Electric vehicle adoption in Louisiana experienced a steady increase throughout 2025. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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President Trump is encouraging Republican Congresswoman Julia Letlow to run for the US Senate. Jeff Palermo reports that Letlow would be a formidable challenger to Bill Cassidy’s re-election campaign…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Louisiana has a new inspector general and the duties of that position are changing. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Electric vehicles are increasing in popularity in Louisiana. According to Louisiana Clean Fuels, there are now more than 21-thousand electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids registered throughout the state. Executive Director Ann Vail says you will find the vast majority of them in the more heavily-populated parishes.
Cut 4 (08) “…starting to drive.”
Jefferson Parish leads the way with more than 35-hundred. Per capita, Orleans Parish comes out on top, with almost one and a half percent of all vehicles registered being EVs or plug-in hybrids.
In all, EV adoption started its climb in 2021 and soared throughout the year last year, even after Congress pulled the plug on the EV tax credits that wasn’t supposed to expire until 2032. Vail pins some of the credit on Louisiana’s improving charging infrastructure.
Cut 5 (11) “…and it’s everywhere.”
Vail says she would like to see more multi-family housing communities offer EV charging to their tenants, but that may be easier said than done.
Cut 6 (11) “…work with that.”
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Walmart is planning to invest more than $330 million to modernize it’s regional distribution center in Opelousas. The State of Louisiana provided a competitive incentives package, including a $10 million performance-based grant tied to equipment investments. St. Landry Economic Development CEO Bill Rodier says the project shows that Walmart is committed to the location long-term.
Cut 7 (07) “…get this done.”
Rodier says the modernization of the distribution center in Opelousas will double Walmart’s shipping capacity.
Cut 8 (13) “…that’s a big deal.”
The modernization of the Opelousas distribution center also means that Walmart is expected to retain over a thousand jobs in the parish. Rodier says it’s a big win for one of the largest employers in St. Landry.
Cut 9 (09) “…we couldn’t be happier.”
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A huge development in Louisiana’s U-S Senate race as President Trump posted on his social media network, “Truth Social” that Republican Congresswoman Julia Letlow should run against Senator Bill Cassidy. In his social media post, Mr. Trump called Letlow a “Great Star” and a “Total Winner.” Publisher of Lapolitics-dot-com Jeremy Alford says if Letlow runs, it will be a highly competitive race…
Cut 10 (10) “…the bank.”
Cassidy said in a statement he is confident he will win if Letlow decides to run. Letlow said she’s honored to have the President’s endorsement, but did not indicate if she will run for U.S. Senate. Alford says Letlow could announce her candidacy during Washington D.C. Mardi Gras at the end of the month, and she will also have the support of Governor Landry…
Cut 11 (13) “…reputation.”
Cassidy is seeking a third six-year term. He’s already drawn several challengers because he voted in 2021 to impeach President Donald Trump for his actions during the deadly January sixth attack on Capitol Hill. But since Trump got back in the White House, Alford says Cassidy has tried to show he is an ally of Trump and can help deliver the President’s agenda…
Cut 12 (11) “…win it.”
Four well known Republicans are already in the race. Alford says it will be interesting to see how many of them will stay in the race, if Letlow officially gets in.
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Governor Jeff Landry has named a new Inspector General, and he’s also changing the duties of the position. Former Commissioner of the Administration Angelle Davis replaces Stephen Street, who had the job for 18 years. Landry says the Office of the Inspector General will be in charge of finding efficiencies in state government…
Cut 13 (11) “…do better.”
Landry says he wants the Inspector General to take the reports issued by the legislative auditor that provide recommendations on how state government agencies can be more efficient and implement them. The governor says his administration recently took an old recommendation on how the state can do a better job in checking Medicaid eligibility and it saved the state millions…
Cut 14 (09) “…long time ago.”
The state inspector general under the leadership of Stephen Street would investigate allegations of mismanagement, misconduct, fraud and corruption within state government and turn those findings over to federal and state prosecutors.
It will take legislative action in the upcoming regular session to change the role of the state inspector general, but Landry doesn’t see how anyone would vote against it…
Cut 15 (09) “…reform it.”
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Make it three in a row for the Lady Tigers as the sixth-ranked team in the nation took down 13th-ranked Oklahoma, 91-72, in Oklahoma yesterday afternoon. LSU took the lead for the first time late in the first quarter and never trailed for the rest of the game. Senior guard Flau’jae Johnson was the game’s leading scorer with 23 points and said LSU was able to neutralize Oklahoma’s fast paced style of play.
Cut 16 (12) “…in that way.”
Sophomore guard Jada Richard (ree-SHARD) from Opelousas was the second highest scorer with a career-high 21 points. She credits her teammates for her offensive explosion
Cut 17 (12) “…always be open.”
LSU will try to make it four in a row Thursday night against Texas A&M. Tipoff in College Station is at eight p-m.
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The LSU men’s basketball team finally got a win in the SEC on Saturday as the Tigers defeated Missouri 78 to 70. The Tigers are now 1-4 in league play heading into tomorrow night’s game at Florida. Coach Matt McMahon says the goal now is to stack some wins together.
Cut 18 (11) “…great fashion.”
It was a nice bounce-back victory for LSU, which lost a heartbreaker last Wednesday to Kentucky, blowing an 18-point lead and losing on a last-second shot. Forward Marquel Sutton led the way with 26 points…
Cut 19 (17) “…40 minutes.”