State lawmakers will use this legislative session to pass legislation that will seek to bring homeowners insurance rates down. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot has filed a bill that makes it more clear on when the clock starts for claims to be paid. He also wants to give insurers 60-days, instead of 30 days, for a claim to be paid after a hurricane…
Cut 14 (12) “…do it”
Talbot says the current system leads to more lawsuits and insurers are hesitant to do business in a litigious environment.

New speed limit signs will begin to go up on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge as the speed limit is changing for truckers. It will go up from 55 to 60-miles per hour, which matches the speed limit for vehicles. But truckers will continue to be restricted to right lane travel only. Louisiana Motor Transport Association Director Renee Amar says it would be better to allow truckers access to both lanes…
Cut 5 (09) “…going forward.”

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control will resume enforcing a ban on certain vape and alternative nicotine products, such as Elf and Puff Bars. ATC Commissioner Ernest Legier says a law passed in 2023 says vape products that have not applied for FDA approval can not be sold in Louisiana. That law is being challenged in the courts, but Legier says their attorneys have said they can move forward with the ban…
cut 11 (11) “…are written”

To help the crawfish industry with financial assistance after last summer’s drought severely impacted the crop, Congressman Troy Carter is holding three workshops for crawfish producers, boil houses, restaurants, grocery stores, and others who depend on crawfish.
Cut 7 (10) “…of Louisiana.”
The first of three workshops in conjunction with the Small Business Administration will be at Southern University at New Orleans today,

Today begins the second week of the regular legislative session and lawmakers will soon dive into bills that attempt to stop the rise in homeowners insurance premiums. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says the legislature can’t tell insurance companies to lower rates, they have to create a market that results in multiple companies vying for your business…
Cut 15 (08) “…listeners business”
Talbot has legislation to clarify the claims process.

Congressman Troy Carter is hosting workshops in New Orleans, Reserve and Baton Rouge this week that will help crawfish farmers apply for federal assistance. Carter says crawfish farmers are having trouble making money because of a low supply of mudbugs…
cut 8 (12) “…for us”

New speed limit signs begin to go up this week on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Colleen Crain has the details…
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The McNeese men’s basketball team will play Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Salt Lake City. Grambling State is in the tourney for the first time ever and they’ll play Montana State on Wednesday night in Dayton, Ohio. The Lady Tigers are a three-seed and they’ll face Rice on Friday afternoon in Baton Rouge.

Since the Louisiana Legislature can not mandate lower homeowners insurance rates, how can they lower premiums. Jeanne Burns has more…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeanne Burns”

Tomorrow is the first day of spring, but we are not done with winter. Most of the northern half of the state is under a freeze watch from midnight to 9 AM tomorrow. Temperatures will get below freezing for cities like Monroe, Shreveport, Winnsboro and Jena.

Beginning today the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control will resume the enforcement of state laws concerning the marketing and sale of vapor products. ATC Commissioner Ernest Legier says even though the law restricting the sale of products not registered with the state’s VAPE directory is being challenged in court…
Cut 10 (09) “…as written.”
If a VAPE product does not receive FDA approval it will be taken off the shelves and the store trying to sell unregistered products will be fined.

New speed limit signs on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge begin to go up today. The work will take place at night and it will lead to lane closures. Director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association Renee Amar is glad to see the speed limit for truckers will now be the same as vehicles, 60-miles per hour. She says it will lead to safer driving and where the signs are posted is also important…
cut 6 (09) “….the Basin”
DOTD work crews will also be installing radar guns that will be informing motorists of their speed.

Clarifying the claims process is one idea lawmakers will discuss in the legislative session as a way to bring more insurers into Louisiana. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says they’ve been told by Lloyd’s of London, a major insurance and reinsurer, that Louisiana’s claims process is ambiguous and unclear
Cut 13 (06) “…in Louisiana”
Talbot has filed a bill that makes it more clear on when the clock starts for claims to be paid.

Phase 2 of the state’s plan to make the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge safer begins today as Department of Transportation crews begin the process of changing the speed limit signs, increasing the speed limit from 55 to 60 miles per hour for trucks. Cars will stay at 60. Director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, Renee Amar, says a uniform 60 mile per hour limit for all vehicles makes everyone safer…
Cut 4 (12) “…more hazardous.”

Congressman Troy Carter is hosting three workshops to help those in the crawfish industry apply for financial assistance.
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The LSU Lady Tigers are a three-seed in the Albany Two regional in the NCAA Women’s’ Basketball Tournament. Iowa and UCLA are the top two seeds. Coach Kim Mulkey…
cut 16 (09) “…..at home”
LSU’s first opponent is 14th seeded Rice at 3 PM on Friday.

50 Louisiana National Guardsmen are in the Lone Star state to help with border security. LANG spokesperson Lt. Col Noel (No-elle) Collins says the soldiers who are in Texas for the first rotation are part of the 2^nd of the 108^th Cavalry Regiment out of Shreveport. She says they are properly trained and equipped to assist with Operation Lone Star.

Cut 8 (08) “…of Texas.” The mission is scheduled to wrap in mid-June.
A litter study by Keep Louisiana Beautiful found nearly 10 percent of all litter on Louisiana’s roadways consists of car accident debris. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is urging law enforcement in our state to make sure tow truck operators pick up everything after a crash in order to make our roadways not only cleaner, but safer.

Cut 3 (08) “…adds to the litter”  

—————————————–

Grambling is one win away from an NCAA Tournament berth as the Tigers topped Bethune Cookman 65-53. Grambling will face Texas Southern tonight at 8:30 for a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

The McNeese men’s basketball team is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002…coming off a 30 and three season. Jim Gazzolo covers the team for the American Press and says the cowboys should have a decent seed despite coming from a conference that will only have one team in the Big Dance…

Cut 15 (09) “…Pittsburgh”
Fun game at the Smoothie King Center last night as the Pelicans defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 112 to 104. New Orleans is two games back of the Clippers for fourth place in the West.

