State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley will continue in his role after BESE unanimously voted for his reappointment. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Governor Landry wanted to change Louisiana elections from jungle primaries to a closed-party primary system and the legislature passed a bill, but it wasn’t everything Landry proposed. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Governor Jeff Landry calls the results of the special session an exciting day for Louisiana. Jeanne Burns has more…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

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We’ve already heard the 2024 crawfish season could be one of the worst ever in terms of supply and prices due to a historic drought. And LSU Agent Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley warns the outlook for next year isn’t promising either.

Cut 4 (06) “…next year.”

He says the fields that don’t have crawfish this year will have to be restocked and with limited availability, it creates issues for the 2025 crop.

Shirley says the only possible source for wild crawfish in May and June will be from the Atchafalaya Basin crop. And unfortunately, the current water level in the Basin is extremely low at one to two feet.

Cut 5 (06) “…the winter.” 

Any chance to increase the number of crawfish in the Atchafalaya Basin, Shirley says depends on snowmelt from the north flowing down the Mississippi River and…

Cut 6 (10) “…the Basin.”

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Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley has unanimously been reappointed to continue to serve in his position by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Brumley says he’s anxious to continue working in the role he’s held for four years.

Cut 7 (11) “…to go.”

In his first four years, Brumley navigated the state’s school system through a global pandemic and multiple hurricanes. During that period the state’s overall ranking according to The Nation’s Report Card moved from 46^th to 42^nd and the state’s 4^th graders were ranked number one in the country for reading growth.

Cut 8 (12) “…to go.” 

With disruptions in the rearview mirror, Brumley says the department can now focus on getting back to the basics, reading, writing, arithmetic, and other priorities like…

Cut 9 (12)  “…kid’s education.”

Brumley says he’s looking forward to working with Governor Jeff Landry and new members of the legislature.

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In last week’s special session, the Louisiana Legislature passed a bill to change from jungle primary elections to closed party primaries but only for federal elections, and elections for State Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, and BESE. Public Affairs Research Council President Steve Procopio says the bill passed so quickly it left much room for confusion but at least it won’t be implemented until 2026…

Cut 10 (11) “…even more.”

Unaffiliated voters will be able to vote in the party primaries, but registered Independents, Libertarians, and other Third-party registered voters will not. Procopio says the changes will impact many Louisiana voters…

Cut 11 (10) “…state level.” 

The bill passed in less than a week with little time for public input but Procopio believes it’s really up to the voters to accept or reject the changes…

Cut 12 (11) “…pull back more.” 

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The special session is over and two major pieces of legislation came out of it. Lawmakers approved a Congressional map with two majority Black districts and Louisiana’s federal elections will shift from open primaries to party primaries starting in 2026. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Governor Landry advocated hard for party primary elections…

Cut 13 (11) “…change that.”

Elections for the Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will also move party primaries in 2026. Unaffiliated voters will be able to vote in those primary elections.

Landry says the outcome of the special session is a win for the people of Louisiana…

Cut 14 (08) “…great state” 

Governor Landry is expected to sign the new Congressional districting map. It includes a second majority-minority district, which is what a federal judge ordered the Louisiana Legislature to do. Landry says it was important for lawmakers to redraw the political boundaries…

Cut 15 (08) …Congressional maps“

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LSU men’s basketball could not defend its home court on Saturday as they lost to Texas A-and-M 73-69. The Aggies had 21 offensive rebounds to LSU’s six and they outscored the Tigers 27-0 in second-chance points. LSU Coach Matt McMahon’s team is now 3-2 in the SEC…

Cut 16 (16) “..won the game” 

Six-foot-ten Jalen Reed had ten points and says they need to do a better job on the glass for the rest of the season…

Cut 17 (23) “…happen again” 

Jordan Wright had a double-double, 15 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.

Cut 18 (18)  “…tougher team” 

LSU is on the road this week, at Georgia on Wednesday and Alabama on Saturday night.

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The tenth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team scored the first 18 points of yesterday’s game against Arkansas on their way to a 99-68. Freshman MIkaylah Williams led all scorers with 21 points. Hailey Van Lith had 20 points and six assists. Angel Reese had her 11th double-double, 16 points and 17 boards. Reese says Van Lith is doing well as the team’s point guard…

Cut 19 (19) “… really good” 

LSU is 18-2 overall, 5-1 in the SEC. Up next is a highly anticipated matchup against top-ranked South Carolina. The Lady Tigers won in blowout fashion in their two games since losing to Auburn last Sunday. Coach Kim Mulkey says they are playing with more togetherness since the loss to Auburn…

Cut 20 (22) “…do it collectively.”

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”