Several governors including Louisiana’s Jeff Landry spoke at a diesel refinery in Chalmette to criticize the Biden administration’s energy policy. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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When it comes to how education fared in the most recent legislative session, one advocacy group says it’s a mixed-bag. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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President Joe Biden is enacting new migrant restrictions at the southern border. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.” 

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Governor Jeff Landry and several of other Republican governors spoke at a diesel refinery in Chalmette to hammer the Biden administration’s energy policy and called on the president “to pursue an all-of-the-above energy approach” that will promote homegrown energy that benefits all Americans.

Cut 4 (09) “…cost to Americans.”

Landry says the Biden administration’s enhanced energy regulations have cost taxpayers almost $1.4 trillion since he took office.

Cut 5 (10) “…domestic energy.” 

The U.S. has been producing more oil than any country in history, but Landry says that should be increased further to help with consumer costs.

Cut 6 (09) “…pockets of Americans.”

The request is for Biden to ease regulatory pressure on the fossil fuel industry, prioritizing technology and to end his moratorium on permits for liquid natural gas export facilities.

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Besides the Gator Scholarship Program, several education bills were passed in the session. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says interventions to improve literacy in Louisiana have led to improved reading scores and now there will also be a focus on math.

Cut 7 (12) “…numbers up.”

Higher Education also chalked up a win. More than 70 percent of state buildings are on college campuses, and they need an estimated $2 billion to fund deferred maintenance. Erwin says lawmakers dedicated $75 million to help with those projects.

Cut 8 (08) “…higher ed.” 

But Erwin points out that lawmakers sent a mixed message on education this session with another round of teacher pay stipends instead of raises and a $9 million cut to early childhood education.

Cut 9 (07)  “…a difference.”

Erwin says while lawmakers did address policy changes to improve education they failed to dedicate enough monies towards early childhood education.

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The Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo in Monroe celebrates its 100^th year birthday this June. City of Monroe spokesperson Emily Stogner…

Cut 10 (12) “…fresh new look.”

Part of the rebranding was reaching out to the community with surveys and getting an idea of what the zoo means to them.

Cut 11 (10) “…100 years.”

The newest addition is the Louisiana Purchase exhibit where visitors can feed animals and get a sense of what it was like during the time of the Louisiana Purchase.

Cut 12 (07) “…better than ever.” 

The zoo is home to over 300 animals representing 150 species of animals from around the world.

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President Joe Biden revealed plans Tuesday to immediately enact significant restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. His plan becomes active when border encounters reach 2,500 per day, then any migrant without a reason to fear return to their country will be removed from the US within days or hours. Many Republicans including Senator Bill Cassidy question the president’s timing.

Cut 13 (10)  “… illegal immigration.”

Biden says “the border is not a political issue to be weaponized” and he would have preferred more lasting legislation, but Republicans left him no choice.

The president’s plan will only be active until migrant encounters drop below 1,500 per day for two weeks. Asylum seekers will also be held to a higher screening standard than previously used but Cassidy isn’t sure it’s enough.

Cut 14 (10)  “…under Biden.”

Biden says his plan will help gain control of the border and restore order to the process while Cassidy compared the number of border crossings of the previous two administrations with an eight-fold increase during the first three years of Biden’s term. Republican Senator John Kennedy blames the president’s policies.

Cut 15 (11)  “…illegally.”

In the final hours of the legislative session, lawmakers approve a bill that only allows Louisiana residents to make a public records request with the governor’s office. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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LSU baseball comes up short in its bid to repeat as national champions. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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A bill heading to the governor’s desk would prohibit out-of-state journalists from requesting public records from the governor’s office. Gonzales Senator Ed Price questioned River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot who said  reporters outside of Louisiana can work with in-state media to make the request

Cut 3 (15) “..that information.” 

Talbot says other states also have a similar law and he carried this bill for the governor on the Senate floor…

Cut 4 (12) “…seen it.” 

During discussion on the Senate floor, it was pointed out that the governor’s office is receiving an additional one million dollars to hire more lawyers to work on public records requests. Talbot says the office is getting inundated with public records requests and many ask for an enormous amount of detail…

Cut 5 (13)  “… Louisiana citizens.”

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Governor Jeff Landry was in New Orleans today with Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser to talk about getting the state ready for Super Bowl LIX (59) on February 9, 2025 for a record tying 11th time with Miami, Florida.  Landry says New Orleans is ready.

Cut 6  (07) “…city of New Orleans. ” 

Landry says that one focus for this event will be improving infrastructure that will have benefits for New Orleans reaching years into the future.

Cut 7 (11) “…post Superbowl.”  

Some other projects include the relighting of the Crescent City Connection, cleaning and power washing of roads in the downtown area and Verizon, AT&T and Cox working together to bring 5G to downtown New Orleans.

Along with infrastructure, Landry wants to tackle public safety for the city and says when its game time the NFL can rest easy.

Cut 8 (06)  “…in the country.” 

Landry says this is a great opportunity to bring Louisianans together and not just highlight the city of New Orleans but the state of Louisiana.

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Severe weather looks to continue in Northwest Louisiana causing additional damage to SWEPCO’s energy delivery system, which resulted in additional outages bringing the total number of residents without power to over 13,000. SWEPCO spokesperson Michelle Marcotte…

Cut 9 (12) “…flooding.” 

Marcotte says they have been hit with severe storms since Friday and heavy rainfall has weakened trees.

Cut 10 (10) “…with our lines.”

Crews are trying to restore the power but more storms are in the forecast for northwest Louisiana.

Estimated restoration times have changed due to the latest weather with some areas expected to be restored today, weather permitting.

Cut 11 (12) ” …here in Louisiana.”

Residents are urged to stay away from downed wires and anything they may be touching. Call 911 to report any hazards.

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The 2024 legislative session yielded some big wins for social conservatives. Legislation requiring classrooms to post the Ten Commandments and reclassifying two abortion pills as dangerous controlled substances are among the major bills to pass. But political consultant Mary Patricia Wray says both measures will likely face court challenges

Cut 12 (02) “…litigated.” 

Wray says this was a successful session for Governor Landry, despite some of his bills being watered down or not passing.  Education Savings Accounts and constitutional convention measures are two examples. Wray gives the governor credit for taking on several big issues

Cut 13 (09) “…pretty notable.” 

One of Landy’s biggest political victories is the passage of a bill that allows him to appoint the chairs of more than 150 boards and commissions. And the governor can now appoint 11 of the 15 members of the state ethics board.

Wray says Landry did a lot of personal lobbying as he was seen in the Senate chambers on a couple of occasions

Cut  14 (12) “..already won.”