The United Cajun Navy is assisting with recovery efforts in Mississippi where tornadoes leveled the small towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The state fire marshal’s office is investigating a deadly fire in Monroe that claimed the life of a young boy. Jeff Palermo has the latest….

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Pollock Representative Gabe Firment has filed a bill requiring insurance companies to offer policyholders an endorsement where the insurance company would pay to upgrade a damaged roof to fortified standards. Firment says it’s a way to lower costs and decrease damage.

Cut 3 (06) “…much less” 

Legislators held a special session earlier this year to put $45 million in an incentive fund attract insurance companies to write policies.  Firment believes building stronger homes would allow people to live in the area where the home is located. 

Cut 4 (10)  “…the storm” 

The Fortified Grant Program legislation passed in 2022 helps homeowners build stronger roofs with some construction improvements. Firment says keeping wind and rain out of the home decreases damage which makes homes a better risk for the insurance companies.

Cut 5 (11) “…looking for”

Legislators will push for funding for the Fortify Grant Program in the upcoming legislative session.

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The United Cajun Navy is assisting people in the small towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City, Mississippi after tornadoes leveled the communities Friday night. UCN founder and president Todd Terrell says they’ve shifted from search and rescue to distributing supplies and food.

Cut 6 (11)  “…doot-to-door.” 

Terrell says they are asking the public to help by either donating money or supplies and you can find a wish list of supplies on their Facebook page. He says their mission is far from over.

Cut 7 (11)  “…people up there.” 

Terrell says the devastation is comparable to the 2010 Joplin, Missouri tornado and the 2021 Mayfield, Kentucky twister where whole communities were leveled.

At least 26 people were killed in Mississippi from the EF4 twister, and Terrell says it’s a miracle there weren’t more fatalities. He credits the ability to use heat sensors in planes and drones.

Cut 8 (10)  “…new technology.” 

If you are unable to make a donation or volunteer Terrell is asking the public for prayers. More severe weather is forecasted for the area today and throughout the week.

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Many in Louisiana are amazed the LSU Lady Tigers are in the Final Four in Kim Mulkey’s second season as head coach. Mulkey took over a program that won nine games during the 2020-21 season. Prior to this season, she brought in several new players out of the transfer portal…

Cut 9 (11) “…tough love”

All American forward Angel Reese came to LSU after leading Maryland to the Sweet 16 last season. The Baltimore native says she needed a fresh start and Mulkey to coach her hard…

Cut 10 (09) “…Coach Mulkey” 

Another big offseason addition was assistant coach Bob Starkey. Starkey was an assistant coach when LSU made five straight trips to the Final Four in the 2000s. Mulkey says Starkey is a perfect fit…

Cut 11 (13)  “…forget that”

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Louisiana U-S Representative Julia Letlow’s Parents Bill of Rights Act is waiting for discussion in the Senate after it passed out of the House by a slim margin. The Republican from Richland Parish says the legislation is a vehicle by which parents and educators can have a productive dialogue over what’s taught in public schools…

Cut 12 (10) “…this bill.” 

The legislation needs 60 votes in the Democratic-majority U-S Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says the legislation faces a dead end in the upper chamber. But Letlow says the legislation should not be partisan, since it’s main goal is to make sure parents have the right to know what’s taught in the classroom….

Cut 13 (09) “…pushing this through.”

Will lawmakers rely on modified fossil fuel energy production or jump-start renewable energies? LRN spoke with Congressman Garret Graves on the topic. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing Louisiana’s employment numbers are reaching historic levels. Kace Kieschnick has more…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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If a person wanted to have an issue decided by their peers versus lawmakers they would use the process called a ballot initiative. But that’s not an option in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Congressional leaders from both parties are in negotiations on House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s “Lower Energy Costs Act” which supporters say would restore energy independence instead of relying on foreign countries. Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves is hopeful that with some modifications it will pass in the House this week.

Cut 4 (08)  “…energy needs.”

