Lawmakers have repealed a bill to put speed cameras on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. In 2022 St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux responded by putting more deputies on the bridge who wrote 7,000 tickets and reduced crashes by 25-percent. He says speeding is not the main cause of crashes its motorists driving slower in the left lane, distracted drivers…

Cut 4 (10) “…on the bridge.” 

Today is “Secure Your Load for Road Safety Day.” Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says not doing so can turn them into  traffic hazards.

Cut 9 (10) “…their loads.” 

And he reminds you to secure items in your boat before you tow them on the roadways.

Lake Charles has secured hosting rights for Boys Basketball, swimming, softball and baseball championships for an additional two years and solidified southwest Louisiana as the premiere high school sports destination of the state. Erick Zartler at Visit Lake Charles says it’s a huge economic impact to the region.

Cut 8 (05)  “…hotels full.” 

Over the course of the year around 45 to 50 thousand people head to Lake Charles for high school championship events

There’s been talk about building a new 400-million-dollar arena on the LSU campus. But where will it go? The Advocate is reporting based on emails they’ve obtained through a public records request, the LSU golf course next to Alex Box Stadium is the location that’s looked at the most. The Tiger Athletic Foundation is looking to partner with a private developer to build the arena.

Two East Baton Parish deputies were injured, and a suspect was killed when authorities tried to search for drugs this morning. The EBR coroner is on the scene in north Baton Rouge near the intersection of Hollywood Street and North Foster Drive. One of the deputies was struck by gunfire but their condition is unknown.  DEA is also reportedly on the scene.

Lake Charles will remain the Youth Sports Capital of Louisiana for next two years. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

Lawmakers have repealed a law to put cameras on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux says when monies collected from speeding fines issued by law enforcement they help fund things like the Indigent Defense Board and Crimestoppers. When a speed camera issues a fine those monies aren’t distributed to other agencies…

Cut 5 (11)  “… goes on.”

Governor Jeff Landry has declared today as “Secure Your Load for Road Safety Day.” Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says it’s important for motorists to properly secure items to prevent them from becoming traffic hazards.

Cut 9 (10) “…their loads.” 

Objects as common as two-by-four pieces of wood or a suitcase can create a lethal problem on the road

A bill passed in the most recent legislative session repeals a law that would have put speed cameras on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. When the issue was raised in 2022 St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux responded by putting more deputies on the bridge who wrote 7,000 tickets and reduced crashes by 25-percent. He says speeding is not the main cause of crashes it’s motorists driving slower in the left lane, distracted drivers…

Cut 4 (10) “…on the bridge.” 

He says cameras can’t detect human or drug trafficking.

DOTD has closed the Grosse Tete Bridge after it was damaged around 5:30 this morning by a vessel on the Port Allen Lock. An estimated 15-hundred cars use drawbridge, located on Highway 77 in Iberville Parish daily. The cause of the accident remains under investigation and no injuries have been reported.

It was 80 years ago today when more than 156,000 Allied ground troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, a turning point in WWII, what’s referred to as D-Day. Of the 2,500 Americans who were killed, 33 were from Louisiana. Colonel Jerome Buller with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs says this anniversary is notable because…

Cut 24 (10) “…operation.”

Of the Louisianans killed in action 12 are buried in state, 17 in American cemeteries in France, one in England, and three were never found.

Louisiana started sending a rotation of 50 Louisiana Army National Guardsmen to the Texas border last March to curb illegal crossings. The three-month deployment is coming to an end and Governor Landry says he is in talks with Texas Governor Greg Abbot about extending the deployment.

Cut 6 (11) “…around this time.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry says she’s extremely pleased with the 11 bills passed in the session to improve Louisiana’s election system. Even though the Bayou State is in the ranked in top ten for election integrity by the Heritage Foundation and number one in the south by the Electoral Integrity Project

Cut 8 (11)  “…(x2) number one.” 

The founder and president of Acadian Ambulance Richard Zuschlag has passed away at 76. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”State Treasurer John Fleming says they’ll be mailing almost 28,000 checks to Louisianas who have unclaimed property. The total amount of those checks is $5 million. Fleming says one in six Louisiana residents has unclaimed property. Visit lacashclaim-dot org to see if you have unclaimed property.

The founder and President of Acadian Ambulance Richard Zuschlag has passed away at 76 after a battle with cancer. In 2022, on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana, he said the company began to grow when they hired several Vietnam War veterans as medics to cover Lafayette Parish…

Cut 5 (14)  “… save lives.”

Secretary of State Nancy Landry says she’s extremely pleased with the 11 bills passed in the session to improve Louisiana’s election system. Even though the Bayou State is in the ranked in top ten for election integrity by the Heritage Foundation and number one in the south by the Electoral Integrity Project

Cut 8 (11)  “…(x2) number one.” 

Louisiana started sending a rotation of 50 Louisiana Army National Guardsmen to the Texas border last March to curb illegal crossings. The three-month deployment is coming to an end and Governor Landry says he is in talks with Texas Governor Greg Abbot about extending the deployment.

Cut 6 (11) “…around this time. ”
Landry says it is important to have a presence of National Guard troops from Louisiana and they are helping to secure the border

It’s official, professional hockey is back in Monroe, Louisiana, and the Monroe Moccasins is the newest team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League. Owner Nick Perkins says he knows Louisiana is passionate about their sports teams.

