Insurance and education reform were two main themes of Governor Jeff Landry’s address to state lawmakers on the first day of the legislative session. The governor is also calling for a constitutional convention..
cut 11 (11) “….cheering”
Landry wants to move certain items out of the constitution and into state law, giving the legislature more flexibility to address the state’s problems.

Good news for the thousands of people who suffer from sickle cell disease. Children’s Hospital New Orleans has been designated as Louisiana’s only treatment center for a newly approved sickle cell disease therapy. Pediatric Oncologist Doctor Zachary Leblanc says the ground breaking gene therapy takes several months and at least a couple of hospital stays…
cut 15 (07) “….non-sickle heoglobin”

The Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction has added three new inductees to its ranks. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

A laundromat in St. Tammany Parish where a woman fought off an attack from a twice convicted sex offender burned down last night. No word on the cause of the blaze. Authorities say on March 3rd a woman was attacked by 40-year-old Nicholas Tranchant with a sharp weapon. The woman used that weapon to fight back and Tranchant died from his injuries.

Governor Landry opened the 2024 legislative session urging lawmakers to reform public education. Landry says it’s time to give parents more flexibility to decide where to send their students to school. He pointed out the success of two children in the audience who attend a charter school in Baton Rouge…

Cut 10 (10) “…in their area”

Landry also wants legislators to address constitutional reform.

Early voting for the  highly contested Caddo Parish Sheriff race is sending voters to the polls in high numbers. Political analyst Scott Hughes says traditionally Democrats tend to vote early or by mail compared to Republicans who tend to cast their ballot on election day…

Cut 9 (11)  “…Republican voters.”

Hughes says the one-vote margin in the November 2023 sheriff’s election was not only historic in Louisiana, but he believes it’s the largest one-vote margin in the country with more than 40,000 votes cast.

Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction added three inductees to its 2024 class. The award recognizes those who contribute to agriculture in Louisiana. Stephen Crawford of Concordia Parish was recognized for his extensive career in protecting agriculture. He aided the LSU AgCenter’s efforts of developing weed control to prevent and disrupt the growth of intrusive weeds.

Cut 5 (13) “…with them.” 

Crawford has been a key developer of herbicides for cotton, corn, soybeans, and rice.

Pediatric Oncologist, Dr. Zachary Leblanc says Children’s Hospital New Orleans has been designated the only hospital in Louisiana to offer a newly approved gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease.

Cut 13 (11)  “…red blood cells.”

The 2024 legislative session is underway and insurance reform will be a major topic. Legislators will examine several bills that attempt to bring in more property insurers into the state. New Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says deregulation is the key and Governor Jeff Landry agrees…
cut 12 (12) “…our people”
Letting insurance hikes happen without Temple’s approval is one proposal that will go before legislators.

Children’s Hospital New Orleans has been designated as Louisiana’s only treatment center for a newly approved sickle cell disease gene therapy. Pediatric Oncologist, Doctor Zachary Leblanc, says there are at least three-thousand people with sickle cell disease living in Louisiana…
cut 14 (10) “….that goal”

Sad story out of St. Bernard Parish as a six-year-old child is dead from a fatal hit and run crash. St. Bernard Parish Sheriff deputies have arrested 41-year-old Napoleon Espino. He’s accused of hitting Deaunta White as he was crossing the street in Chalmette. Authorities say Espino kept going after hitting White.

Early voting in Caddo Parish is off to a strong start. Brooke Thorington explains why.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Governor Jeff Landry challenges state lawmakers to be bold on the opening day of the legislative session.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain”

The older brother of LSU women’s basketball player Flau’jae Johnson bonded out of jail yesterday after getting involved in Sunday’s scuffle between the Lady Tigers and South Carolina. Greenville, South Carolina police say Trayron Miller has been charged with disorderly conduct, assault and battery because he shoved an SEC employee in the head and stepped on her shoulders to get on the court.

Early voting for the March 23rd presidential primary is underway and while it’s already decided who will represent the Democratic and Republican Party in the presidential election, who will be the next sheriff in Caddo Parish remains undecided. The courts ordered another election in this race after Democrat Henry Whitehorn defeated Republican John Nickelson by one vote last November. Political analyst Scott Hughes says it’s not a nasty race, more of a get out and vote campaign…
cut 8 (08) “…vote in person”

Former Congressman and current secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health Doctor Ralph Abraham has been inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction. Abraham represented Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District from 2015 to 2021 and served on the House Agriculture Committee…
cut 4 (11) “….national security”
The Richland Parish native co-authored the 2018 farm bill and ensured Iraq remained a reliable destination for U-S rice.

Insurance and education reform were two main themes of Governor Jeff Landry’s address to state lawmakers on the first day of the legislative session. The governor is also calling for a constitutional convention..
cut 11 (11) “….cheering”
Landry wants to move certain items out of the constitution and into state law, giving the legislature more flexibility to address the state’s problems.

Turnout for early voting is high in Caddo Parish and the driving force isn’t the presidential primary, it’s the sheriff’s race. Political analyst Scott Hughes says there was a one-vote margin between Democrat Henry Whitehorn and Republican John Nickelson last November and after a lawsuit challenging the results, the courts ordered another election.
Cut 7 (09) “…early voting.”

The Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction has added three new inductees to its ranks. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

On the opening day of the legislative session, Governor Jeff Landry laid out his agenda for lawmakers. He began his speech by encouraging legislators to make his reforms in public education. The governor says he wants parents in control of a child’s education and take away some of the burdens affecting teachers…

Cut  14 (14) “..can teach”

Insurance reform will also be a key topic as the state legislators will look at ways to improve the property insurance market. New Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says deregulation of the industry is the key and Landry agrees…

AM Cut 12 (12) “…our people” 

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is pushing for bills to increase election integrity. She says the bills would bring Louisiana closer to being ranked first in the nation for election integrity. For example, House Bill 114 to verify if Louisiana residents are still eligible to vote.

Cut 4 (11) “…more years.” 

After 10 years, Landry points out voters would not be removed from the non-active voters list automatically. She says notification would be mailed out and if a voter does not respond…

Cut 5 (12) “…active rolls.”

Former Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed the proposed bill multiple times after it was passed by the legislature.

The 2024 legislative session began today and Governor Landry laid out his agenda for lawmakers. He wants legislators to tackle the insurance crisis and he’s calling for a constitutional convention.

Cut 15 (12) “…too late”

Landry and Republican lawmakers are pushing to move items out of the state’s constitution and place it into state law. He says the current constitution makes it too difficult for lawmakers to correct the state’s problems.

Insurance reform and education are also hot button issues up for debate. Jeremy Alford of La-politics-dot-com says legislators have to approve a budget for next fiscal year. He says lawmakers will look at reducing state spending with an eye towards 2025 when a temporary sales tax expires.

Cut 11 (12) “…tough decisions”

Alford says Republican lawmakers are also eager to set up a program called education savings accounts.

Lawmakers returned to the Capitol today to begin the 2024 legislative session. And Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced a package of bills that would improve the state’s election integrity. She says the state has some of the most well run elections in the nation but the bills would bring Louisiana closer to being ranked number one.

Cut 3 (08) “…our elections.”  

HB 114 would expand voter canvass to further ensure that Louisiana’s voter rolls are accurate.

The volume of mail-in ballots for the presidential primary is the third highest in Louisiana’s election history. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon…

Cut 6  (08) “…out of habit.” 

The volume of mail-in voting for this primary is 17% higher than it was on the first day of the 2020 primary which was in July.

On the opening day of the legislative session, Governor Jeff Landry laid out his agenda for lawmakers. He began his speech by encouraging legislators to make his reforms in public education. The governor says he wants parents in control of a child’s education and take away some of the burdens affecting teachers…

Cut  14 (14) “..can teach”

La Politics dot com editor Jeremy Alford says legislators also have to approve a budget for next fiscal year. He says lawmakers will look at reducing state spending with an eye towards 2025 when a temporary sales tax expires

Cut 11 (12) “…tough decisions”

A package of bills aimed to make Louisiana number one in the country regarding election integrity will be addressed in the regular session. Teiko Fox has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

After one day of early voting, the number of mail-in ballots for the presidential primary is the third highest in Louisiana’s election history and it’s possible it could eclipse the 2022 Senate primary for mail-in votes. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon…

Cut 8 (09) “…it happening.” 

According to La Politics dot com editor Jeremy Alford, Insurance and education will be the big topics in the legislature this session and he says new Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is pushing a package of bills that are considered pro industry. Alford says Temple will make the argument to legislators that there are too many regulations on insurance companies…

Cut 10 (10) “…pro industry ideas.”

LSU and South Carolina battled each other hard yesterday and tempers flared late in the game which resulted in both benches clearing after Lady Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson was pushed down to the ground.  LSU ended up losing in the SEC Tournament title game 79 to 72, but Coach Kim Mulkey feels good about her squad

Cut 12 (11)  “…this point  

Poa was taken off on stretcher on Saturday night after banging her head on the floor. Mulkey expects Poa to be ready for the NCAA Tournament which begins next week.

After one day of early voting, the number of mail-in ballots for the presidential primary is the third highest in Louisiana’s election history. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

As the regular legislative session starts today, Secretary of State Nancy Landry is pushing a package of bills that would further boost the state’s election integrity policies. Among them is one that she says will ensure that Louisiana’s voter rolls are accurate. After 10 years, voters would not be removed from the non-active voters list automatically. instead, she says notification would be mailed out and if a voter does not respond…

Cut 5 (12) “…active rolls.”

The regular legislative session is underway with Governor Jeff Landry making his opening remarks. And Secretary of State Nancy Landry is pushing for bills to increase election integrity. For example, House Bill 114 to verify if Louisiana residents are still eligible to vote.

Cut 4 (11) “…more years.” 

After one day of early voting, the number of mail-in ballots for the March 23^rd presidential primary is the third highest in Louisiana’s election history. And Pollster John Couvillon says considering this Presidential primary is “low wattage” with a few local elections thrown in, mail-in voting is higher than the 2020 Presidential primary…

Cut 7 (07) “…to me.”  

The November 2020 Presidential race and the 2022 Senate primary were first and second respectively for mail-in ballots for Louisiana.

LSU and South Carolina battled each other hard yesterday and tempers flared late in the game which resulted in both benches clearing after Lady Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson was pushed down to the ground. The loss ended the Lady Tigers ten game winning streak and Coach Kim Mulkey is eager to see her team try to win another title…

Cut 13 (13) “…next week”  

Johnson’s brother, Trayron Milton was arrested and booked for assault and battery and disorderly conduct by the Greenville Police during the incident when it he jumped from the crowd onto the court to protect his sister yet video footage of him making contact with another player has not surfaced. LSU will find out on Sunday night who they will play in the NCAA Tournament