One of the bills in the legislature getting the most attention is the one that would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates he or she deems to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. It has passed in the full House and is now awaiting debate in a Senate committee. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple opposes it, saying he has already rejected insurance rates that he has deemed to be too high – several times, in fact.

Cut 10 (09) “…I exercise it.”

A bill that would make kratom illegal in Louisiana moves to the House. The Senate passed S-B 154 on a vote of 26-to-11, split right down party lines. The author, West Monroe Republican Jay Morris, says kratom – sometimes known as “gas station heroin” – has already been banned in several places.

Cut 7 (09) “…grown in Asia.”

Voters are one step closer to deciding whether to increase the homestead exemption. The House Ways and Means Committee Approved House Bill 271, which would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voters to decide whether to increase the homestead exemption from 75-hundred dollars to 12-thousand-500 dollars in assessed value. The vote was 9-to-5. The bill’s author, New Orleans Democrat Matthew Willard, says since the homestead exemption has not increased since 1980, people are getting priced out of their homes.

Cut 13 (10)  “…it’s not affordable.”

Jim Patterson with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry spoke out against Willard’s bill. He says if you increase the homestead exemption to lower property taxes, the government will need to make up that tax revenue somehow.

Cut 15 (09) “…taxes to others.”

Starting tomorrow, your regular driver’s license won’t be enough to board a commercial flight – you will need a REAL ID. As such, OMV offices across the state are jammed with people trying to get one. One woman who showed up at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs has no immediate travel plans but needs a REAL ID for work. She says if you don’t have immediate travel plans, you can wait.

Cut 4 (08) “…at the moment.”

One of the bills in the legislature getting the most attention is the one that would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates he or she deems to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. It has passed in the full House and is now awaiting debate in a Senate committee. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple opposes it, saying he has rejected rates because they’re either too low or too high.

Cut 9 (06)  “…the drawing board.”

The Rayne Police Department is grieving over the loss of one of its officers who was killed by friendly fire. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A horrific scene in Caddo Parish, as four people are dead in a murder-suicide in Keithville. Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the home at around seven yesterday morning, and gunfire erupted in the house a few minutes later. At this time, it’s unclear what led to the shooting.

If you’re collecting unemployment, you might soon be required to increase your work searches and keep your job interview appointments in order to keep your benefits. The House has passed H-B 153 by a vote of 73 to 24. It’s written by Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert, who says he’d heard from employers who have been stood up for job interviews.

Cut 13 (13)  “…there with unemployment.”

Hebert says his bill is not creating anything new; instead, it would be codifying a system that has been in place for a year. He did, however, say that the number of weekly job searches would increase on the advice of the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Cut 14 (10) “…a job quicker.”

All but one of the 24 “no” votes were cast by Democrats. Among them was Matthew Willard of New Orleans, who expressed concerns that this was a way to get the state out of paying unemployment benefits.

Cut 24 (12) “…not the case.”

Hebert pointed out that in the year that the system has been in place, only one-percent of those collecting unemployment benefits were subsequently deemed ineligible. The bill now moves to the Senate; and it comes at a time when small businesses are finding it harder to fill their vacancies. Leah Long is the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

Cut 25 (13) “…skilled work set.”

Tragedy in Acadia Parish as a Rayne police officer has been shot and killed in the line of duty. The officer had responded to a domestic incident, in which a family member was stabbed inside a home. A standoff ensued; and during that standoff, the officer was accidentally and fatally shot. The name of the police officer has not yet been released.

A flood watch will be in effect starting tomorrow for the majority of the state.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The Coast Guard says it has gained the upper hand on an oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Coast Guard Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit says the well intervention team did so at around noon yesterday.

Cut 6 (15) “…source of discharge.”

VanderWeit says so far, crews have collected almost 80-thousand gallons of oily water, with an untold amount still to go.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, so the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is urging you to be on an extra lookout for motorcyclists on the roadways. Greg Fischer with the LHSC says that includes not driving aggressively or impaired.

Cut 4 (11) “…to do this.”

The Coast Guard gains the upper hand on a huge oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A flood watch will be in effect for the majority of the state by the National Weather Service starting tomorrow.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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When you’re out on the roadways this month, make a special effort to look out for motorcycles. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says while overall deaths on Louisiana roadways are down, the same cannot be said for motorcycle deaths.

Cut 3 (12) “…in motorcycle fatalities.” (13% increase in motorcycle deaths from 2021 to 2023)

Fischer says, however, that the increase may be in part attributed to the fact that the state has started including e-bike deaths into its statistics. Still, Fischer says it’s up to all drivers to make every effort to watch for motorcycles, and that includes not driving aggressively or impaired.

