A bill to name a proposed new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge after President Trump has received approval from the House Transportation Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Two men have been cited in the shooting of a whooping crane in Evangeline Parish.  Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries whooping crane biologists reported the bird’s transmitter stopped sending data February 28^th…the dead bird was found in a crawfish pond off Millers Lake Road there. Officials have cited those involved with violating the migratory bird treaty act.

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The Department of Insurance releases its benchmarks for hurricane-only premium discounts for fortified roofs. The discounts range from 16-percent for those in north Louisiana with a base-level fortified roof to 49-percent for those in south Louisiana with a gold-level fortified roof. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says insurance companies looking to deviate from those discount percentages will need to justify their reasons.

Cut 11 (10) “…to pay claims.”

A team from the US Geological Survey has spent time this week installing new equipment to help in detecting earthquakes.  That’s after a series of earthquakes in northwest Louisiana triggered by last Thursday’s magnitude 4.9 in Red River Parish. Cynthia Ebinger (uh-BING-er) with the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, says the data collected from those instruments will be very beneficial.

Cut 8 (10) “…to be done.”

The U.S. Geological Survey sent a team to northwest Louisiana to install new equipment to assist in detecting earthquakes. This, in the wake of a series of tremors triggered by last week’s magnitude 4.9 in Red River Parish. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart will seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing a Vivian police officer. A Caddo Parish grand jury indicted 58 year old Nicholas Alexander last month for first-degree murder in the death of Officer Marc Brock.  The 25 year old officer was fatally shot on Nov. 14 while attempting to serve an arrest warrant at Alexander’s home.

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House Transportation has approved legislation to name a new Mississipi River bridge in Baton Rouge the “President Donald J. Trump Expressway.”   Though some questioned the naming of the bridge, the legislation by Monroe Representative Michael Echols could result in securing the needed three-billion dollars in federal funding for construction. Denham Springs Republican Representative Kellee Dickerson says the alternative to foregoing federal funding for the bridge would draw the ire of drivers everywhere.

Cut 6 (06) “…a chalk board.”

The Department of Insurance releases its benchmarks for hurricane-only premium discounts for fortified roofs. Commissioner Tim Temple says there are a total of nine tiers, and they’re based on two factors.

Cut 10 (09) “…silver or gold.”
The discounts are set to take effect January 1st.

A proposed Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge could be named after President Trump. House Transportation has approved legislation by Monroe Representative Michael Echols to name the new bridge the “President Donald J. Trump Expressway.” Echols says naming the bridge after the President could result in securing the needed three-billion dollars in federal funding for construction.

Cut 4 (12) “…of that reality.”

The bill passed on a 12-to-2 vote.

Shreveport Democrat Joy Walters voted against the legislation. Walters suggested that naming the bridge after the current President should be an idea coming from Louisiana’s congressional delegation. She also asked Echols if he was trying to score political points for his run to replace Republican Julia Letlow in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District.

Cut 5 (10) “…get his attention.”

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The Department of Insurance released the benchmarks for hurricane premium discounts for those with fortified roofs. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Two people were cited following the shooting of a whooping crane in Evangeline Parish.  Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries whooping crane biologists reported the bird’s transmitter stopped sending date February 28^th…the dead bird was found in a crawfish pond off Millers Lake Road.  After an investigation, officials cited the two men with violating the migratory bird treaty act.

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy took Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem to task for a 220-million-dollar ad campaign just days before she was fired. Kennedy said the spot was more about boosting Noem’s name recognition.  And he took her to task for not following the competitive bidding process in hiring the firm and…

Cut 11 (11) “…it’s not, sir.”

The US Attorney’s Office indicted 31-year-old Justin Chadwick Butler of Shreveport on charges of cyberstalking and threatening the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and President Trump. According to court documents, Butler used social media accounts to make posts, often tagging the Speaker’s social media account directly.  USAO says Butler faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for each count.

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Bill Cassidy challenges Julia Letlow to a series of televised debates. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved the expansion of black bear hunting areas from three last to seven.  LDWF large carnivore program manager John Hanks says only 16 bears were successfully harvested last year.

Cut 13 (07) “…a hunting season.”

__10:30 __11:30 short

Black bear hunting is expanding in Louisiana this year after the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission vote earlier this week.  Hunters may apply to take part in the tag lottery from July 28th to August 28th. But LDWF large carnivore program manager John Hanks says receiving a black bear permit is not as simple as just paying an extra fee.

Cut 14 (07) “…and go hunting.”

Bill Cassidy has challenged Julia Letlow to a series of televised debates as the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate is heating up.  But Cassidy did not challenge the other major candidate in the race, John Fleming.  LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says Cassidy likely wants to debate just Letlow to avoid getting ganged up on.

Cut 5 (06) “…against one scenario.”