Graves says the energy bill would mandate offshore lease sales; streamline permitting processes; and increase state shares of the federal government’s royalties for offshore oil and gas production and wind farms.

Cut 5 (11) “…for Louisiana.”

A recent energy outlook by the Department of Energy showed there will be an increase in global demand for oil and gas and an increase in global demand for renewable energy and critical minerals in the next several years. Graves says there are some outstanding concerns, including offshore oil and wind in the Gulf of Mexico.

Cut 6 (10)  “…global demand.” 

A House will meet this week to choose which amendments will be considered.

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The federal Bureau of Labor statistics shows Louisiana is putting up record employment numbers with over 2 million estimated employed for February 2023, the eighth highest in the history of the series. Louisiana added more than 6,000 jobs from January to February which Mark Jones with the Louisiana Workforce Commission says is one of the biggest increases in the nation… 

Cut 7 (10) “…among the nation.”

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the state is at 3.6%, up 0.1% from last month but still one of the lowest in series history. Education and Health services saw an increase in 3,400 jobs since January and the leisure and hospitality industry gained 1,200 jobs, and Jones says this is nothing new…

Cut 8 (12) “…in manufacturing.”

Jones says Louisiana has shown gains in manufacturing in 19 of the last 20 months over the past two years and added 400 this February.

New Orleans led the way, adding 2,700 jobs this month especially  in the leisure and hospitality industry. Despite having only the eighth largest job market in the state, Jones says Alexandria’s 600 new jobs were second in the state…

Cut 9 (08)  “…last two years.”

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Should voters have the ability to put an initiative, like raising the minimum wage or legalizing marijuana, on a statewide ballot? New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry says about half of the states have some type of ballot initiative protocol yet Louisiana doesn’t and she’s proposing a change in the state constitution to allow it…

Cut 10 (12)  “…give another option.”

And because a ballot initiative is a constitutional amendment the bill must have a two-thirds majority in both chambers. Landry says then it wouldn’t be automatic, it has to go before voters.

Cut 11 (11)  “…be changed.”

Even though Landry is a Democrat, she says the bill doesn’t favor either party because initiatives to be decided by voters could be from one end of the political spectrum to the other.

Cut 12 (10)  “…us here.”

The fate of House Bill 165 will have to receive a two-thirds majority in both chambers before voters can vote on the right to place their initiatives before voters.

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The Baton Rouge Police Department is mourning the death of two of their officers who were killed when their helicopter crashed in a sugarcane field in West Baton Rouge Parish while pursuing a vehicle running from police. Chief Murphy Paul says they are waiting to release the officers’ names and they are asking for prayers…

Cut 13 (12) “…in prayer.” 

Flight data shows the helicopter took off early Sunday morning and crashed in a field about three miles from the Omni Airport. Paul says the F-A-A is the lead investigator…

Cut 14 (14)  “..community”

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LSU women’s basketball is heading to its sixth final four and its first since 2008 as the Lady Tigers defeated Miami 54-42 in Greenville, South Carolina last night. It’s will be the fifth time Coach Kim Mulkey has made it to the Final Four during her 23-year career as a head coach…

Cut 15 (15)  “..to do.”

Both teams shot the ball poorly last night as the Lady Tigers shot 30-percent from the field. Alexis Morris led the way offensively with 21 points…

Cut  16 (10)  “…our game.” 

All-America forward Angel Reese had her 32nd double-double, an SEC record as she had 13 points and 18 rebounds. Reese arrived on campus last summer after transferring from Maryland….

Cut 17 (17) “… look at us.” 

LSU will play the winner of tonight’s game between Virginia Tech and Ohio State in the national semi-finals on Friday night in Dallas.

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LSU needs to find a new defensive line coach as Jamar Cain has left the program to join Sean Payton in Denver as he’ll be a pass rush specialist for the Broncos. Fourth-year junior Jacobian Guillory says it was tough news to take, but he still thinks LSU’s d-line will be elite, especially when injured players return for preseason camp…

Cut 18 (18) “…in the country.”

