This legislative session will see debate on several education bills, ranging from school funding to testing requirements and proposed changes to the TOPS scholarship programs. Leaders for a Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin says there is also teacher pay, and whether teachers will continue to stay at the same pay level after the failure of Amendment 2.

Cut 7 (11) “…of people wanted.”

A Republican state senator has a bill that would provide an alternative to the fortified roof grants. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his proposal is geared towards people who want to take advantage of the grants but have the financial means to install the fortified roof. It’s a non refundable-credit which means the state wouldn’t be mailing out any checks..

Cut 11 (10) “…dollars in liability.”

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A New Roads mother has been arrested, charged with second degree murder and obstruction of justice in the death of her infant child early yesterday.  New Roads police say they got the call just before ten yesterday morning and began efforts to resuscitate the child, who died later at a local hospital.  Officials say the there were inconsistencies in the 19 year old mother’s story and crime lab officials said the mother’s statements did not match up with evidence found at the scene.

While one poll shows State Treasurer John Fleming beating Senator Bill Cassidy in next year’s Republican primary, that’s not the story the latest campaign finance report numbers tell.  According to the official numbers, Cassidy raised 1.36-million dollars in the first quarter of 2025, compared to just over 263-thousand for Fleming. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…

Cut 4 (10) “…in this race.”

A Republican state senator is proposing an alternative to the fortified roof grant program. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Today is Tulane Day at the Capitol as state lawmakers will honor the school and its 5.2-billion dollar impact on the state economy. University President Michael Fitts says Tulane’s history goes back almost to the time when Louisiana became the 18th state.

Cut 13 (08)  “…time with Louisiana.”

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One poll has shown State Treasurer John Fleming beating Senator Bill Cassidy in next year’s Republican primary.  But the latest campaign finance report numbers say otherwise.  Fleming is reporting a war chest of 2.2-million dollars, much of which he loaned to himself, while Cassidy is reporting a war chest of 7.5-million dollars. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross  says in terms of fundraising, Fleming has his work cut out for him.

Cut 5 (12) “…trouble matching Cassidy.”

Several education bills are waiting to be debated in the current legislative session.  One would require high school students to attain a minimum ACT score to graduate, eliminating the need for end-of-course exams. HB 243 proposes accountability measures for the LA GATOR voucher program, but Leaders for a Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin says it’ll be tough to get it passed.

Cut 8 (10) “…wild about either.”

A bill would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Director Lisa Freeman says texting while driving is tantamount to driving blindfolded.

Cut 7 (13) “…miles per hour.”

H-B 519 was filed by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath.

A Republican state senator has a bill that would provide an alternative to the fortified roof grants. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his proposal is geared towards people who want to take advantage of the grants but have the financial means to install the fortified roof.

Cut 10 (08) “…ten-thousand dollars.”

To be clear – Talbot’s bill would not replace the fortified roof grant program; it would be an addition to it.

Several education bills are waiting to be debated in the session, ranging from school funding to testing requirements and proposed changes to the TOPS scholarship programs. Leaders for a Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin says there is also teacher pay, and whether teachers will continue to stay at the same pay level after the failure of Amendment 2.

Cut 23 (12) “…of people want.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has struggled to secure a meeting with Governor Landry, despite Landry’s push to address the state’s sky-high auto insurance rates. Temple says he’s made every effort to talk but hasn’t been able to engage in a substantive discussion with the governor.

Cut 12 (12) “…hasn’t taken place.”

LSU football coach Brian Kelly spoke publicly this morning for the first time since the death of former Tiger football star Kyren Lacy. Lacy was one of Kelly’s first signees out of the transfer portal after he arrived in Baton Rouge in November of 2021.

Cut 3 (05) “…incredible personality”

Lacy died Saturday night in Houston from an apparent suicide.

Dying eggs is an Easter tradition and the high price of eggs this year is not expected to change the practice. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the Department of Justice was told by the Trump Administration to take a hard look at egg prices.

