Neville High School is morning the death of one of their own as 16-year-old student athlete, Tarver Braddock is laid to rest. Braddock died in a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of Friday January Fifth at a deer camp in Jefferson County, Mississippi where Braddock, was staying with 5 other teens. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the overnight fire and say five teens were able to escape through a window. Braddock died at the scene. His community and his coach are asking for prayers for his parents, his family and his friends.

Governor Jeff Landry has overturned the appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says if the governor hadn’t issued the executive order, he believes incoming BESE members would have overturned it

Cut 10 (12) “…requirements.” 

One of Jeff Landry’s first acts as governor is calling lawmakers to the state capitol for a redistricting session. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A JMC Analytics poll reveals 26 percent of Louisianans believe the cost of homeowner and car insurance is the biggest issue in the Bayou State. Legislation addressing the state’s high insurance premiums will be discussed in the regular session that begins in the spring and Pollster John Couvillon says residents will be paying attention to what lawmakers are going to do.

Cut 6 (07) “…insurance commissioner.” 

A Neville High School student was laid to rest today.  16-year-old Tarver Braddock of Monroe died in a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of Friday January Fifth at a deer camp in Jefferson County, Mississippi where Braddock, a student athlete at Neville High School in Monroe was staying with 5 other teens. Authorities are investigating the cause of the overnight fire and say five teens were able to get out through a window. They were badly burned but did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Braddock was pronounced dead at the scene. His community and coach are asking for prayers for his family.

Among Governor Landry’s first actions in office was overturning the appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says Landry mentioned early on that he was against this particular proposal for waving those graduation requirements…

Cut 9 (08) “…in office.” 

A statewide poll of 650 likely voters finds car and home insurance rates are the number one issue for Louisianans. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

In the upcoming redistricting special session, Louisiana legislators may begin debating a move to closed primary elections. Moving from open primary elections to closed primaries would be a major change in how we elect our officials. Senate President Cameron Henry says the special session is at least giving legislators the ability to debate this issue and can vote on it at a later time…

Cut 4 (08) “…cost of it.”

Governor Jeff Landry issued an executive order for a redistricting special session. Senate President Cameron Henry…

Cut 3 (09) “…get done.”

Henry says the special session will also give legislators the ability to debate on closed primary elections and can vote on it at a later time…

On his first day in office, Governor Jeff Landry overturned the appeal process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin…

Cut 11 (12) “…the future.”

Louisiana is the only state in the country that does not have an appeals process.The first BESE Board meeting for 2024 is scheduled for January 17^th.

A poll by JMC Analytics finds the biggest issue in the Bayou State is high rates of homeowner and car insurance. Pollster John Couvillon says The poll of 650 likely voters shows 26 percent are concerned with insurance rates and crime was the third top concern.

Cut 7 (06) “…couple years.” 

Taxes and spending ranked fourth, inflation ranked fifth, and social issues like abortion ranked sixth.

34-year-old Catrica Hardy was arrested after a four year old was found dead in a closet at a home in Greenville, Mississippi. Authorities say around 4:30 Monday, the parent of the toddler called about a welfare check after not seeing the child for weeks. Hardy, is facing manslaughter and child deprivation of necessities with substantial harm charges, authorities said.

Governor Landry overturns the appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says if the governor hadn’t issued the executive order, he believes incoming BESE members would have reversed the process…

Cut 10 (12) “…requirements.” 

And during the special redistricting session, lawmakers will debate changing from open to closed primary elections. Senate President Cameron Henry says a closed primary election would end the December run-off in Congressional races, which hurts newly elected U.S. Representatives and Senators when it comes to seniority…

Cut 5 (10) “…which is huge” 

A statewide poll of 650 likely voters finds auto and home insurance rates are the number one issue for Louisianans. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

Among Governor Landry’s first actions in office was overturning the appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says Landry mentioned early on that he was against this particular proposal for waving those graduation requirements…

Cut 9 (08) “…in office.” 

Library visits in Louisiana were up more than 20-percent in 2022 and State Librarian Meg Placke says they were busy answering 2.5 million reference questions online and in person the same year. She invites even more visitors to research what’s going on at their local library…

Cut 12 (11) “…just books.” 

54-percent of Louisianans are library card holders…

One of Jeff Landry’s first acts as governor is calling lawmakers to the state capitol for a redistricting session. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Houma Police are investigating a fatal shooting involving two men from Alabama. The incident happened around 1:30 Saturday morning at a sports bar. Police say Christopher Boutwell of Theodore shot the victim Marvin Reed of Mobile multiple times. Both are 39 years old. Boutwell is charged with second degree murder.

Governor Jeff Landry has issued the call for a redistricting special session to redraw the Congressional and Supreme Court maps. Senate President Cameron Henry says they’ll also debate moving to a closed primary…

Cut 4 (08) “…cost of it.”

The session will begin Monday and has until January 23rd to wrap up.

A JMC Analytics poll reveals 26 percent of Louisianans believe the cost of homeowner and car insurance is the biggest issue in the Bayou State. Pollster John Couvillon says residents are paying attention to what lawmakers are going to do about insurance rates.

