2:30 PM Newscast Jan 19

Governor Jeff Landry’s closed party primary proposal is headed to the Governor for his signature, but significant changes were made before it passed the house and senate. Statewide or legislative races were not included but under the bill, Federal elections and elections for Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and BESE will shift to party primaries starting in 2026. New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez says a recent poll shows there is public support for closed primaries…

Cut 5 (08) “…elected officials.” 

The Louisiana Legislature has sent a Congressional map to the governor’s desk that has two majority Black districts. This could result in a second Louisiana Democrat being elected to the U-S House. State Representative Beau Beuallieu says the proposed Congressional boundaries also protect four Republican members…

Cut 13 (15) “…Louisiana” 

A federal judge ordered the Louisiana Legislature to redraw the Congressional map lawmakers approved in 2022, because it violated the Voting Rights Act by not having two majority-minority districts.

Governor Jeff Landry says a new deal has been struck to build a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. The Louisiana Motor Transport Association opposed the financing plan proposed last year by the Edwards administration and they do not like Landry’s plan, even though it reduces the toll for trucks to cross the bridge from $12.50 to $8.25. Director of the L-M-T-A Renee Amar…

Cut 11 (11) “…Louisiana truckers.”

It could cost two billion dollars to replace the Calcasieu River Bridge built in 1952. Amar says no other stretch of I-10 from California and Florida is tolled and believes federal and state tax dollars should pay for construction

Grammy-winning Cajun musician Jo-EL Sonnier will be laid to rest tomorrow in Sulphur. Sonnier was 77. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to AutismSpeaks-dot-org.