Pineville-based utility company CLECO has notified the Public Service Commission that its for sale and looking for a new owner. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

LSU is 2-and-0 in the College World Series and one win away from the C-W-S championship series after beating UCLA nine to five today. Jared Jones homered and drove in four runs. Casan Evans struck out five over 4.1 innings for his fifth win. LSU will play again tomorrow night.

You can add another name to the list of Republican primary challengers for Bill Cassidy’s U.S. Senate seat. New Iberia State Senator Blake Miguez has announced that he is entering the race. Miguez joins State Treasurer John Fleming in challenging Cassidy for his seat. Pearson Cross, who teaches political science at ULM, says that could create some headwinds for Cassidy’s re-election bid next year.

Cut 12 (12) “…race against him.”

Miguez has served in the state legislature since 2015.

Oil City Republican Danny McCormick was the only member of the Louisiana Legislature to vote against the 53-billion-dollar budget approved by state lawmakers last week. McCormick says using an additional one-point-six billion dollars in federal money to pay for Medicaid is not a good idea, when you consider the federal government is trillions of dollars in debt…

Cut 10 (06) “…federal money.”

Cleco has begun the process of finding a new owner, notifying the Louisiana Public Service Commission as required. This move was expected, as Cleco’s 2016 private equity buyout included plans for a future sale. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson reaffirmed support for local jobs and services, urging the PSC to require job protections, and says it’s critical to the local economy.

Cut 8 (09) “…for our folks.”

Cleco serves 300-thousand customers across 24 parishes and remains under regulatory oversight.

Louisiana lawmakers approved a 53-billion dollar budget and only one lawmaker voted against it. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick voted no. McCormick says he’s also disappointed the Legislature did not fund the LA Gator Program, the state’s new voucher program, to the amount Governor Jeff Landry was seeking. McCormick says politics got involved…

Cut 11 (09) “…harms families.”

The legislature passed a series of bills aimed at strengthening elections in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Only one lawmaker voted against the 53-billion dollar budget that the legislature approved in the session. That “no” vote was Danny McCormick; the Oil City Republican representative explained his decision during an interview on KEEL Radio in Shreveport…

Cut 9 (13)  …concern of mine.”

The legislature passed several bills aimed at strengthening elections in Louisiana. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says among them is one that calls for a procedural election audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor every four years.

Cut 4 (14) “…in the state.”

Cleco has begun the process of finding a new owner, notifying the Louisiana Public Service Commission as required. This move was expected, as Cleco’s 2016 private equity buyout included plans for a future sale.  Pineville Representative Mike Johnson says the announcement didn’t come as a surprise.

Cut 6 (09) “…was an investment.”

LSU’s vice president for agriculture is settling into his role as interim president of the university. Matt Lee says there is real clarity in the five focal areas that include agriculture, biomedical research, coastal research, defense and cybersecurity, and energy.

Cut 14 (10) “…differentiator for us.”

Lee is filling the role as LSU conducts a national search to replace former President William Tate.

Wanna bet that Jeff Landry will be re-elected governor in 2027? I wouldn’t take that bet, because it’s now illegal. Outlawing wagering on election results is one of several election-related bills passed by the legislature this past session. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says another one assesses attorney’s fees and court costs for knowingly providing false information on a notice of candidacy.

Cut 3 (14) “…qualify for office.”

Another bill passed is one that creates a “One Door” system to streamline Louisiana’s job training and public assistance programs. Representative Stephanie Berault says it shifts benefit access to a single case-managed platform led by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Cut 23 (12) “…really well.”

Ten people are arrested and more than one-million dollars worth of illegal vape products are seized in a statewide multi-agency vape crackdown. Ernest Legier, the commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, says the operation involved 64 full-time employees, including 30 agents statewide.

Cut 10 (11) “…really, really hot.”

The products seized include 34-thousand pens, pods and juices; 16-thousand CBD gummies, liquids and pre-rolled cigarettes and 65-hundred containers of nitrous oxide.

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association says this year’s legislative session was a big one for the organization. President Mike Moncla praised legislation from Erath Representative Jacob Landry that will reform legacy lawsuits.

Cut 8 (11) “…an unlimited number.”

