Almost two weeks ago, Bill Cassidy challenged Julia Letlow to three debates ahead of the May 16th primary. So far, Letlow hasn’t committed to any one of them, only saying she cannot make the middle one in Baton Rouge due to her commitments in the House of Representatives. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says with Letlow being the endorsed candidate of President Trump, what she’s doing is not uncommon.

Cut 6 (07) “…to disrupt things.”

John Fleming, meanwhile, has said he would debate Cassidy anytime, anywhere.

A happy homecoming for a pair of U.S. Army soldiers, as Rick Domec and Jonathan Brasseaux surprised their kids in front of their classmates at J. Wallace James Elementary School in Scott. Domec says it’s always a welcome treat to return home following a deployment.

Cut 15 (05) “…going to do.”

State senators are demanding changes from the Department of Children and Family Services to prevent child abuse deaths. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein says an estimated 21-thousand people in Louisiana will lose Medicaid coverage when new work requirements for the program take effect next year. The new rule is the result of federal legislation that calls for certain Medicaid recipients to prove they are working, are in school, are in job training or volunteering.

State Senators are demanding an action plan from the Department of Children and Family Services on how the agency can prevent child abuse deaths. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says 12 children have died this year after 53 children died last year in cases where D-C-F-S was contacted about possible child abuse in the home…

Cut 10 (10) “…the baby”

Rebecca Harris has led DCFS since August. She reorganized the child welfare division in October. The secretary says there are other areas where they can improve…

Cut 12 (09) “…and families.”

Senators have asked Harris to come up with ideas that can improve the effectiveness of the agency and want to see those recommendations in two weeks.

U-S Senator Billy Cassidy continues to criticize Congresswoman Julia Letlow for not yet agreeing to a televised debate. Letlow is challenging Cassidy in the May 16^th Senate Republican Primary Election and state treasurer John Fleming is also running. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says if the debates end up a heads-up battle between Cassidy and Fleming, there’s one way that Letlow’s absence could hurt her.

Cut 8 (08) “…Julia Letlow.”

That said, Hogan says since Letlow is Trump’s endorsed candidate, not as many people would tune in to the debates if she’s not on stage.

The Louisiana Senate has approved legislation that could result in prison time if you lie about serving in the military. It’s known as stolen valor and Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says this is a way of protecting the integrity of the military service of Louisiana’s veterans, including himself.

Cut 5 (07) “…service means something (2x).”

Depending on the severity, penalties range from small fines to five years in prison.

A bill making stolen valor a crime in Louisiana moves to the House after passing unanimously in the Senate. V-A Secretary Charlton Meginley told the Senate Judiciary C Committee that stolen valor is not a victimless crime.

Cut 3 (11) “…gain to it.”

No stealing the valor of two Army soldiers who pulled off a heartwarming homecoming at J. Wallace James Elementary School in Scott. With the help of administrators, Rick Domec (du-MECK) and Jonathan Brasseaux surprised their kids, who had not seen their dads for a year. On stage, they hid in cardboard boxes as their sons lifted them in front of their classmates. Domec’s son, Andrew, was thinking it was something else inside that box.

Cut 14 (07) “…all right.”

Almost two weeks after Bill Cassidy challenged Julia Letlow to three debates, she has yet to commit to any one of them. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Be careful – an old scam is rearing its ugly head once again. People in Baton Rouge say they’re getting calls from people identifying themselves as staffers at the city court, in which they’re demanding payment over the phone. That’s something that no court anywhere will ever do.

State Senators are fed up and want solutions on how the Department of Children and Family Services can be more effective in preventing serious injuries of deaths after the state agency gets involved in child abuse cases. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says there have been 12 child deaths this year after 53 child deaths in 2025…

Cut 9 (10)  “…that child.”

Barrow has a bill to abolish the Department of Children and Family Services and Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau is so upset, he’s ready to vote for it…

Cut 13 (09) “…do it.”

Lawmakers have asked Secretary Rebecca Harris to present a plan in two weeks on how to improve DCFS.

We are about two weeks away from the May 16^th primary and the three main candidates in the Senate Republican Primary have yet to agree on a date to hold a televised debate. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says John Fleming seems eager to debate…

Cut 7 (8) “…out there”

And Bill Cassidy keeps criticizing Julia Letlow for not committing to a TV debate.

The Louisiana Senate has approved legislation that could result in prison time if you lie about serving in the military. It’s known as stolen valor and Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says this is a way of protecting the integrity of the military service of Louisiana’s veterans, including himself.

Cut 5 (07) “…service means something (2x).”

Depending on the severity, penalties range from small fines to five years in prison.

Almost two weeks ago, Bill Cassidy challenged Julia Letlow to three debates ahead of the May 16th primary. So far, Letlow hasn’t committed to any one of them. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says with Letlow being the endorsed candidate of President Trump, what she’s doing is not uncommon.

