Louisiana continues to lead the nation in academic improvement, according to the latest Education Scorecard. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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Attorney General Liz Murrill is threatening to remove New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno and others from office. Andrew Greenstein explains why.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The legislature sends a bill to Governor Landry’s desk that establishes the rescheduled dates for the U.S. House races. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Education Scorecard ranks Louisiana first among states in reading growth from 2022 to 2025 and second among states in math growth over that same time frame. Governor Jeff Landry congratulates the students for achieving historic academic gains.

Cut 4 (11) “…systems across Louisiana.”

Landry noted when the Education Recovery Scorecard released its report last year, Louisiana held the same rankings in both metrics in the period from 2019 to 2024.

Cut 5 (11) “…leading the nation.”

Landry says Louisiana is the only state to surpass pre-pandemic levels.

Cut 6 (05) “…we’re leading.”

This Scorecard follows the 2024 Nation’s Report Card, where Louisiana jumped 17 spots up to number-32 — the highest ranking in the state’s history.

Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says these rankings are a point of pride for the state, but they’re not satisfied and will keep pushing for greater academic outcomes.

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The battle over the Orleans Parish clerk of court between the parish and the state is getting nasty. Attorney General Liz Murrill is accusing Mayor Helena Moreno, five council members and the district attorney of violating the state’s usurper laws, and UNO political science professor Ed Chervenak says that has severe consequences.

Cut 7 (09) “…an interim clerk.”

This all stems from the legislature passing a law that abolishes the office of Orleans Parish criminal clerk and transfers those duties to the civil clerk, Chelsey Richard Napoleon. The New Orleans city government maintains that action created a new office, so it appointed Retired Judge Calvin Johnson to the office and called a special election. Chervenak says the disagreement is whether the legislature’s action indeed created a new office.

Cut 8 (11) “…by the courts.”

Governor Landry signed the law just as exoneree Calvin Duncan was set to take office after being elected. As to whether the state has the authority to tell a local government how to run its affairs, Chervenak says in Louisiana, the answer is yes.

Cut 9 (08)  “…power to destroy.”

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The legislature has approved a bill that sets new election dates for the six U.S. House races. House Governmental Affairs Chairman Beau Beaullieu says the 2026 House races will be an open primary in November, with a December runoff. Beaullieu says the U.S. House elections scheduled for May 16th election have officially been canceled.

Cut 10 (13) “…in the fall.”

The legislation also says future congressional races will be a closed primary after this year. Beaullieu was asked why this year’s U.S. House races can’t be closed primaries.

Cut 11 (12) “…did discuss that.”

Beaullieu was also 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.”

Qualifying for the U.S. House open primaries and all other fall elections will take place August 5th through the 7th.

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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.”

Temple says Anti-Fraud One can detect things like filing the same damage claims over and over again.

Cut 14 (11) “…a repetitive claimant.”

Temple says 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.

Cut 15 (08) “…catch these individuals.”

The Department of Insurance did not provide specific details of what the alleged fraud scheme entailed.

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The LSU baseball team finishes out the regular season with a three-game series against 19th ranked Florida that starts tonight at Alex Box Stadium. The only way the Tigers can make the NCAA Tournament at this point is to win next week’s SEC Tournament. Coach Jay Johnson says they’re focused on the Gators, but they also have an eye toward the SEC Tourney.

Cut 16 (11) “…have to do.”

It will be the final games at the Box for a couple of key contributors to last year’s national championship team, outfielder Chris Stanfield and pitcher Zac Cowan. Johnson says it’s rare to have talented players like those two guys stay for their senior seasons.

Cut 17 (20)  “…season this year.”

First pitch tonight is at 6:30.

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The Ragin Cajuns host Sun Belt Conference leader Coastal Carolina for senior weekend that begins tonight at Tigue Moore Field. Coach Matt Deggs says one senior he will definitely miss is Lee Amedee, who is the team’s second leading hitter.

Cut 18 (21)  “…better every year.”

Coastal Carolina leads Southern Miss by one game for first place in the Sun Belt. Not only are they trying to win a regular season conference championship, but they also have a chance to host an NCAA Regional. The Cajuns are on the bubble when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament. Deggs says both teams do a lot of things well.

Cut 19 (21) “…for both teams.”

First pitch is at 6 p-m.