The McNeese State fanbase is excited to see where the men’s basketball team will play in the NCAA Tournament. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

A month after his arrest on a second degree murder charge, LSU running back Trey Holly has retained Attorney Michael Small.  It all stems from an incident in Union Parish last month that resulted in two victims being treated for gunshot wounds. According to Small, Holly plans to plead not guilty if formal charges are filed against him.
—————————–

Louisiana National Guardsmen participating in Operation Lone Star have arrived in Texas. LANG spokesperson Lt. Col Noel (No-elle) Collins says fifty soldiers begin their first of three 30-day rotations today at the southern border.

Cut 6  (10) “…operation.” 

Former LSU basketball player and Ukrainian, Roman Rubchenko, is in Louisiana to raise awareness of the humanitarian aid needed due to the Russian invasion. Rubchenko was hoping to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson while he was in the states. Johnson, a Republican from Bossier Parish, opposes a $95 billion foreign security aid bill passed by the Senate, but has told the Politco he’s interested in approving a stand-alone funding bill for Ukraine. Rubchenko wants to see that happen.

Cut 10 (13) “…was introduced” “

The LSU Lady Tigers will find out Sunday night who they will play in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. LSU will host the first two rounds of the tournament and their first game will be either Friday or Saturday. The Lady Tigers are 28-and-5 and two of their losses came against top ranked South Carolina. ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme says a third meeting would have to wait until the Final Four.

Cut 13 (11) “…Final Four”  

The McNeese men’s basketball team is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002 and the Lake Charles community is crazy about the Bayou Bandits.  Jim Gazzolo covers the team for the American Press and says first year head coach Will Wade won over the fans there pretty quickly.

Cut  14 (11) “..amazing thing”

————————

Louisiana National Guardsmen participating in Operation Lone Star have arrived in Texas. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A month after his arrest on a second degree murder charge, LSU running back Trey Holly has retained Attorney Michael Small.  It all stems from an incident in Union Parish last month that resulted in two victims being treated for gunshot wounds. According to Small, Holly plans to plead not guilty if formal charges are filed against him.

50 Louisiana National Guardsmen have arrived in Texas to help with border security. Governor Jeff Landry signed off on sending Louisiana guardsmen at the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. LANG spokesperson Lt. Col Noel (No-elle) Collins says the soldiers begin their first of three 30-day rotations today at the southern border.

Cut 7 (12) “…Texas border.”  

A litter study by Keep Louisiana Beautiful found nearly 10 percent of all litter on Louisiana’s roadways consists of car accident debris.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the cleanup of debris from car accidents falls on wrecker services. And he’s working with law enforcement to make sure tow trucks do the job.

Cut 4 (12) “…job properly” 
———————————-

The LSU Lady Tigers will find out Sunday night who they will play in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The defending national champs won ten in a row before losing to South Carolina last Sunday. ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme predicts LSU will be a two seed…

Cut 12 (12)  “…Mississippi State.”
Former LSU basketball player and Ukrainian, Roman Rubchenko, is in Louisiana to raise awareness of the humanitarian aid needed due to the Russian invasion. Rubchenko says before coming to Louisiana, he tried to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson…

Cut 9 (12) “…come through.” 

House Speaker Mike Johnson opposes a $95 billion foreign aid bill passed by the Senate, but the Republican has told Politco he’s interested in approving a stand alone bill for Ukraine, despite objections from his own party. Former LSU basketball player and Ukrainian, Roman Rubchenko is pleading with Congress to help.

Cut 10 (13) “…was introduced” “

50 Louisiana National Guard soldiers have arrived in Texas to help with border security. Governor Jeff Landry sent guardsmen at the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Louisiana National Guard Lt. Colonel Noel Collins anticipates the soldiers will help prevent, detect, and deter illegal crossings.
Cut 7 (12) “…Texas border.”

The McNeese State fanbase is excited to see where the men’s basketball team will play in the NCAA Tournament.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

At 7pm Sunday the LSU women’s basketball team will find out who they’ll play in the Tournament. The Lady Tigers are 28-and-5, two of their losses came against top ranked South Carolina. ESPN Bracketologist Charlie Creme says a third meeting with the Gamecocks will have to wait until the Final Four in Cleveland…

Cut 13 (11) “…Final Four”  

Louisiana National Guardsmen participating in Operation Lone Star have arrived in Texas. LANG spokesperson Lt. Col Noel (No-elle) Collins says fifty soldiers begin their first of three 30-day rotations Friday at the southern border.
Cut 6 (10) “…operation.”
Governor Jeff Landry signed off on sending Louisiana guardsmen at the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Many times, after a car crash, there’s debris left behind which adds to the state’s litter problem. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is asking law enforcement to make sure vehicle bumpers, glass, tire fragments, etc. are picked up after the vehicles are towed away. He says it will make our roadways cleaner and safer…

Cut 3 (08) “…adds to the litter”  

The LSU Lady Tigers will find out Sunday night who they will play in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The defending national champs won ten in a row before losing to South Carolina last Sunday. ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme predicts LSU will be a two seed…

Cut 12 (12)  “…Mississippi State.”

The McNeese men’s basketball team is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002 and the Lake Charles community is crazy about the Bayou Bandits.  Jim Gazzolo covers the team for the American Press says they’ll have a decent seed despite coming from a conference that will only have one team in the Big Dance…

Cut 15 (09) “…Pittsburgh”

The NCAA Tournament Selection Show is at 5 PM for men’s basketball and 7pm for womens.