An earthquake jolts Red River Parish early this morning. Rob Skoumal (SKO-mall) with the U.S. Geological Survey says it was a magnitude 4.9 that struck near Coushatta at around 5:30 this morning.

Cut 9 (10)  “…fairly widely felt.”

Skoumal says there will likely be aftershocks, with a very slight chance of one registering at least a magnitude 4.0.

Tigue Moore Field in Lafayette was rocking last night as the Ragin Cajuns took advantage of a struggling LSU baseball team to beat the Tigers seven to two. Coach Matt Deggs is elated his fans can celebrate a victory over their rivals to the east…

Cut  8 (09) “….our guys”

U-L Lafayette held LSU to seven hits and the Tigers struggled in the field with three more errors.

A New Orleans representative is trying again with legislation aimed at cracking down on the use of artificial intelligence in political materials. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Governor Jeff Landry has sent a letter to school superintendents urging them to display the Ten Commandments in the classroom. Landry says students will benefit from seeing the Ten Commandments in their classroom. A federal appeals court ruled last month that the state’s Ten Commandments law can go into effect. It’s an issue the U-S Supreme Court will likely have to rule on.

A New Orleans representative is trying again with a bill that would crack down on political messaging created with the use of artificial intelligence. Democrat Mandie Landry says a bill she’s filed requires any image on political material created with A-I that could deceive the recipient be clearly disclosed as such.

Cut 3 (08) “…with artificial intelligence.”

Another New Orleans-area representative – this one from the other side of the aisle – has filed a bill that would require companies to make it easier to cancel automatic subscription renewals. Gretna Republican Vincent Cox says among other things, his bill would outlaw small print and sped-up and lowered audio detailing the automatic renewal terms.

Cut 12 (12) “…signed up in.”

Louisiana’s crawfish industry is suffering because of the lack of foreign workers due to the federal government’s cap on allotted visas. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Britney Spears is once again in trouble with the law. The Kentwood native was arrested last night in Ventura, California, on suspicion of DUI. She was booked into jail and released hours later. Representatives for the singer say it was an unfortunate and inexcusable incident, and that she will take steps to make overdue changes in her life.

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the state’s crawfish industry is dealing with a significant labor shortage. Strain told state lawmakers that crawfish processing plants do not have enough workers to peel and package crawfish, because the federal government has put a cap on foreign guest workers.

Cut 4 (09) “…no that’s unacceptable.”

Several crawfish processing plants have shut their doors as a result.

Shintech Louisiana, which produces PVC that’s used in the construction of pipes and window frames, has announced a three-point-four billion dollar expansion to its facility in Iberville Parish. Shintech received an incentives package from the state through the FastStart, Industrial Tax Exemption and Quality Jobs programs. Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle says the collaboration will benefit the entire area.

Cut 9 (12)  “…the Plaquemine area.”

The investment will provide hundreds of construction jobs and result in 163 new direct jobs.

Julia Letlow secures another high-profile endorsement. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State Treasurer and Republican US Senate candidate John Fleming says Trump officials offered him a job with the C-D-C in an effort to get him out of the Republican Senate Primary. Fleming says the most recent offer came from Ralph Abraham who just left the CDC as principal deputy director. Abraham is now working for the Letlow campaign. Fleming says he’s staying in the Senate race and intends to unseat Bill Cassidy.

The state’s agriculture commissioner says due to a cap on foreign guest workers placed by the federal government, Louisiana’s crawfish industry is facing a significant labor shortage.

Cut 6 (06) “…this is unacceptable.”

Commissioner Mike Strain says the businesses applied for H1-B visas in November as they have done in the past; but their applications were denied, and they were told to re-apply in January. The cap on working visas does not impact live and boiled crawfish.

Governor Landry has followed in President Trump’s footsteps and has endorsed Julia Letlow for U.S. Senate. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says while Landry’s endorsement likely will not prevent a runoff, it will likely be effective in defending Letlow against incumbent Bill Cassidy.

Cut 14 (11) “…as a liberal.”

A New Orleans-area representative wants to make it a lot easier to cancel automatic-renewal trial subscriptions. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

A series of small earthquakes is rocking northwest Louisiana. Among the latest is a magnitude 4.9 quake in Red River Parish. An earthquake of that magnitude is considered light to moderate; while it can be widely felt, it only causes minor damage.

If New Orleans-area representative Vincent Cox has his way, Louisiana will soon have a law that will make it easier to cancel automatic subscription renewals. Gretna Republican Vincent Cox’s bill is dubbed the “Click To Cancel Act.” And would put an end to the scavenger hunt customers face when trying to cancel their subscriptions.

Cut 11 (10) “…to exit it.”

The state’s crawfish industry doesn’t have enough workers to peel and package crawfish right now.  Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says that’s because the federal government has put a cap on foreign guest workers, forcing several processing plants to shut their doors. Strain says he’s sent letters and called the White House, even Homeland Security trying to get cap be lifted for the crawfish industry.

Cut 5 (07) “…these laborers in.”

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Julia Letlow secures another high-profile endorsement. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana officials want to expand black bear hunting grounds in Louisiana.  According to the Louisiana Illuminator, the proposed changes were unanimously approved at yesterday’s monthly state Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting. And would expand the number of black bear hunting areas in the state from three to seven. Black bear hunting has only been legal for the past two years in Louisiana after being banned in 1987.

