A poll of 650 likely voters shows fifty-six percent are not interested in changing the way primary elections are held in the Bayou State. Governor Landry wants lawmakers to also debate whether to change from the current primary to a closed-party primary. Pollster John Couvillon believes it’s an issue of party purity.

Cut 6 (12) “…in anymore.”

Term limited BESE president Holly Boffy, says she’s disappointed Governor Jeff Landry immediately issued an executive order to overturn the graduation appeal process for seniors who fail the LEAP exam. She encourage Louisianans to reach out to their legislators and ask them to consider legislation for an appeal process and to sign a petition at excellgrad-dot-org…

Cut 14 (11) “…options in life.” .

Mardi Gras carnival season has an economic impact of nearly 900 million dollars on New Orleans economy, according to a study from Tulane professor, Toni Weiss. Weiss says thousands of individuals in hospitality and other industries benefit from the nearly month and a half long celebration of carnival.

Cut 11 (11) “…Mardi Gras.” 

The city’s return on investment is two dollars and sixty-four cents for every dollar spent.

Greater Lafourche Port Commission Executive Director Chett Chiasson says a 187 foot wind turbine will be located at the Port Fourchon Coastal Wetlands Park. He says though it will produce some energy for a facility adjacent to the port, the turbine will provide valuable information for future larger-scale development…

Cut 8 (09) “…wind blades.” 

When Louisiana lawmakers gather next week for a redistricting special session, they will have the opportunity to debate a proposal to move from the state’s jungle primary system to closed party primaries. JMC Analytics pollster John Covillon conducted a poll last month and found 65-percent of voters support the current system. Couvillon says a closed party primary system could keep independent voters out of the election process until the general election…
cut 5 (09) “….disenfranchised”

Through an executive order, Governor Jeff Landry has done away with the policy that gave high school seniors an appeals process if they failed the LEAP exam. Former BESE president Holly Boffy is disappointed the short lived policy is going away, she says several students were able to graduate and it also took pressure off other students…
cut 15 (10) “….not there”
Landry says doing away with the policy maintains their education standards.

The state’s largest oil and gas port, Port Fourchon, plans on erecting 187-foot-tall wind turbine this year. It will be the first wind turbine in Louisiana. Greater Lafourche Port Commission director Chett Chaiasson says it’s their desire to become a hub for offshore wind just as they are for deepwater offshore oil and gas activity…
cut 9 (12) “….comes our way”
The turbine will not produce much energy, but they’ll use it to test the capability of offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico.

New Orleans Mardi Gras is letting the good times roll with an economic impact of 891-million dollars on the Big Easy’s economy, according to a study from Tulane professor, Toni Weiss. Weiss says a huge amount of that economic activity is generated by locals
Cut 10 (09) “…economic activity.”
Weiss says the Carnival season in New Orleans generates more than 14-million dollars in state tax revenues.

Nearly two-thirds of voters in Louisiana are pleased with the current open primary elections in the Bayou State but the governor is not among them. Brooke Thorington.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

That same JMC Analytics poll of 650 Louisiana resident found that the cost of insurance, both homeowners and auto, is the biggest concern facing Louisiana. 26-percent of the respondents said insurance costs is their biggest concern. Education and healthcare came in second at 16-percent and then crime at 14-percent.

Governor Jeff Landry has issued an executive order that wipes out the graduation appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP test. Former Board of Elementary and Secondary Education president Holly Boffy supported the policy that was only in place for a few weeks…
cut 13 (12) “…from high school”
But Landry says his executive order maintains education standards.

Port Fourchon, the state’s largest oil and gas port, will be the site of the state’s first wind turbine. Greater Lafourche Port Commission director Chett Chaisson…
cut 7 (11) “….going to be”
The turbine will not produce a lot of energy, but the project will give engineers information on the turbine’s durability in hurricanes.

