The legislative session is in full swing in Baton Rouge. Today, the House Insurance Committee advanced a bill that would give the insurance commissioner the power to reject auto insurance rates regardless of market conditions. Governor Landry supports it, saying it would be a useful tool to gain the upper hand on runaway premiums.

Cut 5 (14) “…here in Louisiana.”

Also, the House Natural Resources Committee approved a bill banning the release of balloons outdoors. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says animals can become entangled in balloon strings or ingest balloons, mistaking them for food, which can lead to death.

Cut 10 (06) “…but with balloons.”

Nungesser admitted that the law would be difficult to enforce, but they are hoping that having the law will encourage people to change the culture in the state.

Lawmakers will reconsider New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd’s bill, which would allow abortion exceptions for minors under 17 who become pregnant due to certain sex crimes. Boyd says the bill includes offenses such as rape, sexual battery, and molestation.

Cut 3 (04) “…young as 9-yeas-old” 

Currently, Louisiana’s abortion law only allows exceptions for fatal fetal abnormalities or serious health risks to the pregnant person. Boyd narrowed the scope of this year’s proposal after a similar bill failed in 2024.

LSU pitcher Gavin Guidry will not pitch this season as he’ll undergo back surgery on Friday. Coach Jay Johnson made the announcement following the team’s ten to three win over McNeese last night. Johnson says they wanted to get the junior right-hander on the mound this season, but at least he should be ready for 2026.

Cut 12 (10) “…next year.”

The House Insurance Committee advances a bill to give the insurance commissioner the power to reject auto insurance rates regardless of market conditions. House Bill 576 by Amite Democrat Robby Carter advanced on a vote of 13 to 4. It’s supported by Governor Landry but opposed by Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple. Landry says since auto insurance is a mandated purchase, free market principles should not apply; and giving the insurance commissioner the ability to reject rates regardless of market conditions should provide relief to policyholders.

Cut 6 (11) “…touch the law.”

Temple says insurance commissioners having too much power over insurance carriers will drive them out of the state.

Cut 8 (10) “…what we want.”

Another bill headed to the full house is one that would make it a crime to intentionally release balloons in the air. Sean Richardson reports it advanced out of the House National Resources Committee.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Another state championship tournament is upon us – this time, it’s the LHSAA baseball championships, as bi-district play begins today. Live Oak, Brusly, Sterlington and Oak Grove are the top seeds in the non-select tournaments. The state championships are held at McMurry Park in Sulphur.

The push to overhaul auto insurance in Louisiana is underway. This morning, Governor Landry testified before the House Insurance Committee in support of House Bill 576, which would give the insurance commissioner the ability to reject unreasonable auto insurance rates. Landry said insurers don’t have any valid reason to gouge the people of this state.

Cut 6 (15) “…of the country.”

A Republican state senator has a bill that would provide an alternative to the fortified roof grants. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his proposal is geared towards people who want to take advantage of the grants but have the financial means to install the fortified roof.

Cut 10 (08) “…ten-thousand dollars.”

If campaign finance reports are a telltale sign of voter support, State Treasurer John Fleming will have his work cut out for him against Senator Bill Cassidy. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

A student at Minden High School is behind bars for allegedly throwing urine on students during class. Police say 17-year-old LeMario Elkins went into a classroom with a bottle filled with urine and doused one classmate with it, and the contents splattered onto others. Elkins’ bond is set at more than 300-thousand dollars.

A bill would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Director Lisa Freeman says texting while driving is tantamount to driving blindfolded.

Cut 7 (13) “…miles per hour.”

H-B 519 was filed by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath.

A Republican state senator has a bill that would provide an alternative to the fortified roof grants. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his proposal is geared towards people who want to take advantage of the grants but have the financial means to install the fortified roof.

Cut 10 (08) “…ten-thousand dollars.”

To be clear – Talbot’s bill would not replace the fortified roof grant program; it would be an addition to it.

Several education bills are waiting to be debated in the session, ranging from school funding to testing requirements and proposed changes to the TOPS scholarship programs. Leaders for a Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin says there is also teacher pay, and whether teachers will continue to stay at the same pay level after the failure of Amendment 2.

Cut 23 (12) “…of people want.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has struggled to secure a meeting with Governor Landry, despite Landry’s push to address the state’s sky-high auto insurance rates. Temple says he’s made every effort to talk but hasn’t been able to engage in a substantive discussion with the governor.

Cut 12 (12) “…hasn’t taken place.”

A bill would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Director Lisa Freeman says texting while driving is tantamount to driving blindfolded.

Cut 7 (13) “…miles per hour.”

