8:30 AM LRN Newscast

Republican Bill Cassidy is the second U.S. Senator in Louisiana’s history not to be re-elected in the last 94 years. Cassidy finished third in the Senate Republican Primary, while Congresswoman Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming advance to a June 27th run-off. In his concession speech, Cassidy did not mention Trump’s name, but said the country is not about one individual. Louisiana’s outgoing US Senator added he was loyal to the welfare of U-S and Louisiana citizens and the Constitution.

Cut 12 (14) “…be a leader.”

Congresswoman Letlow was asked about the impact of Cassidy’s vote to convict Trump in 2021 and how that impacted the results of Saturday’s primary…

Cut 13 (11)  “…tonight’s result.”

The two other Louisiana U-S Senators to lose their re-election since 1932, Mary Landrieu in 2014 and Edwin Broussard in 1932, who like Cassidy, lost in a closed primary.

————————–
A bill awaiting Governor Landry’s signature aims to crack down on a new way to skirt Louisiana’s seafood labeling laws. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana voters rejected all five Constitutional Amendments on Saturday’s ballot, including the one which would have funded a pay raise for teachers and support staff. That amendment was rejected by 58% of voters who cast their ballots.  Amendment 3 would have indirectly financed pay raises — $2,250 for teachers and $1,125 for support staff — by draining the state’s education trust funds.

7:30 AM LRN Newscast

Republican Bill Cassidy is the second U.S. Senator in Louisiana’s history not to be re-elected in the last 94 years. Cassidy finished third in the Senate Republican Primary, while Congresswoman Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming advance to a June 27th run-off. Cassidy spoke with supporters on Saturday…

Cut 10 (16) “…stolen.”

Congresswoman Letlow, who had the support of President Trump, won the Senate Republican Primary with 45-percent of the vote and told her supporters…

Cut 11 (11) “…negativity.”

In the Democratic US Senate Primary, unofficial results have Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett advancing to the runoff as Crockett edged out Nick Albares by 284 votes.  Albares has until 4:30 Tuesday afternoon to request a recount.

————————

If you missed the big takeaways from this Saturday’s primaries, the gist is Senator Bill Cassidy is out and voters said no to 5 constitutional amendments, including one that would have given Louisiana teachers a permanent pay raise.  Andrew Greenstein has details.

Cut 2 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A man is dead after being shot early Sunday morning in Washington Parish. Sheriff’s officials there say deputies were called to Jamieson Creek Road early yesterday morning where they found 64-year-old Johnny Slocum suffering from a gunshot wound. We’re told Slocum was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

6:30 AM LRN Newscast

It will be Congresswoman Julia Letlow and State Treasurer John Fleming in a June 27th run-off in the US Senate Republican primary, while Bill Cassidy’s political career is likely over. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says Bill Cassidy’s third-place finish in the Senate Republican primary has Donald Trump’s name written all over it.

Cut 7 (12) “…longer supported him.”

—————————————
Of course, Louisiana voters also got to sound off on several constitutional amendments in Saturday’s election.  LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says this was an instance where Democrats, who are greatly outnumbered at the Capitol, were able to have a great deal of influence in defeating all five.

Cut 9 (07)  “…education funds altered.”

Senate President Cameron Henry had previously said if the amendment fails, teachers should not count on the legislature to extend the stipend to them again.

A bill that looks to crack down on a way to skirt Louisiana’s seafood labeling laws is awaiting Governor Landry’s signature. It’s called co-mingling. Lafitte Representative Tim Kerner, who filed House Bill 857, says comingling is no oversight.

Cut 4 (07) “…off as domestic.”

11:30 AM LRN Newscast

Election Day is upon us. Jeff Palermo has a preview.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

May is Mental Health Awareness month; and if you’re feeling depressed or overwhelmed, you can call or text 9-8-8. Sherrard Crespo with VIA LINK says Louisiana 9-8-8 is a help line and callers don’t necessarily need to be suicidal to reach out.

Cut 9 (07)  “…there for that.”

————————

The 2026 Louisiana turkey hunting season produced a record harvest, as more than four-thousand birds were harvested. LDWF Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal (SED-uh-tul) says 4,024 turkeys were harvested during the season that ran from April 3rd to May 3rd.

Cut 6 (07) “…be doing well.”

The 2026 Saints schedule is out, and the Saints first two games are on the road against Detroit and Baltimore. New Orleans hosts Las Vegas in week three for the home opener, and then it’s a big Monday night matchup against the Falcons. WWL Radio sports talk show host MikeDetillier says it will be important for the Saints offense, with its new additions, get on the same page early.

Cut 13 (11) “…of the football.”

10:30 AM LRN Newscast

Election day is here and thousands will head to the polls today make their voices heard on five constitutional amendments, and the U.S Senate race.  The Republican Senate primary is one everyone is eyeing, but there are also three people vying for the Democratic nomination. But Jeremy Alford, the publisher of LaPolitics-dot-com, says that unlike on the Republican side, none of them are particularly known throughout the state.

Cut 4 (08) “…the general election.”

In early voting, according to updated numbers from the Secretary of State’s office, Democrats outnumbered Republicans at the polls statewide by more than eight-thousand – and Alford says that could spell doom for the constitutional amendments.

Cut 5 (15) “…on all five.”

————————-

May is Mental Health Awareness month; and if you’re feeling depressed, overwhelmed or experiencing any mental health-related distress, you can call or text 9-8-8. Sherrard Crespo with VIA LINK says callers to Louisiana’s 9-8-8 helpline are connected with real, trained crisis specialists who provide confidential, judgment-free support and help individuals navigate tough moments.

Cut 10 (09) “…plan of action.”

