On the first day of qualifying to run for U.S. Senate and House seats, six Republicans qualified for the Fifth Congressional District race. The seat is being vacated by Julia Letlow as she’s running for U.S. Senate. Among the six is State Senator Blake Miguez, endorsed by President Trump, who says he is running on his record of conservative legislation.

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A lot has been made of the fact that Miguez lives far outside of the 5^th district in New Iberia, though legally he doesn’t have to live in the district to serve it. His opponents, including State Senator Rick Edmonds, believe it’s important a representative live in the district they represent.

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ULM is the first university in the state to install a drone detection system. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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Federal prosecutors have indicted two foreign nationals in what is believed to be one of the biggest methamphetamine busts in Louisiana history. U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall says Livingston Parish deputies pulled the two men over on I-12 last Saturday.

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The Justice Department says the two men are citizens of Honduras and El Salvador and are in the country illegally.

Two men the Justice Department says are in the country illegally have been indicted on drug charges in what authorities say is the biggest methamphetamine bust in Louisiana history. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says the deputies who stopped the two men on I-12 last Saturday were true heroes that day.

Cut 15 (11) “…you got caught.”

The Justice Department says the two men are citizens of Honduras and El Salvador.

Drone detection equipment is now mounted atop Malone Stadium at the University of Louisiana at Monroe to increase public safety. Dr. Mark Johnson with ULM Police says universities are facing escalating challenges from unauthorized drones, especially during large events.

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Yesterday was the first day of qualifying for the May 16th U.S. House and Senate primary elections. Among those qualifying is for the 5^th District House seat is State Senator Blake Miguez who was endorsed by President Trump but is under fire from opponents because he doesn’t live in the district. Miguez was originally going to run for U.S. Senate but changed gears when Trump endorsed Julia Letlow in that race. Miguez says he will continue fighting for President Trump’s agenda on behalf of the people of Louisiana.

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Another candidate who qualified for that race yesterday is Misti Cordell, who’s currently the chairwoman of the Board of Regents. She says it doesn’t concern her that President Trump’s endorsement went to someone else.

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State Senator Stewart Cathey dropped out of the race yesterday saying the president endorsed the wrong candidate.

If you plan to vote in the May 16^th primary election, you may want to the inactive voter list. Today the Advocate newspaper published 99 pages of the names and addresses of inactive voters in East Baton Rouge Parish alone.

On day one of qualifying, six Republicans and three Democrats qualified for the ballot in the fifth congressional district. Andrew Greenstein reports one candidate’s opponents are taking him to task for where he lives.

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St. Senator Stewart Cathie announced yesterday that he will not seek the District 5 seat. Saying that while he has been a supporter of President Trump, the president endorsed the wrong candidate to represent the district.

Two foreign nationals are indicted by federal prosecutors in what is believed to be one of the biggest meth busts in Louisiana history. U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall says Livingston Parish deputies pulled the two men over on I-12 last Saturday; and during a search of the vehicle, they discovered among other paraphernalia, 71-hundred dollars in cash and 164 kilograms of methamphetamine. (360 pounds)

Cut 13 (10)  “…pounds of methamphetamine.”

The University of Louisiana at Monroe says it has bolstered public safety on its campus with the installation of a drone detection system. Dr. Mark Johnson is the Training Director for ULM Police, and he says universities are facing escalating challenges from unauthorized drones, especially during large events, such as academic ceremonies and football games.

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Qualifying is underway in the closed primaries for federal offices. Among those who qualified for U.S. Senate this morning was Republican State Treasurer John Fleming, who noted that he was the first one to announce a primary challenge to Bill Cassidy.

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He said in a still-crowded field, made a little less so following President Trump’s endorsement of Congresswoman Julia Letlow, he’s still the most conservative candidate in the Republican primary

Whichever Republican who wins the primary will not have a cakewalk in the general election campaign, as at least one Democrat has qualified. Jamie Davis says at the end of the day, everyone has the same feelings about what’s happening in Washington.

Cut 5 (09) “…tired of it”

Democratics, Political consultant Tracie Burke and former Housing Authority of New Orleans Chief of Staff Jabarie Walker are expected to qualify later this week.

