Election Day is upon us. Jeff Palermo has a preview.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there is a place you can call or text if you need someone to talk with. Michelle Southern has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

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Election Day is upon us. Those who didn’t take advantage of early voting have one more chance to go to the polls Saturday to weigh in on the U.S. Senate race and five constitutional amendments. Jeremy Alford, the publisher of LaPolitics-dot-com, says the Republican Senate primary could be the last stand for incumbent Bill Cassidy.

Cut 3 (12) “…weeks and days.”

There are also three people vying for the Democratic nomination, but Alford points out that unlike on the Republican side, none of them are particularly known throughout the state.

Cut 4 (08) “…the general election.”

In early voting, according to updated numbers from the Secretary of State’s office, Democrats outnumbered Republicans at the polls statewide by more than eight-thousand – and Alford says that could spell doom for the constitutional amendments.

Cut 5 (15) “…on all five.”

The legislature has said if Amendment Three does not pass, it will not grant teachers another stipend, meaning they stand to suffer a two-thousand-dollar pay cut in the next fiscal year.

Polls are open Saturday from seven a-m until eight p-m.

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The 2026 Louisiana turkey hunting season produced a record harvest, as more than four-thousand birds were harvested. LDWF Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal (SED-uh-tul) says 4,024 turkeys were harvested during the season that ran from April 3rd to May 3rd.

Cut 6 (07) “…be doing well.”

The 2026 harvest is more than 12-percent higher than the 2025 season. The previous turkey season harvest record was 3,695 birds in 2024. Ten years ago, hunters were harvesting less than two-thousand birds. But Cedotal says in 2018, a decision was made to push back the start of the season, and it has paid off.

Cut 7 (12) “…grown from there.”

Cedotal says many hunters again reported increased encounters with jakes, which is an indicator of good reproduction in some areas.

Cut 8 (10) “…for next spring.” 

Cedotal says it’s important that we see drier weather, as this is a time when turkey eggs hatch.

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May is Mental Health Awareness month; and if you’re feeling depressed, overwhelmed or experiencing any mental health-related distress, you can call or text 9-8-8. Sherrard Crespo with VIA LINK says Louisiana 9-8-8 is a help line and callers don’t necessarily need to be suicidal to reach out.

Cut 9 (07)  “…there for that.”

Crespo says callers to Louisiana’s 9-8-8 helpline are connected with real, trained crisis specialists who provide confidential, judgment-free support and help individuals navigate tough moments.

Cut 10 (09) “…plan of action.”

Crespo says they also always offer a follow-up call the next day. She says they average about five-thousand calls a month.

Cut 11 (12) “…of emergency intervention.”

For more information, go to louisiana988.org. There’s also a chat option on the website. Crespo says an overwhelming majority of callers report feeling better after speaking to someone at 9-8-8.

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The 2026 Saints schedule is out, and New Orleans will open the season September 13th against the Lions. WWL Radio sports talk show host Mike Detillier says that the Lions will be a tough matchup.

Cut 12 (09) “…can score touchdowns.”

The Saints first two games are on the road against Detroit and Baltimore. New Orleans hosts Las Vegas in week three for the home opener, and then it’s a big Monday night matchup against the Falcons. Detillier says it will be important for the Saints offense, with its new additions, get on the same page early.

Cut 13 (11) “…of the football.”

Detillier says the Saints also have a tough stretch of games in late November.

Cut 14 (11) “…good football team.”

Election Day is upon us. Those who didn’t take advantage of early voting have one more chance to go to the polls tomorrow to weigh in on the U.S. Senate race and five constitutional amendments. Jeremy Alford, the publisher of LaPolitics-dot-com, says the Republican Senate primary could be the last stand for incumbent Bill Cassidy. 

Cut 3 (12) “…weeks and days.”

The 2026 Louisiana turkey hunting season produced a record harvest, as more than four-thousand birds were harvested. LDWF Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal (SED-uh-tul) says 4,024 turkeys were harvested during the season that ran from April 3rd to May 3rd.

Cut 6 (07) “…be doing well.”

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there is a place you can call or text if you need someone to talk with. Michelle Southern has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

LSU’s baseball team might not be defending its national title, but its softball team is certainly vying for one, and its quest begins this evening. The Tigers take on Akron at Tiger Park at 5:30 this evening in the Baton Rouge Regional. Before that, Virginia Tech takes on South Alabama.