H-B 519 was filed by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has struggled to secure a meeting with Governor Jeff Landry, despite Landry’s push to address the state’s sky-high auto insurance rates, currently the highest in the nation. Temple says he’s made every effort to talk but hasn’t been able to engage in a substantive discussion with the governor.

Cut 12 (12) “…hasn’t taken place.”

Despite sky high egg prices across the country, families continue to embrace the beloved Easter tradition of dyeing eggs. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain urges you to shop around for the best prices.

Cut 11 (12) “…see that spike.”

At the start of April the average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen and in other markets $6.23 per dozen.

LSU football coach Brian Kelly spoke publicly this morning for the first time since the death of former Tiger football star Kyren Lacy. Lacy was one of Kelly’s first signees out of the transfer portal after he arrived in Baton Rouge in November of 2021.

Cut 3 (05) “…incredible personality” 

Lacy died Saturday night in Houston from an apparent suicide.

LSU football coach Brian Kelly has spoken for the first time since the death of Kyren Lacy. The former star wide receiver and likely NFL draft pick died Saturday night in Houston from an apparent suicide. Kelly says Lacy will be missed…

Cut 5 (10) “…great emotion.”

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says Lacy shot a gun at the ground earlier in the night during a verbal argument with his sister and shot himself to death during a police chase.

Families continue to embrace the beloved Easter tradition of dyeing eggs despite the high price of eggs. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the Department of Justice was told by the Trump Administration to take a hard look at egg prices.

Cut 10 (09) “…pricing of eggs.”

The average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen.

The legislature is taking aim at distracted driving this session. A bill by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Study after study has shown that using a hand-held cell phone while driving has deadly consequences. That’s something that Suzanne Salter knows all too well. Her 31-year-old daughter, Nicole, was killed by a distracted driver in Livonia in late 2014.

Cut 6 (14) “…heard the thump.”

And now, a look at today’s commodities.

We’re hearing from the injury lawyer who Governor Landry called out by name when he announced his insurance reform plan last week. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Six parishes are participating in a USDA-funded pilot project to promote healthier food choices among SNAP recipients. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The six parishes are Ascension, LaSalle, Sabine, Tangipahoa, Webster, and West Carroll.

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On the first day of the legislative session, Governor Jeff Landry offered up his ideas on how to lower auto insurance rates. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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If at first you don’t succeed – try, try again. That’s what Monroe State Senator Stewart Cathey will be doing in this legislative session. He has filed a bill that would ban speed cameras in the state. Cathay says this is something that everyone should agree on.

Cut 4 (07) “…the speed cameras.”

Cathey says speed cameras are unconstitutional.

Cut 5 (06) “…allow for that.”

Cities say the speed cameras are a way to make the roads safer. But Cathey says they’re nothing but a money grab as evidenced by one particular Richland Parish community.

Cut 6 (12) “…franchise fees combined.”

Cathey says he believes his bill has a chance to succeed this time around, saying he at least has the votes to advance it out of committee. Cathey says if it doesn’t pass, he has a backup bill that would dedicate 100-percent of speed camera revenues to the sheriff’s department for juvenile rehabilitation programs, giving cities none of that money. This way, it will be clear what the actual motivation is behind the speed cameras.

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Six parishes in Louisiana are participating in a USDA-funded pilot project to promote healthier food choices among SNAP recipients. The six are Ascension, LaSalle, Sabine, Tangipahoa, Webster, and West Carroll. DCFS Assistant Secretary for Family Support Sammy Guillory says recipients will receive a 30-cent bonus for every dollar spent on fresh fruits and vegetables at 13 designated Walmart stores, with a maximum monthly bonus of 25 dollars.

Cut 7 (07) “…state on anything.”

Louisiana is one of three states selected for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Electronic Healthy Incentives Project. Guillory says the pilot launched yesterday and will run for six to nine months.

Cut 8 (11) “…bonus benefits.”

Guillory says no sign-up is needed to participate, and the initiative aims to improve both nutrition and financial well-being.

Cut 9 (07)  “…just eat healthier.”

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When Governor Landry announced his auto insurance reform plan last week, he mentioned that he wanted to rein in the ability of injury lawyers to advertise. In doing so, he called out Morris Bart by name, saying he was as sick of Morris Bart as he was of the lizard, referring to the Geico gecko. Bart points out that no state has ever passed a tort reform law that reduced insurance premiums.

Cut 10 (14) “…didn’t go down.”

Bart said he’s afraid that the only people who are going to suffer from any insurance reform will be the ratepayers.

Cut 11 (14) “…of their rights.”

Bart says he was taken aback by Landry calling him out by name during his news conference, but he says he’s used to being the poster child given how much advertising he does.

Cut 12 (09) “…Gordon McKernan.”

