LRN AM Newscall May 4

The redistricting debate is expected to begin at the state capitol this week. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The first four months of 2026 have shown encouraging signs on the insurance front in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Louisiana has allocated one-point-five billion dollars on coastal protection and restoration projects next fiscal year, but one group remains upset the Landry administration cancelled two large river diversion projects. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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With four weeks to go in the legislative session, state lawmakers are expected to begin this week the public debate on drawing up a new Congressional district map. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the current map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. At issue is the sixth district, which in 2024 was created as the state’s second major minority district and Democrat Cleo Fields represents it. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says not only does the sixth district’s boundaries need to be changed, several others need to be redrawn too.

Cut 4 (09) “…all that out.”

Redistricting is never a fun process for the Louisiana Legislature. Pinsonat says one factor that makes this map drawing exercise more complicated is that you have three state lawmakers running for Congress…

Cut 5 (06) “…I can run.”

State senators Blake Miguez and Rick Edmonds and state representative Michael Echols were all candidates in the 5th District race.

Pinsonat expects the map that this Louisiana Legislature will approve will look much like the one approved by lawmakers in 2022 that was challenged legally by civil rights groups…

Cut 6 (10) “…please them.”

Pinsonat also expects the Louisiana Legislature will approve legislation that would move the U-S House races back to an open primary.

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Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the trend in the first four months in 2026 has been mainly positive.

Cut 7 (10) “…specific to homeowners.”

Temple says while a small handful of auto insurance companies have filed for rate increases, the vast majority which have filed for rate changes have filed for rate decreases. He cautions policyholders, however, that that doesn’t mean they’ll see a lower bill next month.

Cut 8 (12) “…a rate decrease.”

Temple says the fact that some insurance carriers have filed for rate increases proves that the job of insurance reform is not done yet.

Cut 9 (05)  “…work to do.”

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The Louisiana Legislature has given final approval to a one-point-five billion dollar plan for coastal protection and restoration. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Gordon Dove says one of the highlights of the annual plan is a 94-mile land bridge from Port Sulphur in Plaquemines Parish to Terrebonne Parish…

Cut 10 (11) “…eight parishes.”

Restore the Mississippi River Delta supports many of the projects including the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp, which will divert fresh water from the Mississippi River into the second-largest coastal forest remaining in Louisiana. Amanda Moore is with the National Wildlife Federation

Cut 11 (11) “…outside of New Orleans.”

But Restore the Mississippi River Delta remains upset that the Landry administration cancelled the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton Sediment diversions were cancelled. Moore says the state already spent nearly 700-million dollars in Deepwater Horizon funds on these two large diversions…

Cut 12 (12) “…restore the coast.”

However Dove says you get a better bang for your buck with land bridges…

Cut 13 (10) “…coast..”

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Multiple lawsuits have been filed seeking to force the elections for U.S. House to proceed. Among them was one filed by fifth district Democratic candidate Lindsay Garcia, who said Landry was out of bounds in calling off the House elections.

Cut 14 (11) “…he contradicts himself.”

While the House elections are suspended, early voting for all other races, including U.S. Senate, is underway, which Garcia says adds to the problem

Cut 15 (08) “…getting right now.”

Garcia points out that, as is the case with all Supreme Court rulings, there is a waiting period of 32 days before Wednesday’s ruling becomes final, so the ruling would not become final until well after the May 16th primary election.. 

Cut 16 (13) “…the Louisiana legislature.”

In a separate case, the 19th Judicial District Court Friday afternoon rejected an attempt to force the state to hold the U.S. House elections.

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The Ragin Cajuns swept Georgia State this past weekend at Tigue Moore Field to get U-L Lafayette back to the .500 mark in Sun Belt Belt play. Coach Matt Deggs sweeps in conference play make up for games you could have won earlier in the season…

Cut 17 (23)  “…sometimes.”

The Cajuns defeated Georgia State four to three on Sunday to complete the sweep and a 5-0 week. Shortstop Blaze Rodriguez was part of a dramatic double play to end the game and says getting the brooms out is always fun…

Cut 18 (10)  “…pitchers.”

The Cajuns host UNO on Tuesday.

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The LSU baseball team’s faint NCAA Tournament hopes are still alive after getting a much needed sweep over South Carolina. Catcher Cade Arrambide had another big day on Sunday, with three hits and an RBI. Arrambide says after losing nine straight SEC games, LSU needed this sweep…

Cut 19 (10) “…good teams.”