The 2026 Saints schedule is out, and New Orleans will open the season September 13th against the Lions, then they’ll take on Baltimore. New Orleans hosts Las Vegas in week three for the home opener, and then it’s a big Monday night matchup against the Falcons. WWL Radio sports talk show host Mike Detillier says  the Saints also have a tough stretch of games in late November.

Cut 14 (11) “…good football team.”

9:30 AM LRN Newscast

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there’s help if you need it. Michelle Southern has details.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

Today is Election Day.  And if you didn’t vote early, you have your chance today to weigh in on the U.S. Senate race and five constitutional amendments. Jeremy Alford, the publisher of LaPolitics-dot-com, says the Republican Senate primary could incumbent Bill Cassidy’s last stand.

Cut 3 (12) “…weeks and days.”

—————–

Louisiana’s 2026 turkey hunting season produced a record harvest of more than four thousand birds. That’s more than 12-percent higher than last year’s season. And the previous turkey season harvest record was 3,695 birds in 2024. Ten years ago, hunters were harvesting less than two-thousand birds. But LDWF Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal (SED-uh-tul) says in 2018, a decision was made to push back the start of the season, and it has paid off.

Cut 7 (12) “…grown from there.”

The Saints’ 2026 schedule is out, and New Orleans will open the season September 13th against the Lions. WWL Radio sports talk show host Mike Detillier says that the Lions will be a tough matchup.

Cut 12 (09) “…can score touchdowns.”

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

Election Day is upon us. Jeff Palermo has a preview.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

May is Mental Health Awareness month; and if you’re feeling depressed or overwhelmed, you can call or text 9-8-8. Sherrard Crespo with VIA LINK says Louisiana 9-8-8 is a help line and callers don’t necessarily need to be suicidal to reach out.

Cut 9 (07)  “…there for that.”

————————

The 2026 Louisiana turkey hunting season produced a record harvest, as more than four-thousand birds were harvested. LDWF Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal (SED-uh-tul) says 4,024 turkeys were harvested during the season that ran from April 3rd to May 3rd.

Cut 6 (07) “…be doing well.”

The 2026 Saints schedule is out, and the Saints first two games are on the road against Detroit and Baltimore. New Orleans hosts Las Vegas in week three for the home opener, and then it’s a big Monday night matchup against the Falcons. WWL Radio sports talk show host Mike Detillier says it will be important for the Saints offense, with its new additions, to get on the same page early.

Cut 13 (11) “…of the football.”

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

After a marathon overnight meeting, a bill eliminating one of Louisiana’s two majority-Democratic districts advanced from a Senate committee on a 4-3 vote early Wednesday morning following more than nine hours of testimony, setting the stage for Republican voting majorities in five of the state’s six congressional districts. Earlier in the night, committee members voted 4-3 against a proposed map by Gonzales Democrat Ed Price which would have protected the strength of Louisiana’s Black voters with two majority-democratic districts.

Cut 13 (10)  “…the Callais decision.”

This morning’s vote came after hours of debate on both proposals.  The one with just one democratic-majority district will now head to the full Senate.

Louisiana State Police has agreed to pay a 4.8 million dollar settlement in a wrongful death case surround the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Green.  That’s according to NOLA.com.  Body camera footage showed Greene was beaten by State Troopers after leading them on a high speed chase near Monroe.  Green died just after midnight May 10, 2019.

——————————

The Hantavirus outbreak on a sight seeing cruise ship sailing through the South Atlantic has some worried another pandemic could happen. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

A recent audit of 44 Baton Rouge restaurants by SeaD (“seed”) Consulting found that nine failed to disclose that their shrimp was imported. SeaD Founder David Williams says while six of those restaurants had no signage or menu disclosure, there was another issue with the other three.

Cut 10 (09) “…ask your server.”

7:30 AM LRN Newscast

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee took all night and several hours into this morning to hash out a new congressional map. Gonzales Democrat Ed Price presented his map first; and after more than five hours of public discussion, it was voted down 4-3. Price’s map would have created four safe Republican districts and two safe Democratic districts.

Cut 14 (11) “…registered than Republicans.”

In the end committee members approved Monroe Republican Jay Morris’ bill, which would reinstate the map from 2022, with just one majority-democratic district.

Cut 15 (08) “…what this does.”

Committee members adjourned at 4:30 this morning.  The newly approved map will head next to the full Senate.

——————————

The Louisiana Legislature has less money to spend than originally projected. Jeff Palermo on what this means.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

News of three people on a cruise ship dying from the hantavirus has many worried about another pandemic. Hantavirus spreads from rodent droppings to people, and usually a person cannot transmit it to another person. But LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease expert Dr. Fred Lopez says this is a special type of Andes virus, where it can spread between people.

Cut 8 (06) “…who are infected.”

6:30 AM LRN Newscast

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee pulled an all-nighter and ended up adopting a new congressional map with one majority democratic district.  Here’s Andrew Greenstein.

Cut 3 (38) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The push to redraw the map comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that one of Louisiana’s majority-Black districts was unconstitutional because it was based on race.  The map approved by Senate Governmental Affairs heads next to the full Senate.

——————

The Revenue Estimating Conference has adopted a forecast that will result in fewer available dollars to spend for Louisiana lawmakers. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says the changes adopted will lessen state general fund dollars by 104-million dollars for next year’s fiscal year.

Cut 4 (10) “…run into problems.”

News of three people on a cruise ship dying from the hantavirus and several others infected has some people worried about the possibility of another pandemic. LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease expert Dr. Fred Lopez says hantavirus is not nearly as contagious as other viruses.

Cut 7 (07) “…we’re talking about.”