Starting May 7th, you will need a Real ID to board a flight. Dan Casey, the commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles, says getting a Real ID is easy at your local OMV office. A birth certificate or passport and two pieces of mail, are needed to obtain a Real ID.

Cut 7 (10) “…they meet requirements.”

With Real IDs, verification records will be kept by the state. There is no additional charge to update your ID to a Real ID.

Starting in May, nonstop flights between Shreveport and Nashville will begin. Mark Crawford, the airport business and development manager for the Shreveport Airport Authority, says Allegiant Airlines will begin a trial run offering the flights on Thursdays and Sundays. And he says if you plan properly, you can get a round-trip flight for less than 100 dollars.

Cut 14 (04) “…for that price”

The flights begin May 22nd

Two Louisiana high school football teams have been disqualified from the playoffs. Kace Kieschnick tells us why…

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

There’s an effort to preserve film tax credits, which are being threatened in Governor Landry’s tax reform package. Film industry leaders have told legislators if the film tax credit program is eliminated, hundreds of jobs will go away. But Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says these tax credits mostly benefit producers who do not live in Louisiana…

Cut 5 (13) “…and New York.”

Governor Landry wants to scale back the film tax credit program and several other tax credits, to make up revenue from cuts in other parts of his tax plan that would lower the income tax rate. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says there has been healthy dialogue between legislators and those in the film industry…

Cut 4 (12) “…fluid over here.”

The special session must conclude by Monday night.

Senator Bill Cassidy has been a loud voice in Washington D-C for flood insurance reform. He says NFIP has been in desperate need of reform for years and Republicans will have an opportunity to deliver for the American People next year…

Cut 11 (05) “…next congress.”

Nonstop flights between Shreveport and Nashville are coming in May. Mark Crawford, the airport business and development manager for the Shreveport Airport Authority, says they had been trying to get daily nonstops between the two for about eight years.

Cut 13 (08)  “…every single day.”

Allegiant Airlines is offering twice-weekly non-stop flights on Thursdays and Sundays on a seasonal basis. The trial flights begin May 22nd.

Louisiana Hwy 15 through the tiny Village of Baskin has been named “Lainey Wilson Highway” honoring the Baskin native and Country Music Association Award Winner. The Country Superstar was on hand Saturday as Northeast Louisiana Music Trail markers were dedicated to her musical beginnings. Also present was Lt. Gov. Nungesser who named her Louisiana Music Ambassador in 2022 the same year she was named New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. In 2023 she was named Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year.

At the beginning of the special session on tax reform, the state’s film tax credit program was on the chopping block. But Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says there’s an effort to preserve it. Connick says they are looking to lower the credit distributed to film producers each year from 180 million to 125-million dollars…

Cut 3 (07) “…jobs here.”

Governor Landry wants to scale back the film tax credit program and several other tax credits, to make up the difference in revenue if the state lowers the income tax rate

Senator Bill Cassidy is calling for flood insurance reform saying premiums that have increased by 234 percent are no longer affordable. He says FEMA is creating a program that is going bankrupt, but he says he has a plan to make the Nation Flood Insurance Program affordable, accountable, and sustainable…

Cut 10 (06) “…find away forward.”

If you haven’t updated your driver’s license to a Real ID, time is running out. Andrew Greenstein is at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport with more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Starting in May, you can fly nonstop between Shreveport and Nashville. Mark Crawford, the airport business and development manager for the Shreveport Airport Authority, says Allegiant Airlines is offering twice-weekly non-stop flights between the two cities on a seasonal basis.

Cut 12 (07) “…things go well.”

Crawford says they had been trying to get this service for about eight years.

Police in New Orleans are looking for those responsible for a pair of shootings at a second line parade yesterday. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Four people are killed in a mobile home fire in Sulphur, in southwest Louisiana. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Vice says the home was heavily involved by the time firefighters arrived early yesterday morning.

Cut 9 (06)  “…a local hospital.”

Vice says the four victims were all members of the same family.

We could be in for a stormy night tonight. LSU Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front will bring a widespread line of storms overnight tonight.

Cut 6 (09) “…two out of five risk.”

He says storms will clear Tuesday morning but the cold temperatures won’t arrive until late Tuesday night.

After Saturday’s loss to Florida, LSU has been eliminated from an opportunity to play in the SEC Championship game and can no longer win ten games this season. They have two regular season games left starting this Saturday at home against a hungry Vanderbilt team. Coach Brian Kelly says pride is the Tigers’ biggest motivation…

Cut 18 (18)   “…along side of you.”

A mobile home fire took the lives of four family members in Sulphur and sent another to the hospital. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Vice says the cause of the fire is not yet clear, but investigators have narrowed the possibilities.

Cut 11 (10) “…discarded smoking materials.”

Firefighters could not confirm the presence of working smoke detectors. Those in need of a smoke detector can access “operation save a life” on the State Fire Marshal’s website.

Today is the last day to apply for FEMA Disaster assistance for losses from Hurricane Francine. Applicants do not have to immediately submit repair estimates but to be considered, applications must be submitted today. Applicants in eligible parishes including Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne may apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or call FEMA’s hotline at 800-621-3362 before 11:00 p.m.

Today a cold front will bring isolated showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, followed by a widespread line of storms overnight.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Two people were killed and 11 others injured in a pair of shootings during a Nine Times Social Aid and Pleasure Club second line yesterday in the St. Roch (Rock) area of New Orleans. It’s unclear whether the two shootings that happened about 45 minutes apart are related. New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick says the two murders bring the total number of murders in New Orleans to 119 this year but she says murders are trending down in the city.

Cut 5 (13) “…we had 192.”

