Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple launch a war of words over their competing plans to address soaring auto insurance rates. Temple says nothing will be accomplished through bickering.

Cut 5 (11) “…of Louisiana benefit.”

Temple says Governor Landry’s proposal to limit injury lawyer advertising is easier said than done, saying a similar law in Florida was struck down in the courts.

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is this weekend. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, who’s from nearby Abita Springs, says if you love strawberries and music this is the festival for you…

Cut 12 (12) “…incredible.”

Tangipahoa Parish has hosted this festival to celebrate the strawberry industry since 1972, and it generates an estimated 12-million dollars to the economy. 

Last month, the Port of New Orleans set a new monthly record with 165-thousand cruise passenger movements. Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Visit Lake Charles has launched the “Always Here” campaign to highlight tourism’s vital role in Southwest Louisiana’s economy. Visit Lake Charles Chief Marketing Officer Timothy Bush says in 2023, the region welcomed over seven million visitors, generating $800 million in spending.

Cut 6 (06) “…to our local economy.”

The gloves are off between Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple over exactly how to rein in out-of-control auto insurance premiums. In announcing his own insurance reform plan earlier this week, Landry said he wanted to limit the ability of trial lawyers to advertise. Temple says, good luck with that. He says Florida passed a regulation limiting attorney advertising, and that was overturned by the courts.

Cut 4 (08) “…of that conversation.”

Crawfish prices are dropping as Easter approaches. According to The Crawfish App Co-founder Laney King live crawfish average $3.14 per pound, and boiled crawfish about $5.55. Some live crawfish sacks are now under three dollars a pound.

Cut 14 (12) “…anticipation of Easter.”

The Port of New Orleans sets a new record for passenger movements. Last month, Port NOLA recorded over 165-thousand movements, surpassing the previous high of 155-thousand in March 2023. Kimberly Curth with Port NOLA says this milestone follows a record-breaking 2024 with more than 1.2 million cruise passenger movements.

Cut 9 (11)  “…prime cruise destination”

Curth noted as the 6th largest U.S. cruise port and the only one offering both ocean and river cruises, Port NOLA benefits from its prime location near the French Quarter.

When it comes to the high price of auto insurance, Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple are pointing their fingers – not at the insurance companies or trial lawyers, but at one another. When he announced the 20 insurance reform bills he’s supporting, Temple noted that he has not had a conversation with Landry about the issue in a long time. 

Cut 3 (11) “…for property reform.” 

Amid the bickering, trucking companies are urging the legislature to take aim at frivolous lawsuits that they say are driving up the cost of insurance. Jake Minner, the director at Bengal Transportation Services in Ascension Parish, says his company has been hit with very costly frivolous lawsuits.

Cut 25 (10) “…that they’re injured.”

When the legislative session opens Monday, the legislature will be considering at least seven bills designed to strengthen elections in the state. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says one of them, Senate Bill 109, is a constitutional amendment that would prohibit foreign funding of a political campaign, whether for or against a candidate or a ballot measure.

Cut 7 (14) “…against a candidate.”

Spring has arrived, and so has prime fishing season! To celebrate, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries invites you to a free Get Out & Fish! event tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Turner’s Pond in Minden. LDWF Biologist Danica Williams says no boat, no experience — no problem.

Cut 14 (12) “…that for you.”

The legislative session begins on Monday and a major priority for legislators is to lower auto insurance rates. Jake Minner, the director at Bengal Transportation Services in Ascension Parish, says his company’s insurance rates have soared from six-thousand dollars per truck per year to 23 thousand –

Cut 5 (08) “…ever seen it.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says legal reform is needed that would make it harder for people involved in accidents to sue and win big money settlements.

Governor Landry says since Amendment 2 did not pass, it’s back to the drawing board for preserving teacher pay at its current level. Senate President Cameron Henry says he’s hopeful that as the budget makes its way through the legislative process, dollars will emerge to keep teacher pay where it is.

Cut 30 (08) “…to do.”

Amendment 2 would have transformed a stipend into a permanent pay increase.

