A public service commissioner is speaking out against Constitutional Amendment 3. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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Through the first quarter of 2026, small businesses in Louisiana and elsewhere have found it challenging to fill openings. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A public service commissioner is speaking out against Constitutional Amendment 3. That’s the one that would give teachers a permanent two-thousand-dollar pay raise. The raises would be funded in part through the retirement of three trust funds. Commissioner Foster Campbell says one of them would be the Educational Excellence Fund, which he helped create as a state senator in 1999.

Cut 3 (08) “…students in Louisiana.”

Campbell says that’s a lot of money the schools would be missing out on, especially since when two-thousand dollars is spread out over the course of a year, that amounts to just over 100 dollars a month after taxes. He says a better idea, in his view, is to tax imports on foreign oil – something he’s proposed for many years.

Cut 4 (07) “…big oil companies.”

Campbell says he believes the main reason for lawmakers to put Constitutional Amendment 3 on the ballot is not out of concern for teachers – it’s out of concern for themselves.

Cut 5 (05) “…that’s good politics.”

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Through the first quarter of 2026, small businesses in Louisiana and across the country have been having a hard time filling job openings. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says it’s not because of a lack of candidates, but instead it’s because of a lack of QUALIFIED candidates.

Cut 6 (06) “…transportation industry, manufacturing.”

Long says this is why it’s important for the state to reinvest in the workforce.

Cut 7 (07) “…to do that.”

Long says it’s especially important for small business owners to find the right people due to rising labor costs.

Cut 8 (05) “…offer your employees.”

Nationally, 32-percent of small business owners reported openings they could not fill — well above the historical average of 24-percent.

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LSU was upset by Bethune-Cookman on the baseball diamond last night, as the Wildcats scored five runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Tigers, 10-to-7. In that seventh inning, LSU pitchers walked two hitters, hit two others and there was a critical error leading to two runs. Tigers center fielder Derek Curiel:

Cut 9 (06)  “…cost us.”

LSU is now 22-and-12 on the season, and six of their losses have come against nonconference opponents. Bethune Cookman has an RPI of 212, so losing to the Wildcats will make it tougher for the Tigers to host an NCAA Regional in June. Curiel says they will likely have to win two more SEC games to make up for last night’s loss.

Cut 10 (09) “…on postseason”

It was a tough loss for LSU, who was coming off a thrilling series victory over Tennessee. WBRZ-TV sports director Michael Cauble was a guest on Tiger Rag Radio and says this team has failed to play consistent baseball since an 8-and-0 start.

Cut 11 (10) “…psychological thing”

LSU is at Ole Miss this weekend for an SEC series that will begin Friday night.

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Law enforcement in Iberia Parish provided an update today on Saturday’s incident at the Lao New Year parade, where a suspected drunk driver plowed into a crowd of people, injuring 18 people. Many people of Asian descendent were at the festival, but Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says that’s not what led to 57-year-old Todd Landry of Jeanerette hitting several people with his vehicle.

Cut 12 (10) “…terrorist act.”

Landry remains in jail on a 247-thousand-dollar bond. State Police Trooper Monique Lavergne says Landry showed signs of impairment at the scene, and a breath sample indicated his blood alcohol content was .137, well over the legal limit.

Cut 13 (08) “…crowded settings.”

Romero says three of the 18 people injured were in intensive care, but they have not received any additional updates since Sunday, other than the hospitalized victims are in stable condition or have been released.

The alleged drunk driver who crashed in a crowd of people at the Lao New Year Festival in Iberia Parish remains behind bars on a 247-thousand dollar bond. At a press conference today, State Police Trooper Monique Lavergne said Landry showed signs of impairment at the scene and a breath sample indicated his blood alcohol content was .137, well over the legal limit…

Cut 13 (08) “…crowded settings.”

Iberia Sheriff Tommy Romero says the 18 people injured are expected to survive their injuries.

