last night. McNeese will have the number one seed in the upcoming Southland Tournament and Coach Will Wade says winning it will guarantee them a spot in the Big Dance…

Cut 9 (09)  “…signed up for”

The Cowboys have two more regular season games on the road and then the Southland Conference Tournament starts in Lake Charles on March 9.

Warm temperatures have returned and the cold weather appears to be behind us. So how did Louisiana’s strawberry crop do with a historic snowfall and last week’s freezing weather. Darryl Poche is the co-owner of Landry-Poche Strawberry Farm in Livingston Parish…

Cut 12 (16) “…10-percent.”

Governor Landry is holding a roundtable this afternoon with local leaders in Natchitoches Parish as they discuss the next steps following the announced closing of the International Paper Mill. State Representative Jack McFarland says they plan on directing outgoing employees to potential employers in the vicinity…

Cut 12 (15) “…in Campti facility”

481 workers are set to be laid off in April when the mill closes.

Louisiana is seeing a rise in whooping cough cases among young children and according to Doctor Mark Kline with the Manning Family Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, two infants have died from the respiratory illness in the last six months. Kline says a vaccine is available that prevent severe whooping cough cases in kids and adults, especially pregnant women…

Cut 9 (12) “…the time of birth”

Professional wrestling’s biggest event returns to New Orleans next year. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

At this hour, Governor Landry is at the Port of Iberia in New Iberia announcing Cajun Industries plans to bring hundreds of jobs to the area as its building a module assembly yard. It’s expected to result in 600 jobs.

How to reverse the rise in auto insurance rates will be a focus of the regular session that begins in April. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says a lot of the issues with the auto insurance crisis can be traced to a lack of transparency with medical billing. Temple says there is a difference in what your medical provider billed and what your insurance provider paid, resulting in a net gain for an injured person in a wreck and an increased premium for the rest of us

Cut 14 (07) “…transparency to that.”

Professional wrestling’s biggest event will return to New Orleans next year. WWE announced that WrestleMania 42 will be held at the Superdome April 11th and 12th, 2026. Jay Cicero, the president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says it’s another event that puts New Orleans in the global spotlight.

Cut 4 (08) “…upon and manage.”

It will be the third time New Orleans has hosted Wrestlemania in the last three years.

Louisiana is seeing an increase in whooping (HOO-ping) cough, a preventable respiratory illness which is spreading among children, with two reported deaths in the last six months….

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Shreveport police say a man in his 30s was fatally shot as he was leaving for work this morning. Authorities say the victim was shot multiple times in the chest as he was getting into his car in the Southern Hills neighborhood. It’s unknown if the shooter was on foot or in a vehicle.

Governor Jeff Landry will be in New Iberia this morning for the official announcement that Cajun Industries will employ more than 600 skilled workers at a new assembly yard at the Port of Iberia.

This afternoon, Landry will be in Natchitoches for a roundtable discussion with local leaders on ways to boost the local economy following the closure of the International Paper mill in Campti. State Representative Jack McFarland says the Louisiana Department of Economic Development is trying to land another major employer to the area…

Cut 11 (10) “…utilize wood fiber”

Wood fibre is a renewable resource produced from wood using specialized techniques.

Kerns Studios in  New Orleans which builds nearly one-thousand floats every year is expanding from its headquarters near the Mississippi River. The company plans to build two new float-building facilities in Algiers and it has also recently purchased a warehouse on Poydras Street in New Orleans.

Whooping (HOO-ping) cough, a preventable respiratory illness, is spreading among children in Louisiana, with two reported deaths in the last six months. Manning Family Children’s Hospital Physician in Chief Dr. Mark Kline says numbers are way up. He says in 2023 there were only around a dozen cases in the state.

Cut 7 (13) “…from whooping cough.”

Kline says nearly 120 cases have been reported so far in 2025 and there is a vaccine available to help prevent the respiratory illness and reduce symptoms.

Wrestlemania is returning to New Orleans. It will be held in the Superdome April 11^th and 12^th of 2026. This will be the third time that WrestleMania is coming to New Orleans; and Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation president Jay Cicero says this time, it’s a two-night event.

Cut 5 (16) “…at the stadium.”