A temporary bill aimed at stopping some welfare fraud is now permanent as President Trump signed Senator John Kennedy’s bill, Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act. Previously, the Social Security Administration said they needed congressional approval to share the master file of names of deceased people with other agencies. This act makes permanent that temporary law that allowed the information to keep improper payments from being sent to dead people. Kennedy says it saved the federal government at least Three Hundred Thirty Million dollars in improper payments since December of 2023.

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The Super Bowl was rough for former LSU and Neville football star Will Campbell and the rookie offensive tackle for the Patriots received a lot of criticism for his play. Campbell says it comes with the job…

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President Trump has signed a bill aimed at stopping some welfare fraud. Senator John Kennedy’s bill, Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act amends the Social Security Act to allow the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File with the Treasury Department so they can discontinue payments to recipients who have passed away.

Cut 7 (08) … the checks

The Act makes permanent Kennedy’s previous bill.

Qualifying for the closed party primary elections for the U.S. Senate and House opened today. State Treasurer John Fleming is the first Republican to qualify in the Senate primary. Congresswoman Julia Letlow is expected to qualify later this week and has already gotten President Trump’s endorsement. LaPolitics Editor Jeremy Alford says in this race, Incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy is in for the political fight of his life.

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It was not a Super Bowl to remember for former LSU and Neville football star Will Campbell. The rookie offensive tackle for the Patriots allowed two sacks and 14 pressures according to Next Gen Stats as Seattle defeated New England 29-13. Campbell did not speak with reporters after the game and on Tuesday he apologized for not making himself available on Sunday night…

Cut 10 (12) “…said anything.”

For the fourth semester in a row, McNeese saw its enrollment increase. For the spring semester, its enrollment went up 5.3-percent – its biggest spring enrollment increase in 16 years. Interim President Kedrick Nicholas says enrollment has increased steadily since taking a major hit during the pandemic.

Cut 26 (12) “…this past fall.”

Qualifying for Louisiana’s new closed party primary elections for U.S. Senate and U.S. House got under way today. State Treasurer John Fleming from Minden is the first Republican to qualify. He is challenging Incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy who wants a third term and Congresswoman Julia Letlow who received President Trump’s endorsement and is expected to qualify later in the week. LaPolitics Publisher Jeremy Alford says Fleming is hoping to be a factor.

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Several law enforcement agencies in the New Orleans area have teamed up to form an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It’s housed at the Kenner Police Department. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the task force became operational at the beginning of the year, and the public should expect to see numerous arrests in the next several weeks.

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A new statue and museum exhibit celebrates the life and career of the late Governor Kathleen Blanco. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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NFL free agency begins next month, and Ross Jackson, the host of the Locked On Saints Podcast believes the Saints will be looking to build around quarterback Tyler Shough. The Saints picked up a fifth-year option on receiver Chris Olave’s rookie contract last offseason, and Jackson believes New Orleans may try to extend him for the next several years this summer.

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Governor Landry has formally requested a federal major disaster declaration for the nine northeast Louisiana parishes impacted by the recent winter storm. He says the state meets the threshold with more than 11-million dollars in costs related to the storm already incurred. Senator Bill Cassidy says with such a declaration, FEMA can help those affected with some much-needed financial assistance.

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The nine parishes the request covers are Bienville, De Soto, East Carroll, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, and West Carroll.

We can add Republican state Rep. Michael Echols of Monroe to the candidates seeking Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District seat. He made the announcement today. Qualifying begins tomorrow. Echols serves as chair of the Louisiana House Republican Caucus and joins fellow state Sens. Rick Edmonds of Baton Rouge and Blake Miguez of Erath and Louisiana Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell of Monroe for the Republican primary election on May 16th.

In a statement Echols said, “President Trump needs more businessmen and builders like him to cut off illegal immigration, protect our farmers and rural communities, and fix the greatest economy in the history of the world that Joe Biden and his autopen tried to destroy.”

A months-long investigation into drug activity tied to Mexican cartels has resulted in 742 arrests statewide. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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Filmmaking activity is heating up again in Louisiana. Jason Waggenspack, the president of Film Louisiana and the CEO of The Ranch Film Studios says movie production in Louisiana and the United States was slower than normal the last two seasons. He says the writers’ and actors’ strikes in 2023 resulted in more movie production in Canada and Europe, but film production is now coming back to the U-S.

