A recall petition has been filed to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape who was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in New Mexico but never tried on a technicality. Dillard University Political Science Professor Robert Collins says recalls are extremely difficult and rarely successful. He says the most efficient way to obtain enough signatures, in this case, at least 35,000, is to mail voters affidavits, have them sign them, and return them in a postage-paid envelope.
Cut 11 (11) “…the challenge”

The House Governmental Affairs Committee began discussion today on holding a constitutional convention. Supporters of a constitutional convention say they want to move items to state law so legislators can have more flexibility during difficult budget times. Covington Representative Mark Wright believes holding a convention is a great idea. Any changes to the constitution would need voter approval in November…
Cut 13 (11) “…doesn’t change.”

The committee is planning to discuss the idea more tomorrow.
LSU star player Angel Reese is heading to Chicago to play for the Sky. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bizarre break-in at Jennings High School Monday. Police say 37-year-old Dillion Champagne stole two vehicles, and held two employees at gunpoint, fortunately, no one was hurt. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says After a 12-hour multi-law enforcement manhunt, Champagne was located thanks to a tip that he was seen on Highway 97 about a mile from the school.
Cut 8 (12) “…to another.”

Lawmakers began their discussions on holding a constitutional convention today in the House Governmental Affairs Committee. Several have questions on how the convention would work. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says starting the constitutional convention on May 20th when the regular session is scheduled to end June 3rd can cause issues…

Cut  14 (14) “…this convention.” 

After a bizarre break-in at Jennings High School, before classes began on Monday, police have 37-year-old Dillion Champagne in custody. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says Champagne stole two vehicles, followed a custodian in the school, and held two employees at gunpoint, fortunately, no one was hurt.

Cut 6  (10) “…Dillion Champagne.” 

A petition to recall the embattled St. Tammany Parish Coroner has been filed with the Secretary of State’s office. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (36)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The Chicago Sky selected LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese with the seventh overall pick in last night’s WNBA draft. Reese led LSU to its first national championship in women’s basketball in 2023 and this past season she was named the SEC Player of the Year. The All-American could have returned to LSU for one more season, but Reese says she’s ready for a new challenge…

Cut 4 (06) “…be a sponge” 

A recall petition has been officially filed to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape because he’s unfit for office. Tape was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in New Mexico but was never tried on a technicality. Dillard University Political Science Professor Robert Collins says recalls are extremely difficult and rarely successful.

Cut 9 (10) “…recall elections.” 

A bizarre break-in at Jennings High School, Monday caused classes to be cancelled. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says 37-year-old Dillion Champagne is in custody, but Semmes says he can’t imagine the fear that the two employees experienced when Champagne confronted them with a gun and stole the keys to one of the employees’ cars.

Cut 7 (09) “…the best.”  

The House Governmental Affairs Committee began discussion today on holding a constitutional convention. The bill’s author, New Iberia Representative, Beau Beaullieu, says the goal is to streamline the state constitution, which is one of the longest in the nation…

Cut 12 (10) “…in statue.” 

Angel Reese is the first LSU women’s basketball player selected in the first round of the WNBA draft since 2012 when Washington took LaSondra Barrett. The Chicago Sky chose Reese with the 7^th overall pick and Reese says she’s looking forward to spending her summers in Chicago…

Cut 5 (05)  “…Chi-town girl.”

Reese led LSU to its first national championship in 2023 and this year was named SEC Player of the Year. The W-N-B-A begins its season next month.

Classes at Jennings High School had to be cancelled Monday after a bizarre break-in at the school, before classes began, police say 37-year-old Dillion Champagne stole two vehicles, followed a custodian in the school, and held two employees at gunpoint, fortunately, no one was hurt. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says After a 12-hour multi-law enforcement manhunt, Champagne was located thanks to a tip that he was seen on Highway 97 about a mile from the school.

Cut 8 (12) “…to another.” 

