This Saturday and Sunday it’s Free Fishing Weekend in Louisiana. And of course, fishing is a lot more fun when you don’t have to talk about the one that got away. State Wildlife Fisheries Outreach Biologist Josh Porter says chances are there’s a recently stocked pond near you.

Cut 14 (12)  “…those ponds.”

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The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office has been featured on the A&E show “Murder at the Motel”. The episode tells the story of twenty-eight-year-old Sonya Ortego’s (or-ta-go) murder at the Dees Motel by Jackie Pruitt on March 24, 2016. Chief Deputy Jared Morton describes the scene.

Cut 3 (11) “…all over the walls.” 
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Governor Landry has signed legislation that prohibits transgender individuals from using restrooms, locker rooms and sleeping quarters at public schools and jails that do not match their biological sex. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 
Looks like there could be a second Bucee’s location in Louisiana. Right now preparation and construction are underway for one in Ruston. It’s expected to open next year. Now it looks like Lafayette could soon be getting the popular spot. According to The Advocate, the construction company that has built other Bucee’s has requested a variance with the zoning board in Lafayette.

President Biden is enacting new migrant restrictions at the southern border. Colleen Crain has reaction from Louisiana’s U-S Senators…
cut 3 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The founder and CEO of Acadian Ambulance, Richard Zuschlag, has passed away at the age of 76. The Pennsylvannia native moved to Lafayette in 1970 and started Acadian Ambulance in 1971 with two ambulances. The Lafayette based company now has 52-hundred employees and operates in 37 parishes in Louisiana.
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Governor Jeff Landry and several other Republican Governors are calling on President Joe Biden to ease regulatory pressure on the fossil fuel industry, prioritize technology and to end his moratorium on permits for liquid natural gas export facilities. Landry says more domestice energy production could reduce inflation….
Cut 6 (05) “…pockets of Americans.”

The Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo in Monroe is celebrating its 100th birthday this month. City of Monroe spokesperson Emily Stogner says they had a big celebration last weekend…
Cut 11 (10) “…100 years.”
The newest addition is the Louisiana Purchase exhibit where visitors can feed animals and get a sense of what it was like during the time of the Louisiana Purchase.

Republican lawmakers are questioning the timing of President Joe Biden’s plan that would significantly restrict migrants at the southern border, saying it’s too little too late. The president unveiled the plan to gain control of the border and restore order yesterday. This as Republicans like Senator John Kennedy point out the number of border crossings has dramatically increased under the Biden Administration.

Cut 15 (11)  “…illegally.”

The Council for a Better Louisiana is talking about some of the education wins Louisiana Lawmakers passed this legislative session. In addition to the Gator Scholarship Program, Higher Education chalked up another win…as lawmakers dedicated 75 million dollars to work on a much bigger deferred maintenance plan.

Cut 8 (08) “…higher ed.” 

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Several governors including Louisiana’s Jeff Landry spoke at a diesel refinery in Chalmette to criticize the Biden administration’s energy policy. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”
A flood watch is in effect for much of Northwest Louisiana today due to saturated soil across much of the area all the way from Shreveport to Monroe down through Natchitoches and Jena. Forecasters say 1 to three more inches of rain is expected that could cause ponding on local roadways and heavy run-off to local waterways.

Governor Jeff Landry and several of other Republican governors spoke at a diesel refinery in Chalmette to hammer the Biden administration’s energy policy and called on the president “to pursue an all-of-the-above energy approach” that will promote homegrown energy that benefits all Americans. Governor Landry says the Biden administration’s enhanced energy regulations have cost taxpayers almost $1.4 trillion since he took office.

Cut 5 (10) “…domestic energy.” 
President Joe Biden announced plans to for restrictions that would affect migrants at the southern border. Under the plan, once border encounters reach 25-hundred a day, anyone without a reason to fear return to their country will be removed from the U-S. Asylum seekers will also be held to a higher screening standard than previously used but Congressmen Bill Cassidy isn’t sure it’s enough.

Cut 14 (10)  “…under Biden.”

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Besides the Gator Scholarship Program, several education bills were passed in the session. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says interventions to improve literacy in Louisiana have led to improved reading scores and now there will also be a focus on math.

Cut 7 (12) “…numbers up.”
The Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo in Monroe celebrates its 100^th year birthday this June. City of Monroe spokesperson Emily Stogner…

Cut 10 (12) “…fresh new look.”

President Joe Biden has immediate plans Tuesday to put significant restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. His plan becomes active when border encounters reach 2,500 per day, then any migrant without a reason to fear return to their country will be removed from the US within days or hours. Many Republicans including Senator Bill Cassidy question the president’s timing.

Cut 13 (10)  “… illegal immigration.”
Governor Jeff Landry and several of other Republican governors spoke at a diesel refinery in Chalmette to hammer the Biden administration’s energy policy and called on the president “to pursue an all-of-the-above energy approach” that will promote homegrown energy that benefits all Americans.

Cut 4 (09) “…cost to Americans.”

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When it comes to how education fared in the most recent legislative session, one advocacy group says it’s a mixed-bag. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Shreveport police are investigating a deadly shooting at a convenience store. It happened at the In and Out Mini Mart on Linwood Avenue. Police say the victim was shot in the head and died of his injuries. This is the 29th homicide in the city of Shreveport so far in 2024.

What was predicted to be the highest job growth in 25 years for Louisiana, ended up being just average. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 
St. John Parish detectives are looking for suspects in the early morning murder of a 16 year old girl they say was specifically targeted. Sheriff Mike Tregre says Aariah Henry of Reserve was shot yesterday as she sat in her car on Airline Highway near Central Avenue in Reserve. It happened just after two am as the suspect vehicle pulled alongside Henry’s and opened fire. We’re told Henry was rushed to the hospital, but died of her injuries.

