Louisiana’s 57^th governor and a new Legislature will be sworn in on Monday. Republicans will be in control of the House and Senate. There was conflict between Governor Edwards and the Republican controlled Legislature. But Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin expects a better working relationship with Republican Jeff Landry as governor, but it will not be smooth sailing…

Cut 13 (13) “..work together” 

Erwin says the new governor will back legislation that he knows can get the necessary votes in the Legislature…

Six students from Neville High School in Monroe was involved in a tragic fire at a deer camp early this morning. A 15 year old is dead and five of his classmates were injured. The incident happened in Jefferson County, Mississippi and Sheriff James Bailey says his deputies were among the first on scene…

Cut 9 (11) “… burning camp.” 

He says the five other teenagers were sent to Mississippi hospitals with burns and cuts from trying to escape. Social media posts identify the deceased teenager as Tarver Braddock.

Word that mortgage interest rates are decreasing sparks hope the real estate market can rebound this year. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Thibodeaux Police Department has issued a statement in response to the officer-involved fatal shooting of a loose dog on Christmas Day. Thibodeaux Chief of Police Bryan Zeringue says an officer was forced to use lethal force on the dog. The officer did attempt to use OC spray but wind conditions prevented. The officer justifiably used deadly force after being bitten three times.

Tragedy has hit Neville High School in Monroe as one of its students was killed in a deer camp fire in Mississippi that also injured five of his classmates. Jefferson County Sheriff James Bailey says his deputies responded to the overnight blaze….
cut 11 (10) “…classmates”
Social media posts identify the deceased teenager as Tarver Braddock. He was a junior and a defensive back on the Neville football team and an outfielder on the baseball team.

Republican Jeff Landry will be sworn in as the state’s 57th governor on Monday. Landry is seeking to pass legislation to reduce crime, lower property insurance rates and improve public education. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin…
cut 14 (11) “….the Legislature”
Republicans have a super majority in both the House and Senate.

Get ready to consume your favorite carnival treat. King Cake season gets underway on Saturday. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

A lawsuit seeking to remove Donald Trump’s name from the Louisiana presidential primary ballot has been dropped. The plantiff says the suit contained technical errors and she can not afford an attorney.

Also Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise will be away from Capitol Hill for a month as he’s undergoes surgery for a stem cell transplant. His office says it’s a significant milestone in his battle against multiple myeloma.

Six students from Neville High School in Monroe were involved in a tragic accident where their deer camp caught on fire this morning. A 15-year-old is dead. The incident happened in Jefferson County, Mississippi and Sheriff James Bailey says the five other teenagers were sent to Mississippi hospitals with burns and cuts from trying to escape.

Cut 10 (11) “..five injuries.”

A cause of the fire has not been determined.

A new governor and Louisiana Legislature will be sworn in on Monday. Republicans will be in control of both the executive and legislative branches. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin on what that means for the first regular session that begins in March…

Cut 12 (12)  “…vetoed.”  

The official start of king season kicks off tomorrow. Co-Owner of New Orleans Haydel Bakery David Haydel says he ships king cakes nationwide and expects a busy season through the end of Mardi Gras.

Cut 8 (09) “…as hell.” 

In 2010, Hayden’s Bakery broke two Guinness World Records by creating two giant king cakes that wrapped around the Superdome.

Realtors in the Bayou State believes things will improve with mortgage rates expected to settle in between five and six percent. Louisiana Realtors CEO Norman Morris says economists predict mortgage rates will stabilize around five percent which will make homes more affordable.

Cut 5 (11) “ …in twenty-four.” 

A 15-year-old Neville High School student from Monroe is dead and five of his classmates are injured after their deer camp caught on fire early this morning. The incident happened in Jefferson County, Mississippi, and Sheriff James Bailey says his deputies were among the first on the scene…

Cut 9 (11) “… burning camp.” 

He says the injured teen received cuts and burns while trying to escape. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Governor-elect Jeff Landry has named former assistant attorney general Terrance “Joe” Donahue to be the next Transportation Secretary. And Landry has also named Conrad Appel, Judy Armstrong, and Simone Champagne to serve as BESE members. Landry will be sworn in on Monday as the state’s 57^th governor.

Word that mortgage rates are decreasing is encouraging news for the real estate market. And Louisiana Realtors CEO Norman Morris is hopeful lawmakers will pass legislation to help homeowners and potential buyers with their property insurance premiums.

Cut 4 (07) “…in 2024.”

He says the rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage today is 6.75%.

