The consulting firm New Orleans hired in the wake of the New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street is out with its recommendations. Andrew Greenstein explains.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Governor Jeff Landry unveiled his insurance reform plan today. He says if approved by lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session it will lower prices for Louisianans. Jeff Palermo has the details…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The seven-year-old girl injured in the house fire in Shreveport over the weekend has died. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux confirmed that this morning in an interview with LRN affiliate KEEL radio.

Cut 3 (14) “…to her injuries.” 

That seven-year-old girl was the first to notice the fire and called her mother, who in turn called 911. The other three victims are the girl’s five-year-old sister, her grandmother and her great-grandmother. Investigators say all were awake at the time of the fire; but without working smoke detectors, they didn’t have time to escape before being overcome with smoke inhalation. Mayor Arceneaux says he normally does not go to fire scenes because he would only interfere with the firefighters; but he says this was one that he felt he needed to go to.

Cut 4 (12) “…as a mayor.”

Arceneaux says this is the worst outcome possible.

Cut 5 (05) “…a long time.”

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Consultants hired by the City of New Orleans have recommended that Bourbon Street be permanently closed to vehicular traffic. Now, the question is – will the city heed that recommendation? In a news conference this morning, Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick seemed non-committal.

Cut 6 (11) “…the community wants.”

The city hired Teneo, led by former New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, to make a recommendation in the wake of the New Year’s Day terror attack, in which a man plowed into a crowd with a pickup truck, killing 14 people. Superintendent Kirkpatrick says Teneo’s recommendation to turn Bourbon Street into a permanent pedestrian mall only addresses ramming.

Cut 7 (11) “…have prevented that.”

The subject of closing off Bourbon Street to vehicular traffic has come up in the past, but businesses had previously pushed back on that notion. Teneo also recommended that St. Charles Street be closed to vehicular traffic as well. But Kirkpatrick says that’s a little more problematic.

Cut 8 (16) “…to their homes.”

Kirkpatrick says it will be up to the City Council to decide which of Teneo’s recommendations to ultimately implement.

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The University of Louisiana at Monroe plans to request approval from the University of Louisiana System Board to implement staff furloughs to address up to a 6-million-dollar budget shortfall before the end of the fiscal year on June 30th. Acting President Nick Bruno, who returned temporarily after retiring in 2020, emphasized that the financial position of the University is fragile.

Cut 9 (09)  “…correcting that problem.”

Bruno says layoffs aren’t currently being considered, though campus restructuring is likely. A hiring freeze began on Monday and all employees working remotely have been recalled…

Cut 10 (12) “…to disperse that.”

Bruno says the primary goal now is to make sure that their estimates and budget align with the revenue of the university for the 2026 fiscal year; and even if furloughs are implemented, it will not affect students.

Cut 11 (10) “…reduced staff anyway.”

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Governor Jeff Landry released an insurance reform plan that if approved by lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session would put new regulations on both insurance companies and trial lawyers. The governor says one of the bills he’s pushing would require attorneys to prove injuries in a claim are the result of the accident…

Cut 12 (15) “…after the accident.”

Landry says he’s poured over the data on why Louisiana’s auto insurance rates are among the highest in the country and found minor injury claims in Louisiana double the national average.

The governor says he also wants to rein in lawyer advertising as he believes that’s pushing car crash victims to seek big settlements…

Cut 13 (15)  “…Louisiana families.”

Landry says his insurance reform plan is a balanced approach as he’s not seeking to pass laws that benefit trial lawyers over insurance companies or vice versa. He says another key to lowering auto insurance rates is fewer wrecks and one to accomplish that is through efforts to minimize distracted driving…

Cut 14 (08) “…today.”

Landry says he supports a bill that would allow law enforcement to pull drivers over that are caught texting or using social media while driving.

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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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Two Lake Charles children reported missing in November have been found and are back home with their father. On March 7, REELZ’s On Patrol: Live aired “Missing” segments featuring Colton and Cohen Desormeaux. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children spokesperson Angeline Hartman says by March 30, thanks to the show’s exposure, both were safely reunited with their family.

Cut 4 (10) “…turn herself in.”

On Patrol Live airing Fridays and Saturdays, partners with NCMEC and the Black and Missing Foundation  to spotlight missing persons cases and encourages viewers to call tip hotlines. Harman says the show changed everything.

Cut 5 (09) “…get involved.”

Hartmann 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.”

Hartman encourages everyone to take part in helping find missing children. Go to missing-kids-dot-org to help .

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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.”

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.”

Knapp says Better Louisiana is proposing legislation to streamline work-based tax credits and expand student access to real-world learning that benefits both students and employers.

Cut 9 (11) “…for their businesses.”

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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 a deep dissatisfaction with the state’s direction on insurance, and a majority of the 500 people polled say the legislature has been ineffective at reining in premiums. Pinsonat says the pressure is on Landry to get something done as the poll shows 46-percent of the respondents have an unfavorable opinion of his job performance and it’s tied to the insurance crisis…

Cut 10 (09) “…lot of credit.”

As for who people believe to be the most responsible for high insurance premiums, insurance companies and trial lawyers tied for the top with almost 20-percent each, followed by natural disasters at more than 16-percent. Pinsonat says at the same time, 36-percent hold the legislature accountable for addressing the crisis.

Cut 11 (11) “…cost of insurance.”

Pinsonat says nearly everyone surveyed said he or she was concerned about the direction of insurance premiums.

Cut 12 (09) “…continue to rise.”

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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.”

Maloz says the project is essential to slowing the loss of coastal land to erosion. 

Cut 14 (14) “…restore our coast.”

Late last year, Governor Landry said the project could devastate the state’s shrimp and oyster fisheries and other marine life. Maloz says that’s no reason to halt the project.

Cut 15 (16) “…economy of Louisiana.”

The total price tag of the project currently stands at more than three-billion dollars, and Landry says he wants to find a less expensive solution.