Last week former President Donadl Trump called Senator Bill Cassidy one of the worst U-S Senators in the country, but the Republican from Baton Rouge is taking it all in stride. Cassidy says as long as he’s working to do something positive for the country, the state, and those around him…
Cut 7 (08) “…achieve them.”
Cassidy his office was able to secure one-point-two billion dollars in federal funding for Louisiana for fiscal year 2024.

It’s going to be a jam-packed weekend at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. In addition to the state’s signature fruit, there’s plenty of food, and music and it wouldn’t be a festival without a parade in Louisiana. Festival Queen, Lauren van Mullem says it’s a great way to support the community and Louisiana berry farmers.
Cut 9 (12) “…and farmers.”
The event which has been going strong since 1972, is the state’s largest free harvest festival.

Monday is federal Tax Day. Alexandria CPA Kurt Oestriecher (Os-stric-ker) has a tax tip for seniors. Oestricher says people over the age of 70 can use a portion of their minimum retirement distribution to get a tax break if they donate it to a church or a charitable organization.
Cut 3 (13) “…30 thousand.”

LSU will complete spring practice with a spring game at 1 PM tomorrow. The Tigers are missing standout wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas from last year’s team, but Coach Brian Kelly likes the depth he has at wide out…
cut 20 (20) “…position”
Kelly says there’s a competitive battle for the number two quarterback spot, so expect to see a lot of Rickie Collins and A-J Swann in Saturdays’ spring game.

The House Labor Committee has once again voted down bills seeking to raise the state’s minimum wage. Every year business groups are successful in killing this legislation. Patrick Robinson from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says increasing the minimum wage is not the way to grow the economy…
Cut 13 (09) “…environment.”
The vote was 10-5 against raising the minimum wage.

A big money maker for Tangipahoa Parish, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is this weekend. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the state’s second largest festival has arts, crafts, and of course strawberries….
cut 5 (07) “…their living”
Also this weekend, the New Orleans French Quarter Festival and in DeQuincy it’s the Louisiana Railroad days festival.

As Monday’s Tax deadline approaches you might think it’s a bonus if you’re getting money back, but truth be told it isn’t. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office says Wednesday’s severe weather resulted in one death when a tree fell on a camper trailer in Pineville. The victim’s identity has not been released.

Entergy Louisiana says four-thousand of its customers are still without power, Cleco says 8-thousand customers in Slidell are without power and another 19-hundred in St. Landry Parish.

Former President Donald Trump called Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy a total flake and one of the worst Senators in the United States during a rant last week on Truth Social. Cassidy points out he led Louisiana’s Congressional delegation by bringing in one-point-two billion dollars to Louisiana, two-point-four million is for a crime lab in New Orleans…
cut 9 (09) “….deserves justice”

The Louisiana House Labor Committee has once again shot down proposals to increase the minimum wage. Melissa Flournoy, chairperson of 10,000 women, says raising the minimum wage can improve the lives of working families…
cut 14 (14) “…year after year after”
But Business groups say raising the minimum wage will have a negative impact on the economy.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend you’ve got two festivals to choose from. The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival and New Orleans French Quarter Festival. Teiko Foxx has more….
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Cleco says crews restored power to 75-hundred of its customers in Slidell during the over night hours. But 75-hundred customers in Slidell continue to be without electricity. An EF-2 tornado hit Slidell on Wednesday. An EF-1 tornado was confirmed in St. Landry Parish and about two-thousand Cleco customers are without power in Opelousas.

The annual rejection of bills to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana occurred at the state capitol on Thursday. Teiko Foxx has a recap…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

RoyOMartin has announced it will invest more than 30-million dollars to modernize a timber manufacturing facility in Allen Parish. In northwest Louisiana, Benteler Steel-Tube Manufacturing Corporation is building a new threading facility for steel tubes and the expansion will result in 49 new jobs.

The National Weather Service has upgraded Wednesday’s tornado in Slidell to an E-F 2, with peak winds at 120 miles per hour. The worst damage occurred on Old Spanish Trail. St. Tammany parish President Mike Cooper says they are in the need of volunteers to help residents that suffered damage…
cut 30 (09) “…is needed”

Down in New Orleans, it’s the annual French Quarter Festival. The free event features more than 300 entertainers on 25 different stages. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says a diversity of food and vendors is a big attraction…
cut 6 (10) “….for more”
And on the other side of the lake this weekend, it’s the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Another free festival.

Louisiana will not be joining the 30 other states that have a higher minimum wage than what the federal government requires. The House Labor Committee has voted against bills that would increase the state’s minimum wage to 10-dollars an hour. Peter Robbins Brown with the Louisiana AFL-CIO says a higher minimum wage will bring many positive social impacts…
cut 16 (14) “….has increased”
But NFIB state director Leah Long says raising the minimum wage will cause a negative ripple effect…
cut 15 (07) “….and goods”
The bills were defeated on a ten to five vote.

Entergy still has more than three-thousand customers without power from Wednesday’s severe weather. Thousands of Cleco customers are also in the dark in the Opelousas and Slidell areas.

Monday is Tax Day and while you might think getting a big return is worth bragging about, a Louisiana CPA says it really isn’t. Catherine Roe with Cowart Roe says in reality it means the government has been holding onto your money when it could have already been in your pocket.
Cut 10 (11) “…money back.”
Roe says if you work for a company talk to human resources about adjusting what’s taken out of your check.