The House Commerce Committee approves legislation that eliminates the requirement to have a license to be a florist. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham says Louisiana is the only state that requires a florist to take a written exam to sell floral arrangements…

Cut 13 (10)  “…one of them.”

LSU star player Angel Reese is heading to Chicago to play for the Sky. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

This week, the Louisiana Department of Transportation is observing National Work Zone Awareness Week. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallet as part of the effort to increase awareness, on Wednesday, April 17th, Louisiana DOTD is participating in Go Orange Day…

Cut 12 (09) “…of safety.” 

Legislation to hold a Constitutional Convention next month will be heard in House Governmental Affairs Tuesday. Bill sponsor New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu says Governor Jeff Landry’s transitional team will describe what the convention will entail.

Cut 4 (12) “…of Louisiana.”

The last time the state’s constitution was revised was 1974 and for this convention, Beaullieu says there won’t be any huge changes, he says the plan is to move items from the constitution and put them in statute to give the legislature more flexibility.

Cut 5 (11) “…raise taxes.” 

The House Commerce Committee approves legislation that eliminates the requirement to have a license to be a florist. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham says Louisiana is the only state that requires a florist to take a written exam in order to sell floral arrangement…

Cut 13 (10)  “…one of them.”

General counsel for the Pelican Institute Sarah Harbison says the public can weed out bad florists…

Cut 15 (10)  “..expectations”

The legislation heads to the house floor.

The House Ways and Means Committee takes no action on a bill that calls for Louisiana to repeal the state income tax in 2026. Columbia Representative Neil Riser says for over a decade there’s been talk about eliminating the state income tax and his bill would commit the state to doing it

Cut 9 (05) “…go get it.” 

Police have arrested 42-year-old Chad Credeur (crater) of Duson in a shooting and triple homicide in Lafayette. LPD Sgt Robin Green says the bodies of 45-year-old Brandon Touchet 49-year-old Eric Green, and an unidentified female were discovered Friday but just when the shooting occurred in the 700 block of College Road, is not known. LPD is asking for the public’s help…

Cut 5 (10)  “…Police Department.”

It might not be a billion-dollar jackpot but Janice Tullos of Ball wasted no time in claiming a one million dollar match-5 prize. The Louisiana Lottery reported today that Tullos claimed the prize from the March 30^th drawing on April 1^st. She made the claim for a group including herself, Debbie Van Dyke, Cynthia Abbarno, Rachel Wooten, Yuri Hester, and Mark Howard. After state and federal tax withholding, the group takes home $717,500. And the Albertson’s that sold the ticket gets a 1% bonus of $10,000

No committee vote has been taken on Columbia Representative Neil Riser’s bill that calls for Louisiana to repeal the state income tax in 2026. Chris Alexander with the Louisiana Citizens Advocacy Group spoke in favor of the bill…

Cut 11 (07) “…to death”

Governor Jeff Landry was in West Feliciana Parish and Slidell today. Two areas hit by tornadoes last Wednesday. Landry expects the state will issue emergency declarations soon so that the state can help in the cost to clean up debris…

Cut 6  (07) “…back to work.” 

Landry says state officials are still assessing the damage to determine if the tornado outbreak last week caused enough damage to qualify for federal assistance.

42-year-old Chad Credeur (crater) of Duson has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of 3 people whose bodies were found in an apartment in Lafayette, Friday. LPD Sgt Robin Green says at the time the bodies were discovered they received a call from authorities in Jeff Davis Parish where Credeur was arrested on unrelated charges.

Cut 4 (08) “…Police Department.” 

Victims were identified as 45-year-old Brandon Touchet and 49-year-old Eric Green both of Lafayette, third victim is a yet-to-be-identified female.

Today is the deadline to file your federal taxes but CPA Hardy Foreman with the firm, Carr Riggs and Ingram in Shreveport says since the COVID pandemic there’s been an increase in taxpayers filing for extensions. And he says it’s taking longer for business owners to get the proper documentation needed for them to file before the April 15th deadline…

Cut 8 (13) “…April 15th.” 

