A new poll finds the cost of insurance is the biggest issue facing Louisiana residents. There was talk of a special session on insurance reform before the regular session starts in March, but Senate President Cameron Henry says because of the complexity of insurance laws, it would be better to wait until the regular session..

Cut 12 (05)  “…bit more”  

Republican U-S Senator Bill Cassidy is not a fan of Governor Jeff Landry’s proposal to move Louisiana from an open primary election system to closed party primaries. A Louisiana pollster says such a dramatic change to how elections are held will cost the state an additional 90-million dollars a year. Cassidy says the state has bigger priorities to fund…

Cut 6 (11) “…coastal restoration.” 

A 56 thousand square foot Amazon distribution facility is coming to Monroe. The Facility will be located at the intersection of Luffey Drive and I-20 North Frontage Road and construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis says this will be a win for local small businesses.

Cut 11 (11) “…as community.”

Career opportunities and job hiring will be offered closer to the facility’s launch date.

LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley warns crawfish connoisseurs that 2024 will be one of the worst mudbug seasons on record as last year’s drought hampered farmers ability to flood in the fall. Next week’s freeze won’t help. The other unknown Shirley says is wild crawfish in the Atchafalaya Basin. He says the water levels are very low at only two to three feet, and unless we get a lot of rain in the Mississippi watershed…

Cut 5 (09) “ …at all.” 

Governor Landry supports closed party primaries but has yet to provide any additional comments on why. Supporters say it leads to better candidates in the general election and it would end the December run-off that occurs for Congressional races. But Senator Bill Cassidy says how Louisiana elects its officials is not broken, so why fix it.

Cut 8 (10) “…or police” 

The cost of insurance is the biggest issue for Louisianans says a recent poll and there’s been talk of calling a special session to address it. The regular session runs from March 11th through until June 3^rd. Senate President Cameron Henry says new Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has a lot of ideas on how to improve the insurance market in Louisiana and it would be better to discuss those ideas during a three-month long session

Cut 13 (07) “..a difference” 

Crawfish fans might want to start a savings account and prep for a much smaller platter this year. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (29)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Amazon, the leading global online retailer, is opening a 56 thousand square foot distribution facility in Monroe. Mayor Friday Ellis says the announcement will hopefully result in more economic development for the region.

Cut 10 (08) “…northeast Louisiana.” 

Information on career opportunities and job hiring will be offered closer to the facility’s launch date.

Among Governor Landry’s first actions in office was overturning the highly debated appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam, making Louisiana the only state in the country that does not have an appeals process. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says the debate highlighted two issues… one that the process was for students who were not fluent in English, and two that this particular process was implemented at the end of Edward’s term.

Cut 11 (12) “…the future.”

A Breaux Bridge High School baseball player committed to LSU E is facing months of rehabilitation and uncertainty after a shooting left him paralyzed and unable to breathe on his own. 18-year-old Kole Hebert was a victim of a shooting on January 6^th severing his cervical spinal cord. He also suffered a skull fracture. Bullet fragments were not able to be retrieved.  Hebert is currently in Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge and the next days and weeks are critical as all injuries may not yet be apparent. Hebert faces many months of recovery and rehabilitation. A Go Fund Me account has received funds and support.

A poll of 650 likely voters indicates Louisianans’ top issues are insurance, education, healthcare, crime, Taxes and spending, inflation, and social issues like abortion. And Pollster John Couvillon says During the regular session, Governor Jeff Landry and the new legislature will have to solve the issues that are important to residents.

Cut 8 (13) “…right now.” 

A Neville High School student was laid to rest today.  16-year-old Tarver Braddock of Monroe died in a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of Friday January Fifth at a deer camp in Jefferson County, Mississippi where Braddock, a student athlete at Neville High School in Monroe was staying with 5 other teens. Authorities are investigating the cause of the overnight fire and say five teens were able to escape through a window. Braddock was pronounced dead at the scene. His community and coach are asking for prayers for his family.

