1:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry says it is time to retire the inspection sticker. In his State of the State address, Landry says he supports a bill, which would eliminate the need for Louisiana residents to get an inspection sticker for non-commercial vehicles…

Cut 26 (14) “…only six dollars”

State Representative Larry Bagley has once again authored the bill to eliminate the requirement for the annual vehicle inspection stickers. But as the bill is currently written, there’s no mention of changing to a Q-R code.

Landry is encouraging voters to approve Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16th ballot. The governor says passage of that amendment would result in the state paying down teacher retirement debt that would convert a 22-hundred dollar teacher pay stipend, into a permanent pay raise…

Cut 8 (09) “…raising taxes”

 

People knew that Amtrak’s new Mardi Gras line connecting New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, would be successful, but they probably underestimated how successful. Amtrak projected about 71-thousand riders on that line in its first year; it’s now exceeded 80-thousand – and only half the time to do so! Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says there are many reasons why people are riding the Mardi Gras line in droves.

Cut 9 (09)  “…day of it.”

Northwest Louisiana has been dealing with a series of earthquakes since a 4.9 quake rattled Red River Parish last Thursday.  Doctor Justin Rubenstein says he’s not expecting another quake greater than 4.9 and the aftershocks following last Thursday’s earthquake is common. He says if the ground does start moving again, here are some things you can do to protect yourself…

Cut 14 (10) “…shaking stops”

12:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry is pushing for the passage of Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16th ballot. The measure would pay down teacher retirement debt, to make permanent a 22-hundred dollar pay raise that teachers already receives but as a stipend.  Landry says passage of the Amendment would show our public-school teachers that the public has their back…

Cut 7 (12) “…to leave.”

Landry also wants to see more funding for the state’s voucher program known as L-A Gator. It currently serves 56-hundred children, mostly from low-income families who use the dollars to pay for private school tuition. The Pelican Institute just conducted a poll and found 61-percent support expanding the program. Vice President of the Pelican Institute Erin Bendiily…

Cut 5 (11) “…government run school”

 

As if last Thursday’s magnitude 4.9 earthquake in Red River Parish wasn’t enough, that was followed by several other earthquakes in the following days, including four within a ten-minute span early Monday morning near Coushatta, ranging in magnitude from 3.1 to 4.4. Dr. Justin Rubenstein with the U.S. Geological Survey says these additional earthquakes following an initial earthquake, sometimes referred to as aftershocks, are very common.

Cut 12 (08) “…change in stress.”

Dr. Rubenstein says while there may be additional aftershocks, the chances of another earthquake of 4.9 or higher in the near term is fairly low.

A check on gas prices finds that they are up another seven cents today. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.11, up 61 cents from a month ago and 40-cents from a week ago.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry used his State of the State address to push for the passage of Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16th ballot. Landry says the amendment would pay down debt within the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana which would free up money for teacher pay raises…

Cut 6 (10) “…responsibly funded”

If Amendment 3 passes, the permanent pay raise would be 22-hundred dollars for teachers 11-hundred dollars for support staff. These educators are receiving this money, but it’s considered a stipend and could go away.

As debate over funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program gets underway in the legislature, one poll indicates that the program is popular among Louisiana voters. Erin Bendily, the senior vice president of the Pelican Institute, says its first quarter Pelican Pulse Poll shows that 61-percent support the program.

Cut 3 (08) “…LA GATOR program.”

The LA Scholarship program provides state dollars to an eligible family to pay for nonpublic school tuition, or it can go towards tutoring, textbooks, dual enrollment courses and uniforms.

 

The Saint Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested dozens of people after deputies received word of a cockfight in progress near Opelousas…

Cut 10 (08) “…were participating”

Sheriff Bobby Guidroz has identified 36-year-old John Eddie Lachapelle as the principal organizer of the cockfight event and he faces numerous charges.

The Saints were active on the opening day of free agency as they signed former Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne from Jennings, offensive guard David Edwards, tight end Noah Fant and veteran punter Ryan Wright, who averaged 44.5 yards a punt last season with the Vikings, fourth best in the NFL. Matt Paras of the Advocate, says Wright looks to be the right move…

Cut 15 (10) “….to solve it”

 

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Saints were active on the first day of the NFL free agency period. The two biggest additions were running back Travis Etienne and veteran offensive guard David Edwards. Matt Paras of The Advocate says both players help address the issues with the run game..