Hiring has slowed among small businesses according to a new report from the  NFIB. NFIB State Director Leah Long says labor quality has declined over the past few months and labor costs concerns are growing among small business owners…

Cut 8 (05) “…employees”

Nationally, 32-percent of small business owners reported openings they could not fill — well above the historical average of 24-percent.

A public service commissioner is speaking out against Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16^th ballot. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The wife of a Fort Polk solider has been released from a federal immigration detention facility. Twenty-two-year-old Annie Ramos is Honduran-born, but has lived in the U-S since she was a toddler. Ramos tells the Associated Press she’s been trying to gain legal status.

Legislation to attract the aerospace industry to Louisiana has been approved by the House Ways and Means Committee. Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says other states are currently providing better tax incentives to lure aerospace companies.

Cut 4 (13) “…in this space.”

The measure would give sales tax rebates to aerospace businesses that create 200 permanent jobs and make a one-billion-dollar investment.

LSU baseball was upset by Bethune Cookman 10 to 7 last night. LSU had a meltdown in the seventh inning giving up five runs. WBRZ-TV sports director Michael Cauble says this team has failed to play consistent baseball since an 8-0 start…

Cut 11 (10) “…psychological thing”

LSU is at Ole Miss this weekend for an SEC series that will begin on Friday.

Through the first quarter of 2026, small businesses in Louisiana and elsewhere have found it challenging to fill openings. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A mayor and a police chief in Evangeline Parish are among five public officials accused of sharing protected information with a defendant in an ongoing criminal case. Ville Platte Mayor Ryan Williams and Mamou Police Chief Pat Hall are facing malfeasance charges. A sergeant from the Ville Platte Police Department has also been arrested and so has an officer with Opelousas P-D.

Through the first quarter of 2026, small businesses in Louisiana and across the country have been having a hard time filling job openings. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says it’s not because of a lack of candidates, but instead it’s because of a lack of QUALIFIED candidates.

Cut 6 (06) “…transportation industry, manufacturing.”

A new LendingTree study shows that Louisiana has the third lowest rate of small business failures within the first year. Chief Consumer Financial Analyst Matt Schulz says this is despite the fact that entrepreneurs in Louisiana face significant challenges.

Cut 12 (10) “…take advantage of.”

Schulz says relatively few people have the means to secure funding to start a business; but with that relatively low number comes lack of competition, which means a better chance of survival in that first year.

Legislation to attract the aerospace industry to Louisiana has been approved by the House Ways and Means Committee. Governor Landry’s chief of staff, Julie Emerson, testified in favor of the bill.

Cut 5 (10) “…here in Louisiana.”

While it was not mentioned during the committee discussion, this legislation is likely designed to attract Elon Musk’s Space X and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.

LSU baseball suffers a huge upset, losing to Bethune-Cookman at Alex Box Stadium, 10-to-7. The loss by the Tigers could potentially be devastating, since it could make it tougher for the defending national champions to host a Regional in June. Center fielder Derek Curiel says they’ll likely have to win two more SEC games to make up for last night’s loss.

Cut 10 (09) “…on postseason”

The House Ways and Means Committee has approved sales and property tax breaks intended to grow the aerospace industry in Louisiana. This legislation is likely designed to attract  Space X and Blue Origin rocket companies to Louisiana. The bill’s author is Ways and Means Chairman Tony Bacala

Cut 6 (13) “…away from it.”

State officials say the legislation mirrors what is already in place in Florida and Texas.

LSU was upset by Bethune-Cookman on the baseball diamond last night as the Wildcats scored five runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Tigers ten to seven. In that seventh inning, LSU pitchers walked two hitters, hit two others and there was a critical error leading to two runs. Tigers center fielder Derek Curiel…

Cut 9 (06) “…cost us”

LSU is at Ole Miss this weekend.

A new LendingTree study shows that Louisiana has the third lowest rate of small business failures within the first year. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Oil prices are falling back to 90-dollars a barrel following a ceasefire with Iran. Will gas prices follow? According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.80, which is 73 cents higher than a month ago. A gallon of diesel on average costs 5.33, four-cents away from an all-time record.