King Cake season kicks off tomorrow. Co-Owner of New Orleans Haydel Bakery David Haydel says they are busy baking a variety of different flavored King Cakes but when it comes to the most popular…

Cut 7 (12) “…the tradition.” 

In addition to selling King Cakes locally he says they also ship cakes across the country. Mardi Gras is Tuesday February 13^th.

Five teenager were injured and one fatally in a fire at a deer camp in Natchez Mississippi. One of the teenagers were trapped inside the deer camp and was unable to escape. The other four teenagers were transported to a hospital with cuts and burns. The principal of Neville High School in Monroe where the teenagers attended school dismissed class for the day. The teenagers have not been identified and the investigation is ongoing.

A nationwide survey of small businesses finds labor quality is a major concern. Regional National Federation of Independent Business Director Dawn McVea says unfilled positions continue to plague small businesses.

Cut 13 (12) “…out there.”

Thirty-three percent of owners say they have job openings for skilled workers and 14 percent have openings for unskilled labor.

2023 was not the best year for real estate with rising interest rates after an unprecedented hot market during the height of the pandemic. But Louisiana Realtors CEO Norman Morris believes things will improve with mortgage rates expected to settle in between five and six percent.

Cut 3 (10) “…buyers and sellers.”

Morris says the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage right now is 6.75%.

King cake season kicks off this Saturday and Co-Owner of New Orleans Haydel Bakery David Haydel says the sweet Mardi Gras tradition comes in many variations when it comes to fillings, but when it comes to the most popular…

Cut 7 (12) “…the tradition.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards’ two terms in office ends Monday, ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says in 2020 the Democrat from Tangipahoa Parish had to impose Covid restrictions that many Republicans thought went too far…

Cut 5 (09) “…of course.”

During his eight years, Cross says Edwards also navigated multiple natural disasters and civil unrest in 2016 following the Baton Rouge police shooting of Alton Sterling.

If you’re a king cake connoisseur, get ready to find the baby. One of the tastiest seasons in the Bayou State is upon us – King cake season begins tomorrow. Co-Owner of New Orleans Haydel Bakery David Haydel says they’ve been busy between local sales and shipping out orders nationwide.

Cut 6 (13) “….on Friday.” 

Louisiana’s longest-serving Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, will leave office on Monday. Jeff Palermo has more on the 79-year-old who is retiring from politics…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Thibodeaux Police Department has issued a statement in response to the officer-involved fatal shooting of a loose dog on Christmas Day. TPD says it was justified because the dog bit the officer. You can read the full statement at LouisianaRadioNetwork-dot-com

Governor John Bel Edwards’ two terms in office ends Monday. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says the Democrat from Tangipahoa Parish constantly battled with a Republican-controlled Legislature. He says the battle started on his first day in office when the House rejected the governor’s choice for House Speaker.
Cut 4 (11) “…predecessor.”
Edwards and the Legislature had to address a two-billion dollar budget deficit in his first year in office. It took a sales tax increase and other budgetary moves to get the state out of the red.

Edwards first executive order was expanding Medicaid coverage to some 400,000 Louisianans. In 2017 Edwards pushed criminal justice reform measures aimed at reducing the state’s prison population, some of those initiatives could be rolled back in an anticipated special session on crime next month.

The state’s longest-serving Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, will leave office on Monday. The 79-year-old from New Orleans has been the state’s insurance commissioner since 2006. Donelon says one of his greatest achievements was an incentive program that resulted in more insurance companies providing homeowners coverage after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita…
Cut 10 (10) “…five years running.”
But property insurance rates began to escalate again after Hurricane Laura in 2020 and Ida in 2021.

As we start a new year, labor quality is the top concern among small businesses. Forty percent of National Federation of Independent Business members say they were unable to fill positions in the last two months of 2023. Regional NFIB Director Dawn McVea…
Cut 14 (05) “…want to do.”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ two terms in office comes to an end Monday. Brooke Thorington looks back at his administration’s accomplishments and a major controversy that had the governor on the defensive…
Cut 1 (42) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Moderate to heavy rain will fall across the state today. Forecasters are also keeping an eye on a storm system that will hit the state on Monday, Inauguration Day.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s long political career comes to a close on Monday. Donelon has been the state’s insurance commish since 2006. He leaves office at a time when property insurance rates have seen dramatic jumps. He’s hopeful an incentive program to bring more insurers to the state and a grant program to strength roofs will help…
cut 11 (12) “…program”

A new law that went into effect this week requires Louisiana health insurance providers to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients or those facing medical treatment that render them sterile. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis authored the legislation and remembers the emotional testimony from citizens pushing for this new law…
cut 9 (12) “…a family”