Inspection station owners are not happy the state legislature is poised to pass legislation to eliminate the need for vehicle owners to get an inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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For the 32 people who had been running for U.S. House in Louisiana, all their efforts have now gone to waste. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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As a result of this week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision, Louisiana’s legislative leaders say they plan to approve a new congressional district map during the final month of this legislative session. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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A House bill that would eliminate vehicle inspection stickers is nearing final passage, despite strong opposition from the businesses that conduct the inspections. Janice Aucion of Morgan City says she’s been inspecting vehicles for 26 years and told Senate Transportation that inspection stations keep unsafe vehicles off the road.

Cut 4 (14) “…that’s not obvious.”

The bill author’s, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, says it’s inconvenient for drivers to have to get a vehicle inspection sticker every year or two. He’s seeking to replace the inspection sticker with a six-dollar QR code that drivers would pay through the mail instead of going to an inspection station.

Davey Quinn of Hammond says passage of Bagley’s bill will result in more uninsured motorists, vehicles with tinted windows that are darker than they should be and vehicles that not fit for the road.

Cut 5 (10) “…the people first.”

Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Bryan Adams says the state does not need inspection stations to help find uninsured motorists.

Cut 6 (09) “…all understood that.”

Bagley downplayed the role inspection stations have in preventing unsafe and uninsured drivers from getting behind the wheel.

Cut 7 (09) “…safety issue here.”

The bill heads to the Senate floor. If the upper chamber approves, the full House will have to agree to the Senate amendments before it goes to the governor’s desk. Governor Landry supports the bill.

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With the U.S. House elections now suspended in light of the state’s congressional map being declared unconstitutional, that means all campaigns are now null and void. Once a new map is adopted, the process will start all over from square one, with candidates going through the qualifying process in the new districts. Political strategist Lionel Rainey notes that all this comes after the 32 candidates from both parties had already raised and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on an election that now will not happen.

Cut 8 (08) “…not exist anymore.”

Rainey says Louisiana has entered uncharted waters with this last-minute suspension of the primary election; and as such, there are many unanswered questions – particularly when it comes to how much money the candidates will be able to raise, should they choose to run in a newly-drawn district. He points out that the federal government puts a cap on how much an individual can give to a specific candidate.

Cut 9 (09)  “…raise more money?”

Rainey says if the Federal Elections Commission does not grant a waiver given the unique circumstances, that’s going to put the candidates who decide to continue their quest for U.S. House in a very tough spot.

Cut 10 (07) “…they can raise.”

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The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is soaring towards four dollars a gallon. Regular unleaded at many service stations is currently selling for more than $3.80 a gallon. Patrick DeHaan from GasBuddy says it seems inevitable gas prices in Louisiana will eclipse four dollars a gallon soon.

Cut 11 (09) “…a gallon mark.”

DeHaan says this latest surge in gas prices is connected to the rising cost of oil.

Cut 12 (10) “…prices going up.”

The highest statewide average gas price ever recorded in Louisiana was $4.56 a gallon in June of 2022. DeHaan says if peace negotiations don’t improve between the U.S. and Iran, there’s a chance we could see a new record this year.

Cut 13 (07) “…of getting there.”

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With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s congressional map, legislative leaders say they will approve a new map before the session is required to end on June 1st. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says a session that was coasting along could experience some turbulence over the next few weeks.

Cut 14 (10) “…a fast track.”

Four Republicans and two Democrats currently make up Louisiana’s U.S. House delegation. Alford says Wednesday’s historic Supreme Court ruling gives legislative leaders a chance to pass a map that would add to the number of Republicans in the U.S. House.

Cut 15 (06) “…five-one map.”

Yesterday, Governor Landry announced the suspension of the U.S. House races. But absentee ballots have already been sent out, and early voting begins tomorrow. Alford says the late delay to the congressional primaries is also adding more work for the secretary of state’s office and the local clerks of court.

Cut 16 (06) “…off the ballot.”

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The LSU baseball team begins a must-win three-game series against South Carolina tonight. Both the Tigers and Gamecocks are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive, and coach Jay Johnson believes South Carolina will give his team its best shot.

Cut 17 (18)  “…be highly competitive.”

LSU has not only struggled to hold leads in SEC play over the past three weeks, but it has also had trouble closing out one and two-run games. But Johnson believes that could change soon.

Cut 18 (19)  “…season so far.”

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Louisiana Tech is in Dallas this weekend to take on Dallas Baptist in a pivotal three-game series. The Patriots rank first in Conference USA and fifth nationally in home runs with 91 and counting. In addition to hitting home runs, head coach Lane Burroughs says DBU can beat teams in other ways.