Cut 6 (07) “…to disrupt things.”

A bill making what’s known as stolen valor a crime in Louisiana cleared the Senate unanimously and now moves to the House. While stolen valor is a federal offense, there is currently no stolen valor law in Louisiana. And Louisiana V-A Secretary Charlton Meginley says bringing a federal complaint against someone misrepresenting military service can be a waste of time.

Cut 4 (07) “…types of cases.”

Depending on the severity, penalties range from small fines to five years in prison.

Tomorrow’s hearing in the U-L system’s lawsuit against Conference USA in Lincoln Parish is off. Andre Champagne reports on the latest in Louisiana Tech’s quest to leave Conference USA for the Sun Belt for the 2026 football season.

Cut (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A recent increase in the use of vape products has led to an increase in police presence at one high school in central Louisiana. This is happening at Natchitoches Central High School, where the sheriff’s office is using K9 units to search the campus.

Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed tells lawmakers that many public universities and colleges are struggling financially. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Are you having trouble accessing the official OMV website. It’s still expresslane-dot-la, but the domain extension changed this week from dot-org to dot-gov. OMV says the change strengthens cybersecurity protections.

Louisiana is the third best state to be a doctor says a report by Wallet Hub. The states were ranked on 19 metrics, including average annual salaries, the number of hospitals per capita and the quality of public hospital systems. Another metric is projected supply of physicians by 2032.

Cut 11 (10) “…in rural areas.”

If you lie about serving in the military, you could end up behind bars. A bill making what’s known as stolen valor a crime in Louisiana cleared the Senate unanimously and now moves to the House. It’s sponsored by Caleb Kleinpeter of Port Allen and backed by Louisiana V-A Secretary Charlton Meginley, who told the Senate Judiciary C Committee that stolen valor is not a victimless crime.

Cut 3 (11) “…gain to it.”

Depending on the severity, penalties range from small fines to five years in prison.

When it comes to the best states for doctors, Louisiana ranks surprisingly high. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State Health Secretary Doctor Bruce Greenstein says an estimated 21-thousand people in Louisiana will lose Medicaid coverage when new work requirements for the program take effect next year. The new rule is the result of federal legislation that calls for certain Medicaid recipients to prove they are working in school, job training or volunteering.

The May 16th primary is about two months away, and Secretary of State Nancy Landry is urging voters to check their party affiliation on their voter registration. Landry says the May 16th primary is closed, which means only registered Republican voters or no-party voters can vote in the Republican primary, and only registered Democrats or no-party voters can vote in the Democratic primary.

Cut 7 (10) “…be affiliated with.”

The deadline to register for the May 16th primary election is April 15th in person or by mail. April 25th is the deadline to do it at geauxvote-dot-com

In the UL System’s lawsuit against Conference USA, a hearing in Lincoln Parish is cancelled after Conference USA filed a motion to move the case to Federal Court. The U-L system filed the lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana Tech in its quest to leave Conference USA for the Sun Belt for the 2026 football season. Matt Bellinson, a reporter with the Ruston Daily Leader, believes Conference USA is trying to extract as much money from Louisiana Tech as possible before its inevitable exit.

Cut 14 (06) “…in this league.”

Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed is asking lawmakers to provide at least an additional 119-million dollars in state funding for higher ed. She says higher ed is 869-million dollars short of being fully funded because of inflation, enrollment dips and Reed says institutions are also feeling the pressure because athletic expenses are increasing.

Cut 6 (11) “…of the institution.”

Louisiana is the third best state to practice medicine, says a Wallet Hub report.  19 metrics were used including annual salaries, quality of public hospital systems, number of hospitals per capita, and projected supply of physicians by 2032. Wallet Hub analyst, Chip Lupo says Louisiana is doing a good job in retaining young doctors who had just completed their residencies.

Cut 12 (11) “…tend to stay.”

Saints veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan made some notable comments regarding free agency on Terron Armstead’s “The Set” podcast on Monday. Jordan said that just because he loves the city of New Orleans doesn’t mean the city or the organization has to love him back. Matt Paras, who covers the Saints for The Baton Rouge Advocate, says Jordan sounds open to leaving the Saints.

Cut 16 (14) “…of it all.”

The U-L system’s lawsuit against Conference USA is stalled since the conference made a motion to move the suit to federal court. The lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana Tech was filed in Tech’s quest to join the Sun Belt for the 2026 season. Both conferences include Tech on their 2026 football schedules. Matt Bellinson, a reporter with the Ruston Daily Leader, says even before it had issued its press release last week announcing that it plans on playing the 2026 Sun Belt schedule, Tech made it perfectly clear which direction it had planned on going.

Cut 15 (08) “…the Sun Belt.”