Cut 13 (11)  “…Saints this offseason.”

The Saints also signed Noah Fant, who caught 34 passes with the Bengals last season.

In basketball news…UNO and Nicholls were eliminated from the Southland Tournament yesterday. McNeese is the two seed and they will play UTRGV tonight at 8:30 in Lake Charles.

Grambling beat Mississippi Valley state 77 to 52 to advance in the SWAC Tournament. The Tigers will play Jackson State tonight.

ULM has fired men’s basketball coach Phil Cunningham after one season, while Brooke Stoehr has been named Conference USA women’s basketball coach of the year.

 

The 13th ranked LSU baseball team is back in action tonight, trying to break out of an offensive slump. The Tigers team batting average of .291 is third worst in the SEC. Coach Jay Johnson says LSU’s hitters need to get back to the plate discline that helped them start the season winning their first eight games…

Cut 17 (12) “…you need baserunners”

LSU hosts Creighton at 6:30.

The UL-Lafayette baseball team is coming off a series win against Dallas Baptist. The Cajuns will play five games at home this week, starting with Texas Rio Grande Valley tonight. Head Coach Matt Deggs says his team has to do these things to remain successful.

Cut 18 (18)  “…three-run game.”

U-L Lafayette is ranked 12th in the RPI.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry wants lawmakers to approve legislation that would give the governor the ability to recommend the removal of a judge that is failing to do their job…

Cut 4 (16) “….they are incompetent”

During his State of the State address, Landry told the story of a tourist who was killed in 2024 in New Orleans by a juvenile who was supposed to be under court supervision.

During his 54-minute legislative speech, Landry also called on lawmakers to increase the funding for the Louisiana Gator Program. There are concerns about the voucher program becoming unaffordable if they open it up to more children, but Landry doesn’t see it that way…

Cut 6 (08) “…controlling the cost”

 

St Landry Parish Sheriff deputes conducted a raid over the weekend on a cockfighting event near Opelousas. The organizer was arrested and 70 roosters were seized. There was an effort earlier this year by a group of people in St. Landry Parish to make cockfighting illegal, but Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says it remains against the law to hold or participate in a cockfight…

Cut 12 (11) “…tolerate it”

The 13th ranked LSU baseball team is back in action tonight, trying to break out of an offensive slump. The Tigers team batting average of .291 is third worst in the SEC. Coach Jay Johnson says LSU’s hitters need to get back to the plate discline that helped them start the season winning their first eight games…

Cut 17 (12) “…you need baserunners”

LSU hosts Creighton at 6:30.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry hits on crime, education and inspection stickers in his rundown of legislative priorities for the 2026 legislative session.

Cut 1 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The governor also used the State of State address to push for the passage of Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May ballot. He says the amendment would pay down debt within the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana so the state can afford a permanent 22-hundred dollar pay increase for teachers.

 

The group Louisiana Progress is supporting a package of bills that could reduce costs for Louisiana families…

Cut 8 (10) “…health care costs”

That’s Louisiana Progress director Peter Robbins-Brown, who says they support legislation that would prohibit hospitals from collecting debt when they are found not to be transparent with their pricing.

The Saints were active on the first day of the NFL free agency period. The two biggest additions were running back Travis Etienne and veteran offensive guard David Edwards. Matt Paras of The Advocate says both players help address the issues with the run game..

Cut 13 (11)  “…Saints this offseason.”

The Saints also signed Noah Fant, who caught 34 passes with the Bengals last season.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry says it is time to retire the inspection sticker. In his State of the State address, Landry says he supports a bill, which would eliminate the need for Louisiana residents to get an inspection sticker for non-commercial vehicles…

Cut 5 (14) “…only six dollars”

The governor says the QR code can provide instant information to law enforcement about the vehicle.

The group Louisiana Progress is urging lawmakers to pass legislation that would lower the costs for Louisiana families. Executive director Peter Robins-Brown says they are pushing legislation to reduce the fines for someone who allows their auto insurance to lapse and they also want the state to stop referring insurance-lapse debts to the state Office of Debt Recovery…

Cut 9 (08) “….collection fee”

 

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a 36-year-old man and seized 70 roosters after conducting a raid on a cockfighting event near Opelousas.  John Lachapelle is facing serious felony charges, including cockfighting, possession of schedule two drugs and illegal carrying of weapons. Sheirff Bobby Guidroz says it took a large team of deputies to carry out the raid.

