The U-S Supreme Court ruled today Louisiana’s Congressional maps are unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. In a six to three decision, the conservative justices on the court say race played too big of a factor in drawing the Congressional district that Cleo Fields represents, which stretches from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the court is telling all states race can not be intentionally used to draw a map…

Cut 10 (09) “…going forward”

Governor Landry hopes the result of the Supreme Court’s decision is an end to the court’s involvement in redistricting…

Cut 8 (14) “..our roads.”

Once again our big story today, the U-S Supreme Court has said Louisiana lawmakers relied too heavily on race when it drew its Congressional map that creates a second-majority minority district. Attorney General Liz Murrill was pleased with today’s Supreme Court ruling.

Cut 12 (14) “…to do that.”

So now, a new congressional map for Louisiana will need to be drawn. Whether that can be done in time for the 2026 general election remains to be seen. Congressman Cleo Fields says changing the rules at this point in the 2026 election cycle would be counterproductive.

Cut 15 (06) “…my view, unwise.”

Fields says the best course of action is to have a new map in place for the 2028 election cycle.

The US Supreme Court has thrown out Louisiana’s congressional map. In a six-to-three ruling that fell right along ideological lines, the court ruled that Cleo Fields’ district, which stretches from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, relied too much on race. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the state intentionally went to extraordinary lengths to create that district, and that’s what the court took exception to.

Cut 9 (10)  “…unconstitutional racial gerrymander.”

Fields says the Supreme Court’s ruling is a grave setback to voting rights and to the promise of equal political representation for all Americans.

So what happens now that the nation’s highest court has struck down Louisiana’s second majority Black congressional district. Governor Jeff Landry says they are still analyzing the ruling…

Cut 6 (08) “…moving forward”

Secretary of State Nancy Landry says the case has been sent back to the Western District of Louisiana. Fields says the Supreme Court’s ruling does not require a new map to be drawn so the upcoming federal elections should go on as scheduled. Early voting for the May 16^th primary is Saturday.

Ground breaking takes place this afternoon on a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Funeral services for the 17-year-old Lafayette Parish girl who was killed last week during a mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana will be next Saturday 10 AM at the Episcopal Church of Ascension in Lafayette. The public can donate to the Martha Odom Legacy of Joyful Grace in Motion fund at the Community Foundation of Acadiana.

The Supreme Court rules Louisiana’s congressional map unconstitutional. The vote was six to three, and it fell right down ideological lines. The court ruled that the state relied too heavily on race in drawing its current congressional map, which includes a district that stretches diagonally from Shreveport to Baton Rouge. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says the court did not throw out the 1965 Voting Rights Act in its ruling; but it did leave a key question unanswered – how much is too much?

Cut 10 (12) “…and is enough?”

The current map will remain in place until a new map is drawn. The big questions are – when will the legislature draw that new map, and is there any chance that it will be in place for the November election? One thing that could complicate that is that early voting in the closed primary starts Saturday.

Construction officially gets underway this afternoon on the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire says the new 2.3-billion-dollar bridge will be a vast improvement over the one that it will be replacing.

Cut 5 (06) “…still being debated.”

The state will collect tolls for 50 years; Abshire says that was the only option to gain the funding needed for the massive project, which will take seven years to complete.

Louisiana Tech and Conference USA reach an agreement that will allow the school to move to the Sun Belt July 1st. Even though the move will cost the university an estimated eight-million dollars, Matt Bellinson of the Ruston Leader believes it will be money well spent when all is said and done.

Cut 15 (12) “…right for them.”

The Supreme Court has thrown out Louisiana’s congressional map. In a six-to-three ruling that fell right along ideological lines, the court ruled that by creating a second majority-Black district, one that stretches diagonally from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, relied too much on race. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says what’s important to note is that this ruling does not strike down the 1965 Voting Rights Act – states can still keep certain groups in mind when drawing their congressional maps.

Cut 9 (10)  “…of racial gerrymander.”

It’s unclear what happens next. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says her lawyers are currently analyzing the opinion.

A proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit a governor from serving more than two terms fails to receive approval in the House by three votes. It’s the second time this session Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham’s bill came up three votes short and he’s disappointed…

Cut 3 (06) “…vote”

The legislation needs 70 “Yes” votes to pass. It received 67 votes. Seventeen lawmakers abstained from voting.

A groundbreaking ceremony happens in Lake Charles this afternoon on the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. The 2.3-billion-dollar bridge is being built immediately next to the existing bridge that first opened in 1952. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire says the bridge is of utmost importance, with 75-thousand vehicles passing over it every day.

