Cut 23 (12) “…without objection.” (gavel tap, followed by applause that fades out)

With that, the 2026 legislative session draws to a close, but not before lawmakers approved a 47-billion-dollar budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1st. Legislative leaders say they have allocated money to attract private industry, improve state roads and infrastructure and they continue to invest in K-through-12 education. But Erin Bendily of the Pelican Institute questions the millions of dollars that are known as legislative pet projects.

Cut 10 (09) “…things like that.”

Bendily says she’s also disappointed that the Louisiana Senate did not approve additional dollars to expand private school vouchers and teacher pay raises.

Cut 11 (09) “…on different things.”

The big story of the legislative session was the redrawing of the congressional map that eliminates a majority Black district. The chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, Edmond Jordan, had this message for his Republican colleagues before they voted on a map that will give the GOP the ability to represent five of the state’s six congressional districts.

Cut 12 (12) “…a racist act.”

House Governmental Affairs Chairman and New Iberia Republican Beau Beaullieu says race was not a factor in the drawing of the map.

Cut 13 (05)  “…maximizes partisan advantage.”

The Advocate’s political reporter, Tyler Bridges, says Democratic Congressman Cleo Fields is the big loser in this, because he will likely lose his seat in the U.S. House.

Cut 14 (06) “…Baton Rouge area.”

Cut 24 (04) “…It’s all over!”

The 2026 legislative session is all over! The Senate adjourned sine die shortly before four this afternoon, and the House followed suit a short time later. Of course, this year’s session will be forever remembered for how the legislature seemed to stop in its tracks to redraw the congressional district map after the Supreme Court ruled the previous map an unconstitutional gerrymander. Following several lengthy debates, the legislature passed and Governor Landry signed a map that closely resembles the one the state used in 2022.

One year after vetoing a similar bill, Governor Landry allows a bill to ban balloon releases to become law without his signature. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is grateful that Landry allowed Harahan Representative John Illg’s balloon release ban to become law this time around, saying it will save wildlife in the long run.

Cut 9 (06)  “…tangled in them.”

Among the bills that didn’t make it onto Governor Landry’s desk was one that would have named a potential new Mississippi River bridge after President Trump. Monroe Representative Michael Echols says naming the bridge after Trump was not absolute; it was contingent on him securing federal funding during his term.

Cut 14 (09) “…dollars to Louisiana.”

While it sailed through the House, Echols says the Senate had no interest in road or bridge-naming bills this year. As such, a bill by Moore Representative Pat Moore to name a one-mile stretch of Highway 15 after President Obama also went nowhere.

Hurricane season is underway. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says the agency has done its part in preparing – now it’s time to do your part.

Cut 5 (13) “…and your property.”

It’s the first of June, which also means it is the first day of hurricane season. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Tragedy in West Monroe, as two girls drowned in Ouachita River yesterday. They were among three who went swimming in the river yesterday evening. A boy was able to get out and call for help when the girls failed to resurface. Divers pulled the girls’ bodies from the water at around 7:30 yesterday evening.

One year after vetoing a similar bill, Governor Landry allows a bill to ban balloon releases to become law without his signature. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is grateful that Landry allowed Harahan Representative John Illg’s balloon release ban to become law this time around, saying it will save wildlife in the long run.

Cut 9 (06)  “…tangled in them.”

A great run by the U-L Lafayette baseball team has come to an end, as the Cajuns were eliminated in the NCAA regionals by Mississippi State last night, 19-5. The Cajuns relied on a deep and talented freshman class, who head coach Matt Deggs says only got better as the season went on.

Cut 7 (14) “…of season, man.”

It’s the first of June, which also means it is the first day of hurricane season. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Today is the last day of the 2026 legislative session. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Registration for a new round of fortified roof grants opens today. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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The start of June in Louisiana doesn’t just mean the beginning of summer; it’s also the start of hurricane season. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says this year’s season has been forecasted to be below average, with a predicted total of eight to 14 named storms, thanks to El Niño conditions.

Cut 4 (05) “…from really blossoming.”

While there may be fewer named storms forecasted overall, models still predict the formation of one to three major hurricanes. Keim says to stay alert, because all it takes is one storm to ruin your year.

Cut 5 (09) “…relatively quiet season.”

Keim says the start of the season is a great time to make preparations in case of a storm. Test flashlights, batteries and generators, and make sure your family is on the same page in case of evacuation.

Cut 6 (07) “…just be prepared.”

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The 2026 legislative session comes to an end at six this evening, and lawmakers will be in an all-out game of Beat The Clock to get those last-minute bills onto Governor Landry’s desk. While this year’s session will forever be remembered for the congressional map redistricting that lawmakers suddenly became tasked with in the latter part of the session, Barry Erwin, the chief policy officer of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says it was actually quite productive. He says lawmakers passed several bills aimed at strengthening Louisiana’s workforce.

Cut 7 (12) “…own legislation too.”

Erwin says most bills seeking to make changes to the TOPS program went nowhere this year, but he says this is likely not the last of the discussion.