After almost ten hours, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee passed a new congressional map that contains only one majority Black district. One woman couldn’t contain her anger after the committee voted down a map that would have preserved two majority Black districts.

Cut 9 (16)  “…in your district.”

Hours later, the legislature passed a bill making the rescheduled U.S. House elections open primaries, taking place November 3rd, with the general election December 12th. House Governmental Affairs Chairman Beau Beaullieu was asked whether it’s legal for the U.S. Senate races to be closed primaries and the House races being open primaries.

Cut 12 (10) “…legal jeopardy.” 

The Revenue Estimating Conference has adopted a forecast that will result in fewer available dollars to spend for Louisiana lawmakers. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says the changes adopted will lessen state general fund money by 104-million dollars for next year’s fiscal year.

Cut 23 (10) “…run into problems.”

Deslatte says this jeopardizes Governor Landry’s request to double the funding of the Louisiana GATOR Scholarship program, which provides low-income families with state dollars to pay for private school tuition and other education expenses. She says Senate President Cameron Henry was not on board with doubling the size of L-A GATOR anyways.

Cut 24 (11) “…funded right now.”

Deslatte says Governor Landry’s tax reform plan is the main reason for the decline in state revenue.

A marathon meeting of Senate Governmental Affairs results in the approval of a Congressional map that will likely result in five Republicans and one Democrat representing Louisiana in the US House. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (45) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana ranks first in the nation for reading growth according to a new report from the Education Scorecard. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says this latest scorecard measured growth from 2022 to 2025.

Cut 14 (12) “…we are making.”

Louisiana also ranks second for math growth from 2022 to 2025.

We’ve known for a while that the Saints will be playing a game in Paris this season. Now, we know the date and their opponent – October 25th against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jeff Duncan, who covers the Saints for The Advocate and NOLA-dot-com, says everyone thought that their opponent would be the Browns, but the NFL had other ideas.

Cut 3 (11) “…an attractive matchup.”

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee spent all night debating a new congressional map; and after nearly ten hours, it passed a map at around 4:30 this morning that has one majority Black district. The committee heard hours of testimony from the public who urged Senators to pass a map with two majority Black districts. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis explained why opponents to a 5-1 map waited hours to testify.

Cut 6 (11) “…six decades.”

Duplessis told West Monroe Republican Jay Morris, who proposed the map that passed, that Blacks would be underrepresented with a five-one map.

Cut 8 (17) “…Republicans.”

Louisiana State Police has agreed to pay the family of Ronald Greene 4.8-million dollars to settle the wrongful death case. The settlement comes almost seven years to the day after a group of white troopers fatally beat Greene, who was Black, during a traffic stop in Union Parish. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says given the degree of liability for the loss of a human life, this is a very reasonable settlement. 

Cut 11 (12) “…the same time.”

The Saints’ game in Paris will be against the Steelers on Sunday, October 25th. Jeff Duncan, who covers the Saints for The Advocate and NOLA-dot-com, says there will be plenty of opportunities for Saints fans to network with other Saints fans.

Cut 5 (10) “…to that event.”

The meeting lasted more than nine hours; but at 4:30 this morning, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee passed a new congressional map that has one majority Democratic district and five majority Republican districts, with one being competitive based on voter registration numbers. Prior to the final vote, members called out committee members for already having their minds made up.

Cut 10 (07) “…4-3 vote.”

Louisiana State Police has agreed to pay the family of Ronald Greene 4.8-million dollars nearly seven years to the day after a group of white troopers fatally beat Greene, who was Black, during a traffic stop in Union Parish. As for whether this settlement will serve as a deterrent from something like this from happening again, legal analyst Franz Borghardt says you didn’t need the settlement for that.

Cut 13 (09) “…before this settlement.”

A new report from the Education Scorecard shows Louisiana ranking first in the nation for reading growth and second in math growth from 2022 to 2025. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the rankings are a point of pride for our state, but they are far from satisfied and will keep pushing for greater academic outcomes.

Cut 15 (11) “…so important.”  

The Saints’ game in Paris will take place October 25th against the Steelers. This game will officially be a Saints home game. Jeff Duncan, who covers the Saints for The Advocate and NOLA-dot-com, says in a way, it really will be a Saints home game – the Saints have exclusive marketing rights to France.

Cut 4 (10) “…the American border.”

