Governor Landry supports closed party primaries but has yet to provide any additional comments on why. Supporters say it leads to better candidates in the general election and it would end the December run-off that occurs for Congressional races. But Senator Bill Cassidy says how Louisiana elects its officials is not broken, so why fix it.

Cut 8 (10) “…or police” 

The cost of insurance is the biggest issue for Louisianans says a recent poll and there’s been talk of calling a special session to address it. The regular session runs from March 11th through until June 3^rd. Senate President Cameron Henry says new Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has a lot of ideas on how to improve the insurance market in Louisiana and it would be better to discuss those ideas during a three-month long session

Cut 13 (07) “..a difference” 

Crawfish fans might want to start a savings account and prep for a much smaller platter this year. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (29)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Amazon, the leading global online retailer, is opening a 56 thousand square foot distribution facility in Monroe. Mayor Friday Ellis says the announcement will hopefully result in more economic development for the region.

Cut 10 (08) “…northeast Louisiana.” 

Information on career opportunities and job hiring will be offered closer to the facility’s launch date.

LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley warns this could be the worst crawfish season on record. He says Louisiana should have 361,000 acres of crawfish production, that’s what farmers probably would have flooded up back in the fall, but the drought hampered things severely.

Cut 4 (11) “…the farm.”

He says prices will be high and supply will be limited this year.

A new poll finds the cost of insurance is the biggest issue facing Louisiana residents. There was talk of a special session on insurance reform before the regular session starts in March, but Senate President Cameron Henry says because of the complexity of insurance laws, it would be better to wait until the regular session…

Cut 12 (05)  “…bit more”  

The regular session begins March 11^th and wraps on June 3rd.

Governor Landry wants lawmakers to look at changing to closed party primary election, but the transition could cost the state an extra $90 million annually. Republican U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says in 2008 and 2010 state party-run primaries were just for federal races, but it caused confusion and independent voters were upset they couldn’t vote in a closed primary…

Cut 7 (04) “…too expensive” 

Louisiana’s open primary system has been around since the 1970s.

Amazon, the leading global online retailer, is opening a 56-thousand-square-foot distribution facility in Monroe. Mayor Friday Ellis says the facility will provide 200 jobs between 17 to 28 dollars per hour.

Cut 9 (09) “…people live.” 

Ellis says Amazon’s announcement will hopefully result in more economic development for the region.

LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley warns that 2024 will be one of the worst mudbug seasons on record as far as prices and supply are concerned. He says it’s so dire farmers are averaging one to two mudbugs a trap.

Cut 3 (13) “…(x2) just not there.”

Republican U-S Senator Bill Cassidy is not a fan of Governor Landry’s proposal to change from an open primary election to a closed party primary. A pollster says it could cost the state an additional 90 million dollars a year. Cassidy says the state has bigger priorities to fund…

Cut 6 (11) “…coastal restoration.” 

Amazon has selected Monroe as the site for its next distribution center. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

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 Jeff Landry wants lawmakers to consider a closed-party primary. Pollster John Couvillon believes it’s an issue of party purity…

Cut 6 (12) “…in anymore.”

Outgoing BESE president Holly Boffy says she’s disappointed the governor immediately overturned the graduation appeal process for seniors who fail the LEAP exam. She encourages the public to reach out to their legislators and to sign a petition at excellgrad-dot-org…

Cut 14 (11) “…options in life.” .

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

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Amazon plans to open a 56,000-square-foot distribution facility in Monroe.  Mayor Friday Ellis says construction is scheduled to being in the coming weeks and hourly wages for potential employees will range from $17 to $28 an hour.

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.”

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”

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 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.