Legendary rock Band, the Rolling Stones, make their long-awaited appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Fest today. Michelle Southern has the story…

Cut 1 (40) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

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Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says he’s still running for the 6^th congressional district even though the lines of that district are still to be determined.

Cut 2 (32)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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State lawmakers have convinced the Landy Administration to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program which helps feed children from needy families. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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The Rolling Stones, kick off the second weekend of Jazz Fest with a special performance at the New Orleans Fairgrounds at 5 PM today. Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis says the legendary rock band was booked to play at Jazz Fest in 2019, but Mick Jagger had heart issues. It was rescheduled for 2020, but canceled because of Covid.  He says it worked out this year as the Stones just started a new tour across the U-S and Canada…

Cut 4 (11) “…on Thursday”

The Stones play Jazz Fest as their second stop in the “Hackney Diamonds” tour, and sometimes with older acts and busy festivals, you can’t always get what you want, but Davis says that they haven’t missed a beat as their Houston performance was given electric reviews.

Cut 5 (12) “…over two hours.” 

The Rolling Stones are just one of many great artists scheduled to play this weekend. Foo Fighters, Neil Young, and Queen Latifa are also on the schedule. Davis says the weather is also cooperating so this could be one of the best Jazz Fests’ ever…

Cut 6 (13) “…all time festivals.”

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Louisiana is the only state without a finalized congressional map and Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields announced that he would run for the 6^th district from the map state lawmakers approved in January with two majority-black congressional districts After three years of back and forth, Fields says it’s time for the Supreme Court to settle the matter…

Cut 7 (11) “…at all now.”

A meeting is set for Monday for all interested parties in Shreveport. But in the meantime, Fields says it’s in the cards that he’s running…

Cut 8 (09) “…look like.” 

The Secretary of State’s Office has stood firm on a May 15^th deadline for a map to be finalized for the fall election. As far as Fields is concerned after multiple court cases and legislative sessions to draw the map, it’s time to go to the highest court.

Cut 9 (07)  “…them decide.”

Congressman Garret Graves says he’s running for re-election to the 6^th congressional district.

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Senate President Cameron Henry says at the urging of state lawmakers the Landry administration has decided to participate in a federal summer feeding program that provides 40-dollars a month per child to needy families. Henry says the decision comes after a meeting with leaders of DCFS and the Department of Education…

Cut 10 (08) “…working together.”

In February, Governor Landry announced the state would not opt into the Summer EBT program. A spokesperson for the governor said it was a pandemic era related program that costs seven million dollars and the pandemic is over. DCFS Secretary David Matlock says the state should be more focused on a pathway to self-suffiency.

But House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says this is a program that could serve as many as 450-thousand children. He says an investment of three-point-six million dollars will lead to 71-million dollars in federal money

Cut 11 (07) “…,money”

McFarland says he’s heard from constituents who relied on the summer EBT program the last two summers and the Landry administration should make it available this summer…

Cut 12 (08) “…to do.” 

Summer EBT officially begins June 4th. Congress passed a law which was signed by President Biden that made the program permanent.

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Louisiana’s homestead exemption will not be changed as part of the proposed rewrite of the state’s constitution. New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu has amended his constitutional convention bill to protect the homestead exemption in the state constitution

Cut 13 (11)  “…to protect.”

Beaullieu also amended the legislation so the K-through-12th grade public school financing formula can not be touched. And Beaullieu has also removed the language that allows for private funding to pay for the convention…

Cut 14 (04)  “…(x2) for sale.”

A vote on Beaullieu’s bill that calls for a constitutional convention to begin later this month was scheduled for a vote on Wednesday. But after the amendments were added, the bill was put back on the calendar…

Cut 15 (10)  “…2024.”

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The Ragin Cajuns baseball team is heading into what could be their toughest series yet when they face Troy this weekend. UL-Lafayette is currently on top of the Sun Belt Conference standings at 17 and 4 while Troy is at 14 and 7. Cajuns Coach Matt Deggs has a healthy respect for the Trojans.

Cut 16 (17)  “…their ballpark.”

The Ragin Cajuns have only lost one series this season in Sun Belt play. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers took advantage of the Cajuns mistakes and took two out of three games at their home park. Deggs says that keeping “freebies” under control will significantly help the Cajuns win their tough road series against Troy.

Cut 17 (20) “…of them.”

The Cajuns and Trojans will face off Friday with first pitch at 6 pm and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will travel to take on the New Mexico State Aggies this weekend. The Bulldogs lead Conference USA with an 11-4 record. Tech Head Coach Lane Burroughs says going to New Mexico is a new experience for many of his coaches and players, but they are excited to play in Las Cruces

Cut 18 (16)  “…Coach Fouts.”

The Bulldogs pitching staff will have their hands full this weekend as New Mexico State leads Conference USA in batting percentage with an average of .304 this season. Their ball park in Las Cruces, New Mexico slightly favors hitters and Burroughs has taken note of this important information.

Cut 19 (20) “…at home.” 

The Bulldogs are on a 6 game winning streak dating back to their series clinching win over Dallas Baptist University on April 21st. Bulldogs Coach Burroughs says that he is proud of how his team has performed this season and that LA Tech has put themselves in a really good position to make a run in the postseason.

