Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed tells lawmakers that state funding for universities and colleges is not where it needs to be. Reed says regional institutions in particular are struggling. She’s calling on legislators to provide at least an additional 119-million dollars in state funding for higher ed…

Cut 4 (12) “…are challenged.”

Reed says higher ed is 869-million dollars short of being fully funded. And that’s despite the closure of hundreds of programs. She says there are several reasons why regional schools are struggling, inflation and enrollment dips can throw off their budgets.

Cut 5 (12) “…institutions.”

A bill that would have made it a crime to aggressively throw an object from a parade float to cause an injury has been withdrawn. LaPlace Representative Sylvia Taylor had filed the bill in the wake of several incidents in which people aboard floats aggressively threw beads and other objects at people along the route.

The May 16th primary is about two months away, and Secretary of State Nancy Landry is urging voters to check their party affiliation on their voter registrations. Only registered Republican voters or no-party voters can vote in the Republican primary, and only registered Democrats or no-party voters can vote in the Democratic Primary….

Cut 7 (10) “…affiliated with.”

Landry says no party voters can declare on the day they vote, if they want to vote in the Republican Primary or the Democratic Primary…

Cut 8 (08) “…and June.”

The LSU baseball team looks to build momentum ahead of their SEC home-opening series against Oklahoma as the Tigers host Grambling State tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Louisiana Tech looks to extend its win streak to four games tonight when the Bulldogs host Central Arkansas at 6 p.m.

Southeastern baseball will host eighth-ranked Oklahoma tonight at 6 p.m.

The ULM baseball team completed a series sweep of Texas State this past weekend to open conference play. The Warhawks scored 36 runs in the series, and head coach Ford Pemberton says he was proud of the way his team battled at the plate.

Cut 18 (14)  “…get caught once.”

The Warhawks will host New Orleans tomorrow at 6 p-m.

Saints veteran defensive end Cam Jordan made notable comments about his free agency during an appearance on Terron Armstead’s “The Set” podcast last night. Jordan said that just because he loves the city of New Orleans doesn’t mean the city or the organization has to love him back. The 36-year-old is coming off a productive 2025 season in which he recorded 10-and-a-half sacks.

The Saints added depth to their running back room today. New Orleans is signing Ty Chandler to a one-year deal worth about $1.2 million. Chandler spent the four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and missed most of the 2025 season with a knee injury.

Ruston’s Ahmad Hudson, a consensus five-star recruit and the nation’s top-rated tight end, has narrowed his college list to six schools, which include LSU, Texas A&M, USC, Miami, Nebraska, and Missouri.

LSU sophomore gymnast Kailin Chio was named SEC Specialist of the Week after earning three perfect tens against Arkansas last Friday.

Congresswoman Julia Letlow releases a poll that shows her with a one percent lead over Bill Cassidy in the Senate Republican Primary. John Fleming is not far behind, trailing Letlow by eight percent. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says the survey of likely Republican primary voters finds 28-percent are undecided and Cross says Fleming is trying to reach those voters…

Cut 10 (07) “…runoff”

Louisiana Tech’s legal fight to join the Sun Belt Conference starting on July 1^st will continue has taken another turn. Conference USA has filed a motion to move the case to federal court, so a Thursday hearing in state court on the matter has been cancelled. Matt Bellinson of the Ruston Daily Leader says Tech is adamant which league they will play football in 2026…

Cut 15 (08) in the Sun Belt”

A  repeat honor for one of Southern University’s programs. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Gas prices increased another seven cents from yesterday. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.45. That’s 35-cents higher than a week ago. A gallon of diesel in Louisiana costs on average of $4.73.

Thursday’s hearing in Lincoln Parish in the U-L system’s lawsuit against Conference USA is cancelled. The U-L system filed the lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana Tech in its quest to leave Conference USA for the Sun Belt for the 2026 football season. Matt Bellinson, a reporter with the Ruston Daily Leader, says Conference USA has filed a motion to move the case to federal court.