Zac Cowan was the winning pitcher on Sunday as he threw six shutout innings. LSU’s pitchers were in command all weekend, allowing just four runs during the three game series. Coach Jay Johnson says throwing strikes makes a difference…

Cut 20 (19) “…this weekend.”

7:30 LRN Sportscast

Because of the rain, just a couple of Louisiana college baseball teams played last night. Louisiana Tech fell to Dallas Baptist four to one. Declan Dahl suffered the loss for the Bulldogs, despite striking out nine over seven innings. He gave up a two-run homer in the second inning and the Bulldogs could only muster five hits.

Also last night…Charlotte blanked Tulane ten to nothing.

LSU will start its series against South Carolina at 1 PM today and then play game two at 6:30. LSU starting pitcher Casan Evans has been ruled out. It’s the second weekend in a row, he will not pitch after experiencing arm discomfort last weekend in Starkville.

The Ragin Cajuns also made the decision to play a doubleheader today,  Game one of the double dip will start following Jonathan Lucroy’s jersey retirement ceremony, which is scheduled for 2 PM.

ULM also has a doubleheader today at 1 PM against 12th ranked Southern Miss.

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Southeastern Louisiana and Lamar are tied for first place in the Southland and the Lions and Cardinals will begin their series today at 1:05 PM. Nicholls and UNO will play a doubleheader beginning at 3 today. McNeese and Stephen F Austin will also play two starting at three.

Grambling and Florida A-and-M were supposed to begin a series on Friday, but they will play a doubleheader today. The two games will be played at Louisiana Tech at one clock and the final game of the series will be played Sunday on Grambling’s campus.

Rain has also postponed softball tournaments…the LHSAA softball semifinals are today and championship games will be tomorrow. In the Southland Tournament in Lake Charles…Northwestern State tries to avoid elimination when they take on Stephen F Austin at 11 AM and McNeese meets Nicholls in a winner’s bracket game.

Over in Hammond…top seeded Southeastern Louisiana will face fifth seeded Lamar at 11 AM.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Because of the rain a lot of teams are playing doubleheaders tomorrow, including the LSU baseball team, who will start its series against South Carolina at 1 PM tomorrow and then play game two at 6:30. LSU starting pitcher Casan Evans has been ruled out. It’s the second weekend in a row, he will not pitch after experiencing arm discomfort last weekend in Starkville.

The Ragin Cajuns also made the decision to play a doubleheader tomorrow. Game one of the double dip will start following Jonathan Lucroy’s jersey retirement ceremony, which is scheduled for 2 PM.

ULM will begin a doubleheader tomorrow at 1 PM against 12th ranked Southern Miss.

Southeastern Louisiana and Lamar are tied for first place in the Southland and the Lions and Cardinals will begin their series tomorrow at 1:05 PM. Nicholls and UNO will play a doubleheader beginning at 3 tomorrow. McNeese and Stephen F Austin will also play two starting at 3 tomorrow.

Grambling and Florida A-and-M were supposed to begin a series on Friday, but they will play a doubleheader on Saturday. The two games will be played at Louisiana Tech at one clock and the final game of the series will be played Sunday on Grambling’s campus.

 

Louisiana Tech is in Dallas for a three game series against Dallas Baptist. Both teams are tied for third place in Conference USA. Bulldogs Senior catcher Matt Houston has been on a hot streak over his last several games. Houston hit two home runs earlier this week against ULM, and Coach Lane Burroughs says that he has earned the opportunity to become an everyday player.

Cut 20 (11) “…every day now.”

Rain has also postponed softball tournaments…the LHSAA softball semifinals are tomorrow and championship games will be Saturday. In the Southland Tournament in Lake Charles…Northwestern State tries to avoid elimination when they take on Stephen F Austin at 11 AM and McNeese meets Nicholls in a winner’s bracket game.

3:30 LRN Newscast

A new poll on the Republican U.S. Senate primary shows State Treasurer John Fleming leading the field with 28-percent of the vote, followed by Julia Letlow at 27-percent and Bill Cassidy at 21-percent. Emerson College and KLFY-TV conducted the survey; and Pearson Cross, who teaches political science at ULM, says this is an extremely close race with 22-percent undecided.

Cut 6 (04) “…be shut out.”

Cross says the poll is bad news for Cassidy, because the two-term incumbent Senator is trailing his two challengers with early voting starting Saturday.