Cut 20 (20) “…. can ask.”

The Bulldogs and Aggies face off Friday with first pitch at 7 pm and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Louisiana is expected to see heavy rainfall during overnight hours. Bill Jacquemin has information on a flash flood watch that’s been posted for a large portion of the state….

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin”

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Congressman Garret Graves, whose district was heavily altered in the most recent congressional map, was among the plaintiffs who filed suit against that map that was overturned Tuesday.

Cut 2 (28)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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In a historic move, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is looking to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Peter Robins-Brown with Louisiana Progress says with close to 40 states having medical marijuana and two dozen with legalized recreational use….

Cut 3 (12) “…their ways.” 

In terms of what that means for Louisiana in terms of medicinal cannabis…

Cut 4 (08) “..medicine.” 

Currently, marijuana is in the same classification as heroin and LSD. If approved, it would change from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III.

In terms of this allowing legalized recreational use in Louisiana….

Cut 5 (08)  “…the state.” 

The DEA proposal will still have to be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget. Robins-Brown says if approved it acknowledges the medicinal use of marijuana and at the same time recognizes that cannabis has lesser potential for abuse. The proposal, however, does not legalize recreational use.

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14 people that were part of a large Pro-Palestine protester encampment on Tulane’ campus were arrested as over 100 police officers moved in to break up the protest up. The group set up an encampment on Monday after a march in support of Palenstine. NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says after two nights of letting them demonstrate, it was time to go

Cut 6  (10) “…them room.” 

Tulane says they wanted the protestors to be removed, because they they were in violation of trespassing laws on public property and they wanted to return to a normal day at Tulane. Some protesters complained they were injured. Witnesses say police outnumbered protestors two to one in an effort to remove them from an area in front of Gibson Hall along St. Charles Avenue. Kirkpatrick says they will review video from surveillance cameras

Cut 7 (12) “…the other.”  

The university says the majority of the protestors are not affiliated with the school.

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Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves was among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the state’s congressional map, which was overturned by Tuesday’s two-to-one court decision. They agreed that race was the predominant factor for the map that changed his district into a majority-black one. As for what’s next…

Cut 8 (12) “…new maps” 

State Attorney General Liz Murrill says the state will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court so the map lawmakers passed in January will stand.

Graves says the most recent map resembled one that the courts ruled was unconstitutional based on race in the 90s. As the map remains in limbo, Graves says he wants to concentrate on more pressing issues.

Cut 9 (12) “…facing.” 

With a panel set to convene on May 6^th to decide the next step in drawing a map for the fall election, Graves wants to look at ways to improve infrastructure and reduce crime in his district.

Cut 10 (11) “…themselves.” 

The Secretary of State’s Office has set a May 15th deadline for a congressional map to be used in the fall election. Qualifying is mid-July.

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Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green says will call for a vote to remove Mike Johnson from Bossier Parish as Speaker of the House. Green says she voted for Johnson to lead the House because he was a conservative, but his views have changed…

Cut 11 (13) ” …us recognize.”

Greene said at a press conference today she’ll call for a vote next week. But Democrats plan to table the motion. House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar from California

Cut 12 (11) “…pressing issues” 

A motion to table Greene’s resolution would be a procedural move to keep it from it ever reaching the floor.

Greene is upset Johnson supported a military spending bill that sent hundreds of millions of dollars to Ukraine, who is fighting off a Russian invasion. She also does not like the relationship Johnson has developed with Democrats

Cut 13 (11) “…they want”

Johnson released a statement that says a motion to remove him as Speaker is wrong for the Republican Conference, wrong for the institution, and wrong for the country.

A bill to define the parameters of a parade route for gun-free zones advances from House Governmental Affairs. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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 Xavier University and Ochsner Health are teaming to bring the first HBCU Medical College to the Gulf Coast. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 2 (32)  “I’m Colleen Crain.” 

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Big vote today on the House floor as the bill that calls for a constitutional convention is up for debate this afternoon. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Legislation to better define gun-free zone laws pertaining to parade routes advances from House Criminal Justice. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry’s bill clarifies that guns are not permitted within 100 feet of the center line of a parade route and it does not apply to law enforcement or…

Cut 4 (12) “…to them.”

President of the Louisiana Shooting Association, Dan Zelenka, spoke in opposition…

Cut 5 (06) “…themselves.” 

New Orleans Representative Alonzo Knox reminded gun advocates who spoke in opposition that local law enforcement supports laws for a gun-free parade zone.

Cut 6 (14) “…my area.”

The bill passed on an eight to five vote and heads to the Full House.

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New Orleans will be home to the Gulf Coast’s only HBCU Medical School. Founding Dean Dr. Leo Seoane (Swan ee) says Xavier Ochsner Colleen of Medicine will transform generations of young black and brown lives…

Cut 7 (09) “…nationwide.”

The school will be in Benson Tower which is undergoing renovations to make way for the medical college.

It could be three years before accreditations, hiring, and renovations are complete and Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine is ready to begin training physicians. Seoane (Swan ee) says there’s an urgent need because the doctor shortage is growing…

Cut 8 (11) “…medical school.” 

