According to The New York Times, national Democrats are encouraging former Gov. John Bel Edwards to run for Senate in 2026 against Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving moves to the Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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During Love the Boot Week in April, Keep Louisiana Beautiful supported recycling efforts in 27 parishes, picking up over 16-thousand bottles and cans, a 23-percent increase from last year. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says this was part of a broader statewide effort involving nearly 27-thousand volunteers

Cut 3 (12) “…was just amazing.” 

The recycling program used a mix of pick-up and drop-off services, with 21 Louisiana Department of Transportation offices serving as collection sites.  Russell says people want to live in clean communities and they deserve just that.

Cut 4 (10) “…they are proud of.”

Love the Boot Week took place during the week of April 5th to the 13th. Bur Russell says the fight against littering is year round…

Cut 5 (09) “…in our state.”

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More and more people are getting scam text messages claiming that they have an unpaid toll road charge. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says that’s something that the department simply does not do. 

Cut 6 (08) “…asking for fines”

Mallett says the scammers are getting more and more sophisticated in how they trick unsuspecting people into following a link and paying what seems to be a small amount of money.

Cut 7 (10) “…geauxpass-dot-com.”

Also, watch out for subtle misspellings, such as dropping the “x” in “geaux.” Mallett says there’s only one way in which DOTD will ever contact you over an unpaid toll charge.

Cut 8 (07) “…your license plate.” (DOTD will only send notifications through snail mail)

Bottom line – if it seems suspicious, ignore it.

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National Democrats are encouraging former Gov. John Bel Edwards to run for Senate in 2026 against Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, according to The New York Times. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has spoken with Edwards about the race, but Edwards has not confirmed his interest. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards could say he’s ready to get out of private practice and back into politics.

Cut 9 (11)  “…for doing that.”

The 2026 election will use closed primaries for the first time, with party winners advancing to the general election. Edwards would likely dominate the Democratic primary but face tough odds in the general election. Pinsonat says the big question will be how the closed primary will affect Cassidy

Cut 10 (12) “…especially the Republicans.”

Cassidy is considered vulnerable among Trump loyalists due to his vote to convict the current President in his 2021 impeachment trial. Pinsonat says there’s no guarantee Cassidy will be re-elected, even though he has a war chest of over seven million dollars…

Cut 11 (11) “…another Democrat.”

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The House has advanced a bill that would ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving, except in emergencies. Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso wrote the bill; he says distracted driving is a huge problem in the state, and it’s one of the reasons that auto insurance rates in Louisiana are so high.

Cut 12 (11) “…distracted driving.”

Glorioso’s bill also has the support of several Democrats, including Jason Hughes of New Orleans.

Cut 13 (09)  “…they were distracted.”

Not all of Glorioso’s fellow Republicans are on board with his bill. Mike Bayham of Chalmette says a hand-held cell phone ban will disproportionately affect a certain group of people.

Cut 14 (12) “…don’t have Bluetooth.”

Bayham says a hand-held cell phone ban would not instantly make bad drivers better.

Cut 15 (06) “…car or not.”

A similar bill last year failed in the House, 71-to-22. It was almost the complete opposite this year, with the House passing it by a vote of 71-to-28. It now moves to the Senate.

Brusly High graduate, and now LSU freshman John Foster, is in the Top 7 on American Idol and continues to make Louisiana proud. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A substance sometimes referred to as “gas station heroin” is one step closer to being banned in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Legislation that would give parishes the option to increase the homestead exemption for property owners clears its first legislative hurdle. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Addis native and Brusly High graduate John Foster has made it to the Top 7 of American Idol. Brusly High Principal Walt Lemoine says the world is seeing the real John Foster.

Cut 4 (08) “…model human being.”

Lemoine says Foster, who’s now a freshman at LSU and was co-valedictorian last year, was a quiet, humble role model for the other students at Brusly High, and Foster’s success is no shock to him.

Cut 5 (12) “…Addis, Louisiana.”

Lemoine says he’s an unassuming star; and the first time he heard Foster perform, he says he never expected that voice from one of his students.

Cut 6 (10) “…out of him?”

Watch Foster perform this Sunday on ABC.

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A bill that would make kratom illegal in Louisiana moves to the House. The Senate passed S-B 154 yesterday on a vote of 26-to-11, split right down party lines. The author, West Monroe Republican Jay Morris, says kratom – sometimes known as “gas station heroin” – has already been banned in several places.

Cut 7 (09) “…grown in Asia.”

