Details of the escape of 10 Orleans Parish inmates are immerging. A large hole behind a sink and toilet was discovered inside a cell and that is believed to be how the inmates escaped. There was some graffiti above the structure that could been a message pointing the way to the escape portal. A manhunt is still underway. As of 3:00 Friday at least one inmate has been recaptured. NOPD Superintendent, Anne Kirkpatrick says the escapees have very likely have changed out of their prison-issued jumpsuits.

Cut 16 (08) “…to stand out.”

A poll was conducted by JMC Analytics shows Louisianans believe the cost of healthcare is too high JMC founder John Couvillon says it sends a clear message to lawmakers about the possibility of making healthcare more expensive, and it does not bode well for local independent pharmacies, especially in smaller communities.

Cut 8 (13) “…was somewhat stronger.”

Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing daily with the gas mecca set to be completed by late 2026.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Over 24-thousand Louisiana K-12 students read more than 82-thousand books last year and cast their votes for the 2024-2025 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award.  State Librarian Meg Placke says each year, committees of teachers and librarians compile a list of fiction and nonfiction books.

Cut 10 (12) “…excited about reading.”

A manhunt in underway in New Orleans. Two of the 11 escaped inmates from the Orleans Parish jail have been recaptured, one by NOPD and another by State Police Troop NOLA. The escape was discovered around 8:30 this morning. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says it happened at the sheriff’s jail, but NOPD, and multiple agencies are involved in the search for the remaining escapees.

Cut 14 (14) “…NOLA troops involved.”

Construction of Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing, with completion estimated by late 2026.  Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says the 60-million-dollar project will create over 250 full-time jobs, with starting pay at up to 20 dollars per hour, plus benefits like health insurance and 401k matching.

Cut 5 (07) “…that’s really big.”

As lawmakers consider a small handful of bills that would in effect increase the cost of healthcare, a new poll indicates that people believe the cost is already too high. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Over 24-thousand Louisiana K-12 students cast their votes for the 2024-2025 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award.  Since its inception 26 years ago, the program has engaged students with over 1.5 million books read and nearly 485,000 votes cast. State Librarian Meg Placke says the program continues to grow…

Cut 11 (13) “…major increases.”

Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing daily with the gas mecca set to be completed by late 2026. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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As lawmakers consider a small handful of bills that would in effect increase the cost of healthcare, a new poll indicates that people believe the cost is already too high. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s is progressing, with the 74-thousand-square-foot travel center set to feature 120 gas pumps. Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says it involves eight-million dollars in infrastructure improvements.

Cut 3 (08) “…finished with that.”

Walker estimates completion by late 2026, delayed by roadwork expanding bridges to five lanes to handle 15-thousand daily vehicles.

Cut 4 (09) “…26 being open.”

Walker says the 60-million-dollar project will create over 250 full-time jobs, with starting pay at up to 20 dollars per hour, plus benefits like health insurance and 401k matching.

Cut 5 (07) “…that’s really big.”

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There’s a small handful of bills in the legislature that would effectively raise the cost of healthcare, including imposing a dispensing fee to support local pharmacies. A new poll shows that voters are not too keen on the idea. The poll was conducted by JMC Analytics and commissioned by the group Save Our Benefits. JMC founder John Couvillon says the vast majority says the price of healthcare is already too high.

Cut 6 (14) “…over additional options.”

Couvillon says two-thirds of people polled would not pay more for prescription drugs, even if it would support local pharmacies.

Cut 7 (10) “…over everything else.”

Couvillon says besides sending a clear message to lawmakers about the possibility of making healthcare more expensive, the poll does not bode well for local independent pharmacies, especially in smaller communities.

Cut 8 (13) “…was somewhat stronger.”

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“The Gardener of Alcatraz” and “Camp Scare” are among the books chosen for the Louisiana Readers’ Choice Awards for the 2024-25 school year. State Librarian Meg Placke (“plack-ee”) says more than 24-thousand K-through-12 students read more than 82-thousand books. That marked a surge in participation, especially among 6th through 8th graders, with an 88-percent voting increase.