Seoane (Swan ee), a first-generation Cuban American says training minority physicians is especially important because health outcomes for minorities are worse when their physicians don’t represent them…

Cut 9 (11)  “…for it.”

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The Louisiana House is set to vote today on a bill that calls for a constitutional convention to begin on May 20th. The Landry Administration says reorganization is needed so state lawmakers can avoid making deep cuts to health care and education when there are budget deficits. Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson supports the effort…

Cut 10 (10) “…on the ballot.”

Louisiana’s constitution was created in 1974 and over the last 50 years it’s been amended 216 times. Nelson says there are sections of the state constitution that should be moved into state law, so that’s the main emphasis of a proposed constitutional convention

Cut 11 (08) “…make it better”

There is opposition to holding a constitutional convention this year. Alfreda Tillman Bester, with the group ten-thousand women, says the public remains in the dark regarding exact proposed changes to the constitution…

Cut 12 (14) “…rewritten.” 

The constitutional convention would begin May 20th and organizers believe it will take two weeks to complete. HB 800 will need 70 votes in the 105-member House to advance to the Senate.

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The fate of Louisiana’s congressional map is up in the air again after a two-to-one ruling throws out the map lawmakers approved in January with a second majority-black district. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat describes the ruling as stunning and incredible…

Cut 13 (08)  “…this fall.”

The ruling was handed down after a federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of some Republicans on the grounds the January map was racial gerrymandering.

The Secretary of State’s Office has stated they needed a map in place by May 15^th for the fall election. And with a constitutional convention possibly in the works to begin May 20^th Pinsonat says there are several complications and multiple twists and turns in the map saga.

Cut 14 (14)  “…this controversary.”

As for the next chapter, Pinsonat expects the ruling will be appealed to the State Supreme Court…

Cut 15 (14)  “…any of this.”

Qualifying for the fall elections is mid-July

State Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a statement that she’s still reviewing the ruling and the state plans to appeal to the State Supreme Court.

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The Pelicans won 49 games in the regular season, but had zero victories in the postseason. Executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin says there are several positives to take away from the just completed season, but changes will be needed in order to make some noise in the Western Conference playoffs

Cut 16 (11)  “…do that.”

A bright spot was the play of Zion Williamson, who played in a career-high 70 games and led the team in scoring, averaging nearly 23 points a game. Griffin says it was disheartening to see Williamson injure his hamstring in the play-in tournament…

Cut 17 (23) “…intends to go.”

Williamson says having joy in playing basketball helped him have one of his better seasons…

Cut 18 (13)  “…is something.”

Opelousas High School can once again say they are state champs in football. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A Senate bill to make it a crime with harsh penalties to poison a pregnant woman without her consent with an abortion pill advances from House Criminal Justice.

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Opelousas High School can once again say they are state champions in football. In February, the LHSAA stripped the school of its title over the alleged use of an ineligible player last season, but coach Jimmy Zachery says an agreement with the LHSAA brings the title back to Opelousas…

Cut 3 (12) “…what we earned.” 

In December, Opelousas won its first state championship in football when it defeated Cecilia 26-13. In late February, the LHSAA stripped Opelousas of its title. Zachery thanks the school board and St. Landry Parish Superintendent Milton Batiste who had his back…

Cut 4 (08) “..keep fighting” 

Zachery will remain on probation for one year, but will be allowed to coach the team in 2024. He says his main concern was making sure Opelousas retained a championship it rightfully deserved…

Cut 5 (11)  “..thrilling man” 

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Legislation inspired by a Shreveport native Catherine Herring, whose husband poisoned her with an abortion pill in Texas, but only spent 180 in jail advances from Louisiana’s House Criminal Justice Committee. Herring is the sister of bill sponsor Senator Thomas Pressly, who says the bill creates the crime of coerced criminal abortion by fraud….

Cut 6  (10) “…an abortion.” 

Pressly says the Louisiana bill of criminalized coerced abortion in the first trimester would be punishable by imprisonment of no less than five, no more than 10 years.

Cut 7 (09) “…maximum.”  

Herring was able to receive an abortion reversing medication in time to save her daughter, but  Josephine does have health complications as a result.

Cut 8 (13) “…political parties.” 

The bill has passed in the Senate and is headed to the full House.

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The Louisiana House is expected to vote tomorrow on legislation that would result in the state holding a constitutional convention starting on May 20th and end as early as June 3rd. La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says several legislators are concerned with the speed that this happening…

Cut 9 (06) “…few weeks.” 

A two-thirds vote is needed in the House for the constitutional convention proposal to advance to the Senate. Alford says it appears the voters are there in the House for it to pass…

Cut 10 (09) “..this convention.” 

A constitutional convention would let 171 delegates, most of them state lawmakers, make significant changes to the state’s constitution that would require voter approval on November 5th.

Governor Landry says the current constitution is too restrictive and forces state lawmakers to make big cuts to education and health care when there’s a budget deficit.

Alford says Landry has said the constitutional convention is a chance to reorganize the state constitution…

Cut 11 (12) ” …budget cuts.”