We could be in for a stormy night tonight. LSU Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front will bring isolated showers and thunderstorms Monday afternoon, followed by a widespread line of storms overnight and clearing Tuesday leaving temperatures in the 80s until cooler air arrives late Tuesday night. Keim says Wednesday morning temperatures will be in the 40s.

Cut 8 (08) “…next several days.”

The Saints make it two in a row under interim coach Darren Rizzi as they beat the Cleveland Browns at the Superdome, 35-14. After the game, Rizzi said his team played a complete game.

Cut 19 (14) “…all three things.”  

Police in New Orleans are looking for those responsible for a pair of shootings at a second line parade yesterday. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Four members of a Sulphur Family were killed in a mobile home fire in southwest Louisiana. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Vice says one family member was taken to an area hospital.

Cut 10 (08) “…thirty-something years old.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A Nine Times Social Aid and Pleasure Club second line turned tragic yesterday afternoon in the St. Roch (Rock) area of New Orleans after two people were killed and eleven injured. New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick says there were two shootings but the first second line was allowed to continue since no one was injured in the initial shooting. The deaths and injuries occurred about 45 minutes later in a second shooting. Police are actively searching for the killers. Kirkpatrick says…

Cut 4 (10) “…our second lines.”

Four people are killed in a mobile home fire in Sulphur, in southwest Louisiana. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Vice says the home was heavily involved by the time firefighters arrived early yesterday morning.

Cut 9 (06)  “…a local hospital.”

Vice says the four victims were all members of the same family.

It was a beautiful Monday morning with temperatures in the 60s but we’re in for a change. LSU Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front is bringing isolated showers and thunderstorms Monday afternoon, followed by a widespread line of storms overnight. Southern Louisiana faces the highest storm risk overnight, with damaging winds, possible tornadoes, and heavy rains.

Cut 7 (07) “…but probable .”

Storms clear Tuesday, but temperatures won’t drop significantly until Tuesday night.  Expect temperatures in the 40s Wednesday morning.

Today is the last day to apply for FEMA Disaster assistance associated with losses from Hurricane Francine. Repair estimates are not yet required for Survivors with a loss or damage to apply in Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes but applications must be submitted today to be considered for assistance. FEMA’s hotline at 800-621-3362 is open until 11:00 p.m. this evening. Applications may be submitted online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

The state is offering some relief to those owing delinquent fees and fines to the Office of Motor Vehicles. The OMV has recalled debts previously referred to the Office of Debt Recovery and reset fees back to their original amounts. Commissioner Dan Casey says the goal is to get driver’s licenses reinstated and some of the reasons fees went to the ODR may have been beyond the driver’s control.

Cut 5 (15) “…to four-thousand.”

More than 350-thousand Louisiana drivers will benefit from this change. Casey says the state wants to help…

Cut 6 (06) “…an individual basis.”

Those will delinquent fees need to contact the OMV to pay the original fine or work out a payment plan before December 31^st

Louisiana lawmakers have delayed a vote on a sales tax bill within Governor Jeff Landry’s tax reform plan. The package aims to cut around $2 billion in income and corporate taxes but has faced opposition over a proposed sales tax expansion on previously untaxed services which would raise about $500 million to offset reduction in income taxes. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says resistance in the House has cast doubt on the bill’s future, as 70 votes are needed for passage.

Cut 10 (12) “…be a tough sell.”

The St. Tammany Collectors Convention is this weekend at the Castine Center in Mandeville. Director Ben Robert says among the 150 vendors will be ventage record and trading card vendors. And Costume groups will be on hand…

Cut 14 (12) “…Star Wars groups.”

Bills to reduce individual and corporate income taxes and the corporate franchise tax are awaiting debate in the Senate as lawmakers delay a vote on another part of Governor Landry’s tax reform plan that would expand sales tax to services like lawn care, tattoos, and coin-operated laundries. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says for the Governor tax plan to work, he needs measures to raise revenue.

Cut 12 (10) “…eventually counts.”

The state is offering relief to those who have delinquent fees and fines with the Office of Motor Vehicles. Commissioner Dan Casey says they want to help and have recalled debts from the Office of Debt Recovery and reset fees back to original amounts.

Cut 6 (06) “…an individual basis.”

Those owing fines need to contact the OMV to pay the original fine or to work out a payment plan before December 31^st.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, you might want to consider taking in the St. Tammany Collectors Convention in Mandeville. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is set to visit the UK to promote Louisiana spices, meet ag officials, and tour farms and other agricultural sites. He’s excited about expanding Louisiana’s agricultural influence and fostering cultural exchange through food.

Cut 8 (04) “…sell stuff to the U.K.”

The state is offering some much-needed relief to those owing fees and unpaid fines to the Office of Motor Vehicles. The OMV has recalled fees previously referred to the Office of Debt Recovery and reset them to their original amounts. Commissioner Dan Casey says the goal is to get driver’s licenses reinstated once and for all.

Cut 4 (09) “…rewrite this program.”

More than 350-thousand Louisiana drivers will benefit from this change, but they need to contact the OMV to pay the original fine in its entirety or to work out a payment plan before December 31^st.

The Louisiana House approved a bill making a temporary .45 percent sales permanent but reduced it to .4 percent. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says that’s good news for taxpayers

Cut 11 (07) “…good news for consumers.”

LSU looks to end its two-game losing streak on Saturday and keep alive its slim chance of playing in the SEC Championship game.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Her final shows are sold out but if you were lucky enough to get tickets to see Grammy Award-winning artist and Baskin, Louisiana native Lainey Wilson at the Monroe Civic Center this weekend, there are a few things you should know. Give yourself plenty of time for the first come, first serve parking and if you see a spot to the right of the fountain, it’s reserved for VIP ticket holders. Keep in mind the Monroe Civic Center’s strict Clear Bag Policy and expect to be searched upon entry.