Senator Morris says while kratom can easily be purchased online or in many gas stations throughout the state, the FDA has not approved it and discourages its use.

Cut 8 (11) “…substance abuse disorder.”

Morris says he has heard many horror stories stemming from the use of kratom.

Cut 9 (12)  “…a legal substance.”

Morris says Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan (CROW-ghin) says he has treated more people for kratom overdose than those who have taken crack cocaine.

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SkyWest Airlines, the largest regional airline in the U.S., has chosen Shreveport Regional Airport as its 13th maintenance base, supporting its fleet of nearly 500 aircraft.  North Louisiana Economic Partnership CEO Justyn Dixon says the new facility is expected to create 150 direct jobs, averaging 70-thousand-dollars annually; and 375 indirect jobs, for a total of 525 new positions in Northwest Louisiana.

Cut 10 (12) “…power plant.”

Dixon says the project supports Louisiana Economic Development’s focus on aerospace and logistics, sectors in which the state has long-standing strengths, including underutilized space, low operational costs and port access.

Cut 11 (09) “…make their money.”

Dixon hopes that not only will the base keep skilled workers in the state but also believes that this project will draw talented workers to move to the region.

Cut 12 (10) “…great opportunities.”

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The House Ways and Means Committee has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would give voters the opportunity to decide whether parishes should have the option to increase the homestead exemption from 75-hundred dollars 12-thousand-500 dollars in assessed value. The vote was 9-to-5. The bill’s author, New Orleans Democrat Matthew Willard, says since the homestead exemption has not increased since 1980, people are getting priced out of their homes.

Cut 13 (10)  “…it’s not affordable.”

Willard says if people can’t afford their homes, they’ll move to a state where they can, and Louisiana cannot afford that.

Cut 14 (11) “…their roots down.”

Jim Patterson with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry spoke out against Willard’s bill. He says if you increase the homestead exemption to lower property taxes, the government will need to make up that tax revenue somehow.

Cut 15 (09) “…taxes to others.”

Patterson says Louisiana already generates a disproportionately low amount of property tax revenue relative to other states.

Cut 16 (15) “…44-percent.”

The bill now advances to the House Civil Law for a review of the ballot language. Because this would be a constitutional amendment, it will need to pass in both houses of legislature by a two-thirds majority before it goes to the voters.

OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs on this deadline day. Andrew Greenstein is at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Rayne Police Department is grieving over the loss of one of its officers who was killed by friendly fire. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs, as regular driver’s licenses will no longer be adequate to board commercial flights starting tomorrow. As such, people are waiting a long time, even those who are there for something other than REAL ID.

Cut 3 (09) “…minutes at best.” 

One woman who showed up at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs has no immediate travel plans but needs a REAL ID for work. She says if you don’t have immediate travel plans, you can wait.

Cut 4 (08) “…at the moment.”

One woman says the Denham Springs Express OMV was so busy that their computers couldn’t handle it.

Cut 5 (07) “…say that yet.”

Last month, the OMV and Public Tag Agents processed more than 97-thousand REAL ID applications.

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Bogue Chitto State Park near Franklinton is undergoing a significant expansion with the acquisition of over 800 adjacent acres, increasing the park’s total area by 45-percent to nearly 2,600 acres. Office of State Parks Assistant Secretary Brandon Burris…

Cut 6 (07) “…has to offer.”

Burris says preliminary plans for the expanded portion of Bogue Chitto State Park include additional equestrian trails, mountain biking trails, and hiking trails.

Cut 7 (10) “…utilization we can.”

Burris says the newly acquired acres will need some restoration projects in the future to maintain the quality and standards for Louisiana State Parks.

Cut 8 (10) “…studying the ecosystem.”

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One of the bills in the legislature getting the most attention is the one that would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates he or she deems to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. It has passed in the full House and is now awaiting debate in a Senate committee. Governor Landry supports it, but Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple – also a Republican – opposed it. Temple says he has rejected rates because they’re either too low or too high.

Cut 9 (06)  “…the drawing board.”

Temple says he has already rejected insurance rates that he has deemed to be too high – several times, in fact.

Cut 10 (09) “…I exercise it.”

Temple says the biggest reason he opposes the bill is because he already has the authority to reject excessive rates – and he has.

Cut 11 (11) “…we exercise it.”

