Governor Jeff Landry named former state lawmaker and Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove as the Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Landry says Dove took the job because he wants to restructure the CPRA …
Cut 7 (07) “…protect our coast.”
Landry also named petroleum engineer Ben Bienvenu as the Commissioner of Conservation.

Three weeks into his position as Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, retired Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge David Matlock recognizes changes need to be made to better assist children and families. The previous administration struggled with a lack of caseworkers and overwhelming child welfare caseloads.
Cut 9 (12) “…talk to them.”
Matlock says he wants to know what can be done for them to return to DCFS or take suggestions on what can be done to help caseworkers going forward.

College students will have to wait longer before finding out how much financial aid they’ll receive. Changes were made to this year’s FAFSA application and then more changes were needed to fix how it calculates federal student aid. The delay might not be easy for students, but Ebony Holmes with the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance says there’s a plus side…
cut 5 (10) “…in funding”

Michael Graham Junior has passed away. He served 14 years on Louisiana’s death row for murdering a Union Parish couple in 1986, but DNA evidence eventually cleared him and he was released from Angola in 2000. Director of Death Penalty Action, Abe Bonowitz, says Graham’s story is an example of a miscarriage of justice…
cut 12 (08) “..it through”
Bonowitz says the Graham family has established a Go Fund Me page in his memory.

Governor Jeff Landry talks coastal restoration and oil and gas production during a press conference at Nicholls State. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Congressman Clay Higgins has requested the USDA provide federal aid to crawfish farmers struggling as result of last year’s historic drought and the recent freeze. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says some farmers are barely catching anything…
cut 15 (05) “…be more”

The U-S Department of Education has announced colleges will not receive FAFSA student financial aid information until March, which means it could be April before a student knows how much financial aid they receive. Ebony Holmes with the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance says the National College Attainment Network has resources to help students determine their amount of financial aid…
cut 4 (13) “…may help”

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is under new leadership as retired Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge David Matlock was appointed by Governor Landry. Matlock says Landry asked him to come out of retirement to lead the department and that the governor also wants to meet with foster parents personally and address their needs.
cut 11 (11) “…so much”

Governor Jeff Landry has named former state legislator and Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove as the new chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Landry also named Benjamin Bienvenu as the new Commissioner of Conservation. Landry says Bienvenu and Natural Resources Secretary Tyler Gray will work to increase refining capacity…
cut 8 (11) “…..the country”

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has requested federal assistance for crawfish farmers who have seen a dramatic decline in production because of last year’s historic drought and the recent freeze. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the state’s crawfish industry needs help…
Cut 13 (07) “…to be caught.”
The LSU AgCenter estimates the potential losses to be nearly 140-million dollars due to the combined drought freeze.

Retired Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge David Matlock says Governor Landry asked him personally to head the Department of Children and Family Services, an agency facing multiple challenges.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Advocate is reporting Governor Landry will not retain Curtis Nelson Junior as the Secretary of the Office of Juvenile Justice. Major changes could be coming to this state agency as one of the governor’s transition teams recommended a move towards probation and parole for certain juvenile offenders instead of the current therapeutic approach.

Governor Jeff Landry names a former state lawmaker as the new Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputy was severely injured while assisting a stalled motorist on Highway 371 north last night. Sheriff Jason Parker says the deputy was stuck when an oncoming vehicle hit the stalled car and the officer.  Parker is asking the public to pray for the deputy and reminds them to slow down and move over when a vehicle is on the side of the road.

Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, retired Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge David Matlock says he wants to hear from foster parents. He also encourages individuals to reach out to foster parents and offer to help them, with simple things like bringing them a meal or offering to babysit.

Cut 10 (11) “…support it.”

He also wants to meet with former child welfare caseworkers on how to make the job more sustainable.

College students will have to wait longer to find out how much financial aid they will receive because of new FAFSA forms. Ebony Holmes with the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance says this could result in financial aid offers not being made until April. She admits it’s not ideal…

Cut 3 (08) “….me financially.”  

It’s a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act passed in 2022.

Governor Jeff Landry named former state lawmaker and Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove as the Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Landry says Dove is the right man to ensure coastal restoration projects are built swiftly and economically…

Cut 6  (12) “…can survive.” 

Three weeks into his position as Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, retired Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge David Matlock recognizes changes need to be made. The previous administration struggled with a lack of caseworkers and overwhelming child welfare caseloads.

Cut 9 (12) “…talk to them.”

Matlock says he wants to know what can be done for them to return to DCFS or take suggestions on what can be done to help caseworkers going forward.

Should the state phase out its personal and corporate income taxes? Gov. Jeff Landry’s Economic Development and Fiscal Policy Council thinks so. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Louisiana Department of Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson, who lobbied to have the state’s income taxes phased out as a lawmaker, says having the Governor’s Economic Development and Fiscal Policy Council’s recommendation is a step towards the state reaching its full economic potential.

Cut 4 (09) “…that puzzle.”

The state brings in nearly $5 billion a year in taxes. To offset the revenue Nelson says broadening the base of some of existing taxes to lower the rate is probably the best way to do it. 

LSU Athletic Department is in the negative by nearly $4 million dollars. John Tiebaud (Tee-Bow) with the Louisiana Legislative Auditors office says the department transferred $5 million to the university.

Cut 14 (06) “…transfer.

Tiebaud says football turned a profit of $54 million, almost a 50% increase from 2022.