The 2026 NFL Schedule was released yesterday. The Saints will kick off the season with a two game road trip at Detroit and then Baltimore. WWL’s Mike Detillier says the early road trip will test a young Saints offense right out the gate.

Cut 13 (11) “…football.” 

Week 3 they’ll open up the dome to the Raiders and number one pick Fernando Mendoza before hosting the Falcons Monday night week 4 in the 20 year anniversary of the “Domecoming” after Katrina and the only primetime game on the schedule. The Black and Gold will head to Paris in week 7 to face the Steelers and enjoy a bye in week 8.

The Baton Rouge Regional of the NCAA Softball Tournament begins today with fifth-seeded Virginia Tech taking on South Alabama at 3 p.m. The four-seeded Tigers will kick off their tournament run with a matchup against Akron at 5:30.

LSU baseball dropped game one against 19th-ranked Florida 11-8 last night. The Gators put up six runs in the top of the first against Tigers starter Danny Lachenmayer and never let go of the lead. Game two of the final regular season series is set for tonight at 6:30.

UL-Lafayette grabbed a big win over number-20 Coastal Carolina in a 7-2 victory behind a dominant outing from starting pitcher Cody Brasch who held the Chanticleers to just one hit in six innings. Game two is tonight at 6:00

Louisiana Tech took a 2-1 game one win over Sam Houston last night behind a two-RBI night from freshman shortstop Casey McCoy. The Dutchtown High School product tied the game with a solo shot to center in the fifth and then took the lead on a sac fly in the sixth. First pitch in game two is tonight at 6:00.

In the Southland Conference Baseball tournament, top-seeded Southeastern earned a 3-2 win over Houston Christian and will take on McNeese tonight after the Cowboys beat Nichols 11-3. The Colonels will have an elimination game against the Huskies at 1:00 this afternoon.

The Louisiana Senate approves a new congressional map that has five majority white Republican districts and just one majority Black Democratic district. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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The first debate in House Governmental Affairs is expected sometime next week. The legislature must achieve final passage of the congressional map by June 1st, when the legislative session must end.

Along with the three Republicans battling for that party’s Senate nomination, there are three people vying for the Democratic nomination – Jamie Davis, Nick Albares and Gary Crockett. Statewide, more Democrats cast ballots in early voting than Republicans; LSU political science professor Larry Hogan says that doesn’t necessarily mean enthusiasm for any one of the three.

Cut 23 (08) “…four constitutional amendments.”

We’re well into spring; so if you haven’t taken proactive steps to protect your home from termites, now would be a very good time to do so. LSU AgCenter entomologist Aaron Ashbrook says one thing you can do is turn off your lights at night.

Cut 24 (07) “…and are nocturnal.”

Ashbrook also recommends that you keep wood as far away from your home as possible, because the closer to your home that you store your wood, the less distance termites have to travel in order to start feasting on your home’s framing.

The U.S. Senate primary election is tomorrow. Andrew Greenstein has a preview.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Now that we’re in the middle of the spring, now is the time to take steps to protect your home from termites, if you haven’t already done so. Andrew Greenstein explains why.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Louisiana Senate approves a new congressional map that has five majority white Republican districts and just one majority Black Democratic district. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (38) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A U.S. Senate campaign that started in December of 2024 when John Fleming announced a primary challenge against Bill Cassidy reaches its first critical checkpoint tomorrow with the primary election. Several other hopefuls also threw their names in the ring; but when Julia Letlow entered the race after getting President Trump’s endorsement, that cleared the field except for the incumbent Cassidy and the original challenger Fleming. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says tomorrow could be Cassidy’s last stand.

Cut 4 (10) “…indicate he’s third.”

If he does indeed finish third, his 12-year run in Washington will come to an end. Polling indicates a runoff is a near certainty; and Hogan says the mountain will be higher to climb for Cassidy in that next phase.

Cut 5 (09) “…other two candidates.”

There are three people vying for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate – Jamie Davis, Nick Albares and Gary Crockett. There has been no polling data to indicate where the race stands currently. Statewide, more Democrats cast ballots in early voting than Republicans; Hogan says that doesn’t necessarily mean enthusiasm for any one of the three.

