The first long range forecast for the upcoming hurricane season is encouraging. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

According to the latest information from the U-S Drought monitor, nearly 96-percent of the state is considered abnormally dry. The northern half of the state is considered to be in severe drought, the Delta Parishes, Natchitoches Parish and the northwestern corner of the state is in extreme drought.

The Louisiana House has approved a bill that would eliminate the inspection sticker requirement for most drivers. DeSoto Parish Representative Larry Bagley has been pushing this bill for a number of years, because he looks at the inspection sticker as an outdated burden for drivers.

Cut 10 (06) “…of those things?”

Bagley is proposing a QR code sticker that would cost six dollars a year, instead of an inspection sticker that costs 10-dollars. The measure heads to the Senate for their consideration.

A proposed bill that would require people who negotiate NIL deals for college and high school athletes to register with the state. It would also require background checks and full disclosure of fees and compensation. Legendary high school football coach J.T. Curtis of John Curtis High School agrees those acting as agents should be registered.

Cut 14 (09) “…has some qualification.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor.

LSU was upset by Bethune-Cookman on the baseball diamond last night as the Wildcats scored five runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Tigers ten to seven. LSU is 22-12 and six of their losses have come against nonconference opponents. Bethune-Cookman has an RPI of 212, so losing to the Wildcats will make it tougher for the Tigers to host an NCAA Regional in June. Sophomore outfielder Derek Curiel says they will likely have to win two more SEC games to make up for Tuesday night’s loss…

Cut 10 (09) “…on postseason”

ULM got back in the win column last night with a 9-4 victory over Mississippi Valley State.

Louisiana Tech extended its winning streak to three games with a 7-0 win over Northwestern State on Tuesday.

Southeastern hosts UL-Lafayette tonight at 6 p.m., where Cajuns head coach Matt Deggs will serve the first of a two-game suspension.

The LSU football team is now two and a half weeks into spring practice, and one name starting to turn heads is early enrollee freshman Richard Anderson. Head coach Lane Kiffin says the top-rated defensive lineman in the 2026 class has been impressive so far.

Cut 16 (14) “…excited about him.”

The Pelicans scored a franchise-record 156 points in their regular-season finale win against the Jazz last night. Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears also set a franchise record for most points scored by a rookie with 40 points. Fears say his teammates did a great job of setting him up.

Cut 21 (10): “pretty good job of that tonight.”

The Southeastern Conference announced its schedule for this summer’s SEC Media Days. Lane Kiffin, along with selected LSU players, will appear on the final day, Thursday, July 23.

The alleged drunk driver who crashed in a crowd of people at the Lao New Year Festival in Iberia Parish remains behind bars on a 247-thousand dollar bond. At a press conference today, State Police Trooper Monique Lavergne said Landry showed signs of impairment at the scene and a breath sample indicated his blood alcohol content was .137, well over the legal limit…

Cut 13 (08) “…crowded settings.”

Iberia Sheriff Tommy Romero says the 18 people injured are expected to survive their injuries.

Hiring has slowed among small businesses according to a new report from the  NFIB. NFIB State Director Leah Long says labor quality has declined over the past few months and labor costs concerns are growing among small business owners…

Cut 8 (05) “…employees”

Nationally, 32-percent of small business owners reported openings they could not fill — well above the historical average of 24-percent.

A public service commissioner is speaking out against Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16^th ballot. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The wife of a Fort Polk solider has been released from a federal immigration detention facility. Twenty-two-year-old Annie Ramos is Honduran-born, but has lived in the U-S since she was a toddler. Ramos tells the Associated Press she’s been trying to gain legal status.

Legislation to attract the aerospace industry to Louisiana has been approved by the House Ways and Means Committee. Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says other states are currently providing better tax incentives to lure aerospace companies.

Cut 4 (13) “…in this space.”

The measure would give sales tax rebates to aerospace businesses that create 200 permanent jobs and make a one-billion-dollar investment.

LSU baseball was upset by Bethune Cookman 10 to 7 last night. LSU had a meltdown in the seventh inning giving up five runs. WBRZ-TV sports director Michael Cauble says this team has failed to play consistent baseball since an 8-0 start…

Cut 11 (10) “…psychological thing”

LSU is at Ole Miss this weekend for an SEC series that will begin on Friday.

Through the first quarter of 2026, small businesses in Louisiana and elsewhere have found it challenging to fill openings. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A mayor and a police chief in Evangeline Parish are among five public officials accused of sharing protected information with a defendant in an ongoing criminal case. Ville Platte Mayor Ryan Williams and Mamou Police Chief Pat Hall are facing malfeasance charges. A sergeant from the Ville Platte Police Department has also been arrested and so has an officer with Opelousas P-D.

The House Ways and Means Committee has approved sales and property tax breaks intended to grow the aerospace industry in Louisiana. This legislation is likely designed to attract  Space X and Blue Origin rocket companies to Louisiana. The bill’s author is Ways and Means Chairman Tony Bacala

Cut 6 (13) “…away from it.”

State officials say the legislation mirrors what is already in place in Florida and Texas.

LSU was upset by Bethune-Cookman on the baseball diamond last night as the Wildcats scored five runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Tigers ten to seven. In that seventh inning, LSU pitchers walked two hitters, hit two others and there was a critical error leading to two runs. Tigers center fielder Derek Curiel…

Cut 9 (06) “…cost us”

LSU is at Ole Miss this weekend.

A new LendingTree study shows that Louisiana has the third lowest rate of small business failures within the first year. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Oil prices are falling back to 90-dollars a barrel following a ceasefire with Iran. Will gas prices follow? According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.80, which is 73 cents higher than a month ago. A gallon of diesel on average costs 5.33, four-cents away from an all-time record.

The House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation designed to make Louisiana more attractive to companies which are building and launching rockets…

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The wife of a Fort Polk solider has been released from a federal immigration detention facility. Twenty-two-year-old Annie Ramos is Honduran-born, but has lived in the U-S since she was a toddler. Ramos tells the Associated Press she’s been trying to gain legal status.

The Artemis Two is returning back to Earth after a historic loop around the moon. The space craft traveled 252-thousand miles away from Earth. Eric Burns, a professor of physics and astronomy at LSU, says this mission is a way for America to get reacquainted with the moon and more trips are planned…

Cut 8 (12) “…go to Mars”

The goal is to manned spacecraft land on the moon in 2028.

The Secretary of State’s Office reports there are 455-thousand registered voters on the inactive voter list. Secretary Nancy Landry says a registered voter gets put on the inactive list if he or she has not cast a ballot in the last ten years and did not respond to an address confirmation card…

Cut 14 (06) “….have passed away”

Inactive voters can vote in the upcoming primaries, but they will need to confirm their address.