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.)

The Louisiana House approves legislation giving the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rate increases deemed excessive. The vote was 68-34, with all “no” votes coming from Republicans. One of the “no” votes came from Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis, who previously worked for the Insurance Department…

Cut 10 (10) “…is good policy.”

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. 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.”

A state program designed for mothers looking for an alternative to abortion will launch soon. The program, called Thrive: The Baby and Parent Network, was born from an act in the 2022 session by Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds, who says Thrive provides pregnant women with life-affirming care to build long-term stability.

Cut 5 (10) “…and Medicare plans.”

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.

A Louisiana program designed for mothers looking for an alternative to abortion is getting underway. The program, called Thrive: The Baby and Parent Network, is administered by the Department of Children and Family Services and is operated by Texas-based Human Coalition. Senator Rick Edmonds, whose act in the 2022 legislative session established the program, 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.”

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 and New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter sent their letter after hearing concerns from Louisiana’s Republican Lieutenant Governor, Billy Nungesser.

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.”

A change to a bill aimed at banning speed cameras throughout the state. The Senate has passed an amendment by Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh that would allow speed cameras in school zones only and would treat violations as civil fines instead of criminal offenses. While still favoring a full ban, Seabaugh sees this as meaningful reform and a step toward greater fairness and transparency.

Cut 6 (12) “…just school zones.”

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would ban schools that receive state funding from serving lunches that contain ultra-processed foods, but not without opposition. Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau questioned why single out school lunches?

Cut 16 (12) “…those things.”

Louisiana’s first Telecare Clinic for pregnant women is up and running. 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 sound decisions both during pregnancy and after giving birth.

Cut 3 (08) “…a huge factor.” 

Construction is underway on the new Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. To mark the milestone, Ochsner and Benson have announced a new partnership with Make-A-Wish Louisiana. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Butch Adolph says there are many Make-A-Wish kids waiting for their wishes to come true.

Cut 12 (08) “…backlog over time.”

The new hospital is slated to open in early 2028.

Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh’s amendment to remove traffic cameras except for school zones and to mandate clearer signage passes the Senate and moves to the House. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Pediatric patients in New Orleans will soon have a hospital to call their own. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would prohibit SNAP recipients from purchasing soft drinks with SNAP benefits. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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The Louisiana Senate has approved legislation that seeks to eliminate enforcement cameras that issue tickets to motorists for traveling too fast or running a red light. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey’s legislation would charge public officials with malfeasance in office if unmanned traffic cameras issue citations by mail. Before sending the bill to the House, Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh added amendment that would allow mobile speed cameras in school zones, but signage needs to be posted notifying the public that red light cameras are in operation

Cut 4 (09) “…not following the law.”

Seabaugh emphasized that violations will be treated as civil fines, not criminal offenses, and cities cannot report unpaid tickets to credit bureaus or place liens. He warned local governments against expanding cameras outside school zones, as doing so could result in malfeasance charges.

Cut 5 (04) “…outside the school zones.”

Seabaugh noted strong public opposition to traffic cameras, especially in areas where abuses have occurred. Although still favoring a full ban, Seabaugh sees this legislation as meaningful reform and a step toward greater fairness and transparency.

Cut 6 (12) “…just school zones.”

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Congressman Troy Carter will be announcing the relaunch of a bipartisan Men’s Health Caucus for the 119th Congress this morning. The Democrat from New Orleans says it’s a way for Republicans and Democrats to come together to encourage men to pay attention to their health.

Cut 7 (10) “…more purposeful lives.”

Congressman Carter says men need to take care of their bodies the same way as they meticulously care for their most prized possessions.

Cut 8 (13) “…in their bodies.”

Carter says when it comes to taking care of their health, men can look to women for inspiration, since he says women have historically been more proactive in controlling their health.

Cut 9 (07)  “…for preventive measures.”

Carter and others will announce the bipartisan caucus at ten Central time this morning.

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Construction is underway on the new Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Butch Adolph, the chief medical officer for Ochsner Children’s Hospital, says the new facility will be five stories tall, totaling more than 340-thousand square feet, with a lot of dedicated pediatric space.

Cut 10 (14) “…in one place.”

Dr. Adolph says this new facility will give pediatric patients a healthcare facility of their own.

Cut 11 (14) “…into one facility.”

To mark the milestone, Ochsner and Benson have announced a new partnership with Make-A-Wish Louisiana. Adolph says there are many Make-A-Wish kids waiting for their wishes to come true.

Cut 12 (08) “…backlog over time.”

The new Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital is slated to open in early 2028.

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The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would ban schools that receive state funding from serving lunches that contain ultra-processed foods. Covington Republican Patrick McMath says obesity is a real problem in the state, and this legislation is step towards a healthier Louisiana.

Cut 13 (11)  “…synthetic ingredients”

McMath’s measure also prohibits SNAP recipients from using their benefits to purchase soft drinks.

Cut 14 (07) “…not nutritious.”

Democrats on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee have a problem with McMath’s bill dictating what low-income individuals can’t purchase with their SNAP benefits. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews was the first one to speak out.

Cut 15 (06) “…for their children.”

McMath’s bill prohibits schools from serving school lunches that contain specific artificial colors and additives. Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau questioned why single out school lunches; why not include sugary alcoholic drinks that adults consume?

Cut 16 (12) “…those things.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor.

A measure aiming to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts – also known as Jim Crow juries – is headed to the full Senate. Promise of Justice initiative Attorney Claude Michael Comeau says S-B 218 is a necessary step to address historic injustices and to ensure fair trials for all Louisianians.

Cut 13 (10)  “…doing the right thing.”

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell testified against the bill. She noted that she has been focusing on child abuse cases for 20 years and says the conversation needs to continue because this bill is not the answer.

Cut 15 (10) “…at the time.”

The vote in Senate Judiciary Committee B was bipartisan – five to one.

The number of students accepting TOPS funding is on the decline. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says the trend started taking a U-turn a few years ago.

Cut 11 (09) “…program has declined.”

Reed notes that there are bills in the legislature designed to make Louisiana a more competitive state for college-bound students and to ensure an affordable path to higher education.

A teenager is under arrest for the murder of a man outside an Amazon distribution center in Baton Rouge. Homicide detectives arrested 18-year-old Karl Nash in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Daylon Anthony. BRPD Sergeant Darren Ahmed says Nash turned himself in.

Cut 6 (05) “…violent crimes unit office.”

Investigators say the two men were involved in a verbal and physical altercation outside the distribution center Monday night. Nash has been charged with Second Degree Murder and Illegal Use of a Weapon.