In a budget presented to lawmakers, Governor Landry is proposing 100-million dollars for the new L-A Scholarship program, which is replacing the state’s current voucher program that’s receiving 46-million dollars in state money. But Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio is also not restoring a nine-million dollar cut made to early childhood education last year…

Cut 15 (12) “…test scores”

House Insurance Committee Chairman Gabe Firment expects a push to expand the Fortified Roof Program, which offers grants of up to 10-thousand dollars to homeowners to strengthen their roofs against wind damage…

Cut 9 (10) “…insurance companies”

Firment says legislators also approved a package of property insurance reforms last year that will hopefully soon provide relief to rising property insurance premiums.

Louisiana’s oldest death row prisoner, who was set to be executed on March 17^th has passed away. 81-year-old Christopher Sepulvado died over the weekend after spending more than 30 years on death row. He was convicted in 1992 in the DeSoto Parish murder of his six-year-old stepson, Wesley Allen Mercer.

Those of you in North Louisiana should dial ten digits for all calls starting today. Andrew Greenstein explains why.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Chairman of the Louisiana House Insurance Committee says an effort will be made in the upcoming legislative session to lower auto insurance rates. Jeanne Burns has more…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

A Red River Parish Sheriff’s Deputy was involved in a wreck on Saturday morning that killed a 70-year-old woman. State Police say Ella Winn of Coushatta made a left turn into the sheriff’s deputy’s Chevy Tahoe, which had its emergency lights and sirens activated. Investigators say Winn was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene, while the deputy, 23-year-old Asia Pikes, suffered severe injuries.

For those living in the 3-1-8 area code, they are encouraged to start dialing all ten digits of a phone number when making a phone call. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says you have six months to get used to dialing ten digits for local calls in the 318 area code before it becomes mandatory August 25th.

Cut 5 (08) “…I don’t think.”

New telephone numbers in the current 318 service area will be assigned the new 457 area code starting September 25th.

State Lawmakers will start making changes to the governor’s proposed budget when the regular session begins April 14^th. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says there are unanswered questions about state and federal financing sources which brings murkiness to this budget cycle…

Cut 14 (14) “…disrupted.”

Landry proposed a budget of nearly 45-billion dollars last week that would shrink overall spending by 430-million dollars.

We are just under 50 days away from the regular legislative session which will begin April 14th. House Insurance Chairman Gabe Firment from Grant Parish says his committee will have a busy agenda….

Cut 7 (08) “…issue to our constituents.”

Firment says this year the priority is auto insurance, in particular the commercial auto insurance sector, where high costs are forcing businesses to park trucks and lay off workers.

During the session, lawmakers will also work on approving a budget for next fiscal year. Governor Landry is proposing 100-million dollars for the new L-A Scholarship program, which is replacing the state’s current voucher program that’s receiving 46-million dollars in state money. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says Landry is proposing not to restore a nine-million dollar cut made to early childhood education last year…

Cut 15 (12) “…test scores”

The Louisiana Travel Association is teaming up with the Louisiana Bed & Breakfast Association to help grow the B&B community. Sean Richardson has more…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan is reportedly moving on after spending just over a year on the job. Reuters is reporting that Sheahan is expected to be named the deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sheahan was 26-years-old when she became LDWF Secretary in 2024 and is known as a skillful political operative.

Louisiana’s oldest death row prisoner, who was set to be executed on March 17^th has passed away. 81-year-old Christopher Sepulvado died over the weekend after spending more than 30 years on death row. He was convicted in 1992 in the DeSoto Parish murder of his six-year-old stepson, Wesley Allen Mercer.

Those of you in North Louisiana should dial ten digits for all calls starting today. Andrew Greenstein explains why.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The governor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year does not contain the two-thousand-dollar teacher pay stipend educators received a couple of years ago. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says funding will become available to make that pay increase permanent if voters approve Constitutional Amendment two on March 29^th

Cut 13 (11)  “…passing.”

There is a lawsuit filed against Constitutional Amendment Two as plaintiffs claim the amendment is misleading to voters and they claim every teacher will not see that two-thousand dollar permanent pay bump.

The Louisiana Travel Association and the Louisiana Bed & Breakfast Association have teamed up to strengthen and grow the bed and breakfast industry. LTA President Chris Landry says the collaboration aims to increase memberships while also providing valuable resources to help B&Bs

Cut 10 (08) “…Bed and Breakfast Association.”

Landry says L-T-A plans to offer marketing support, educational opportunities, and networking to enhance visibility and attract more visitors.

In 2022, New Orleans was known as the murder capital as the city reported 265 murders. The NOPD investigated fewer homicides in 2023 and Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the number of murders went down again in 2024…

Cut 10 (08) “…in murders”

In 2024 there were 124 murders in New Orleans.

A Bayou Blue man is accused of sex crimes, including first-degree rape, against several girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says they started investigating a single complaint by the Department of Children and Family Services against 60-year-old Herman Dupre (DOO-pree), and they found several additional victims.

Cut 6 (08) “…reported by DCFS.”

Captain Matherne says these assaults had been going on for quite some time.

As Mardi Gras season ramps up, crawfish prices are going down and expected to keep falling.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Congressman Clay Higgins have asked President Trump to slap tariffs as high as 100-percent on rice imports from India, Thailand, China, Pakistan and Vietnam. In a letter to the President, the two Republicans from Louisiana says the rice industry contributes 34-billion dollars to the U-S economy, but it’s being displaced by heavily subsidized imported rice.

A Bayou Blue man is accused of sexually assaulting several girls. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

In 2022, New Orleans was known as the murder capital as the city reported 265 murders. The NOPD investigated fewer homicides in 2023 and Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the number of murders went down again in 2024…

Cut 10 (08) “…in murders”

In 2024 there were 124 murders in New Orleans.

The Saints have reportedly hired Brandon Staley as the team’s defensive coordinator. Kellen Moore was an assistant under Staley when Brandon was the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Staley was the defensive coordinator for the Rams in 2020 and NFL analyst Mike Detillier with W-W-L Radio says the Rams had one of the best defensives in the NFL that season…

Cut 12 (11) “…build around”

Staley was the head coach for the Chargers for three seasons from 2021 to 2023, leading L-A to one playoff appearance. He was fired right before the end of the 2023 season and was an assistant-head coach for the 49ers last season.

The 2024 Louisiana Child Care Parent Poll found that over half of parents worry about affording childcare, with costs averaging 633 dollars a month per child.  Mattilyn Batson at the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children says for those without subsidies, expenses rise to nearly 12 hundred dollars monthly.

Cut 14 (08) “…dollars a year.”

Baston they released this poll in hopes lawmakers will provide more funding to help families pay for childcare.