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The University of Louisiana System filed a lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana Tech against Conference USA Wednesday.  That, after the school’s plans to exit the Sun Belt before the 2026 football season were delayed. The suit claims that Louisiana Tech approached Conference USA with a financial offer providing two full years of conference distributions, but they wanted more. Lincoln Parish Journal Publisher Malcolm Butler estimates the difference at about two-million dollars.

Cut 7 (11) “…the university are.”

In college baseball action, Nicholls scored five runs in the ninth to beat Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 11 to 7.UT Arlington edged ULM four to three. South Alabama beat Louisiana Tech nine to three. The second ranked LSU baseball team broke out of its offensive slump last night with a 15 to 4 win over Sacramento State. Game two is today at two.

Days before President Trump fired Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy took Noem to task for a 220-million-dollar ad campaign that he says was more about boosting her name recognition than encouraging immigrants to self-deport.

Cut 9 (16)  “…Okay.”

Bill Cassidy has challenged Julia Letlow to a series of three televised debates as the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate is heating up. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says the fact that Cassidy is suggesting this at all is a clear indication that alarm bells are going off within his campaign.

Cut 3 (10) “…own electoral chances.”

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The University of Louisiana System filed a lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana Tech against Conference USA Wednesday. In July, LA Tech announced plans of exiting the conference to join the Sun Belt before the 2026 football season, but the move was delayed, thanks to pushback from Conference USA and bylaws that require a 14-month notice. Lincoln Parish Journal Publisher Malcolm Butler says these rules didn’t stop an exodus of member schools in 2021.

Cut 6 (10) “…eight months later.”

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approves the expansion of black bear hunting areas in Louisiana from three to seven for this season. Black bear hunting has been legal for the last two years after previously being banned in 1987. LDWF large carnivore program manager John Hanks …

Cut 12 (08) “…have that opportunity.”

Bill Cassidy challenges Julia Letlow to a series of televised debates. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Troopers are assisting the Lake Charles Police Department with a vehicle crash on the I-10 bridge at milepost 28 this morning. Both westbound lanes and eastbound lanes of I-10 are closed at this time.  If you’ll be heading that way, officials say to adjust your travel plans to expect delays.

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Louisiana Senator John Kennedy took Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem to task for a 220-million-dollar ad campaign just days before she was fired. Kennedy said the spot was more about boosting Noem’s name recognition.  And he took her to task for not following the competitive bidding process in hiring the firm and…

Cut 11 (11) “…it’s not, sir.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved the expansion of black bear hunting areas from three last to seven areas this year.  LDWF large carnivore program manager John Hanks says only 16 bears were successfully harvested last year.

Cut 13 (07) “…a hunting season.”

Hanks says the total number of permits awarded this year is expected to increase from the 26 awarded last season, but no official number has been set.

If New Orleans-area representative Vincent Cox has his way, Louisiana will soon have a law that will make it easier to cancel automatic subscription renewals. Gretna Republican Vincent Cox’s bill is dubbed the “Click To Cancel Act.” And would put an end to the scavenger hunt customers face when trying to cancel their subscriptions.

Cut 11 (10) “…to exit it.”

The state’s crawfish industry doesn’t have enough workers to peel and package crawfish right now.  Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says that’s because the federal government has put a cap on foreign guest workers, forcing several processing plants to shut their doors. Strain says he’s sent letters and called the White House, even Homeland Security trying to get cap be lifted for the crawfish industry.

Cut 5 (07) “…these laborers in.”

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Julia Letlow secures another high-profile endorsement. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana officials want to expand black bear hunting grounds in Louisiana.  According to the Louisiana Illuminator, the proposed changes were unanimously approved at yesterday’s monthly state Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting. And would expand the number of black bear hunting areas in the state from three to seven. Black bear hunting has only been legal for the past two years in Louisiana after being banned in 1987.

A New Orleans-area representative wants to make it a lot easier to cancel automatic-renewal trial subscriptions. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

More details on an offshore oil leak near Port Fourchon spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf last week.   The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) said in a news release that  cause of the leak was an offshore mechanical failure. Approximately 12,600 LOOP said yesterday that a “substantial portion” of the oil had already been recovered.
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PVC producer Shintech Louisiana is investing 3.4 billion dollars to expand its Iberville Parish operations. It’s expected to add 800 new job opportunities to the Capital Region and the expansion will introduce advanced, lower-emissions manufacturing technology, which Shintech says will strengthen Louisiana’s role in global PVC production. Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle Daigle says Shintech has made a big impact on this area for 26 years now.

Cut 8 (10) “…the global market.”

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the state’s crawfish industry is dealing with a significant labor shortage. Strain told state lawmakers that crawfish processing plants do not have enough workers to peel and package crawfish, because the federal government has put a cap on foreign guest workers.

Cut 4 (09) “…no that’s unacceptable.”