Cut 13 (08)  “…the federal level.”

For the second year in a row, Southern University’s college of nursing is rated as the nation’s best by Nurse.org. Sandra Brown, the dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health, says nursing has been a part of Southern’s campus culture for more than 40 years. 

Cut 3 (09) “…everything we do.”

Southern produces the largest number of Black nurses in the state.

Julia Letlow’s Senate campaign publishes a poll showing her in the lead in the Republican Primary. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

If you’re having trouble accessing the official OMV website, the reason is you should update your bookmark. It’s still expresslane-dot-la, but the domain extension changed this week from dot-org to dot-gov. OMV says the change reinforces the agency’s official government status and strengthens cybersecurity protections.

Congresswoman Julia Letlow has released a poll that shows her ahead of incumbent Bill Cassidy by one percent in the Senate Republican Primary. The survey of 600 likely GOP primary voters has Letlow at 27-percent, Cassidy at 26-percent  and John Fleming at 19-percent. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross expects a tight race through the May the 16^th primary…

Cut 11 (11) “…about them”

It’s a chilly Saint Patrick’s Day as high temperatures are in the low 50s. There are parades in New Orleans for St. Patty’s Day and LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s one of the chilliest March 17^th’s on record…

Cut 8 (09) “…day was 55”

It will begin to warm up tomorrow.

For the second year in a row, the Southern University School of Nursing has been ranked by nurse-dot-org as the best nursing school in the country. Sandra Brown, the dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health, says this means they are graduating nurses who are well educated…

Cut 5 (09) “…right here”

Southern University produces the largest number of Black nurses in the state and the third most in the country.

The McNeese men’s basketball team left today for Oklahoma City, where it will play Vanderbilt on Thursday in the NCAA Tournament. It’s the third year in a row the Pokes are in the Big Dance and athletics director Heath Schroyer says that’s a huge accomplishment…

Cut 13 (13) “…the country”

It’s shaping up to be a record-breaking St. Patrick’s Day – and not the records that we would like to see broken. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says Lake Charles set a new record this morning with a low of 33; and moving further north, a couple cities got to the freezing mark and below.

Cut 7 (12) “…previously in 1978.”

For the second year in a row, Southern University’s college of nursing is rated as the nation’s best by Nurse.org. Sandra Brown, the dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health, says one thing that’s been very beneficial to Southern’s nursing program has been the community partnerships.

Cut 4 (10) “…to train on.”

Julia Letlow’s Senate campaign publishes a poll showing her in the lead in the Senate Republican Primary. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

A bill that would have made it a crime to aggressively throw an object from a parade float to cause an injury has been withdrawn. LaPlace Representative Sylvia Taylor had filed the bill in the wake of several incidents in which people aboard floats aggressively threw beads and other objects at people along the route.

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has come out in support of Governor Landry’s effort to double the state funding of the L-A GATOR scholarship Program. The state is spending 44-million dollars on the program this school year helping 56-hundred families with education expenses like private school tuition, but many more families are on a waiting list. Senate President Cameron Henry is concerned that the program could get too big to afford. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says L-A GATOR also has public backing.

Cut 21 (08) “…of the compromise.”

Certainly an issue to watch during this legislative session.

Congresswoman Julia Letlow releases a poll that shows her with a one percent lead over Bill Cassidy in the Senate Republican Primary. John Fleming is not far behind, trailing Letlow by eight percent. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says the survey of likely Republican primary voters finds 28-percent are undecided and Cross says Fleming is trying to reach those voters…

Cut 10 (07) “…runoff”

For the second year in a row, the Southern University School of Nursing has been ranked by nurse-dot-org as the best nursing school in the country. Sandra Brown, the dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health, says this means they are graduating nurses who are well educated…

Cut 5 (09) “…right here”

Southern University produces the largest number of Black nurses in the state and the third most in the country.

