Two men are dead after crashing their Jeep while speeding away from pursuing troopers in Alexandria. State Police Master Trooper Casey Wallace says police tried pulling the Jeep over early Saturday morning but they sped up and turned onto England Drive, a narrow, winding road that leads to Alexandria International Airport.

Cut 4 (08) “…goes through there.”

The Jeep was later found partially submerged in a bayou, and 33-year-old Aaron Watson of Amite and 30-year-old Brandon Wright of Pineville were ejected from the vehicle. Wallace says it’s unclear which one was the driver and unknown why the two were running from police.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, has died at the age of 88. He led the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years and took on controversial issues like climate change, inequality and he welcomed gays and lesbians into the Catholic Church.  LSU Professor of Religion Michael Pasquier says his stance on these issues upset some American Catholics…

Cut 6 (12) “…American prospective.”

DOTD has a message for all you drivers – “Respect the zone so we all go home.” Andrew Greenstein is at DOTD headquarters in Baton Rouge with more.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

It was 15 years ago yesterday when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off Louisiana’s coast sending 134 million gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s the worst offshore oil spill in the nation’s history. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the marshes impacted by the oil were restored, but several islands that would serve as nesting grounds for pelicans were lost.

Cut 12 (13) “…to our coast.”

A 16-year-old girl is shot and killed in Caddo Parish. It happened last night inside a home in Vivian. 17-year-old Wyatt Sanders and another 16-year-old girl were arrested and charged with negligent homicide and illegal possession of a handgun. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Lieutenant Breck Scott says investigators do not know the exact nature of the relationship between the three.

Cut 15 (03) “…at this time.”

They don’t believe there was an intent to harm the victim. The investigation is ongoing

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting a case of measles in the Region 1 of the state which includes New Orleans, and the parishes of Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines. LDH says the infection appears to be linked to international travel and the individual is in isolation but not hospitalized. LDH is working to identify and notify those who may have come in contact with the patient since measles is highly contagious. This is the first known case of measles in Louisiana this year. There were three travel related cases in 2024, also in the Greater New Orleans area.

Yesterday Pope Francis extended Easter greetings and today Christians are mourning his death.  He was 88. LSU Professor of Religion Michael Pasquier says Pope Francis wasn’t without controversy and was seen as doctrinally lenient by some. He says the Pope initiated reforms in Vatican finances, expanded roles for women and highlighted mercy and inclusivity, often clashing with traditionalists.

Cut 7 (12) “…those standards.”

Yesterday marked 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off the Louisiana Coast killing eleven workers including five Louisianans. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says he still thinks about the families who lost loved ones.

Cut 13 (09)  “…close to home.”

Ponchatoula police announce the arrest of six individuals in a shooting last Saturday that wounded two teenagers at the Strawberry Festival. The alleged gunman is 18-year-old Camryn Finley as he’s charged with attempted second-degree murder and terrorizing. All those arrested are between the ages of 18 and 21 years old. The victims are expected to recover, and Police Chief Bry Layrisson says the goal is to make sure a shooting at the Strawberry Fest never happens again…

Cut 14 (08) “…2026 Strawberry Festival.”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is predicting international tourism to Louisiana will be down this year because of tariffs. Nungesser says Canadians make up 40-percent of Louisiana’s international tourists and he is seeing cancellations from Canadian residents. Nungesser hopes the trade war gets resolved soon…

Cut 5 (10) “… Louisiana greatly.”

It’s the biggest crawfish weekend of the year; and as Andrew Greenstein reports, prices are down.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The top ranked LSU gymnastics team falls short of reaching the NCAA Championships as they struggled to hit on many of their routines in the semifinals and will not have a chance at defending its title. Coach Jay Clark says a great season ends in disappointment

Cut 9 (14)  “…this year.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is concerned Tariffs on Canada could harm Louisiana’s tourism industry, which is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. He says Canada is the state’s largest international tourism market. However, he says President Trump’s tariffs have discouraged travel, leading some Canadian officials to cancel upcoming visits.

Cut 3 (11) “…cancel this year”

Pickup truck drivers will want to be sure everyone one in the vehicle is buckled for safety and because police will be paying closer attention to people in trucks. Through April 27th, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is sponsoring “Buckle Up In Your Truck.” Why single out pickup trucks? Spokesman Greg Fischer says on average, seatbelt use in pickup trucks trails that in all other vehicles.

