On day one of qualifying, six Republicans and three Democrats qualified for the ballot in the fifth congressional district. Andrew Greenstein reports one candidate’s opponents are taking him to task for where he lives.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The other well-known Republicans in the 5^th District Congressional primary are Misti Cordell, who is the chairperson for the Board of Regents and Monroe state representative Michael Echols qualified this morning.

The University of Louisiana Monroe has installed drone detection equipment atop Malone Stadium. Doctor Mark Johnson is the training director for ULM Police and says this will bolster public safety as universities are facing escalating challenges from unauthorized drones. Johnson says Sky Safe gives campus police a reliable way to manage drones…

Cut 12 (10) “….come on”

The U-S Attorney for Louisiana’s Middle District, Kurt Wall, has announced two foreign nationals have been indicted after 360 pounds of methamphetamine were found in their vehicle during a traffic stop in Livingston Parish on Saturday….

Cut 14 (12) “….these two gentlemen”

The Justice Department says the two men are in the country illegally.

The first day of qualifying for this year’ s federal elections has concluded and John Fleming of Minden was the first Republican to officially enter the Senate Republican Primary. Fleming says he’s the true conservative in the race, more so than incumbent Bill Cassidy and Julia Letlow…

Cut 4 (10) “…65-percent”

The lone Democrat to qualify for the Democratic primary is Tensas Parish farmer Jamie Davis. Davis says at the end of the day, everyone has the same feelings about what’s happening in Washington…

Cut 5 (09) “…tired of it”

Several candidates signed up to represent the Fifth District Congressional District. That seat is being vacated by Letlow. Qualifying continues through Friday afternoon.

President Trump has signed a bill aimed at stopping some welfare fraud. Senator John Kennedy’s bill, Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act allows the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File with the Treasury Department so they can discontinue payments to recipients who have passed away.

Cut 7 (08) “…the checks.”

Kennedy says this legislation will save the American taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars.

A huge meth bust leads to a federal indictment against two foreign nationals. U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall says it’s the result of a traffic stop along I-12 and Livingston Parish Sheriff deputies found 64 kilograms of a mixture containing methamphetamine in the vehicle.

Cut 13 (10)  “…pounds of methamphetamine.”

The Justice Department says the two men are citizens of Honduras and El Salvador and are in the country illegally.

Qualifying for the closed primaries is underway. Andrew Greenstein is at the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge and has a look at who’s qualified so far for U.S. Senate.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

With Letlow running for U-S Senate, that leaves her fifth District Congressional seat vacant. Nine people have qualified to run in that election, including two Republican lawmakers Rick Edmonds from Baton Rouge and Blake Miguez from New Iberia. The Chairperson for the Board of Regents, Misti Cordell, will also compete for the Republican nomination.

A temporary bill aimed at stopping some welfare fraud is now permanent as President Trump signed Senator John Kennedy’s bill, Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act. Previously, the Social Security Administration needed congressional approval to share the master file of names of deceased people with other agencies. This act makes permanent that temporary law that allowed the information to keep improper payments from being sent to dead people. Kennedy says it saved the federal government at least 330-Million dollars in improper payments since December of 2023.

Cut 8 (10) “…duh.”

Former LSU and Neville football star Will Campbell did not have a good game in the Super Bowl as his Patriots lost to the Seahawks. The rookie offensive tackle waited until Tuesday to talk to reporters and said the knee he injured in the regular season, is still not 100-percent, but he’s not making excuses…

Cut 12 (07) “…I was healthy”

Candidates who plan on running for U-S Senate and the U-S House of Representatives are qualifying today at the Secretary of State’s Office in Baton Rouge. Bill Cassidy is seeking a third term and is expected to qualify either tomorrow or Friday. State Treasurer John Fleming is one of Cassidy’s main challengers in the Republican Primary. The other is Congresswoman Julia Letlow. Fleming says he’s the most conservative candidate in the Republican primary…

Cut  4 (10) “…..65-percent”

A well-known Democrat is not expected to challenge the Republican Primary winner. But someone will face a Republican in the November general election. Tensas Parish farmer Jamie Davis believes he will be the one and he could shock the world…

Cut 6 (10) “… a new champion”

President Trump has signed Senator John Kennedy’s bill that puts a mechanism in place that prevents dead people from receiving government assistance after they pass away. Kennedy says he has been working to prevent welfare fraud for years and cited the 2023 cost of sending the improper payments…

Cut 9 (08)  “…dead people.”

Kennedy’s legislation ensures the Social Security Administration will share death notices with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system.

The LSU men’s basketball team was trounced by 21^st ranked Arkansas last night. The final score was 91-62 as LSU shot just 31-percent from the field. Coach Matt McMahon on another difficult night…

Cut 27 (13) “…shots there”

LSU is 2-9 in SEC play.

State Treasurer John Fleming from Minden is the first Republican to qualify for the U-S Senate Republican Primary. Fleming is challenging Incumbent Bill Cassidy. Cassidy is seeking a third-term and Congresswoman Julia Letlow is expected to qualify for the Senate Republican Primary later in the week. Will we see a well-known Democrat face the Republican Primary winner, La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says probably not…

Cut 5 (08) “….futre race”

For the fourth semester in a row, McNeese has seen an increase in enrollment, up five percent from last spring  to just more than 65-hundred students. Interim President Kedrick Nicholas says in 2024, McNeese developed a five-year strategic plan with the focus on increasing enrollment…

Cut 11 (09) “…we can maintain.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill has announced a new task force for the Greater New Orleans area that will investigate internet crimes against children. The A-G says the problem is only getting worse. She says in January, the statewide ICAC Task Force received more than nine -thousand cybertips. Murrill says sextortion and extortion are becoming more prevalent.

Cut 8 (10) “…them for money.”

A life-style statue of the late Governor Kathleen Blanco is now on display at the Bayou Teche Museum in her hometown of New Iberia. Blanco also served as a Public Service Commissioner and Lt. Governor. Current Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he will never forget Blanco’s leadership during Hurricane Katrina…

Cut 14 (12) “….to this day”

Qualifying is underway for the closed party primary elections for U-S Senate and U-S House. The Senate Republican Primary will receive the most attention as Incumbent Bill Cassidy is seeking a third-term, but faces a formidable opponent in Julia Letlow…

Cut 18 (14) “….elected life”

That’s La Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford. Republican State Treasurer John Fleming is also running, but it doesn’t look like a well-known Democrat will qualify.

McNeese State’s spring enrollment is up five-percent over last Spring and it’s the highest spring enrollment increase in 16 years.  Interim McNeese president Kedrick Nicholas says since the fall of 2024 they have prioritized enrollment and student support…

Cut 12 (14) “…competitor institutions”

A task force has formed that will investigate internet crimes against children in the Greater New Orleans Metro area. Chris Masters with the Attorney General’s office says the task force is equipped with the latest technology to address the rising numbers of tips related to child exploitation in the area. Masters urges parents to watch what their children are doing on the internet.

Cut 9 (14)  “…them on there.”

There is now a bronze statue of former Governor Kathleen Blanco in her hometown of New Iberia. It’s located at the Bayou Teche Museum. Blanco served one term during a chaotic time for the state as it was recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser was elected parish president in Plaquemines Parish the year following Katrina…

Cut 15 (12) “…every other parish.”

Blanco passed away in 2019 at the age of 76.