A 2022 law to put speed cameras on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge to prevent crashes was repealed by the legislature this session. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Today is “Secure Your Load for Road Safety Day.” Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says it’s important for motorists to properly secure items to prevent them from becoming potentially lethal traffic hazards. And before you hitch that boat to your vehicle, secure loose objects.

Cut 10 (08) “…or death.”

Lake Charles has secured hosting rights for Boys Basketball, swimming, softball and baseball championships for an additional two years and Visit Lake Charles says it solidifies southwest Louisiana as the premiere high school sports destination of the state. Senior Vice President of Sports at Visit Lake Charles Erick Zartler says he couldn’t be happier…

Cut 6  (07) “…staple here. ” 

Kenny Wayne Shepard says he has a great opportunity for an aspiring Louisiana band.

The Kenny Wayne Shepard band is looking for a band from Louisiana to open for them when they perform at the Raising Canes River Center in Baton Rouge on July 13^th.  They will be holding a Battle of the Bands at the Texas Club in Baton Rouge on June 21 and they are taking submissions now. Shepard says just about any band that does a great show will fit the bill and they are not limiting the search to blues and rock bands.

Cut 14 (07)  “…our crowd.”

The 2024 legislative session yielded some big wins for social conservatives. Legislation requiring classrooms to post the Ten Commandments and reclassifying two abortion pills as dangerous controlled substances are among the major bills to pass. But political consultant Mary Patricia Wray says both measures will likely face court challenges

Cut 12 (02) “…litigated.” 

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 who carried this bill for the governor on the Senate floor says other states also have a similar law.

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.

Estimated restoration times for SWEPCO customers have changed due to the latest weather. Some areas are expected to be restored today if weather permits. Spokesperson Michelle Marcotte

Cut 9 (12) “…flooding.” 

Residents are urged to stay away from downed wires and anything they may be touching. Call 911 to report any hazards.

Governor Jeff Landry is in New Orleans as the city gears up for Super Bowl 59 that will be played in the Superdome February 9^th, 2025. In anticipation of the event, Landry says the city will be improving infrastructure that will have benefits reaching years into the future.

Cut 7 (11) “…post Superbowl.”  

A bill heading to the governor’s desk would prohibit out-of-state journalists from requesting public records from the governor’s office. Gonzales Senator Ed Price questioned River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot

Cut 3 (15) “..that information.” 

Damaging Severe weather in Northwest Louisiana has wreaked havoc on SWEPCO’s energy delivery system. SWEPCO spokesperson Michelle Marcotte…

Cut 10 (10) “…with our lines.”

Crews are working as fast as they can, but more storms are forecast for the area.

Governor Jeff Landry is in New Orleans today with Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser to talk about getting the state ready for Super Bowl LIX (59) on February 9, 2025 for a record tying 11th time with Miami, Florida.  Landry says New Orleans is ready.

Cut 6  (07) “…city of New Orleans. ” 

LSU baseball comes up short in its bid to repeat as national champions. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

The legislative session ends today, and lawmakers failed to approve a bill that would ban all edible THC products. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a 48-billion-dollar budget that includes a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers and hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure projects. House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says teachers can expect their two-thousand-dollar stipend earlier next school year

Cut 3 (10) “…schools.” 

McFarland says the goal is to make that two-thousand-dollar stipend a permanent raise, but they need to see what future projections look like first.

Six Louisiana teams made the NCAA Baseball Tournament and only LSU is left.

Louisiana Tech’s magical season came to an end at the Fayetteville Regional. The Bulldogs won 45 games and a Conference USA Regular Season title. Coach Lane Burroughs says those are two great accomplishments, but the ultimate goal is a trip to the College World Series…

Cut 15 (10) “…keep working.

Hockey is coming back to Northeast Louisiana, but you’ll have to wait until Wednesday to find out who the team is. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis is encouraging the public to join him at the Monroe Civic Center Arena for a press conference Wednesday morning at ten when he announces the team’s name, shows off their uniforms and signs the team’s first player. Community members will be able to explore corporate partnership opportunities and have first dibs on exclusive merchandise.

Authorities believe a targeted attack took the life of 16-year-old East St. John High school student, Aariah Henry early Sunday morning in Reserve but they don’t believe she was the target. She was one of six people in the Black Dodge Challenger that was targeted by individuals in a silver car. St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre…

Cut 10 (09) “…at all.”

Authorities shared video of the shooting in hopes of identifying the shooters.

A bill that would have banned edible THC products in Louisiana failed in the legislative session that ends today.  Crescent Canna CEO Joe Gerrity opposed the bill saying, a lot of what he heard on the Senate and House floor was nonsense and the lawmakers that are working to ban the products lack understanding of them.

Cut 8 (05)  “…what they’re talking about.” 

Some limits and regulations were passed but opponents of the THC industry say they’re still much too accessible and lack common-sense guardrails.

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

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana Tech’s magical baseball season had a disappointing ending as the Bulldogs lost to Kansas State 19 to 4 and then to Southeast Missouri 9-to-3 in the Fayetteville Regional. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs on what he told his team…

Cut  14 (09) “..play good.” 

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a 48-billion-dollar budget that includes hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure projects. House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says another highlight of this budget is what they decided to do with 771-million dollars in extra money they had to spend. He says instead of putting it into the Rainy-Day Fund, they will spend it now

Cut 4 (12) “…addressed.” 

