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.”

A House committee begins holding hearings today on Governor Landry’s spending plan for the next fiscal year.  The governor’s office is seeking an 82-million-dollar increase in state funding for its corrections department.  And The Office of Juvenile Justice is seeking a 28-million-dollar increase as Louisiana’s juvenile justice system is incarcerating more youth offenders. Fifteen-million dollars will be used to open a new youth prison in Vernon Parish, and Appropriations Chair Jack MacFarland says they also want to increase staff salaries.

Cut 5 (11) “…make it competitive.”

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says the state is making great strides towards economic competitiveness. President and CEO Will Green says Louisiana now ranks 24th in the country in both job creation and wage growth and says our state has made significant improvements in the classroom.

Cut 12 (08) “…than ever before.”

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It was a mere formality that the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors made official last Friday – it unanimously appointed Dr. Ramesh Kolluru the new president of U-L Lafayette, removing the interim tag that he had since November. One of Kolluru’s first tasks as he assumes the role full time is to balance the school’s budget, and he says he plans on doing so without any government bailouts.

Cut 14 (10) “…the fiscal year.”

LSU plans to display the Ten Commandments in its classrooms. LSU President Wade Rousse announced on Friday that the university will comply with state law citing a 2024 bill that requires the state to post the Ten Commandments in every K-12 classroom. In addition to college and university classrooms that accept state money.  According to the Louisiana Illuminator, Rousse is waiting for posters to be donated.

It’s been less than three years since the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry introduced a plan to improve our state’s economic competitiveness. Andrew Greenstein has details on the progress.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana’s Office of Motor Vehicles is warning residents about a text scam that claims to be from their office regarding unpaid traffic tickets. OMV officials are warning us all NOT to lick on links in unsolicited messages.

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LSU applicants will once again have to submit their ACT or SAT scores when applying to the Baton Rouge campus. LSU has been operating under a test-optional policy since June 2022. LSU Board of Supervisors member James Williams opposes changing the policy. He says it will put low-income families at a disadvantage because they cannot afford A-C-T tutoring…

Cut 7 (08) “…on testing.”

But LSU says retention rates and the GPA of students who do not submit a standardized test score are lower than those of students who do provide their ACT scores. LSU Chancellor Doctor James Dalton also says the test score is one piece they will look at for admission…

Cut 8 (13) “…success.”

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says the state is making great strides towards economic competitiveness. In 2023, the group released its LA Driven strategic plan, outlining a series of goals to achieve by 2030. President and CEO Will Green says Louisiana now ranks 24th in the country in both job creation and wage growth, both far exceeding their original goals well ahead of schedule.

Cut 11 (10) “…of those goals.”

A House committee begins holding hearings today on Governor Landry’s spending plan for the next fiscal year. The governor’s office is seeking an 82-million-dollar increase in state funding for its corrections department as the prison population has grown. Appropriations Chair Jack MacFarland…

Cut 4 (10) “..tax dollars.” 

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LSU is once again requiring applicants to provide their ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A  rare celestial event to tell you about. From tonight into the early hours of tomorrow, residents in many U.S. states, including ours, will be able to see both the sun and the moon at the same time. This is the last chance to spot a total lunar eclipse until New Year’s Eve 2028.