It’s a chilly St. Patrick’s Day. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says several morning lows were broken…

Cut 6 (07) “…recorded in 1976”

A record low was also broken in Alexandria and Shreveport reached 28-degrees tying a record set in 1978.

Congresswoman Julia Letlow releases a poll that shows her leading the U-S Senate Republican primary. The survey shows her leading incumbent Bill Cassidy by one percent and John Fleming by eight percent. Pearson Cross teaches political science at ULM and says Letlow paid for the poll, but the results probably reflect the view of primary voters…

Cut 9 (07) “…either”

The Senate Republican Primary is May 16^th.

The Louisiana House Transportation Committee rejects a proposal to fine pedestrians 25 dollars for looking at their cell phone while walking on a crosswalk. Representative Michael Bayham says his bill is an effort to reduce crashes involving pedestrians. Chris Alexander with the Louisiana Citizen Advocacy Group testified against the legislation.

Cut 7 (07) “…this state make.”

The legislation was voted down unanimously.

For the second year in a row, Southern University’s college of nursing is rated as the nation’s best by Nurse.org. Sandra Brown, the dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health, says nursing has been a part of Southern’s campus culture for more than 40 years.

Cut 3 (09) “…everything we do.”

Brown says one thing that’s been very beneficial to Southern’s nursing program has been the community partnerships.

When it comes to turning old buildings into new buildings, Louisiana sets the standard. Andrea (AHN-dree-uh) McCarthy, the tax credit program director of the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, says since 2021, Louisiana has rehabilitated more than 400 historic buildings, including several in New Orleans.

Cut 10 (07) “…couple years ago.”

Last year, Louisiana completed 94 projects using federal tax incentives for rehabilitating historic buildings. That’s the second most in the country, ranking only behind New York.

The Louisiana House Transportation Committee says no to a proposal to fine pedestrians 25 dollars for looking at their cell phone while walking on a crosswalk. Chalmette Republican Michael Bayham says he did not write the bill as a way to generate revenue;  it’s an effort to reduce crashes involving pedestrians.

Cut 8 (12) “…expensive accidents happening.”

But the committee unanimously voted down the measure. One lawmaker said it’s an individual right to be able to look at their phone and it’s up to them to protect their own body.

The McNeese men’s basketball team leaves for Oklahoma City today as they will play Vanderbilt on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It’s the Cowboys third straight invite to the Big Dance and athletics director Heath Schroyer says other teams in the Southland are trying to catch up to McNeese…

Cut 14 (10) “…men’s basketball program’

A mother and her adult son were found shot and killed at a home in Jennings. Police Chief Danny Semmes says it’s their belief the shooting is the result of a domestic dispute and there is no threat to the public. Semmes says both individuals were shot and had guns near them.

When it comes to turning old buildings into new buildings, few states do it better than Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A bill that would have fined pedestrians for walking in crosswalks while looking at their phones was rejected in the House Transportation Committee. Representative Michael Bayham says his bill is an effort to reduce crashes involving pedestrians. Representative Rodney Schamerhorn says the legislation is government overreach.

Cut 9 (06)  “…their own body.”

56-hundred families benefit from the LA Gator Scholarship program and Governor Landry wants to double that. Currently funded at 44 million dollars, Senate President Cameron Henry is concerned the program could get too big to afford. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon came out in support of the program. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says her endorsement is a big deal.

Cut 4 (07) “…this incredibly serious.”

Last year, Louisiana completed 94 projects using federal tax incentives for rehabilitating historic buildings. Andrea (AHN-dree-uh) McCarthy, with the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development says the money can be used for projects small and large, or extra-large like the massive project happening in New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood.

Cut 12 (11) “…of the country.”

The McNeese Cowboys are preparing to play in their third straight NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Athletic Director Heath Schroyer says with the three appearances, the men’s basketball team needs to keep it going, and it takes the support of the Lake Charles community to accomplish that.

Cut 15 (10) “…do it again.”

Last year, McNeese won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game when they upset Clemson in the First Round as a 12 seed.