A closed party primary bill is heading to Jeff Landry’s desk, but it’s not as expansive as the governor wanted. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Governor Jeff Landry’s plan to finance a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge calls for tolls but at a lower cost than what the Edwards Administration proposed. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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The state Legislature approved a bill that would result in a move to party primary elections for Congress, BESE, PSC and Louisiana Supreme Court starting in 2026. Statewide, legislative local elections would continue to use the jungle primary system. It’s not everything Governor Jeff Landry wanted. Democratic New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis says voters did not ask for this change…
Cut 3 (07) “…are going to be frustrated.”
Despite Duplessis’ opposition, the Senate approved the bill on a 29 to 9 vote and the House voted 67-36 . New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez carried the bill for the governor on the Senate floor…
Cut 4 (10) “..a reality”
Elections for Louisiana Supreme Court, PSC and BESE would also move to party primaries in 2026 under this bill. And unaffiliated voters will be able to vote in the primaries.
Landry asked lawmakers to pass a bill that would only allow registered voters of a party to vote in their party primary. He also wanted closed party primaries for federal and state elections. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson is the author of the legislation…
Cut 5 (08) “…different voices here.”
The proposal heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
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Visitation for Grammy-winning Cajun musician Jo-EL Sonnier is being held this afternoon, and his funeral will be tomorrow in Sulphur. The 77-year-old collapsed shortly after a performance in Llano, Texas last Saturday. Executive Director of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Mike Shepard says Sonnier died doing what he loved…
Cut 6 (09) “…go out.”
Sonnier was born in Rayne, Louisiana in 1946. As a child, he was diagnosed with autism and Shepard says as a way to cope, his physician told him to learn to play an instrument. Shepard says Sonnier’s doctors agreed with his choice of the accordion.
Cut 7 (05) “…that happened.”
During his musical career, Sonnier was honored with numerous accolades, including a Grammy in 2015, an ACM Male Vocalist of the Year nomination and he was inducted into seven Music Hall of Fames. Shepard says the recognition for doing what he loved was extremely meaningful to Sonnier.
Cut 8 (09) “…his heart.”
In addition to playing all over the world, Sonnier was a studio musician on more than 100 albums including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, and Merle Haggard. He also wrote songs for George Strait and fellow Louisianian Jerry Lee Lewis.
Instead of flowers, donations can be made to AutismSpeaks-dot-org.
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Governor Jeff Landry says a new deal has been struck to build a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Landry says this plan reduces the overall cost of the bridge by 25 percent. He says federal and state dollars will pay for the bridge, plus tolls, but not as high as proposed by the Edwards Administration
Cut 9 (10) “…26 percent”
Landry says because of Lake Charles’s proximity to Texas, 60 percent of the people paying the tolls will be from outside of Louisiana.
Landry says the state will also get 15 percent equity in the bridge under the deal negotiated with Calcasieu Bridge Partners. He says that means 15 percent of the profits will go back to the area. The governor says that money can be used to reduce tolls or fund other projects
Cut 10 (08) “…imperial Calcasieu”
The Louisiana Motor Transport Association opposed the financing plan proposed last year by the Edwards administration and they do not like Landry’s plan, even though it reduces the toll for trucks to cross the bridge from $12.50 to $8.25. Director of the L-M-T-A Renee Amar…
Cut 11 (11) “…Louisiana truckers.”
It could cost two billion dollars to replace the Calcasieu River Bridge built in 1952. Amar says no other stretch of I-10 from California and Florida is tolled and believes federal and state tax dollars should pay for construction…
Cut 12 (08) “…money eventually”
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The Louisiana Legislature has sent a Congressional map to the governor’s desk that has two majority Black districts. This could result in a second Louisiana Democrat being elected to the U-S House. State Representative Beau Beuallieu says the proposed Congressional boundaries also protect four Republican members…
Cut 13 (15) “…Louisiana”
A federal judge ordered the Louisiana Legislature to redraw the Congressional map lawmakers approved in 2022, because it violated the Voting Rights Act by not having two majority-minority districts.
U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick gave the legislature a January 30th deadline to rewrite the map, so Governor Landry called lawmakers into a special session. St. Bernard Parish Representative Michael Bayham voted against the map because of the rushed process.
Cut 14 (08) “…a mess”
Beauailleau says if the Legislature did not redraw the map, Judge Shelly Dick would and that could be messy too…
Cut 15 (11) “…her decision”