 

Governor Landry’s executive order that suspended the U-S House elections has prompted lawsuits in an effort to get the courts to rule that the Congressional primaries should go on as scheduled. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the only requirement from federal law is that the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November is the only mandatory election day….

Cut 4 (07) “…congressional elections”

A beloved crossing guard in Livingston Parish is killed by a suspected drunk driver. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein

Pop star and Louisiana native Britney Spears has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This charge stems back to her arrest in March when she was allegedly driving fast and erratically on U-S 101 near her home in California. Following that arrest, the 44-year-old from Kentwood checked herself into a treatment facility.

2:30 LRN Newscast

A poll of 500 likely Republican primary voters has John Fleming with a slight lead over Julia Letlow in the Senate Republican Primary. Bill Cassidy is a few percentage points back of Fleming and Letlow in the survey conducted by Emerson College and KLFY-TV in Lafayette. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says according to the poll, only 15-percent of the respondents have an unfavorable opinion of Fleming…

Cut 8 (10) “….feeling the effects”

Wednesday was a historic night for the Louisiana Lottery as eleven players in the state matched five numbers in the Powerball game and won either one or two million dollars. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Chrislyn Maher…

Cut 10 (11) “…million dollar prize.

 

A House bill that would eliminate vehicle inspection stickers is nearing final passage. The bill’s author, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, says it’s inconvenient for drivers to have to get a vehicle inspection sticker every year or two.  But Davey Quinn of Hammond says passage of Bagley’s bill will result in more uninsured motorists, vehicles with tinted windows darker than they should be and vehicles not fit for the road.

Cut 28  (10) “…the people first.”

Despite Quinn’s strong objection the House approved bill heads to the Senate floor for approval.

Sad story out of Denham Springs as beloved school crossing guard, 74-year-old Katy Wells was killed while directing traffic by an alleged drunk driver. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard…

Cut 14 (12) “,,,when we drive”

1:30 LRN Newscast

With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s congressional map, legislative leaders say they will approve a new map before the session is required to end on June 1st. Four Republicans and two Democrats currently make up Louisiana’s U.S. House delegation. LaPolitics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says Wednesday’s historic Supreme Court ruling gives legislative leaders a chance to pass a map that would add to the number of Republicans in the U.S. House.

Cut 15 (06) “…five one map.”

Governor Landry has issued an executive order that has suspended the U-S House elections as a result of this week’s Supreme Court Decision. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says usually the does not respond that fast to a ruling from the nation’s highest court…

Cut 5 (12) “….than 100 years”

 

A new poll from Emerson College and KLFY-TV on the U-S Senate Republican primary shows John Fleming and Julia Letlow are statistically tied, while Bill Cassidy trails his challengers by a few percentage points. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says in the survey of 500 likely Republican primary voters, nearly half of them have an unfavorable view of Cassidy…

Cut 7 (08) “..gonna grow.”

The Louisiana Lottery reports there are eleven new millionaires in the Bayou State as result of Wednesday’s Powerball drawing. Spokesperson Chrisyln Maher says six people won one million dollars with Powerball match-5 winning tickets and five people won two-million with Powerball match-5, plus the Power play…

cut 11 (10) “…it was two”

11:40 LRN sportscast

No LSU baseball game tonight because of the rain,  instead they will play a doubleheader tomorrow at 1 PM and 6:30 Saturday.  LSU will look to snap a nine-game SEC losing streak. LSU has had trouble winning close games and they blew leads in all three losses to Mississippi State last weekend. Coach Jay Johnson believes that could change soon…

Cut 18 (19) “….season so far”

South Carolina comes into the series 7-and-14 in the SEC and they’ve won two of their last three series. S-L-U, McNeese and Nicholls all won on the opening day of the Southland Tournament.

In softball…LSU blanked Auburn three to nothing, the Cajuns lost to South Alabama four to nothing, La Tech swept a doubleheader from UTEP.

 

Louisiana Tech is in Texas to take on Dallas Baptist in a pivotal three-game series. The Patriots rank first in Conference USA and fifth nationally in home runs with 91. Coach Lane Burroughs says DBU can play small ball too…

Cut 19 (14) “…an offensive standpoint.”

Tech and D-B-U are in a three-way tie for third place in Conference USA.

ULM is at 12th ranked Southern Miss. That series will begin Saturday as the two teams will play a doubleheader. The Ragin Cajuns host Georgia State. They will also play a doubleheader tomorrow start after the Jonathan Lucroy Jersey Retirement Ceremony which is at 2 PM.