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A large portion of Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 9 PM tonight. The watch area covers Shreveport, Monroe, Natchitoches, Alexandria, Opelousas, DeRidder, Lake Charles and Lafayette. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says a few tornadoes are possible, plus there are other severe weather threats…

Cut 12 (06) “…large hail”  

Jacquemin says a flood watch also remains in effect for the entire state…

Cut 13 (09)  “…and evening”

Jacquemin says weather event features slow moving thunderstorms capable of dumping a lot of rain at once…

Cut 14 (15) “…into tomorrow.”

State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the heaviest rains will begin later tonight and extend into tomorrow morning before slowly subsiding. The flood threat remains a concern for Acadiana and portions of the Florida Parishes.

The 2026 U.S. Senate Republican primary appears to be neck and neck, with two polls showing conflicting results. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Lake Charles will soon have a new mayor. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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If you expect to keep collecting unemployment benefits, you may soon be required to up your weekly job searches and keep your job interview appointments. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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In the lead-up to the 2026 U.S. Senate race, Senator Bill Cassidy and State Treasurer John Fleming have polling data showing two different stories. Cassidy’s poll shows him with a double-digit lead over his Republican challengers, according to a Ragnar Research poll. Pearson Cross teaches political science at ULM and says it may be a closer race.

Cut 4 (08) “…support too.”

Cross says that a more recent poll conducted by JMC Analytics shows a much tighter race, with Fleming having a slight lead in some cases.

Cut 5 (11) “…please invest.”

The latest campaign finance report shows Cassidy with 2.2 million dollars in cash on hand, while Cassidy has 7.5 million.

Cross says if Fleming has the money to compete with Cassidy on ads, then it will be a tight race…

Cut 6 (04) “…has an advantage.”

Cassidy just picked up an endorsement from Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker.

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The entire state is under a flood watch. The watch starts for today and it continues for south Louisiana through Thursday. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says some severe weather is possible, but the major threat is heavy rain.

Cut 7 (08) “…higher than that.”

Grymes says the highest rainfall projections are for the Acadiana area…

Cut 8 (12) “…to four days.”

Grymes says the flood watch means that excessive rainfall is possible, which could lead to flooding in low-lying areas, that includes rivers and creeks and we could see street flooding…

Cut 9 (12)  “…forth to work.”

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On July 1st, Lake Charles will have a new mayor, as Marshall Semien unseated two-term incumbent Nic Hunter over the weekend. Mayor-elect Semien says it was a hard-fought campaign, but Mayor Hunter was very gracious in defeat.

Cut 10 (12) “…without my input.”

In all hard-fought political campaigns, one of the first jobs after an election is to bring people together. Semien says this is no different.

Cut 11 (11) “…tent for everybody.”

Semien will begin his four-year term on July 1st, and one of his top priorities is to lead Lake Charles in a period of tremendous growth.

Cut 12 (14) “…to stay here.”

Semien will be the first Black mayor in Lake Charles’ history.

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If you’re collecting unemployment, you might soon be required to increase your work searches and keep your job interview appointments in order to keep your benefits. The House has passed House Bill 153 by a vote of 73 to 24, with all but one of the “no” votes coming from Democrats. It’s written by Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert, who says he’d heard from employers who have been stood up for job interviews.

Cut 13 (13)  “…there with unemployment.”

Hebert says his bill is not creating anything new; instead, it would be codifying a system that has been in place for a year. He did, however, say that the number of weekly job searches would increase on the advice of the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Cut 14 (10) “…a job quicker.”

Hebert says this process has worked well in the year since it was implemented.

Cut 15 (15) “…doing bad things.”

Hebert says the purpose of codifying the bill is so that it remains in place regardless of any future administration that enters office. Opponents of the bill say it’s a way to make it easier for people to be pushed off unemployment benefits. Hebert pointed out that in the year that the system has been in place, only one-percent of those collecting unemployment benefits were subsequently deemed ineligible. The bill now moves to the Senate.

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The LSU Tigers are ranked in the top five in the major college baseball polls, but there are questions about the offense after scoring a total of seven runs in a series loss to Texas A-and-M. LSU’s bats also struggled the previous SEC road series, just eight runs against Auburn. Geaux 247 sports writer Glen West says there are several players who can perform better and the player on top of the list is shortstop Steven Milam, who is hitting .205.

Cut 16 (13) “…bit more.”

It was a tough weekend for right-hander Zac Cowan in College Station. The Tigers most consistent bullpen arm was tagged with the loss in games one and three of the series. That included a three-run homer he gave up in the eighth inning. West says Cowan has been nearly perfect and eventually he would hit a rough patch.