Cut 4 (11) “…to do this.”

Fischer says motorcyclists also need to do their part as well – obey the same traffic laws as those driving cars, and always wear a helmet – especially since it’s required by law in Louisiana. The minimum requirements are that the helmet must include a visor. But Fischer says you should always opt for a full-face helmet.

Cut 5 (09) “…my tooth out.”

In 2023, 97 motorcyclists died in crashes in Louisiana, accounting for more than 15-percent of all deaths in the state.

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The Coast Guard says it has gained the upper hand on a major oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Coast Guard Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit says the well intervention team did so at around noon yesterday.

Cut 6 (15) “…source of discharge.”

Well 59, located near Garden Island Bay, sprung a leak more than a week ago, spewing tens of thousands of gallons of oil into gulf waters. VanderWeit says so far, crews have collected almost 80-thousand gallons of oily water, with an untold amount still to go.

Cut 7 (12) “…safely as possible.”

Environmentalists fear the oil that seeped through the well and into the water could threaten marine wildlife and further erode Louisiana’s coastline. VanderWeit says Coast Guard crews are working to protect as much marine wildlife as they can.

Cut 8 (13) “…to capture it.”

The Coast Guard has 20 skimmers, 220 responders, more than 20-thousand feet of containment boom on site. While Well 59 has not been abandoned, it has not had any measurable oil pressure since the 1990s.

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The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for most of the state starting tomorrow and lasting through Thursday night. The watch area covers all of south Louisiana, northeast Louisiana and most of central Louisiana. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the National Weather Service in Lake Charles is reporting slow moving thunderstorms will produce three to eight inches of rain and some areas could get 12-inches…

Cut 9 (10)  “…pumped into Louisiana.”

This weather event could cause flash flooding in rivers, creeks, streams, urban areas, and other flood-prone spots. Keim urges all residents to be prepared.

Cut 10 (11) “…prepared for this.”

Flash flooding is dangerous—stay alert to weather updates and potential warnings. Keim says residents should monitor conditions closely and have a safety plan in place.

Cut 11 (12) “…be smart.”

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Vandebilt Catholic won a Louisiana record 16^th state championship in softball on Sunday in Sulphur with a seven to five win over St. Charles Catholic. Terriers Coach James Spearman says his girls have been resilient all year and it was on display after falling behind two to nothing in the first inning…

Cut 12 (12) “…good job”  (Sound courtesy of LHSAA Network

North Desoto had a walk off victory over Assumption to claim its seventh state title. Griffins head coach Tim Whitman called for a suicide squeeze to drive in the winning run, but he gives the credit to his seniors…

Cut 13 (08)  “…they fought” (Sound courtesy of LHSAA Network)

Calvary Baptist won its fifth state championship in a row, John Curtis won its 13th overall. Other winners include Sam Houston, Doyle, LaSalle, Menard, Quitman and Calvin.

Cut 14 (09) “…to the environment.”

The Coast Guard has been brought in to help control an oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Tens of thousands of gallons of oil have uncontrollably gushed out of an old well off the coast. Coast Guard Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit acknowledges that this is a serious spill.

Cut 15 (16) “…from the environment.”

Two children were found locked in car seats inside a house in Webster Parish with no adult supervision, and one of them has died. Minden Police Chief Jared McIver says investigators are trying to determine exactly how the little girl died.

Cut 3 (12) “…off the airway.” 

Another election day in Louisiana. This one, only about half of the state’s 64 parishes have issues to decide. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office says New Orleans-area voters have items on their ballot.

Cut 7 (09) “…all over the state.”

One of the biggest ones is in Lake Charles, where voters will decide whether to keep Nic Hunter as mayor or replace him with Democrat Marshall Simien.

Crawfish prices are at their lowest level of the season, according to the Crawfish App. Co-founder Laney King says in the days following Easter, crawfish prices dropped 50-cents per pound and they’ve held steady entering the first weekend of May. She says a sack of crawfish can be had for under 100 dollars.

Cut 13 (09)  “…$4.89 a pound”

Two children were found locked in car seats inside a house in Webster Parish with no adult supervision, and one of them has died. Minden Police were called to the house mid-morning yesterday on a report of a two-year-old child being found unresponsive inside the house. Police Chief Jared McIver says investigators want to know who was supposed to be home supervising the children.

Cut 4 (10) “…that’s just negligence.”

The second child who’s ten months old was uninjured.