The legislative session ends today with lawmakers failing to approve a bill that would ban edible THC products.  Crescent Canna CEO Joe Gerrity led the effort to kill a bill. Lawmakers did approve new regulations, Gerrity explains…

Cut 7 (12) “…cans per package.”  

In Reserve, a 16-year-old Aariah Henry was murdered early Sunday in what authorities 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.” 

You can see that video at LouisianaRadioNetwork.com

There were six teams from Louisiana that made the NCAA Baseball Tournament and only LSU is left. The Ragin Cajuns were eliminated last night by Texas A-and-M as the Aggies defeated U-L Lafayette nine to four. Catcher Jose Torres says they gave it their best…

Cut 12 (11) “…your way.” 

While legal experts say former President Donald Trump will most likely not serve jail time for his 34 felony convictions, LSU Law Professor Lisa Avalos says there are legal implications, for example possibly losing the right to vote or possess firearms.

The synthetic rubber manufacturer, Denka Performance Elastomer says they will likely have to shut down the Reserve plant because they can’t meet the EPA’s shortened deadline of 90 days to reduce emissions. Local advocacy group Rise St. James says is celebrating the potential closure of saying they are poisoning people in Reserve. Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser says Rise St. James doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

Cut 5 (06)  “…prove that.”

EPA had given Denka 2 years to reduce emissions.

Cut 13 (12) “…vote for him.” 

A new bill would give Governor Jeff Landry the power to appoint almost 150 state board and commission chairs. Until now, the boards selected their chairs, while the governor could appoint a majority of board members and indirectly name the chair. Senator Valarie Hodges of Denham Springs says she sponsored this bill because she believes it allows the governor to do their job better.

Cut 10 (05) “…to do.” 

New Orleans Representative Candace Newell opposes giving the power to a governor.

Cut 12 (08) “…community.” 

Hurricane season is upon us officially beginning Saturday. National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan says it’s important to know your risks. If you live in a storm surge evacuation zone, you should already have a plan of where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, and what you’ll take with you.

Cut 8 (11)  “…to stay.” 

Synthetic rubber manufacturer Denka Performance Elastomer says it will be forced to shut down its Reserve plant if EPA restrictions aren’t relaxed after the agency shortened Denka’s deadline to reduce emissions from 2 years to 90 days. Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser says that’s an impossible task.

Cut 3 (08) “…90 days (x2).” 

The EPA says the 90-day rule is needed because Denka poses a quote-unquote “imminent and substantial danger” to nearby communities.

Saturday is the official start of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season, and NOAA has predicted it will be the most active on record with 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes of which four to seven will be major hurricanes. Regardless of the forecast National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan says…

Cut 6  (09) “…hurricane season. ” 

A new bill would allow the governor to appoint dozens of state board chairs. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

LSU Baseball takes a win at the Chapel Hill Regionals today in a come from behind victory defeating Wofford 4 to 3 after being down 3 to 1 in the 8^th.  Credit Steven Milam with the exciting Walk Off Home Run. It was his second Homer of the day. The Tigers will play the winner of tonight’s game between North Carolina and Long Island tomorrow at four.

Police in Zachary arrested two teenagers this morning after an attempted car burglary that ended with a woman being shot three times when she tried to intervene earlier this week.  Chief Darryl Lawerence says the two suspects who are 17 and 15 years old were in the Baton Rouge area.

Cut 12 (13) “…Parish Prison.” 

Because this is considered a violent crime, Lawerence says the 17-year-old is one of their first arrests that the suspect can be charged as an adult due to a recent law passed to curb juvenile crime.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking for help this summer. If you see a fish kill they’re asking you to give them a call. Neighborhood ponds are prone to fish kills due to the small size and depth and while LDWF doesn’t investigate neighborhood ponds they do keep records. Inland Fisheries Technical Advisor Robby Maxwell says typically after a fish kill they see very good recovery of the fisheries resources.

Cut 8 (10)  “…fish kill.” 

The State House gave final passage to a measure that eliminates the regulation requiring employers to give 16- and 17-year-old employees at least a 20-minute meal break. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Sean Richardson .”

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.” 

Police in Zachary arrested a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old this morning after an attempted car burglary that ended with a woman being shot three times when she tried to intervene early Tuesday morning.  Chief Darryl Lawerence says detectives received good leads on the suspects’ getaway vehicle and within two days they were able to make the arrests. The victim was released from the hospital and while Lawrence commends her bravery, he urges citizens to let law enforcement handle matters.

Cut 13 (09) “…a crime.” 

Instead of confronting criminals, Lawerence says to collect as much information as possible.

The House gives final passage to legislation that eliminates employer’s requirement to give 16- and 17-year-old employees at least a 20-minute meal break if they work at least five hours. Denham Springs Representative Roger Wilder says this legislation is good for teenagers that are looking for work.

Cut 3 (05) “…get employment.” 

The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.

If you’re out on the water this summer and spot some dead fish LDWF is asking you to let them know. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

The 74^th annual Peach Festival is this Saturday in downtown Ruston. It’ an opportunity to enjoy 12 hours of live music, an art market and of course peachy good food. Tori Davis with Experience Ruston…

Cut 9 (12) “…in Lincoln Parish.” 

The festival begins at 9 am and for the first time in 30 years, admission is free.