Gambling is viewed as mostly entertainment but problem gambling is a public health issue that affects many Americans and the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health reminds Louisianans to have a solid game plan before gambling. LDH –OBH Program Manager Robert Henson says the agency is committed to providing assistance to those in need.

Cut 12 (09) “…resources available.” 

Contact Louisiana Problem Gambling Helpline at 877-770-STOP.

After serving in the legislature as unaffiliated, New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry is returning to the Democratic Party. Landry’s announcement comes with just over two weeks until lawmakers return to Baton Rouge for the session.

Cut 9 (09) “…Democratic Party (chuckle).”

Landry has represented District 91 since 2019.

Louisiana officials announce federal dollars from the infrastructure law has resulted in more than 100 orphaned wells plugged in the last two months. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Baton Rouge Police have taken one of the two women who were allegedly with Georgia businessman Nathan Millard the night he died into custody. 27-year-old Tiffany Guidry was taken apprehended this morning, for prostitution, failure to seek assistance and unlawful disposal of human remains. 33-year-old Tabbetha Barner remains at large.

LSU continues its run through the NCAA Women’s basketball tournament as the Lady Tigers take on Utah today.

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The Bayou State could be in for some dicey weather today as a frontal system, winding itself up in Texas and Oklahoma, moves east. LRN Meteorologist John Wetherbee says while it crosses the state, we’ll need to remain weather-aware today.

Cut 10 (10)  “…flooding rains.”

Crawfish connoisseurs will be happy to know the average price per pound of live mudbugs are 25 cents lower at $2.77. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King says the industry dropped prices this week which brings the average price for a pound of boiled crawfish to $4.98.

Cut 6 (09)  “…$3.99 a pound.” 

King says a platter of crawfish is ideal for watching the Sweet 16 this weekend.

Louisiana lawmakers will vote on a bill to require parental consent – if a student wants to go by another name or pronoun in the upcoming legislative session. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Representative Mandie Landry is making the political party switch from “Unaffiliated” to Democrat ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Landry says changing her party affiliation was a powerful way to send this message but her values and relationship with the caucus have never changed.

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources announce more than 100 orphaned well sites in the Monroe and Shreveport areas have been plugged with funding from the federal Infrastructure Law since work began in January. DNR spokesperson Patrick Courreges says another 30-plus well should be plugged by the end of the month…

Cut 3 (09) “…state funding” 

The state Office of Conservation normally plugs 120 to 200 wells a year and there are over four thousand orphaned well sites in Louisiana.

The fan base and support for the LSU Women’s Basketball team is thriving as they prepare to play Utah in Greenville, South Carolina in the Sweet 16 later today. President of the LSU Alumni Association Joe Carvalhido says the alumni mission is about brand and fan engagement, and it’s good to see the program on top.

Cut 8 (09) “…the excitement.”

The Lady Tigers – who are 30-2 this season – will play Utah this afternoon at 4 p

A  petition to recall New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell failed with only 27-thousand certified signatures; far below the 45-thousand needed but some signatures were quite magical. The Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters says some of the signatures they received were Disney character names. Danielle Duplessis Hammond with the Registrar’s office read off some of the names

Cut 13 (13) “…Barney Rubble.”

 When the Disney names came into question, recall organizer Eileen Carter says in the rush to submit the names, some false names were placed with valid signatures.

Cut  16 (12)  “…seriously.” 

The Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters is confident the results are accurate.

Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews proposed the “Given Name Act” bill that would allow school employees to refer to students by a name or pronoun that differs from what’s on their birth certificate if the student’s parent or guardian gives written consent.

Cut 6 (11)  “…kind of guidance.” 

Lawmakers will vote on the bill in the upcoming legislative session scheduled to begin on April 10^th.

The Sweet 16 excitement is building as alumni and fans gather in Greenville, South Carolina to show support for Coach Mulkey and the LSU Women’s Basketball team as they prepare to play Utah later today. President of the LSU Alumni Association Joe Carvalhido says Mulkey is committed to the university and the Lady Tigers.

Cut 9 (11)  “…from afar.”

LSU Tigers Women’s Basketball will play Utah Utes today at 4 p.m. on ESPN.

Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Shrek and Donald Duck were some of the names submitted to the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters Office in the effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell….
Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A worker at an Ascension water plant has been fired for allegedly urinating in the water supply. Authorities say the act was caught on camera and 57-year-old Michael Mastin of Baton Rouge faces criminal charges. Officials says the public is not in danger and water samples remain in good standing.

Among the bills filed for the upcoming legislative session is the “Given Name Act,” authored by Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews. Crews says school employees would be required to use a student’s given name and corresponding pronouns unless written parental consent says otherwise….
cut 4 (11) “…two things”
Crews says he’s received positive feedback from teachers about this legislation.

Severe weather is likely across central and north Louisiana today. Northeast Louisiana is under the greatest risk for long-track tornadoes and damaging winds. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a marginal risk for severe weather along Interstate 10….
cut 12 (08) “…tomorrow morning”

Bossier City Republican Representative Raymond Crews has filed legislation that would prohibit a school employee from using a student’s preferred name and pronouns without parental permission. Crews says he’s received positive feedback from teachers for his “Given Name Act”….
cut 5 (08) “…..written permission”
Crews’ legislation will be heard in the upcoming legislative session.

Earlier this week, the governor’s office announced the campaign to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell fell 18-thousand certified signatures short of its goal. But recall organizers are exploring their legal options as they claim they turned in 100-thousand signatures. New Orleans Registrar of Voters Sandra Wilson stands by her counting…
cut 14 (09) “…in the law”

LSU continues its run through the NCAA Women’s basketball tournament as the Lady Tigers take on Utah today. Teiko Foxx reports a large group of LSU fans are in South Carolina to cheer them on…
cut 2 (33) “…Teiko Foxx”

Northeast Louisiana is under a moderate risk for severe weather today.
cut 11 (05) “…high risk”
State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a high threat for damaging winds and tornadoes for the northeastern section of our state.

A bill to require parental permission if a student wants to go by another name or pronoun has been filed for the upcoming legislative session. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

This afternoon at 4:00 the LSU Lady Tigers face Utah in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. A good group of LSU fans will be in attendance in Greenville, South Carolina. LSU Alumni Association President Joe Carvalihido…
cut 7 (06) “…..staff before”

The organizers of the recall effort to oust New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spoke for the first time yesterday since it was announced they ended up 18-thousand votes short of what they needed to trigger a recall election. Recall organizers Eileen Carter and Belden Batiste says the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters math doesn’t add up…..
cut 15 (08) “…..we got back up”
But the Registrar says many of the signatures they received were duplicates and one of the pages was filled with Disney character names.

There’s a threat for severe weather for central and north Louisiana today and there’s another threat on Sunday. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 10 (12) “….three to four days”
But this weekend will not be a total washout, Saturday looks good.