The Louisiana Department of Health says it’s only May, but the number of whooping cough cases has already surpassed all of 2024. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says there are vaccines to protect people from whooping cough…

Cut 15 (16) “…during each pregnancy.”

It’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness month and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says there’s a 13-percent increase in the number of motorcyclists killed from 2021 to 2023. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer has this message for the other motorists…

Cut 4 (11) “…do this”

The Coast Guard says it has gained the upper hand on a major oil spill off Plaquemines Parish. Coast Guard Lieutenant Phillip VanderWeit says the well intervention team did so at around noon yesterday.

Cut 6 (15) “…source of discharge”

So far, crews have collected almost 80-thousand gallons of oily water, with an untold amount still to be collected.

Vandebilt Catholic won a Louisiana record 16^th state championship in softball on Sunday in Sulphur with a seven to five win over St. Charles Catholic. Terriers Coach James Spearman says his girls have been resilient all year and it was on display after falling behind two to nothing in the first inning…

Cut 12 (12) “…good job”

The sound is courtesy of the LHSAA Network.

When you’re out on the roadways this month, make a special effort to look out for motorcycles. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says while overall deaths on Louisiana roadways are down, the same cannot be said for motorcycle deaths.

Cut 3 (12) “…in motorcycle fatalities.”

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.”

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.”

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 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.”

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

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.

Aurelia Giacometto is out as Secretary for the Department of Environmental Quality. Giacometto has been a controversial figure as DEQ secretary as an audit released in March found that 78-percent DEQ employees said morale was down with her as Secretary and 33-percent said it was toxic work environment.

This year, Louisiana’s honeybee population is experiencing its 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 in the honeybee population to pesticide use, habitat loss, and disease.

The Louisiana Department of Health says the state has already surpassed last year’s total number for whooping cough cases. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness…

Cut 14 (12) “….getting the disease”

Two infants have also died from whooping cough. Sokol is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated.

The Louisiana Department of Health says it’s only May, but the number of whooping cough cases has already surpassed all of 2024. State Epidemiologist Theresa 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.

Wednesday is the enforcement deadline for the REAL ID, which means you’ll need the REAL ID to fly domestically without a passport and a REAL ID is needed to enter federal buildings. Matthew Boudreaux with the Office of Motor Vehicles says you can visit express-lane-dot-org to schedule an appointment if you don’t have a REAL ID and there’s also a checklist of items needed to get a REAL ID…

Cut 6 (09) “…express lane-dot-org.

Small businesses continue to find it hard 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. NFIB State Director Leah Long.

Cut 10 (13) “…skilled work set.”

Job openings were the highest in the construction, transportation and manufacturing sectors.

The Louisiana Bookeepers Association says its seeing a dramatic decline in the honeybee population.  Vice President Kevin 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…

Cut 9 (12)  “…to the bees.”

Langley says pesticide use is one of the main reasons for honeybee population decline.

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

Cut 13 (13)  “…one year old.”

Sokol says the best way to protect newborns from whooping cough is for pregnant women to receive a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy.

The latest NFIB jobs report finds that labor shortages continue to constrain small business job growth. NFIB state director Leah Long says the lack of qualified applicants is a real issue in Louisiana, which is why they support two House bills at the state capitol that would create the One Door workforce policy…

Cut 12 (12) “…one-door policy”

Louisiana’s honeybee population is experiencing a sharp decline. Louisiana Beekeepers Association VP Kevin Langley attributes the decline to pesticide use, habitat loss and disease, all of which weakens 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, and limiting pesticide use during blooms.

Starting Wednesday Americans will need an enhanced form of identification to fly domestically. It’s called the REAL ID and the state Office of Motor Vehicles has been pushing Louisianas to get a REAL ID before Wednesday’s enforcement date. OMV’s Acting Deputy Commissioner Matthew Boudreaux you’ll still be able to get a REAL ID after Wednesday…

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

The NFIB’s jobs report has found that 34-percent of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in April, down six points from March, the lowest since January 2021. NFIB state director Leah Long says it’s not just skilled workers that small businesses are having trouble finding…

Cut 11 (07) “….unskilled labor”

Job openings were the highest in construction, transportation and manufacturing sectors.

The Louisiana Department of Health says the state has already surpassed last year’s total number for whooping cough cases. L-D-H has identified 164 cases in the first four months of 2025, last year there was a total of 153 cases. Two infants have also died from pertussis, the first reported deaths in Louisiana since 2018. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness…

Cut 14 (12) “….getting the disease”

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

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The U-S Coast Guard says crews have successfully stopped the flow of oil and natural gas from an old well off the coast in lower Plaquemines Parish. The leak was first reported on April 26^th and it’s unknown how much oil discharged from the Spectrum OpCo well at the Garden Island Bay Production facility. Cleanup efforts are ongoing.

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

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

The city of Lake Charles will have a new mayor as former city council member Marshall Simien, an independent defeated incumbent and Republican Nic Hunter. Bastrop will also have a new mayor as Democrat Mark Moore easily defeated the Democratic incumbent Betty Olive. And Independent Michael Harris defeated Republican Danny Reynolds by ten votes to be the new mayor in DeRidder.

This year, 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 in the honeybee population to pesticide use, habitat loss, and disease.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles says it 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) “…REAL ID credentials.”

Starting on Wednesday, a REAL ID is needed to enter a federal building or to fly domestically.

This is the Louisiana Radio Network Legislative Report, I’m Jeanne Burns.

The Make America Healthy Again legislation is moving through the Legislature. Last week, we told you about Covington Senator Patrick McMath’s bill to ban schools from serving ultra processed foods at lunch. The legislation would also prohibit SNAP recipients from using their food stamps to purchase soda. That legislation received approval from the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on a four to three vote.

The Senate has already passed a bill that would ban fluoride in public water systems. Houma Republican Senator Mike Fesi says informed consent is his major issue with fluoride in the drinking water. He says you’re forced to take something you may not want…

Cut 30 (14) “…you drink”

Dentists oppose Fesi’s bill as they say fluoride in the water can reduce tooth decay. Baton Rouge pediatric dentist Robert Delarosa…

Cut 18 (18) “…with special needs”

But Fesi says studies have shown that fluoride causes other health problems…

Cut 20 (21) “…for your brain”

Fesi’s bill awaits debate in the House. If it receives approval from the lower chamber, it will head to the governor’s desk and Jeff Landry is expected to sign it. Louisiana’s fluoride ban would go into effect January 1^st.

One child is dead after being found locked in car seats inside a Webster Parish home with no adult supervision. Minden Police were called to the house Thursday morning after someone found two children alone, one of them unresponsive.  Minden Police Chief Jared McIver says investigators also want to know who was supposed to be home supervising the children.

Cut 4 (10) “…that’s just negligence.”

We’re told the other child, a ten month old, was uninjured.

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 like wages and cuts to Medicaid. He says one thing that doesn’t nearly get enough attention is hunger on college campuses.

Cut 10 (07) “…having more food.”

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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, acknowledging this is a serious spill.

Cut 15 (16) “…from the environment.”

And don’t forget it’s election day for about half of Louisiana. 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.”

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…

Cut 3 (12) “…off the airway.” 

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

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.”

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Voters in about half of Louisiana’s parishes will head to the polls today 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 8 (08) “…gonna be on there.”

Polls close tonight at eight.

Crawfish prices are at their lowest level of the season. That’s according to the Crawfish-App. Co-founder Laney King. She says prices dropped 50-cents per pound after Easter and they’ve held steady entering the first weekend of May. She says consumers can purchase a sack of crawfish for under 100-dollars…

Cut 13 (09)  “…$4.89 a pound”