Cut 17 (13)  “…quite yet.”

LSU is 15-9 in the SEC and there are two more series left. The Tigers host Arkansas this weekend and then they travel to South Carolina. West says if LSU wins both series, they will likely wrap up a Top eight national seed.

Cut 18 (19)  “…national seed.”

Before LSU hosts Arkansas, they face Grambling State tonight, weather permitting.

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The top safety in the spring transfer portal window has committed to LSU. A.J. Haulcy made his commitment public after visiting LSU this past weekend. The first-team All-Big 12 performer at Houston chose the Tigers over Miami, Ole Miss and SMU. On-3 sports-dot-com’s Matthew Brune says Haulcy is a senior, who has played a lot of football…

Cut 19 (19) “…high floor.”

Haulcy is the 18^th player that LSU has added through the transfer portal as the Tigers are in win now mode. LSU’s transfer class is ranked as high as number one as Brune says not only is there quantity, but there’s also quality…

Cut 20 (18) “…Monsoor Delane.”

Louisiana’s honeybee populations are experiencing their worst decline on record this year, with beekeepers reporting a staggering 60-percent loss in colonies. Sean Richardson has more…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Small businesses in Louisiana and across the country are having trouble filling job openings. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.

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Whooping cough cases are on the rise in Louisiana. Jeanne (ZHAHN) Burns reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

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The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles has made significant progress in helping residents prepare for the May 7th REAL ID enforcement date. Acting Deputy Commissioner Matthew Boudreaux says over 1.2 million Louisianans have received a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card through outreach efforts, expanded services, and public engagement.

Cut 4 (09) “…REL ID credentials.”

Boudreaux says  OMV offices will continue issuing REAL IDs after the enforcement date.

Cut 5 (15) “…process those transactions.”

Boudreaux encourages all residents to visit express-lane-dog-org to schedule an appointment and has a REAL ID checklist.

Cut 6 (09) “…express-lane-dot-org.”

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In 2025, Louisiana’s honeybee populations are experiencing their worst decline on record, with beekeepers reporting a staggering 60-percent loss in colonies. Louisiana Beekeepers Association VP Kevin Langley says this collapse threatens not only local ecosystems but also national food supplies, as bees play a crucial role in pollinating crops.

Cut 7 (12) “…in California.”

Langley attributes the decline to pesticide use, habitat loss, and disease—all of which weaken bee immune systems.

Cut 8 (06) “…pesticides.”

Langley says  there is hope. Farmers, researchers, and environmentalists are raising awareness and promoting bee-friendly practices such as pollinator gardens, limiting pesticide use during blooms, and preserving green spaces by cutting back on cutting your grass.

Cut 9 (12)  “…to the bees.”

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Small businesses are finding it harder to find quality workers to fill their job openings. The National Federation of Independent Business’ April jobs report showed that 34-percent of small businesses reported job openings that they could not fill. State Director Leah Long says this has been an issue that’s been going on for about a year.

Cut 10 (13) “…skilled work set.”

Long says it’s not just skilled workers that small businesses are having trouble finding to fill their openings.

Cut 11 (07) “…unskilled labor.”

Long says there are two house bills making their way through the legislature that would address the need for small businesses to find qualified workers, including creating a one-door workforce policy.

Cut 12 (12) “…one-door policy.”

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Whooping cough cases continue their upward trend in Louisiana. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says there have been 164 cases of whooping cough so far this year, already eclipsing 2024’s total of 153.

Cut 13 (13)  “…one year old.”

And Sokol says two infants have died from the illness. She says the trend is similar across the country, but it’s especially alarming in Louisiana.

Cut 14 (13) “…each year pre-pandemic”

Sokol says there are vaccines to protect people from whooping cough, and she especially urges certain women to get vaccinated.

Cut 15 (16) “…during each pregnancy.”

Sokol says to take extra cautions when around newborns, because they cannot get a whooping cough vaccine until they’re two months old.

Police in Minden are investigating the death of a toddler inside a home. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Crawfish prices are the lowest they’ve been all season. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Two children were found locked in car seats inside a house in Webster Parish with no adult supervision, and one of them has died. Minden Police were called to the house mid-morning Thursday on a report of a two-year-old child being found unresponsive inside the house. The girl could not be resuscitated. Minden Police Chief Jared McIver says investigators are trying to determine exactly how the little girl died.

Cut 3 (12) “…off the airway.” 

Chief McIver says investigators also want to know who was supposed to be home supervising the children.

