History was made at the Vatican as the first U.S.-born pope is chosen. Robert Prevost has taken the papal name Leo the 14th. Loyola University Chaplain and professor of theology Dr. Tom Ryan says he was surprised an American was chosen but Pope Leo the 14th has spent a considerable amount of time away from the United States.

Cut 4 (11) “…he’s international himself.”

Hurricane season begins June 1 and some are concerned that the recent departure of over 1000 employees from the National Weather Service will threaten accurate forecasting. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim warns that this could delay critical weather alerts.

Cut 8 (09) “…get turned around.”

Louisiana’s state income tax was lowered to three percent at the beginning of the year and House Republicans would like to lower it again. The lower chamber has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to lower the state income tax from 3-percent to 2.75 percent beginning January 1^st, 2027. The author of the bill is Carencro Representative Julie Emerson…

Cut 12 (10) “…some relief.”

Louisiana gas prices are among the lowest in the nation and along the Gulf Coast, since we’re a lot closer to oil refineries than the rest of the country. Don Redman with Triple A says gas prices are expected to remain stable through the Memorial Day holiday and well into the summer. If you’re planning to drive to the West Coast and you’re looking for cheap gas out there, forget it.

Cut 11 (07) “…$4.82 a gallon.”

History was made at the Vatican. The college of cardinals has elected the first U.S.-born pope. Robert Prevost has taken the papal name, Leo the 14th. Loyola University Chaplain and professor of theology Dr. Tom Ryan says the election of Chicago-born Leo the 14^th was a surprise to him.

Cut 3 (11) “…American pope.”

The house approves a proposed constitutional amendment to lower state income tax from 3-percent to 2.75 percent. It would also double the standard deduction for those 65 and older. Bill author Julie Emerson says lowering the tax would make Louisiana more competitive in attracting business and residents while Representative Matthew Willard expressed concern about a decline in state revenues as state income taxes were lowered five months ago.

Cut 14 (11) “…state’s revenue.”

But Emerson says she knows Louisiana residents are begging for more tax relief.

The National Weather Service is facing serious staffing challenges with over 1000 employees leaving due to Trump budget cuts, which could affect forecast accuracy heading into hurricane season.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Road trips in Louisiana will cost less than in most states. Gas prices in the Bayou State are among the cheapest in the nation. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says gas prices are about 50 cents lower today than they were at this time last year.

Cut 9 (07)  “…$3.20 a gallon.” (Statewide price for regular unleaded is $2.70 a gallon)

In Louisiana, the average for a gallon of regular gasoline here is $2.70.

Authorities in Webster Parish discovered the bodies of former Registrar of Voters and her husband inside their home Wednesday evening.  Deputies were responding to a call for a welfare check when Melanie Smith and her husband Kenny were found deceased. Smith retired in December of 2020 after serving 29 years. Her husband Kenny was a retired local businessman. Little information is available, and autopsies are being arranged.

The National Weather Service has lost over 1000 employees since President Trump took office and many are concerned cities like Lake Charles, Houston, and Tampa are understaffed. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim warns that reduced staffing threatens accurate forecasting and the delivery of essential data which could result in less accurate hurricane forecasts and increased danger for Americans.

Cut 7 (11) “…real impacts here.”

Hurricane season begins June 1^st.

Louisiana residents might have a chance at voting for a lower state income tax. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Gas prices in Louisiana are among the cheapest in the nation. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says gas prices are about 50 cents lower today than they were at this time last year.

one reason is a drop in the price of crude.

Cut 10 (05) “…barrel right now.”

Statewide the price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.70. Redman says gas prices are expected to remain stable through the Memorial Day holiday and well into the summer.

More and more people are getting scam text messages claiming that they have an unpaid toll road charges. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says the scammers are becoming more sophisticated in how they trick unsuspecting people into following a link and paying what seems to be a small amount of money.

Cut 7 (10) “…geauxpass-dot-com.”

