State lawmakers are attempting to ban the sale of kratom at gas stations and smoke shops. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Two new buildings are coming to Louisiana Tech. Colleen Crain reports

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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If you’ve ever said you could do a better job than the legislature at balancing the budget, now’s your chance to put up or shut up. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Louisiana lawmakers are debating the future of kratom, an herbal substance with stimulating or sedating effects sold in gas stations and smoke shops. Monroe Senator Jay Morris, seeks a total ban, citing safety concerns and support from law enforcement. Possession could lead to fines or prison. Morris argues that if it’s a medicine, it should have FDA approval.

Cut 4 (11) “…sold in Louisiana.”

Morris says kratom can be addictive, causing hallucinations, nausea and even death.  He says medical professionals are even seeing babies born addicted to the substance.

Cut 5 (06) “…legal substance.”

Some parishes have issued bans amid reports of overdoses and misuse, prompting broader discussions on kratom’s legal status, public safety, and potential therapeutic value.  Morris says some use kratom to manage pain, which is exactly what opioids do.

Cut 6 (12) “…approved as a drug.”

The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association support Morris’s bill.

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Two new buildings are under construction at Louisiana Tech. One of them is the new Origin Bank Academic Center for Student Athlete Success. University President Jim Henderson says it will be located adjacent to Joe Aillet Stadium, and it will help give student-athletes the academic resources they need to be successful in the classroom.

Cut 7 (11) “…are fully supported.”

Henderson says the other one is the Forest Products Innovation Center on the south campus that houses ag and forestry.

Cut 8 (10) “…using yellow pine.”

Henderson says the Forest Products Innovation Center will expand the school’s research capacity.

Cut 9 (07)  “…in the country.”

Both buildings are expected to open in the fall of 2026.

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If you’ve ever said you could do a better job balancing the budget than the elected officials you repeatedly insult on social media, you’re now invited to put your money — make that the state’s money — where your mouth is. PAR, LSU and The Advocate have all teamed up to launch the online game, “Solve The Budget.” PAR President Steven Procopio says it covers many aspects of the state budget.

Cut 10 (10) “…things like that.”

Procopio says you can also decide which facets of education to spend money on and which ones to cut.

Cut 11 (10) “…and university spending.”

Procopio says one practical purpose behind this exercise is to illustrate how daunting of a task it is for the legislature to balance the budget. While the task in Baton Rouge is very intense, the Solve The Budget game makes it easy for you by asking simple yes or no questions, each with a dollar figure of how much the item will cost or how much it will increase revenue by.

Cut 12 (09) “…areas to cut.”

With every decision you make, a line graph at the top shows you how much your surplus or deficit is. The game will remain live throughout the rest of the legislative session.

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The LSU Tigers took two of three from Tennessee in a matchup of the last two College World Series Champions. Freshman left fielder Derek Curiel nearly hit for the cycle yesterday as the Tigers won 12 to 2 in eight innings. One day after failing to reach base in a game for the first time this season, Curiel went 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and five RBI…

Cut 13 (13)  “…going forward.”

LSU improved to 36-9 overall, 14-7 in the SEC. After only getting a total of ten hits in the first two games of the series, the Tigers scored a dozen runs against one of the top pitching staffs in the nation. Coach Jay Johnson liked his team’s approach…

Cut 14 (09) “…good plan.”

The other story in Sunday’s run-rule victory was freshman right-hander Casan Evans, who allowed just two runs over six innings in his first collegiate start. Evans settled down after giving up two runs in the first inning…

Cut 15 (15) “…after that.”

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The Saints have added a quarterback to their roster. They used a second-round pick to select Tyler Shough (“shuck”). He’s 25 years old, played seven seasons of college football with three different schools, and suffered three significant injuries. Coach Kellen Moore says they came away more impressed every time they interacted with Shough during the draft process.

Cut 16 (20) “…he was.”

Shough says it’s been a long journey to get to this point so it was surreal when he got the call from the New Orleans Saints ….

Cut 17 (15)  “…earn it.”

The Saints added depth to their defensive secondary with the selection of Jonas Sanker. Moore says there is a lot to like about Sanker as he was a three-year starter at Virginia, a team captain and led the ACC in tackles for two straight seasons…

cut 18 (19)  “…this guy.”

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At the TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin are your 2025 Zurich Classic champions. The two finished at 28 under par, one stroke better than brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard (HOE-guard). The first and third rounds were played using the best-ball format, while teammates alternated shots in the second and fourth rounds. This is the first PGA win for both Novak and Griffin; and Griffin said after some recent close shaves, this first win is very gratifying.

Cut 19 (14) “…get it done.”