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After an investigation that began in October, authorities announced the arrest of 742 suspected gang members and drug dealers across Louisiana. The U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Louisiana, Zachary Keller, whose office will prosecute many of these cases, highlighted one of the cases out of Shreveport…

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Authorities recovered large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

Governor Landry has formally requested a major disaster declaration for nine parishes in northeast Louisiana from President Trump following the recent winter storm with 11-million dollars in costs related to the storm so far.  And Senator Bill Cassidy is requesting tax relief for individuals and small business owners.

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The nine parishes Landry’s request covers are Bienville, De Soto, East Carroll, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, and West Carroll.

Louisiana’s film industry is seeing an uptick in activity. Andre Champagne reports that after a couple of slow years, movie production is picking back up…

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A new exhibit celebrating the life and career of the late former Governor Kathleen Blanco opened this past weekend at the Bayou Teche Museum in her hometown of New Iberia. And statue that will be permanently displayed outside the museum was unveiled. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser was among those who attended the event; he said Blanco was passionate about Louisiana and its people.

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Blanco served a single term as governor from 2004 to 2008 weathering the difficult period surrounding Hurricane Katrina. She did not seek re-election. She died in 2019 at the age of 76.

Authorities have announced the arrest of 742 suspected gang members and drug dealers across Louisiana as part of an effort to crackdown on drugs that enter Louisiana that are tied to Mexican cartels. State Police Superintendent Robert Hodges says this announcement should serve as a strong message…

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The crackdown began in October and led to the recovery of 176 firearms, more than 15 kilograms of fentanyl, more than two-thousand fentanyl pills, 44 kilograms of meth and 20 kilograms of cocaine.

District 39 will need to elect a new state representative as Governor Landry has called upon current Representative Julie Emerson to be his new chief of staff. Landry called Emerson a proven leader with a deep understanding of Louisiana’s people, the state legislature, and the work that needs to be done to move the state forward. Emerson will begin her new role taking over for Kyle Ruckert next week. No word yet on when a special election can be held to fill seat in the legislature.

Governor Landry has sent President Trump a letter, formally requesting a major disaster declaration for nine parishes in northeast Louisiana following the recent winter storm, and the state’s entire congressional delegation is urging him to approve it. And Senator Bill Cassidy made another request

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Cassidy says that tax relief would not only apply to individuals, but also to small business owners.

Filmmakers are busy with six productions either shooting or in preparation to shoot here in Louisiana. Jason Waggenspack, the president of Film Louisiana and the CEO of The Ranch Film Studios, says the Netflix produced movie “A Christmas Kind of Love” working with Second Line Stages in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans is one of two feature films in the works and he expects Hollywood South activity will remain strong through the year…

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Gunfire was reported at another Mardi Gras parade over the weekend. Jeanerette Police chief Terrence Moore says no one was injured by the gunshots at the parade Saturday afternoon. Authorities immediately arrested a man who was reportedly firing randomly into the air. A child did sustain minor injuries when an officer riding an ATV, responding to the shots fired call was unable to avoid hitting the child who had stepped into the street to retrieve Mardi Gras throws. That incident is under investigation. On January 31^st, gunfire at a Clinton parade put several people in the hospital some with probable life-altering injuries.

As of this month, all public and charter school special education classrooms in Louisiana are required to have cameras inside them. Act 479, signed into law last year, is designed to help parents get involved when incidents occur, says bill author, Representative Shane Mack, and he says nearly all cameras have been installed.

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The bill also called for crisis intervention training to help faculty and school staff.

When all the Mardi Gras parades are over, horses are be put up for adoption. Humane Society of Louisiana Executive Director Jeff Dorson says since they launched the program in 2017, every horse that it has taken in has been adopted into permanent homes.

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Some horses have already been adopted; Dorson says he hopes to have all of this year’s horses adopted by March 4th.

A new travel series beginning tonight on LPB will feature the uniqueness of each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes. Lt Gov. Billy Nungesser says every parish has a story worth telling. The first episode features Vermilion Parish and the show has already set new records on LPB’s YouTube Channel. He says L-A 64 will air new episodes over five seasons to cover all 64 parishes…

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