Cut 10 (09) “…pricing of eggs.”

The average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen but Strain recommends shopping around for the best prices.

The legislature is taking aim at distracted driving this session. A bill by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Studies show using a hand-held cell phone while driving has deadly consequences. Suzanne Salter knows that all too well. Her 31-year-old daughter, Nicole, was killed by a distracted driver in Livonia in 2014.

Cut 6 (14) “…heard the thump.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says that the legislative package he supports targets the real cost drivers, excessive bodily injury claims and litigation. Temple stresses the need to “bend the loss curve” to bring down rates, indicating that while there are disagreements, both he and Governor Landry ultimately share a common goal: reducing Louisiana’s oppressive insurance premiums.

Cut 14 (10) “…committed on doing.”

Former State Representative Billy Montgomery of Haughton has died. Montgomery represented district 9 from 1988 to 2008. He was an educator, a principal, and a coach who was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He led Haughton High School’s basketball team to back-to-back state championships in 1968 and 1969. The gym at Bossier Parish Community College and the basketball court at Haughton High School are named in his honor. He was 87 years old.

Despite rising egg prices across the United States, families will still practice the beloved Easter tradition of dyeing eggs. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says at the start of April the average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen and in other markets $6.23 per dozen.

Cut 9 (09)  “…before you buy them.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has faced difficulty arranging a meeting with Governor Jeff Landry, even as Landry emphasizes tackling Louisiana’s soaring auto insurance rates, the highest in the country.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Landry says wants to address at least one more item to address rates and that is cracking down on handheld cell phone use while driving

Cut 8 (11) “…their insurance premiums.”

A bill by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal.  Hand-held cell phone usage is already a primary violation in school zones and construction zones.

LSU football coach Brian Kelly spoke today about the life of Kyren Lacy, who died in an apparent suicide on Saturday night in Houston. Lacy was one of Kelly’s first signees out of the transfer portal after he arrived in Baton Rouge in November of 2021 and he chooses not to dwell on the tragic ending to Lacy’s life, instead remember his happy times…

Cut 5 (10) “…great emotion.”

Funeral services for Lacy are still pending.

The Louisiana Illuminator is reporting that sixteen international students attending Louisiana universities have had their visa’s revoked by the Trump administration. The schools include Southern University, Southern New Orleans, UL Lafayette, UNO, and Tulane. A Southern spokesperson told the Illuminator that no reason for the revocation was given. A Tulane spokesperson said two students had their visas revoked based on prior criminal arrests.

The legislature is taking aim at distracted driving this session. Andrew Greenstein has more

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Landry is working to address the state’s sky-high auto insurance rates but he has yet to meet with Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple with regards to this legislative session and while Temple agrees with the Governor that excessive claims and litigation drive up insurance costs, he disagrees with Landry’s focus on curbing legal advertising by injury attorneys arguing that advertising costs only account for a small fraction of rate calculations.

Cut 13 (10)  “…cost of the claim down.”

A bill would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Director Lisa Freeman says texting while driving is tantamount to driving blindfolded.

Cut 7 (13) “…miles per hour.”

H-B 519 was filed by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has struggled to secure a meeting with Governor Jeff Landry, despite Landry’s push to address the state’s sky-high auto insurance rates, currently the highest in the nation. Temple says he’s made every effort to talk but hasn’t been able to engage in a substantive discussion with the governor.

Cut 12 (12) “…hasn’t taken place.”

Despite sky high egg prices across the country, families continue to embrace the beloved Easter tradition of dyeing eggs. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain urges you to shop around for the best prices.

Cut 11 (12) “…see that spike.”

At the start of April the average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen and in other markets $6.23 per dozen.

LSU football coach Brian Kelly spoke publicly this morning for the first time since the death of former Tiger football star Kyren Lacy. Lacy was one of Kelly’s first signees out of the transfer portal after he arrived in Baton Rouge in November of 2021.

