Another long day of debate over a new congressional map; and despite strong opposition from Black lawmakers, the Republican-led legislature is poised to pass a map with one majority-minority district. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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

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

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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.”

Morris says the Supreme Court said in its ruling that struck down the current congressional map that race should not be the primary factor in drawing district lines, but partisanship can be a factor.

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.”

If the map approved by House Governmental Affairs becomes law, the state will go from having a four-two map to a five-one map. Marcelle says having a congressional map where a Democrat can win only one of the six districts is unfair, considering a third of the state’s population is Black.

Cut 6 (08) “…egregious to me.”

New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd accused Morris of promoting a map that would assure that five white Republicans make up six of the state’s U-S House members.

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

The map was amended during committee discussion that changes some of the political boundaries; so if it’s approved by the full House, the measure will go back to the State Senate for approval of House changes.

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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 a revenue forecast that is 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.”

But Womack says the K-through-12 education funding formula is fully funded, and there are 420-million dollars for early childhood education. Womack says Senate Finance has also decided to dip into the rainy day fund to provide additional funds for economic development and improved highways.

Cut 9 (09)  “…to 400-million.”

The Senate Finance’s spending plan contains raises for prison guards, but not for teachers. And there is no money to fund the two-thousand dollar stipend teachers received this year.

The full Senate is expected to debate the budget bill on Tuesday and then send it back to the House to see if they agree with the changes. The legislative session must end at 6 p-m on June 1st.

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The end of inspection stickers in Louisiana is now 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 that you place on your windshield.

Cut 10 (05) “…color, I think.”

And that information can only be read by special equipment available to law enforcement. If a civilian scans that QR code with a cell phone, that person will get nothing. Bagley says he had brought up this bill in the past, and service station owners had fought it, concerned that it would lead to a drop in business.

Cut 11 (10) “…was all over.”

Bagley disagrees with the notion that service stations made a lot of money through vehicle inspections.

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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.

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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.

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

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Redman says if gas prices remain high, it will cut into the family budget and that could lead to some adjustments to summer vacations.

Cut 15 (13) “…for the summer.”

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Former Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron is back on LSU’s staff as the special assistant to recruiting and defense. Orgeron has not coached since 2021, when he was fired by LSU. WWL Radio’s Mike Detillier says Orgeron is known as one of the best defensive line coaches in college football.

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Detillier says Orgeron will also help Kiffin recruit Louisiana high school kids.

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Orgeron’s contract is for 100-thousand dollars through January 2027.

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The LSU softball team will face Alabama in a super regional series showdown that will start in Tuscaloosa tonight. ‘Bama is the top seed in the NCAA Tournament, and Tigers Coach Beth Torina says they are certainly worthy of it.

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LSU is making its 11th NCAA Super Regional Appearance, and they are playing their best softball of the season, winning 12 of its last 15. The offense has come around, led by Jalia Lassiter, Kylee Edwards and Sierra Daniel. Torina says they had a feeling this group would hit.

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LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson can begin preparing for next season, now that the Tigers have been eliminated from the SEC Tournament, and there’s no chance they will play in the NCAA Tournament. Johnson says they have to learn from what went wrong this year.

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Governor Jeff Landry has been in Greenland this week to make as many friends as possible, according to what he told a Danish media outlet. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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Congressman Cleo Fields is urging Black athletes to avoid LSU and other SEC schools. Andrew Greenstein explains why.

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Governor Jeff Landry had a spirited exchange with reporters in Greenland, where he’s visiting as part of his job as President Trump’s special envoy to the island nation. The President wants a closer relationship with the autonomous Danish territory for national security purposes and to have access to the island’s minerals. Landry says it’s a good thing that the U.S. has an interest in Greenland.

Cut 3 (13) “…ask themselves.”

Leaders of Greenland have been vocal in their opposition to a possible take over of their country by the United States.

The governor has been in Greenland since Sunday and told a Danish media outlet that the President told him to go to Greenland and make as many friends as possible.

Landry attended the Future Greenland trade fair in Nuuk that included a seminar on understanding the United States. Landry was asked about coming to Greenland without an invitation.

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Landry says he had a meeting with Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and said the meeting went well; and the two discussed the United States’ interest with the Arctic nation.

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Nielsen told a Danish TV station that his courtesy meeting with Landry took place with mutual respect and in a positive atmosphere. But he made it known that the Greenlandic people are not for sale and self-determination is non-negotiable.

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LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade is facing criticism for reportedly signing a player who previously signed an NBA contract. Former St. John’s star and Big East Player of the Year R.J. Luis (“Louis”) signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz after going undrafted. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says there’s a good chance the NCAA will say Luis is ineligible, but LSU can challenge that ruling in court.

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NCAA President Charlie Baker has previously said the NCAA will not grant eligibility to any athlete who has signed an NBA contract, including a two-way contract.

National college basketball reporter Jeff Goodman said on his “Field of 68” podcast that Wade is making a mockery out of college basketball. Goodman also said in a post on X that one Top 20 college basketball coach said Wade is screwing it up for everyone. Guilbeau doesn’t blame Wade for trying to stretch the rules.

Cut 7 (10) “…mad at Wade?”

Wade is putting together a roster of mostly older players, and some of them have played professionally in Europe, which is currently allowed under NCAA rules. What makes the Luis situation different is that he signed to play professional basketball in the United States after leaving St. John’s following his junior season, but Guilbeau doesn’t blame Wade for trying.

Cut 8 (05) “..the rules.”

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Congressman Cleo Fields is joining the rest of the Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP in urging athletes to avoid playing for schools in states which are diluting the power of Black voters through redistricting. Fields, whose own district is on the chopping block in the Louisiana legislature, says Black athletes being recruited by SEC schools, including LSU, need to think twice about attending those schools.

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Fields says it makes no sense for Black athletes to represent states that want to treat them as second-class citizens off the field.

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Fields says with the Supreme Court watering down the 1965 Voting Rights Act, we’re perilously close to going right back to an ugly time in American history, where Southern states went to great lengths to deny Blacks the right to vote.

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The Congressional Black Caucus has also dropped its support of the SCORE Act, which is legislation that supporters say would bring much needed reforms to college athletics. That measure is now considered dead on the House side.