Get ready to bundle up and protect those pipes. Louisiana gets a real taste of winter at the start of next week. LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has the latest…

Cut 1 (29)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin”

The debate over moving to closed-party primary elections versus the current open process in Louisiana is being met with opposition. But Brent Littlefield, longtime political advisor to Governor Jeff Landry, says there’s a campaign underway to confuse lawmakers and the public about the issue.

Cut 6 (08) “…this idea.” 

Nick Saban is heading into retirement. His record while at LSU was 48-16, with two SEC championships and a national title in 2003. Saban’s move to Alabama in 2007 after a short NFL stint gave him six more national titles and nine conference titles. Former LSU Quarterback under Saban, Marcus Randall, says there will never be another Saban…

Cut 5 (07) “ …unheard of.” 

The Miss America Pageant airs Sunday evening and Louisiana will be represented by Northwestern State Dance major, Makenzie Scroggs. Before being crowned Miss Louisiana, Scroggs was crowned Miss Natchitoches city of Lights. At 15, Scroggs began a social impact initiative, Being True to Being You and she hopes to the raise the confidence of young women and girls.

While some say the idea being discussed of changing to a closed-party primary is too expensive and not fair, Governor Landry’s administration says otherwise. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Parts of Northwest Louisiana may have noticed the earth move this morning. An earthquake measuring a magnitude of 2.8 centered near Hall Summit in Red River Parish struck just before 9:00 this morning. While not a very large one. Some area residents took to social media to says their house shook.

The extreme drought of 2023 was devastating for many Louisiana farmers and crawfish consumers are about to see the consequences. LSU Ag Center crawfish specialist Mark Shirley is predicting this could be the worst season ever. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says expect to pay more crawfish this season…

Cut 10 (10) “…of crawfish” 

Nick Saban is heading into retirement after winning seven national championships, six of them at Alabama and one at LSU in 2003. Former LSU quarterback Marcus Randall played for Saban and there’s a reason why he’s considered the greatest college football coach of all time.

Cut 3 (11) “…he’s been.”

In next week’s redistricting special session, legislators will have the opportunity to debate a move to closed party primaries supported by Governor Jeff Landry. Louisiana’s open primary system has been around since the 1970s. In 2008 and 2010 Louisiana party-run primaries for just federal races, but Senator Bill Cassidy says it caused confusion and independent voters were upset they could not vote in a closed primary…

Cut 7 (04) “…too expensive” 

A 33-year-old Hot Springs Arkansas man was sentenced to 18 months in jail Tuesday after in July of 2022, he claimed he was planning to possibly perform a mass shooting at Natchez High School. Kenneth Allen Moody made the claims to the Vidalia Police Department while he was living in Vidalia. He said he had been planning the attack for months and but wanted to turn himself in. Police along with the FBI investigated and tracked Moody through his cell phone.

Amazon announces plans to build a distribution facility in Monroe. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley warns crawfish connoisseurs that 2024 will be one of the worst mudbug seasons on record as far as prices and supply are concerned. He says it’s so dire farmers are averaging one to two mudbugs a trap.

Cut 3 (13) “…(x2) just not there.”

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”