Significant changes are happening at the University of New Orleans as the school prepares to move into the LSU System. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The House Appropriations Committee has a approved a budget for next fiscal year. Joe Gallinaro reports spending on education initiatives is a major priority…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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New English language arts standards have been approved for public schools to further reinforce the fundamentals of reading and writing. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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A lot is happening behind the scenes at the University of New Orleans is preparing to move from the University of Louisiana System to the LSU System. One major change is the name of the school. University president Kathy Johnson says starting July 1^st, UNO will be known as LSU New Orleans…

Cut 4 (12) “…as well.”

The school is eliminating nine degree programs, five undergraduate programs, and four graduate programs. But Johnson says less than two percent of students will be affected, and faculty members will move to other programs.

But Johnson says the changes are intended to strengthen academic opportunity, not reduce them…

Cut 5 (09) “…get jobs.”

Johnson says some of the new programs under development include engineering management, hospitality and tourism, data science, and healthcare management.

She says one of the advantages of joining the LSU system is that it will expand the number and types of courses UNO can offer online…

Cut 6 (12) “…few weeks.”

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The House Appropriations Committee has approved an operating budget of 47 billion dollars for next fiscal year. Even though it’s a standstill budget, areas of state government will see an increase in funding. House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says they are pouring more dollars into public schools…

Cut 7 (08) “…need to.”

There’s also a proposed increase in funding for K-through-12 public school tutoring services.

An additional 50-million dollars from the state general fund is also going to economic development projects. McFarland says it’s part of an effort to grow the state’s economy….

Cut 8 (12) “…community colleges.”

House legislative leadership is also going along with Governor Landry’s request to double the funding for the Louisiana Gator Scholarship program, from 44 million dollars to nearly 88-million dollars. McFarland says there is a desire for expanded school choice…

Cut 9 (09)  “…by the governor.”

Senate President Cameron Henry does not support increasing the funding for LA Gator. He’s concerned the voucher program that would help families pay for private school tuition and other educational expenses will become too costly. The budget bill will be discussed on the House floor on Thursday and then it goes to the Senate for its consideration.

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The Louisiana Department of Education says it’s strengthening English language arts in public schools to reinforce skills essential to help students read, write and communicate. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says the updated standards place a stronger emphasis on the science of reading so that students are confident, independent readers…

Cut 10 (08) “…along that path”

Brumley says students will continue to develop handwriting skills, including cursive, as part of a complete approach to literacy…

Cut 11 (07) “…important step.”

Brumley points out that many of the founding documents of our country are written in cursive.

He says another major focus of the updated English standards is grammar. Brumley says the standards reinforce progression in grammar, usage, and writing so students can communicate clearly in academic, professional and everyday settings…

Cut 12 (05) “…positive results.”

The revised standards will take effect in the 2027-28 school year. It’s the first time they’ve been updated since the 2015-16 school year.

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The document that finalized the Louisiana Purchase will be on display at the old State Capitol in Baton Rouge starting today. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says this remarkable piece of history is on loan from the National Archives in Washington D-C as part of America’s 250^th anniversary celebration…

Cut 13 (09)  “..to see.”

Landry says the document is available for the public to see through July 11^th  in an exhibit called “Bought for a Song”….

Cut 14 (08) “…the document.”

To make an appointment go to louisianaoldstatecapitol.org.

The Louisiana Purchase resulted in the United States acquiring 828-thousand square miles of land from France in 1803, doubling the nation’s size for about three-cents an acre. The transaction is often described as “Bought for Song.”

Napoleon Bonaparte was the military dictator of France at the time and Landry says you can see his signature on this critical piece of American and Louisiana history…

Cut 15 (08) “…our history.”

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Louisiana Tech baseball has now won six straight games after sweeping Middle Tennessee this past weekend. Just two weeks ago, the Bulldogs had lost eight straight, but head coach Lane Burroughs says he is proud of how his team has turned things around recently.

Cut 16 (12) “…win the ballgame.”

Tech looks to make it seven straight tonight when it hosts Little Rock at 6 p.m.

Louisiana Tech only used seven pitchers out of the bullpen this weekend as the Bulldogs pen only gave up one run throughout the entire three-game series. Burroughs says he has plenty of options to choose from, which is a strength of the team.

Cut 17 (13)  “…before the season started.”

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Senior wide receiver Jayce Brown was one of nine wide receivers who chose to take his talents to Baton Rouge. Brown, who is rated as the No. 26 wide receiver in the portal according to 247Sports, says his decision to transfer to LSU came down to several factors, including the success Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. have had over the years.

