A pair of Louisiana representatives are calling on tariffs of rice imports. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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A new poll bodes well for Senator Bill Cassidy’s re-election bid. Sean Richardson reports.
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A crash in St. Landry Parish claimed the life of an unborn child. It happened just before eight yesterday morning on U.S. Highway 190 at Louisiana Highway 743. State Police say an 18-wheeler being driven by 51-year-old Albert Jenkins of Lafayette was traveling south on 743. At the same time, a 2024 Kia Seltos was heading west on 190.
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Bourque says the Kia’s driver, who was pregnant and properly restrained, suffered critical injuries.
Cut 4 (07) “…was uninjured.”
A toxicology sample was taken from Jenkins for analysis, and the crash remains under investigation. Bourque urge drivers to always yield properly and check for oncoming traffic to prevent such tragedies.
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Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Congressman Clay Higgins are asking the White House to impose tariffs of up to 100-percent on rice imports from five countries – India, Thailand, China, Pakistan and Vietnam. Letlow says the U.S.’ rice industry is being displaced by heavily subsidized rice from those countries.
Cut 6 (08) “…1.5 billion in 2024.”
Letlow says these tariffs are especially important in protecting Louisiana rice producers.
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Letlow’s and Higgins’ letter comes just as Iraq had purchased 88-thousand metric tons of U.S. rice, completing its commitment in a 2024-25 memorandum of understanding.
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Dr. Mark Johnson has been elected as the 10th president of Louisiana Christian University (LCU). The Board of Trustees approved his appointment based on the recommendation of the presidential search committee, which conducted an independent and transparent selection process. Vice Chairman of the Search Committee Tommy Kiker says it was a nationwide search.
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Johnson, formerly the director of the Doctor of Ministry program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, views his presidency as a divine calling. He is committed to upholding LCU’s Christian values and fostering a culture of transparency, faith, and academic excellence. Kiker says Johnson was the strongest candidate to meet the needs of LCU.
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Kiker says Johnsons official start date is set for June 1st, but says Johnon isn’t wasting anytime and is already on campus getting to work.
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Public sector workers will start seeing bigger Social Security benefit payments. Senator Bill Cassidy worked to get the windfall elimination provision and the government pension offset repealed in the last session as part of the Social Security Fairness Act, and he delivered the good news to those workers – with something a little extra.
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Cassidy said this is great news for all public sector workers hurt by WEP and G-P-O, especially the thousands in Louisiana.
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The effort was spearheaded in the House by then-Congressman Garret Graves.
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A new poll is an encouraging sign for Senator Bill Cassidy’s re-election bid. A new Morning Consult poll shows that Cassidy has a 69-percent approval rating among Republicans, including a 64-percent approval rating from those who identify themselves as conservative. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says one catalyst behind those numbers is Cassidy’s support of President Trump and his agenda, including his cabinet nominees like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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Four years ago, Cassidy was one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial in the wake of the January 6th riot at the Capitol. Pinsonat said had he voted against Kennedy’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services, not only would that have sunk his nomination, but it would have also likely ended any chance of him getting re-elected.
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Cassidy has drawn at least two Republican primary challengers in his 2026 re-election bid.