More than 100,000 customers lost electricity during a series of rolling blackouts on Sunday, but as of Monday morning, power had been fully restored across New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, and the Northshore by the evening and the mandatory outages have ended. We’re told the outages were done to prevent a bigger, longer blackout and keep the grid stable.

Today is Memorial Day, the unofficial start to summer. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says it’s an important day as our country owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, including more than 11-thousand Louisianans.

Cut 14 (12) “…we enjoy today.”

People are remembering Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson today as well.  Robertson, famous for founding the Duck Commander hunting company, had battled multiple health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease.  The family made the announcement Sunday night on Instagram. Phil Robertson was 79 years old.

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The Louisiana Department of Health is responding to an overdose crisis in pregnant women with Project M.O.M, which stands for Maternal Overdose Mortality. According to LDH, accidental opioid overdose has been the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death in Louisiana since 2018.

Cut 6 (10) “…but it is.”

MOM Program Director, Carrie Templeton says the goal of the program is to reduce pregnancy-associated overdose deaths by 80% within the next three years.

This is the time of year when termites rear their ugly heads. LSU entomology professor Aaron Ashbrook says even though you should leave termite treatment to the professionals, there are things you can do to protect your home from termites.

Cut 5 (10) “…survive and thrive.”

Louisiana has an overdose crisis in pregnant women and the Louisiana Department of Health is responding. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

“Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson has died after a battle with Alzheimers. The family made the announcement on Instagram Sunday night.  Years before becoming famous on television, Robertson played football at Louisana Tech. He was a starting quarterback whose backup was NFL legend Terry Bradshaw.  Robertson founded Duck Commander in 1972. “Duck Dynasty”  premiered 40 years later.  Phil Robertson was 79.

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Today is Memorial Day, the day that many people consider to be the start of summer – although the solstice is still a few weeks away. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says in his view, this is the most important holiday of the year.

Cut 13 (09)  “…throughout the world.” (4,000 Louisianans died in WWII)

Meginley says there will be several events throughout the state paying tribute to America’s fallen heroes.

State tourism officials say you can stay cool and enjoy the outdoors this summer by visiting one of Louisiana’s 21 state parks. Director of State Parks, Brandon Burris, says there are pools, water play grounds and beach swimming available to visitors at no additional charge. Burris says water playgrounds are located at several state parks

Cut 9 (11)  “…we have.”

More than 100,000 customers lost electricity during a series of rolling blackouts on Sunday, but as of Monday morning, power had been fully restored across New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, and the Northshore by the evening and the mandatory outages have ended. We’re told the outages were done to prevent a bigger, longer blackout and keep the grid stable.

Today is Memorial Day, the unofficial start to summer. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says it’s an important day as our country owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, including more than 11-thousand Louisianans.

Cut 14 (12) “…we enjoy today.”

People are remembering Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson today as well.  Robertson, famous for founding the Duck Commander hunting company, had battled multiple health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease.  The family made the announcement Sunday night on Instagram. Phil Robertson was 79 years old.

———————————————–

The Louisiana Department of Health is responding to an overdose crisis in pregnant women with Project M.O.M, which stands for Maternal Overdose Mortality. According to LDH, accidental opioid overdose has been the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death in Louisiana since 2018.

Cut 6 (10) “…but it is.”

MOM Program Director, Carrie Templeton says the goal of the program is to reduce pregnancy-associated overdose deaths by 80% within the next three years.

This is the time of year when termites rear their ugly heads. LSU entomology professor Aaron Ashbrook says even though you should leave termite treatment to the professionals, there are things you can do to protect your home from termites.

Cut 5 (10) “…survive and thrive.”

Louisiana has an overdose crisis in pregnant women and the Louisiana Department of Health is responding. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

“Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson has died after a battle with Alzheimers. The family made the announcement on Instagram Sunday night.  Years before becoming famous on television, Robertson played football at Louisana Tech. He was a starting quarterback whose backup was NFL legend Terry Bradshaw.  Robertson founded Duck Commander in 1972. “Duck Dynasty”  premiered 40 years later.  Phil Robertson was 79.

