Baton Rouge-based Turner Industries announces plans to build a nuclear fabrication facility in New Iberia and Port Allen. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Construction officially gets underway in Lake Charles this afternoon on the new 2.3 billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Abshire…

Cut 4 (08) “…a screeching halt.”

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The House Education Committee approves legislation that would give Louisiana public colleges the authority to increase tuition by as much as 10-percent for all graduate, professional and specialized programs and any undergraduate program identified as high-cost. Lobbyist Norby Chabert (sha-BEAR) testified in favor of the legislation; he says the money generated from the higher tuition costs would be put to good use.

Cut 10 (08) “…to student ratios.”

The bill passed on an eight-to-three vote and heads to the House floor. Lafayette Representative Josh Carlson says if you raise tuition, fewer students will attend college.

Cut 11 (06) “…in lower demand.”

Many have said tuition increases are necessary, since the state no longer funds higher education to the level it once did.

After two years, Cleco’s owners have found a buyer. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

For the first time in 25 years, young men have surpassed young women when it comes to how important religion is in their lives. That’s according to a new Gallup poll.   Dr. Justin Langford at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville says it’s good news, but…

Cut 13 (11)  “…these moral principals.”

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Congressman Clay Higgins is urging the major Republican U.S. Senate candidates to hold a statewide televised debate. Higgins is calling for a one-hour debate with solid questions posed by a moderator. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says even though Higgins has not issued an endorsement in the race, there does seem to be one in particular that he’s not supporting.

Cut 9 (12)  “…and MAGA generally.”

The Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center will get a 40-million-dollar makeover and ultimately reopen as a Sports Illustrated Resort. Geoff Richards, the chief operating officer of vacation ownership at Travel And Leisure Company, says when his company was scouting cities to establish Sports Illustrated Resorts, Baton Rouge was a logical choice.

Cut 15 (12) “…see throughout Louisiana.”

For two years, the Canadian-based owners of Cleco Power have been trying to sell the utility. Now, it has a deal in place to do just that. Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets has reached a deal to sell the company to Stonepeak Energy and Bernhard Capital Partners. Jennifer Cahill with Cleco says the company’s leadership team fully supports the deal.

Cut 4 (09) “…serve throughout Louisiana.”

Cahill says Cleco will be in good hands with its new owners.

A new poll finds that the number of young men in the U.S. who say religion is a very important component of their lives is increasing. Gallup says its survey shows 42-percent of men between the ages of 18 and 29 say religion is very important to them. That’s up from 28-percent in 2022-23. Dr. Justin Langford at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville has a theory on why that might be.

Cut 11 (08) “…than ever before.”

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Congressman Clay Higgins is urging the three major Republican U.S. Senate candidates to hold a statewide televised debate. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Health has released a statement regarding the suspected roadkill case over at Pineville’s China Queen restaurant.  The agency saying they did an inspection of the restaurant and found the claims to be valid and the animal was removed from the premises.  For its part restaurant owners had posted a sign saying the animal was never intended to be served to customers.

A recent Gallup poll finds that more young men are saying religion is very important in their lives. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Congressman Clay Higgins is urging the major Republican U.S. Senate candidates to hold a statewide televised debate in a one hour format. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…

Cut 8 (11) “…kinds of groups.”

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A downtown Baton Rouge hotel will soon be converted into a year-round sports hospitality destination. The Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center will get a 40-million-dollar makeover and will reopen as a Sports Illustrated Resort. Geoff Richards, the chief operating officer of vacation ownership at Travel And Leisure Company, says the goal is to make Baton Rouge a year-round sports tourism destination.

Cut 14 (13) “…and vacation ownership.”

Conference USA has announced it has reached a positive resolution with Louisiana Tech that will allow the Bulldogs to begin play in the Sun Belt starting next athletic season. Financial terms have not been released. There was a report that Tech is paying eight million dollars to leave Conference USA.
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Forty-four years after a 16-year-old girl was killed, her alleged killers have finally been arrested. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Jeff Landry has plenty to say about last week’s fatal mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana…pointing the finger at parents and the judicial system and calling on lawmakers to increase penalties to keep young violent criminals locked up.

Cut 14 (11) “…their lives.”

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Little bit of a scare after the music ended Saturday night at Festival International in Lafayette.  19 year old Jai’Quan Pierre was arrested after brandishing a firearm at a crowd, prompting an officer to discharge their service weapon. We’re told no individuals were struck or injured during the incident.  Pierre is in custody facing several charges.

A bill heading to the House floor seeks to give the governor and statewide elected officials a significant pay raise. Under Harahan Representative John Illg’s measure the governor would see his salary increase by 52-thousand dollars and other statewide elected officials would see an increase of 41-thousand dollars.   Illg says by tying the pay of the governor and statewide elected officials with university system president pay, the legislature will never have to take a vote on it again….

Cut 9 (05)  “…again.”

Governor Jeff Landry calls last week’s fatal mass shooting at the Louisiana Mall unacceptable and is pointing the finger at parents and the judicial system for the violence that continues to take place involving young people

Cut 13 (13)  “…failure list.”

17 year old Markell Lee has been charged him with first degree murder and five counts of attempted first-degree murder. Authorities are searching for a second suspected gunman.

