As the legislature gets set to fight for auto insurance reform, Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple are fighting one another. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Visit Lake Charles has launched the “Always Here” campaign to highlight tourism’s vital role in Southwest Louisiana’s economy. Visit Lake Charles CMO Timothy Bush says in 2023, the region welcomed over seven million visitors, generating $800 million in spending.

Cut 6 (06) “…to our local economy.”

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Last month, the Port of New Orleans recorded over 165-thousand cruise passenger movements, setting a new monthly record and surpassing its previous high of 155-thousand in March 2023. Port NOLA Pres Secretary Kimberly Curth…

Cut 9 (11)  “…prime cruise desination”

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is this weekend. Since 1972, Tangipahoa Parish has hosted this festival to celebrate the strawberry industry, which generates an estimated 12-million dollars to the economy. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, who’s from nearby Abita Springs, says if you love strawberries and music this is the festival for you…

Cut 12 (12) “…incredible.”

Governor Landry is set to announce his plan for lowering insurance premiums this morning, and a new poll shows that this could be the single most important announcement of his governorship. The poll by Bernie Pinsonat and Greg Rigamer shows deep dissatisfaction with the state’s direction on insurance.  Pinsonat says nearly everyone surveyed said he or she was concerned about the direction of insurance premiums.

Cut 12 (09) “…continue to rise.”

Two Lake Charles children reported missing in November have been found and are back home with their father after being featured on REELZ’s On Patrol: Live March 7^th.  National Center for Missing & Exploited Children spokesperson Angeline Hartman says to date, 40 people have been recovered thanks to On Patrol: Live, whose fanbase plays a critical role in spreading awareness.

Cut 6 (12) “…missing children.”

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The group Restore the Mississippi Delta is speaking out after work is halted on the 3.1-billion-dollar Mid Barataria Sediment Diversion Project in Plaquemines Parish. Colleen Crain reports…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Leaders for a Better Louisiana released a report showing high school student participation in internships and apprenticeships is up…but still ranks lower than other southern states.   CABL CEO Adam Knapp says that’s why Better Louisiana is proposing legislation to streamline work-based tax credits and expand student access to real-world learning.

Cut 9 (11) “…for their businesses.”

Two Lake Charles boys reported missing in November are back home in part thanks to the show On Patrol Live.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

New Orleans Police are set to hold a media briefing later this morning to talk about the Teneo advisory group report regarding public safety recommendations for the French Quarter.  The report is in response to the New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street.  Today’s briefing is scheduled for this morning at ten.

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Leaders for a Better Louisiana released a report showing that while high school student participation in internships and apprenticeships has grown, the state still trails peer southern states. CABL CEO Adam Knapp says in 2023, about 5-percent of Louisiana’s 42-thousand graduates earned internship credit, better than previous years but still low compared to Georgia and Tennessee’s 15–20-percent.

Cut 7 (11) “…high school students.”

Governor Landry’s set to announce his plan for lowering insurance premiums this morning, and a new poll shows that this could be the single most important announcement of his governorship. The poll by Bernie Pinsonat and Greg Rigamer shows a majority of tose polled aren’t happy with the way the legislature’s handled premiums thus far.  Pinsonat says the pressure is on Landry to get something done.

Cut 10 (09) “…lot of credit.”

The group Restore the Mississippi Delta is speaking out after the Landry administration ordered a 90-day pause on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project in Plaquemines Parish. Campaign Director Simone Maloz (muh-LAWS) says construction has been going on for years, and the state has already invested about a half-billion dollars.

Cut 13 (11) “…a year ago.”

Leaders for a Better Louisiana released a report shows student participation in internships and apprenticeships has grown. CABL CEO Adam Knapp says in 2023, about 5-percent of Louisiana’s 42-thousand graduates earned internship credit, better than previous years but still low compared to Georgia and Tennessee’s 15–20-percent.

Cut 8 (11) “…employers in Louisiana.”

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Governor Landry is set to announce his plan to lower insurance premiums, and a new poll suggests that this could be the most important announcement of his governorship. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Two Lake Charles children reported missing in November have been found and are back home with their father after Colton and Cohen Desormeaux were featured on REELZ’s On Patrol: Live aired “Missing” March 7^th. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children spokesperson Angeline Hartman.

Cut 4 (10) “…turn herself in.”

Two death row inmates in Caddo Parish have learned their execution dates this week. Andrew Greenstein reports Caddo Parish has a disproportionate number of death row inmates in the state – despite it having a Democratic district attorney.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Senator Bill Cassidy has has introduced “The Defining Male and Female Act”…establishing legal definitions for male and female.  It would basically codify one of President Trump’s orders.  Senator Cassidy says the legislation does make accommodations for people born with chromosome variations.

Cut 15 (10) “…allows for that.”

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A Baton Rouge man who shot his pregnant girlfriend two death and threw her two year old son off a bridge killing him, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors. Brynnen Murphy was originally facing second degree murder charges, but was convicted on two counts of manslaughter and and a single count of feticide.  East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar (HILL-er) Moore.

Cut 9 (14)  “…a life sentence.”