Cut 6 (08) “…four constitutional amendments.”

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Voters will see five constitutional amendments on the ballot tomorrow. Amendment Three has received the most attention. Barry Erwin with Leaders for a Better Louisiana says the amendment would abolish three large education trust funds and use the revenues of the funds to pay down teacher retirement debt.

Cut 7 (10) “…lot of implications.”

Constitutional Amendment One would allow the legislature to remove state government jobs from the civil service system and its protections without getting approval from the Civil Service Commission. Steven Procopio with the Public Affairs Council says supporters say the current civil service system is too rigid, with too many rules that make it difficult to find ways to improve government operations and efficiency.

Cut 8 (07) “…private business approach.”

Amendment Two asks voters if they want to create the St. George Community School System. Erwin says the reason why the city of St. George formed in Baton Rouge was so that residents in that city can have its own school system.

Cut 9 (08)  “…Parish in particular.”

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We’re well into spring; so if you haven’t taken proactive steps to protect your home from termites, now would be a very good time to do so. LSU AgCenter entomologist Aaron Ashbrook says Louisiana’s climate makes termite infestations more likely.

Cut 10 (10) “…lot of wood.”

Ashbrook says your first line of defense is to take preventative measures.

Cut 11 (09) “…in-ground bait stations.”

In addition to those preventative measures, Ashbrook says there are certain precautions you can take to reduce the risk of termites damaging your home, including turning off your lights.

Cut 12 (07) “…and are nocturnal.”

Ashbrook also recommends that you keep wood as far away from your home as possible, because the closer to your home that you store your wood, the less distance termites have to travel in order to start feasting on your home’s framing.

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The Louisiana Senate has approved a Congressional map that eliminates one of the two majority Black districts. Monroe Senator Jay Morris says under his proposal, the state’s congressional map will have five districts that will likely have Republican representation and one district likely represented by a Democrat.

Cut 13 (12)  “…maximize Republican advantage.”

The state senate approved the map on a 27-10 party line vote. New Orleans Democrat Royce Duplessis says the map undoes all the progress that Blacks have made since the civil rights movement.

Cut 14 (11) “…of the world.”

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled Louisiana’s current congressional map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, because race was the primary factor in the drawing of the sixth district, represented by Democrat Cleo Fields.

Morris says the nation’s highest court says it’s okay to draw a map based on party politics and a 5-1 map is reflects Louisiana’s conservative values.

Cut 15 (11) “…based on race.”

But Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews says only a third of the state’s voters are registered Republican, so the map should have more diversity.

Cut 16 (12) “…of our people.”

The new congressional map heads to the House, and the first debate in House Governmental Affairs is expected sometime next week.

This afternoon, the State Senate passed a congressional map with five Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic-leaning district. The vote was 27 to 10, straight down party lines. West Monroe Republican Jay Morris defended the map he created….

Cut 13 (08) “…present.”

New Orleans Democrat Royce Duplessis spoke out against Morris’ map, saying it undoes all progress that Blacks have made since the civil rights movement.

Cut 14 (11) “…of the world.”

The legislature is redrawing the congressional map because the Supreme Court ruled the current map an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The debate shifts to the House as the lower chamber will also have to approve the map before it is sent to the governor’s desk. 

Vehicle inspection stickers in Louisiana will soon be a thing of the past. A House bill to replace the inspection sticker with a QR code will soon be on the desk of Governor Landry, who has said he will sign it. While some argued that eliminating inspection stickers might be detrimental for some service stations, Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau said inspections are not a major source of revenue for them.

Cut 4 (09) “…profitable or not.”

16 and 17-year-olds no longer need to obtain a work permit from their school board to obtain a part-time job. Governor Landry has signed House Bill 232, removing a lot of the red tape that those teens had to go through in order to be able to work. Josh Carlson’s bill removes the government from the process altogether.

Cut 12 (09) “…the school system.”

By a party-line vote of 27 to 10, the State Senate passed a congressional map with five Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic-leaning district. During questioning, New Orleans Democrat Sidney Barthelemy told West Monroe Republican Jay Morris that since 80-percent of the Republican party is white, his map is also based on race, which is not allowed.

Cut 14 (12) “…partisanship.”

