As legislators debate changing to closed-party primary elections, US Senator Bill Cassidy believes it’s a waste of money.  A fiscal note on the legislation quotes a $10 million figure for the 2024-25 fiscal year and $6 million for the following fiscal year. Cassidy references a $90 million tab that one pollster says the change will cost taxpayers.

Cut 12 (08)  “…on here.”  

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson believes the Louisiana Legislature should not draw a new Congressional map. Jeff Palermo reports the Bossier Parish Republican says the state should press for a trial on the current map…

Cut 2 (35)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Nicholls State University has received a $3-million donation, the largest in the school’s history. The Mary and Al Danos Family Foundation commitment will be used to construct a new College of Business Administration. Nicholls’ spokesperson Jerad David says the atrium in the new building will be named after The Brady Family, thanks to their recent donation. He says they hope these donations will inspire others.

Cut 5 (11) “…new facility.” 

Louisiana is thawing out today and expected to warm up into the mid 60’s Thursday but Montra Lockwood with the National Weather Service Lake Charles says After the quick reprieve, expect a frigid weekend says Lockwood…

Cut 7 (08) “…I-10 corridor.” 

Expect warmer temperatures next week.

U-S District Judge Shelly Dick ruled the congressional map the Louisiana Legislature approved in 2022 violates the Voting Rights Act, because only one of the six districts provides an avenue for a Black candidate to get elected.

U S House Speaker Mike Johnson says there should be a full blown trial on Louisiana’s current map, but Attorney General Liz Murrill says they have to follow Judge Dick’s order to draw a new map by January 30th…

Cut 10 (10) “…my remedies” 

Nicholls State University has received a $3-million donation, the largest in the school’s history. Nicholls’ spokesperson Jerad David says the Mary and Al Danos Family Foundation commitment will be used to construct a new College of Business Administration.

Cut 4 (11) “…Business Administration.”

Louisiana is looking at warmer temperatures up to the mid-60s Thursday but Montra Lockwood with the National Weather Service Lake Charles says another cold snap rolling in Friday will drop temperatures into the 20s again for North Louisiana by Saturday morning but as far as snow and freezing rain, Lockwood says…

Cut 8 (10) “…next week.” 

Lockwood says warmer weather, up into the 60s is coming next week.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson believes Louisiana’s current Congressional map is constitutional and the state legislature should not approve a new map with two Black majority districts. But Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the state has exhausted all of its legal avenues…
Cut 9 (10) “…map”
Governor Jeff Landry is backing a map that makes Republican Garret Graves’ sixth district the second Black voting district. Catahoula Parish Senator Glen Womack is the author of the map and he says it protects Speaker Johnson and majority leader Steve Scalise…
cut 13 (09) “….Washington D-C”
The senate is expected to vote on this map this afternoon.

The Bayou State is coming out of a deep freeze but don’t put away your hats and gloves just yet.
cut 6 (09) “….on Friday”
That’s Montra Lockwood with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says who says high temperatures on Saturday will be back in the upper 30s for north Louisiana, and lows will be in the upper 20s for south Louisiana.

Nicholls State University has received a $3-million donation, which is the largest in the school’s history. Nicholls’ spokesperson Jerad David says the Mary and Al Danos Family Foundation commitment will be used to construct a new College of Business Administration.
Cut 3 (12) “…State University.”
David says Al Danos was always a big fan and supporter of the university

A Senate committee approves a congressional map backed by Governor Landry that drastically changes Congressman Garret Graves district. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 3 (43) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The senate convenes at 1 PM today and a vote on this proposal could happen this afternoon.

The House Governmental Affairs Committee approves a closed-party primary bill supported by Governor Jeff Landry. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson’s proposal would shift, federal, statewide, and certain judicial elections from a jungle primary to closed-party primaries. New Orleans Democrat Candace Newell says the Legislature should not rush to do this
Cut 7 (12) “…dedicate to it.”
Governor Jeff Landry wants lawmakers to pass this legislation during the current special session which ends next Tuesday.

Opponents also raised concerns that Independents will be disenfranchised because they can’t vote in the primaries. But Emerson says that’s not accurate…
Cut 8 (12) “…party.”
The proposal was approved by the House Governmental Affairs and the full House could vote on the measure this afternoon.