Forty-four years after 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp was raped and murdered in Covington,  State Police have arrested four men in connection with that murder. Trooper Marc Gremillion says the February 1982 murder remained unsolved for decades, until Charles Dowdy’s podcast “Who Killed Roxanne” spurred interest in the case.

Cut 10 (08) “…have moved away.”

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While the Republican Senate candidates can’t agree on holding a debate, the Democratic candidates all got together for a debate in Baton Rouge. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A bill heading to the House floor looks to give significant pay raises to the governor and other statewide elected officials.  Harahan Representative John Illg says those salaries haven’t been raised in 20 years.

Cut 8 (08) “…the boss.”

Governor Jeff Landy is fed up with violent crime and continues to blame judges for not imposing the proper punishment on young offenders. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Little bit of a scare after the music ended Saturday night at Festival International in Lafayette.  19 year old Jai’Quan Pierre was arrested after brandishing a firearm at a crowd, prompting an officer to discharge their service weapon. We’re told noone was or injured during the incident.

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A bill heading to the House floor seeks to give the governor and statewide elected officials a significant pay raise. Harahan Representative John Illg is proposing that the governor’s salary be 35 percent of the average base pay for Louisiana’s university system presidents, and for other statewide elected officials, it would be 30 percent…

Cut 7 (08) “…make.”

Speaking of making more money, one of the three Democratic candidates in the race for US Senate had some thoughts to share on raising the minimum wage in a recent debate.  Candidate Jamie Davis.
Cut 5 (12) “…somewhere around $17.50.”
Davis, Gary Crockett and Nick Albares spent 45 minutes answering questions on a wide variety of topics, all three taking aim at the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Baton Rouge Police officers have arrested a 17-year-old and searching for a second suspect in Thursday’s fatal shooting at the Louisiana Mall that claimed the life of 17-year-old Martha Odom from Ascension Episcopal High School in Youngsville.  Btoon Rouge Police Chief T-J Morse says they’re confident 17-year-old Markell Lee was one of the shooters…

Cut 13 (09) “…known residence.”

The Baton Rouge Soccer Club released a statement about one of its Unified Soccer Program players, who was also injured in Thursday’s Mall shooting. We’re told Donie Guillory is critical and facing a second surgery, but his prognosis is positive.

Shreveport police have confirmed the surviving child who escaped Sunday’s mass shooting by jumping off the roof is a 12-year-old girl, and she has been released from the hospital. Two of the three mothers injured in the shooting have also been discharged from the hospital. All this as the community continues to mourn the loss of the eight young children who were killed in that shooting.

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It’s another big weekend of festivals and Festival International is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Andre Champagne has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Two of the state’s largest teacher unions are supporting Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16^th ballot. Louisiana Federation of Teachers president Larry Carter says the measure would provide a permanent salary increase for educators and school employees….

Cut 6 (10) “…permanent pay.”

Baton Rouge Police officers have arrested a 17-year-old and searching for a second suspect in Thursday’s fatal shooting at the Louisiana Mall that claimed the life of a 17-year-old girl and wounded five others. Baton Rouge Police Chief T-J Morse says the individual in police custody is 17-year-old Markell Lee…

Cut 12 (07) “… a weapon.”

The 17-year-old girl who was fatally shot has been identified as Martha Odom. She attended Ascension Episcopal High School in Youngsville.

The Louisiana Department of Health this week confirmed a case of measles in the New Orleans area: a child who was exposed during international travel. LDH says on April 17th while infected, the patient visited the Kenner Target and Walmart stores. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says anyone at either store that day, should look out for symptoms.

Cut 9 (13)  “…the rash appears.”

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The Saints added two Georgia Bulldogs to their roster last night, selecting defensive tackle Christian Miller in the second round and taking tight end Oscar Delp in the third.  Miller started 14 games last season and had 23 tackles, four tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.  Delp caught 70 passes for 854 yards and nine touchdowns during his four seasons at Georgia.  Coach Kellen Moore says Delp is a good addition to the tight end group that also features Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant.

Cut 29 (13) …play with.”

The Saints still have five draft picks left, two in the fourth round, two more in the fifth, and one in the sixth round.

Two LSU Tigers were taken on Friday…safety AJ Haulcy is headed to Indianapolis, while receiver Zavion Thomas was selected by the Chicago Bears. Garrett Nussmeier is still waiting to be selected. The draft resumes at 11 am.

Authorities have arrested one individual and searching for a second person who was involved in Thursday’s mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana that killed a 17-year-old girl from Lafayette Parish. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Meantime, another victim has been identified in connection with that shooting at the Mall of Louisiana.  The Baton Rouge Soccer Club said one of its Unified Soccer Program players, Donie Guillory was among those injured.  In a statement, the club said Guillory is critical, and will undergo a second surgery, but his prognosis is positive.
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Two of the state’s largest teacher unions are supporting Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16^th ballot.  It would provide a permanent salary increase for educators and school employees. Educators and school employees are already currently receiving most of this money. But Louisiana Federation of Teachers president Larry Carter says it’s a stipend that could go away if the state needs it during tough budget times.

Cut 7 (10) “..permanently.”

If you want to listen to music from around the world, Festival International in downtown Lafayette is the place to do it this weekend. Vice President of Communications at Lafayette Travel, Jesse Guidry, says over 50 countries are represented and over 500 musicians are at this weekend’s cultural celebration…

Cut 3 (08) “…to behold.”