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The first regular legislative session during Jeff Landry’s tenure as governor has ended. And LaPolitics dot com publisher says it established Landry as Louisiana’s most powerful governor in modern history, as he accomplished much of what was on his agenda. But not everything went the governor’s way. Alford says not getting the constitutional convention he wanted was a blow to the governor and many big picture ideas were put on hold in this session.

Cut 11 (10) “…November ballot.”
In other news from the session, a highly publicized bill that did not make it through the process was one that would have banned THC in products that could be consumed in Louisiana. Supporters of the legislation say the THC in these products can get a person high. Opponents of the legislation argued it would kill the state’s growing THC market.

Louisiana lawmakers gave final approval yesterday t0 $48 billion in budget bills yesterday, restoring funding for a two-thousand dollar stipend for teachers, but cutting spending on early childhood education programs. The house had cut the level of the teacher stipends, but the Senate restored the full amount Governor Jeff Landry had proposed. The House voted yesterday to support that.
Governor Jeff Landry has seen the first regular legislative session during his term come to an end. Colleen Crain looks at how it went…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.” 
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The University of Louisiana at Monroe is on the receiving end of a 750 thousand dollar grant designed to create opportunities for students looking for careers in the film industry. Associate Professor of Communication, Dr. Chris Mapp says the grant will have far-reaching effects…

Cut 5 (12) “…valuable access.” 

The Ragin Cajuns ran out of gas in the College Station Regional. After pounding Texas 10 to 2 on a hot Sunday afternoon on Texas A-and-M’s campus. The Aggies defeated U-L Lafayette nine to four last night to win the College Station Regional.

Tulane was eliminated in the Corvalis Regional yesterday after giving up nine runs in the seventh inning and losing to U-C Irvine 7 to 7/

Louisiana Tech, Grambling State and Nicholls saw their seasons end on Saturday.

LSU Eunice won its eight national championship in division two junior college baseball yesterday while the LSU baseball Tigers won two games yesterday and are just one win away from hosting a Super Regional Series. Today’s Regional Championship game against North Carolina is set for five this evening.

The first regular legislative session during Jeff Landry’s tenure as governor has ended and La Politics dot com publisher, Jeremy Alford says it was a busy one. Alford believes it was a big test for Landry and he says he comes out of the session as Louisiana’s most powerful governor in modern history. One piece of legislation will especially be remembered.

Cut 10 (08) “…in government.”
Republican Governors will hold a press conference today in Chalmette to discuss what they’re calling the Biden Administration’s unprecedented attacks on American energy and their plan to unleash American Energy. Governors from eight states, including Alaska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and several others will be on hand for today’s news conference which is set for three this afternoon at PBF Entergy’s Chalmette Refinery.

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Despite predictions that job growth in Louisiana would be around 40-thousand, the numbers aren’t quite that high. In fact ULL Acadiana Business Economist Gary Wagner says after revisions, the state only gained about 10-thousand jobs.

Cut 7 (13) “…our average.”

Speaking of jobs, the University of Louisiana at Monroe has received the state’s Entertainment Development Fund of $750 thousand grant over three years to create opportunities for students looking for a career in the film industry.  Associate Professor of Communication, Dr. Chris Mapp

Cut 4 (12) “…fill that void.”

A new bill would give Governor Jeff Landry the power to appoint almost 150 state board and commission chairs. Until now, the boards selected their chairs, and the most the governor could do was appoint a majority of board members and indirectly name the chair. Landry says that this change empowers new governors to further the policies they were elected on.

Cut 9 (09) “…sees fit.” 

Meantime, legal experts say former President Donald Trump will most likely not serve jail time, but LSU Law Professor Lisa Avalos says there are legal implications stemming from his 34 felony convictions, for example possibly losing the right to vote or possess firearms.

Cut 13 (12) “…vote for him.” 

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A chemical plant in St. John the Baptist Parish is threatening to shut down if EPA restrictions aren’t relaxed. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

Today is the official start of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season, and NOAA has predicted it will be the most active on record with 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes. National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan…

Cut 6  (09) “…hurricane season. ” 

Hurricane season officially began today…and experts are expecting this will be the most active season on record. Officials say it’s important to know your risks. If you live in a storm surge evacuation zone, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brenna says you should already have a plan of where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, and what you’ll take with you.

Cut 8 (11)  “…to stay.” 

While legal experts say former President Donald Trump will most likely not serve jail time, many believe there are other implications. Political pundits believe the former president’s convictions could sway undecided voters. LSU Law Professor Lisa Avalos says before Thursday it was a question if he would be convicted and now it’s a reality.

Cut 15 (10) “…the land.

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Synthetic rubber manufacturer Denka Performance Elastomer says it will be forced to shut down its Reserve plant if EPA restrictions aren’t relaxed after the agency shortened Denka’s deadline to reduce emissions from 2 years to 90 days. The EPA says the 90-day rule is needed because Denka poses a quote-unquote “imminent and substantial danger” to nearby communities. But, Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser thinks it’s more political than that.

Cut 4 (10) “…do this.” 

Local advocacy group Rise St. James says Denka is poisoning people in Reserve, and celebrates the potential closure. Bowser says Rise St. James doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

Cut 5 (06)  “…prove that.”

Denka says they would have no choice but to shut the plant down if forced to adhere to the reduced deadline.