Mallett adds, if DOTD contacts anyone about unpaid tolls or tickets, they will only do so by regular mail and the letter will include a photo of their license.

The Caddo Parish Coroner has released the names of the victims in Monday’s apparent murder suicide in Keithville. Police say 64-year-old Judy, 29-year-old James, and 2-year-old Adalynn Sadler are the 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th homicide victims in Caddo Parish this year. They along with 60-year-old Leroy Sadler were found dead of gun shot wounds in the Keithville home of Leroy and Judy Sadler Monday morning just before 7:00 a.m. The deaths remain under investigation.

The House has advanced a bill that would ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving, except in emergencies. Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso wrote the bill; he says distracted driving is a huge problem in the state, and it’s one of the reasons that auto insurance rates in Louisiana are so high.

Cut 12 (11) “…distracted driving.”

Glorioso’s bill also has the support of several Democrats, including Jason Hughes of New Orleans.

National Democrats are encouraging former Gov. John Bel Edwards to run for Senate in 2026 against Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, according to The New York Times. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has spoken with Edwards about the race, but Edwards has not confirmed his interest. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards could say he’s ready to get out of private practice and back into politics.

Cut 9 (11)  “…for doing that.”

Funeral arrangements have been announced for Rayne Police Lieutenant Allen “Noochie” Credeur who was shot by friendly fire and killed in the line of duty Monday. A public viewing will be held on Monday, May 12 beginning at 9:00 A.M. with a funeral following at 2:00 P.M. at the Rayne Civic Center followed by a burial service at Arceneaux Cemetery.  Prior to the public viewing, a private viewing for family and close friends is scheduled for Sunday.

Scammers have turned to text messaging, inundating Louisianans with fake warnings and demands for unpaid toll road charges. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says there’s only one way DOTD will ever contact you over an unpaid toll charge.

Cut 8 (07) “…your license plate.”

Mallett says watch out for scams and if you go to a website make sure it’s not a scammer’s site which will have an often almost identical web address to legitimate sites.

Last month during Love the Boot week, Keep Louisiana Beautiful supported recycling efforts in 27 parishes, picking up over 16-thousand bottles and cans, a 23-percent increase from last year. It was part of a broader statewide effort involving nearly 27-thousand volunteers. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says recycling not only keeps waste out of landfills but also conserves resources, saves energy, reduces pollution, and supports the economy and job creation, and says the problem can’t be solved overnight.

Cut 5 (09) “…in our state.”

A train derailed in Avoyelles Parish just south of Moreauville this morning. Evacuations are underway for nearby schools, homes and businesses and Avoyelles Sheriff’s Deputies say State Police Haz-Mat is responding for public safety. The accident happened around 7:30 this morning and LA 1 is currently closed.

A bill that would make kratom illegal in Louisiana moves to the House after passing the Senate S-B 26-to-11, split right down party lines. The author, West Monroe Republican Jay Morris, says kratom – sometimes known as “gas station heroin” – has already been banned in several places. He says he has heard many horror stories stemming from the use of kratom.

Cut 9 (12)  “…a legal substance.”

Morris says Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan (CROW-ghin) says he has treated more people for kratom overdose than those who have taken crack cocaine.

More and more people are getting scam text messages claiming that they have an unpaid toll road charge. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says that’s something that the department simply does not do.

Cut 6 (08) “…asking for fines”

Mallett says the scammers are becoming more sophisticated in how they trick unsuspecting people into following a link and paying what seems to be a small amount of money.

During Love the Boot Week in April, Keep Louisiana Beautiful supported recycling efforts in 27 parishes. The recycling program used a mix of pick-up and drop-off services, with 21 Louisiana Department of Transportation offices serving as collection sites. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says people want to live in clean communities and they deserve just that.

Cut 4 (10) “…they are proud of.”

A Louisiana Tech Football player has been arrested, charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Ruston police say 20-year-old junior defensive back, Jacob Fields was chaperoning two brothers during a Louisiana Tech recruiting visit. Fields allegedly took the two boys, ages 15 and 17 to an apartment where the 15-year-old smoked marijuana and when he began have an adverse reaction, Fields returned the young man to the hotel where the boys were staying with their mother. Their mother called an ambulance when she noticed the boy’s paranoia.