United Way Southwest Louisiana has launched My Free Taxes, a free online tax filing service for U-S tax filers earning up to 84-thousand dollars a year. The platform helps users file federal and state taxes quickly. United Way Southwest Louisiana Associate Director of Community Impact Kimberlie Heckard…

Cut 11 (12) “…forms that you get”

Baton Rouge prosecutors reach a plea deal with a man who killed his pregnant girlfriend and her two-year-old son three years ago. Colleen Crain reports…

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

United Way Southwest Louisiana has launched My Free Taxes, a free online tax filing service for U-S tax filers earning up to 84-thousand dollars a year. The platform helps users file federal and state taxes quickly. United Way Southwest Louisiana Associate Director of Community Impact Kimberlie Heckard

Cut 10 (11) “…My-Free-Taxes-dot-com website.”

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Despite having a Democratic district attorney, Caddo Parish, has a disproportionate number of inmates on death row. LSU Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow (SAD-ow) says many of those death row inmates were sentenced years ago. But current D-A James Stewart, fully supports the judgement of his predecessors.

Cut 5 (08) “…to capital sentences.”

Senator Bill Cassidy has introduced “The Defining Male and Female Act.”

Cut 13 (16)  “…to chest-feed.”

Senator Cassidy says the legislation would codify one of President Trump’s executive orders but also make accommodations for people born with chromosome variations.

Louisiana tax filers can use United Way Southwest Louisiana’s My Free Taxes app, a free online tax filing service. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Senator Bill Cassidy has introduced “The Defining Male and Female Act.” Senator Cassidy says the legislation he put forth with Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, who’s also a doctor, would codify one of President Trump’s executive orders.

Cut 14 (10) “…identity or sex.”

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A Baton Rouge man who killed his pregnant girlfriend and her two-year-old son reaches a plea deal with prosecutors. Three years ago, 23-year-old Brynnen (BRIN-in) Murphy shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, 24-year-old Kaylen Johnson, and threw her two-year-old son, Kaden, off a bridge. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar (HILL-er) Moore says Johnson’s family wanted to avoid a trial.

Cut 7 (15) “…for some time.”

Despite having a Democratic district attorney, Caddo Parish, which includes Shreveport, has a disproportionate number of inmates on death row. In general terms, Republicans tend to support capital punishment more than Democrats. So why the anomaly? LSU Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow (SAD-ow)

Cut 4 (09) “…anti-death penalty.”

The Humane Society of Louisiana’s Animal Fighting Task Force has rescued more than 40 dogs who were being used for dogfighting in Concordia Parish. On a tip the sheriff’s office used drones to locate the dogs, found abused and abandoned.HSLA Director Jeff Dorson says the Animal Cruelty Task Force was formed to be ready to respond to calls in places like Concordia Parish, which does not have a public shelter or an animal control unit.

Cut 15 (07) “…type of situation.”

State lawmakers will consider a bill that would eliminate local sales taxes on groceries in the upcoming regular session. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says while Louisiana does not impose a state sales tax on groceries, local governments do, leading some residents, particularly in Caddo Parish, to cross state lines to get groceries.

Cut 12 (09) “…any sales tax.”

Tomorrow is Election Day in Louisiana. While there will be a small handful of special races to be decided, all voters will be deciding the fate of four proposed constitutional amendments. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says the turnout in early voting was very brisk.

Cut 4 (06) “…or voting absentee”

Polls open tomorrorow morning at seven.

One of four constitutional amendments on tomorrow’s ballot is getting lots of attention and that’s Amendment 2, which makes changes to Article Seven of the state constitution regarding revenue collection and taxation.  Teacher unions support the amendment as does Governor Jeff Landry.

Cut 7 (13) “…pay raise (2x).” 

The LSU Lady Tigers continue their march towards the national championship tonight. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Humane Society of Louisiana’s Animal Fighting Task Force has rescued more than 40 dogs who were being used for dogfighting in Concordia Parish. They were found abused and abandoned on a 28 acre property in Clayton.  HSLA Director Jeff Dorson.

Cut 14 (06) “…of animal cruelty.”

As for the dogs, Dorson says they’re on the road to recovery; and, pending a temperament assessment, they’ll be put up for adoption.

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There are four proposed changes to the state constitution on Saturday’s ballot, and Amendment 2 is getting lots of attention. It makes several changes to Article Seven of the state constitution, which deals with revenue collection and taxation. Governor Jeff Landry has said this election is a defining moment as passage of this Amendment Two will end the cycle of boom-and-bust cycles and set the state towards the path of prosperity…

Cut 8 (10) “…that cure.”

Invest Louisiana is one of several groups who oppose the passage of Amendment Two. The group’s director Jan (YAHN) Moeller says this amendment comes from a 115-page bill passed by the legislature last November, and the ballot language does not explain the extensive changes that will be made to the constitution….

Cut 9 (09)  “…take a pause.”

Tomorrow is Election Day in Louisiana. There are four constitutional amendments are on the ballot. As Jeff Palermo reports, amendment 2 is getting lots of attention.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The polls open at seven tomorrow morning and close at eight tomorrow night, and Secretary of State Nancy Landry says results should be announced a short time later.

Cut 6 (04) “…for the presidential.”

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The legislature in the upcoming regular session will consider a bill that would eliminate local sales taxes on groceries. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says his measure would provide financial relief to families that have seen grocery prices rise because of inflation…

Cut 11 (11) “…here in Louisiana.”

The LSU Lady Tigers will face North Carolina State tonight in the Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. LSU is playing its best basketball of the season as they scored more than 100 points in their last two games. Coach Kim Mulkey points to the health of her top players…

Cut 17 (16)  “…right now.”

Tip-off is at 6:30 in Spokane, Washington.