Cut 15 (12) “…their belt on.”

Louisiana’s overall seatbelt use is behind the national average of 91-percent.

LSU won’t see a repeat as national champions in gymnastics this year as they failed to get past the semifinals but LSU freshman Kailin Chio (KAY-lin Chee-oh) is a champion as she won the vault title with a score of 9.975. Thursday night turned out to be the final meet for Haleigh Bryant, who goes down as the best gymnast in the history of LSU. The five-time SEC champion and national all-around champion in 2024 says it’s hard to say good-bye

Cut 10 (05) “…five years.”

LSU won its first national championship in gymnastics last year. The enter this year’s national championships as the favorites to win it after winning the Southeastern Conference regular season title.

If ever there was a weekend to enjoy some tasty tiny crustaceans, this is it. This is the biggest weekend of the year for crawfish – and Laney King, the founder of The Crawfish App, says crawfish prices are very low this Easter weekend.

Cut 6 (13) “…dollars a pound.”

Six people have been arrested in connection with last weekend’s shooting at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Laryisson says tips from community members helped their investigation

Cut 12 (10) “…good old detective work”

Those arrested were between 18 and 21 years old. Camryn Finley and Dealvin Davis are charged with attempted second-degree murder and terrorizing. Courtney McGee, Markus Dokes, Quentrel Smith, and Quenton Smith are charged with terrorizing.

In St. Mary Parish, anonymous tips led to the arrest of a Patterson man, arrested Friday morning for cruelty to animals-aggravated. St. Mary Sheriff’s Office says 44-year-old Gerard Harris shot and severely wounded a dog. The dog was found severely malnourished and tied to a tree with multiple injuries.  Sheriff Gary Driskell said, “Animal abuse is a crime against the defenseless. Those who commit these horrific acts will be arrested and prosecuted.”

LSU’s quest to repeat as national champions in gymnastics ended Thursday night as they failed to get past the semifinals. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Easter Weekend is typically the biggest weekend of the year for crawfish – and Laney King, the founder of The Crawfish App, says crawfish prices are very low but she doesn’t expect them to be the lowest they will be this year.

Cut 8 (06) “…month of May.”

Two Louisiana Congressmen, Clay Higgins and Troy Carter have filed legislation to give the FDA the authority to destroy contaminated food imports, like seafood, eliminating the option to re-export rejected goods. Deborah Long with the Southern Shrimp Alliance says the bill closes a loophole that allows importers to “port shop” rejected products back into the U.S.

Cut 3 (12) “…reenter our country”

It’s National Crawfish Day, and it’s observed every year on April 17th. Easter weekend is a big weekend for crawfish boils and Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says you can find live crawfish below three dollars a pound…

Cut 12 (06) “…$2.95”

One lawmaker says there should only be night games at LSU in the month of September. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

573-million dollars of the nearly two-billion-dollar spending plan of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is allocated to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project. But the project has been paused for 90 days since Governor Jeff Landry questioned its effectiveness and cost. Despite this uncertainty, CPRA included full funding in the plan and Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign Manager Simone Maloz (muh-LAWZ)…

Cut 10 (12) “…should get more information.”

Louisiana Congressmen Clay Higgins and Troy Carter have filed legislation that would give the FDA the authority to destroy contaminated foreign seafood, instead of allowing it to be re-exported. Sean Richardson has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Harahan Representative John Illg has introduced a resolution that would request all LSU September home games start no earlier than 6 p.m. The average high temperature in Baton Rouge in the month of September is 89 degrees, posing a potential health treat for fans. Illg says this is something that people have been screaming for.

Cut 8 (06) “…over somebody’s health.”

ESPN has the authority to dictate the start times of LSU games based on their contract with the SEC.

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s wish list of two-billion dollars in coastal restoration projects includes 573-million for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project. The project in Plaquemines Parish is designed to rebuild wetlands using sediment from the Mississippi River. Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign Manager Simone Maloz (muh-LAWZ) says a majority of Louisiana voters are on board.

Cut 9 (11)  “…wetlands in Louisiana.”