On the offensive line, LSU returns its starting tackles from last season, Emery Jones and Will Campbell. Both started as freshmen, a rare feat in the SEC. But Jones says they are not reflecting what they did last season…

Cut 19 (13) “..national championship”

Louisiana officials announce federal dollars from the infrastructure law has resulted in more than 100 orphaned wells plugged in the last two months. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (29)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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If you’re craving crawfish, you’ll be pleased to know prices continue to drop. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources announce more than 100 orphaned well sites in the Monroe and Shreveport areas have been plugged with funding from the federal Infrastructure Law since work began in January. DNR spokesperson Patrick Courreges says another 30-plus wells should be plugged by the end of the month…

Cut 3 (09) “…state funding” 

The state Office of Conservation normally plugs 120 to 200 wells a year and there are over four-thousand orphaned well sites in Louisiana.

Last year, Louisiana received a $25 million grant to address orphaned well sites and they have to use the money before the federal fiscal year ends in October. Courreges says they’ve hired more than a dozen crews to plug orphaned wells…

Cut 4 (14)  “…orphaned wells plugged” 

Contractors will continue to work on plugging well sites primarily in north Louisiana. Courreges says many of the wells  have harmful substances deep underground…

Cut 5 (11) “…potential”

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Crawfish connoisseurs will be happy to know the average price per pound of live mudbugs are 25 cents lower at $2.77. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King says the industry dropped prices this week which brings the average price for a pound of boiled crawfish to $4.98.

Cut 6 (09)  “…$3.99 a pound.” 

King says with a $3.99 per pound average at your local drive-thru for boiled crawfish, it’s ideal for watching the Sweet 16 this weekend.

Cut 7 (11)  “…complimentary meal.” 

The Crawfish App compares prices from more than 16 hundred vendors in Louisiana and King says when you compare prices this weekend to the same as last year, prices are 18 percent lower or 51 cents per pound cheaper.

Historically, King says the weeks prior to Easter prices tend to drop, but she expects to see demand for crawfish on Easter weekend to reflect a bump in prices.

Cut 8 (11)  “…and Good Friday.” 

King says you should have no problem finding a $75 or less sack of crawfish this weekend. You can download the Crawfish App free on your smartphone.

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After serving in the legislature as unaffiliated, New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry is returning to the Democratic Party. Landry’s announcement comes with just over two weeks until lawmakers return to Baton Rouge for the session.

Cut 9 (09) “…Democratic Party (chuckle).”

Last week long-time Democrat, Delhi Representative Francis Thompson switched to the Republican Party which makes the GOP the Super Majority in both chambers now.

Landry says she along with other Blue Party members are gearing up for what they anticipate will be a difficult session.

Cut 10 (11) “…they’re right.” 

Landry says anti-trans and legislation addressing libraries are among the contentious bills filed by Republicans for the upcoming session.

Landry believes serious reform is needed at the state Democratic party and it begins with a change in leadership.

Cut 11 (09)  “…has to stop.”

Landry has represented District 91 since 2019.

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March Madness is in full swing and sports gambling is legal in Louisiana. Gambling is entertainment for some but problem gambling is a public health issue that affects many Americans and the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health reminds Louisianans to have a solid game plan before gambling. LDH –OBH Program Manager Robert Henson says the agency is committed to providing assistance to those in need.

Cut 12 (09) “…resources available.” 

Almost 276,000 Louisianans meet the criteria for Disordered Gambling and over 96,000 meet the criteria for Pathological Gambling. Some signs and symptoms of individuals with gambling problems include loss of control, trouble controlling gambling, and withdrawal from family. Henson says risks are involved but being responsible and knowing your limits is critical.

Cut 13 (04) “…to spend.”

Governor John Bel Edwards proclaimed March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month in Louisiana in collaboration with the National Council on Problem Gambling. Henson says gambling treatment is free and confidential to Louisiana residents but encourages everyone to know their limits.

Cut 14 (04)  “…going in.”

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact Louisiana Problem Gambling Helpline at 877-770-STOP.