A 28-year-old Lafayette Parish man is behind bars after allegedly setting a fire that killed a nine-year-old girl. An apartment caught fire early Sunday morning in an unincorporated area of Duson. Two adults escaped the blaze, but fire fighters could not locate the girl in time as she died at a local hospital. Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Chris Cormier says detectives believe Julian Jacob set the fire…

Cut 12 (06) “….apprehend him”

A motive is not known.

ULM’s College of Pharmacy educates about 75-percent of the state’s pharmacists. Dean of ULM’s College of Pharmacy, Doctor Gina Craft, says many of their grads work in rural areas…

Cut 11 (08) “….preventative care services”

ULM’s College of Pharmacy is celebrating 70 years of training pharmacists.

While the national smoking rate dropped to a new milestone, advocates in Louisiana acknowledge that there’s more work to do. Joe Gallinaro reports…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

At the state softball tournament…Calvary Baptist tied a state record with its sixth consecutive LHSAA Championship as the Lady Cavaliers defeated Parkview Baptist five to two. Vandebilt Catholic won a state record 17^th championship with a two to nothing win over Archbishop Hannan. Sterlington upset Kaplan five to four to win the school’s third state title.

Investigators say the apartment fire in Lafayette Parish that killed a nine-year-old girl early yesterday morning was the result of arson. Chris Cormier with the sheriff’s office says Julian Jacob faces several charges.

Cut 13 (11) “…narcotics.” 

No word on a motive or Jacob’s relationship with the people who lived inside the apartment that was set on fire. 

A new report from the New England Journal of Medical Evidence shows the national smoking rate is now below ten-percent. Taslim van Hattum (HATE-um), the interim director of the New England Journal of Medical Evidence, says while Louisiana’s smoking rate is higher at 14-percent, there’s actually a bigger concern.

Cut 5 (11) “…and prevention efforts.” 

ULM is touting its College of Pharmacy, which it says has a 100-percent job placement rate. The school’s dean, Dr. Gina Craft, says when the students graduate, they’re immediately ready to launch their careers.

Cut 10 (14) “…when they graduate.” 

One of the top athletes in the country has committed to play football at LSU. Ruston High’s Ahmad Hudson is ranked as the top tight end in the country for the Class of 2027. More than 30 schools offered Hudson a scholarship, and KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich says he narrowed the list to two.

Cut 8 (09) “…with it also.”

Being that Hudson is also ranked as the best basketball player in the state, he also wants to play for Will Wade on the Tigers’ basketball team.

A new report published in the New England Journal of Medical Evidence found that the percentage of U-S adults who smoke is less than 10-percent. Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living, Taslim van Hattum, says that’s terrific news. She says the adult smoking rate in Louisiana is 14-percent, but one and ten adults are also vaping…

Cut 4 (10) “…smokeless products”

If your pharmacist is from Louisiana, there’s a very good chance that he or she graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Dr. Gina Craft, the dean of the ULM College of Pharmacy, says 75-percent of the state’s pharmacy workforce are ULM graduates.

Cut 9 (13)  “…of our state.”

The ULM College of Pharmacy has a 100-percent job placement rate among its graduates – every single pharmacy student who graduates from ULM immediately lands a high-paying job.

Two-sport star Ahmad Hudson from Ruston High School has committed to play football at LSU. Hudson led both the Ruston football and boys’ basketball teams to the state championship this past season. Hudson was recently named Mr. Basketball in Louisiana after averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds a game. KNOE-TV sports Director Aaron Dietrich says Hudson wants to play both football and basketball at LSU…

Cut 7 (07) “…so hard”

Hudson’s dad is former LSU basketball star Antonio Hudson.

The LSU baseball team’s faint NCAA Tournament hopes are still alive after getting a much-needed sweep over South Carolina. Catcher Cade Arrambide had another big day on Sunday, with three hits and an RBI. Arrambide says after losing nine straight SEC games, it was great to win three in a row…

Cut 19 (10) “…good teams”

LSU hosts Tulane tomorrow night and then they’ll visit 5^th ranked Georgia.

We’re still awaiting a ruling by a three-judge panel on a federal lawsuit seeking to reinstate the U.S. House election that Governor Landry suspended in response to the Supreme Court ruling the congressional map unconstitutional. The lead plaintiff, fifth district Democratic candidate Lindsay Garcia, says Landry was out of bounds in calling off the House elections.

Cut 14 (11) “…he contradicts himself.”

At issue is the sixth district, which was created in 2024 as the state’s second majority minority district and Democrat Cleo Fields represents it. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says not only does the sixth district’s boundaries need to be changed, several others need to be redrawn too.

Cut 19 (08) “…different configurations.”

Lawmakers plan to begin public discussions on new proposed congressional maps on Friday.

A 28-year-old Lafayette Parish man is behind bars after allegedly setting a fire that killed a nine-year-old girl. An apartment caught fire early Sunday morning in an unincorporated area of Duson. Two adults escaped the blaze, but fire fighters could not locate the girl in time as she died at a local hospital. Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Chris Cormier says detectives believe Julian Jacob set the fire…

Cut 12 (06) “….apprehend him”

Cormier says Jacob was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on numerous charges, including first degree murder. A motive is not known.

