The House Labor Committee voted against a bill today to increase the state’s minimum wage to 12 dollars an hour starting on January 1st. Business groups say a higher minimum wage will result in fewer jobs and higher costs that will be passed on to the consumer. Melissa Flourney, the co-founder of Ten-thousand Women, pointed out to the committee that 30 states have a higher minimum wage than $7.25.

Cut 9 (10)  “…leaving Arkansas.”

The measure failed on a vote of seven to five. Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso voted against the measure, saying he would rather see investments in workforce training…

Cut 10 (09) “…minimum wage.”

The minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since July of 2009.

The first long range forecast for the upcoming hurricane season is encouraging. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Organizers of this year’s Strawberry Festival are putting an extra emphasis on safety and security this year after last year’s event was marred by a shooting. That’s already started, as four people have been banned from this year’s festival for making threats to the event. Ponchatoula Police have identified one of them as 19-year-old Amari Sexton.

Fuel prices continue to climb, with no end in sight. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Motorists might not have to pay for an inspection sticker next year. The Louisiana House has approved a bill to eliminate the inspection sticker requirement and replace it with a QR code that would cost six dollars. An inspection sticker costs ten dollars a year. The Senate still need to approve the legislation.

Another session and another year where an attempt to raise the minimum wage has been defeated. The House Labor Committee voted along party lines today to kill a proposal to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to 12-dollars in 2027 and 15-dollars an hour by 2029. The Economic Policy Institute says one in five workers would see a pay raise as a result of this legislation, but Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso says workforce training is how you increase wages…

Cut 11 (11) “…in solution”

The Colorado State University Hurricane Forecast is predicting a somewhat below-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2026. Researcher Chandler Jenkins says that’s because a moderate to strong El Nino could be in place from August to October…

Cut 4 (08) “….in the Atlantic”

C-S-U is predicting 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two of the hurricanes could be major.

The House Labor Committee turns aside a bill that would have raised the minimum wage to 12 dollars an hour. The minimum wage is $7.25, and it’s been that way for 17 years. The debate over raising the minimum wage is an annual one at the state capitol. Several other previous proposals failed to make it out of committee. Lafayette Representative Themi Chassion wants to see more action than just talking.

Cut 12 (06) “…real adjustment.”

Of course, you’re going to need to earn a lot more than minimum wage to fill your gas tank these days. Here in Louisiana, a gallon of regular unleaded is averaging $3.78 a gallon; diesel is averaging $5.32 a gallon. The summer travel season is rapidly approaching; and Gas Buddy-dot-com Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says if this trend continues, it will have a devastating effect on summer travel, both by car and by airplane.

Cut 8 (06) “…in that regard.”

If the Colorado State University hurricane forecast team’s prediction is spot-on, we could be in for another quiet hurricane season this year. The team is predicting 13 named storms this year, which is one fewer than the average of 14. Researcher Chandler Jenkins says of those 13, the team is predicting six to become hurricanes, including two major hurricanes.

Cut 5 (06) “…hurricane forecast activity.”

There were 13 named storms last year, including five hurricanes – none of which made landfall in the U.S.

So who’s leading in the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate? It depends on which poll you believe. The campaigns for Julia Letlow and John Fleming have released polls showing each one in the lead. The poll by JMC Analytics and Polling commissioned by the Fleming campaign shows Fleming leading the pack with 33-percent support. A poll by BDPC Strategic Campaign Services commissioned by Letlow shows her in front with 29-percent support.

Fuel prices continue to rise in Louisiana and across the country, with no end in sight. The average price of regular unleaded is $3.78 a gallon, with diesel averaging $5.32 a gallon. Oil prices did start to come down yesterday in light of the two-week ceasefire. DeHaan says because of that, gas stations have not started to buy cheaper gasoline yet to ease the pain at the pump.

Cut 7 (06) “…tanks just yet.”

At this rate, workers making the minimum wage will never be able to afford gasoline. But today, the House Labor Committee voted against a measure to boost the minimum wage to 12 dollars an hour. Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso says if the state really wants to help out low-wage earners, provide them training to get a higher paying job.

Cut 11 (11) “…in a solution.”

The first long range forecast for the upcoming hurricane season is encouraging. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Organizers of this year’s Strawberry Festival are putting an extra emphasis on safety and security this year after last year’s event was marred by a shooting. That’s already started, as four people have been banned from this year’s festival for making threats to the event. Ponchatoula Police have identified one of them as 19-year-old Amari Sexton.

The House Labor Committee voted against a bill today to increase the state’s minimum wage to 12 dollars an hour starting on January 1st. Business groups say a higher minimum wage will result in fewer jobs and higher costs that will be passed on to the consumer. Melissa Flourney, the co-founder of Ten-thousand Women, pointed out to the committee that 30 states have a higher minimum wage than $7.25.