Cut 8 (08) “…study it further.”

Erwin says one surprising bill that ultimately became law is one that gives colleges and universities a great deal of flexibility to raise tuition.

Cut 9 (11)  “…of the legislature.”

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Registration for a new round of fortified roof grants opens today. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says it opens at eight this morning.

Cut 10 (09) “…a potential grantee.”

This round of funding will be for three-thousand roofs, and Temple says history has shown that the number of people registering for the lottery will exceed that number several times over.

Cut 11 (09) “…we possibly can.”

Temple says this year, they’re focusing on areas within a 130-mile-an-hour wind zone. Therefore, the eligible area is expanded to include Acadia, Jefferson Davis and Lafayette parishes, as well as portions of eight other parishes previously excluded from the program.

Cut 12 (08) “…hurricane-force winds.”

The grants will be for ten-thousand dollars each, and the three-thousand people who receive those grants will be selected at random on June 22nd.

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After the Senate gave its final legislative passage of the new congressional map, the Public Affairs Research Council issued new commentary on the map that Governor Landry quickly signed into law. Research Director Melinda Deslatte says the new map essentially undoes the work of the legislature in 2024, when Landry called them into a special session just after taking office to redraw the map to comply with a judge’s order to create a second majority-Black district.

Cut 13 (11)  “…map in 2024.”

Deslatte says now that the map has been signed into law, the next stop will very likely once again be the courts.

Cut 14 (08) “…this map stands.”

Deslatte says a fair congressional map is something that precisely no one at the Capitol can agree on, and the battle has actually been going on for many years, even before the 2022 drawing of the map that started the chain of events that has led us to this point.

Cut 15 (10) “…up in court.”

Louisiana has a new congressional map. Governor Landry signed the map into law after the Senate gave its final legislative approval. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says the plaintiffs in the case that led to this last-minute re-draw will likely file another legal challenge, but he does not expect it to go anywhere.

Cut 14 (13) “…one Democratic district.”

Is it possible that gasoline prices have peaked? Over the last week, the average price of regular unleaded in Louisiana has dropped 13 cents to $3.89 a gallon. Patrick De Haan, a petroleum analyst with GasBuddy-dot-com, says this is due to the optimism in talks between the U.S. and Iran.

Cut 6 (09) “…deal with Iran.”

Many New Orleans residents, including Mayor Helena Moreno, have vocally challenged the viral Tulane study that stated that people should move out before the city is submerged by the end of the century. Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans Executive Director Jessica Dandridge-Smith says the study was offensive and premature.

Cut 9 (11)  “…decision amongst community.”

Love the Boot Week 2026 was the largest litter removal effort in state history. Over 28-thousand volunteers logged over 77-thousand hours cleaning up litter across the state. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the program’s success is a sign of culture change in the Bayou State.

Cut 3 (09) “…here in Louisiana.”

The Senate gives the final okay to the new congressional map, sending it to Governor Landry’s desk. The new map effectively eliminates one majority Black district, likely resulting in Louisiana electing five Republicans and one Democrat in November. ULM Political Science professor Pearson Cross says this was as predictable an outcome as could ever be.

Cut 12 (10) “…in the majority.” 

On the heels of a record-breaking Love The Boot Week will come another statewide cleanup initiative. In September, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Keep Louisiana Beautiful will launch Love Our Waterways. Nungesser says efforts to beautify the Bayou State and protect wildlife won’t stop now that Love the Boot Week is over.

Cut 5 (11) “…litter in Louisiana.”

Is it possible that gasoline prices have peaked? Here’s Joe Gallinaro.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Come August 1st, if you smoke pot within two-thousand feet of a school, you could face up to a year in prison. This, after Governor Landry signed a bill by Pollack Representative Gabe Firment that expands the violation of the drug-free statute. It applies to any property used for school purposes by any school, within two-thousand feet of such property or while on a school bus.

The State Senate gives final approval of a new congressional map that removes one of the state’s two majority Black districts. The new map will likely result in five Republicans and one Democrat being elected to Congress in November. The map is now awaiting Governor Landry’s signature.

Louisiana volunteers removed 566 tons of litter during Love The Boot Week 2026. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Gasoline prices have fallen 13 cents over the last week to a new statewide average of $3.89 a gallon for regular unleaded. Patrick De Haan, a petroleum analyst with Gas Buddy-dot-com, says diesel prices are also coming back down.

Cut 8 (11) “…five-dollar mark.”

Folks in New Orleans are responding to a viral Tulane study that’s urging people to move out, with rising sea levels poised to consume the city by the end of the century. Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans Executive Director Jessica Dandridge-Smith argues researchers did not account for the existing flood mitigation infrastructure in the city or the ongoing innovation throughout the Louisiana coast.

Cut 10 (12) “…across the world.”

The so-called five-one congressional map is headed to Governor Landry’s desk. ULM Political Science professor Pearson Cross says in light of the Supreme Court decision, it’s as if Republicans in the legislature had to speak in code when debating the new map.