Governor Landry will be in Natchitoches holding a roundtable with local leaders this afternoon amid the upcoming closure of the International Paper mill. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Congressman Clay Higgins says Iraq is purchasing an additional 88-thousand metric tons of U-S long grain milled rice. That brings the total tonnage amount to 220-thousand metric tons. Higgins says a meeting with the Iraqi Ambassador led to the increased partnership between the U-S and Iraq.

Auto insurance rates will be a focus of the regular legislative session that begins in April. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says there needs to be more transparency with medical billing and making sure insurance only makes a person whole after a wreck that results in an injury…

Cut 15 (09) “….that we pay”

Temple says people need to be treated fairly by their insurance company following a wreck, but legislation will be authored in the regular session that will seek to prevent excessive gains.

Wrestlemania is coming back to New Orleans. It will be held in the Superdome on April 11^th and 12^th.  Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation president Jay Cicero says the city just hosted a Super Bowl. New Orleans will also host a national semifinal college football playoff game next January and there are a lot of other great events…

Cut 6 (09) “…on a roll”

Ticket pre-sale registration is now available.

Governor Landry will be in Natchitoches today, holding a roundtable discussion with local leaders at Northwestern State University amid the upcoming closure of the International Paper mill in Campti. State Representative Jack McFarland will be there…

Cut 10 (16) “…at other places.”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says 481 people will be out of work in April.

Doctor Mark Kline, physician in Chief at the Manning Family Children’s Hospital in New Orleans says there have been more than 120 cases of whooping cough in Louisiana over the last year and two infants have died in the last six months. Kline says there is a vaccine to protect children from this respiratory illness…

Cut 8 (10) “…18 months of age”

Professional wrestling’s biggest event returns to New Orleans next year. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

New Orleans native and former Northwestern State baseball star Terry Joseph has been added to the Saints’ coaching staff. The Shaw graduate is leaving the University of Texas as the Longhorns’ defensive passing game coordinator to be the Saints’ new defensive backs coach.

Professional wrestling’s biggest event returns to New Orleans next year. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

_____________________________________________

Louisiana is seeing an increase in whooping (HOO-ping) cough, a preventable respiratory illness which is spreading among children, with two reported deaths. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

_____________________________________________

Governor Landry will be in Natchitoches holding a roundtable with local leaders this afternoon amid the upcoming closure of the International Paper mill. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

______________________________________________________

Professional wrestling’s biggest event will be coming back to New Orleans next year. WWE announced that WrestleMania 42 will be held at the Superdome April 11th and 12th, 2026. Jay Cicero, the president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says it’s another event that puts New Orleans in the global spotlight.

Cut 4 (08) “…upon and manage.”

This will be the third time that WrestleMania is coming to New Orleans; and Cicero says this time, it will be bigger and better now that it’s a two-night event.

Cut 5 (16) “…at the stadium.”

Cicero says it’s the latest event in a long string of mega-events to be held in the city, including – of course – the Super Bowl earlier this month.

Cut 6 (09) “…on a roll.”

______________________________________________________

Whooping (HOO-ping) cough, a preventable respiratory illness, is spreading among children in Louisiana, with two reported deaths. Manning Family Children’s Hospital Physician in Chief Dr. Mark Kline says numbers are way up, compared to 2023 with only around a dozen cases in the state.

Cut 7 (13) “…from whooping cough.”

Nearly 120 cases have been reported so far, and numbers are rising. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated children have been hospitalized, but Kline emphasizes that fully vaccinated children have a better chance of recovery.

Cut 8 (10) “…18 months of age.”

Despite Louisiana’s surgeon general halting state vaccine promotion, Kline continues advocating for vaccinations to prevent severe cases in children and adults, especially for pregnant women.

Cut 9 (12)  “…the time of birth”

______________________________________________________

Governor Landry will be in Natchitoches today, holding a roundtable discussion with local leaders at Northwestern State University amid the upcoming closure of the International Paper mill in Campti. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland, whose district includes Natchitoches, says priority number one is the employees who will soon be out of work.

Cut 10 (16) “…at other places.”

McFarland says another of Landry’s priorities is to attract companies to fill the void caused by the International Paper closure.

Cut 11 (14) “…utilize wood fiber.”

McFarland says they plan on directing outgoing employees to potential employers in the vicinity.

Cut 12 (15) “…in Campti facility.”

McFarland says without creating jobs to fill the void, the closure of International Paper could have a devastating impact on the loss of sales tax revenue – maybe not this year, but next year and down the road.