Advocates gathered outside the State Capitol this week to draw attention to food insecurity. Pat VanBurkleo, the executive director of Feeding Louisiana, says they especially wanted to let state lawmakers know that many things affect hunger

Cut 9 (10)  “…their hunger issues.”

Voters in about half of Louisiana’s parishes will head to the polls tomorrow to elect local officials and decide on various ballot proposals. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office says several areas will hold runoff elections from earlier primaries, while others will vote on sales taxes, millages, bonds, and charter amendments.

Cut 6 (12) “…in your area.”

Voters in Lake Charles will decide whether to re-elect Nic Hunter as mayor. He’s being challenged by Democrat Marshall Simien.

The National Hurricane Center is enhancing how it communicates weather threats to the public. Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not take in the biggest crawfish festival in the state. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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As debate on a bill that would ban SNAP recipients from using their benefits to buy soft drinks works its way through the legislature, Governor Landry is taking it one step further. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The National Hurricane Center is enhancing how it communicates weather threats to the public. Director Michael Brennan says the potential tropical cyclone product allows for an early forecast for systems that have not become tropical storms.

Cut 4 (08) “…coastal areas.”

Brennan says the NHC has made a lot of progress in the past five to 10 years in forecasting rapid intensification.

Cut 5 (10) “…early 2010’s.”

Brennan says with the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season approaching, these updates aim to improve preparedness and public safety. He urges Louisiana residents to stay informed and prepared.

Cut 6 (13) “…ready or evacuating.”

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The biggest crawfish festival in the state starts today. The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival runs through Sunday, and Publicity Director Angelique (AHN-zhu-leek) Bernard says you can get crawfish prepared in many different ways.

Cut 7 (11) “…it’s delicious.”

Bernard says there’s a lot more to the Crawfish Festival than indulging in those tiny tasty crustaceans.

Cut 8 (15) “…under the tent.”

There are also two crawfish eating contests – today, it’s how fast you can eat two and a half pounds of crawfish; and tomorrow, it’s how much crawfish you can eat in 45 minutes. And at this festival, you are assured that the crawfish is harvested right here in the Pelican State.

Cut 9 (09)  “…it’s coming from.”

Admission is ten dollars today, 15 dollars tomorrow and five dollars on Sunday; or you can buy a weekend pass for 25 dollars.

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A House bill that would have allowed parishes to vote on whether to permit carbon sequestration wells in their areas has failed in a 10-6 committee vote. The House Natural Resources Committee heard passionate testimony from citizens, including from 16-year-old Avery Williams, who expressed concerns about storing carbon dioxide below ground…

Cut 10 (13) “…in our future.”

Rosepine Republican Charles Owen’s bill sought to give local governments a voice in permitting decisions, which are currently handled by the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Supporters emphasized community rights, while opponents, including industry leaders, argued the bill would hinder business growth and complicate permitting. Keith Hall, who’s a law professor at LSU, argues that local governments regulate land use, but Carbon Capture is below the ground.

Cut 11 (12) “…House Bill 4.”

Matt Coday, the president of the Oil and Gas Workers Association, says environmentalist groups like The Sierra Club are using HB 4 to push their agenda.

Cut 12 (14) “…what powers Louisiana.”

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As the legislature continues to debate a bill that, among other things, would ban SNAP recipients from using the money to buy soft drinks, Governor Landry is taking it one step further.

Cut 13 (06)  “…food stamp program.” (Landry signs executive order banning candy and soda from state’s food stamp program)

Landry says if those people want to buy those products, they can do so with their own money and not with taxpayer money.

Cut 14 (11) “…that’s wrong”

Landry says a healthy Louisiana means a stronger Louisiana.

Cut 15 (09) “…water over soda.”

As for the similar bill in the legislature, Patrick McMath’s bill passed the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and will soon be heard on the House floor.

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The second-ranked LSU baseball team will begin a three-game series tomorrow night against the Texas A&M Aggies. The Tigers are third in the SEC in pitching with a team ERA of 3.75 and second in hitting, with a team batting average of .312. Former LSU star and ESPN college baseball analyst Todd Walker says LSU’s offense is more than good enough to win it all…

Cut 16 (20) “…yes.”

It’s been a struggle for the Aggies this season. A&M was ranked number one in the preseason, but slumped offensively at the start of the season and they are 8-13 in the SEC. Coach Jay Johnson says despite the record the Aggies have a formidable record…

Cut 17 (20)  “…good challenge.”

LSU should be a confident team heading into this series as the Tigers are coming off a hard fought series victory over defending national champion Tennessee. Johnson says confidence is such a big part of baseball…

Cut 18 (17)  “…everything.”

