New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell responds to being filmed ‘flipping the bird’ during the Krewe of Tucks parade. Cantrell says the city was disrespected- she was provoked, and she reacted.

Cut 12 (08) “…the city.”

Cantrell has faced a wave of criticism over the past few months. Cantrell says it was a mistake that she regrets.

Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says he’s considering a run for governor. The Republican from Ascension Parish says he will only get into the race if Congressman Garret Graves decides not to run…

Cut 8 (07)  “…t-shirt on” 

Graves says he’s receiving encouragement to run and told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge that expects to decide within the next ten days or so.

It was a week ago today that a Covington, Georgia man went missing from a business trip to Baton Rouge. The wife of Nathan Millard says she last spoke to her husband he was with a client attending an LSU basketball game. Millard was last seen leaving Happy’s Irish Pub at 11:30 walking towards his downtown hotel. Millard’s phone was found blocks away from his hotel. The 42-year-old man was wearing a green baseball cap, black shirt, and blue jeans. He’s 5’9’, weighs approximately 180 pounds and has brown hair.

With federal pandemic protections ending, states can once again reevaluate Medicaid participants annually for eligibility. Tara LeBlanc Executive Director of Louisiana’s Medicaid program says it’s vital for participants to reply to letters and update their contact information.

Cut 5 (06) “…healthcare coverage.”

She says letters will be mailed out over a 12-month period beginning in May.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell responds to being filmed ‘flipping the bird’ during the Krewe of Tucks parade. Cantrell says the city was disrespected- she was provoked, and she reacted.

Cut 11 (08)  “…love you”

Cantrell has faced a wave of criticism over the past few months. She says it was a mistake that she regrets.

COVID protections from the federal government end in April, which means Medicaid recipients will be reevaluated for eligibility. Tara LeBlanc Executive Director of Louisiana’s Medicaid program says they’ll begin mailing pink letters and recipients must respond if they wish to remain enrolled and they’re still eligible.

Cut  4 (10)  “…contact information.” 

The Louisiana Speaker of the House is looking at running for governor. Jeff Palermo spoke with Clay Schexnayder about his political future…

Cut 2 (30)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo” 

A Princeton University study indicates that climate change is behind the phenomenon of back-to-back major hurricanes. Brooke Thorington has more…

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

Good news for Louisiana’s te4ns of thousands of diabetes patients; drug manufacturer Eli Lilly says it’s cutting its insulin costs and capping them at $35-a-month for folks with health insurance or Medicare, and they offer a savings card for those that don’t. The move is in compliance with the federal Inflation Reduction Act.

COVID protections from the federal government end in April, which means Medicaid recipients will be reevaluated for eligibility. Louisiana’s Medicaid executive director Tara LeBlanc says they’ll begin mailing pink letters soon, and recipients must respond if they wish to remain enrolled and they’re still eligible…:

CUT 04(10)      “…contact information.”

Those who are removed from the program will receive information for alternative coverage.

Congressman Garret Graves says he met with Attorney General Jeff Landry as he moves closer to making a decision on whether to run for governor. He says the Sunday meeting lasted about 90 minutes, and he is close to ending the suspense…:

CUT 07(07)      “…ten days or so.”

Graves says many have told him they do not want Landry to be the governor.

A proposed so-called “Constitutional Carry” bill has been filed for the upcoming legislative session. Danny McCormick, State Representative from Oil City says Louisianans may already “open carry” a firearm in plain view, provided they have no criminal record. McCormick says concealed carry without a permit is a right guaranteed by the Second Amendment. Critics say it will make Louisiana like the “wild, wild west”, but McCormick says …

Cut 11 (07)  “…criminals have firearms.”

The legislative session begins April 10^th.

Democrat, Dustin Granger, announces he’ll run for State Treasurer of Louisiana this fall. Granger, a professional financial planner from Lake Charles, says he wants to make the state better for future generations…:

Cut 13 (07) “…running for Treasurer.” 

Baton Rouge state Representative Scott McKnight, a Republican, is the only other announced candidate for State Treasurer so far. Granger’s website is “grangerforla.com”

COVID protections from the federal government end in April, which means Medicaid recipients will be reevaluated for eligibility. Tara LeBlanc Executive Director of Louisiana’s Medicaid program says since March 2020 no one was removed from the program because of the pandemic but annual reviews can resume.

Cut 3 (10) “…disenroll them.” 

Those who are removed from the program will receive information for alternative coverage.

Congressman Garret Graves says he met with Attorney General Jeff Landry as he moves closer to making a decision on whether to run for governor. Graves says he’s receiving strong encouragement to run as many are not happy Landry already has the Louisiana Republican Party’s endorsement

Cut 6 (10)  “…path forward” 

Graves says his meeting on Sunday with Landry lasted about 90 minutes before he made a final decision that will be made soon….

A Princeton University study indicates that climate change is behind the phenomenon of back-to-back major hurricanes. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says he’s considering running for Governor. Shcexnayder says the consideration stands only if  U.S. Representative Garret Graves decides not to run. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III recently made the announcement not to run for Governor.

Dustin Granger, a professional financial planner, enters the race for Louisiana State Treasurer.  Granger says the state should shift billions away from the oil and gas industry. He says the state should diversify its revenues more wisely…:

Cut 14 (13)  “…a lot of investments.”

State Representative Scott McKnight, a Republican, from Baton Rouge is the only other candidate to announce his candidacy for State Treasurer so far. Granger’s website is “grangerforla.com”

Lafayette biotech company, Tides Medical expands its headquarters and increases employment. Tides Medical CEO, Joe Spell, says innovative treatment for difficult-to-heal wounds plays an important role in saving lives.

Tides Medical CEO, Joe Spell, says the expansion will 77 retain jobs and create 40 new ones.

Spell says the state offered a competitive incentives package that included a $200,000 performance–based grant.

Cut 6 (06)  “…the state.” 

The company estimates the project will be complete by the end of this year.

A so-called “Constitutional Carry” bill has been filed for the legislative session that starts in April. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says Louisianans may already “open carry” a firearm in plain view, provided they have no criminal record. His bill would extend that right to a concealed weapon…:
Cut 10 (08) “…murderers and rapists.”
Governor John Bel Edwards has opposed previous Constitutional Carry bills, because he believes the training needed to get a permit is important.

42-year-old Dustin Granger, a Democrat from Lake Charles, announces he’s running for State Treasurer. Granger is a financial advisor…
cut 15 (11) “….for the state”
Baton Rouge Representative Scott McKnight, a Republican, is the other announced candidate.

Lafayette biotech company Tides Medical is expanding its operations and adding 40 jobs and retaining 77 existing positions. Tides Medical is a producer of skin graft products and CEO Joe Spell says they play an important role in saving limbs and lives…
cut 5 (07) “…their limbs”
Spell says their skin substitutes are primarily used to treat chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers and burns.

Research out of Princeton University says back to back hurricanes hitting a particular area of the coast is a trend that will continue as a result of climate change. State Climatologist Barry Keim says back-to-back hurricane patterns used to occur once every few decades, a trend of them happening more often has emerged.
Cut 8 (07) “…you’re down.”
Keim points to major hurricanes Katrina and Rita hitting the state in 2005 and more recently Laura and Delta in 2020.

Once again a bill to allow a non-felon over the age of 18 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit has been filed for the regular legislative session.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A Democrat from Lake Charles announces he’s running for State Treasurer. 42-year-old Dustin Granger is a professional financial planner and wants to make the state better for future generations…:
Cut 13 (07) “…running for Treasurer.”

The Lafayette-based biotech company – Tides Medical is expanding its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilit, which produces skin grafts…
cut 4 (11) “….our products”
Tides Medical CEO, Joe Spell, says the expansion will 77 retain jobs and create 40 new ones.

In 2020, Louisiana saw Hurricane Laura and Delta make landfall very close to each other and a few weeks apart. In 2021, it was Hurricane Ida and then 15 days later a weakening Nicholas came through southeast Louisiana. A Princeton study says expect to see more back-to-back storms because of climate change. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the researchers make this prediction because they believe climate change will lead to larger hurricanes….
cut 9 (10) “…going into the future”

A north Louisiana lawmaker has once again filed a bill to allow non-felons over the age of 18 to conceal carry without the need of a permit. Oil City Republican Danny McCormick’s proposal passed the House last year, but died in the Senate. Will the upper chamber seek to kill the bill again this year???
cut 12 (09) “…this year”
McCormick’s House Bill 53 will be heard after the legislature convenes on April 10th.

Are back-to-back hurricanes a phenomenon or are they becoming the norm? A Princeton University study says they are becoming more routine, and the culprit is climate change. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s an interesting study and does make you think, especially in Louisiana…
Cut 7 (11) “…on there.”
Keim says while the back-to-back hurricane patterns used to occur once every few decades, a trend of them happening more often has emerged.

Tides Medical which makes skin graft products announces its expanding its headquarters in Acadiana and hiring 40 more employees
Cut 1 (30) “…Teiko Foxx.”

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore announces he’s not running governor. Moore, who is a registered Democrat, has served as Baton Rouge’s top prosecutor since 2008. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it appears now that DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson will likely be the lone major Democrat in the race to replace outgoing Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards…”

Cut 10 (06) “…John Bel Edwards did.” 

LaSalle Parish school teacher Danny Cole also says he will run for governor as a Democrat. Wilson has not made an official announcement yet. He’s expected to sometime in March.

Internet outages continue to hinder Southeastern University. UL -System President Dr. Jim Henderson says they’ve identified the suspected cyber incident, and while the inability to communicate digitally is a major inconvenience, he says it could be much worse.

Cut 14 (10)   “…we follow.”

In Lake Charles, a ribbon cutting was held today for a 10-point-eight million dollar culinary, gaming and hospitality teaching center. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

And Firmin the crawfish received a pardon today from Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Since 2017 the life of one mudbug is spared annually in Louisiana in recognition of the season kickoff. The chosen crawfish is then allowed to retire and live out their remaining days at a state park and avoid a boiling pot of water. Viva la Firmin.

Putting to rest months of speculation, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore says he will not run for governor. Moore, who is a registered Democrat, has served as Baton Rouge’s prosecutor for 14 years. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Moore didn’t have much of a chance with DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson expected to get in…

Cut 9 (07) “…whatsoever.”

Wilson, a Democratic from Lafayette is expected to his candidacy for Governor soon.

State and local officials were on hand today for the grand opening of SOWELA’s $10.8M State-of-the-art Culinary, Gaming, and Hospitality Training Center in Lake Charles. SOWELA Chancellor Dr. Neil Aspinwall says with three big casinos in Lake Charles a facility to train the workers is needed…

Cut 3 (10) “…hospitality center.”

Funding for the facility was approved by Governor John Bel Edwards and the state legislature in 2018.

A campus-wide internet outage continues to frustrate students and faculty at SouthEastern University campus. UL -System President Dr. Jim Henderson says the ability to isolate and restore the school’s internet system is a testament to the Information Technology team responsible for their ability to rectify the outage.

Cut 13 (12) “…uncovered.”

A timeline of when the school’s computer system is expected to be restored has not been released.