Cut 9 (10)  “…leaving Arkansas.”

The measure failed on a vote of seven to five. Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso voted against the measure, saying he would rather see investments in workforce training…

Cut 10 (09) “…minimum wage.”

The minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since July of 2009.

The Colorado State University hurricane forecast team is predicting a slightly below-average Atlantic hurricane season, with 13 named storms – one short of the average. Researcher Chandler Jenkins says the team anticipates a moderate to strong El Nino during the peak of the season from August to October.

Cut 4 (08) “…in the Atlantic.”

The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana is out with its guide to the 2026 Constitutional Amendments. The one getting the most attention is Amendment 3, the one that would make a two-thousand-dollar pay raise for teachers permanent. PAR President and CEO Steven Procopio says the plan would involve retiring three trusts funds that currently go towards education.

Cut 25 (10) “…teacher pay raise.”

Analysts say soaring fuel prices could lead to a very rough economy this summer. According to Gas Buddy-dot-com, the current statewide average for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.78 a gallon, with diesel averaging $5.32 a gallon. Petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says we likely have not seen the worst of it.

Cut 6 (09) “…prices go higher.”

The Colorado State University hurricane forecast team is predicting a somewhat below-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2026. An average season yields 14 named storms; C-S-U is predicting 13. Researcher Chandler Jenkins says a robust El Nino is the primary factor for its prediction of a baker’s dozen.

Cut 3 (09) “…wind shear.”

The Louisiana House has approved a bill that would eliminate the inspection sticker requirement for most drivers. Instead of an inspection sticker,  DeSoto Parish Representative Larry Bagley is proposing a Q-R code sticker that would cost six dollars.

Cut 11 (08) “…ticket for that.”

The Q-R code would contain the VIN, the color, the make and model.

A bill that would give incarcerated people another mechanism to shorten their prison sentences is now just one vote away from landing on Governor Landry’s desk. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry presented her House Bill 111 to the Senate Judiciary C Committee.

Cut 7 (05) “…days of credit.”

Landry pointed out that current law already gives inmates an opportunity to shorten their sentences by 90 days by earning a bachelor’s degree; her bill would simply add an associates’ degree to that.

The first long range forecast for the upcoming hurricane season is encouraging. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

According to the latest information from the U-S Drought monitor, nearly 96-percent of the state is considered abnormally dry. The northern half of the state is considered to be in severe drought, the Delta Parishes, Natchitoches Parish and the northwestern corner of the state is in extreme drought.

The Louisiana House has approved a bill that would eliminate the inspection sticker requirement for most drivers. DeSoto Parish Representative Larry Bagley has been pushing this bill for a number of years, because he looks at the inspection sticker as an outdated burden for drivers.

Cut 10 (06) “…of those things?”

Bagley is proposing a QR code sticker that would cost six dollars a year, instead of an inspection sticker that costs 10-dollars. The measure heads to the Senate for their consideration.

A proposed bill that would require people who negotiate NIL deals for college and high school athletes to register with the state. It would also require background checks and full disclosure of fees and compensation. Legendary high school football coach J.T. Curtis of John Curtis High School agrees those acting as agents should be registered.

Cut 14 (09) “…has some qualification.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor.

The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana has released their 2026 Constitutional Amendment Guide. Amendment 3, that would make a two-thousand-dollar pay raise for teachers permanent with funds from the retirement of three trust funds is getting attention. PAR President Steven Procopio says based on data by the Department of Revenue and the Teachers Retirement System, schools will largely come out on top.

Cut 6 (11) “…is to spend.”

A bill that would add an opportunity for incarcerated people to shorten their prison sentences is heading to the full Senate after unanimously passing out of committee. Mandie Landry’s bill would shorten a sentence by 90 days when an inmate completes an associate’s degree.

Landry especially took note when Committee Chairman Jay Morris listed some of the spectrum of organizations that support the bill.

Cut 9 (02)  “…there you go.”

A bill that would replace 18-dollar inspection stickers on most passenger vehicles with 6-dollar QR codes easily passed the Louisiana House. The Q-R code would contain the VIN, the color, the make and model and that gives New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman pause.

Cut 12 (11) “…bad actors here.”

Agents who negotiate NIL deals for college and high school athletes would have to be registered with the state under legislation approved by the Senate Commerce Committee. The measure also creates civil remedies for athletes harmed by unethical individuals who negotiate an NIL deal.  Legendary high school football coach J.T. Curtis of John Curtis High School says he’s seen athletes who were taken advantage of by people they thought were looking out for their best interests.

Cut 15 (11) “…with understanding contract.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.