The Senate Governmental Affairs meeting dragged on for more than nine hours well into the early morning hours debating the state’s new congressional map, and the frustrations started to show as the meeting wore on. One woman couldn’t contain her anger after the committee voted down a map that would have preserved two solidly Democratic districts.

Cut 9 (16)  “…in your district.”

Earlier, New Orleans Democrat Royce Duplessis took Republicans to task for making opponents of a 5-1 map wait hours to testify. West Monroe Republican Jay Morris, who authored the bill that the committee ultimately passed, responded.

Cut 7 (09) “…Greeks invented it.”

Louisiana ranks first in the nation for reading growth, according to a new report from the Education Scorecard. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says this latest scorecard measured growth from 2022 to 2025.

Cut 14 (12) “…we are making.”

Louisiana also ranks second for math growth from 2022 to 2025.

Nearly seven years to the day after a group of white State Police troopers beat Ronald Greene to death during a traffic stop, the agency settled with Greene’s family for 4.8-million dollars. Legal analyst Franz  Borghardt says this was the best possible outcome for everyone involved.

Cut 12 (10) “…paying the money.”

A marathon meeting of  Senate Governmental Affairs results in the approval of a Congressional map that will likely result in five Republicans and one Democrat representing Louisiana in the U.S. House. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (45) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana State Police has agreed to pay the family of Ronald Greene 4.8-million dollars to settle the wrongful death case. The settlement comes almost seven years to the day after a group of white troopers fatally beat Greene, who was Black, during a traffic stop in Union Parish. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says given the degree of liability for the loss of a human life, this is a very reasonable settlement. 

Cut 11 (12) “…the same time.”

The Revenue Estimating Conference adopts a forecast that will result in fewer available dollars to spend for state lawmakers. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says Governor Landry’s tax reform plan that went into effect last year is the main reason for the decline in state revenue.

Cut 6 (10) “…is driving this.”

The Louisiana Legislature has less money to spend than originally projected. Jeff Palermo on what this means.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The Hantavirus outbreak on a sight seeing cruise ship sailing through the South Atlanta has some worried another pandemic could happen. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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***Note: The meeting was still in progress as of the posting of this AM Newscall. Adjust the lede accordingly.***

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee pulled an all-nighter in adopting a new congressional map. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (38) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Revenue Estimating Conference has adopted a forecast that will result in fewer available dollars to spend for Louisiana lawmakers. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says the changes adopted will lessen state general fund dollars by 104-million dollars for next year’s fiscal year.

Cut 4 (10) “…run into problems.”

Deslatte says this jeopardizes Governor Landry’s request to double the funding of the Louisiana GATOR Scholarship program, which provides low-income families with state dollars to pay for private school tuition and other education expenses. She says Senate President Cameron Henry was not on board with doubling the size of L-A GATOR anyways.

Cut 5 (11) “…funded right now.”

The House has already approved a budget for next fiscal year, so the Senate will have to shrink the spending plan. Deslatte says Governor Landry’s tax reform plan that went into effect in 2025, which lowered state income and business taxes, is the main reason in the decline in state revenue.

Cut 6 (10) “…is driving this.”

The legislature is expected to approve a budget for next fiscal year by June 1st.

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News of three people on a cruise ship dying from the hantavirus and several others infected has some people worried about the possibility of another pandemic. LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease expert Dr. Fred Lopez says hantavirus is not nearly as contagious as other viruses.

Cut 7 (07) “…we’re talking about.”

Hantavirus spreads from rodent droppings to people, and usually a person cannot transmit it to another person. But Lopez says this is a special type of Andes virus, where it can spread between people.

Cut 8 (06) “…who are infected.”

Lopez says health officials will use the hantavirus outbreak on the nature-sightseeing cruise ship to get a better understanding of how the Andes virus transmits between people.

The cruise ship was forced to dock in Spain, and the crew members and passengers on board are now being quarantined at facilities around the globe. Symptoms can develop between 4 and 42 days from exposure, which is why the quarantine can last that long.

Lopez says hantavirus should not be of high concern to the general public.

Cut 9 (08)  “…able to contain.”

Betsy Arkaway, the 65-year-old wife of actor Gene Hackman, died in February of 2025 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. It is suspected she fell ill from the severe respiratory disease from an infected rodent dropping in their New Mexico home. New Mexico often leads the nation in hantavirus cases.