A proposed Congressional map with two majority black districts could receive a vote on the Senate floor this afternoon. The proposal, which has the support of Governor Jeff Landry, would make Congressman Garret Graves’ sixth district a second majority Black district by stretching it from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. Julia Letlow’s district would also stretch from Monroe to Baton Rouge. Graves calls it a crazy proposal, because to be an effective Congressman you have to represent a region…
cut 18 (08) “…these communities”
Cataholua Parish Senator Glen Womack is the author of the map and he says it protects U-S House Speaker Mike Johnson of Bossier Parish and majority leader Steve Scalise of Jefferson Parish
cut 13 (09) “….Washington D-C”
But Speaker Johnson is concerned a second Black congressional district will threaten Republicans slim majority in the U-S House. Johnson believes the current map is constitutional and there should be a federal trial on the merits of the current map.

The Saints have fired offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael after 18 seasons with the organization, 15 as the offensive coordinator….
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Beau Gaspard”

Louisiana Tech is looking for a new athletics director as Eric Wood is leaving after three plus years for a job with the Ole Miss athletic Department. La Tech president Doctor Jim Henderson will lead the search for a new A-D…
cut 17 (10) “….towards that vision”

It’s the second full day of the special session and some big votes are expected today on the House and Senate floors. The House meets at noon and they could take up a proposal that will shift federal, statewide and some judicial elections to closed party primaries. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson says closed party primaries put Republicans and Democrats in control of which candidate appears on the general election ballot…
cut 9 (11) “….nominee”

The full Senate is expected to vote on a new Congressional District map that would make Congressman Garret Graves district a second Black majority district by stretching it from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. Graves believes the state legislature should take the current map and demand a trial in federal court on whether its constitutional…
cut 12 (13) “…..incredibly premature”
U-S House Speaker Mike Johnson agrees, but Governor Jeff Landry believes the map proposed in the Senate should be the state’s new Congressional map.

Big changes went down with the Saints coaching staff yesterday as Pete Carmichael was fired after 15 years as the team’s offensive coordinator. Locked on Saints Podcast host Ross Jackson says quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry could get promoted, but there are also quality candidates outside of the organization
cut 6 (14) “…Minnesota Vikings”
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is expected to speak with reporters today.

After three-plus years as Louisiana Tech’s athletic director, Eric Wood, is leaving Ruston for a position in Ole Miss’s athletic department. Louisiana Tech president Doctor Jim Henderson says Wood was instrumental in the post-tornado recovery and reconstruction and oversaw championships in baseball, softball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. He says student-athletes also broke several academic records too…
cut 16 (10) “…proud of them”

The House Governmental Affairs Committee approves legislation that will shift federal, statewide and some judicial elections from open primaries to closed party primaries. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio spoke against the proposal. He says voters didn’t like closed party primaries for federal elections in 2008 and 2010 and state legislators did away with it…
cut 10 (07) “….rid of it”
Opponents also say independents will be disenfranchised, because they can not vote in a closed party primary. But Carencro Representative Julie Emerson says they will be able to vote in the general election…
cut 8 (12) “….party”
The measure was approved on 11 to 4 vote and heads to the House floor for another key vote.

The congressional map redesign Governor Jeff Landry supports in the special session, Senate Bill 8, makes drastic changes to Congressman Garret Graves’s district and the Baton Rouge Republican is not happy about it. The proposal would make the sixth district the second Black majority district and it extends from Baton Rouge to Caddo Parish. Graves says…
Cut 11 (10) “…State of Louisiana.”
U-S House Speaker Mike Johnson also opposes the map, but it received the approval of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and the full Senate could take up the proposal this afternoon.

The Saints have fired offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. After missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season, change felt inevitable according to the host of the Locked On Saints podcast Ross Jackson…
Cut 4 (12) “…offensive system.”

We’re waking up to some cold temperatures. In Oak Grove it’s eight degrees, temperatures are in the low teens along I-20 and into Alexandria and upper teens along I-10. But we will see temperatures get above freezing today.

The House Governmental Affairs Committee approves a bill to move Louisiana from a jungle primary system to a closed party primaries. Colleen Crain has the story…
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approves a Congressional district map that has the support of Governor Jeff Landry. Catahoula Parish Senator Glen Womack says his proposed map creates two majority minority districts, protects Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who serves on the Appropriations and Ag Committees and…
cut 14 (11) “…of Louisiana”
Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves’s district would turn into the second majority minority district. The full Senate takes up the proposal next.

Pete Carmichael is out as Saints offensive coordinator. Host of the Locked on Saints podcast, Ross Jackson, says a change had to happen, after two consecutive inconsistent seasons on offense…
cut 5 (13) “…improve here”