Neville High School is morning the death of one of their own as 16-year-old student athlete, Tarver Braddock is laid to rest. Braddock died in a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of Friday January Fifth at a deer camp in Jefferson County, Mississippi where Braddock, was staying with 5 other teens. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the overnight fire and say five teens were able to escape through a window. Braddock died at the scene. His community and his coach are asking for prayers for his parents, his family and his friends.

Governor Jeff Landry has overturned the appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says if the governor hadn’t issued the executive order, he believes incoming BESE members would have overturned it

Cut 10 (12) “…requirements.” 

One of Jeff Landry’s first acts as governor is calling lawmakers to the state capitol for a redistricting session. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A JMC Analytics poll reveals 26 percent of Louisianans believe the cost of homeowner and car insurance is the biggest issue in the Bayou State. Legislation addressing the state’s high insurance premiums will be discussed in the regular session that begins in the spring and Pollster John Couvillon says residents will be paying attention to what lawmakers are going to do.

Cut 6 (07) “…insurance commissioner.” 

A Neville High School student was laid to rest today.  16-year-old Tarver Braddock of Monroe died in a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of Friday January Fifth at a deer camp in Jefferson County, Mississippi where Braddock, a student athlete at Neville High School in Monroe was staying with 5 other teens. Authorities are investigating the cause of the overnight fire and say five teens were able to get out through a window. They were badly burned but did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Braddock was pronounced dead at the scene. His community and coach are asking for prayers for his family.

Among Governor Landry’s first actions in office was overturning the appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says Landry mentioned early on that he was against this particular proposal for waving those graduation requirements…

Cut 9 (08) “…in office.” 

A statewide poll of 650 likely voters finds car and home insurance rates are the number one issue for Louisianans. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

In the upcoming redistricting special session, Louisiana legislators may begin debating a move to closed primary elections. Moving from open primary elections to closed primaries would be a major change in how we elect our officials. Senate President Cameron Henry says the special session is at least giving legislators the ability to debate this issue and can vote on it at a later time…

Cut 4 (08) “…cost of it.”

Eunice Republican Phillip Devillier was elected as Louisiana’s new Speaker of the House today. Devillier was elected to the House in 2015 and his district includes parts of Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry Parishes. Devillier’s acceptance speech hit on a theme Governor Jeff Landry touched on during his inauguration speech and that’s unity….

Cut 9 (09) “… are coming” 

This crawfish season is among the most questionable in the Bayou State after the oppressive heat and drought of 2023. LSU AgCenter Crawfish Specialist Todd Fontenot says conditions have made it extremely difficult for the state’s favorite crustacean crop to thrive.

Cut 6 (08) “…this time.” 

Crawfish normally lay eggs in August but the drought dried out those areas where they normally retreat to reproduce.

Most of Southwest Louisiana is under a tornado watch till 9 PM Monday and the potential for tornadoes hail, and flash flooding is expected for all of south Louisiana thru early tomorrow morning. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The Saints missed the playoffs despite blowing out Atlanta out 48-17 yesterday to finish with a 9-8 record. There’s a lot of talk about what happened at the end of the game when Jamaal Williams scored a touchdown from one yard out with three seconds left. Coach Dennis Allen didn’t want his team to score again

Cut 12 (10)  “…should be”  

49 of 50 states have weather alerts today! Southwest Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 9 o’clock tonight. That means be prepared and ready to act quickly because conditions make tornado development possible. And Severe weather is expected to impact the southern half of Louisiana for the next several hours. National Weather Service Meteorologist Christopher Bannan says flash flooding is possible this afternoon thru early tomorrow morning for southeast Louisiana…

Cut 3 (12) “…eight inches.”

This crawfish season is among the most questionable in the Bayou State after the extreme heat and drought of 2023. LSU AgCenter Crawfish Specialist Todd Fontenot says On the bright side the mild winter we’ve had so far has improved conditions for crawfish. But for some farmers salinity issues and lack of rice stubble have devastated their mudbug crop.

