During the governor’s monthly call-in radio show, John Bel Edwards weighed in on the 2023 governor’s race. Edwards called the latest entry into the race, the former leader of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Stephen Waguespack, a good person, but they have profound policy disagreements. Edwards says L-A-B-I has been a staunch opponent of raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour….
cut 8 (07) “…about that”
Edwards is supporting Democrat Shawn Wilson in the race for governor.

24-year-old Dillon James has been sentenced to eight years in prison, one of the years has been suspended, for beating up a 67-year-old newspaper delivery person at his grandfather’s home in Rosepine. James brother, Douglas Paul James of DeRidder received a smiliar sentence last October. Vernon Parish D-A Terry Lambright…
cut 15 (10) “…of crime”

The owner of Fat Daddy’s Crawfish in Shreveport has been killed in a home invasion that took place in Natchitoches Parish. 71-year-old Mark Hailey was found inside his home unresponsive late Tuesday night. The coroner says he died from apparent blunt and sharp-force trauma. Authorities say Hailey’s truck was also stolen, but recovered the next morning.

As part of the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Louisiana will issue $21 million in grants for schools to increase campus safety. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The state Department of Education is making 21-million dollars in federal money available for schools to use towards hardening their perimeter so that there is a single point of entry on school campuses. Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley says 42 grants of half a million dollars each will be awarded. He says some schools might only need minor adjustments others more substantial.
Cut 4 (10) “…an application.”
Brumley says the grants can be used to add fencing, locks, cameras, or install metal detectors.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is co-authoring legislation to expediate disaster recovery funding to impacted communities. Graves says the bill will improve the recovery process after hurricanes in both the short and long term. He expects federal lawmakers in coastal states to support the bill, but….
cut 11 (09) “…something that’s important”

On his monthly radio call-in show, Governor Edwards talked about minimum wage and a gubernatorial candidate who fought against it. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

A recent governor’s poll has Jeff Landry and Shawn Wilson running neck and neck. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

JMC Analytics also did a poll on the attorney general’s race, paid for by one of the candidates John Belton, a district attorney in north Louisiana. Belton received 13-percent of the vote, Solicitor General Liz Murrill in the Attorney General’s Office received 10-percent and state representative John Stefanski had seven percent. 68-percent said they were undecided.

The National Hurricane Center says it will give out seven-day forecasts, instead of the traditional five, starting with this year’s hurricane season. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this update in forecasting will be beneficial…
cut 4 (10) “…might be headed”
The National Hurricane Center says they’ve been testing seven-day forecasts in recent years and now feel confident enough in them, to make them public.

The latest national survey of small businesses finds inflation and labor shortages continue to frustrate businesses. State Director of the NFIB Dawn McVea says the workforce issue needs to be resolved soon so the economy can grow again. She says they need the help of the federal and state government, because small business owners are doing what they can to cope with the labor shortage…
cut 14 (07) “…work schedules”

A south Louisiana lawmaker wants individuals convicted of distributing more than 28 grams of fentanyl to spend the rest of their life behind bars without the possibility of parole or probation. Hundreds die from fentanyl annually in Louisiana and Crowley Representative John Stefanski says Louisiana has dealt with other drug scourges  in similar fashion…
cut 5 (12) “….those penalties”
Stefanski’s bill will be heard in the upcoming legislative session.

Northwestern State has broken ground on a new 44-million dollar academic building. The more than 73,000 square foot building will feature laboratories for nursing and anesthesia programs, clinics and 60 offices. NSU President Doctor Marcus Jones says it will become a hub of innovation for students
Cut 9 (05) “…they graduate.”

A new league year begins today for the NFL. Saints analyst Ross Jackson and The Advocate’s Luke Johnson share their insight and look ahead to free agency…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

As part of new McNeese men’s basketball coach Will Wade’s contract, he’ll be suspended the first five games of the season. He’s also prohibited from doing any off-campus recruiting until after July 31st. Wade was fired from LSU a year ago over alleged recruiting violations.

Crowley Representative Jonn Stefanski has filed a bill that would make the punishment for distributing more than 28 grams of fentanyl the same as murder, which means life in prison without the possibility of parole. Stefanski says fentanyl is killing too many of our residents and he expects bipartisan support from his colleagues…
cut 6 (07) “….you belong to”
Stefanski is also running for state Attorney General this fall.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says nine companies have applied for grant dollars from the state that will result in them writing property insurance policies in coastal Louisiana. Donelon says his staff still has to review the applications, but some of these companies could start writing new policies soon…
cut 15 (05) “….next month”
Donelon has also announced he’s not running for re-election this fall.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is suing drug makers and prescription benefit managers over the high cost of insulin. He says 20% of middle-class Americans are unable to take their prescribed dosage of insulin…:
CUT 21(05) “…can’t afford it.”
He hopes the suit will result in them lowering costs for diabetics.

If you’ve ever been scammed or had your identity stolen you’re not alone. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A Crowley lawmaker files legislation to raise criminal penalties for distributing fentanyl to make that equivalent to murder. Republican John Stefanski’s bill will be heard in the legislative session that starts April 10th. He says the consequences for dealing the drug should “match the violent damage it causes”…:
Cut 4 (10) “…rest of your life.”
Possessing smaller amounts could get 5 to 40 years in prison and up to $50-thousand in fines.

New data finds Louisiana is among the top five states when it comes to the highest per capita rates of both reported fraud and identity theft. Federal Trade Commission Senior Data Researcher Emma Fletcher says if you’ve been a victim, you can report your case to Report-Fraud-dot-F-T-C-dot-gov. Fletcher says even if you did not lose money, make them aware of the potential scam…
cut 11 (10) “…for investigations”
The FTC also has tips on their website on how to possibly recover your losses.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says nine insurers are seeking 62-million dollars in grant money to write more private property insurance policies in coastal Louisiana. Donelon says they are reviewing the applications…
cut 14 (14) “…on the budget”
But Donelon is optimistic several of these companies will begin writing new policies as soon as next month.

Governor John Bel Edwards and other officials have broken ground on a new 44-million dollar state-of-the-art building on the Northwestern State University campus. NSU President Dr. Marcus Jones says the groundbreaking marks a special moment for the university.
Cut 7 (10) “…sixteenth president.”
Alost was president of the university from 1986 to 1996.