Cut 4 (08) “…a screeching halt.”

It will take seven years to construct and tolls will be needed to pay for it.

Baton Rouge-based Turner Industries announces it’s creating one-thousand jobs, as it’s building state-of-the-art nuclear fabrication facilities in New Iberia and Port Allen. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the facilities will be dedicated to the production of high-precision modules and nuclear-grade piping for the next generation of nuclear power.

Cut 7 (05) “…one as well.”

This just in to the LRN Newsroom – the Supreme Court has ruled Louisiana’s current congressional map unconstitutional, saying that it relied too much on race. The vote was six to three, right down ideological lines.

Construction officially begins today on the new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River bridge that will be built right next to the existing bridge. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire says the bridge will be an economic boost for the City of Lake Charles.

Cut 6 (07) “…downtown Lake Charles.” 

Turner Industries announces plans to create one-thousand new jobs in Louisiana by building nuclear fabrication facilities in New Iberia and Port Allen. Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says it’s exciting to see a homegrown company meet the new demand.

Cut 9 (12)  “…state but others.”

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The House Education Committee approves legislation that would give public colleges the ability to raise tuition rates by up to ten percent for all graduate, professional and specialized programs and undergraduate programs identified as high-cost. The state’s four management boards currently have that authority. But the bill’s author, Ruston Representative Christopher Turner, says that authority should really reside with each public institution.

Cut 12 (12) “…with basic needs.”

Representative Josh Carlson asks why universities need to raise tuition when enrollment is dropping, a four-year degree is no longer a necessity to get a good-paying job, and the state has more public universities than it really needs.

Cut 13 (12) “…percent every year.”

The bill heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Big news from Baton Rouge-based Turner Industries which announced it’s building a state of the nuclear fabrication facilities in New Iberia and Port Allen. Turner is one of the nation’s largest industrial contractors, with more than 93-hundred employees and these new facilities will create a thousand new jobs.  Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Turner officials believe Louisiana should be at the center of the next wave of nuclear innovation.

Cut 8 (12) “…when you’re ready.”

Turner Industries was founded in Baton Rouge in 1961 and has six offices statewide.

A man was fatally shot last night in New Orleans Mid-City just a block from Jesuit High School.  NOPD says they got the call just before eight and responded to the 500 block of South Hennessey Street.  EMS also responded but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.  So far there’s been no word on possible motive or suspect.

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Louisiana Tech is closing the chapter on its time in the Conference USA and turning the page to a new era in the Sun Belt. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Construction officially gets underway in Lake Charles this afternoon on the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire says the new bridge will be a vast improvement over the one that it will be replacing.

Cut 5 (06) “…still being debated.”

Construction officially gets underway this afternoon on a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

One teen was killed and a driver seriously injured this week as they allegedly tried to flee Bogalusa Police and hit a utility pole.  It happened Monday night near the near the intersection of West 9th Street and Avenue G in Washington Parish. Authorities say neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt.

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Baton Rouge-based Turner Industries announces it’s creating one-thousand jobs, as it’s building state-of-the-art nuclear fabrication facilities in New Iberia and Port Allen. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the facilities will be dedicated to the production of high-precision modules and nuclear-grade piping for the next generation of nuclear power.

Cut 7 (05) “…one as well.”

More on the agreement reached between Louisiana Tech and Conference USA which will allow Tech to leave Conference USA and join the Sun Belt this summer. Terms of the out-of-court settlement have not been released, but Matt Bellinson of the Ruston Leader says Louisiana Tech most likely had to pay a hefty exit-fee.

Cut 14 (08) “…eight-million dollars.”

Bellison says Tech will recoup the money though with big savings on travel in the long run.

Baton Rouge-based Turner Industries announces plans to build a nuclear fabrication facility in New Iberia and Port Allen. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Construction officially gets underway in Lake Charles this afternoon on the new 2.3 billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Abshire…

Cut 4 (08) “…a screeching halt.”

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The House Education Committee approves legislation that would give Louisiana public colleges the authority to increase tuition by as much as 10-percent for all graduate, professional and specialized programs and any undergraduate program identified as high-cost. Lobbyist Norby Chabert (sha-BEAR) testified in favor of the legislation; he says the money generated from the higher tuition costs would be put to good use.

Cut 10 (08) “…to student ratios.”

The bill passed on an eight-to-three vote and heads to the House floor. Lafayette Representative Josh Carlson says if you raise tuition, fewer students will attend college.

Cut 11 (06) “…in lower demand.”

Many have said tuition increases are necessary, since the state no longer funds higher education to the level it once did.