A third suspect wanted in connection with the hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson has surrendered. Isaiah Smith turned himself in this morning. Smith along with 23-year-old Caleb McCray and Kyle Thurman are facing felony charges for their role in Wilson’s death last month. Authorities say Wilson died after being punched in the stomach during a hazing ritual with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. McCray was arrested late last week, and Thurman was arrested by Baton Rouge Police and U.S. marshals yesterday.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s trip to Washington, DC, amid a city-imposed travel ban is not sitting well with the president of the city council. J.P. Morrell is demanding a full accounting of any expenses incurred by Cantrell during her trip.

Cut 4 (11) “…people from Yale.”

The unanimously-approved travel ban runs through at least the end of next month.

There could be another black bear hunting season this winter, and this one would be even bigger than last year’s. The department is looking to expand the areas to include much of South Louisiana.  John Hanks, the large carnivore program manager at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, says the number of tags would go up from 11 to 26 – but your odds of scoring one would be quite long.

Cut 7 (11) “…for those permits.”

If approved, the bear hunting season would run from December 6th to the 21st. The department will accept written public comment through May 1st.

And now, a look at today’s commodities.

There could be another black bear hunting season this winter, and this one would be even bigger than last year’s. John Hanks, the large carnivore program manager at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, says the department is looking to open up two additional bear areas along with Bear Area 4 in northeast Louisiana.

Cut 6 (11) “…Terrebonne, Iberia.”

Hanks says the number of tags would go up from 11 last year to 26 for the season that would run from December 6^th to the 21^st.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says property insurance reforms in Louisiana are working. Temple says since the legislature passed his package of property insurance reform bills last year, rates are starting to trend in the right direction.

Cut 10 (09) “…overall reinsurance market.”

Temple says this year the state has approved seven rate decreases from residential insurers. That is more than what was approved between 2022 to 2024.

A third suspect involved in the hazing death investigation of Southern University student Caleb Wilson has surrendered to authorities. Isaiah Smith turned himself in this morning. Smith along with 23-year-old Caleb McCray and Kyle Thurman are facing felony charges for their role in Caleb Wilson’s death. Authorities say Wilson died after being punched in the stomach during a hazing ritual with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

One lucky crawfish will not go into the boiling pot this crawfish season.  Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says property insurance reforms in Louisiana are working. Temple says since the legislature passed his package of property insurance reform bills last year, many property insurance premiums are no longer skyrocketing.

Cut 12 (09) “…are coming down.”

Not only that, Temple says some insurers are starting to file rate decreases. He says since last year, his department has licensed ten new insurers.

The lease for the temporary housing facility in New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood that housed homeless people during the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras will be extended on a week-to-week basis. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says there are far fewer people in the transitional center today.

Cut 8 (09) “…down to 78.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has pardoned a crawfish today. It’s part of an unofficial kickoff to crawfish season here in Louisiana. 

Cut 4 (12) “…here in Louisiana.”

The crawfish is named Pat Huval, after the late former mayor of Henderson, just east of Lafayette, and the namesake of Pat’s Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant, where the ceremony took place. The crawfish is being given a police escort to a state park, where he will live the rest of his life, while his family will be boiled and eaten.

New Orleans native Quannas White, the current associate head coach at the University of Houston, has been named the new head coach of the U-L Lafayette men’s basketball team. The Advocate’s Kevin Foote says it’s a huge win for the Ragin’ Cajuns program.

Cut 14 (10) “…great hire.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says property insurance reforms are working. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A second person has been arrested in the death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson of Kenner. Baton Rouge Police say the 20-year-old Wilson died from a hazing incident as he was punched in the chest while pledging Omega Psi Phi. Twenty-five-year-old Kyle Thurman was arrested yesterday in Port Allen. Twenty-three-year-old Caleb McCray was the first suspect arrested and a third suspect is still at large.

The lease for the temporary housing facility in New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood that housed homeless people during the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras expires today, but it will remain open for the time being. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says they will extend the lease of the facility on France Road as long as necessary in short chunks.

Cut 7 (06) “…week by week basis.”

Steele says at one point there were 183 people in the transitional center and it’s now down to 78.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is pardoning a crawfish today. For the last nine years, Nungesser has spared the life of one crawfish, keeping it from going into a boiling pot of mudbugs….

Cut 6 (09) “….beautiful state parks”

The pardoning of the crawfish will take place at Pat’s Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant in Henderson.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says property insurance reforms in Louisiana are working. Temple says since the legislature passed his package of property insurance reform bills last year, rates are starting to trend in the right direction.

Cut 10 (09) “…overall reinsurance market.”

Temple says this year the state has approved seven rate decreases from residential insurers. That is more than what was approved between 2022 to 2024. Also, the Louisiana Department of Insurance has licensed ten new homeowners insurers since the 2024 legislative session.

Funeral Services for Former Louisiana First Lady Alice Foster will be at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Franklin tomorrow at noon. Alice Foster passed away last Thursday at the age of 84. She was married to former two-term Governor Mike Foster for 40 years. Governor Foster’s Press Secretary Marsanne Golsby…

Cut 21 (06) “…nerves of steel.”

One lucky crawfish will be treated like royalty as he will have his life spared this morning. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Ragin Cajuns have a new men’s basketball coach. New Orleans native Quannas White, who is currently the associate head coach at Houston, will take over the U-L Lafayette men’s basketball program. The Advocate’s Kevin Foote says White has strong local ties……

Cut 13 (09) “…at St. Aug…

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says there are signs that the state’s property insurance market is improving. In the 2024 legislative session, lawmakers approved several property insurance reforms and Temple says since that time, the Department of Insurance has licensed ten new homeowners’ insurers. Temple believes more competition will help bring down rates. He says in the first two months of 2025, the state has approved seven rate decreases from residential insurers, all between four and 11 percent. He says that is more than the state approved for the calendar years of 2024, 2023 and 2022 combined. Temple says the reforms approved last year are also working faster than what Florida did…

Cut 11 (08) “…seeing the impact”

This year lawmakers are expected to look at auto insurance reform, in particular trying to lower rates for commercial auto insurance.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser will pardon a crawfish today. This is the ninth year he has taken part in the ritual as part of an unofficial kickoff to crawfish season in Louisiana.