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Today is Memorial Day, the day that many people consider to be the start of summer – although the solstice is still a few weeks away. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says in his view, this is the most important holiday of the year.

Cut 13 (09)  “…throughout the world.” (4,000 Louisianans died in WWII)

Meginley says there will be several events throughout the state paying tribute to America’s fallen heroes.

State tourism officials say you can stay cool and enjoy the outdoors this summer by visiting one of Louisiana’s 21 state parks. Director of State Parks, Brandon Burris, says there are pools, water play grounds and beach swimming available to visitors at no additional charge. Burris says water playgrounds are located at several state parks

Cut 9 (11)  “…we have.”

LSU baseball has advanced to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament after holding off Texas A&M four to three. Ethan Frey homered and drove in three runs as the Tigers built a four to nothing lead. The Aggies nearly tied it in the seventh inning, but Anthony Eyanson got out of jam, stranding a runner at third base. Coach Jay Johnson…

Cut 17 (12)  “…he’s the mane”

The Tigers will play Ole Miss today at around 1:30. The other semifinal game is Tennessee versus Vanderbilt, starting at 10 AM.

In St. Martin Parish, sheriff’s investigators are looking for an LSU SEC championship ring that was stolen earlier this month. Major Ginny Higgins says the ring was among many items stolen from a home on May 13th.

Cut 9 (06)  “…of this ring.”

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The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is holding another Click It or Ticket it campaign.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The House has passed a resolution asking the SEC not to schedule LSU home football games before six p-m in the month of September. Harahan Republican John Illg drafted the resolution after ESPN scheduled LSU’s September 21st home game against UCLA for 2:30 in the afternoon.

Cut 3 (05) “…factor into it.”

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign ramps up seat belt law enforcement, increasing the likelihood of tickets for unbuckled drivers and passengers. The initiative stresses buckling up to avoid a 50-dollar fine and reminds driver’s seat belt safety to reduce crash fatalities. LHSC spokesperson Mark Lambert Lambert says data shows more than 88-percent of Louisiana drivers wear a seat belt, and nearly half of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were unbelted.

Cut 7 (12) “…getting seriously injured”

Monday is Memorial Day, the day many consider the unofficial start of Summer. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says in his view, this is the most important holiday of the year as this country owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Cut 14 (12) “…we enjoy today.”

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In St. Martin Parish, sheriff’s investigators are looking for an LSU SEC championship ring that was stolen earlier this month. Major Ginny Higgins says the ring was among many items stolen from a home on May 13th. Higgins says investigators have made arrests in this case.

Cut 11 (06) “…with anything else.” (suspects are juveniles)

The season is over for the Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana Tech. U-L Lafayette lost in a slugfest, 17-13 to Marshall. The Bulldogs left 14 runners on base in a seven to six defeat to Jacksonville State.  Houston Christian outscored UNO 16-11 to win the Southland Conference Tournament Championship game. Tulane will take on UTSA in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.  Grambling beat Southern and Florida A&M the two teams play again today in the SWAC Tournament. The LSU Tigers are set to play Ole Miss in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.

LSU baseball has advanced to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament after holding off Texas A&M four to three.  Kade Anderson started last night’s game and struck out 12 over six innings for the win. Anthony Eyanson threw three shutout innings for the save. Coach Jay Johnson says the plan was to pitch their two best starting pitchers on Friday night and now others will have to step up today against Ole Miss…

Cut 19 (11) “…move forward”

The House has passed a resolution asking the SEC not to schedule LSU home football games before six p-m in the month of September. Harahan Republican John Illg drafted the resolution after ESPN scheduled LSU’s September 21st home game against UCLA for 2:30 in the afternoon. The temperature at kickoff was 94 degrees with a heat index of 100, and Illg says that was too much for many fans to overcome.

