Early voting for the U.S. Senate runoff elections has begun. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says while there was great anticipation leading up to the May 16th primaries, there seems to be a sense of apathy leading up to the runoffs – at least on the Republican side…due in large part that the outcome of the GOP runoff doesn’t appear to be in doubt.

Cut 5 (11) “…points she needs.”

Local school superintendents are not pleased with the governor’s plan to take 168-million dollars in public school funding and use that money instead to keep paying a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers. Rapides Parish Schools Superintendent Jeff Powell, who’s also the Louisiana Association of Superintendents, says the loss of funding will hurt and school leaders are talking to their local senators and representatives.

Cut 8 (11) “…many school systems”

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The World Cup officially began with two games in Mexico yesterday, and the first match on American soil is tonight between the U.S. and Paraguay. Kace Kieshnick reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

An already below-average hurricane season is now forecast to be even slower, down from 13 named storms, and six hurricanes to just 11 named storms, including five hurricanes.   Researchers from Colorado State University have revised their original prediction which still includes two major hurricanes.  CSU Researcher Nick Mesa says the rise of El Nino conditions is what’s lowering the threat.

Cut 14 (07) “…August and September.”

Local school superintendents are not on board with Governor Landry’s plan to use 168-million dollars in funding for public schools to pay a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The City of New Orleans has announced a new task force to address blighted properties across the city. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno announced Thursday that the new Adjudicated Property Task Force will address more than 6,500 city properties stuck in the tax-adjudication process, many of them for year or even generations.

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Early voting for the U.S. Senate runoff elections begins today, with these races determining once and for all who will advance to the November general election. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says while there was great anticipation leading up to the May 16th primaries, there seems to be a sense of apathy leading up to the runoffs – at least on the Republican side.

Cut 4 (09) “…a great deal.”

An already below-average hurricane season is now forecast to be even more so. Researchers from Colorado State University have revised their original prediction down from 13 to eleven, with just five hurricanes predicted now, two of them expected to be major.  While this is good news, CSU Researcher Nick Mesa it does not mean you’re free to let your guard down this year or any year.

Cut 15 (11) “…ready to go.”

Believe it or not, it’s time to head to the polls once again. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

It was already forecast to be a slow hurricane season and now researchers from Colorado State University revised that prediction, making it even lower, down now to 11 named storms, including five hurricanes, two of those major. CSU Researcher Nick.

Cut 13 (07)  “…of hurricane season.”

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Local school superintendents are not on board with the governor’s plan to take 168-million dollars in funding for public schools and use that money instead to keep paying a two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers. Rapides Parish Schools Superintendent Jeff Powell says the loss of that funding will have real consequences.

Cut 7 (15) “…naive at best.”

The FIFA World Cup kicked off in Mexico yesterday, and the first games in Canada and the U.S. are today. It’s been 32 years since America hosted the Cup in 1994. Paul Boron (bore-AHN), a reporter for the Louisiana Soccer Association,  says from sold-out SEC stadiums for warm-up matches to life-changing Waffle House trips, the excitement is palpable for both local and international fans.

Cut 10 (07) “…great as well.”

We’re hearing a lot about the Republican in the run-off for U-S Senate, but the Democrats who are vying for a shot in the to take who Jula Letlow or John Fleming in the November general election. Jamie Davis, who had 47 percent of the vote in the primary, is a former police juror in Tensas Parish and says his experience there, and as a farmer, have prepared for the rigors in the U.S. Senate.

Cut 6 (10) “…is all about.”

Gary Crockett, on the other hand, made the run off, beating out Nick Albares by just 284 votes.  Crockett says while he’s a political newcomer, he has what it takes to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Cut 7 (12) “…what is important.”

The run-off election is set for June 27^th.

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U-N-O is just one month away from becoming LSU New Orleans, and the transition is a game-changer, Kace Kieschnick Reports

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has approved new chronic wasting disease management zones as a result of legislation approved in the recently completed legislative session. LDWF’s deer program manager Jonathan Bordelon says the size of the four zones has been reduced…

Cut 14 (09) “…were used prior.”

The latest Kids Count Data Book shows that Louisiana still has lots of room for improvement in child well-being. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The University of New Orleans will  transition to the LSU system July 1st. Interim Chancellor Jeanette Weiland says as part of the LSU system, UNO will can aggressively target the thousands of qualified applicants denied by LSU’s main campus .

Cut 12 (12) “…give them tours.”

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While the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate are dominating the airwaves in the run-up to the runoff, both in terms of advertising and in headlines, there’s also a runoff for the Democratic nomination as well. Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett will square off on June 27th for the right to take on Julia Letlow or John Fleming in the November general election. Davis was the runaway top vote-getter in the primary, garnering 47-percent of the vote. He’s urging his supporters to get out the vote once again.

Cut 4 (12) “…once more again.”

Gary Crockett, on the other hand, barely eked out second place, besting Nick Albares by just 284 votes to advance to the runoff. Crockett says his strategy is to get Albares’ supporters on his side.

Cut 5 (07) “…voters as well.”

While the Republicans are dominating the airwaves in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race, there’s also a runoff on the Democratic side. Here’s Andrew Greenstein.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

After hours of scanning the New Orleans Lakeshore area on Sunday for a 30-40 year old Hispanic man who was reported missing yesterday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard said most crews suspended their search for the night around eleven last night.  New Orleans police received the report of a drowning near the 1800 block of Lakeshore Drive just after three yesterday afternoon. We’re told the search will resume this morning.