Cut 4 (12) “…here in Louisiana.”

The pardon will take place at Pat’s Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant in Henderson and the lucky crawfish that will be spared has been named Pat Huval, the former mayor Henderson who died in 2018.

New Orleans native Quannas White, the current associate head coach at the University of Houston, has been named the new head coach of the  U-L Lafayette men’s basketball team

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says property insurance reforms are working. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is moving forward with plans to expand the black bear hunting season. Last December, the state had its first season in decades and the commission has approved a notice to raise the number of bear tags from 11 to 26 and allow bear hunting for a large portion of south Louisiana. Ten bears were legally killed by 11 residents last December.

The lease for the temporary housing facility in New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood that housed homeless people during the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras expires today, but it will remain open for now. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson, Mike Steele, says the peak population at the center was 183 and it’s now down to 78 and they’ve used this opportunity to help some find permanent housing…

Cut 9 (12)  “…to self-vacate.”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungessser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board is holding its ninth annual pardoning of the crawfish at Pat’s Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant in Henderson today. Nungesser says the pardoned crawfish will not be boiled this crawfish season and will be given the name of restaurant’s founder and namesake…

Cut 5 (07) “….Wharf and Restaurant”

Nungesser says the pardoned crawfish’s family, on the other hand, won’t be as lucky. Nungesser says they will be boiled alive.

One lucky crawfish will be treated like royalty as he will have his life spared this morning. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

_____________________________________________

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says property insurance reforms are working. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

New Orleans native Quannas White, the current associate head coach at the University of Houston, has been named the 15th head coach of the U-L Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team. Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

______________________________________________________

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser will be pardoning a crawfish today. This is the ninth year he has taken part in the ritual as part of an unofficial kickoff to crawfish season in Louisiana.

Cut 4 (12) “…here in Louisiana.”

The ceremony will be held this morning at nine at Pat’s Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant in Henderson, just east of Lafayette in St. Martin Parish. Lieutenant Governor Nungesser says the pardoned crawfish will be given the name of the restaurant’s founder and namesake.

Cut 5 (07) “…Wharf and Restaurant.”

Nungesser says the crawfish to be named Pat Huval will be treated like royalty.

Cut 6 (09) “…beautiful state parks.”

The pardoned crawfish’s family, on the other hand, won’t be as lucky. Nungesser says they will be boiled alive.

______________________________________________________

The lease for the temporary housing facility in New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood that housed homeless people during the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras expires today, but it will remain open for the time being. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says they’re going to extend the lease of the facility on France Road as long as necessary in short chunks.

Cut 7 (06) “…week by week basis.”

Steele says there are far fewer people in the transitional center today.

Cut 8 (09) “…down to 78.”

The transitional center was designed to be more than simply a roof over people’s heads. It also involved transportation services to and from jobs or medical appointments, job placement services and counseling services. Steele says the mission has been a success.

Cut 9 (12)  “…to self-vacate.”

______________________________________________________

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says property insurance reforms in Louisiana are working. Temple says since the legislature passed his package of property insurance reform bills last year, rates are starting to trend in the right direction.

Cut 10 (09) “…overall reinsurance market.”

Temple says the Department of Insurance has licensed ten new insurers since the start of last year’s session. He says while there’s still a ways to go, Louisiana is seeing benefits of reform faster than one of its Gulf Coast neighbors.

Cut 11 (08) “…seeing the impact.”

Temple says another factor in the change in the property insurance trend is the fortified roofs program, which he says has many more benefits than one.

Cut 12 (08) “…to stay dry.”

______________________________________________________

New Orleans native Quannas White, the current associate head coach at the University of Houston, has been named the 15th head coach of the U-L Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team. The Advocate’s Kevin Foote says White was the obvious choice.

Cut 13 (13)  “…graduated at St. Aug.”

Under mentor Kelvin Sampson, White played a key role in Houston’s success, contributing to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and a 235-43 overall record. As a player at Oklahoma, White helped lead the Sooners to the 2002 Final Four. His coaching career includes stints at Western Kentucky and Tulane. Foote says the question was, would White take the job?

Cut 14 (10) “…great hire.”

Foote says he thinks White will be well accepted, but he does have a lot of work to do.  Especially if he plans on bringing Houston’s strategies and schemes to U-L Lafayette.

Cut 15 (09) “…recruit for that.”

______________________________________________________

The Saints have a new coaching staff for 2025, led by Head Coach Kellen Moore. This is the 36-year-old’s first head coaching job in the NFL. He was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles last season, helping them win Super Bowl 59. Moore says he’s working to build relationships with both his players and his fellow coaches.

Cut 16 (21) “…up as well.”

Moore’s two coordinators are coaches that he had worked with in the past. Offensive Coordinator Doug Nussmeier was the Eagles quarterbacks coach last season. He says his experience in Philadelphia was amazing, especially how it culminated.

Cut 17 (16)  “…been blessed.”

In 2023, Brandon Staley was the head coach of the Chargers, and Moore was his offensive coordinator. In New Orleans, the spots on the organizational chart are flip-flopped, with Staley now serving as Moore’s defensive coordinator. Staley says Moore is the real deal as a coach.

Cut 18 (15)  “…just really special.”