The Louisiana Department of Health announces that starting Tuesday SNAP recipients will only be able to use their EBT cards for purchases within the state and in ZIP codes adjacent to Louisiana’s border in neighboring states. L-D-H says the change protects benefits from fraud and out of state use.

If you’re looking to satisfy your craving for crawfish one last time this year, this is the perfect weekend to do so. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A Senate committee approves a budget that takes into account a revenue shortfall of 104-million dollars. Senate Finance Chairman Glen Womack says there is less money that’s available to spend next fiscal year because of a dropoff in revenues. Womack says this means additional dollars for school vouchers and education operation costs had to be cut.

Cut 29 (11) “…increases in MFP.”

A memorial service takes place Saturday for legendary McNeese football coach Bobby Keasler. Keasler led the Cowboys to four Southland Championships in the 1990s and an appearance in the Division One-Double-A national championship game in 1997. McNeese Sports Information Director Matthew Bonnettee says Keasler’s death is a tremendous loss…

Cut 14 (07) “…human being”

The New Iberia native passed away earlier this month at the age of 80.

A bill awaiting the governor’s signature is a measure that would eliminate the need for drivers to get an inspection sticker for their vehicle. It will be replaced by a six-dollar Q-R code that you would get in the mail, just like you get your registration sticker for your license plate. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says service station owners opposed his bill, citing that this legislation will lead to a drop in business…

Cut 21 (08) “…all over”

The governor is expected to sign the legislation.

It will be a wet Memorial Day weekend as the state is in a rainy weather pattern that will stick around into next week. National Weather Service Meteorologist Chanelle Stigger in Lake Charles says we are looking at some impressive rain totals for the next week.

Cut 9 (09)  “…seven days.”

If you’re looking to satisfy your craving for crawfish one last time this year, this is the perfect weekend to do so. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to analysis of google search data, the most misspelled word in Louisiana is restaurant, which is interesting since the state is known for its great restaurants. According to Unscrambler-dot-com, the words business, schedule, definitely, and favorite are the other most misspelled words by Louisiana residents.

A Senate committee approves a budget that takes into account a revenue shortfall of 104-million dollars. Senate Finance Chairman Glen Womack says the fewer dollars available is the result of the Revenue Estimating Conference adopting an economic forecast less robust than previously predicted. Womack says this means additional dollars for school vouchers and education operation costs had to be cut.

Cut 8 (11) “…increases in MFP.”

If this spending plan is approved, teachers could lose out on two-thousand dollars they are currently receiving through a stipend.

The summer travel season begins this weekend and motorists are having to pay more than four-dollars a gallon for gasoline. Triple-A’s Don Redman says Americans will not cancel their summer plans, but they may alter them as a result of the high gas prices…

Cut 15 (13) “….for the summer”

A bill awaiting the governor’s signature is a measure that would eliminate the need for drivers to get an inspection sticker for their vehicle. It will be replaced by a six-dollar Q-R code that you would get the mail, just like you get your registration sticker for your license plate. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says service station owners opposed his bill, citing that this legislation will lead to a drop in business…

Cut 21 (08) “…all over”

The governor is expected to sign the legislation.

It will be a good weekend to consume some mudbugs. Laney King of the Crawfish App says prices have dropped 50-cents a pound this week and a sack of live crawfish is selling for less than three dollars a pound and boiled crawfish is going for about $550 a pound…

Cut 4 (10) “…prices are right”

A Senate committee approves a budget that takes into account a revenue shortfall of 104-million dollars. Senate Finance Chairman Glen Womack says the fewer dollars available is the result of the Revenue Estimating Conference adopting an economic forecast less robust than previously predicted. Womack says this means additional dollars for school vouchers and education operation costs had to be cut.

Cut 8 (11) “…increases in MFP.”

If this spending plan is approved, teachers could lose out on two-thousand dollars they are currently receiving through a stipend.

