Big Trucks crossing the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge will soon have their speed limit increased to 60 miles per hour, making the limit the same for all vehicles. It’s part of phase 2 of the Basin Bridge Safety Corridor. Rodney Mallet says the difference in speed limits and motorists weaving in and out of traffic is dangerous…

Cut 15 (05) “…we’ve seen.”

Expect overnight lanes closures beginning Monday to allow crews to replace signs and place informative speed cameras.

Today’s statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.07. which is a 16 cents per gallon jump since last month and Triple-A Fuel analyst Don Redman expects gas prices to continue to rise.

Cut 7 (08) “…a gallon.”  

Two bills concerning mental health at schools advance from Senate Education. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The McNeese Cowboys are going dancing as they are headed to the NCAA men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2002. The Bayou Bandits received an invite to the Big Dance by beating Nicholls 92-76 in the Southland Tournament Championship game. A happy Coach Will Wade spoke after his team cut down the nets at the Legacy Center…

Cut 3 (07) “…for everybody.”  

The House Transportation Committee passed a bill that would give motorcycle riders the option to hit the highway without a helmet. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Congress is trying to force the sell TikTok to either sell to a U.S.-based company or ban the app. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Expect overnight lane closures on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge beginning Monday as Phase 2 of the Basin Bridge Safety Corridor begins. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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The House Transportation Committee passed legislation on Wednesday to repeal the state’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law which has been in place since 2004. The bill passed on a 10-3 vote. Hornbeck Representative Rodney Shamerhorn says wearing a helmet should be a personal choice.

Cut 4 (09) “…vegetable state.”

Under the current law, both riders and passengers are required to wear safety helmets regardless of age.

Shamerhorn wants to change it to people who are over 21 do not have to wear helmet if they can prove they have health insurance. He believes Louisiana has missed out tourism dollars from nearby states because of the helmet law. And noted many activities require safety gear to be available, its not mandatory.

Cut 5 (13) “…a choice.” 

Louisiana is one of 17 states that require full time helmets while riding a motorcycle.

Monroe Representative Pat Moore, who worked for an insurance company for 27 years, opposes the bill. She says riding a motorcycle without a helmet is like playing Russian Roulette. And questions the effect it will have on the state’s already skyrocketing insurance crisis.

Cut 6 (09) “…of it.”

The bill heads to the full House for more debate. 

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Covington Senator and self-proclaimed Parrothead Patrick McMath wants to designate a portion of U.S. Route 11 in St. Tammany Parish to honor Jimmy Buffett.  McMath says when the Margaritaville singer was just starting his musical career he traveled that very highway back and forth to play gigs.

Cut 7 (10) “…so dearly.”

If passed it would be designated as the “Jimmy Buffett ‘Changes in Latitude’ Memorial Crossing.”

McMath says he considers Buffett’s music the soundtrack of his life along with countless other fans. Even though Buffett was born in Mississippi and grew up in Alabama, McMath says the musician had a deep affinity for the Bayou State.

Cut 8 (06) “…New Orleans.” 

The bill advances from Senate Transportation and when McMath offers Senate Bill 44 to the upper chamber floor, he says he plans to dress accordingly.

Cut 9 (06)  “…know yet.”

Buffet passed away on September 1^st at the age of 76. The Coral Reefer Band along with special guests will perform a tribute to the late singer at Jazz Fest this year.

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A proposed U.S. law targeting the social media app TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese base company ByteDance, could force the company to sell its controlling stake or be blocked in the U.S. Host of the podcast Tech Gumbo Host Haggai Davis says the issue is over the user data it collects and that it’s being sold within the communist country.

Cut 10 (07) “…a problem.”

Davis says the bill forces the company to be sold to either a U.S.-based or a non-Chinese company to alleviate security concerns that a communist country could be misusing data against Americans.

Cut 11 (10) “…in the United States.” 

Like other social media apps and search engines, Davis says when you sign on to any of them you automatically allow them to track your online activity which then gives advertisers insight of your personality traits.

He says the issue with TikTok is that the ownership is based in a Communist Country.

If you use the popular app, to promote your brand or business, Davis says he doesn’t anticipate it being banned anytime soon.

Cut 12 (11) “…180 days.” 

On Wednesday the U.S. House approved the bill, which now heads to the Senate.

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Phase 2 of the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Safety Corridor begins Monday. Crews will be replacing speed limit signs and installing informative speed cameras that measure motorists’ speeds by radar. Rodney Mallett with the Louisiana Department of Transportation says there will be lane closures…

Cut 13 (11)  “…Sunday night”

For years, cars have had a 60 mile per hour speed limit while trucks were limited to 55 miles per hour. Mallet says in phase two, there will be one limit for all vehicles…

Cut 14 (10) “…speed limit.”