Cut 4 (10) “…that’s just negligence.”

McIver says this case is gut-wrenching to the entire community.

Cut 5 (09) “…that’s even tougher”

The second child who’s ten months old was uninjured.

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Voters in about half of Louisiana’s parishes will head to the polls Saturday to elect local officials and decide on various ballot proposals. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office says several areas will hold runoff elections from earlier primaries, while others will vote on sales taxes, millages, bonds, and charter amendments.

Cut 6 (13) “…in your area.”

Voters in Lake Charles will decide whether to re-elect Nic Hunter as mayor. He’s being challenged by Democrat Marshall Simien. There’s also a mayoral race in DeRidder. Watson says New Orleans area voters also have items on their ballot..

Cut 7 (09) “…all over the state.”

Watson says polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Cut 8 (08) “…gonna be on there.”

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Advocates gathered outside the State Capitol this week to draw attention to food insecurity. Pat VanBurkleo, the executive director of Feeding Louisiana, says they especially wanted to let state lawmakers know that many things affect hunger

Cut 9 (10)  “…their hunger issues.”

VanBurkleo says one thing that doesn’t nearly get enough attention is hunger on college campuses.

Cut 10 (07) “…having more food.”

VanBurkleo says federal budget cuts are not helping matters.

Cut 11 (10) “…a regular basis.”

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Crawfish prices are at their lowest level of the season, according to the Crawfish-App. Co-founder of the Crawfish App, Laney King, says May is usually when we see the lowest prices…

Cut 12 (10) “…Mother’s Day.”

King says in the days following Easter, crawfish prices dropped 50-cents per pound and they’ve held steady entering the first weekend of May. She consumers can purchase a sack of crawfish for under 100-dollars…

Cut 13 (09)  “…$4.89 a pound” 

(Boiled crawfish is going for around 4.89 a pound.)

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The Coast Guard has been brought in to help control an oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Tens of thousands of gallons of oil have uncontrollably gushed out of an old well off the coast. Coast Guard Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit says crews are working non-stop to get the leak under control.

Cut 14 (09) “…to the environment.”

Lieutenant VanderWeit acknowledges that this is a serious spill.

Cut 15 (16) “…from the environment.”

VanderWeit says the two main jobs are to get the source of the spill under control and to mitigate the impacts to the environment.

Cut 16 (07) “…feet on standby.”

Tour guides in the area say oil spills like this will cause further loss of land and, in effect, further loss of hurricane protection. The cause of the break is unclear, and it’s also unknown how long it will take to plug the well and clean up the contamination.

Another election integrity bill is making its way through the legislature; and given the lack of opposition in committee, the odds are pretty good that it will end up on the governor’s desk. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A Senate committee approves legislation that provides a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A bill that would ban wagering on the outcomes of elections advances to the full Senate; and given the unanimous vote in the Governmental Affairs Committee, the odds are strong that it could end up on Governor Landry’s desk. Secretary of State Nancy Landry testified in support of the bill, saying people with a money stake on elections will go to great lengths to ensure a certain outcome by illicit means.

Cut 3 (10) “…of an election.” 

Secretary Landry notes that such a rule already exists for election staff.

Cut 4 (12) “…should apply statewide.”

Landry says Louisiana already has some of the most secure elections in the state, and she wants to keep it that way.

Cut 5 (06) “…to stay there.”

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A teenager is under arrest for the murder of a man outside an Amazon distribution center in Baton Rouge. Homicide detectives arrested 18-year-old Karl Nash in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Daylon Anthony. BRPD Sergeant Darren Ahmed says Nash turned himself in.

Cut 6 (05) “…violent crimes unit office.”

Investigators say the two men were involved in a verbal and physical altercation outside the distribution center Monday night.  Ahmed says Anthony was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cut 7 (07) “…December 2024.”

Nash has been charged with Second Degree Murder and Illegal Use of a Weapon and is currently booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail. Ahmed says the investigation remains ongoing as detectives gather evidence.

Cut 8 (11) “…as we speak.”

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The number of students accepting TOPS funding has been going down for a few years. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says one requirement is that students attend a college within the state of Louisiana, and many students are being lured to other states.

Cut 9 (09)  “…now for students.”

Reed says another reason is that some students decide not to continue their education beyond high school.

Cut 10 (12) “…to be eligible.”

Reed says the trend started taking a U-turn a few years ago.

Cut 11 (09) “…program has declined.”