A huge statewide multi-agency vape crackdown. Ernest Legier, the commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, says agents arrested ten people, and his office has suspended the permits of six businesses – three in Shreveport, two in Lafayette and one in Baton Rouge.

Cut 11 (15) “…in this situation.”

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association says this year’s legislative session was a big one for the organization. President Mike Moncla says the session was highlighted by a six-point drop in the oil severance tax rate for all new drilling projects in the state, thanks to a bill by Monroe Representative Brett Geymann.

Cut 7 (07) “…excited about that.”

Thanks to the unanimous passage of House Bill 624, Louisiana will now have a “one door” system that will streamline job training and public assistance programs. Representative Stephanie Berault, who authored the bill, says training the workforce for high-demand, high-paying jobs is critical.

Cut 6 (11) “…on all sides.”

LSU’s vice president for agriculture and dean of its agriculture college is settling into his role as interim president of the university. Matt Lee says there is real clarity in the five focal areas that include agriculture, biomedical research, coastal research, defense and cybersecurity, and energy.

Cut 14 (10) “…differentiator for us.”

The LSU-UCLA winner’s bracket game at the College World Series resumes at the top of the hour with LSU leading 5-3 in the top of the fourth inning.

If you went to bed last night not knowing who won the LSU game – don’t worry, none of us know either. Andrew Greenstein reports that’s because the game’s not over yet.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Still waiting on State Police to release more information on Sunday’s fatal officer-involved shooting in Marksville. Authorities have only said a Marksville officer shot a subject, who died a local hospital. Two officers suffered minor injuries, both were treated and released.

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association says there were two bills approved in the regular session that should help the industry. One of them lowers the oil severance tax rate and the other has to do with legacy lawsuits. LOGA president Mike Moncla says they got some key wins, but their work is not done…

Cut 9 (14) “…one after that”

The state Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control says a multi-agency and federal crackdown on unauthorized vape products in Louisiana has resulted in ten arrests and the permits for six businesses have been suspended. ATC Commissioner Ernest Legier says tens of thousands of illegal and unauthorized products were also seized…

Cut 12 (15) “…these locations”

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association is hailing a couple of significant wins in this year’s legislative session. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The LSU baseball team did not win last night, but they did not lose either. Their College World Series game against UCLA was suspended after the third inning because of severe weather with LSU leading five to three. The game will resume at 10 AM with UCLA trailing by two in the top of the fourth inning.

Legislation approved in the regular session will result in the Department of Children and Family Services no longer administering the food stamp program. Slidell Representative Stephanie Berault says that responsibility will shift to the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the state department of health. Berault says that’s because there’s an 80-percent overlap between Medicaid and SNAP benefits…

Cut 5 (06) “…little bit easier”

Berault says this also allows DCFS to focus more on child welfare cases.

Last fall LSU had the largest incoming class in the school’s history, with nearly eight-thousand first-year students. LSU interim president Matt Lee gives credit to the faculty and staff on the Baton Rouge campus for helping to attract students…

Cut 15 (07) “…from them”

Elsewhere in the system, LSU Alexandria’s enrollment has reached an all-time high and LSU Shreveport is also breaking enrollment records.

In the legislative session, lawmakers approved a bill dealing with legacy lawsuits, which are lawsuits against oil and gas companies alleging environmental damages. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla says the legislation approved is good for the industry…

Cut 8 (10) “…unlimited number”

The oil and gas industry says legacy lawsuits have held down production.

LSU’s vice president for agriculture and dean of its agriculture college is settling into his role as interim president of the university. Matt Lee is filling the role as LSU conducts a national search to replace former President William Tate. Lee says even though in transition, he assures that there’s stability and continuity at the university.

Cut 13 (10)  “…prior president.”

While Tate was president he set up five key areas of focus when it comes research. Those were agriculture, biomedical research, coastal research, cybersecurity and energy and Lee says the university continues to focus on those areas.

House Bill 624, passed unanimously by lawmakers, creates a “One Door” system to streamline Louisiana’s job training and public assistance programs.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The alarm clock goes off early this morning for the LSU baseball team. They will return to Charles Schwab Field in Omaha this morning to resume their suspended game from last night. Lightning halted last night’s game after the third inning with LSU leading five to three thanks to a three-run blast from Jared Jones. The game against UCLA resumes at 10 AM.