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While it’s improving, misrepresentation in the origin of shrimp in Louisiana restaurants remains an issue. A recent audit of 44 Baton Rouge restaurants by SeaD (“seed”) Consulting found that nine failed to disclose that their shrimp was imported. SeaD Founder David Williams says while six of those restaurants had no signage or menu disclosure, there was another issue with the other three.

Cut 10 (09) “…ask your server.”

When SeaD’s undercover diners asked those servers, they told them that their shrimp was American wild-caught shrimp, when genetic testing found them to be imported shrimp. Williams calls that a Cardinal sin.

Cut 11 (09) “…you the truth.”

In all, 14 restaurants were found to be serving imported shrimp, including five which clearly stated such. Williams says of those 14, there were instances of co-mingling of the shrimp – that is, mixing domestic shrimp with imported shrimp.

Cut 12 (07) “…the processor level.”

There is a bill making its way through the legislature which is aimed at cracking down on co-mingling shrimp.

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***Note: The meeting was still in progress as of the posting of this AM Newscall. Adjust the story accordingly when necessary.***

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee took all night and several hours into this morning to hash out a new congressional map. Gonzales Democrat Ed Price presented his map first; and after more than five hours of public discussion, it was voted down 4-3. Price’s map would have protected the strength of Louisiana’s Black voters.

Cut 13 (10)  “…the Callais decision.”

Like the map that the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional, Price’s map, based on party registrations as stated in his Senate Bill 407, would have created four safe Republican districts and two safe Democratic districts.

Cut 14 (11) “…registered than Republicans.”

At around 12:30 this morning, after the committee voted down Price’s map, West Monroe Republican Jay Morris presented Senate Bill 121, which would reinstate the map from 2022.

Cut 15 (08) “…what this does.”

New Orleans Democrat Royce Duplessis asked Morris where in the Supreme Court’s order was it ordered that the current U.S. House election be scrapped and new maps needed to be drawn right now.

Cut 16 (14) “…Western District ordered.”

State Senator Jay Morris says he and his staff have received multiple death threats for something he says he never said. State Democratic Party Executive Director Dadrius Lanus says Morris used a racial slur during last Friday’s racially charged debate over a new congressional map. Morris says the untrue allegation led to 150 nasty voice mails for his legislative assistant to hear.

Cut 9 (08)  “…is drummed up.”

The tense meeting also led New Orleans Senator Gary Carter to step down from the Governmental Affairs Committee. Carter’s emotions boiled as he questioned Morris about his intentions with legislation that he believes is attempting to remove Black people from political office.

Cut 12 (13) “…heart.”

Monuments which are taken down may have new life, thanks to a bill advancing in the legislature. Chalmette Representative Mike Bayham’s bill would transfer any publicly-owned historical statue or monument removed from public display to the Office of State Parks, which would be required to move it to a location open to the public in a different parish. 

Cut 4 (12) “…protection from vandalism.”

The House barely passes a bill to increase the salaries of the governor and other statewide elected officials. Harahan Representative John Illg says his bill would leave state representatives’ salaries at 16,800 dollars, but it would provide legislators with additional per diem opportunities.

Cut 7 (11) “…already do this.”

The Republican lawmaker at the center of the redistricting debate says he’s received death threats after he was accused of using a derogatory word towards the executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

This happened during a meeting last Friday of the Senate Government Affairs Committee. That committee will be meeting this evening following the conclusion of today’s meeting of the full Senate. It’s during tonight’s meeting that the committee is expected to adopt a new congressional map.

One person who won’t be at tonight’s Senate Governmental Affairs Committee meeting will be New Orleans Democrat Gary Carter. He stepped down from the committee following his outburst towards Jay Morris Friday. Yesterday on the Senate floor, Carter admitted he lost his cool while discussing a contentious issue.

Cut 14 (11) “…we had Friday.” 

Carter is being replaced on the committee by another New Orleans Democrat, Royce Duplessis.

A bill that would increase the pay of the governor and other statewide elected officials barely gets enough votes to pass the House. Harahan Representative John Illg’s legislation would increase the governor’s salary in 2028 from 130 thousand to 174-thousand dollars, the same amount a U.S. Representative receives.

Cut 6 (09) “…appropriate measure.”