Mallett says, the informative cameras that show motorists their speeds will eventually be replaced by enforcement cameras that will photograph license plates of speed violators. He says speeding motorists dangerously weave through traffic around other drivers…

Cut 15 (12) “…to fatalities”

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The LSU men’s basketball team begins play today as an eight-seed in the SEC Tournament. Coach Matt McMahon’s team will face Mississippi State at noon…

Cut 16 (16) “…five games.” 

All SEC Selection Josh Hubbard is averaging 17 points to lead State. He scored 32 points against the Tigers earlier this season and hit six three-pointers in a 20-point win over LSU. McMahon days the Bulldogs defense does a good job of holding its opponents to less than 70 points a game…

Cut 17 (15) “…physicality.” 

Governor Jeff Landry is asking state lawmakers to create an Education Savings Accounts program, to use taxpayer dollars to help families send their child, to a different school. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says former Governor John Bel Edwards was an opponent because it would take money away from public education.

Cut 7 (10) “…consequences.”

He says an Education Savings Account bill has yet to be filed.

State Police has provided more information on a fatal shooting involving a Calcasieu Parish Sherriff’s deputy. Trooper Derek Senegal says during a traffic stop last Thursday on I-10 between Lake Charles and Iowa, 37-year-old Quinton Baker of Gadsden, Alabama, was killed when he attempted to drive off while a deputy was searching inside his SUV.

Cut 12 (05)  “…struck Baker.”

Advocating to move from their existing 60-year-old headquarters, New Orleans PD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick describes the myriad of issues plaguing the current facility.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Agile Cold Storage plans to build a 46-million dollar cold storage facility in St. Tammany Parish which will create 100 jobs. St. Tammany Corporation CEO Chris Masingill says the space will have highly automated, multi-temperature and conventional warehousing and logistics support. He says the building will primarily house poultry for export every week.

Cut 10 (07) “…of New Orleans.”

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick spoke to city council committee members in a plea for a new facility. She described the wretched building conditions with inoperable elevators, air conditioning, plumbing, and high marijuana evidence eating rats in the 60-year-old headquarters.

Cut 5 (12) “…not acceptable.”

A 10-year lease for a proposed building would cost $7.6 million.

Governor Jeff Landry has told lawmakers Louisiana is failing its students and cited a report that ranks the state 46th in education. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin says Landry is asking legislators to create an Education Savings Accounts program, which would use taxpayer dollars to help families send their child to a different school.

Cut 6  (08) “…other options” 

Agile Cold Storage announces plans to invest 46 million dollars in the first cold storage facility in St. Tammany Parish. St. Tammany Corporation CEO Chris Masingill says it will create dozens of jobs…

Cut 9 (09) “…particular project.” 

The company estimates the project will result in a total of 195 potential new jobs. The new facility, will be located in Pearl River, will prepare fresh food for transportation by blast-freezing and packing it for shipment.

More is known about the fatal shooting involving a Calcasieu Parish Sherriff’s deputy last week. Louisiana State Trooper Derek Senegal says during a traffic stop on I-10, 37-year-old Quinton Baker of Alabama, was killed when he drove off with the deputy while he was inside the SUV conducting a search. The vehicle struck a concrete barrier, crossed three lanes of traffic before striking several trees. Baker was pronounced dead at a Lake Charles hospital. Senegal says the deputy responded appropriately.

Cut 13 (05) “…incident.”  

Approximately two kilos of cocaine were recovered from the vehicle.

State Police has provided more information on a fatal shooting involving a Calcasieu Parish Sherriff’s deputy. Trooper Derek Senegal says during a traffic stop last Thursday on I-10 between Lake Charles and Iowa, 37-year-old Quinton Baker of Gadsden, Alabama, was killed when he attempted to drive off while a deputy was searching inside his SUV.

Cut 12 (05)  “…struck Baker.”

While addressing the New Orleans city council committee members in a plea for a new facility, Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described the wretched building conditions and reminded members of a recent tour of the evidence room.

Cut 3 (13) “…all high.”  

Kirkpatrick stressed the need to move to another building and their proposal to lease two floors of the DXC building on Poydras Street.

Get ready to hear about Education Savings Accounts during the legislative session. Jeff Palermo explains what they do…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Friday is senior night for the 2^nd ranked LSU Gymnastics squad including Olivia Dunne who Dunne only competed in four meets last year because of injuries, but she says a more focused approach to all of her responsibilities has led to better results.

Cut 16 (15) “…on it” 

LSU hosts North Carolina Friday.