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Governor Landry kicked off the 2025 legislative session by presenting his plan to lawmakers on how to reduce auto insurance rates. Key proposals of the governor’s auto insurance reform package include restricting attorney advertising, bringing medical transparency to the collateral source rule and making lawyers and their clients prove their injuries were the result of the car accident…

Cut 13 (13)  “…injured victims.”

Landry says the state also needs to strengthen its no-pay-no-play law, which would make it harder for uninsured drivers to receive money after an accident…

Cut 14 (14) “…100-thousand dollars”

Auto insurance reform is the top issue facing legislators this session. But the governor is also pushing lawmakers to approve legislation that is part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, which would eliminate toxins from school lunches…

Cut 15 (11) “…processed meals.”

Another top priority for the governor in this session is reorganizing the Department of Transportation.

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Fresh off getting swept by Auburn over the weekend, LSU returns home to face arguably the hottest team in Division One college baseball. McNeese is currently 26-and-5 – 11-and-4 in the Southland Conference – and is riding a 12-game winning streak — the longest current winning streak in the nation. Head Coach Justin Hill says he’s astounded by his team’s success.

Cut 16 (22) “…well for us.”

Hill says his coaching staff has put the Cowboys in a position to be successful.

Cut 17 (14)  “…as a coach.”

Hill especially singles out the play of senior outfielder Conner Westenburg, using a famous quote by Reggie Jackson to describe what he means to the team.

Cut 18 (23)  “…of the team.”

First pitch at Alex Box Stadium is 6:30.

On the first day of the legislative session, Governor Jeff Landry offered up his ideas on how to lower auto insurance rates. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

When Landry unveiled his auto insurance reform plan last week, he called out injury lawyer Morris Bart by name. Bart says he’s used to being the poster child given how much advertising he does.

Cut 12 (09) “…Gordon McKernan.”

If at first you don’t succeed – try, try again. That’s what Monroe State Senator Stewart Cathey will be doing in this legislative session. He has filed a bill that would ban speed cameras in the state, calling them unconstitutional.

Cut 5 (06) “…allow for that.”

Cities say the speed cameras are a way to make the roads safer. But Cathey says they’re nothing but a money grab as evidenced by one Richland Parish community.

Cut 6 (12) “…franchise fees combined.”

Cathey says if a ban doesn’t pass, he has a backup bill that would dedicate 100-percent of speed camera revenues to the sheriff’s department for juvenile rehabilitation programs, giving cities none of that money. This way, it will be clear what the actual motivation is behind the speed cameras.

Former star LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy is dead at the age of 24 and for those who know him personally, today is a difficult day. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Two weekend festivals, two shootings. In New Orleans, someone opened fire as the French Quarter Festival was wrapping up. Four people were injured; none of their injuries are life-threatening. The previous night in Ponchatoula, shots rang out at the Strawberry Festival. Two people were hurt; again, injuries not life-threatening.

Cut 23 (06) “…Beat The Clock.”

And for those of you who have yet to file your federal taxes, it really is time to Beat The Clock. The deadline to do so is tomorrow at midnight. CPA Jerry Schreiber with the accounting firm Schreiber and Schreiber says if you can’t make the deadline, file an extension to avoid getting penalized.

Cut 7 (12) “…penalties and interest.”

David Griffin is out as the Pelicans’ executive director of basketball operations. Head Coach Willie Green is safe – for now. Jake Madison, the host of the Locked On Pelicans podcast, says the decision to keep or fire Green may ultimately be in the hands of whoever Griffin’s successor is.

Cut 10 (07) “…of the roster.”

It’s a tough day in Thibodaux as they are remembering Kyren Lacy, a two-sport star in high school who went on to become an All-SEC performer at LSU. Houston authorities say Lacy shot himself to death Saturday night during a police chase. Lacy’s former high school football coach Chris Dugas (Doo-gah)…

Cut 11 (12) “…I knew.”

David Griffin is out as the New Orleans Pelicans’ executive director of basketball operations. Griffin’s firing comes one day after the Pels wrapped up an injury-riddled 21-and-61 season. Jake Madison, the host of the Locked On Pelicans podcast, says his firing is a clear message from Pelicans ownership.

Cut 9 (11)  “…needed to happen.”

If you haven’t filed your federal taxes yet, you’re now in an all-out game of Beat The Clock. The deadline to file is midnight tomorrow night. CPA Jerry Schreiber with the accounting firm Schreiber and Schreiber, says there are several options to file online, like free file on the IRS website and other commercial filing software…

Cut 6 (11) “…complexity of the return.”

While tomorrow may be the deadline to file your federal taxes, you still have some time to file your state taxes. That deadline is not until May 15th.