Governor Jeff Landry is in New Orleans talking about the state preparing for Super Bowl LIX (59).

Cut 6  (07) “…city of New Orleans. ” 

That game will be played on February 9, 2025.

A bill heading to the governor’s desk would prohibit out-of-state journalists from requesting public records from the governor’s office. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says other states also have a similar law and he carried this bill for the governor on the Senate floor…

Cut 4 (12) “…seen it.” 

During discussion on the Senate floor, it was pointed out that the governor’s office is receiving an additional one million dollars to hire more lawyers to work on public records requests.

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell’s bill banning unauthorized cell phones on school grounds heads to Governor Jeff Landry’s desk to be signed after unanimous approval by the State Senate. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

The state senate confirmed Kenneth Loftin as Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice. Loftin, who previously helmed the Ware Youth Center, came under fire after accusations that staff at Ware abused children. “The New York Times” published an article about it in 2022.

Governor Jeff Landry’s first regular legislative session ended last night. Council for a Better Louisiana President, Barry Erwin says a big win for the governor was the passage of the Gator Scholarship Program. Erwin says the program will be smaller in scale and…

Cut 6 (11) “…accounts.”

It’s set to begin for the 25-26 school year.

A bill to prohibit out-of-state journalists from requesting public records from the governor’s office passed. Gonzales Senator Ed Price questioned River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot who said reporters outside of Louisiana can work with in-state media to make the request

Cut 3 (15) “..that information.” 

Talbot says other states also have a similar law.

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell’s bill that would ban cell phones from classrooms heads to Governor Jeff Landry’s desk to be signed. Mizell says there are options for schools to determine how phones will be stored but no matter the method used, positive results will be achieved.

Cut 10 (07) “…in their hand.”

If signed the bill would go into effect in the 2024-2025 school year.

Judges in Louisiana will have the option to sentence those who commit sex crimes against children to surgical castration, in addition to prison time. Bill author Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow told Denham Spring Senator Valerie Hodges that far too often perpetrators are repeat offenders.

Cut 13 (10)  “…doing it again.”

The surgical castration option would apply if the victim is under the age of 13.

Governor Jeff Landry’s first regular legislative session (ends tonight 5PM) ended Monday night. Council for a Better Louisiana President, Barry Erwin says there were several anticipated important issues that lawmakers addressed and others that popped up in the session…

AM Cut 4 (12) “…going anywhere.”

Louisiana lawmakers did approve a 48-billion-dollar budget. House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says ones of the highlight of the budget is what they decided to do with 771-million dollars in extra money they had to spend.  Instead of putting it into the Rainy-Day Fund…

PM Cut 4 (12) “…addressed.” 

Lawmakers failed to approve a bill to ban edible THC products. Crescent Canna CEO Joe Gerrity led the effort to kill the bill…

PM Cut 6  (10) “…total ban. ” 

Lawmakers did approve age restrictions on THC products and where the products can be sold.

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell’s bill to ban cell phones in the classrooms, heads to Governor Jeff Landry’s desk to be signed. Mizell says there are options for schools to determine how phones will be stored but no matter how they do, positive results will be achieved.

AM Cut 10 (07) “…in their hand.”

The Teacher Workforce Commission says the number one issue is a lack of attention in the classroom due to cell phone use.

Lawmakers failed to approve a bill to ban all edible THC products but instead decided to compromise with regulations. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the state will not renew a contract for a Louisiana float to appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Nungesser says they didn’t see a boost in tourism inquiries last year, but they did with the New Year’s Day Rose Parade. It showed a $28 million return on investment.

In Reserve, a 16-year-old Aariah Henry was gunned down while she was a passenger in a car that authorities believe was targeted by another car early Sunday. St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre says after talking to the victim’s teachers at East St. John High School, they don’t believe Henry incited the violence.

Cut 11 (09) ” …accountable.”

If you have any information you’re asked to contact investigators, there’s video of the incident posted on our website. No arrests have been made.

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a 48-billion-dollar budget, but Early Childhood Education advocates aren’t happy with a $9 million cut. House Appropriations Chair Jack McFarland part of the reasoning behind this is that federal dollars from the pandemic that went towards early childhood education have expired.

Cut 5 (11)  “… backfill it.”

16-year-old Aariah Henry of Reserve was murdered early Sunday in what authorities believe was a targeted attack. St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre says they don’t believe Henry nor the other two females in the car were the intended victims…

Cut 10 (09) “…at all.”

No arrests have been made. You can see a link to video of the incident at LouisianaRadioNetwork. Authorities are asking for the public’s help.

The legislative session ends at 6 pm tonight and lawmakers failed to approve a bill to ban edible THC products. Crescent Canna CEO Joe Gerrity led the effort to kill the bill…

Cut 6  (10) “…total ban. ” 

Lawmakers did approve age restrictions on THC products.

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a 48-billion-dollar budget for the next fiscal year. Jeff Palermo on what it contains…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

In Reserve, a 16-year-old Aarih Henry was murdered early Sunday in what they believe was a targeted attack. St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre says the victim was one of six in a Black Dodge Challenger and he’s shared video of the tragic incident in hopes of making an arrest.

Cut 9 (08) “…in Reserve.” 

Tregre says they don’t believe the 16-year-old female was the intended victim but the three males in the car he says are not cooperating with investigators.