The summer travel season begins this weekend and motorists are having to pay more than four-dollars a gallon for gasoline. Triple-A’s Don Redman says Americans will not cancel their summer plans, but they may alter them as a result of the high gas prices…

Cut 15 (13) “….for the summer”

Despite strong opposition from Black lawmakers, the House Governmental Affairs Committee approved a Congressional map with one majority-minority district. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris’ measure would most likely result in five Republicans and one Democrat representing Louisiana in the U.S. House of Representatives, upsetting Black lawmakers who want two majority-minority districts.

Cut 4 (11) “…white or Black.”

Baton Rouge Senator Denise Marcelle asked Morris why Republicans should determine who represents the state in Congress, when only a third of the voters are registered Republican.

Cut 5 (11) “…Republicans in Congress.”

The congressional map debate will continue on the House floor next week.

Inspection stickers in Louisiana are now one gubernatorial signature away from disappearing for good. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A Congressional map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority Black districts was approved by the House Governmental Affairs Committee. Democrats strongly oppose the map and there is a difference of opinion among Republicans on what the six districts should look like.

The Senate Finance committee has approved a spending plan for next fiscal year that does not contain additional funding for the state’s voucher program known as L-A Gator. Also, there is no funding in the bill to supply teachers with a two-thousand-dollar stipend they have received since 2023. But Senate Finance Chairman Glen Womack says they are using money from the rainy-day fund to pay for highway projects…

Cut 9 (09) “…400-million”

The full Senate takes up the budget bill on Tuesday.

Triple-A projects 3.6-million Americans will travel by air this weekend, which is a slight increase over last year. Spokesperson Don Redman says a popular destination for Louisiana residents is Alaska.

Cut 14 (10) “…popular starting now.”

The House Governmental Affairs Committee has approved a proposed Congressional map that eliminates one of the state’s majority Black districts. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says race was not used as a factor in drawing the map, but New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd countered by saying it sure seems the map is drawn to benefit White Republicans…

Cut 7 (12) “….they’re white Republicans”

The proposed map heads to the House floor where it’s expected to be voted on next week.

The end of inspection stickers in Louisiana is just Governor Landry’s expected signature away from becoming official, as House Bill 1085 has achieved final legislative passage. The author, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, says that ten-dollar inspection sticker will be replaced with a six-dollar QR code…

Cut 10 (05) “…color, I think.”

And that information can only be read by special equipment available to law enforcement.

Despite four-dollar-plus gasoline prices, a record 45-million American plan on traveling this Memorial Day weekend. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

If you are traveling in the state this week, expect to run into some heavy downpours. A flash flooding risk is possible today and tomorrow across a large portion of the state. Overall rainfall amounts should range from three to six inches with some locally higher amounts through Tuesday,

The Congressional map Republican lawmakers are pushing cleared another legislative hurdle yesterday as the House Governmental Affairs Committee approved the new map on a ten-seven vote after a ten hour plus debate. If the proposed map is signed by the governor, one of the state’s two majority Black districts will be eliminated and Republicans will likely represent five of the six Congressional districts…

Cut 6 (08) “…egregious to me.”

That’s Baton Rouge Democrat Denise Marcelle who asked West Monroe Republican Jay Morris why Republicans should determine who represents the state in Congress, when only a third of the voters are registered Republican.

Cut 5 (11) “…Republicans in Congress.”

The proposed map heads to the House floor for another vote next week.

Despite gasoline prices over four dollars a gallon, a record 39-million people will travel by car to a destination 50 miles or more this Memorial Day weekend. Triple-A’s Don Redman says a little pain at the pump will not keep people from having a good time this weekend.

Cut 13 (05)  “…for Memorial Day.”

Triple-A projects 3.6-million Americans will travel by air this weekend, which is a slight increase over last year.

This is the last year of the vehicle inspection sticker as a result of legislation approved by lawmakers. There was opposition from businesses who say the vehicle inspection forces drivers to make sure their vehicle is safe to drive and it’s a viable business for many. But the bill’s author, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley, says vehicle inspections is not intended to be a money maker…

Cut 12 (08) “…even answer that”

Assuming Landry signs the bill like he said he would, you will no longer have to renew your inspection sticker as of January 1st of next year.