Thousands will head to southeast Louisiana to enjoy sweet strawberries, live music, and great food. The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival and French Quarter Festival are happening this weekend. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says both festivals are a big economic boost for the state.
Cut 4 (11) “…$400 million dollars.”

The House Labor Committee has once again voted down bills seeking to raise the state’s minimum wage. Every year business groups are successful in killing this legislation. Patrick Robinson from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says increasing the minimum wage is not the way to grow the economy…
Cut 13 (09) “…environment.”
The vote was 10-5 against raising the minium wage.

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy made his first public comments since former President Donald Trump used Truth Social to rip Cassidy, calling him a flake and one of the worst senators. Cassidy said during his weekly discussion with reporters that he secured more federal funding for Louisiana than his counterpats..
cut 8 (07) “….Fiscal Year 2024”

As Monday’s Tax deadline approaches you might think it’s a bonus if you’re getting money back, but truth be told it’s not. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

House Education approves legislation that says teachers must use a student’s name and pronoun that aligns with their birth sex unless the child’s parent says otherwise. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

And a bill to prohibit schools that receive state funds from serving imported seafood passes in the House on a 94-7 vote. The amended bill would also apply to the cafeteria at the state capitol. The bill now heads to the Senate.

The full House overwhelmingly approves legislation requiring schools that receive state funds to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Opponents say it’s unconstitutional because it’s an endorsement of religion, but Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham argues the Ten Commandments set the foundation for laws we follow today.

Cut 24 (14)  “…Western civilization.”

The proposed law does not require teachers to educate students about the Ten Commandments, but New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry says having them displayed could create issues beyond the U-S Constitution

Cut 25 (14)  “…the Bible.”

The bill now heads to Senate education.

Entergy and CLECO are working to restore power to thousands of Louisiana customers after yesterday’s severe weather. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Officials in St. Tammany Parish say damage caused by Wednesday’s tornado in Slidell is reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina. Parish President Mike Cooper says they are asking for volunteers to help residents that suffered damage
Cut 11 (09) “…is needed.”

Public school teachers would be required to use pronouns and names that align with a child’s biological sex under a bill approved by the House Education Committee. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews says if a parent wants a teacher to identify a student by a pronoun that does not align with their biological sex, they can contact the school.

St. Tammany Parish resident Jamie Segura testified in opposition and questioned how this legislation will improve education in public schools…
Cut 8 (12) “…real education issues”
Despite the objection the bill heads to the House floor.

An investigation is underway into an officer involved shooting in Caldwell Parish. Sheriff Clay Bennett says it took place on Gibson Road and the person shot has a non-life threatening injury. The Northeast Louisiana Sheriff’s Investigative unit is investigating and no other details are known.

Entergy Louisiana says it still has over 10-thousand customers who are without power and they hope to have most of those restored by tonight.. Spokesperson David Freese says crews are working to clear debris and repair power lines.
Cut 5 (10) “…the air.”
Freese says the Lake Charles and Lafayette areas are their two hardest hit areas.

Thousands are still without power in Slidell after an EF-1 tornado did considerable amount of damage to homes and businesses. St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper has declared a state of emergency,,,,
cut 12 (11) “…citizens”
Officials from St. Tammany say its the worst damage they’ve seen since Hurricane Katrina.

House Education has advanced a bill to the House floor that says teachers do not have to use a student’s preferred gender pronoun unless the child’s parents request that the child be identified as another gender. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews is the author of the bill…
Cut 7 (09) “…the legislation ”
Even if the parent requests a pronoun that differs from a child’s biological sex, the teacher can still refuse over religious and moral objections.

The full House overwhelmingly approves legislation requiring schools that receive state dollars to have the Ten Commandments posted in their classrooms. But New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry says it could create issues beyond being unconstitutional…
Cut 14 (14) “…the Bible.”
Supporters say the Ten Commandments are the basis of all laws. The bill likely will go to Senate Education next.

Cleco says 24,000 customers remain without power after tornadoes and strong winds ripped through the state Wednesday. The utility company says it has brought in 400 additional line mechanics to help in power restoration efforts. Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says they also have specialized equipment to move debris.
Cut 3 (08) “…make repairs.”
There are about four-thousand customers in St. Landry Parish without power. Most of Cleco’s outages are in Slidell where initial surveys indicate an area near Old Spanish Trail was hit by at least an EF-1 tornado.

An EF 2 tornado hit Lake Charles yesterday morning and Entergy’s spokesperson David Freese says some of their customers could be without power in Calcasieu Parish until tomorrow….
cut 6 (09) “…back on”

Public school teachers would be required to use pronouns and names that align with a child’s biological sex under a bill approved by the House Education Committee. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews says if a parent wants a teacher to identify a student by pronoun that does not align with their biological sex, they can contact the school.

St. Tammany Parish resident Jamie Segura testified in opposition and questioned how this legislation will improve education in public schools…
Cut 8 (12) “…real education issues”
Crews calls his legislation a parental rights bill, but Laplace Representative Sylvia Taylor told Crews the legislation is not needed…
Cut 9 (13) “…to the home.”
The bill was approved on a nine-to-three vote.