Governor Jeff Landry has signed a law that eliminates the vehicle inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
____________________________________________
The 2026 legislative session was one full of bills aimed at strengthening the workforce in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
____________________________________________
The LHSAA Boys’ Basketball Championships are returning to Lafayette for the first time since 2011. Kace Kieschnick reports.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
_________________________________________________________
Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill into law yesterday, eliminating the vehicle inspection sticker program. The current sticker will be replaced by a QR code sticker sent in the mail when owners secure or renew registration. Landry says this was easily the most popular bill he’s signed.
Cut 4 (13) “…and start dancing.”
Most states, including all of Louisiana’s neighbors, have already replaced vehicle inspection stickers. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley authored the bill and has advocated for ones like it for years before finally getting this one into law. Landry says there was one key difference between then and now.
Cut 5 (05) “…the right governor.”
QR Code stickers will be a one-time six-dollar cost compared to the ten-dollar annual sticker. The only information on the code is a VIN number. Safety inspections will still be required for some commercial vehicles, school buses and some farm vehicles. Bagley credited Landry for helping pass the legislation.
Cut 6 (07) “…answer the questions.”
New Orleans, Kenner and Westwego can require their own local inspections.
____________________________________________________
One thing the 2026 legislative session will be known for is for its litany of bills aimed at strengthening the workforce in Louisiana. Adam Knapp, the CEO of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says one of the outcomes of the session is a restructured workforce delivery system, including the modernization of the Incumbent Worker Training Program.
Cut 7 (14) “…their existing workers.”
Knapp says the legislature also passed bills to expand career exposure beginning in as early as middle school.
Knapp says the legislature also passed bills to expand access to workforce financial aid, particularly when it comes to the TOPS Tech scholarship.
Cut 9 (10) “…part-time student.”
____________________________________________________
The CAJUNDOME is home to the Sugar Bowl LHSAA Boys’ Basketball State Championships once again. The association announced plans yesterday to move the event to Lafayette after 12 years in Lake Charles. Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission President Ben Berthelot says the community could not be more excited.
Cut 10 (05) “…they support it.”
Lafayette hosted the event from 1997 to 2011 and set a six-day attendance record of nearly 70-thousand fans in 1999. Berthelot says the CAJUNDOME is the best venue in the state for an event like this, and Lafayette’s location at the intersection of I-10 and I-49 is accessible for schools and fans across Louisiana.
The CAJUNDOME is, of course, home to UL-Lafayette men’s and women’s basketball and has undergone significant renovation in recent years. Berthelot says bringing the championships to the city could not have happened without the support of the university.
Cut 12 (12) “…great recruiting tool.”
___________________________________________________
The Legislative Republican Delegation believes the GOP-led Legislature delivered meaningful results in the just-completed legislative session. Chairman and Monroe Representative Michael Echols says it was a wise move to use the state’s savings account to invest an additional 500-million dollars in roads and infrastructure and 360-million dollars in economic development initiatives.
Cut 13 (07) “…and economic development.”
Echols says there was also important legislation approved that will benefit the state maybe not this year, but some time in the near future — and that’s a pair of bills to attract large aerospace companies with property and sales tax breaks.
Cut 14 (15) “…the aerospace industry.”
Echols says there’s also several bills dealing with workforce development that were approved, including legislation that prepares students as early as grade school for their professional lives.
Cut 15 (09) “…straight to work.”
____________________________________________________
NCAA baseball Super Regionals begin Friday after a historic regional round. Little Rock and St. John’s became the first two four-seeds to advance in one tournament, and three-seeds Troy and Cal Poly also won their regionals. ESPN analyst Todd Walker says the upsets defy logic.
Seven SEC teams advanced to the Super Regional round, including four hosts. At least two SEC schools are guaranteed a spot in Omaha thanks to conference matchups between Georgia and Mississippi State and Auburn and Ole Miss. Walker says he likes the Tigers in the Auburn Super Regional.
Cut 17 (18) “…of free passes.”
Third-overall seed Georgia is the top team left in the country after number-one UCLA and number-two Georgia Tech were both upset in the regionals. The Bulldogs have appearances in six of the last eight tournaments but haven’t reached Omaha since 2008. Walker says this year’s team has something those didn’t — pitching.
Cut 18 (18) “…country as well.”