Governor Jeff Landry has released the names of the people he plans to nominate as delegates to a proposed constitutional convention this year. Jeanne Burns has more on the story…

Cut 2 (35)  “…flexibility” 

The House Ways and Means Committee takes no action on a bill that calls for Louisiana to repeal the state income tax in 2026. Columbia Representative Neil Riser says for over a decade there’s been talk about eliminating the state income tax.

Cut 9 (05) “…go get it.” 

As work to restore power and clean up storm damage across the state continues, The Louisiana Department of Health reports one storm related death in Rapides Parish. A 60-year-old woman was killed after a tree and power line fell on her home outside Pineville on Wednesday.

Many are still without power, but CLECO says they expect to have all the power restored in Opelousas by the end of day Friday and at least half of their customers in Slidell without power should have it back. As for the remaining 3500 Slidell customers, CLECO expects to have a better idea of when work can be completed to restore power to those homes.  

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance is holding a FAFSA Marathon beginning April 15^th. Spokesperson Ebony Holmes says despite all the delays, there are still benefits to filling out the application.

Cut 7 (11) “…get it done. ”  

It’s going to be a jam-packed weekend at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. In addition to the state’s signature fruit, there’s plenty of food, rides, and music and it wouldn’t be a festival without a parade in Louisiana. Festival Queen, Lauren van Mullem says it’s a great way to support the community and Louisiana berry farmers.

Cut 9 (12) “…and farmers.” 

The parade is on Saturday at 9:30.

Expect to pay about $5.99 a pound for boiled crawfish says Crawfish App Co-Founder Laney King. She says there’s been a consistent weekly drop in crawfish prices since Easter. King says the average price for live crawfish last year was $2.57.

Cut 13 (11) “…it is.”

Many are still without power across the state but there’s good news for Opelousas, CLECO says they expect to have all the power restored there by the end of day Friday and at least half of their customers in Slidell should also have power. As for the remaining 3500 Slidell customers, CLECO expects to have a better idea of when work can be completed to restore power to those homes.  As clean up continues in areas served by Entergy, work is being done to restore power to approximately 4000 homes.

Monday is Tax Day. Alexandria CPA Kurt Oestriecher (Os-stric-ker) has a tax tip for seniors. Oestricher says people over the age of 70 can use a portion of their minimum retirement distribution to get a tax break if they donate it to a church or a charitable organization.

Cut 3 (13) “…30 thousand.” 

The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance is holding a virtual FAFSA marathon next week to help students with their applications. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

It’s another great week for crawfish lovers with a 50-cent drop on average in prices this week. Crawfish App Co-Founder Laney King says the industry lowered prices again which brings the average price for a sack under $100.

Cut 12 (09) “…sweet spot.” 

After multiple delays with Federal Student Aid, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance will have expanded virtual hours April 15-19 from 8 am until 8 pm and you can register now for an appointment if you need assistance. And if you can’t next week, the normal hours are 9 AM – to 3 PM. LOSFA Spokesperson Ebony Holmes says Until colleges can send award letters students who are eligible for TOPS should visit their student hub tracker and…

Cut 8 (12) “…of use.” 

Monday is the deadline to file federal income taxes and for those who won big by gambling, Alexandria CPA Kurt Oestriecher (Os-stric-ker) says, they will have to pay taxes on those winnings even if they suffered gambling losses with other bets.

Cut 5 (12)  “…may have.”

Good news for crawfish lovers. The average price per pound for mudbugs is 50 cents lower this week. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

It’s going to be a jam-packed weekend at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Rhonda Poche says this year’s strawberry crop looks amazing and there’s a reason Louisiana has the best strawberries in the world.

Cut 11 (11) “…best around.”

Festival hours are noon to 11 pm on Friday, 9 am until 11 pm on Saturday, and 10 to 6 pm on Sunday.