Governor Jeff Landry unveils his plan to make sure that teachers continue to receive a two-thousand dollar stipend that they’ve received since 2023. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A new poll shows Julia Letlow with a big lead over John Fleming in the Republican Senate runoff. The poll by Kaplan Strategies shows Letlow leading by 15 points, 52 to 37 percent. That closely mirrors the margin in the primary.

Wade Rousse has been president of LSU for seven months; and in that time, he’s been busy making improvements to the system. Rousse says the administration has been searching for the optimal enrollment number as they face record application numbers. He says both the main and satellite campuses are expanding, but growth for the sake of growth can be dangerous.

Cut 7 (10) “…wise manner.”

A former Louisiana congressman is recounting his recent visit to war-torn Ukraine. Charles Boustany told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana that on his final day in the country, May 23rd, the area in Kyiv where he was staying came under attack, and to say that it was a harrowing experience is putting it very mildly.

Cut 12 (06) “…close and rattling.” 

The attack left four people dead and dozens of others injured.

Reaction is starting to come in on the just-concluded legislative session. The organization that advocates for small businesses in Louisiana is generally pleased with how the legislative session went. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says one of the bills the organization is happy that got passed creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program, or BayouWorks.

Cut 3 (11) “…earn industry certificates.”

Another bill modernizes the state’s workers comp system and helps reduce costs for small businesses. 

We’ll see more proposed constitutional amendments as a result of this session, including one that prohibits governors from serving more than two terms during their lifetimes. Political reporter for the Advocate Tyler Bridges says it only impacts three people right now.

Cut 15 (07) “…two terms lifetime.”

Students who assault teachers will soon face stiffer punishments, both at the school and in the legal system. A pair of bills toughening those penalties are awaiting Governor Landry’s signature. Nikita Drummond-Clark taught for more than 30 years and told the House Education Committee she was forced to retire due to an injury she had suffered at the hands of a student.

Cut 8 (14) “…happened to me.”

Entergy is two years into executing a 1.9-billion-dollar resilience plan to fortify structures and upgrade distribution and transmission lines. Nyka Scott, the vice president of customer service, says the upgrades were put in place after Grand Isle was hit hard by Hurricane Ida.

Cut 5 (08) “…didn’t lose power.”

Scott says similar infrastructure is being built across the state.

A pair of bills which establish tougher penalties for attacking teachers and school staff are awaiting Governor Landry’s signature. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The 2026 legislative session is over, but the fallout is not. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The College baseball transfer window opened yesterday and five members of the 2026 LSU roster have already entered their names. Kace Kieschnick has the story…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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With hurricane season officially underway, Entergy Louisiana is preparing the Bayou State for storm season. Nyka Scott, the vice president of customer service, says the company completed conducting storm drills a few weeks ago.

Cut 4 (10) “…we see something.”

Entergy is two years into executing a 1.9-billion-dollar resilience plan to fortify structures and upgrade distribution and transmission lines across the state. Scott says the upgrades were put in place after Grand Isle was hit by Hurricane Ida.

Cut 5 (08) “…didn’t lose power.”

Scott says similar infrastructure is being built across the state.

Scott urges residents to join Entergy in preparing for storms before they arrive. If power does go out, stay away from downed lines and potentially electrified water, and have a plan in place.

Cut 6 (11) “…the Entergy App.”

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Students who attack teachers and other school employees face tougher penalties under a pair of bills awaiting Governor Landry’s signature. House Bill 283 is what New Orleans Representative Candace Newell calls the “Teacher’s Shield Act,” and it creates new mandatory penalties for students who attack teachers and puts additional protections in place for employees. Earlier in the session, Kimberly McDaniel told the House Education Committee about how her father was assaulted by a student.

Cut 7 (12) “…in the face.”

Nikita Drummond-Clark taught for more than 30 years and told the committee she was forced to retire due to an injury she had suffered at the hands of a student.

Cut 8 (14) “…happened to me.”

Several teachers said they got little to no support from their respective school districts, and that was evident in this exchange between Newell and Rosepine Representative Charles Owen.

Cut 9 (11)  “…the Teacher’s Shield.”

A companion bill, which calls for a minimum six-month sentence in prison or juvenile detention for any student convicted of assaulting a teacher, is also awaiting Governor Landry’s signature.

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The Louisiana legislative session is over, 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.”

Governor Landry will address the teacher pay issue during a ten a-m press conference at the state capitol this morning.

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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 map approved by the Republican-led legislature is expected to be challenged in court.

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

Cut 14 (06) “…Baton Rouge area.”

And we’ll see more proposed constitutional amendments as a result of this session, including one that prohibits governors from serving more than two terms during their lifetimes. Bridges says it only impacts three people right now.

Cut 15 (07) “…two terms lifetime.”

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The Saints completed their third day of organized team activities yesterday and will return to the field tomorrow and Thursday. Second year quarterback Tyler Shough says he’s been able to take advantage of an offseason without any rookie responsibilities or an open QB battle.

Cut 16 (17) “…specifically be better.”

New Orleans is missing veterans Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu, who were all around this time last year. Shough says he’s focused on improving as the leader of the offense on and off the field, especially for a group of rookies in the same position as he was a season ago.

Cut 17 (19)  “…to prepare yourself.”

Veteran wide receiver Chris Olave has been an active participant at voluntary OTAs despite ongoing contract negotiations over a possible extension. The All-Pro missed last year’s season finale with a blood clot found in his lung, but Shough says he hasn’t missed a beat.

Cut 18 (19) “…the whole year.”

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.”