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The latest Kids Count Data Book shows that Louisiana still has plenty of room for improvement when it comes to the well-being of its children. The 2026 report ranks Louisiana 48th overall. Theresa Falgoust (FAAL-goo), the chief data and impact officer for the Agenda for Children, says that includes an economic well-being ranking that’s dead last in the country.

Cut 8 (06) “…full-time year-round.”

The University of New Orleans is switching gears as it prepares to transition to the LSU system on July 1st. Interim Chancellor Jeanette Weiland says the university wouldn’t have survived without the 20-million-dollar cash infusion from the state of Louisiana, but now they’re back in the black and looking ahead.

Cut 11 (11) “…is enrollment growth.”

Weiland is setting the institution’s fall enrollment goal at six thousand students.

Today’s the last day you can register to vote for the first time or make changes to your voter registration ahead of the June 27^th U.S. Senate runoff. And Secretary of State Nancy Landry says while early voting normally starts on a Saturday, this time around it’s a little different.

Cut 5 (11) “…the Juneteenth holiday.”

Governor Landry’s first veto of this year’s session is on a bill that would have increased the maximum compensation for those who were wrongfully incarcerated. The bill’s author, Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux says his bill got the support of every single lawmaker – except for the one that mattered.

Cut 13 (08) “…not become law.”

In his veto letter, Landry stated that the bill failed to ensure that the process is fair, accountable and protected against abuse.

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You won’t need a license to fish in Louisiana this weekend, thanks to LDWF’s Free Fishing Weekend. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The mayor of Pollock has been arrested on a “Peeping Tom” charge.  The Olla police chief issued a warrant for Douglas Beavers’ arrest after an incident involving a juvenile in Olla, stemming from when he was employed as a school coach and allegedly peeped on an underage child in the gymnasium bathroom. We’re told Beavers turned himself in yesterday.

The closed party U.S. Senate runoff elections aren’t until June 27th, but Secretary of State Nancy Landry says today’s an important deadline.

Cut 3 (12) “…June 27th election.”

Those changes could potentially include party affiliation, which is the only way one could cast the opposite party’s ballot in the runoff than the one cast in the May 16th primary. Landry says otherwise, voters will cast the same party’s ballot on June 27th.

Cut 4 (10) “…party primary races.”

Early voting begins next Friday, June 12^th and runs through Saturday, June 20^th, not including Friday, June 19^th as Juneteenth is a state holiday.

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This weekend is free fishing weekend in Louisiana. Today and tomorrow,  the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is not requiring a fishing license for anglers in Sportsman’s Paradise. LDWF Fisheries Outreach Biologist Joshua Porter says it’s a great opportunity to find a new summer hobby or spend time with the family, but…

Cut 7 (09) “…still all apply.”

You can find all the details on the ldwf website.

It’s a big weekend in Ruston as the Louisiana Peach Festival is happening.  And making it happen was more difficult this year after a mid-march freeze dropped lows to 22 degrees, killing a significant amount of local farmers’ peach crops. Experience Ruston President Tori Davis says the vendors worked to bring in extra peaches from South Carolina to make sure there would be enough for the festivities.

Cut 11 (11) “…our local farmers.”

The U.S. Senate runoffs are rapidly approaching, and today’s the last day to register to vote in that election or make changes to your voter registration.  Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

It’s free fishing weekend in Louisiana. This Saturday and Sunday, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is not requiring a fishing license for anglers in Sportsman’s Paradise. LDWF Fisheries Outreach Biologist Joshua Porter says it’s a great opportunity to find a new summer hobby or spend time with the family.

Cut 6 (07) “…a fishing license.”

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The first bill Governor Jeff Landry has vetoed this year is Senate Bill 125 by Lafayette Democrat Gerald Boudreaux. It’s a bill that would have increased the maximum compensation to those who had been wrongfully incarcerated.

Cut 12 (11) “…to 600-thousand.”

In his veto letter, Landry stated, among other things, that the bill fails to ensure that the process is fair, accountable and protected against abuse, especially in light of rising costs and fewer dollars in the state budget.

The 76th Louisiana Peach Festival is this weekend in Ruston. Experience Ruston President Tori Davis says festivities began earlier in the week.  Today’s a big day though as Davis says there’s something for everyone.

Cut 9 (13)  “…in downtown Ruston.”

Today’s the last day you can register to vote for the first time or make changes to your voter registration ahead of the June 27^th U.S. Senate runoff. And Secretary of State Nancy Landry says while early voting normally starts on a Saturday, this time around it’s a little different.

Cut 5 (11) “…the Juneteenth holiday.”

Governor Landry’s first veto of this year’s session is on a bill that would have increased the maximum compensation for those who were wrongfully incarcerated. The bill’s author, Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux says his bill got the support of every single lawmaker – except for the one that mattered.

Cut 13 (08) “…not become law.”

In his veto letter, Landry stated that the bill failed to ensure that the process is fair, accountable and protected against abuse.

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You won’t need a license to fish in Louisiana this weekend, thanks to LDWF’s Free Fishing Weekend. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The mayor of Pollock has been arrested on a “Peeping Tom” charge.  The Olla police chief issued a warrant for Douglas Beavers’ arrest after an incident involving a juvenile in Olla, stemming from when he was employed as a school coach and allegedly peeped on an underage child in the gymnasium bathroom. We’re told Beavers turned himself in yesterday.