Cut 19 (14) “…an offensive standpoint.”

Senior catcher Matt Houston has been on a hot streak over his last several games. Houston hit two home runs earlier this week against ULM, and Burroughs says that he has earned the opportunity to become an everyday player.

Cut 20 (11) “…every day now.”

Just when they thought they had it all figured out comes the curveball of curveballs. With the Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s congressional map just two days before the start of early voting, the U.S. House election is now on hold until the legislature can pass a new congressional map. La-politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says a session that was coasting along could experience some turbulence over the next few weeks.

Cut 14 (12) “…fast track.”

Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says he’s not worried – bills were filed weeks ago in anticipation of this very scenario.

Cut 8 (07) “..that we need.”

Seabaugh says he’s confident that the legislature can pass a new map by June 1st, which is the date when the session must end.

A House bill that would eliminate vehicle inspection stickers is nearing final passage, despite strong opposition from the businesses that conduct the inspections. Janice Aucion of Morgan City says she’s been inspecting vehicles for 26 years and told Senate Transportation that inspection stations keep unsafe vehicles off the road.

Cut 4 (14) “…not obvious.”

The bill author, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, downplayed the role inspection stations have in preventing unsafe vehicles from the roads and uninsured drivers from getting behind the wheel.

Cut 7 (11) “…safety issue here.”

Bagley’s bill advanced to the full Senate without objection in committee. If the Senate approves, the House will have to agree to the Senate amendments before it goes to the governor’s desk.

The ACLU of Louisiana calls yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map “disgraceful.” The Supreme Court threw out the map, ruling it an unconstitutional gerrymander. Executive Director Alanah Odoms says it’s not just people of color who will suffer in the long run because of this ruling.

Cut 5 (07) “…upon name change.”

In light of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, next month’s U.S. House primaries in Louisiana are now suspended until a new congressional map can be drawn. Political analyst Scott Hughes says once that happens, the process will need to start all over again; and with only six months to hold an election essentially from square one, that would make a closed primary untenable.

Cut 10 (11) “…we’ll be done.”

Legislative leaders say approving a new Congressional map in this regular session is possible. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The timing of all this makes last October’s special session that much more consequential. That’s the session that adjusted the primary election dates. The Supreme Court ruling came down 18 days after the original primary date of April 18th. Had the dates not been changed, the current maps would have likely had to remain in place for the rest of the election cycle.

In light of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, next month’s U.S. House primaries in Louisiana are now suspended. Secretary of State Nancy Landry made the announcement this afternoon ahead of Governor Landry’s expected executive order. Political analyst Scott Hughes says with this suspension, the entire process will need to start all over again, since the districts will have changed and there are specific qualifying rules.

Cut 9 (09)  “…a huge issue.”

The decision comes just two days before early voting in the primaries was set to begin. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says postponing the U.S. House elections is the right thing to do so that the legislature can approve a legal congressional map.

Cut 7 (06) “..now and then.”

All other races and the constitutional amendments are still on.

The ACLU of Louisiana is outraged over yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map. Executive Director Alanah Odoms says she fears that this ruling will be the catalyst for making life a lot more difficult for minorities.

Cut 4 (13) “…orders and policies.”

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles, Governor Landry said he plans to put more pressure on the federal government to provide more money for the construction of the bridge.

Cut 13 (09) “…around the area.” 

More federal money also means lower tolls to cross the bridge. The tolls haven’t been established yet; they will be collected for 50 years.

The U.S. House primaries in Louisiana are suspended after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the congressional map an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh agrees with the decision.

Cut 6 (11) “….exist anymore.

With the suspension of the House primaries, the process would need to start all over from square one once a new map is in place. Political analyst Scott Hughes says if the process is not completed by January 3rd, when the next Congress is sworn in, Louisiana would be left with no representation at all in the House, so it might be in the legislature’s best interest to scrap the closed primary for the U.S. House race.

Cut 11 (13) “…for closed primaries.”

The ACLU of Louisiana calls yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map “disgraceful.” Executive Director Alanah Odoms says by chipping away at the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court is dialing back civil rights as a whole.

Cut 3 (13) “…opportunities of others.”

The first Louisiana patient to receive sickle cell gene therapy is back at home after six weeks at Manning Family Children’s Hospital New Orleans. Gene Therapy Program Director Dr. Benjamin Watkins says sickle cell disease is a chronic condition that causes intense pain throughout the body.

Cut 14 (08) “…in the country.” 