State Representative Larry Bagley has announced his candidacy for Public Service Commission. The republican from DeSoto Parish wants to serve the same district that Foster Campbell represents. Campbell is term limited and will leave office at the end of 2026. Bagley on what he’ll bring to the P-S-C…

Cut 11 (07) “…here in the state”

Bagley says he will ramp up his campaign after the 2025 legislative session.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is supporting a package of bills that she says will improve election integrity. Louisiana recently moved up to number two in an election integrity report. Landry is advocating for the passage of Senate Bill 90 which would prohibit wagering on the outcome of an election, which Landry says is already banned in 30 states…

Cut 8 (09) “….of an election”

Landry also supports a constitutional amendment that would prohibit foreign funding of a political campaign, whether for or against a candidate or a ballot measure.

Trucking companies are urging the legislature to do something about commercial vehicle insurance rates that they say are spiraling out of control. Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple say one big driver of the soaring insurance rates is frivolous lawsuits. Jake Minner, the director at Bengal Transportation Services in Ascension Parish, says his company has been hit with very costly frivolous lawsuits.

Cut 4 (10) “…that they’re injured.”

Governor Jeff Landry said at a Wednesday press conference that Louisiana’s Insurance Commissioner should have the authority to prohibit any rates deemed excessive. But at a press conference yesterday in Ascension Parish, Temple says he already has that power…

Cut 26 (08) “…exercise it”

Temple also said Landry’s claim that insurers can conceal information that he needs to regulate them is also wrong.

When the legislative session begins Monday, the legislature will considerg several bills to strengthen election integrity….

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The weather will be excellent for outdoor activities this weekend and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries  is in the process of stocking 17 locations with adult-sized Channel Catfish as part of its Get Out and Fish campaign…

Cut 15 (07) “…cooking and eating”

That’s LDWF Biologist Danica Williams. For more information go to LDWF’s website.

A fiscal legislative session begins Monday, but there are dozens of bills that will be heard that attempt to lower Louisiana’s sky high auto insurance rates. Jared Varnado, the owner of Varnado and Sons Towing in Denham Springs, says his insurance premium increased 30-percent this year…

Cut 6 (07) “…truck per year.”

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has heard the concerns and he says legal reform is desperately needed…

Cut 30 (19) “…many other states”

Temple is supporting 20 different insurance reform bills, many of them are direct against trial lawyers. Governor Landry auto insurance reform agenda is a more balanced approach, between the trial lawyers and the insurance companies.

LDWF is hosting the free Get out and Fish event this Saturday. at Turner’s Pond in Minden.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell’s time as a member of the P-S-C will end at the end of 2026 as he’s term limited. The first announced candidate for his seat is Republican state representative Larry Bagley from DeSoto Parish…

Cut 10 (11) “….life in Louisiana”

The legislative session begins on Monday and a major priority for legislators is to pass legislation to lower auto insurance rates. Jake Minner, the director at Bengal Transportation Services in Ascension Parish, says his company’s insurance rates have soared from six-thousand dollars per truck per year to 23 thousand – increasing almost nine times the rate of inflation.

Cut 5 (08) “…ever seen it.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is advocating for the passage of tort reform legislation that would make it harder for people involved in accidents to sue and win big money settlements…

Cut 28 (08) “…twice to litgate”

Temple is pushing legislation directed towards trial lawyers, while Governor Jeff Landry blames both attorneys and insurance companies for Louisiana’s high auto insurance rates.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is supporting a package of bills this session that she says will improve election integrity. One of those bills would boost election commissioner pay…

Cut 9 (16) “….little bit more”

Landry says commissioners generally earn 200 dollars per day, which could last up to 16 hours. House Bill 223 would boost commissioners’ pay by 50 dollars across the board

Spring has arrived and so has prime fishing season! The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is stocking adult channel catfish at 17 sites statewide, all to be stocked by next Tuesday. LDWF Biologist Danica Williams says “Get out and Fish” is for everyone to enjoy.

Cut 13 (07)  “…nice big catfish.”

To view the full stocking schedule and find a location near you go to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website.