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a 48-billion-dollar budget that includes a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers. House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland…

Cut 3 (10) “…schools.” 

The budget also includes hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure projects.

The 2024 regular legislative session ends today, and La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the biggest piece of legislation approved was the Gator Scholarship Program. He says it brings Education Savings Accounts to Louisiana, allowing families to access public dollars to pay for private school tuition….

Cut 10 (08) “…in government.”

Lawmakers will adjourn at 6 PM.

LSU Baseball won two games Sunday and they are one win away from hosting a Super Regional Series. The Tigers defeated Wofford 13-6 in an elimination game yesterday and defeated North Carolina eight to four last night to force a winner-take-all all game today against the Tar Heels. Josh Pearson hit home runs in both games and says this team is always in the fight

Cut 13 (13)  “…keep at it.”

Tonight’s game is at 5pm.

At 6 pm the 2024 regular legislative session will end, and La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says an interesting dynamic developed during this session, the Senate did not go along with everything the governor wanted…

Cut 12 (11) “…on the other.” 

Instead of Louisiana’s predicted job growth of 40-thousand, ULL Acadiana Business Economist Gary Wagner says it looks like it will be an average year for the state with 10,000 jobs. He says the predictions are based on companies across the country not specific necessarily to Louisiana, so it’s a good lesson not to put too much stock into job forecasts.

Cut 8 (11) “…for Louisiana.” 

On the upside, he says the state has seen growth no significant losses.

ULM will receive a grant of $750-thousand over the next three years from the state’s Entertainment Development Fund to create opportunities for students looking for a film industry career. Associate Professor of Communication, Dr. Chris Mapp says when it comes to the potential of the new program, the sky is the limit.

Cut 6 (12) “…tools that they need.”

LSU Baseball won two games Sunday and they are one win away from hosting a Super Regional Series. Coach Jay Johnson says you can never count out a team with talent and experience…

Cut 14 (11)  “…from that.”

They’ll play the North Carolina Tarheels tonight at 5pm in the Regional Championship.

Saturday is the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane season and NOAA has predicted it will be the most active on record. National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan says it doesn’t necessarily take a major hurricane making landfall to have major impacts on both lives and property…

Cut 7 (12) “…the storm.”  

NOAA is predicting up to 25 named storms, as many as 13 hurricanes, and four to seven to be major.

The Gator Scholarship Program received final passage in the Senate Thursday. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says while it’s a win for the governor, a watered-down version of the original bill is what passed.

Cut 10 (11) “…a bit.”

Synthetic rubber manufacturer Denka says it will be forced to shut down its Reserve plant if EPA restrictions aren’t relaxed. The EPA shortened their deadline to reduce emissions from two years to 90 days. Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser believes it’s more political as opposed to a danger to nearby communities.

Cut 4 (10) “…do this.” 

Local advocacy group Rise St. James says Denka is poisoning people in Reserve and celebrates the potential closure. Denka says they would have no choice but to shut the plant down if forced to adhere to the reduced deadline.

The Gator Scholarship Program, an expanded use of the school voucher program received final passage in the Senate Thursday. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says while passage is a win for the governor, a watered-down version of the original bill is what he’ll have the opportunity to sign.

Cut 10 (12) “…a bit.”

Erwin says the Education Savings Account bill still offers opportunities for families to use tax dollars to pay for private school, but the program will be phased in slower than originally intended.

Cut 11 (11) “…long runway.”

In the final version of the legislation, Erwin says the amount of money each family could potentially receive remains to be determined. BESE will oversee the program.

A bill headed to the Governor’s desk will eliminate the requirement to give 16- and 17-year-old employees at least a 20-minute break when they work at least five hours. Denham Springs Representative Roger Wilder says this legislation is less red tape for employers hiring minors which makes the hiring process more productive.

PM Cut 4 (13) “…with paperwork.” 

With the session scheduled to wrap up on Monday, there are several bills still trying to make it across the finish line. And one is to eliminate the 30-year statute of limitations where one can be prosecuted for child molestation. Representative Tim Kerner hopes the bill, which passed unanimously in the House, will reach the governor’s desk.

Cut 24  (09) “…out there (x2).”

The Senate is expected to take up the state budget Friday and the session must end by 6pm Monday June 3^rd.

The Louisiana House gave final passage to a bill to eliminate the employer-required 20-minute break for 16- and 17-year-old workers. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Sean Richardson .”

And the Senate is expected to vote on a bill to remove the 30-year statute of limitations to prosecute child molestation. The bill passed unanimously in the House. Lafitte Republican Representative Tim Kerner says victims deserve to have their cases heard no matter how long ago it occurred.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking for your help if you see any fish kills this summer. LDWF Inland Fisheries Technical Advisor Robby Maxwell…

Cut 6  (11) “…appropriate manner. ” 

Fish kills are typical this time of year due to droughts or hurricanes, but Maxwell says mainly it’s due to temperature and low oxygen in the water.

The 74^th annual Peach Festival is this Saturday in downtown Ruston. Tori Davis with Experience Ruston says Lincoln Parish is home to the largest peach orchard in the state and the event, which honors their farming heritage, is the longest-running agricultural festival in Louisiana.

Cut 10 (12) “…of course.”