Cut 13 (15) “…part out loud.”

Gas prices are down 13 cents over the last week to a new statewide average of $3.89 a gallon for regular unleaded. Gas Buddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan says whether a deal with Iran is reached will have a profound effect on whether gas prices will continue that downward trend.

Cut 7 (09) “…right back up.”

People in New Orleans, including Mayor Helena Moreno, have choice words about a viral Tulane study that urged those in the city to move out with rising sea levels poised to swallow the city by the end of the century. Like many others, Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans Executive Director Jessica Dandridge-Smith has no plans of leaving anytime soon. She says headlines like these do not scare the New Orleans community but instead inspire them to prepare for whatever the future holds.

Cut 11 (09) “…never going away.”

Love the Boot Week 2026 was the largest litter removal effort in state history. Over 28-thousand volunteers logged over 77-thousand hours in picking up 566 tons of litter. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the program this year was a 480-percent increase over events last year.

Cut 4 (08) “…four-thousand plants.”

Louisiana volunteers removed 566 tons of litter during Love The Boot Week 2026. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Is it possible that gasoline prices have peaked? Here’s Joe Gallinaro.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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Love the Boot Week 2026 was the largest litter removal effort in state history. Over 28-thousand volunteers logged over 77-thousand hours cleaning up litter across the state. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the program’s success is a sign of culture change in the Bayou State.

Cut 3 (09) “…here in Louisiana.”

Volunteers picked up a record 566 tons of litter, planted trees and plants, and refurbished gardens across Louisiana. Nungesser says the program this year was a 480-percent increase over events last year.

Cut 4 (08) “…four-thousand plants.”

In September, Nungesser and Keep Louisiana Beautiful will also launch Love Our Waterways, a Louisiana waterway and shoreline cleanup effort. He says efforts to beautify the Bayou State and protect wildlife won’t stop now that Love the Boot Week is over.

Cut 5 (11) “…litter in Lousiana.”

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Is it possible that gasoline prices have peaked? Over the last week, the average price of regular unleaded in Louisiana has dropped 13 cents to $3.89 a gallon. Patrick De Haan, a petroleum analyst with GasBuddy-dot-com, says this is due to the optimism in talks between the U.S. and Iran in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Cut 6 (09) “…deal with Iran.”

De Haan says whether a deal with Iran is reached will have a profound effect on whether gas prices will continue that downward trend.

Cut 7 (09) “…right back up.”

De Haan says diesel prices are also coming back down.

Cut 8 (11) “…five-dollar mark.”

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Many New Orleans residents, including Mayor Helena Moreno, have vocally challenged the viral Tulane study that stated that people should move out before the city is submerged by the end of the next century. Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans Executive Director Jessica Dandridge-Smith says the study was offensive and premature.

Cut 9 (11)  “…decision amongst community.”

Dandridge-Smith says the study used is abrasive and may not be accurate. She argues researchers did not account for the existing flood mitigation infrastructure in the city or the ongoing innovation throughout the Louisiana coast, and the study’s publication hinders progress.

Cut 10 (12) “…across the world.”

Dandridge-Smith, like many others in the Crescent City, says she has no plans of leaving anytime soon. She says headlines like these do not scare the New Orleans community but instead inspire them to prepare for whatever the future holds.

Cut 11 (09) “…never going away.”

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The Senate Friday afternoon gave final legislative passage to the new congressional map, sending it to Governor Landry’s desk. The new map effectively eliminates one majority Black district, likely resulting in Louisiana electing five Republicans and one Democrat in November. ULM Political Science professor Pearson Cross says this was as predictable an outcome as could ever be.

Cut 12 (10) “…in the majority.”

Cross says in light of the Supreme Court decision that ruled the state’s current congressional map an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, it’s as if Republicans in the legislature had to speak in code when debating the new map.

Cut 13 (15) “…part out loud.”

Cross says once Governor Landry signs the new map, the plaintiffs in the case that led to this last-minute re-draw will likely file another legal challenge, but he does not expect it to go anywhere – at least not before November.

Cut 14 (13) “…largely Democratic district.”

The Senate has given final passage to the new congressional map, sending it to Governor Landry’s desk. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says once he signs it, the plaintiffs in the case that led to this last-minute re-draw will likely file another legal challenge, but he does not expect it to go anywhere.

Cut 14 (13) “…largely Democratic district.”

Many New Orleans residents, including Mayor Helena Moreno, have vocally challenged the viral Tulane study that stated New Orleanians should begin relocation before the city is completely submerged by the end of the century. Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans Executive Director Jessica Dandridge-Smith says the study was offensive and premature.

Cut 9 (11)  “…amongst community.”

Is it possible that gasoline prices have peaked? Here’s Joe Gallinaro.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

One year after vetoing a similar bill, Governor Landry allows a bill to ban balloon releases to become law without his signature. What was different about Harahan Representative John Illg’s bill this year is that it added balloon releases to the state’s existing anti-littering law, whereas last year, it was a standalone law. In his veto last year, Landry stated that it would have been impossible to enforce.