16 and 17-year-olds can now get a job without all the red tape. Governor Landry has signed House Bill 232 into law, removing the requirement that those teens obtain a work permit from their school board. The author of the legislation, Lafayette Republican Josh Carlson says the old system actually prevented some minors from being able to work.

Cut 11 (10) “…a work permit.”

When the calendar flips to 2027, you will no longer have to schlep to your local service station to get your vehicle inspected. That’s because a bill to replace vehicle inspection stickers with QR codes will soon be on the way to Governor Landry’s desk, and Landry has said he will sign it. While some have said no amount of technology can replace inspections, Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau said times are changing.

Cut 6 (11) “…are going on.” 

Two-time state championship-winning football coach Joe Spatafora is leaving Union Parish for a high school coaching job in Arkansas. Spatafora, who brought a run-first, physical style of football to Farmerville, says he cherishes the relationships he built at Union Parish.

Cut 8 (08) “..family forever.”

Within the last hour, the State Senate has passed the congressional map with five Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic-leaning district. The vote was 27 to 10, straight down party lines. West Monroe Republican Jay Morris defended the map he created. 

Cut 13 (08)  “…the present time.”

The bill now moves to the House. Like the Senate, Democrats don’t have close to the numbers needed to offer any resistance toward passage.

Vehicle inspection stickers in Louisiana will soon be a thing of the past. A House bill to replace the inspection sticker with a QR code will soon be on the desk of the Governor, who has said he will sign it. While some argued that eliminating inspection stickers might be detrimental for some service stations, Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau said inspections are not a major source of revenue for them.

Cut 4 (09) “…profitable or not.”

16 and 17-year-olds can now get a job without all the red tape. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The NFL releases its 2026 schedule tonight and it’s been leaked the Saints will open the season on the road at Detroit. The Black and Gold will also be on the road Thanksgiving weekend as they will visit Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals in Cincinnati.

Inspection stickers in Louisiana are about to go the way of the do-do bird. A bill to replace them with QR codes will soon be on Governor Landry’s desk, and Landry has said he will sign it. Lafayette Democrat Gerald Boudreaux argued against it, saying no amount of modern technology can replace inspections to keep everyone on Louisiana roadways safe.

Cut 5 (06) “…on the road.”

Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau said technology changes things; and by implementing the QR codes, the state is moving on to the next level.

Cut 6 (11) “…are going on.”

The only information revealed by the QR codes is the VIN. Luneau said they can help keep law enforcement officers safe by letting them know things like whether the vehicle was stolen before approaching it during a traffic stop.

The Department of Insurance is using modern technology to catch people committing insurance fraud. Commissioner Tim Temple says it’s using Anti-Fraud One and artificial intelligence to catch people defrauding insurance companies.

Cut 13 (12)  “…combat insurance fraud.”

That technology was used to arrest six Ouachita Parish residents last week in connection with a nearly decade-long insurance fraud scheme involving fire and water damage claims. 

Two-time state championship-winning football coach Joe Spatafora is leaving Union Parish for a high school coaching job in Arkansas. Spatafora says this new opportunity at Drew Central High School in Monticello, Arkansas, came together in the last week.

Cut 7 (12) “…as well.”

If your vehicle inspection sticker is not due for renewal until next year or beyond, don’t bother – you’ll never need to renew it again. A House bill to replace the inspection sticker with a QR code has passed the Senate and will soon be on the desk of the Governor, who has said he will sign it. The vote in the Senate was 27 to 7. Lafayette Democrat Gerald Boudreaux one of those voting “no”; he said owners of businesses that perform official state inspections expressed concerns about the effects on their operations.

Cut 3 (07) “…have been there.”

Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau said inspections are not a major source of revenue for these businesses.

Cut 4 (09) “…profitable or not.”

The QR code will cost six dollars a year.

The legislature approves a bill to make the rescheduled U.S. House primaries open primaries and hold them November 3rd. House Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Beau Beaullieu was asked whether it’s legal to have the Senate races be closed primaries while the House races are open primaries.

Cut 12 (10) “…any legal jeopardy.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill is threatening to strip New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno and others of their offices for violating the state’s usurper laws. After the legislature merged the office of Orleans Parish criminal court clerk with that of the civil court clerk, the city called a special election. UNO political science professor Ed Chervenak says the question is whether the legislature’s action actually created a new office.

Cut 8 (11) “…by the courts.”