Reed notes that there are bills in the legislature designed to make Louisiana a more competitive state for college-bound students and to ensure an affordable path to higher education.

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New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis has a bill that aims to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts—also known as Jim Crow juries. The bill passed a Senate committee on a 5-1 vote and it now heads to the Senate floor. Promise of Justice initiative Attorney Claude Michael Comeau says it would allow individuals convicted by non-unanimous juries to seek post-conviction relief.

Cut 12 (05) “…a new trial.”

Comeau says the Louisiana Supreme Court previously declined to apply non-unanimous verdicts retroactively, leaving around 800 people without relief. Comeau says SB218 is a necessary step to address historic injustices and ensure fair trials for all Louisianans.

Cut 13 (10)  “…doing the right thying.”

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell focused on Child Abuse cases for 20 years and says when she looks at her non-unanimous verdicts it wasn’t a question of guilt.

Cut 14 (14) “…not guilty.”

Russell is concerned what this proposed law will mean for victims, who may have to face their offender again in court if they were previously guilty on a 10-2 or 11-1 decision…

Cut 15 (10) “…at the time.”

The bill moved to the full Senate for debate.

In a Senate committee hearing, lawmakers passed a bill that would ban kratom, an unregulated product that has stimulant effects in small doses and opioid effects in larger doses. Now the bill heads to the Senate floor. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A first-degree murder against a death-row inmate has been thrown out. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Amtrak is getting ready to launch the Mardi Gras Service running twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A bill that would ban the sale of kratom was approved and moves to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 154 is authored by Monroe Republican Jay Morris.

Cut 4 (12) “…and to individuals.”

David Lebrano supports the bill and spoke to the dangers of the drug.  Lebrano’s son died from an apparent kratom overdose, and he hopes to prevent others from experiencing this pain.

Cut 5 (11) “…gas station, headshops, anywhere.”

Critics like kratom user and advocate Wednesday Forrest-Bear says the ban will take away from people using the product medicinally and help manage pain.

Cut 6 (06) “…regulate.”

Another opponent of the bill is Adam Peak, the owner of Bella Sunrise Smoke Shop. He says kratom has been a net positive, helping with overcoming addiction to other drugs and alcohol.

Cut 7 (11) “…an issue of kratom.”

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A man who has spent more than a quarter century on death row in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s nearly two-year-old daughter has had his first-degree murder conviction thrown out. In 1998, Jimmie Duncan was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1993 death of little Haley Oliveaux. Richard Webster, who’s been covering the story for ProPublica, says Duncan’s conviction was due in large part to testimony from forensic dentist Michael West and pathologist Steven Hayne that experts say is junk science.

Cut 8 (14) “…to Jimmie Duncan.”

Webster says West and Hayne’s conclusions led prosecutors to up the charges to first-degree murder, which ultimately led to Duncan’s death sentence. Webster says new evidence led Ouachita Parish District Judge Alvin Sharp to reconsider the conviction.

Cut 9 (19)  “…her to drown.”

Right now, even though his first-degree murder conviction has been thrown out, Duncan remains behind bars. Webster says the big question now is – to what degree, if any, is Duncan culpable for Haley’s death?

Cut 10 (19) “…newly-uncovered evidence.”

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Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment that Woodside Energy Group is making in Louisiana. The Australian-based company announced yesterday that it is putting up a greenfield liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. Cassidy says that plot of land is going to yield thousands of new jobs.

Cut 11 (11) “…year once operational.”

Woodside’s announcement is the fourth major economic development announcement in the last several months, including a ten-billion-dollar Meta A-I data center near Monroe and a six-billion-dollar investment by Hyundai to build a steel plant in Ascension Parish. Cassidy says it all shows that Louisiana is open for business.

Cut 12 (11) “…can be brighter.”

Cassidy notes that this is the first greenfield LNG export facility to advance since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits.

Cut 13 (14)  “…celebrate 100 days.”

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Amtrak will launch a new intercity train service, the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, this summer, running twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. It will also have four stops in Mississippi — Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says it’s a long time coming.

Cut 14 (13) “…and Mobile.”

Named to reflect the Gulf Coast’s rich Mardi Gras culture, the trains will offer scenic, comfortable travel with morning and evening departures. Passengers will enjoy connections to other major Amtrak routes, such as the City of New Orleans, Crescent, and Sunset Limited. The service aims to boost tourism, improve regional connectivity, and support local economies.

Cut 15 (12) “…from Baton Rouge.”