The House has approved legislation giving the Insurance Commissioner the authority to reject rate increases deemed excessive. This proposal, backed by Governor Jeff Landry, was added to another insurance related bill and it passed on a 68-34 vote. Opponents to the measure say the Insurance Commissioner already has this authority, Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso disagrees…

Cut 9 (10)  “…striking it down.”

All 31 Democrats in the House voted for the bill. But about half of the Republican lawmakers in the lower chamber voted against it, including Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis, who previously worked for the Insurance Department…

Cut 10 (10) “…is good policy.”

The bill now moves to the Senate.

A House bill that would have allowed parishes to vote on whether to permit carbon sequestration wells in their areas has failed in a 10-6 committee vote. The House Natural Resources Committee heard passionate testimony from citizens, including from 16-year-old Avery Williams, who expressed concerns about storing carbon dioxide below ground…

Cut 23 (13) “…in our future.”

As the legislature continues to debate a bill that, among other things, would ban SNAP recipients from using the money to buy soft drinks, Governor Landry is taking it one step further.

Cut 13 (06)  “…food stamp program.”

Landry says if those people want to buy those products, they can do so with their own money and not with taxpayer money.

Louisiana’s two Democratic congressmen send a letter to President Trump, urging him to reconsider massive cuts to AmeriCorps. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Louisiana House approves legislation that would give Louisiana’s Insurance Commissioner more authority to reject large rate increases. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A Louisiana program designed for mothers looking for an alternative to abortion is getting underway. The program, called Thrive: The Baby and Parent Network, was established by way of Act 561 of the 2022 regular legislative session, which was sponsored by Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds. He says it provides a telehealth service to help expectant mothers make decisions during pregnancy.

Cut 3 (08) “…a huge factor.”

The Thrive program is administered by the Department of Children and Family Services and is operated by Texas-based Human Coalition. Senator Edmonds says through a toll-free number or a live online chat, it gives pregnant women full access to Human Coalition’s team of nurses and social workers.

Cut 4 (08) “…kind of format.”

Edmonds says Thrive gives pregnant women with holistic, life-affirming care to build long-term stability.

Cut 5 (10) “…and Medicare plans.”

DCFS is expected to launch the Thrive: The Baby and Parent Network website soon.

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Louisiana’s two Democratic congressmen send a letter to President Trump urging him to reconsider cuts to the AmeriCorps program. Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE have reduced staff by 85-percent and eliminated more than one-thousand grants nationwide. Baton Rouge Congressman Cleo Fields says those grants go towards essential services.

Cut 6 (09) “…after-school funding.”

Fields says there is no strategic logic behind these cuts.

Cut 7 (10) “…have on people.”

New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says AmeriCorps provides essential services, not just for those being served, but also for the volunteers themselves.

Cut 8 (06) “…over the country.”

Fields and Carter sent their letter after hearing concerns from Louisiana’s Republican Lieutenant Governor, Billy Nungesser.

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The Louisiana House has approved legislation giving the Insurance Commissioner the authority to reject rate increases deemed excessive. This proposal, backed by Governor Jeff Landry, was added to another insurance related bill and it passed on a 68-34 vote. Opponents to the measure say the Insurance Commissioner already has this authority, Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso disagrees…

Cut 9 (10)  “…striking it down.”

The 31 Democrats in the House voted for the bill. But about half of the Republican lawmakers in the lower chamber voted against it, including Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis, who previously worked for the Insurance Department…

Cut 10 (10) “…is good policy.”

Several Republican legislators are skeptical this legislation will lower insurance rates. Mandeville Representative Jay Galle says the legislation does not make it clear when the Insurance Commissioner can use their authority to block excessive rate increases…

Cut 11 (07) “…is that determined?”

Glorioso says a process will be in place to make sure any rate increase rejected would be done in an arbitrary manner.

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Future LSU Tiger and former Alexandria Senior High star running back J-T Lindsey is this year’s Warrick Dunn Award winner. The LHSAA Network gives out the prestigious award to the best high school football player in the state. Lindsey gives credit to his mother for pushing him to be the best player he can be….

Cut 12 (06) “…on me.”

Lindsey led the ASH Trojans to an undefeated regular season and a trip to the state championship game. He says he’ll never forget his senior season…

Cut 13 (07)  “…amazing.”

Lindsey rushed for just under 25-hundred yards and 33 touchdowns. He rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns in a memorable semifinal victory over John Curtis. ASH head coach Thomas Bachman says Lindsey was a pleasure to coach…

Cut 14 (07) “…that you have.”

(Sound courtesy of the LHSAA Network.)