Cut 9 (08)  “…difficult to do.”

Placke says each year, committees of teachers and librarians compile a list of fiction and nonfiction books.

Cut 10 (12) “…excited about reading.”

Since its inception 26 years ago, the program has engaged students with over 1.5 million books read and nearly 485-thousand votes cast. Placke says the program continues to grow…

Cut 11 (13) “…major increases.”

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Breaking news out of New Orleans as 11 inmates have escaped from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s jail. Two have since been recaptured. Sheriff Susan Hutson says the inmates were discovered missing this morning.

Cut 12 (06) “…were unaccounted for.”

While the inmates were discovered missing at 8:30 this morning, it was at least an hour and a half before the sheriff’s office alerted the media and the public. The jail is on lockdown, and Hutson is urging people to stay vigilant.

Cut 13 (05)  “…approach these subjects.”

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says even though the escape happened under the watch of the sheriff’s office, NOPD is involved in the search for the remaining escapees because it happened in the city. Kirkpatrick says many other agencies are also involved.

Cut 14 (14) “…NOLA troops involved.”

Kirkpatrick says police are reaching out to the victims of the escapees and the witnesses who helped put them behind bars.

Cut 15 (14) “…taken to safety.”

Kirkpatrick says the escapees very likely have changed out of their prison-issued jumpsuits.

Cut 16 (08) “…to stand out.”

Breaking news out of New Orleans

Cut 12 (06) “…were unaccounted for.”

Sheriff Susan Hutson says 11 inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish  jail. One has since been recaptured but even after the inmates were discovered missing this morning, it was at least an hour and a half before the sheriff’s office alerted the media and the public. The jail is on lockdown, and people are being urged to stay vigilant and not to approach the escapees under any circumstances.

A recent poll shows over 70% of Louisianans believe prescription drug prices, insurance premiums, and co-pays are too high. The poll was commissioned by Save Our Benefits and conducted by JMC Analytics. JMC founder John Couvillon says the two-thirds of people polled would not be willing to pay more for prescription drugs, even if it would support local pharmacies.

Cut 7 (10) “…over everything else.”

Construction of north Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing daily with the gas mecca set to be completed by late 2026.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Over 24-thousand Louisiana K-12 students read more than 82-thousand books last year and cast their votes for the 2024-2025 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award.  State Librarian Meg Placke says this marks a surge in participation, especially among 6th-8th graders, with an 88-percent voting increase.

Cut 9 (08)  “…difficult to do.”

Breaking news out of New Orleans as 11 inmates have escaped from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s jail. Two have since been recaptured. Sheriff Susan Hutson says the inmates disappeared during the overnight hours and were discovered missing this morning.

Cut 12 (06) “…were unaccounted for.”

Even after the inmates were discovered missing at 8:30 this morning, it was at least an hour and a half before the sheriff’s office alerted the media and the public. People are being urged to stay vigilant and not to approach them under any circumstances.

Construction of North Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s in Ruston is progressing, with the 74-thousand-square-foot travel center set to feature 120 gas pumps.  Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says it also involves eight-million dollars in infrastructure improvements.

Cut 3 (08) “…finished with thats.” 

There’s a small handful of bills in the legislature that would effectively raise the cost of healthcare, including imposing a dispensing fee to support local pharmacies. A new poll shows that voters are not too keen on the idea. The poll was conducted by JMC Analytics and was commissioned by the group Save Our Benefits. JMC founder John Couvillon says the vast majority says the price of healthcare is already too high.

Cut 6 (14) “…over additional options.”

Immigration raids could be coming to Louisiana, thanks to an executive order issued by Governor Landry. That would include Orleans Parish, where the sheriff’s office says it does not have enough room in its jails to house those arrested for immigration violations. Attorney General Liz Murrill says where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Cut 11 (10) “…should do that.”

The House unanimously passes the state budget which includes, among many other things, the more than 93-million dollars for the L-A GATOR scholarship program that Governor Landry had asked for. Steven Procopio, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says that might be a hard sell in the Senate.