Watkins says this new FDA approved treatment can provide a functional cure for sickle cell.

The ACLU of Louisiana calls yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on the state’s congressional map “disgraceful.” The Supreme Court threw out the map, ruling it an unconstitutional gerrymander. Executive Director Alanah Odoms says it’s not just people of color who will suffer in the long run because of this ruling.

Cut 5 (07) “…upon name change.”

So in light of this ruling, next month’s U.S. House primary election is now in limbo. Governor Landry is expected to suspend the primary, saying the state is now restricted from using the current congressional map. Political analyst Scott Hughes says if that happens, that would leave only six months to essentially hold an election from square one, which could make a closed primary untenable.

Cut 10 (11) “…we’ll be done.”

One state senator says approving a new congressional map in this regular session is possible.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Outgoing Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson got quite the going-away present – a 30-count indictment related to last year’s jailbreak. The charges include malfeasance in office and payroll fraud. Hutson lost her re-election bid to Michelle Woodfork, who will be sworn in Monday. Chief Financial Officer Bianka Brown is also indicted on 20 counts.

Reaction to yesterday’s Supreme Court decision that ruled Louisiana’s congressional map unconstitutional is split down the same ideological lines as the ruling itself. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Supreme Court ruling that throws out Louisiana’s congressional map is not good news for Democrat Cleo Fields, who represents the district at the heart of the case. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Ground has been broken on the 2.3-billion-dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Louisiana’s congressional map fell along ideological lines, and so is reaction to that ruling. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the ruling vindicates a position that the state has taken from the beginning in that it shouldn’t be sorting voters by race.

Cut 4 (12) “…and state constitution.”

Murrill says the Supreme Court made it clear that race cannot be the overriding factor in drawing the new congressional map.

Cut 5 (11) “…kind of scrutiny.”

The district at the heart of the case that the Supreme Court just ruled on is the Sixth District that runs diagonally from Shreveport to Baton Rouge and is represented by Democrat Cleo Fields. Fields says while the Supreme Court did not strike down the 1965 Voting Rights Act with its ruling, it might as well have.

Cut 6 (08) “…register to vote.”

Fields says the Voting Rights Act was the only way for a state like Louisiana to get a Black person elected to Congress.

Cut 7 (10) “…over a third.”

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The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that strikes down Louisiana’s current congressional map is not good news for sixth district Congressman Cleo Fields. It’s his district that has resulted in the court calling Louisiana’s U.S. House map an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says the next map will not be kind to Fields politically.

Cut 8 (07) “…will be elected.”

Hogan says Louisiana’s new congressional map will likely result in the Republicans gaining a seat in the U.S. House, which is why there will be pressure to redraw the map this year.

Cut 9 (08)  “…to do it.”

Hogan says the Supreme Court decision has impacts across the country, since state legislatures now know that they do not have to make race the biggest factor when drawing political boundaries.

Cut 10 (07) “…how they’re drawn.”

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Ground has been broken on the long-awaited I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. The 2.3-billion-dollar project will replace the existing bridge that was built in the 1950s with a state-of-the-art structure engineered to meet 21st century demands. Lake Charles Mayor Marshall Simien says this is a huge day in the city’s history.

Cut 11 (13) “…the longest time.”

Ninety-thousand vehicles cross the current Lake Charles bridge that was completed in 1952.

When Governor Landry took office in 2024, he made it one of his priorities to find a way to fund a new Lake Charles Bridge. His solution was a public-private partnership with Calcasieu Bridge Partners that will use federal, state and toll dollars to build the bridge. Landry says 15-percent of the tolling revenues will go right back into the area.

Cut 12 (10) “…Imperial Calcasieu forever.”

The new bridge will not open until 2031, and it will be several years before toll rates will be determined. Landry says in the meantime, he’ll ask the federal government for more money.

Cut 13 (09) “…around the area.”

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Manning Family Children’s Hospital New Orleans has been designated as the only hospital in the State of Louisiana approved to offer the new FDA-approved gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease. Gene Therapy Program Director Dr. Benjamin Watkins says Children’s Hospital is also one of only 13 hospitals across the country providing this sickle cell gene therapy, and New Orleans is the ideal place for one.

Cut 14 (08) “…in the country.”

Dr. Watkins says the FDA has approved this therapy for patients 12 years old and older; as such, despite the fact that it’s a pediatric hospital, they will treat older patients with this therapy.

Cut 15 (09) “…age of 30.”

In fact, the first patient to receive the therapy at Children’s Hospital was a 23-year-old man who sought it so that he could get his pilot’s license. Watkins says for patients older than 30, they will work with them to be treated at one of the non-pediatric hospitals offering this treatment.