Cut 11 (08) “…whole lot different.”

Guidroz says drugs, guns and cash were also seized at the event.

The Saints were active on the opening day of free agency as they signed former Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne from Jennings, offensive guard David Edwards, tight end Noah Fant and veteran punter Ryan Wright, who averaged 44.5 yards a punt last season with the Vikings, fourth best in the NFL. Matt Paras of the Advocate, says Wright looks to be the right move…

Cut 15 (10) “….to solve it”

Linebacker Demario Davis has signed with the Jets and cornerback Alontae Taylor has signed with the Titans.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry laid out his legislative priorities for the 2026 session that got underway on Monday. Landry, who pushed tough-on-crime legislation in his first year in office, would now like lawmakers to approve a measure that allows the governor to recommend the removal of judges.

Cut 4 (16) “…they are incompetent!”

Landry used the murder of Jacob Carter as evidence that the legislature needs to pass this proposed constitutional amendment. The out-of-state tourist was killed by a juvenile during a robbery in the French Quarter in 2024. The teenager wore an electronic ankle monitor, but the battery was dead when he repeatedly shot Carter in the back.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill criticized the juvenile court judges in New Orleans for not making sure the ankle monitor was working.

 

One of the best running backs in Louisiana high school football history is returning to his home state to play for the Saints. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

The Saint Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested dozens of people after deputies received word of a cockfight in progress near Opelousas…

Cut 10 (08) “…were participating”

Sheriff Bobby Guidroz has identified 36-year-old John Eddie Lachapelle as the principal organizer of the cockfight event and he faces numerous charges.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints were active on the opening day of free agency as they signed running back Travis Etienne from Jennings, offensive guard David Edwards, tight end Noah Fant and veteran punter Ryan Wright, who averaged 44.5 yards a punt last season with the Vikings, fourth best in the NFL. Matt Paras of the Advocate, says Wright looks to be the right move…

Cut 15 (10) “….to solve it”

Linebacker Demario Davis has signed with the Jets and cornerback Alontae Taylor has signed with the Titans.

Former LSU star Paul Skenes threw four shutout innings and struck out seven as the US defeated Mexico five to three in the World Baseball Classic.

ULM has fired head men’s basketball coach Phil Cunningham after one season.

And Nicholls and UNO were eliminated in the Southland tournament.

_______________________________

The 13th ranked LSU baseball team looks to get out of its offensive slump tonight as the Tigers host Creighton in their last game before SEC play. LSU had a total of nine hits in losses to  Sacramento State on Saturday and Sunday. Coach Jay Johnson wants his hitters to string together quality at-bats.

Cut 16 (10) “…couldn’t sustain anything.”

The UL-Lafayette baseball team is coming off a series win against Dallas Baptist. The Cajuns will play five games at home this week, starting with Texas Rio Grande Valley tonight. Head Coach Matt Deggs says his team has to do these things well to remain successful.

Cut 18 (18)  “…three-run game.”

U-L Lafayette is ranked 12th in the RPI.

6:30 LRN Newscast

The 2026 legislative session is off and running. Governor Jeff Landry delivered his State of the State address yesterday. Despite Senate President Cameron Henry’s opposition to increasing funding for the state’s education voucher program known as LA GATOR, Landry called on legislators to strengthen it. Henry has expressed concern about the program becoming unaffordable, but Landry does not see it that way.

Cut 6 (08) “…controlling the cost.”

Landry’s budget proposal calls for the state funding for LA GATOR to double from $44 million to $88 million.

The group Louisiana Progress is working with lawmakers on what it calls its “affordability agenda.” Executive Director Peter Robins-Brown says the costs of essentials are spiraling out of control.

Cut 7 (11) “…five, six years.”

Among the bills they are pushing, include lower fines for letting car insurance lapse, restrictions on imposing hidden fees on purchases and making it easier for people to cancel online subscriptions.

A huge cockfighting bust in St. Landry Parish. Andrew Greenstein has the details…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

After eight years with the Saints, 37-year-old linebacker Demario Davis is moving on as he’s reportedly signed a two-year deal with the Jets. Matt Paras of the Advocate says Davis will be hard to replace…

Cut 14 (09) “…bigger role”

And the Saints have signed former Jennings star and Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne.