The joint U-S-Israeli attacks on Iran will result in higher gas prices. That is according to AAA’s Nick Chabarria, who says oil prices rose sharply after the initial strikes on Iran which will lead to an increase the price at the pump. He says gas prices were already increasing upward because of the shift from a winter blend gasoline to a summer blend…

Cut 12 (07) “…local pumps.”

Shreveport is under a citywide boil advisory after a water main burst over the weekend resulting in low water pressure for many residents. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux says it will take until Friday for workers to complete the temporary fix. Until then, he’s asking residents to conserve water to help with water pressure…

Cut 10 (12) “…at night.”

Southeastern Louisiana University is experiencing historic enrollment growth and its largest Spring enrollment in history. President William Wainwright says SLU’s growth is important as the state focuses on economic growth. Chief Enrollment Management Officer, Kay Maurin credits a comprehensive campus-wide plan that includes faculty and staff for the enrollment success that is important to their economic impact.

Cut 8 (10) “…enrollment strategies.”

LSU Alexandria Chancellor Paul Coreil announces he will retire at the end of the academic year. LSU president Wade Rousse said Chancellor Coreil’s impact on the region is immeasurable and will be felt for years to come. He praised Coreil’s leadership in enrollment growth, and projects like the recently opened Martin Family Student Success Centers. Coreil said he was especially proud of the collaborative spirit that defines LSUA.

Louisiana’s early morning sky will put on a show tomorrow with a total lunar eclipse where the moon will appear red. LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Dr. Natalie Hinkel says unlike in a solar eclipse, in which the path of totality is only a few miles wide, in a lunar eclipse it’s several hundred miles wide. This eclipse will encompass the entire state at the same time, with the change starting around 2:44 a.m.

Cut 4 (08) “…around 6:02 a.m.”

Shreveport is dealing with a water crisis as a citywide boil advisory has been issued after a water main burst over the weekend resulting in low water pressure for many residents. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux says to restore water pressure to all customers, crews will need to complete a temporary fix…

Cut 9 (11)  “…a break.”

Southeastern Louisiana University is experiencing historic growth with their largest Spring enrollment in history. Chief Enrollment Management Officer, Kay Maurin says a key component of the historic growth came in the category of dual enrollment students with over 5,000 high school students across the state earing college credit at SLU.

Cut 7 (12) “…classes early.”

LSU applicants will once again have to submit their ACT or SAT scores when applying to the Baton Rouge campus. LSU has been operating under a test-optional policy since June 2022. LSU Board of Supervisors James Williams opposes changing the policy. He says it will put low-income families at a disadvantage because they cannot afford A-C-T tutoring…

Cut 25 (08) “…on testing.”

The National Guard will be in the New Orleans area for another six months. Governor Landry made the announcement today. There are approximately 120 Louisiana National Guard Soldiers remaining to help with public safety operations that the governor says are focused on crime reduction, enhanced responsiveness, and maintaining a visible presence to deter criminal activity throughout New Orleans. Mayor Moreno expressed her gratitude and added that this past Mardi Gras was one of the safest.

A House committee begins holding hearings today on Governor Landry’s spending plan for the next fiscal year. The governor’s office is seeking an 82-million-dollar increase in state funding for its corrections department as the prison population has grown. Appropriations Chair Jack MacFarland says some of the additional funding is for offender rehabilitation.

Cut 4 (10) “..tax dollars.” 

If you’re an early riser, you’re in for a treat tomorrow morning. Andrew Greenstein reports

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Southeastern Louisiana University celebrated its 100^th anniversary last year and this spring the university celebrates its historic growth with over 15,000 students enrolled for the first time in 10 years and the largest Spring enrollment in SLU history. Chief Enrollment Management Officer, Kay Maurin says it wasn’t luck.

Cut 6 (13) ” …this year”

If you’re an early bird – and even if you’re not – you’re going to be in for a very special treat early tomorrow morning: a total lunar eclipse. LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Dr. Natalie Hinkel says while a lunar eclipse may not be quite as spectacular or rare as a total solar eclipse, it is still quite a spectacle which happens when the sun, the Earth and the moon completely align with one another – in that order.

Cut 3 (12) “…a blood moon.”

The lunar eclipse begins at 2:44 AM.

A House committee begins holding hearings today on Governor Landry’s spending plan for the next fiscal year.  The governor’s office is seeking an 82-million-dollar increase in state funding for its corrections department.  And The Office of Juvenile Justice is seeking a 28-million-dollar increase as Louisiana’s juvenile justice system is incarcerating more youth offenders. Fifteen-million dollars will be used to open a new youth prison in Vernon Parish, and Appropriations Chair Jack MacFarland says they also want to increase staff salaries.

Cut 5 (11) “…make it competitive.”

A big change is coming for those seeking to apply to LSU’s Baton Rouge campus – prospective students will once again have to submit their SAT or ACT scores. The campus had been operating under a test-optional policy since 2022, but no more. Chancellor Dr. James Dalton says the test score is just one component of the total comprehensive admission process.

Cut 9 (10)  “…two jobs.”

LABI’s LA Driven report shows Louisiana is making strides when it comes to improving education and workforce readiness. LABI president Will Green says Louisiana is well on its way towards achieving its education goals of 66 percent third-grade reading proficiency and an 88-percent high school graduation rate by 2030.

Cut 13 (11)  “…our goal there (2x).”

Green says they are also

LSU has reinstated a standardized test requirement for admission to the Baton Rouge campus. Students would have submit either an ACT or SAT score. Chancellor Doctor James Dalton says the test score is one piece they will look at for admission…

Cut 8 (13) “….success”

LSU Board of Supervisors member James Williams expressed concern about requiring a test score., because standardized tests display known socioeconomic and geographic biases…

Cut 10 (12) “….get it”

The holistic admissions process that LSU has used over the last several years is designed to promote economic and racial diversity. Since adopting the test-optional admissions, Black and Hispanic enrollment has increased.

The Appropriations Committee begins a series of budget hearings today as they comb through Governor Landry’s budget proposal for next fiscal year. Appropriations Chairman Jack MacFarland  expects debate over the L-A GATOR program, the state’s education voucher program that provides financial assistance to 56-hundred low-income families to attend private school. Landry wants to grow the program to help more than just low-income families with their educational expenses. MacFarland says Landry wants to increase funding from 44-million dollars to 88-million.

Cut 6 (09) “…still being discussed.”

The University of Louisiana System has named Ramesh Kolluru as U-L Lafayette’s seventh president. Before being appointed interim president last year, Kolluru was the university’s vice president for research, innovation and economic development – a role he held for more than a decade. Now that he’s the full-time president, Kolluru says he will continue to grow U-L Lafayette as a research institution.

Cut 16 (11) “…academics and research.”

A big change is coming for those seeking to apply to LSU’s Baton Rouge campus – prospective students will once again have to submit their SAT or ACT scores. The campus had been operating under a test-optional policy since 2022, but no more. Chancellor Dr. James Dalton says the test score is just one component of the total comprehensive admission process.

Cut 9 (10)  “…two jobs.”

The U-L System has taken the interim tag off of Dr. Ramesh Kolluru’s title as he is now the full-fledged president of U-L Lafayette. Dr. Kolluru says he wants to enhance the student experience, and that includes all facets like health and wellness, financial assistance and connecting them with business and industry as soon as possible.

Cut 15 (10) “…can choose from.”

The Corrections Department and the Office of Juvenile Justice seek more funding as the House Appropriations Committee begins budget hearings today. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Differing views from Louisiana’s Congressional delegation on President Trump’s decision to launch military strikes against Iran. Republican Julia Letlow says Iran was warned repeatedly that the US would take action if it did not reverse course on its efforts to build a nuclear bomb. Democrat Troy Carter says the president violated the Constitution by not consulting Congress first.

A House committee begins holding hearings today on Governor Landry’s spending plan for the next fiscal year.  The governor’s office is seeking an 82-million-dollar increase in state funding for its corrections department.  And The Office of Juvenile Justice is seeking a 28-million-dollar increase as Louisiana’s juvenile justice system is incarcerating more youth offenders. Fifteen-million dollars will be used to open a new youth prison in Vernon Parish, and Appropriations Chair Jack MacFarland says they also want to increase staff salaries.

Cut 5 (11) “…make it competitive.”

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says the state is making great strides towards economic competitiveness. President and CEO Will Green says Louisiana now ranks 24th in the country in both job creation and wage growth and says our state has made significant improvements in the classroom.

Cut 12 (08) “…than ever before.”

——————————-

It was a mere formality that the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors made official last Friday – it unanimously appointed Dr. Ramesh Kolluru the new president of U-L Lafayette, removing the interim tag that he had since November. One of Kolluru’s first tasks as he assumes the role full time is to balance the school’s budget, and he says he plans on doing so without any government bailouts.

Cut 14 (10) “…the fiscal year.”

LSU plans to display the Ten Commandments in its classrooms. LSU President Wade Rousse announced on Friday that the university will comply with state law citing a 2024 bill that requires the state to post the Ten Commandments in every K-12 classroom. In addition to college and university classrooms that accept state money.  According to the Louisiana Illuminator, Rousse is waiting for posters to be donated.

It’s been less than three years since the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry introduced a plan to improve our state’s economic competitiveness. Andrew Greenstein has details on the progress.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana’s Office of Motor Vehicles is warning residents about a text scam that claims to be from their office regarding unpaid traffic tickets. OMV officials are warning us all NOT to lick on links in unsolicited messages.

————————

LSU applicants will once again have to submit their ACT or SAT scores when applying to the Baton Rouge campus. LSU has been operating under a test-optional policy since June 2022. LSU Board of Supervisors member James Williams opposes changing the policy. He says it will put low-income families at a disadvantage because they cannot afford A-C-T tutoring…

Cut 7 (08) “…on testing.”

But LSU says retention rates and the GPA of students who do not submit a standardized test score are lower than those of students who do provide their ACT scores. LSU Chancellor Doctor James Dalton also says the test score is one piece they will look at for admission…

Cut 8 (13) “…success.”

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says the state is making great strides towards economic competitiveness. In 2023, the group released its LA Driven strategic plan, outlining a series of goals to achieve by 2030. President and CEO Will Green says Louisiana now ranks 24th in the country in both job creation and wage growth, both far exceeding their original goals well ahead of schedule.

Cut 11 (10) “…of those goals.”

A House committee begins holding hearings today on Governor Landry’s spending plan for the next fiscal year. The governor’s office is seeking an 82-million-dollar increase in state funding for its corrections department as the prison population has grown. Appropriations Chair Jack MacFarland…

Cut 4 (10) “..tax dollars.” 

——————–

LSU is once again requiring applicants to provide their ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A  rare celestial event to tell you about. From tonight into the early hours of tomorrow, residents in many U.S. states, including ours, will be able to see both the sun and the moon at the same time. This is the last chance to spot a total lunar eclipse until New Year’s Eve 2028.

Governor Landry is going to have another tough sell on his hands with the L-A GATOR program. That’s the voucher program that provides tax dollars to allow parents to, among other things, send their kids to private schools. Senate President Cameron Henry is looking to keep funding at 43.5-million dollars, while Landry wants to double it. But Henry says the program is too new to know whether it’s worth doing that.

Cut 14 (11) “…it every year.”

Now that Tony the crawfish has been pardoned, crawfish season is officially underway – and that means it’s time to start tracking crawfish prices. Laney King is the co-founder of The Crawfish App. ($4.50/lb. for live crawfish; $7.25/lb. for boiled crawfish)

Cut 9 (11)  “…for boiled crawfish.”

————————
Governor Landry wants to shift West Feliciana Parish’s federal judicial districts. Andre Champagne reports while Landry stated his reason to Congress, there’s an ulterior motive in play.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

LSU men’s basketball looks for its second straight win as the Tigers host Oklahoma at 5 PM. LSU is 3-and-12 in the SEC, while the Sooners are 4-and-11.  In other action today, Louisiana Tech hosts F-I-U at 2 PM.  Southern hosts the best team in the SWAC, Bethune-Cookman at 2:30. Grambling is also home today as the Tigers take on Florida A-and-M.