Michael Graham Jr., who spent 14 years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit passed away at his home in Virginia.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

During a press conference in Thibodeaux, governor jeff landry said in the upcoming special session on crime they’ll look to pass legislation to resume executions because the victims deserve justice…

Cut 30 (06)….

The House and Senate Transportation committees give the green light for the state to use tolls to help pay for a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Governor Jeff Landry is holding a press conference this hour in Thibodeaux where he’s naming former Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove as head the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities and chair the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board of Directors.

Should the Bayou phase out personal and corporate income taxes, corporate franchise taxes, and local inventory taxes? State Governor Jeff Landry’s Economic Development and Fiscal Policy Council thinks so. Louisiana Department of Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson says the state’s tax code is outdated. When asked what his solutions are to offset the lost revenue to the state treasury…

Cut 5 (11) “…rid of.” 

Michael Graham Jr., who was wrongly convicted of murdering a Union Parish Couple in 1986, died in poverty last week. After serving 14 years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit, Graham was exonerated and released from Angola in December of 2000 with $10 and a bus ticket. Executive Director of Death Penalty Action, Abe Bonowitz …

Cut 11 (07) “…of that.” 

Despite strong opposition from truckers, the House and Senate Transportation committees approved Governor Jeff Landry’s plan to use a combination of federal and state dollars, plus tolls, to build a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles. Director for the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, Renee Amar, says truckers look at tolls as an additional tax…
Cut 7 (10) “…toll is.”
Lake Charles Senator Mark Abraham knows tolls are unpopular, but necessary because there are not enough federal and state dollars available…
Cut 9 (13) “…on funding.”
The state Bond commission still has to give approval before construction can begin.

Despite winning the school’s first national championship in women’s basketball, the LSU program ran a deficit of nearly eight million dollars last fiscal year according to a report released by the Legislative Auditor’s Office. State auditor John Thiebaud (Tee-bow)…
cut 16 (07) “…winning perspective”
The NCAA recently agreed to a new TV deal which should help boost revenues for women’s basketball programs.

Former Louisiana death row inmate Michael Graham has passed away. He served on death row for 14 years, before DNA evidence cleared him of a double murder that took place in Union Parish in 1986. Director of Death Penalty Action Abe Bonowitz says Graham died a poor man because he was never compensated for being wrongfully convicted. He says they’ve set up a Go Fund me page in his memory…
cut 13 (10) “….Go Fund me”

The House and Senate Transportation committees have approved a plan to fund a new I-10 Lake Charles bridge. Tolls are part of the funding equation and the trucking industry is in opposition to using tolls to help fund the two-point-one billion dollar project. DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue says it will take seven years to build the bridge and during that time the state will look for additional funding to lower the cost of the tolls…
Cut 10 (10) “…or form.”

A state audit of the LSU athletic department found the Tigers football program generated 105 million dollars for the fiscal year that ended last June. That’s 18-million dollars more than the previous year and Brian Kelly’s program recorded a net profit of 54-million dollars, nearly a 50-percent increase from 2022. State auditor John Tiebaud…
cut 15 (07) “….their numbers”
The LSU football program received a commitment last night from four-star offensive lineman Devin Harper from Calvary Baptist High School. He’s considered the third best player in the state for the Class of 2025.

Governor Jeff Landry’s Economic Development and Fiscal Policy Council has recommended the state should begin the process of phasing out corporate and personal income taxes. Louisiana Department of Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson, expects the governor to take a long look at this recommendation
Cut 4 (09) “…that puzzle.”
Tax reform will have to wait until next year, when legislators hold a fiscal session.

Exonerated Death Row Survivor, Michael Graham Jr died has passed. He served 14 years on Louisiana’s death row until DNA cleared him of murdering a Union Parish couple in 1986. Executive Director of Death Penalty Action, Abe Bonowitz says Graham died in poverty in Virginia
Cut 11 (07) “…of that.”
Bonowitz says the Graham family has established the Michael Graham Legacy Fund and there’s also a Go Fund Me page in his memory.

The House and Senate Transportation Committees have approved a contract that would lead to a new I-10 Lake Charles bridge. The public-private partnership would use tolls to help pay for the construction of the two-point-one billion dollar bridge. The CEO of Frisard’s Trucking Company, Cully Frisard, says it will cost his trucks $8.25 every time they cross the new bridge under the financing plan laid out by the Landry administration
Cut 8 (09) “…you buy at the store.”
Lake Charles Senator Mark Abraham knows tolls are unpopular, but necessary because there are not enough federal and state tax dollars available…
Cut 9 (13) “…on funding.”
State Bond Commission approval is still needed before construction can begin.

The governor’s economic development and fiscal policy council has recommended the state should phase out corporate and personal income taxes. It’s a proposal Louisiana Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson supports and he expects to see legislation next year to phase out state income taxes….
cut 6 (09) “….overnight”
Nelson says eliminating the numerous tax exemptions and credits in the state’s tax code can help offset the revenue loss from eliminating state income taxes.

Michael Graham Junior has passed away. He served 14 years on Louisiana’s death row for murdering a Union Parish couple in 1986, but DNA evidence eventually cleared him and he was released from Angola in 2000. Director of Death Penalty Action, Abe Bonowitz, says Graham’s story is an example of a miscarriage of justice…
cut 12 (08) “..it through”