The Louisiana Legislative Republican Delegation is happy about what lawmakers pushed through this legislative session. Chairman and Monroe Representative Michael Echols says important measures were approved to attract large aerospace companies to invest in Louisiana by offering them property and sales tax breaks…:
Cut 14 (15) “…the aerospace industry.”

Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow has been a critic of the Department of Children and Family Services and their handling of cases when informed about troubles in a home and a young child could be in danger. But Barrow says new legislation will improve communication within the stakeholders of the agency to better protect children…

Cut 5 (08) “…definitely be narrowed”

On Capitol hill, the Protect College Sports Act received its first hearing today. It is legislation designed to fix college sports. The bill preserves NIL and revenue sharing for student-athletes but adds regulations to snuff out illegitimate deals and cap-evading loopholes. It also provides medical insurance for athletes, but USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer says the bill limits the earnings of athletes and their representation.

Cut 11 (12) “…five percent.”

Lafayette and the Cajundome is the new home of the state boys basketball championships. LHSAA Assistant executive director Karen Hoyt says the Cajundome is also host site state volleyball championships….

Cut 8 (11) “…the renovation”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed a law that eliminates the vehicle inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The governor has also signed legislation that expands the definition of first degree murder to include shootings and gang violence in public venues. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the change in the law is a direct response to the shooting in April at the Mall of Louisiana which took the life of 17-year-old Martha Odom.

The U.S. Senate is hearing arguments on the Protect College Sports Act this morning. The bill provides a framework of antitrust exemption and athlete protections to give control back to the NCAA in the NIL era. USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer says SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has begged Congress to step in but has now released a joint statement with the Big Ten against the bill.

Cut 9 (10)  “…very much”

The high school boys basketball championships are returning to Lafayette after spending the last 12 years in Lake Charles. The games will be played at the Cajundome, the home of UL Lafayette men’s and women’s basketball. President of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, Ben Berthelot, says bringing the championships to the city could not have happened without the support of the university…

Cut 12 (12) “…great recruiting tool.”

There are lawmakers and organizations hailing the 2026 legislative session for the package of bills intended to improve workforce development. Monroe Representative Mike Echols, the chairman of the Legislative Republican Delegation, says they passed legislation that provides exposure to career opportunities for students as early as grade school.

Cut 15 (09) “…straight to work.” 

Adam Knapp, the CEO for Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says legislation was approved that expands eligibility requirements for the TOPS Tech scholarship program for students in community and technical colleges.

Cut 9 (10)  “…part-time student.” 

Knapp says legislators also approved the Learn and Earn Act, which authorizes specialized internships on high school campuses.

The LHSAA Boys’ Basketball Championships are returning to Lafayette for the first time since 2011. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.” 

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee begins discussion on a bill intended to fix college athletics. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey asked Congress to pass a law that would bring much-needed regulations on NIL deals and reduce player movement from school to school. But the SEC and Big 10 issued a joint statement last night saying they oppose the legislation as it is written now.

Governor Jeff Landry provided his plan for making sure teachers continue to receive a two-thousand dollar stipend that they have been getting since 2023. The stipend is on the verge of going away because two different constitutional amendments failed to pass over the last two years and the stipend was not funded in the budget just approved by lawmakers.

But the governor believes the money to pay for the stipend can be found in the non-instructional section of the state’s public school funding formula.

Cut 11 (07) “…teachers.”

Landry will need the support of the Legislature, before 168-million dollars can be removed from the Minimum Foundation Program. It will take a two-thirds vote by both the House and Senate.

Before Landry discussed teacher pay, he signed into law the bill that ends the vehicle sticker inspection program.

The NFIB is pleased the Louisiana Legislature approved a workers comp reform bill that they say will reduce costs for small businesses. The NFIB also says lawmakers passed a landmark small business workforce bill that will give employers a new tool to train workers quickly and effectively. NFIB director Leah Long says that was two great victories, but she wishes a centralized sales tax collection bill was approved…

Cut 5 (13) “…we’ll get there”

Former Louisiana Congressman Charles Boustany has returned from Ukraine where he says he was near an attack that left four people dead and dozens injured. Boustany said on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana says it’s not a good situation over there and Trump Administration has not paid much attention…

Cut 14 (14) “…these people”

The Louisiana legislative session is over, but not before lawmakers approved a 47-billion-dollar budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1st. Legislative leaders say they have allocated money to attract private industry, improve state roads and infrastructure and they continue to invest in K-through-12 education. But Erin Bendily of the Pelican Institute questions the millions of dollars that are known as legislative pet projects.

Cut 10 (09) “…things like that.”

The Advocate’s political reporter, Tyler Bridges, says Democratic Congressman Cleo Fields is one of the big losers of this session, because he will likely lose his seat in the U.S. House because of the newly drawn Congressional map that eliminates one of the majority Black Districts.