A JMC Analytics poll indicates that 56 percent of voters are not interested in changing how primary elections are held in Louisiana. In next week’s special redistricting session, Governor Landry wants lawmakers to also debate the possibility of changing from the current jungle primary to a closed-party primary. Pollster John Couvillon…
Cut 4 (11) “…open primaries.”
The open primary election system has been around since the 1970s.

A new report finds the direct and indirect impact of Mardi Gras on the New Orleans economy is 891-million dollar. Tulane professor Toni Weiss says the last time she conducted this study was in 2014 and the economic impact at that time was more than 400-million dollars…
cut 12 (12) “….and better”

Port Fourchon will soon be home to Louisiana’s first Wind Turbine. Colleen Crain has the story
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Almost two-thirds of voters in Louisiana are pleased with the current open primary elections in the Bayou State but the governor is not among them. Brooke Thorington.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Port Fourchon will soon be home to Louisiana’s first Wind Turbine. Colleen Crain has the story

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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A study conducted by Tulane Professor Toni Weiss finds Mardi Gras contributed nearly 900 million dollars to New Orleans economy. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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A JMC Analytics poll indicates that 56 percent of voters are not interested in changing how primary elections are held in Louisiana. In next week’s special redistricting session, Governor Landry wants lawmakers to also debate the possibility of changing from the current jungle primary to a closed-party primary. Pollster John Couvillon…

Cut 4 (11) “…open primaries.”

Despite overwhelming public opinion in favor of the current process, Landry is in favor of the state having separate party primaries and runoffs. Couvillon says those elections would only be open to voters who are registered with a political party.

Cut 5 (09) “…disenfranchised.”

Couvillon expects lawmakers will hear from election officials who will be in charge of implementing the proposed change and the extra costs that would be associated with additional election cycles for a closed primary.

As for why Landry is calling for a change, Couvillon believes it’s an issue of party purity.

Cut 6 (12) “…in anymore.”

Sixty-five percent of the 650 likely voters surveyed are in favor of the current jungle primary elections process in Louisiana.

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It will be a 187-foot-tall wind turbine and it’s headed across the Atlantic to Port Fourchon which will be the first Louisiana location to have an actual wind turbine. Greater Lafourche Port Commission Executive Director Chett Chiasson…

Cut 7 (11) “…going to be.”

The turbine will be located at the Port Fourchon Coastal Wetlands Park and Chiasson says though it will produce some energy for a facility adjacent to the port, the turbine will provide valuable information for future larger-scale development…

Cut 8 (09) “…wind blades.” 

Chiasson says through this facility the public will learn about wind energy, and business and industry will see that Louisiana has the supply chain capability to service offshore wind projects and….

Cut 9 (12)  “…comes our way.”

The Turbine is planned to be operational in the latter half of this year.

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New Orleans Mardi Gras is rolling in an economic impact of 891 million dollars on the Big Easy’s economy, according to a study from Tulane professor, Toni Weiss. That’s roughly three percent of the city’s gross domestic product. Weiss says a huge amount of that economic activity is generated by New Orleanians.

Cut 10 (09) “…economic activity.”

When people from across the country come to spend money hotels, food, and other items during carnival season, that helps generate more than 14 million dollars in tax revenue.

Weiss says thousands of individuals in hospitality and other industries benefit from the nearly month and a half long celebration of carnival.

Cut 11 (11) “…Mardi Gras.” 

The net fiscal benefit accrued to the City of New Orleans as a result of staging, including franchise value is over 28 million dollars. The city’s return on investment is two dollars and sixty-four cents for every dollar spent.

Weiss says her last study conducted in 2014 found Mardi Gras contributed more than 400 million dollars to New Orleans. She says tourism continues to grow and so does the economy.

Cut 12 (12) “…and better.” 

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Outgoing BESE president and proponent for the graduation appeal process for seniors who fail the LEAP exam, Holly Boffy, says she’s disappointed Governor Jeff Landry immediately issued an executive order revoking the policy.

Cut 13 (12) “…from high school.”