Cut 6 (07) “…insurance commissioner.” 

On average, homeowners in the Bayou State pay about two thousand dollars every year for insurance – that’s 700 dollars more than the national average.

Lambda Legal, a civil rights defense organization that focuses on LGBTQ rights is suing the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners over the ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan says the ban sets a precedent that could reach far beyond the transgender community.

Cut 14 (07) “…all in Louisiana.” 

He says the law is unconstitutional.

Library usage in the Bayou State increased 21 percent from 2021 to 2022. State Librarian Meg Placke says Louisianan’s 334 public libraries are much more than just books. In 2022 they provided close to 75-thousand programs, in-person and virtual events for the community that recorded more than two million attendees.

Cut 11 (12) “…and needed.” 

Governor Jeff Landry has issued the call for a redistricting special session. It will begin Monday and legislators will have until January 23rd at 6 PM to finish their work. Senate President Cameron Henry says legislators will redraw the Congressional and Supreme Court map and debating a move to a closed primary elections…

Cut 3 (09) “…get done.”

Moving from open primary elections to closed primaries would be a major change in how we elect our officials.

Louisiana legislators elected Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow as President Pro Tem on Monday.  Barrow thanked members of the Senate for having faith in her leadership and she referred to her husband, James, who died in 2020.

Cut 8 (13) “…grandfather’s place.” 

Lambda Legal is suing the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners on behalf of five families in the state. Attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan says the state’s ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors is unconstitutional…

Cut 13 (11) “…who they are.” 

The law, that went into in Louisiana on January 1st, Gonzalez-Pagan says sets a precedent that could reach far beyond the transgender community.

Flu and COVID cases are on the rise across the nation and the Bayou State has among the highest levels. Ochsner Medical Director Dr. Sandra Kemmerly urges Louisianans to practice respiratory etiquette by washing their hands frequently and…

Cut 6 (12) “…that way.”

On his first day in office, Governor Jeff Landry released the call for a special session and issued two executive orders. The special session to redraw the Congressional map will begin next Monday and last until January 23rd. The session will also give legislators the opportunity to vote on a proposal to move Louisiana from open primary elections to closed primaries.

An executive order vetoes the graduation appeal process approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Several BESE members wanted to give high school seniors other options to graduate if they did not pass the LEAP exam.

Legislative leaders have been selected. Eunice Republican Phillip Devillier is House Speaker, Pineville Representative Mike Johnson is Speaker Pro Tem, Metairie Republican Cameron Henry is Senate President and Baton Rouge Democrat Regina Barrow is Senate President Pro Tem…
cut 9 (08) “…very much”

COVID and flu cases are circulating in Louisiana at high levels.…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Library usage is on the rise. A new report shows nine million people visited libraries in 2022, up 21-percent from 2021. State Librarian Meg Placke says it’s welcome news after a dip during the pandemic…
cut 10 (08) “….we have”
Patrons checked out more than 46 million items in 2022.

Eunice Republican Phillip DeVillier begins his first full day as Louisiana’s House Speaker. He was sworn in yesterday shortly after a new Legislature took the oath of office. The 47-year-old says a new Legislature brings new hope and a sense of unity to accomplish great things…
cut 30 (14) “…succeeds”
Pineville Republican Mike Johnson was named Speaker Pro-Tem.

Senators elected Metairie Republican Cameron Henry as their new President and Baton Rouge Democrat Regina Barrow as President Pro Tem. Barrow gave an emotional speech…
cut 7 (13) “…he knew”
Chairmanships will be announced this week.

The flu is going around and we still are not at the peak of the season. Ochsner Medical Director Doctor Sandra Kemmerly says they’ve seen an increase in flu-like respiratory illnesses…
cut 5 (12) “….we perform”

Library visits in Louisiana increased by 21 percent in 2022 and it’s not just about books. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A lawsuit has been filed to block the state from enforcing a new law that prohibits certain procedures to alter the sex of a minor child. Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit on behalf of five Louisiana transgender youth. Attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan says the ban prohibits their clients from either moving from one treatment to another or inhibits their ability to start any treatment…
cut 15 (12) “….this ban”
The author of the legislation, Pollock Republican Gabe Firment, says the lawsuit was expected, but appellate courts in other states have upheld similar laws.

The call for a special redistricting session went out late Monday afternoon. It will begin next Monday afternoon and must conclude on January 23rd. Lawmakers will attempt to redraw the state’s Congressional district map and the Supreme Court map.

Louisiana is seeing the highest activity level of flu and COVID cases in the nation. Ochsner Medical Director Dr. Sandra Kemmerly says the seasonal flu shouldn’t be taken lightly and the best protection is getting vaccinated.
Cut 4 (12) “…some cases.”
According to the Department of Health, emergency room visits in the state between December 17 through 23 were at 14 percent – the highest in more than a decade and double the national average.

The NFL Network reports Dennis Allen is expected to remain the Saints head coach. Colleen Crain…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”