It’s up to state lawmakers to provide funding for the coastal projects.

Happy National Crawfish Day. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s been a good crawfish season and there is enough to go around this Easter weekend…

Cut 14 (07) “…as well.”

Strain says don’t wait to reserve your sacks.

Louisiana Congressmen Clay Higgins and Troy Carter have filed legislation to give the FDA the authority to destroy contaminated food imports, like seafood, eliminating the option to re-export rejected goods. Deborah Long with the Southern Shrimp Alliance says the bipartisan bill aims to protect consumers, uphold food safety, and support Louisiana’s seafood industry by ensuring contaminated products don’t reenter U.S. markets.

Cut 5 (12) “…creating super bugs.”

The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project to rebuild wetlands using sediment from the Mississippi River has been paused for 90 days as Governor Jeff Landry questions the 573-million-dollar project’s effectiveness and cost. Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign Manager Simone Maloz (muh-LAWZ) says reducing or canceling the MBSD project would undermine decades of progress.

Cut 11 (12) “…what happens next.”

LSU home football afternoon games in September should all start after 6:00 P.M. says Harahan Representative John Illg and he’s introduced a resolution requesting it. Illg says last September when the UCLA game kicked off at 2:30 p.m., many fans were overcome by the 92-degree heat. He went to the game with friends, and all but two bailed by halftime. They were certainly not alone, and Illg says that’s not right.

Cut 7 (10) “…need for it.”

The average high temperature in Baton Rouge in the month of September is 89 degrees but it cools to an average low of 69 degrees for a pleasant game under the lights. Ultimately, by SEC contract, ESPN dictates the start times of LSU games.

It’s April 17^th. Happy National Crawfish Day! Easter weekend is always big weekend for crawfish boils and Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says if you plan on boiling crawfish this weekend, make sure you’ve reserved your sacks…

Cut 13 (05)  “…don’t wait.”

573-million dollars of the nearly two-billion-dollar spending plan of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is allocated to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project. But the project has been paused for 90 days since Governor Jeff Landry questioned its effectiveness and cost. Despite this uncertainty, CPRA included full funding in the plan and Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign Manager Simone Maloz (muh-LAWZ) says a majority of Louisiana voters are on board and there are a lot of unanswered questions that Landry hasn’t answered.

Cut 10 (12) “…should get more information.”

Louisiana Congressmen Clay Higgins and Troy Carter have filed legislation to give the FDA the authority to destroy contaminated food imports. Currently many shipments contaminated with banned drugs or pathogens are simply returned to exporters. Deborah Long with the Southern Shrimp Alliance says this practice undermines American producers who follow strict safety standards and it threatens a sustainable industry.

Cu 4 (09) “…banned antibiotics” 

If one New Orleans-area lawmaker has his way, there will be no more afternoon games at LSU in the month of September. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

It’s National Crawfish Day, and it’s observed every year on April 17th. Easter weekend is a big weekend for crawfish boils and Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says you can find live crawfish below three dollars a pound…

Cut 12 (06) “…$2.95”

LSU football coach Brian Kelly spoke publicly this morning for the first time since the death of former Tiger football star Kyren Lacy. Lacy was one of Kelly’s first signees out of the transfer portal after he arrived in Baton Rouge in November of 2021.

Cut 3 (05) “…incredible personality”

Lacy died Saturday night in Houston from an apparent suicide.

Dying eggs is an Easter tradition and the high price of eggs this year is not expected to change the practice. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the Department of Justice was told by the Trump Administration to take a hard look at egg prices.

Cut 10 (09) “…pricing of eggs.”

The average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen but Strain recommends shopping around for the best prices.

The legislature is taking aim at distracted driving this session. A bill by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Studies show using a hand-held cell phone while driving has deadly consequences. Suzanne Salter knows that all too well. Her 31-year-old daughter, Nicole, was killed by a distracted driver in Livonia in 2014.

Cut 6 (14) “…heard the thump.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says that the legislative package he supports targets the real cost drivers, excessive bodily injury claims and litigation. Temple stresses the need to “bend the loss curve” to bring down rates, indicating that while there are disagreements, both he and Governor Landry ultimately share a common goal: reducing Louisiana’s oppressive insurance premiums.

Cut 14 (10) “…committed on doing.”