The House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation designed to make Louisiana more attractive to companies which are building and launching rockets…

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The wife of a Fort Polk solider has been released from a federal immigration detention facility. Twenty-two-year-old Annie Ramos is Honduran-born, but has lived in the U-S since she was a toddler. Ramos tells the Associated Press she’s been trying to gain legal status.

The Artemis Two is returning back to Earth after a historic loop around the moon. The space craft traveled 252-thousand miles away from Earth. Eric Burns, a professor of physics and astronomy at LSU, says this mission is a way for America to get reacquainted with the moon and more trips are planned…

Cut 8 (12) “…go to Mars”

The goal is to manned spacecraft land on the moon in 2028.

The Secretary of State’s Office reports there are 455-thousand registered voters on the inactive voter list. Secretary Nancy Landry says a registered voter gets put on the inactive list if he or she has not cast a ballot in the last ten years and did not respond to an address confirmation card…

Cut 14 (06) “….have passed away”

Inactive voters can vote in the upcoming primaries, but they will need to confirm their address.

Legislation to attract the aerospace industry to Louisiana has been approved by the House Ways and Means Committee. Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says other states are currently providing better tax incentives to lure aerospace companies.

Cut 4 (13) “…in this space.”

The measure would give sales tax rebates to aerospace businesses that create 200 permanent jobs and make a one-billion-dollar investment.

There are 455-thousand people on the state’s inactive voter list, but Secretary of State Nancy Landry says they are still able to vote in the upcoming primaries.

Cut 13 (07)  “…the active list.”

Landry says a registered voter gets put on the inactive list if he or she has not cast a ballot in the last ten years and did not respond to an address confirmation card sent by the Secretary of State’s Office.

The Artemis Two crew has circled the moon and is headed back to Earth. The four astronauts aboard have traveled farther from Earth than anyone else ever has. Eric Burns, a professor of physics and astronomy at LSU, says we are learning what a trip like this does to the human body.

Cut 7 (09) “…astronauts’ own cells.”

In two years, NASA hopes to have astronauts back on the moon.

A new study from Lending Tree finds that the failure percentage for small businesses in Louisiana is about 20-percent in the first year, which is actually third lowest rate in the country. But Chief Consumer Financial Analyst Matt Schulz says the five-year failure rate paints a different picture…

Cut 11 (12) “…for Louisiana businesses”

The information industry — which involves producing and distributing information and cultural products and processing data — has the highest failure rate for new businesses.

Bills designed to attract aerospace companies to Louisiana are heading to the House floor. The legislation would provide property and sales tax breaks to companies like Space X and Blue Origin, who make and launch rockets. The governor’s chief of staff, Julie Emerson, testified in favor of the bill…

Cut 5 (10) “….here in Louisiana”

One of the bills calls on aerospace companies to commit to invest one-billion dollars by July 2031 and create 200 new jobs to receive annual rebate of state and local sales taxes.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry says they’ve seen a big increase this year in the number of registered voters who have been put on their inactive voting list. Landry says you get on this list by not voting for 10 years and not responding to an address confirmation card sent in the mail…

Cut 15 (08) “….voter rolls clean”

There are 455-thousand people listed as inactive voters, but they can still vote in the upcoming primaries. They will have to show proof of where they live when they show up to the voting booth.

Artemis II is making its return to Earth after a successful trip around the moon.  The Orion spacecraft, which was assembled at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, has shown it can safely carry a human crew into deep space. LSU astronomy professor Eric Burns says the biggest issue has been the plumbing…

Cut 9 (08) “…routinely and safely”

Splashdown is scheduled for Friday night, just off the coast of San Diego.

A new report from Lending Tree finds that that just under 20-percent of Louisiana businesses fail within year one, but that’s the third-lowest percentage in the nation. Chief Consumer Financial Analyst Matt Schulz says the failure rate in Louisiana jumps to 47-percent after five years….

Cut 12 (10) “….take advantage of”