Cut 18 (10)  “…for me to make.” 

Brown said practices at LSU under Kiffin have been much more intense than what he was used to, but he believes it will pay off in the long run.

Cut 19 (17) “…structurally”

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After missing most of the 2024 season, Zion Williamson appeared in 62 games this year, averaging 21 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Williamson still has two years remaining on his contract, and he says he has no intention of leaving New Orleans anytime soon.

Cut 20 (17) “…19-years-old.”

A poll on the 5^th District Republican Primary Congressional shows it’s a two-person race. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Finally, some good news when it comes to gasoline prices. Jeff Palermo reports the price at the pump has dropped a few pennies since last week.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A poll paid for and conducted by the Rainey Center Freedom Project shows that the 5^th District Congressional Republican Primary is a two-person race between state representative Michael Echols and state senator Blake Miguez. Rainey Freedom Project director Russ Walker says the survey of nearly 900 likely voters, has Miguez receiving 23-percent of the vote and Echols getting 20-percent…

Cut 3 (11) “…Echols has.”

Twenty-two-percent of the respondents found Miguez unfavorable as compared to Echols who had the highest favorability rating and only 10-percent found him unfavorable. Walker says Miguez living outside of the 5^th District Congressional boundary hurts his campaign…

Cut 4 (12) “…single fact.”

Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds finished third in the poll at 10-percent, while Board of Regents Chairperson Misti Cordell is only receiving three-percent of the vote. Miguez has the endorsement of President Trump, but Walker says 45-percent of respondents said Trump’s endorsement is not important to their vote…

Cut 5 (06) “…as well.”

The 5th District Republican Primary is May 16th.

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A single-vehicle crash in Bossier Parish claimed the lives of 10-year-old Bella Cassell and 31-year-old Callie Durbin, both of Benton, and left another person injured on Saturday. State Trooper Eddie Thomas says the three were traveling on Merritt Road in a UTV driven by Cassell when the vehicle suddenly left the roadway and overturned.

Cut 6 (12) “..from the ranger..”

Durbin was pronounced dead at the scene, while Cassell was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The third juvenile passenger suffered moderate injuries.

Thomas says that the State Police are still investigating the crash.

Cut 7 (12) “…under investigation.”

All three passengers were not wearing seat belts or DOT-approved helmets and were ejected from the UTV after it overturned. Thomas encourages those who operate or ride in UTVs to significantly reduce their chances of injury or death by taking the proper safety measures to protect themselves.

Cut 8 (13) “…on your four-wheelers.”

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Gas prices are actually a few pennies cheaper compared to last week. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for regular gasoline is $3.76 a gallon, which is three cents cheaper than a week ago. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman says despite the slight break, drivers are paying way more than they did last year…

Cut 9 (04)  “…last year.”

Redman says the statewide average a year ago was $2.79. But he says it’s good to see prices at the pump have leveled off for the first time since the war with Iran began on February 28th…

Cut 10 (06) “… that lasts .”

There is currently a two-week ceasefire, but a deal to end the war is not in place after 21 hours of negotiations over the weekend.  Redman says even if a long-term peace deal is reached soon, expect to pay high gas prices for the next several months…

Cut 11 (07) “…of the summer”

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The Pelicans closed out the 2025-26 season with a 132-126 loss to the Timberwolves on Sunday night. New Orleans finished 11th in the Western Conference with a 26-56 record, the third-worst mark in franchise history over an 82-game season. Interim head coach James Borrego, who took over in November and led the team to a 24-46 record, says the team made significant improvements this season under his leadership.

Cut 12 (13) “…long ways to go.”

The Pelicans will now begin the formal process of finding a new head coach, with Borrego among the candidates expected to be considered. Borrego says he has spoken with Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars about the season, but the two have not discussed the possibility of him returning. Borrego says that one of the reasons he believes he’s a strong fit for the job is his ability to connect with players.

Cut 13 (10) “…moving forward.”

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In Acadia Parish a seventeen-year-old lost his life when the ATV he was driving on Hwy 95 near Wikoff Cove Drive was struck from behind by an Audi Q7 Saturday around 8:00 pm.  State Police Trooper, Monique Laverne…

Cut 14 (10) “…in the crash.”

Impairment is not suspected but the accident is under investigation.

After a this kind of tragedy, Trooper Laverne says State Police want to remind the public that UTVs and ATVs are not allowed on roadways after dark and only allowed for farming activities during the day. She also says, wearing safety gear can save lives.

Cut 15 (05) “…proper safety gear.”