If you’re a state worker, get ready to start schlepping to the office again. That’s because Governor Landry is ordering you back to the office by July 1st. State employees were sent home to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Landry said remote work was one of the biggest negative effects of the pandemic.

Cut 7 (05) “…are more productive.”

Landry is also strongly encouraging employees of agencies that don’t fall within his authority to return to the office by that date.

PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell wants to know why there was a six-hour unplanned power outage on Saturday, affecting more than 30-thousand SWEPCO customers in Bossier and Caddo Parishes. SWEPCO Spokesperson Michael Corbin says that due to a directive from the Southwest Power Pool, the regional transmission organization. SPP identified grid instability and required SWEPCO to implement emergency outages to prevent widespread damage to power lines and equipment.

Cut 3 (12) “…their homes or businesses.” 

If you’ve ever said you could do a better job balancing the budget than the elected officials you repeatedly insult on social media, you’re now invited to put your money — make that the state’s money — where your mouth is. PAR, LSU and The Advocate have all teamed up to launch the online game, “Solve The Budget.” PAR President Steven Procopio says for example, you can decide which facets of education to spend money on and which ones to cut.

Cut 11 (10) “…and university spending.”

For the first time, Saints quarterback Derek Carr is speaking out about his injury to his right shoulder. Carr opened up about his injury while leading a service as a guest pastor at ChurchLV in Las Vegas, saying he has an MRI to prove that he has an injured shoulder.

Cut 9 (05)  “…forward with that.”

Carr’s comments come as NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport has reported that Carr’s shoulder injury may sideline him for the entire 2025 season.

Governor Landry is ordering state workers back to the office. He issued an executive order requiring workers to return to their offices by July 1st.

Cut 6 (06) “…their other colleagues.”

State employees were sent home to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Landry said remote work was one of the biggest negative effects of the pandemic. Landry is also strongly encouraging employees of agencies that don’t fall within his authority to return to the office by that date.

Two new buildings are under construction at Louisiana Tech, including the Forest Products Innovation Center on the south campus that houses ag and forestry. University President Jim Henderson says it will expand the school’s research capacity.

Cut 9 (07)  “…in the country.”

The other one is the Origin Bank Academic Center for Student Athlete Success, which will be located adjacent to Joe Aillet Stadium. Both buildings are expected to open in the fall of 2026.

State lawmakers are attempting to ban the sale of kratom at gas stations and smoke shops. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

At the TPC Louisiana, Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin are your 2025 Zurich Classic champions. The two finished at 28 under par, one stroke better than brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard (HOE-guard). The pivotal hole was the 17th, when Novak and Griffin birdied while Frank Capan the third’s tee shot went into the water. With the win, Novak and Griffin each take home more than 1.3-million dollars.

Louisiana lawmakers are debating the future of kratom, an herbal substance with stimulating or sedating effects sold in gas stations and smoke shops.

Cut 4 (11) “…sold in Louisiana”

Monroe Senator Jay Morris is seeking a total ban, because he says kratom, which is not approved by the FDA, can be addictive, cause hallucinations, nausea and even death.

The public has the ability to try its hand at balancing Louisiana’s Budget by using an educational website called solve-the-budget-dot-com. PAR president Steven Procopio says you can choose how much to tax residents and businesses and how best to spend the money for important areas like education…

Cut 11 (10) “…university spending”

The LSU Tigers took two of three from Tennessee in a matchup of the last two College World Series Champions. Freshman left fielder Derek Curiel nearly hit for the cycle yesterday as the Tigers won 12 to 2 in eight innings. One day after failing to reach base in a game for the first time this season, Curiel went 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and five RBI…

Cut 13 (13)  “…going forward.”

The Saints have added a quarterback to their roster. They used a second-round pick to select Tyler Shough (“shuck”). He’s 25 years old, played seven seasons of college football with three different schools, and suffered three significant injuries. Coach Kellen Moore says they came away more impressed every time they spoke with Shough during the draft process.

Cut 16 (20) “…he was.”

The utility company, SWEPCO says grid conditions are now stable after having to shut off power to more than 30-thousand customers in Bossier and Caddo Parishes on Saturday. SWEPCO says the power had to be turned off because Southwest Power Pool, the regional transmission organization, was having issues on its end and the power had to be turned off for some SWEPCO customers to prevent widespread damage to the power lines and equipment.