On the opening day of the legislative session, Governor Jeff Landry laid out his agenda for lawmakers. He began his speech by encouraging legislators to make his reforms in public education. The governor says he wants parents in control of a child’s education and take away some of the burdens affecting teachers…

Cut  14 (14) “..can teach”

La Politics dot com editor Jeremy Alford says legislators also have to approve a budget for next fiscal year. He says lawmakers will look at reducing state spending with an eye towards 2025 when a temporary sales tax expires

Cut 11 (12) “…tough decisions”

A package of bills aimed to make Louisiana number one in the country regarding election integrity will be addressed in the regular session. Teiko Fox has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

After one day of early voting, the number of mail-in ballots for the presidential primary is the third highest in Louisiana’s election history and it’s possible it could eclipse the 2022 Senate primary for mail-in votes. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon…

Cut 8 (09) “…it happening.” 

According to La Politics dot com editor Jeremy Alford, Insurance and education will be the big topics in the legislature this session and he says new Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is pushing a package of bills that are considered pro industry. Alford says Temple will make the argument to legislators that there are too many regulations on insurance companies…

Cut 10 (10) “…pro industry ideas.”

LSU and South Carolina battled each other hard yesterday and tempers flared late in the game which resulted in both benches clearing after Lady Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson was pushed down to the ground.  LSU ended up losing in the SEC Tournament title game 79 to 72, but Coach Kim Mulkey feels good about her squad

Cut 12 (11)  “…this point  

Poa was taken off on stretcher on Saturday night after banging her head on the floor. Mulkey expects Poa to be ready for the NCAA Tournament which begins next week.

After one day of early voting, the number of mail-in ballots for the presidential primary is the third highest in Louisiana’s election history. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

As the regular legislative session starts today, Secretary of State Nancy Landry is pushing a package of bills that would further boost the state’s election integrity policies. Among them is one that she says will ensure that Louisiana’s voter rolls are accurate. After 10 years, voters would not be removed from the non-active voters list automatically. instead, she says notification would be mailed out and if a voter does not respond…

Cut 5 (12) “…active rolls.”

Texas has asked for the assistance of Louisiana National Guardsmen. Soldiers from the 2-108^th Cavalry Squadron in Shreveport will participate in the first rotation and soldiers from the 61^st Troop Command, based in Carville will round out the two remaining rotations.  Louisiana National Guard Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Noel (No-elle) Collins…

Cut 4 (09) “…to Texas.” 

Early voting for the March 23rd presidential primary begins Saturday. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says Democrats and Republicans will only be allowed to vote for presidential candidates in their respective party. Landry expects a 20 – 25 percent of voter turnout for this election.  A higher turnout is expected for the hotly contested Caddo Parish Sheriff race.

Cut 10 (13) “…that turnout.”

Surrounded by family, friends, and fellow troopers, a select of group of men and women achieved their goal of completing the Louisiana State Police Training Academy this morning. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

The Saints have re-signed veteran and former LSU safety Tyrann Mathieu to a two-year contract. The Honey badger is happy he’s staying with the Black and Gold…

Cut 12 (12)  “…to me”  

It’s a big day for the Louisiana State Police.  The 103^rd cadet class graduated 33 new troopers. Captain Nick Manale says the cadets began their journey nearly six months ago.

Cut 6  (12) “…leadership skills.” 

President Joe Biden has already locked up the Democratic Party’s nomination and former President Donald Trump has secured the Republican Party’s nomination. Secretary of State Nancy Landry still expects Republicans and Democrats will want to have their voices heard.

Cut 11 (09) “…should be.”

Early voting for the March 23rd presidential preference primary begins tomorrow (Saturday).

The Louisiana National Guard is preparing to assist in Operation Lone Star. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Honey badger will be back as the Saints re-signed veteran and former LSU safety Tyrann Mathieu to a two-year contract. Mathieu was selected as the Saints nominee for the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his community service work. He’s also playing at a high level. In his two seasons in New Orleans, he’s started all 34 games and intercepted seven passes. But he wants to lead the Black and Gold to the playoffs.

Cut  14 (12) “..opportunity”

Louisiana State Police have been asked to investigate a shooting involving Calcasieu parish Sheriff’s Deputy who was kidnapped while searching the vehicle of a suspect during a traffic stop Thursday morning. According to authorities, a deputy with the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force made the stop on I-10 and discovered illegal narcotics. While in the deputy was in the suspect’s car for the search, the suspect got in the driver’s side and drove off. The deputy made verbal commands to stop. When he did not comply, the deputy shot the driver and they crashed. Both the suspect and deputy were transported to a local hospital.

New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd wants health insurers to provide mental health coverage for victims of rape. The legislation is personal for Boyd. She says if someone had intervened and helped her mother deal with the trauma of being raped at age 15 and the following post-partum psychosis, she might be alive today.

Cut 13 (06) “…had me.”  

House Bill 302 is pending.

Starting next year, high school seniors will not have to apply for FAFSA to graduate. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Should there be term limits on all statewide elected offices? Marrero Representative Kyle Green has filed legislation seeking to change the state’s constitution so that lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, ag and insurance commissioner are all limited to two terms.

Cut 6  (09) “…term limit.”