Cut 8 (08) “…producers.” 

Eunice Republican Phillip Devillier was elected Louisiana’s new Speaker of the House today. He was elected to the House in 2015. Devillier says Louisiana faces a lot of challenges and its residents have waited long enough for real change…

Cut 10 (14) “…Louisiana succeeds” 

Atlanta Coach Arthur Smith was furious after the yesterday’s Saints/Falcon’s game and refused to shake Saints Coach Dennis Allen’s hand after the Saints victory in which the team went against Allen’s instructions to take a knee in the final three seconds. Quarterback Jameis Winston says it was a team decision to give Williams the ball so he can finish the year with one touchdown…

Cut 13 (09) “..good about that” 

Southwest Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 9 o’clock tonight. That means be prepared and ready to act quickly because conditions make tornado development possible. Severe weather is expected to impact all South Louisiana for the next several hours. National Weather Service Meteorologist Christopher Bannan says damaging winds, large hail in addition to tornadoes are possible for much of the extreme southeast region of the state.

Cut 5 (13) “ …potential develops.” 

Louisiana Senators elected Metairie Republican Cameron Henry as its President. Henry was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2008 and he’s beginning his second term as a state senator…

Cut 11 (05) “…great honor”

Mudbug season is questionable this year, after the heat and drought of 2023. Brooke Thorington has more…

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

The Saints missed the playoffs despite blowing out Atlanta out 48-17 yesterday to finish with a 9-8 record. There’s a lot of talk about what happened at the end of the game when Jamaal Williams scored a touchdown from one yard out with three seconds left. Coach Dennis Allen didn’t want his team to score again

Cut 12 (10)  “…should be”  

Come January Eighth, Republicans will have a supermajority in both the Louisiana House and Senate, but Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this will not be a lost year for Democrats. He says they will likely have a new Congressional map that would provide the opportunity for two Democrats to be elected to Congress in November or in a December runoff

Cut 11 (09) “…for em.” 

2024 is bringing a significant tax change for Louisiana businesses. Tax Expert for Advantous, Jason DeCuir says the new sales tax collection system with Uniform Local Sales Tax Boards is not perfect but it’s simpler for businesses and should improve collection.

Cut 14 (11) “…right direction.”

If you find you’ve failed to keep your New Year’s resolution, LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Rahn Bailey says you can always start over again, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Cut 8 (06) “…in our lives.” 

If you or someone you care for is having a mental crisis you can call 9-8-8 for free counseling and guidance to local resources.

The American Red Cross is making a call to action for more volunteers in Louisiana. Regional Volunteer Services Officer Rebecca Merritt says 90 percent of the Red Cross workforce is made up of volunteers. She says there are lots of different disaster-related volunteer roles.

Cut 5 (12) “…as well.”

For more information visit www dot redcross dot org forward slash Louisiana.

2024 is here and Louisiana’s new Legislature will get to work soon on redrawing the state’s Congressional map. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

It’s New Year’s Day and the beginning of 2024 resolutions. In order to avoid a setback, LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Rahn Bailey says choose realistic resolutions, let them be things you can control, and have a support group.

Cut 6 (08) “…positive future.”

The new year is bringing a significant tax change. Tax Expert for Advantous, Jason DeCuir says after the Wayfair lawsuits, new federal rules regarding sales tax collection require states to have a simple centralized collection method. He says the state’s previous fragmented system cost Louisiana uncollected revenue from remote online businesses…

Cut 13 (12) “…remitting to Louisiana”

If giving of your time is your New Year’s resolution, Regional Volunteer Services Officer Rebecca Merritt says the American Red Cross needs your help. More than 900 people voluntarily give time to help the Louisiana Red Cross. In the last year, she says volunteers responded to more than 16 hundred local disasters.

Cut 4 (13) “…Cross going.”