Two new buildings are coming to Louisiana Tech. Colleen Crain reports

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear a bill that seeks to ban kratom. The Drug Enforcement Administration lists kratom as a drug and chemical of concern, because it can cause seizures, nausea, vomiting and hallucinations. But some use kratom to self-treat chronic pain much like an opioid, but Monroe Senator Jay Morris says that’s a problem…

Cut 6 (12) “…as a drug”

The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association support Morris’s bill.

Louisiana lawmakers are also working on passing a budget for next fiscal year. If you want to get an idea on how difficult that can be, go to solve-the-budget-dot-com. Public Affairs Research Council president Steven Procopio says the educational website posses more three dozen yes or no tax and spending questions, each with a dollar figure of how much the item will cost or how much it will increase revenue by…

Cut 12 (09) “….areas to cut”

Week 3 of the legislative session begins today. Coming up for debate tomorrow morning in a Senate committee is a bill that would ban the sale of kratom. The herbal substance can be found at convenience stores and smoke shops. Monroe Senator Jay Morris says kratom can be addictive and cause hallucinations. Nausea, and can be fatal. He says hospitals are also seeing babies born addicted to kratom…

Cut 5 (06) “…legal substance”

Coming up for debate in the full house today is a bill to tax vaping and e-cigarette products.

Two new buildings are under construction at Louisiana Tech. One of them is the new Origin Bank Academic Center for Student Athlete Success….

Cut 7 (11) “…fully supported”

That’s University President Jim Henderson who says the other building that’s now under construction is the Forest Products Innovation Center which will serve as a resource for forestry, education and discovery.

If you’ve ever said you could do a better job than the legislature at balancing the budget, now’s your chance to put up or shut up. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU won its highly anticipated baseball series against defending national champion Tennessee. The Tigers defeated the Vols in the rubber game 12 to 2 in eight innings yesterday. Freshman Casan Evans allowed just two runs in six innings, the two runs allowed came in the first inning…

Cut 15 (15) “…after that”

The Louisiana House convenes at 1 PM today and they are expected to vote on several bills of note, including a measure that Governor Jeff Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple do not see eye to eye on. That proposal would give the Insurance Commissioner more authority to block excessive rate hikes. The House is also expected to take up a measure that would increase the tax on vaping and e-cigarette products.

State lawmakers are also attempting to ban the sale of kratom. Sean Richardson has more on that…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Morris’s bill will be heard tomorrow in a Senate Committee.

Construction is underway on two new facilities on the Louisiana Tech campus that university leaders say will transform the campus in Ruston. Ground has been broken on the Orgin Bank Center for Student-Athlete Success which La Tech President Jim Henderson says will produce world-class academic, wellness and leadership resources for student-athletes. And Henderson says on Tech’s South Campus, ground has been broken on the Forest Products Innovation Center…

Cut 8 (10) “….using yellow pine”

If you’ve ever said you could do a better job balancing the budget than the elected officials, you’re now invited to put your money — make that the state’s money — where your mouth is. PAR, LSU and The Advocate have all teamed up to launch the online game, “Solve The Budget.” Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio

Cut 10 (10) “…things like that.”

The Louisiana House is set to meet today at 1 PM, and a bill up for discussion is the measure that would give Louisiana’s Insurance Commissioner the ability to block excess insurance rate increases.. Governor Jeff Landry is urging the Louisiana Legislature to approve…

Cut 21 (20) “…necessary”

Landry testified in favor of the bill when it was heard in the House Insurance Committee earlier this month. Landry says the legislation is not designed as a hammer for the insurance commissioner, but the bill is designed to be a safeguard.

But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, elected and not appointed by the governor, opposes the legislation…

Cut 28 (20) “…California”

Temple believes the best way to lower rates is to reduce the losses insurance companies incur. He says the high payouts car accident victims are receiving are the main reason why the state’s rates are so high.

Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear a bill that seeks to ban kratom. The Drug Enforcement Administration lists kratom as a drug and chemical of concern, because it can cause seizures, nausea, vomiting and hallucinations. But some use kratom to self-treat chronic pain much like an opioid, but Morris says that’s a problem…

Cut 6 (12) “…as a drug”

The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association support Morris’s bill.