One of the bills in the legislature getting the most attention is the one that would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates he deems to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. It has passed in the full House and is now awaiting debate in a Senate committee. Governor Landry supports it, but Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple – also a Republican – opposed it. Temple says he has rejected rates because they’re either too low or too high.

Cut 9 (06)  “…the drawing board.”

Much of Louisiana including Shreveport, Monroe, Natchitoches, Alexandria, Opelousas, DeRidder, Lake Charles and Lafayette is under a tornado watch until 9 PM tonight and the entire state is under a flood watch. Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin

Cut 14 (15) “…into tomorrow.”

Bogue Chitto State Park in Washington Parish is undergoing significant expansion with the acquisition of over 800 adjacent acres. Office of State Parks Assistant Secretary Brandon Burris says the newly acquired acres may need some restoration projects in the future to maintain the quality and standards for Louisiana State Parks.

Cut 8 (10) “…studying the ecosystem.”

The Rayne Police Department is grieving over the loss of one of its officers who was killed by friendly fire. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The reason the officer discharged their weapon is still unknown

It’s a busy day at OMV offices across the state as people are scrambling to get their REAL ID. Today is the last day you can fly on a commercial airline without either a REAL ID or a passport. One woman says one Denham Springs Express OMV was so busy that their computers couldn’t handle it.

Cut 5 (07) “…say that yet.”

Last month, the OMV and Public Tag Agents processed more than 97-thousand REAL ID applications.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple does not support a bill awaiting debate in a Senate committee that would give the commissioner the authority to reject rates he deems excessive, regardless of market conditions because he says, he already rejects rates.

Cut 11 (11) “…we exercise it.”

It has already passed in the full House and Governor Landry supports it.

A large portion of Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 9 PM tonight. The watch area covers Shreveport, Monroe, Natchitoches, Alexandria, Opelousas, DeRidder, Lake Charles and Lafayette. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says a few tornadoes are possible, plus there are other severe weather threats…

Cut 12 (06) “…large hail”  

Jacquemin says a flood watch also remains in effect for the entire state…

A horrific scene in Caddo Parish, as four people are dead in a murder-suicide in Keithville. Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the home at around seven yesterday morning, and gunfire erupted in the house a few minutes later. It’s not yet clear what led to the shooting. A family member has set up a GoFundMe for the youngest victim, 2-year-old Adalyn Mae.

A bill awaiting debate in a Senate would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates deemed to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. Governor Landry supports it, but Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple does not. Temple says he has rejected rates because they’re either too low or too high.

Cut 10 (09) “…I exercise it.”

OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs on this deadline day. Andrew Greenstein is at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Office of State Parks has big plans for Bogue Chitto State Park in Washington Parish with the acquisition of over 800 adjacent acres. State Parks Assistant Secretary Brandon Burris says preliminary plans for the expanded portion of Bogue Chitto State Park include additional equestrian trails, mountain biking trails, and hiking trails.

Cut 7 (10) “…utilization we can.”

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for most of Louisiana tomorrow through Thursday night. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says some areas will see three to eight inches of rain and some areas could get 12-inches. He says residents should monitor conditions closely and have a safety plan in place.

Cut 11 (12) “…be smart.”

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says while overall deaths on Louisiana roadways are down, the same cannot be said for motorcycle deaths.

Cut 3 (12) “…in motorcycle fatalities.”

In 2023, 97 motorcyclists died in crashes in Louisiana.

The Coast Guard gains the upper hand in the oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The state softball championships concluded yesterday and North Desoto had a walk off victory over Assumption to claim its seventh state title. Griffins head coach Tim Whitman called for a suicide squeeze to drive in the winning run, but he gives the credit to his seniors…

Cut 13 (08)  “…they fought” (Sound courtesy of LHSAA Network)