With just a week left in this legislative session, Governor Landry has signed several new auto insurance laws, and he says they will shield Louisianans from frivolous lawsuits driven by trial lawyers. One of the laws disallows a driver without car insurance from collecting an award for bodily injury medical expenses for any amount when damages are below 100 thousand, up from 15-thousand dollars. The governor says they also eliminated a provision known as the Housley Presumption…

Cut 13 (11)  “…work harder.”

The Office of Motor Vehicles is warning Louisianans not to fall for text messages that claim to be from them saying the recipient has an outstanding traffic ticket. The texts are not from them, and they say they do not send texts or emails threatening prosecution. They urge you not to click on links from unverified sources and say don’t give them any personal information. Instead delete all suspicious texts and emails and report them to reportfraud.ftc.gov.

A new bidding process to purchase a new voting system has been approved by lawmakers. Over ten-thousand old machines will be replaced and Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office says Louisiana’s voting machines have needed an upgrade for decades, but bidding controversies and delays marred progress.

Cut 7 (09) “…system quicker.”

New machines will produce physical paper ballots voters can review, confirm and submit.

A bill allowing darker tint for front windows in vehicles awaits a signature from Governor Landry but before the bill overwhelmingly passed both houses, some expressed concern that the darker tint would hinder law enforcement’s ability to see things like firearms and contraband. Bill author Representative Daryl Deshotel (DESH-uh-tell) says law enforcement organizations had no problem with the new standard.

Cut 5 (10) “…on the bill.”

Deshotel says this bill brings Louisiana in line with other states which suffer through brutal summer heat.

Soon, you will be able to legally drive Louisiana roadways with darker-tinted front windows. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A new bidding process to purchase new voting systems has been approved by lawmakers. Joel Watson of the Secretary of State’s office says the new machines will produce paper ballots voters can review, confirm and submit. Watson says the paper ballots will help ensure transparency and voter security…

Cut 8 (06) “…the election.”

The 2025 legislative session ends a week from today and this session will be remembered for auto insurance reform. The governor has signed several legal reform bills expected to produce lower payouts to car accident victims. Landry says it’s legislation the insurance industry has been seeking for several years…

Cut 12 (15) “…of that list.” 

Landry says the bills he’s signed will shield Louisianans from frivolous lawsuits driven by trial lawyers.

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux will have a new bishop. Pope Leo the 14^th has named Uganda-born priest, Father Simon Peter Engurait. Bishop Elect Engurait says he did not expect the Holy Father to choose him to be the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux…

Cut 10 (10) “…in saying yes.”

Bishop Elect Engurait has served as the Diocesan Administrator in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since January 2024, upon the sudden passing of Bishop Mario Dorsonville

Soon, you’ll be able to cruise down Louisiana highways with darker-tinted front windows. A bill awaiting Governor Landry’s signature would allow tint on front windows as dark as 25-percent of light transmission, down from the current 40-percent. Its author, Marksville Republican Representative Daryl Deshotel (DESH-uh-tell), says this brings Louisiana in line with other states which suffer through brutal summer heat.

Cut 4 (08) “…and other states.”

Pope Leo the 14th names Ugandan-born priest, Father Simon Peter Engurait, as Bishop-elect for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Bishop-Elect Engurait says south Louisiana is home and he loves the people there…

Cut 11 (13) “…next Bishop.”

Legislators approved a new bidding process to help the Secretary of State’s Office replace Louisiana’s decades-old voting machines. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A Bossier Parish woman is living proof that it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams. Loretta Wiley walked across the stage at Louisiana Tech to receive her master’s degree in counseling and guidance – at the age of 75. Faculty and fellow graduates gave Wiley a standing ovation as she walked across the stage at graduation.

Soon, you’ll be able to tint your front windows darker. A bill allowing for just that passed overwhelmingly in both houses of the legislature and now awaits a signature from Governor Landry. Its author is Marksville Republican Representative Daryl Deshotel (DESH-uh-tell).

Cut 3 (14) “…light coming through.”

Deshotel says this bill brings Louisiana in line with other states which suffer through brutal summer heat.

The House Criminal Justice Committee votes against legislation that would have allowed a girl under 17 to seek an abortion if her pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. Republicans and Democrats voted “no” on the bill, including Monroe Democrat Patricia Moore.

Cut 13 (08)  “…good.”

Pope Leo the 14th named Ugandan-born priest, Father Simon Peter Engurait as Bishop-elect for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The 53-year-old says he did not expect the Holy Father to choose him to be the sixth bishop of the diocese.