Cut 14 (06) “…Baton Rouge area.”

A lawsuit is expected to be filed contesting the map that gives Republicans five safe seats to one Democratic district.

The Louisiana Legislature has approved a bill that would require students who assault a school employee to be automatically expelled for at least two semesters and undergo management classes. The bill is by New Orleans Representative Candace Newell, who during testimony in the House Education Committee said several teachers did not want to testify for the bill over concerns they could face retaliation…

Cut 9 (11) “…the Teacher’s Shield’

A companion bill, which calls for a minimum six-month sentence in prison or juvenile detention for any student convicted of assaulting a teacher, is also awaiting Governor Landry’s signature.

Hurricane Season is underway and Nyka Scott with Entergy urges residents to be prepared…:
Cut 6 (11) “the Entergy App”
She says Entergy is two years into a $1.9 billion plan to strengthen and upgrade Louisiana’s power grid.

The 2026 legislative session ended last night with no major bills making it through on the final day of the session. The bill that created a high amount of tension was the new Congressional map that eliminates a Black majority district. House Governmental Affairs Chairman and New Iberia Republican Beau Beaullieu says race was not a factor in the drawing of the map.

Cut 13 (05)  “…maximizes partisan advantage.”

The map approved by the Republican-led legislature is expected to be challenged in court.

And we’ll see more proposed constitutional amendments as a result of this session, including one that prohibits governors from serving more than two terms during their lifetimes. Political reporter for the Advocate Tyler Bridges says it only impacts three people right now.

Cut 15 (07) “…two terms lifetime.”

Students who attack teachers and other school employees face tougher penalties under a pair of bills awaiting Governor Landry’s signature. House Bill 283 is what New Orleans Representative Candace Newell calls the “Teacher’s Shield Act,” and it creates new mandatory penalties for students who attack teachers and puts additional protections in place for employees. Earlier in the session, Kimberly McDaniel told the House Education Committee about how her father was assaulted by a student.

Cut 7 (12) “…in the face.”

Entergy is two years into executing a 1.9-billion-dollar resilience plan to fortify structures and upgrade distribution and transmission lines. Entergy Vice President of Customer Nyka Scott says the upgrades were put in place after Grand Isle was hit hard by Hurricane Ida.

Cut 5 (08) “…didn’t lose power.”

Scott says similar infrastructure is being built across the state.

The 2026 Legislative session has ended and a bill that gained headlines early in the session never made it to the governor’s desk and that is the proposal to name a third Baton Rouge area Mississippi River bridge after President Trump. Monroe Representative Michael Echols says the purpose behind his bill was to coax the Trump administration to give the state a hefty portion of the three-billion dollars it would cost to build the additional bridge.

Cut 12 (10) “…this done faster.”

But Senate President Cameron Henry said the upper chamber did not want to take up road or bridge-naming bills.

Governor Landry has allowed a bill to become law without his signature that prohibits ceremonial balloon releases. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser supported the legislation and says balloons can cause a multitude of problems…

Cut 10 (08) “…waterways or drains”

Today is day one of Hurricane Season, and GOHSEP is ready. Spokesman Mike Steele says the agency has spent the last several months preparing for the 2026 hurricane season.

Cut 3 (11) “…the same page.”

Steele notes that due to changes with FEMA, there may be more that would need to be asked of first responders at the state and local levels. But he notes that those are things that they had already started doing.

The season ended last night in Starkville for the Ragin Cajuns baseball team as U-L Lafayette lost to Mississippi State 19 to 5 in the Regional Finals. Coach Matt Deggs expects the Cajuns will go farther next year…

Cut 8 (14) “…with this group”

The lottery for grants of up to ten-thousand dollars through the Fortified Homes Program is open. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 28 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Today is the first day of the 2026 hurricane season. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says Louisiana is ready for whatever this season brings and so is the entire Gulf South…

Cut 4 (12) “…lot of times”

This is the final day of the legislative session and one bill that did not make it across the finish line is a measure to name a proposed third Baton Rouge area bridge over the Mississippi River after President Donald Trump. Monroe Representative Michael Echols says he filed the legislation to get more federal dollars for the multi billion dollar project, but the Louisiana Senate refused to take up the bill, despite the House overwhelmingly approving it…

Cut 13 (04) “….with that effort”

Echols says Senate President Cameron Henry told him he had no desire to take up any road or bridge-naming bills this year.

The season ended last night for the U-L Lafayette baseball team as the Cajuns were routed by Mississippi State 19 to 5. The Bulldogs hit seven home runs as Coach Matt Deggs’ says his team was not feeling the effects of playing 11 games in 13 days…

Cut 6 (12) “….great starts”

Mississippi State advances to play Georgia in the Super Regionals.