Southeastern Louisiana is at Lamar in a battle for first place in the Southland. That’s another series that will start Saturday with a doubleheader.

Grambling wraps up its home schedule by hosting Florida A-and-M.

11:30 LRN Newscast

A new poll on the Republican US Senate primary shows State Treasurer John Fleming leading the field with 28-percent of the vote, followed by Julia Letlow at 27-percent and Bill Cassidy at 21-percent. Emerson College and KLFY-TV conducted the survey and Pearson Cross who teaches political science at ULM says this is an extremely close race with 22-percent undecided…

Cut 6 (04) “….shutout”

Cross says the poll is bad news for Cassidy, because the two-term incumbent Senator, is trailing his two challengers with early voting starting on Saturday.

 

With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s congressional map, legislative leaders say they will approve a new map before the session is required to end on June 1st. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says a session that was coasting along could experience some turbulence over the next few weeks.

Cut 14 (10) “…a fast track.”

Alford says GOP lawmakers will look to add a Republican to Louisiana’s House delegation by passing a map that would give Republicans a chance to win five of the state’s six Congressional districts.

 

One of the more popular bills of the legislative session is close to final passage. Its Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley’s bill to eliminate the inspection sticker and replace it with a QR code that would cost drivers six dollars a year. Owners of inspection stations say they play a vital role in identifying uninsured drivers and safety hazards that a vehicle may have. But Bagley says the inspection is no longer needed…

Cut 7 (09) “…safety issue here”

The House approved bill is heading to the Senate floor for approval.

According to Gas Buddy, the average regular gas price in Louisiana is $3.83 a gallon. Chief Petroleum analyst for Gas Buddy, Patrick DeHaan says this latest surge in gas prices is connected to the rising cost of oil.

Cut 12 (10) “…prices going up.”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team begins a must-win three-game series against South Carolina tonight. Both the Tigers and Gamecocks are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive, and coach Jay Johnson believes South Carolina will give his team its best shot.

`         Cut 17 (18)  “…be highly competitive.”

LSU is 6-15 in SEC play, the Gamecocks are 7-14 in the SEC and they won two of their last three SEC series. First pitch is at 6:30 weather permitting.

LSU softball blanked Auburn three to nothing to open their final SEC series of the season. Paytn Monticelli threw seven shutout innings and struck out nine for her eighth win of the year.

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Louisiana Tech is in Texas to take on Dallas Baptist in a pivotal three-game series. The Patriots rank first in Conference USA and fifth nationally in home runs with 91. Coach Lane Burroughs says DBU can play small ball too…

Cut 19 (14) “…an offensive standpoint.”

Tech and D-B-U are in a three-way tie for third place in Conference USA.

ULM is at 12th ranked Southern Miss. That series will begin Saturday as the two teams will play a doubleheader. The Ragin Cajuns host Georgia State. They hope to play tonight at 6 PM in Lafayette.

Southeastern Louisiana is at Lamar in a battle for first place in the Southland. That’s another series that will start Saturday with a doubleheader.

Grambling wraps up its home schedule by hosting Florida A-and-M.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team picked up a much-needed win over Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday night. Even though LSU’s bats are heating up at the right time, the pitching staff continues to struggle. The Tigers have allowed 36 runs over their last five games and rank last in the SEC with a 5.32 ERA. Coach Jay Johnson says Pitching Coach Nate Yeskie and Director of Pitching Development Jamie Tutko met to address the issues and says the staff has to execute better in order to turn things around.

Cut 18 (16)  “…than they have.”

Johnson says sophomore pitcher Casan Evans will throw at practice today for the first time since being scratched from his start at Mississippi State last week. He added that it is still uncertain whether Evans will pitch at any point during this weekend’s series against South Carolina.

LSU football’s cornerback room took a hit earlier this month when sophomore Aidan Anding suffered a torn Achilles during a scrimmage. Head coach Lane Kiffin says the position group is a concern due to limited depth and believes the Tigers will need several players to step up this summer.

Cut 20 (17) “…what you have?”

McNeese opened up the Southland Conference Softball Tournament with a 5-4 win over Stephen F. Austin on Thursday. The Cowgirls will play the winner of Northwestern State and Nicholls on Friday at 2 p.m.

Louisiana Tech softball picked up its fifth straight win today after shutting out UTEP, 5-0.

The 2026 LHSAA Softball Tournament has been rescheduled to Saturday and Sunday due to inclement weather expected to impact the Sulphur area throughout the day on Friday.