Cut 4 (11) “…here in Louisiana.”

___________________________

Memorial Day is the day many people consider to be the start of summer – although the solstice is still a few weeks away. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says in his view, this is the most important holiday of the year.

Cut 13 (09)  “…throughout the world.”

Meginley says there will be several events throughout the state paying tribute to America’s fallen heroes.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign ramps up seat belt law enforcement, increasing the likelihood of tickets for unbuckled drivers and passengers. LHSC spokesperson Mark Lambert says this high-visibility initiative stresses buckling up to avoid a 50-dollar fine and reminds driver’s seat belt safety to reduce crash fatalities.

Cut 6 (06) “…event of a crash.”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is holding another Click It or Ticket it campaign.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The House has passed a resolution asking the SEC not to schedule LSU home football games before six p-m in the month of September. Harahan Republican John Illg drafted the resolution after ESPN scheduled LSU’s September 21st home game against UCLA for 2:30 in the afternoon.

Cut 3 (05) “…factor into it.”

———————

In St. Martin Parish, sheriff’s investigators are looking for an LSU SEC championship ring that was stolen earlier this month. Major Ginny Higgins says the ring was among many items stolen from a home on May 13th.

Cut 9 (06)  “…of this ring.”

If you have any information on the whereabouts of this ring, call St. Martin Parish Crime Stoppers.

LSU baseball has advanced to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament after holding off Texas A&M four to three. Ethan Frey homered and drove in three runs as the Tigers built a four to nothing lead. The Aggies nearly tied it in the seventh inning, but Anthony Eyanson got out of jam, stranding a runner at third base. Coach Jay Johnson…

Cut 17 (12)  “…he’s the mane”

New research finds that 31-percent of households in Southwest Louisiana are ALICE households, which means they live paycheck to paycheck but their income is high enough to them from qualifying for government assistance.  That number does not include the 15-percent of households in Southwest Louisiana that live in poverty. Tammy Chrisope with United Way Southwest Louisiana says residents that live below the ALICE Threshold are having to make difficult financial survival decisions.

Cut 5 (09) “…rent that month.”

Prostate cancer is on the minds of many Americans in light of the news that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. Ochsner Health Oncologist Dr. Brian Halbert says prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men; and as such, they need to stay on top of their prostate health.

Cut 7 (13) “…around age 45.”

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There was spirited debate on the Senate Floor but no vote was taken on a bill that would make insurance commissioner an appointed position instead of an elected position. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana State Police have recaptured the fifth of 10 escapees from the Orleans Justice Center jail. The latest fugitive caught is Corey Boyd, an escapee who had briefly been spotted last Friday on a French Quarter surveillance camera just hours after the jailbreak. Boyd is accused of killing Brandon Fees during a car burglary in 2024.

The House Appropriations Committee approves a bill that would streamline the post conviction appeals process. Sean Richardson reports Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says death penalty cases in particular are taking too long, because defense attorneys are dragging out the appeals process…

Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The state Supreme Court decided yesterday it will NOT hear the case of an LSU law professor who sued after being removed from his teaching duties after saying using profanity in referring to Governor Jeff Landry in a criminal law class.  The University removed Ken Levy from teaching class but did not change his employment status as he has tenure.

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It was debated yesterday, but in the end a bill that would make the position of insurance commissioner an appointed instead of elected one, did not make it to a vote.  Insurance Commissioners are appointed in 39 other states right now and proponents of this bill say it doing so would take politics out of the role.  But River Ridge Republican Kirk Talbot spoke out against the bill saying the move would do nothing to lower insurance premiums.

Cut 15 (14) “…not this.”

New research finds 31-percent of households in Southwest Louisiana are ALICE households, which means they live paycheck to paycheck but do not qualify for government assistance. Tammy Chrisope with United Way Southwest Louisiana says these workers are the backbone of the community;

Cut 4 (09) “…things like that.”