Boffy, who’s term-limited encourages individuals to reach out to their legislators and ask them to consider legislation for an appeal process and to sign a petition at excellgrad-dot-org, that’s E-X-C-E-L-L…

Cut 14 (11) “…options in life.” 

The policy went into effect in December of 2023 and while it was only available for a brief period, Boffy says several students were able to graduate as a result and many of them did so via the LEAP exam.

Cut 15 (10) “…not there.”

Boffy says the policy also changed educator behavior from the test-prep mentality to more of a life-prep approach to teaching.

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Former five-star prospect Maason Smith has decided to enter the NFL draft forgoing his final two years of college eligibility. The big defensive tackle from Houma had 28 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss,  and 2.5 sacks. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says Smith did not live up to his preseason All-SEC first-team accolades…

Cut 16 (08) “..back a year” 

Smith tore his ACL in the season opener of the 2022 season and was slowed by injuries in preseason camp in 2023. Former LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith says Smith has received advice that now is the time to make the jump to the NFL…

Cut 17 (14) “…his goals” 

Beckwith says Smith could have developed into a big-time player next season at the college level…

Cut 18 (16)  “…move on.” 

Both of LSU’s starting defensive tackles, Smith and Mekhi Wingo are headed to the NFL early and top reserve Jordan Jefferson does not have any eligibility left. So the Tigers are thin at defensive tackle. Jacobian Guillory, Jalen Lee, JUCO transfer Shone Washington and five-star recruit Dominick McKinley should see playing of playing time next season.

Governor Jeff Landry issued an executive order to call for a redistricting special session on his first day in office. Lawmakers will also debate a move to a closed primary election. Senate President Cameron Henry says that may hurt some newly elected U-S Representatives and Senators when it comes to seniority…

Cut 5 (10) “ …which is huge” 

Also 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…

Cut 9 (08) “…in office.” 

Erwin says if the governor hadn’t issued the executive order, he believes incoming BESE members would have overturned the appeal process that was at the center of controversy…

A Louisiana survey reveals homeowner and car insurance is ranked number one as the biggest issue for Louisianans in the Bayou State. Crime ranked third following education and healthcare. Pollster John Couvillon says it’s not shocking that crime is also an issue for Louisiana residents.

Cut 7 (06) “…couple years.” 

Taxes and spending ranked fourth, inflation ranked fifth, and social issues like abortion ranked sixth. During the regular session, Couvillon says Governor Jeff Landry and the new legislature will have to solve issues that are important to residents across the state.

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education elected its 2024-2027 board officers during a special called meeting on Jan. 9. Of the three officers elected, two of them represent Northeast Louisiana districts 5 and 4.

Among Governor Landry’s first actions in office was overturning the highly debated appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam, making Louisiana the only state in the country that does not have an appeals process. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says the debate highlighted two issues… one that the process was for students who were not fluent in English, and two that this particular process was implemented at the end of Edward’s term.

Cut 11 (12) “…the future.”

A Breaux Bridge High School baseball player committed to LSU E is facing months of rehabilitation and uncertainty after a shooting left him paralyzed and unable to breathe on his own. 18-year-old Kole Hebert was a victim of a shooting on January 6^th severing his cervical spinal cord. He also suffered a skull fracture. Bullet fragments were not able to be retrieved.  Hebert is currently in Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge and the next days and weeks are critical as all injuries may not yet be apparent. Hebert faces many months of recovery and rehabilitation. A Go Fund Me account has received funds and support.

A poll of 650 likely voters indicates Louisianans’ top issues are insurance, education, healthcare, crime, Taxes and spending, inflation, and social issues like abortion. And Pollster John Couvillon says During the regular session, Governor Jeff Landry and the new legislature will have to solve the issues that are important to residents.

Cut 8 (13) “…right now.” 

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 escape through a window. Braddock was pronounced dead at the scene. His community and coach are asking for prayers for his family.

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.”