A new statewide poll of Louisiana voters finds that their biggest concern is what’s in their pocketbook. Kace Kieschnick has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Two feet of water in the streets and water was getting into some homes in Uptown New Orleans this morning. It came from a major water main break on Panola. It’s the second recent break on Panola. Residents in the area dealt with the last one last month. Water has been turned off in the area, and water is receding from the street, but motorists are being asked to avoid the area.

The 2026 legislative session begins today as lawmakers have more than 13-hundred bills to consider. The biggest one of them all is the state’s spending plan for next fiscal year. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the biggest budget fight could involve the L-A Gator Program. Governor Landry wants to double the funding for the voucher program that helps eligible families pay for private school tuition and other education expenses…

Cut 7 (11)“…big of a jump.”

A state senator is looking to make fortified roofs mandatory for new construction homes in the coastal parishes. River Ridge Republican Kirk Talbot filed the bill and says fortified roofs would practically pay for themselves.

Cut 11 (09) “…to get it.”

More earthquakes are being reported in Northwest Louisiana. The strongest was in Caddo Parish and was almost certainly felt. It happened this morning around 4:40. According to preliminary reports it was 3.9 magnitude. Just after 9:00 Sunday night the US Geological Survey reported a 2.5 magnitude quake near the same area as a 4.9 magnitude quake was felt near Coushatta last week.  Both this morning’s and Sunday’s earthquakes were at a depth of about 3 miles which is considered shallow and likely to be felt more strongly.

A state senator is looking to make fortified roofs mandatory for new construction homes in the coastal parishes. River Ridge Republican Kirk Talbot’s bill would update the building code along the coastal parishes to make fortified roofs mandatory on all new residential builds. He says current code is almost there.

Cut 10 (09) “…to that level.”

Talbot says on new builds, fortified roofs would practically pay for themselves.

The 2026 legislative session begins today. Jeanne Burns has a look at some of the big issues that will be discussed.

Cut 2 (37) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Louisiana voters say their biggest concern is rising costs. According to a survey conducted by the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, 40 percent of the respondents listed the cost of living and inflation as their top concern. Erin Bendily is the vice president of the Pelican Institute

Cut 4 (04) “…and inflation.”

The 2026 legislative session begins today as lawmakers have more than 13-hundred bills to consider. The biggest one of them all is the state’s spending plan. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the biggest budget fight could involve the L-A Gator Program. Governor Landry wants to double the funding for the voucher program that helps eligible families pay for private school tuition and other education expenses…

Cut 7 (11)“…big of a jump.”

Lawmakers will also discuss giving governments more local control over carbon capture projects. There’s legislation to allow guns on college campuses and a proposal to make it a felony to drive more than 30 miles per hour over the speed limit. And there’s more insurance reform legislation…

Cut 9 (09)  “…auto insurance.”

There’s a bill to make fortified roofs mandatory for new construction. Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says he rushed to file Senate Bill 147 before the pre-filing deadline, and will amend it to narrow it down to parts of the state where fortified roofs are needed the most.

Cut 12 (05) “…for new construction.”

A new statewide poll of voters finds that their biggest concern is their pocketbook.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy took Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem to task for a 220-million-dollar ad campaign just days before she was fired. Kennedy said the spot was more about boosting Noem’s name recognition.  And he took her to task for not following the competitive bidding process in hiring the firm and…

Cut 11 (11) “…it’s not, sir.”

The US Attorney’s Office indicted 31-year-old Justin Chadwick Butler of Shreveport on charges of cyberstalking and threatening the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and President Trump. According to court documents, Butler used social media accounts to make posts, often tagging the Speaker’s social media account directly.  USAO says Butler faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for each count.

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Bill Cassidy challenges Julia Letlow to a series of televised debates. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved the expansion of black bear hunting areas from three last to seven.  LDWF large carnivore program manager John Hanks says only 16 bears were successfully harvested last year.

Cut 13 (07) “…a hunting season.”

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Black bear hunting is expanding in Louisiana this year after the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission vote earlier this week.  Hunters may apply to take part in the tag lottery from July 28th to August 28th. But LDWF large carnivore program manager John Hanks says receiving a black bear permit is not as simple as just paying an extra fee.

Cut 14 (07) “…and go hunting.”

Bill Cassidy has challenged Julia Letlow to a series of televised debates as the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate is heating up.  But Cassidy did not challenge the other major candidate in the race, John Fleming.  LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says Cassidy likely wants to debate just Letlow to avoid getting ganged up on.

Cut 5 (06) “…against one scenario.”

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The University of Louisiana System filed a lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana Tech against Conference USA Wednesday.  That, after the school’s plans to exit the Sun Belt before the 2026 football season were delayed. The suit claims that Louisiana Tech approached Conference USA with a financial offer providing two full years of conference distributions, but they wanted more. Lincoln Parish Journal Publisher Malcolm Butler estimates the difference at about two-million dollars.

Cut 7 (11) “…the university are.”

In college baseball action, Nicholls scored five runs in the ninth to beat Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 11 to 7.UT Arlington edged ULM four to three. South Alabama beat Louisiana Tech nine to three. The second ranked LSU baseball team broke out of its offensive slump last night with a 15 to 4 win over Sacramento State. Game two is today at two.

Days before President Trump fired Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy took Noem to task for a 220-million-dollar ad campaign that he says was more about boosting her name recognition than encouraging immigrants to self-deport.

Cut 9 (16)  “…Okay.”

Bill Cassidy has challenged Julia Letlow to a series of three televised debates as the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate is heating up. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says the fact that Cassidy is suggesting this at all is a clear indication that alarm bells are going off within his campaign.

Cut 3 (10) “…own electoral chances.”

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The University of Louisiana System filed a lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana Tech against Conference USA Wednesday. In July, LA Tech announced plans of exiting the conference to join the Sun Belt before the 2026 football season, but the move was delayed, thanks to pushback from Conference USA and bylaws that require a 14-month notice. Lincoln Parish Journal Publisher Malcolm Butler says these rules didn’t stop an exodus of member schools in 2021.

Cut 6 (10) “…eight months later.”

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approves the expansion of black bear hunting areas in Louisiana from three to seven for this season. Black bear hunting has been legal for the last two years after previously being banned in 1987. LDWF large carnivore program manager John Hanks …

Cut 12 (08) “…have that opportunity.”

Bill Cassidy challenges Julia Letlow to a series of televised debates. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Troopers are assisting the Lake Charles Police Department with a vehicle crash on the I-10 bridge at milepost 28 this morning. Both westbound lanes and eastbound lanes of I-10 are closed at this time.  If you’ll be heading that way, officials say to adjust your travel plans to expect delays.

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Louisiana Senator John Kennedy took Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem to task for a 220-million-dollar ad campaign just days before she was fired. Kennedy said the spot was more about boosting Noem’s name recognition.  And he took her to task for not following the competitive bidding process in hiring the firm and…

Cut 11 (11) “…it’s not, sir.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved the expansion of black bear hunting areas from three last to seven areas this year.  LDWF large carnivore program manager John Hanks says only 16 bears were successfully harvested last year.

Cut 13 (07) “…a hunting season.”

Hanks says the total number of permits awarded this year is expected to increase from the 26 awarded last season, but no official number has been set.