Leaders from all three states hailed the initiative as a milestone in Gulf Coast development, made possible through bipartisan support and partnerships with the Southern Rail Commission. Ross says the target date for the launch is mid-July.

Cut 16 (12) “…piece of track.”

Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The House has approves measures that seek to lower the payouts car accident victims receive in court. Jeff Palermo reports that supporters say the legal reforms will help drive down auto insurance rates…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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More than 30,000 residents in Bossier and Caddo parishes were left without power for six hours on Saturday, prompting Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell to demand answers from SWEPCO and the Southwest Power Pool. About what happened and who is paying for it:

Cut 3 (11) “…pay for that?” 

The outage, ordered by SPP to prevent a broader grid failure, came without warning and has raised serious concerns from residents and business owners. SPP President Lanny Nickell says they take responsibility and their role in the emergency outage.

Cut 4 (13) “…from reoccurring.”

Campbell stated that while he’s not looking to assign blame, he wants clear answers and solutions. SWEPCO President and CEO Brett Mattison says the outage was a last-resort response to instability caused by planned maintenance.

Cut 5 (08) “…specific area.”

Mattison says they can’t guarantee this will not happen again when temperatures soar above 90-degrees.

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Governor Landry announces yet another major economic development project for Louisiana.

Cut 6 (17) “…in Southwest Louisiana.”

(Woodside Energy Group is investing $17.5 billion investment to build a new LNG facility in Calcasieu Parish)

Woodside Energy is an Australian-based company, and their 17-billion dollar investment in Calcasieu Parish is the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana history. It’s also the first greenfield LNG export facility to advance since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits.

Executive Vice President Daniel Kalms says he’s proud that the company is making such a huge investment in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (13) “…sector this year.”

Governor Landry says the project will create about 15-thousand jobs during construction and thousands more once the facility is up and running.

Cut 8 (10) “…their incomes raised.”

The announcement comes on the heels of prior economic development announcements, including a ten-billion-dollar Meta A-I data center near Monroe and a six-billion-dollar investment by Hyundai to build a steel plant in Ascension Parish. Construction is already underway, and the goal is to have it up and running in 2029.

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Louisiana is once again participating in the federal SUN Bucks program. The program provides eligible children between the ages of five and 18, 120-dollars to use on food during the summer months when they’re out of school. Tim Jenkins, the economic stability director for the Department of Children and Family Services, says for those already receiving SNAP benefits, there’s nothing that they need to do.

Cut 9 (09)  “…household SNAP card.”

Jenkins says those participating in other programs will get a new SUN Bucks card sent to them.

Cut 10 (13) “…the child’s name.”

Jenkins says families have only 122 days – about four months – to use the 120 dollars, and the money may only be used for certain food items.

Cut 11 (09) “…nothing like that.”

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The Louisiana House has approved bills that seek to reduce the big payouts car accident victims receive after filing a lawsuit. One of those measures is Baton Rouge Representative Emily Chenevert’s (SHEN-UH-VAIR) bill, which says if a driver is 51-percent or more at fault for a wreck, they are not entitled to damages. She says states with lower insurance rates have this law…

Cut 12 (12) “…claim for damages.”

Chenevert says the bill would reduce frivolous lawsuits and called it a common-sense change…

Cut 13 (12)  “…cover that.”

The bill passed on a 67-26 vote and it has the support of insurance companies.

The House also approved a medical transparency bill. House Bill 34 by Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso would make medical costs admissible in court, so the judge and jury know exactly how much a person injured in a wreck paid in medical costs…

Cut 14 (07) “…consider it.”

Both of these bills head to a Senate committee for further consideration.

State lawmakers are attempting to ban the sale of kratom at gas stations and smoke shops. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Two new buildings are coming to Louisiana Tech. Colleen Crain reports

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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If you’ve ever said you could do a better job than the legislature at balancing the budget, now’s your chance to put up or shut up. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Louisiana lawmakers are debating the future of kratom, an herbal substance with stimulating or sedating effects sold in gas stations and smoke shops. Monroe Senator Jay Morris, seeks a total ban, citing safety concerns and support from law enforcement. Possession could lead to fines or prison. Morris argues that if it’s a medicine, it should have FDA approval.

Cut 4 (11) “…sold in Louisiana.”

Morris says kratom can be addictive, causing hallucinations, nausea and even death.  He says medical professionals are even seeing babies born addicted to the substance.

Cut 5 (06) “…legal substance.”