Cut 16 (07) “…here in Louisiana.”

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The LSU baseball team picked up a much-needed win over Southeastern Louisiana Tuesday. The Tigers have recently seen strong production from their freshmen, and coach Jay Johnson believes the young stars have made the team more competitive.

Cut 17 (12)  “…off the weekend.”

Even though LSU’s bats are heating up at the right time, the pitching staff continues to struggle. The Tigers have allowed 36 runs over their last five games and rank last in the SEC with a 5.32 ERA. Johnson says Pitching Coach Nate Yeskie and Director of Pitching Development Jamie Tutko met to address the issues and says the staff has to execute better in order to turn things around.

Cut 18 (16)  “…than they have.”

Despite the pitching struggles, the Tigers received some positive news. Johnson says sophomore pitcher Casan Evans’ tests came back clean, but his status for the weekend still remains uncertain.

Cut 19 (10) “…we’re not sure.”

To make the postseason, LSU will likely need to win seven of its final nine conference games.

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LSU football’s cornerback room took a hit earlier this month when sophomore Aidan Anding suffered a torn Achilles during the scrimmage. Head coach Lane Kiffin says the position group is a concern due to limited depth and believes the Tigers will need several players to step up this summer.

Cut 20 (17) “…what you have?”

The state legislature will soon have to draw a new congressional map, after the Supreme Court ruled the current one unconstitutional. In a six-to-three ruling that fell right along ideological lines, the court ruled that the creation of the second majority-Black district, one that stretches diagonally from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, relied too much on race. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the legislature may certainly use other factors in drawing a new map, but it may not intentionally use race.

Cut 10 (09) “…game going forward.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill was pleased with today’s Supreme Court ruling.

Cut 12 (14) “…to do that.”

So now that the legislature has to draw a new map, the big question is, when will it actually do so? Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

In a joint statement, House Speaker Phillip DeVillier and Senate President Cameron Henry say they’re reviewing the court’s ruling and are meeting with the members of their respective houses, representatives from the executive branch, elections officials and counsel to determine the next steps to be taken in the best interests of the state and its voters.

The Supreme Court has ruled Louisiana’s congressional map unconstitutional. In a six-to-three ruling that fell right along ideological lines, the court ruled that the creation of the second majority-Black district relied too much on race. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says while the Supreme Court did not strike down the 1965 Voting Rights Act, its ruling today will have the effect of significantly gutting Section Two of that law.

Cut 11 (13) “…in drawing lines.”

The district in question runs diagonally from Shreveport to Baton Rouge and is represented by Cleo Fields. As one might expect, Fields was not happy with the decision.

Cut 14 (10) “…state is Louisiana.”

With the Supreme Court ruling Louisiana’s congressional map unconstitutional, the case is now remanded to the Western District of Louisiana. State Attorney General Liz Murrill says in the meantime, a new congressional map will need to be drawn.

Cut 13 (11) “…draw a map.”

For the second time, Chalmette Representative Mike Bayham’s proposed constitutional amendment limiting governors to two lifetime terms comes up three votes short of the 70 needed for it to advance. Bayham is disappointed one of the 21 “No” votes came from Covington Representative Mark Wright…

Cut 4 (09) “…all of us.”

Seventeen lawmakers abstained from voting.

The Supreme Court rules Louisiana’s congressional map unconstitutional. The vote was six to three, and it fell right down ideological lines. The court ruled that the state relied too heavily on race in drawing its current congressional map, which includes a district that stretches diagonally from Shreveport to Baton Rouge. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says the court did not throw out the 1965 Voting Rights Act in its ruling; but it did leave a key question unanswered – how much is too much?

Cut 10 (12) “…and is enough?”

The current map will remain in place until a new map is drawn. The big questions are – when will the legislature draw that new map, and is there any chance that it will be in place for the November election? One thing that could complicate that is that early voting in the closed primary starts Saturday.

Construction officially gets underway this afternoon on the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire says the new 2.3-billion-dollar bridge will be a vast improvement over the one that it will be replacing.

Cut 5 (06) “…still being debated.”

The state will collect tolls for 50 years; Abshire says that was the only option to gain the funding needed for the massive project, which will take seven years to complete.

Louisiana Tech and Conference USA reach an agreement that will allow the school to move to the Sun Belt July 1st. Even though the move will cost the university an estimated eight-million dollars, Matt Bellinson of the Ruston Leader believes it will be money well spent when all is said and done.

Cut 15 (12) “…right for them.”