Cut 5 (12) “…Senate Finance Committee.”

We’ll find out if Addis native John Foster becomes the next American Idol on Sunday, but his musical journey started last October at a marina in Brusly. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

If you’d like to indulge in some crawfish as you watch John Foster try to become the next American Idol, you can still do so without putting a huge dent into your bank account, even though we’re approaching the tail end of crawfish season. Boiled crawfish throughout the state is averaging about $4.75 a pound. If you’d like to boil it yourself, if you look hard enough, you can bring home live crawfish for under two dollars a pound.

Little drama in the State House of Representatives as it unanimously passed the state budget. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

An historic plantation in Iberville Parish is destroyed by fire. Nottoway Plantation was built in 1859 and was the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the south. The plantation has welcomed visitors from around the world since the 1980s. No one was hurt in the blaze.

Immigration raids could be coming to Louisiana. Governor Landry has issued an executive order launching Operation GEAUX, in which local law enforcement would team with federal partners in removing, in Landry’s words, “dangerous illegal criminals” from the streets. It has the full support of Attorney General Liz Murrill.

Cut 10 (09) “…should be removed.”

Before taking his talents to Hollywood and the American Idol stage, John Foster played his first gig at Floyd’s Morley Marina in Brusly last October. Though the initial crowd was small compared to now, Foster’s music career has rapidly gained momentum. Owner Jeremy Prejean says watching Foster for the first time was impressive.

Cut 7 (12) “…rolling after that.”

The House unanimously passed the state budget with almost no drama. It includes, among many other things, a one-time renewal of the teacher and school support staff stipend. Steven Procopio, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says as it makes its way through the Senate, the only changes he would anticipate would actually be finding more money to allocate to essential programs.

Cut 6 (11) “…definitely see changes.”

Governor Landry issues an executive order paving the way for immigration raids. Attorney General Liz Murrill says that includes Orleans Parish, where she says the sheriff’s department blocks and interferes with state and federal immigration enforcement.

Cut 12 (11) “…can do that.”

Construction gets underway today on the North Oaks Health System Academic and Athletic Complex at Southeastern Louisiana University. SLU President William Wainwright says it will be a multi-year construction project, building the new addition first and concluding with the renovation of the existing facility.

Cut 15 (08) “…early 2027.”

The 30-thousand-square-foot state-of-the-art complex will serve as the new home for the university’s Master of Science in Athletic Training program and will provide advanced training spaces for student-athletes.

American Idol finalist John Foster’s star has skyrocketed in a very short period of time. It was just last October when he played his first gig at Floyd’s Morley Marina in Brusly. Owner Jeremy Prejean says Foster’s journey reflects the power of persistence and community support in launching a successful music career.

Cut 9 (03)  “…in his journey.”

Will Foster be the next American Idol? Tune in to ABC at seven Sunday evening to find out.

We’ll find out if Addis native John Foster becomes the next American Idol on Sunday, but his musical journey started last October at a marina in Brusly. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Southeastern Louisiana University will break ground on the North Oaks Health System Academic and Athletic Complex today. SLU President William Wainwright says it’s a 30-thousand-square-foot facility designed to enhance both academic and athletic programs.

Cut 13 (12)  “…athletic training.”

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Immigration raids that have been sweeping the country seem to be headed to Louisiana. Governor Landry has issued an executive order launching Operation GEAUX, which will team local law enforcement with federal partners to remove, in Landry’s words, “dangerous illegal criminals” from the streets. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office says it does not have enough room for immigration violators in its jails. But, Attorney General Liz Murrill says where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Cut 11 (10) “…should do that.”

The State House has unanimously passed the state’s budget, which renews stipends for teachers and support staff – two-thousand dollars and one-thousand dollars, respectively at a price tag of 200-million dollars. The House also devoted all 93-million dollars to the L-A GATOR Program that Governor Landry had sought. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says that might be a hard sell in the Senate.

Cut 5 (12) “…Senate Finance Committee.”