Some parishes have issued bans amid reports of overdoses and misuse, prompting broader discussions on kratom’s legal status, public safety, and potential therapeutic value.  Morris says some use kratom to manage pain, which is exactly what opioids do.

Cut 6 (12) “…approved as a drug.”

The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association support Morris’s bill.

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Two new buildings are under construction at Louisiana Tech. One of them is the new Origin Bank Academic Center for Student Athlete Success. University President Jim Henderson says it will be located adjacent to Joe Aillet Stadium, and it will help give student-athletes the academic resources they need to be successful in the classroom.

Cut 7 (11) “…are fully supported.”

Henderson says the other one is the Forest Products Innovation Center on the south campus that houses ag and forestry.

Cut 8 (10) “…using yellow pine.”

Henderson says the Forest Products Innovation Center will expand the school’s research capacity.

Cut 9 (07)  “…in the country.”

Both buildings are expected to open in the fall of 2026.

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If you’ve ever said you could do a better job balancing the budget than the elected officials you repeatedly insult on social media, you’re now invited to put your money — make that the state’s money — where your mouth is. PAR, LSU and The Advocate have all teamed up to launch the online game, “Solve The Budget.” PAR President Steven Procopio says it covers many aspects of the state budget.

Cut 10 (10) “…things like that.”

Procopio says you can also decide which facets of education to spend money on and which ones to cut.

Cut 11 (10) “…and university spending.”

Procopio says one practical purpose behind this exercise is to illustrate how daunting of a task it is for the legislature to balance the budget. While the task in Baton Rouge is very intense, the Solve The Budget game makes it easy for you by asking simple yes or no questions, each with a dollar figure of how much the item will cost or how much it will increase revenue by.

Cut 12 (09) “…areas to cut.”

With every decision you make, a line graph at the top shows you how much your surplus or deficit is. The game will remain live throughout the rest of the legislative session.

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The LSU Tigers took two of three from Tennessee in a matchup of the last two College World Series Champions. Freshman left fielder Derek Curiel nearly hit for the cycle yesterday as the Tigers won 12 to 2 in eight innings. One day after failing to reach base in a game for the first time this season, Curiel went 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and five RBI…

Cut 13 (13)  “…going forward.”

LSU improved to 36-9 overall, 14-7 in the SEC. After only getting a total of ten hits in the first two games of the series, the Tigers scored a dozen runs against one of the top pitching staffs in the nation. Coach Jay Johnson liked his team’s approach…

Cut 14 (09) “…good plan.”

The other story in Sunday’s run-rule victory was freshman right-hander Casan Evans, who allowed just two runs over six innings in his first collegiate start. Evans settled down after giving up two runs in the first inning…

Cut 15 (15) “…after that.”

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The Saints have added a quarterback to their roster. They used a second-round pick to select Tyler Shough (“shuck”). He’s 25 years old, played seven seasons of college football with three different schools, and suffered three significant injuries. Coach Kellen Moore says they came away more impressed every time they interacted with Shough during the draft process.

Cut 16 (20) “…he was.”

Shough says it’s been a long journey to get to this point so it was surreal when he got the call from the New Orleans Saints ….

Cut 17 (15)  “…earn it.”

The Saints added depth to their defensive secondary with the selection of Jonas Sanker. Moore says there is a lot to like about Sanker as he was a three-year starter at Virginia, a team captain and led the ACC in tackles for two straight seasons…

cut 18 (19)  “…this guy.”

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At the TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin are your 2025 Zurich Classic champions. The two finished at 28 under par, one stroke better than brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard (HOE-guard). The first and third rounds were played using the best-ball format, while teammates alternated shots in the second and fourth rounds. This is the first PGA win for both Novak and Griffin; and Griffin said after some recent close shaves, this first win is very gratifying.

Cut 19 (14) “…get it done.”

Novak and Griffin were tied throughout much of the final round with their playing partners, Jake Knapp and Frankie Cappan the Third. But the pivotal moment of the tournament came on the 17th hole when Novak and Griffin birdied, while Knapp and Cappan bogied. Novak says after watching Cappan hit his tee shot in the water, that gave his team the opening they needed, and he made sure not to repeat the mistake Cappan made on the tee.

Cut 20 (20) “…on the wind.”

Novak’s tee shot ended up on the fringe, and Griffin sank the 36-foot put for the birdie to put the pair up by two strokes and effectively seal the win. The Hojgaard brothers birdied the 18th to leapfrog Knapp and Cappan and finish second. With the win, Novak and Griffin each take home more than 1.3-million dollars.