Cut 12 (11) “…the first year.” 

The first home game at the Monroe Civic Center is October 11^th

Governor Jeff Landry and several other Republican governors spoke at a diesel refinery in Chalmette to hammer the Biden administration’s energy policy. Landry says the Biden administration’s enhanced energy regulations have cost taxpayers almost $1.4 trillion since he took office.

Cut 5 (10) “…domestic energy.” 

President Biden announced plans to put significant restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. The plan kicks in when border encounters reach 2,500 per day, then any migrant without a reason to fear return to their country will be removed from the US within days or hours. Many Republicans including Senator Bill Cassidy question the president’s timing.

Cut 13 (10)  “… illegal immigration.”

Several bills to enhance education in the state were passed in the session, but Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin points out that lawmakers sent a mixed message on education with another round of teacher pay stipends instead of raises and a $9 million cut to early childhood education.

Cut 9 (07)  “…a difference.”

Erwin praised passage of legislation to improve math literacy.

The Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo in Monroe is 100 years old this month. And for their centennial they’ve added a Louisiana Purchase exhibit where Emily Stogner with the City of Monroe says you can feed the animals and get a sense of what it was like back in 1803.

Cut 12 (07) “…better than ever.” 

The zoo is home to over 300 animals representing 150 species from around the world.

Overall, the regular legislative session proved to be successful for Governor Jeff Landry. Political consultant Mary Patricia Wray says the Republican was seen several times in both chambers personally lobbying in his first regular session.

Cut  14 (12) “..already won.” 

Among the governor’s victories was the Gator Scholarship Program and classifying two drugs used for abortions as controlled substances.

Governor Jeff Landry says there are several infrastructure projects underway to be completed for the Super Bowl LIX (59).

Cut 6  (07) “…city of New Orleans. ” 

That game will be played on February 9, 2025. Landry says he also wants to tackle public safety concerns in the Big Easy.

Police responding to a shooting near LSU’s campus this afternoon found one person critically injured. Baton Rouge Police says they received a call around 2:40 and when they arrived, they found an adult male with several gunshot wounds. The incident happened at an apartment complex less than a half of a mile away from campus.

LSU baseball comes up short in its bid to repeat as national champions. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Severe weather has hammered northwest Louisiana and is responsible for thousands of customers being without power. And SWEPCO spokesperson Michelle Marcotte says estimated restoration times have changed due to the latest round of weather…

Cut 11 (06) ” …here in Louisiana.”

Weather permitting, she says crews will continue restoration efforts.

Political consultant Mary Patricia Wray says Governor Landry’s first regular legislative session was a successful one. Despite some of his bills being watered down or not passing, for example, the Education Savings Account and constitutional convention, respectively. But she gives the governor credit for taking on several big issues.

Cut 13 (09) “…pretty notable.” 

A bill heading to the governor’s desk would prohibit out-of-state journalists from requesting public records from the governor’s office. Gonzales Senator Ed Price questioned River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot who said reporters outside of Louisiana can work with in-state media to make requests.

Cut 3 (15) “..that information.” 

In preparations for Super Bowl 59 that will be played at the Superdome on February 9, 2025, Governor Landry says he wants to tackle public safety for New Orleans…

Cut 8 (06)  “…in the country.” 

The governor also says DOTD infrastructure projects to be completed for the big game will last far beyond the NFL Championship and benefit the Crescent City.

In the final hours of the legislative session, lawmakers approved a bill that only allows Louisiana residents to make a public records request with the governor’s office.

Cut 1 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

In preparations for Super Bowl 59 that will be played at the Superdome on February 9, 2025.Governor Landry says he wants to tackle public safety for the city…

Cut 8 (06)  “…in the country.” 

Severe weather in Northwest Louisiana caused additional damage to SWEPCO’s energy delivery system. They are reporting more than 13,000 without power. SWEPCO spokesperson Michelle Marcotte.

Cut 9 (12) “…flooding.” 

LSU’s season ended last night with a crushing four-to-three loss in ten innings to North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional. Coach Jay Johnson didn’t want to see the season end…
Cut 16 (11) “…Super Regional at home.”
The Tar Heels scored the tying run in the ninth inning and UNC took the lead in the tenth inning after right fielder Jake Brown dropped a fly ball to let the go-ahead run get on second base.

Governor Jeff Landry says New Orleans is gearing up for Super Bowl 59 that will be played in the Superdome February 9^th, 2025. In anticipation of the event, Landry says the city will be improving infrastructure that will have benefits reaching years into the future.

Cut 7 (11) “…post Superbowl.”  

A 90-day regular legislative session ended last night. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says lawmakers approved property insurance reform legislation, Governor Jeff Landry got more control, but his push to hold a constitutional convention this year failed…
Cut 24 (12) “…going anywhere.”

But he says a special session could be called to hold a Constitutional Convention.

A bill heading to the governor’s desk would prohibit out-of-state journalists from requesting public records from the governor’s office. During discussion on the Senate floor, it was pointed out that the governor’s office is receiving an additional one million dollars to hire more lawyers to work on public records requests. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says the office is getting inundated with public records requests and many ask for an enormous amount of detail…

Cut 5 (13)  “… Louisiana citizens.”

Talbot says other states also have a similar law