While the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living is hailing a new report from the New England Journal of Medical Evidence that shows the national smoking rate falling below ten-percent, it acknowledges that it has more work to do in the state. Director Taslim van Hattum (HATE-um) says 14-percent of Louisiana adults smoke cigarettes, and that’s just the beginning.

Cut 3 (12) “…amongst certain populations.”

Van Hattom says among the keys to reducing those numbers even further is countering the aggressive advertising campaigns geared towards young people.

Congressman Cleo Fields has joined a federal lawsuit challenging Governor Jeff Landry’s authority to suspend the U-S House races until a new Congressional map is approved. Landry suspended the Congressional primaries after the Supreme Court ruled the state’s current Congressional map is unconstitutional. Lindsay Garcia, a Democratic candidate for the U-S House 5^th Congressional District, is one of the plaintiffs and says with all Supreme Court rulings, there is a waiting period of 32 days before a ruling becomes final…

Cut 16 (13) “….the Louisiana Legislature”

State lawmakers will discuss later this week different proposals for a new Congressional map. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says one factor that makes this map drawing exercise more complicated is that you have three state lawmakers running for Congress…

Cut 5 (06) “…I can run.”

The Louisiana Legislature has given final approval to a one-point-five billion dollar coastal protection and restoration plan. Coastal advocates continue to complain about the Landry administration cancelling two massive river diversion projects, but Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Director Gordon Dove says you get a better bang for your buck with land bridges…

Cut 13 (10) “…coast”

One of the top athletes in the country has committed to play football at LSU and he also wants to play for Will Wade and the Tigers men’s basketball team. Ruston High’s Ahmad Hudson is ranked as the nation’s top tight end in the country for the Class of 2027 and he’s also ranked as the best basketball player in the state. KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich…

Cut 6 (08) “…that special”

We’re still awaiting a ruling by a three-judge panel on a federal lawsuit seeking to reinstate the U.S. House election that Governor Landry suspended last week in response to the Supreme Court ruling the congressional map unconstitutional. The lead plaintiff, fifth district Democratic candidate Lindsay Garcia, says Landry was out of bounds in calling off the House elections.

Cut 14 (11) “…he contradicts himself.”

Of all the insurance companies that filed for rate changes in Louisiana in the first four months of 2026, the vast majority filed for rate decreases for private auto and property. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says, however, that the fact that some carriers have filed for rate increases proves that the job of insurance reform is not done yet.

Cut 9 (05)  “…work to do.”

Louisiana has allocated one-point-five billion dollars on coastal protection and restoration projects next fiscal year, but one group remains upset that the Landry administration cancelled two large river diversion projects. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Tragedy in Lafayette as a nine-year-old girl is killed in an apartment fire early yesterday morning. Firefighters pulled the girl from an upstairs bedroom after spending 30 minutes extinguishing the fire. Authorities say neighbors tried rescuing the girl but could not get inside.

The redistricting debate is expected to begin at the state capitol this week. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

As the debate gets underway, the State Senate will be without Larry Selders for the time being. The Baton Rouge Democrat is hospitalized with what his office calls “a serious medical emergency involving his heart.” His office says while he will be temporarily unavailable as he focuses on his health, his office remains open.

The Louisiana Legislature has given final approval to a one-point-five billion dollar plan for coastal protection and restoration. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Gordon Dove says one of the highlights of the annual plan is a 94-mile land bridge from Port Sulphur in Plaquemines Parish to Terrebonne Parish…

Cut 10 (11) “…eight parishes.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the trend in the first four months in 2026 has been mainly positive.

Cut 7 (10) “…specific to homeowners.”

Temple says while a small handful of auto insurance companies have filed for rate increases, the vast majority which have filed for rate changes have filed for rate decreases.

With four weeks to go in the legislative session, state lawmakers are expected to begin this week the public debate on drawing up a new Congressional district map. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the current map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. At issue is the sixth district, which in 2024 was created as the state’s second major minority district and Democrat Cleo Fields represents it. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says not only does the sixth district’s boundaries need to be changed, several others need to be redrawn too.

Cut 4 (09) “…all that out.”

A federal judge on Sunday granted a temporary restraining order, blocking a new Louisiana law that would have eliminated the Orleans Parish criminal clerk of court office, allowing clerk-elect Calvin Duncan to take office as scheduled Monday. U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles ruled the new law unconstitutional.  Next steps will be determined later today.
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State lawmakers have given final approval to a one-point-five billion dollar plan for coastal protection and restoration which includes a 94-mile land bridge from Port Sulphur in Plaquemines Parish to Terrebonne Parish and a project that will divert fresh water from the Mississippi River into the second-largest coastal forest remaining in Louisiana.  Restore the Mississippi River Delta is still upset that the Landry administration cancelled the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton Sediment diversion projects.  And Amanda Moore, with the National Wildlife Federation and says the state already spent nearly 700-million dollars in Deepwater Horizon funds on these two large diversions…

Cut 12 (12) “…restore the coast.”

But Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Gordon owever Dove says you get a better bang for your buck with land bridges…

Cut 13 (10) “…coast..”