A New Orleans-area representative wants to make it a lot easier to cancel automatic-renewal trial subscriptions. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

More details on an offshore oil leak near Port Fourchon spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf last week.   The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) said in a news release that  cause of the leak was an offshore mechanical failure. Approximately 12,600 LOOP said yesterday that a “substantial portion” of the oil had already been recovered.
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PVC producer Shintech Louisiana is investing 3.4 billion dollars to expand its Iberville Parish operations. It’s expected to add 800 new job opportunities to the Capital Region and the expansion will introduce advanced, lower-emissions manufacturing technology, which Shintech says will strengthen Louisiana’s role in global PVC production. Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle Daigle says Shintech has made a big impact on this area for 26 years now.

Cut 8 (10) “…the global market.”

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the state’s crawfish industry is dealing with a significant labor shortage. Strain told state lawmakers that crawfish processing plants do not have enough workers to peel and package crawfish, because the federal government has put a cap on foreign guest workers.

Cut 4 (09) “…no that’s unacceptable.”

Louisiana’s crawfish industry is suffering because of the lack of foreign workers due to the federal government’s cap on allotted visas. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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A New Orleans-area representative wants to make it a lot easier to cancel automatic-renewal trial subscriptions. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Julia Letlow secures another high-profile endorsement. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the state’s crawfish industry is dealing with a significant labor shortage. Strain told state lawmakers that crawfish processing plants do not have enough workers to peel and package crawfish, because the federal government has put a cap on foreign guest workers.

Cut 4 (09) “…no that’s unacceptable.”

Several crawfish processing plants have shut their doors as a result.

These packaging facilities rely on workers through the federal H-2B program, which allows immigrants to receive guest worker visas for seasonal jobs, and they return home at the end of the season. These are jobs that most Americans are not interested in doing.

Strain says he’s sent letters and called the White House and several other federal agencies, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asking for the cap be lifted for the crawfish industry.

Cut 5 (07) “…these laborers in.”

The businesses applied for the visas in November as they have done in the past; but their applications were denied, and they were told re-apply in January. Strain says that the whole process has gotten out of hand.

Cut 6 (06) “…this is unacceptable.”

The cap on working visas does not impact live and boiled crawfish, but it’s unclear what will happen with the crawfish that’s supposed to be peeled and shipped to other areas of the country.

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PVC producer Shintech Louisiana is expanding its Iberville Parish operations with a 3.4-billion-dollar investment. The expansion is expected to create 163 direct new jobs with an average salary over 117-thousand dollars. It’s expected to add 800 new job opportunities to the Capital Region, and Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle says the benefits go far beyond that.

Cut 7 (06) “…facility in itself.”

The expansion will introduce advanced, lower-emissions manufacturing technology, which Shintech says will strengthen Louisiana’s role in global PVC production. Daigle says Shintech is a world player, and this latest investment brings its investment in Iberville Parish since 2000 to around 12-billion dollars.

Cut 8 (10) “…the global market.”

Shintech received an incentives package from the state through the FastStart, Industrial Tax Exemption and Quality Jobs programs. Daigle says the collaboration will benefit the entire area.

Cut 9 (12)  “…the Plaquemine area.”

The first phase of construction is expected to be completed by 2030.

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A New Orleans-area representative wants to make it a law requiring companies to make it easy to cancel automatic subscription renewals. Gretna Republican Representative Vincent Cox’s bill is dubbed the “Click To Cancel Act.”

Cut 10 (11) “…out of it.”

That’s because oftentimes, the language letting customers know that the subscription automatically renews after the free trial period is either in very small print, or in the case of a radio ad, the voice is sped up and the level is dropped several decibels. Furthermore, customers would often need to go on a scavenger hunt to find the information on how to cancel. Cox’s bill would put an end to all that.

Cut 11 (10) “…to exit it.”

Among other things, Cox’s bill would outlaw small print and sped-up and lowered audio detailing the automatic renewal terms.

Cut 12 (12) “…signed up in.”

The bill is co-authored by New Orleans Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis.

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Governor Landry has weighed in on the U.S. Senate race, aligning with President Trump and giving his endorsement to Julia Letlow. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says he’s not surprised at all.

Cut 13 (12)  “…supporting Julia Letlow.”

Cross says while Landry’s endorsement likely will not prevent a runoff, it will likely be effective in defending Letlow against incumbent Bill Cassidy.

Cut 14 (11) “…as a liberal.”

Of course, the third factor in this race is John Fleming, who took to social media to blast Landry’s endorsement. In that same post, Fleming said before Ralph Abraham announced his departure from the CDC, he offered him his position in an effort to get him to end his campaign, which he declined. Cross says this is further proof that Abraham presents a major roadblock in Letlow’s path to the U.S. Senate.

Cut 15 (10) “…smoother for Letlow.”

One week after resigning from the CDC to tend to what he called urgent family obligations, Abraham was announced as Letlow’s campaign manager.

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The LSU women’s basketball team will enter the SEC Tournament as a projected number-two seed in the NCAA Tournament. ESPN bracketologist Charlie Crème says the Tigers could elevate to a number-one seed with an impressive showing in Greenville this week.

Cut 16 (18) “…be the Tigers.”

Three of the four number-one seeds are essentially locked up by UConn, UCLA and South Carolina. If the Tigers can capture the fourth and final top seed, Crème believes it will allow for a more favorable path to a national championship.

Cut 17 (15)  “…a better matchup.”

Even if LSU doesn’t secure a number-one seed in the NCAA Tournament, Crème believes the Tigers can still win a national championship. He says the Tigers will need to excel in multiple areas during their postseason run.

Cut 18 (12)  “…shine really approaches.”