______________________________________________________

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple emphasized his belief that the state needs to have a special session on the auto insurance crisis.

Cut 13 (06)  “…that we’re paying.”

Temple says a lot of the issues with the auto insurance crisis can be traced to lack of transparency with medical billing. Temple says there is a difference in what your medical provider billed and what your insurance provider paid, resulting in a net gain and also an increase in premium.

Cut 14 (07) “…transparency to that.”

Temple says other aspects that will be tacked in the upcoming legislative session is cost drivers in Louisiana that increase the cost of a claim.

Cut 15 (09) “…that we pay.”

_______________________________________________________

The LSU men’s basketball team hosts Tennessee tonight. Tigers head coach Matt McMahon says his team will have its hands full against the number-five team in the country.

Cut 16 (19) “…just been phenomenal.”

LSU is 14-and-13 overall but is just 3-and-11 in SEC play, in 15th place out of 16 teams. McMahon acknowledged that it’s been a tough season.

Cut 17 (16)  “…and your team.”

Tipoff at the P-MAC is 8:00 p.m.

_____________________________________________________

The UL Lafayette baseball team is at McNeese tonight after sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday from 23^rd ranked Nebraska. Coach Matt Deggs says after dropping the series opener on Friday night, he loved the energy of his team on Saturday….

Cut 18 (14)  “…won on Saturday.”

J-R Tollett from Ruston will start tonight on the mound against the Cowboys. The sophomore right-hander allowed just one run in four innings of relief last week against Texas Southern. Deggs says Tollett was terrific last Tuesday…

Cut 19 (15) “…off of that.”

The Cajuns are 4-and-3 on the season.

Governor Landry says when he was attorney general of Louisiana, he did something similar to what Elon Musk is doing with federal employees, by asking them to document their work or resign. In an appearance on Fox News, Landry said he called on employees at the state department of justice to reapply for their jobs and explain their duties. He said it led to a more productive department.

Cut 13 (11)  “…the same.”

A death row inmate slated to be first to be executed in Louisiana in 15 years has instead died of natural causes. Christopher Sepulvado’s attorney, Shawn Nolan, said the thought of strapping the 81-year-old to a chair and forcing him to breathe toxic gas into his failing lungs is barbaric. Attorney General Liz Murrill says what he did to his six-year-old victim was even more barbaric.

Cut 4 (12) “…hot water.”

A deadly crash in Red River Parish this weekend involving a sheriff’s deputy. Investigators say 23-year-old Deputy Asia Pikes was driving along U.S. Highway 84, responding to an emergency with her lights and siren going in her patrol unit, when an SUV being driven by 70-year-old Ella Winn of Coushatta turned into her path from Cut-Off Road. State Police Trooper Eddie Thomas says Winn, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cut 8 (09) “…life and death.”

Impairment isn’t suspected, but samples were taken as per standard procedure, and the investigation is ongoing.

After two wins last week, the LSU women’s basketball team holds steady at number-seven in the latest AP poll. They beat Georgia Thursday night, 79-63, and they beat Kentucky yesterday afternoon, 65-58, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the process.

DOGE’s Elon Musk is calling on federal employees to document their work or resign. In an appearance on Fox News today, Governor Jeff Landry says he conducted a similar exercise when he was Louisiana’s Attorney General. Landry says he called on employees at the state department of justice to reapply for their job and explain their duties…

Cut 12 (10) “…out there.”

Louisiana’s regular legislative session will begin April 14^th and House Insurance Chairman Gabe Firment from Grant Parish says his committee will have a busy agenda….

Cut 7 (08) “…issue to our constituents.”

Firment says this year the priority is auto insurance, in particular the commercial auto insurance sector, where high costs are forcing businesses to park trucks and lay off workers.

A man who was slated to be the first death row inmate executed in Louisiana in 15 years has died. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana State Police responded to a fatal crash involving a Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office patrol unit on U.S. Highway 84 near Cut-Off Road Saturday. Trooper Eddie Thomas says the crash resulted in the death of 70-year-old Ella Winn of Coushatta.

Cut 6 (14) “…lights and sirens activated.”

Thomas says Winn was traveling east in 2022 Nissan Rogue and for reasons still under investigation, Winn’s vehicle turned left and collided with the Tahoe.