Cut 10 (10) “…in saying yes.”

Engurait has served as the Diocesan Administrator in the diocese since January 2024, upon the sudden passing of Bishop Mario Dorsonville. He previously served as the Vicar General since 2017.

Using a hand-held cell phone while driving will soon be illegal in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A bill that effectively bans local governments from using speed cameras is heading to the governor’s desk. There are some exceptions, ticket writing speed cameras can be used in school zones and the town of Opelousas is exempted from the new law that will go into effect August 1^st.

New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd’s effort to create an exception to the state’s near total ban on abortion fails to get out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. For the third year in a row Boyd, authored legislation to legalize abortions in cases where rape and incest led to a pregnancy of a girl 17 and younger…

Cut 15 (10) “….that choice”

The bill was defeated in committee on an eight to three vote.

Pope Leo the 14^th has named Uganda-born priest, Father Simon Peter Engurait as Bishop-elect for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The 53-year-old was ordained as priest for the diocese in 2013….

Cut 9 (14) “…to the church”

Bishop Elect Engurait has served as the Diocesan Administrator in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since January 2024, upon the sudden passing of Bishop Mario Dorsonville. He previously served as the Vicar General since 2017 and has also served as the pastor of St. Bridge Parish since that time as well.

A ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving is headed to Governor Landry’s desk. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says this is something that the auto club has been pushing for for years. He says making phone calls has practically become a secondary use of cell phones while in vehicles.

Cut 4 (10) “…conference calls, shopping.”

The new law will go into effect on January 1^st.

Seventy-five-year-old Loretta Wiley has received a Master’s degree in counseling from Louisiana Tech. Wiley started the program back in 2006, but life circumstances forced her away from the classroom two years later. Her desire to complete the program never wavered; and she went back to school following the death of her husband.

Cut 8 (12) “…me on target.”

Wiley also serves as a substitute teacher in Bossier Parish and will explore new opportunities through counseling or mentoring.

After years of receiving “D” and “F” grades, Louisiana has received a “C” grade on R Street’s latest insurance regulation report card. Kace Kieschnick (KEESH-nick) reports the higher grade is the result of improvements to the state’s regulatory environment…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy was one of several senators who met with President Donald Trump about the One Big Beautiful Bill that needs Senate approval…

Cut 30 (12) “…deficit”

Since 2013, the state has received “D” and “F” grades from the R Street Insurance Regulation Report Card. But this year the state received a “C” grade. The report attributes Louisiana’s increased rating to improvements in the state’s insurance regulatory environment and expansion of the Louisiana Fortify Homes program…

Cut 11 (07) “….the resiliencies”

That’s Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple who says he’s encouraged by the C grade but there’s still more work to do.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted down legislation that would have provided an exception for pregnant women under the age of 17 to get an abortion if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. The vote was 8 to 3 against. New Orleans Democrat Alonzo Knox gave passionate testimony for the bill. He says government should not be making the decision for a teenager who is pregnant because of a sexual assault.

Cut 14 (10) “…monster’s child.”

A Bossier Parish woman is living proof that you’re never too old to chase your dreams. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Pope Leo the 14^th has appointed Reverend Simon Peter Engurait, a priest at the Dicoese of Houma-Thibodaux and current diocesan administrator, as the Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux. Father Engurait is from Uganda and studied at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained as a priest in 2013 and since 2017 he’s served as pastor of Saint Bridge parish in Schriever.

Using a hand-held cell phone while driving will soon be illegal in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A bill that effectively bans local governments from using speed cameras is heading to the governor’s desk. There are some exceptions, ticket writing speed cameras can be used in school zones and the town of Opelousas is exempted from the new law that will go into effect August 1^st.

The House Criminal Justice Committee votes against legislation that would have allowed a girl under 17 to seek an abortion if her pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. Republicans and Democrats voted “no” on the bill, including Monroe Democrat Patricia Moore.

Cut 13 (08)  “…good.”

Moore says this issue weighs heavily on her, because her own mother was 14 when she gave birth to her and the pregnancy was the result of a rape.

After receiving D and F grades since 2013, Louisiana has received a C grade in a report that looks at Insurance Regulation. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says it’s a sign the state is moving in the right direction when it comes to insurance reform and insurance companies will take note of this improved grade…

Cut 12 (10) “…do considered”

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has approved licensing of ten new homeowners’ insurers in the state since early 2024.