Cut 3 (05) “…incredible personality” 

Lacy died Saturday night in Houston from an apparent suicide.

LSU football coach Brian Kelly has spoken for the first time since the death of Kyren Lacy. The former star wide receiver and likely NFL draft pick died Saturday night in Houston from an apparent suicide. Kelly says Lacy will be missed…

Cut 5 (10) “…great emotion.”

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says Lacy shot a gun at the ground earlier in the night during a verbal argument with his sister and shot himself to death during a police chase.

Families continue to embrace the beloved Easter tradition of dyeing eggs despite the high price of eggs. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the Department of Justice was told by the Trump Administration to take a hard look at egg prices.

Cut 10 (09) “…pricing of eggs.”

The average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen.

The legislature is taking aim at distracted driving this session. A bill by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Study after study has shown that using a hand-held cell phone while driving has deadly consequences. That’s something that Suzanne Salter knows all too well. Her 31-year-old daughter, Nicole, was killed by a distracted driver in Livonia in late 2014.

Cut 6 (14) “…heard the thump.”

And now, a look at today’s commodities.

It’s the first full day of the 2025 legislative session and the House Civil Law Committee is already taking up bills that would bring tort reform to how car crash lawsuits are handled. Governor Landry is calling on lawmakers to strengthen its no-pay-no-play law, which would make it harder for uninsured drivers to receive money after an accident…

Cut 14 (14) “…100-thousand dollars”

Despite rising egg prices, families continue to embrace the beloved Easter tradition of dyeing eggs. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says at the start of April the average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen and in other markets to more than six-dollars a dozen.

Cut 9 (09)  “…before you buy them.”

Thanks to federal funding, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is able to provide a 30-cent bonus to SNAP recipients if they purchase fruits and vegetables from Walmart stores in Ascension, LaSalle, Sabine, Tangipahoa, Webster and West Carroll parishes. Assistant Secretary of Family Support at DCFS, Sammy Guillory, says they expect this pilot project will help families stretch their food budgets while making nutritious choices…

Cut     8 (11) “…bonus benefits’

The bonus benefits will be automatically added to a SNAP recipient’s EBT card if they purchase fresh produce at one of 13 designated Walmart stores.

LSU football coach Brian Kelly spoke today about the life of Kyren Lacy, who died in an apparent suicide on Saturday night in Houston. Kelly chooses not to dwell on the tragic ending to Lacy’s life, instead remember his happy times…

Cut 4 (07) “…full of energy’

Auto insurance reform is a main focus as the 2025 legislative session is underway. Governor Jeff Landry spoke to a joint session of the House and Senate for about an hour on the opening day and says it’s time trial lawyers and insurance companies face new regulations to bring premiums down…

Cut 20 (13) “…elected us”

But well-known personal injury attorney Morris Bart says accident victims will be the losers if the governor’s plan is approved…

Cut 11 (14) “…of their rights”

Lawmakers will be in session for the next two months debating auto insurance reform bills.

Six parishes in Louisiana are participating in a USDA-funded pilot project to promote healthier food choices among SNAP recipients. The six are Ascension, LaSalle, Sabine, Tangipahoa, Webster, and West Carroll. DCFS Assistant Secretary for Family Support Sammy Guillory says recipients will receive a 30-cent bonus for every dollar spent on fresh fruits and vegetables at 13 designated Walmart stores, with a maximum monthly bonus of 25 dollars.

Cut 7 (07) “…state on anything.”

Louisiana is one of three states selected for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Electronic Healthy Incentives Project

LSU football coach Brian Kelly spoke publicly this morning for the first time since the death of former Tiger football star Kyren Lacy. Lacy was one of Kelly’s first signees out of the transfer portal after he arrived in Baton Rouge in December of 2021…

Cut 3 (05) “….incredible personality”