Novak and Griffin were tied throughout much of the final round with their playing partners, Jake Knapp and Frankie Cappan the Third. But the pivotal moment of the tournament came on the 17th hole when Novak and Griffin birdied, while Knapp and Cappan bogied. Novak says after watching Cappan hit his tee shot in the water, that gave his team the opening they needed, and he made sure not to repeat the mistake Cappan made on the tee.

Cut 20 (20) “…on the wind.”

Novak’s tee shot ended up on the fringe, and Griffin sank the 36-foot put for the birdie to put the pair up by two strokes and effectively seal the win. The Hojgaard brothers birdied the 18th to leapfrog Knapp and Cappan and finish second. With the win, Novak and Griffin each take home more than 1.3-million dollars.

Thanks to a 35-3 vote by the Senate, a bill cracking down on “left-lane camping” is zooming over to the House. Sean Richardson has more.

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A bill to ban fluoride in drinking water advances to the full Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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Less than a month after voters rejected a constitutional amendment that included permanent teacher pay raises, Louisiana lawmakers are advancing a bill to increase teacher salaries.  Lafayette Representative Josh Carlson’s bill, approved by the House Education Committee, would require school districts to use savings from eliminating three state trust funds to provide $2,000 raises for teachers and $1,000 for support staff.

Cut 3 (10) “…able to do it.” 

These trust fund eliminations would pay off debts in the teacher retirement system, saving districts money. A companion bill from Carencro representative Julie Emerson was designed to simplify the proposal in response to criticism that the prior Amendment 2 was too complex.

Cut 4 (09) “…teacher pay raise there.”

If both bills pass, voters must again approve the change. Concerns remain about whether some districts can afford the raises, but lawmakers have pledged state subsidies for those needing support. Unlike the original amendment, charter school teachers would also be eligible for raises. Laplace Representative Sylvia Taylor supports the bill and says these changes are crucial.

Cut 5 (08) “…wait on a whim.”

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This season, LSU Shreveport baseball is invincible – literally. 44 games, 44 wins – and many by lopsided scores. Head Coach Brad Neffendorf says his team has really gelled this year.

Cut 6 (14) “…pretty well together.”

Looking at their results, one three-game series really jumps out at you. In late March, the Pilots swept Texas College by the scores of – we’re not making this up – 37-0, 15-0 and 42-4. Never mind home runs, this team scores touchdowns! Neffendorf says one challenge amid such dominance is not to let the team get over-confident.

Cut 7 (09) “…can be beat.”

The Pilots don’t win 44 games in a row without sheer talent, and Coach Neffendorf says his team is loaded with talent, especially Josh Gibson.

Cut 8 (12) “…high-caliber athlete.”

The 44-game winning streak is the longest in NAIA history, and it’s longer than the current NCAA Division One record of 34, set in 1977 by Texas and equaled in 1999 by Florida Atlantic. It matches the Division Three record set by Trinity College of Connecticut in 2008, but it’s two wins shy of the overall four-year collegiate record – Division Two’s Savannah State, which won 46 in a row in 2000. LSU Shreveport can surpass that mark by sweeping Jarvis Christian in Texas this weekend.

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The full Senate has approved legislation cracking down on “left-lane camping,” the act of lingering in the passing lane.  Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau hailed it as “the most important bill of the session,” asserting it would ease traffic flow and reduce road rage.

Cut 9 (13)  “…kind of stuff.”

During the debate, Sen. Royce Duplessis brought levity to the moment by suggesting a theme song, referencing Ludacris’ famous anthem.

Cut 10 (12) “…fitting for this bill”

Current law says a vehicle can not travel less than 10-miles per hour below the speed limit in the left lane of a four-lane highway. Luneau’s proposal changes current law allowing, police officers to ticket motorists who are traveling at or below the speed limit and not looking to pass vehicles in the right.

First time offenders of the proposed law would face a fine of up to 150-dollars. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey jokingly suggested a harsher punishment.

Cut 11 (11) “…pass this.”

The full Senate approved the bill on a 35-3 vote. It now heads to the House for further consideration.

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The Senate Health and Welfare Committee has advanced a bill that would ban fluoride in drinking water. The bill was written by Houma Republican Mike Fesi, who echoed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in saying that fluoride is poison.

Cut 12 (12) “…into our water.”

Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham says excessive levels of fluoride have been shown to lower IQs in babies. He calls it an issue of freedom of choice.

Cut 13 (10)  “…as a physician.”

Opponents, however, say fluoride has proven to be beneficial when used at the right concentration. Baton Rouge pediatric dentist Dr. Robert Delarosa says when fluoride is added to drinking water at the recommended limit of point-seven milligrams per liter, it is an important tool to fight tooth decay. 

Cut 14 (17) “…special needs.”

Annette Droddy, who represents the Louisiana Dental Association’s 19-hundred dentists, says when cities remove fluoride from their drinking water, tooth decay goes up.

Cut 15 (09) “…removal of fluoride.”

The vote was 6-to-3, along party lines.