There are numerous bills in this legislative session seeking to address the state’s high auto and property insurance rates. The chairman of the state Senate Insurance Committee Kirk Talbot has a bill that would give a homeowner a ten-thousand dollar tax credit if they install a fortified roof on their home….

cut 12 (07) “….and live here”

A fortified roof can withstand damaging winds from a hurricane, therefore reducing the number of claims an insurance company has to pay following a storm.

It’s Tulane Day at the Louisiana State Capitol. University President Michael Fitts says the school has a five-billion-dollar impact on the state’s economy…

cut 14 (09) “…at the hip”

Fitts says Tulane is working to create scholarship programs to help more Louisiana students attend college in-state.

Several education bills will be heard in the legislative session, ranging from school funding to TOPS Scholarship changes. Sean Richardson has more…

cut 2  (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson”

Bossier Parish is mourning the death of former state lawmaker Billy Montgomery who passed away at the age of 87. Montgomery served in the state House from 1988 to 2008. He helped secure 60-million dollars to build Bossier Parish Community College. He also led the Haughton boys’ basketball team to back-to-back state championships in 1968 to 1969.

If campaign finance reports are a telltale sign of voter support, State Treasurer John Fleming will have his work cut out for him against Senator Bill Cassidy. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

A Republican state senator has a bill that would provide an alternative to the fortified roof grants. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his proposal is geared towards people who want to take advantage of the grants but have the financial means to install the fortified roof.

Cut 10 (08) “…ten-thousand dollars.”

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The next Senate election is set for a year from Friday.  It’ll be the first to use a closed primary. And with an electorate that skews much more to the right than in the previous jungle primaries, ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Fleming is hoping to capitalize on Cassidy’s vote in 2021 to convict then-former President Trump in his second impeachment trial, while Cassidy is hoping that voters have a short memory.

Cut 6 (13) “…of people’s minds.”

Today is Tulane Day at the Capitol. The legislature will be honoring the school and its 5.2-billion dollar impact on the state economy. University President Michael Fitts will be on hand for the big day and will meet with lawmakers to discuss how Tulane is helping in the state’s quest to retain talent and grow new industries.

Cut 15 (12) “…really talented individuals.”

This legislative session will see debate on several education bills, ranging from school funding to testing requirements and proposed changes to the TOPS scholarship programs. Leaders for a Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin says there is also teacher pay, and whether teachers will continue to stay at the same pay level after the failure of Amendment 2.

Cut 7 (11) “…of people wanted.”

A Republican state senator has a bill that would provide an alternative to the fortified roof grants. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his proposal is geared towards people who want to take advantage of the grants but have the financial means to install the fortified roof. It’s a non refundable-credit which means the state wouldn’t be mailing out any checks..

Cut 11 (10) “…dollars in liability.”

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A New Roads mother has been arrested, charged with second degree murder and obstruction of justice in the death of her infant child early yesterday.  New Roads police say they got the call just before ten yesterday morning and began efforts to resuscitate the child, who died later at a local hospital.  Officials say the there were inconsistencies in the 19 year old mother’s story and crime lab officials said the mother’s statements did not match up with evidence found at the scene.

While one poll shows State Treasurer John Fleming beating Senator Bill Cassidy in next year’s Republican primary, that’s not the story the latest campaign finance report numbers tell.  According to the official numbers, Cassidy raised 1.36-million dollars in the first quarter of 2025, compared to just over 263-thousand for Fleming. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…

Cut 4 (10) “…in this race.”

A Republican state senator is proposing an alternative to the fortified roof grant program. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Today is Tulane Day at the Capitol as state lawmakers will honor the school and its 5.2-billion dollar impact on the state economy. University President Michael Fitts says Tulane’s history goes back almost to the time when Louisiana became the 18th state.

Cut 13 (08)  “…time with Louisiana.”

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One poll has shown State Treasurer John Fleming beating Senator Bill Cassidy in next year’s Republican primary.  But the latest campaign finance report numbers say otherwise.  Fleming is reporting a war chest of 2.2-million dollars, much of which he loaned to himself, while Cassidy is reporting a war chest of 7.5-million dollars. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross  says in terms of fundraising, Fleming has his work cut out for him.

Cut 5 (12) “…trouble matching Cassidy.”

Several education bills are waiting to be debated in the current legislative session.  One would require high school students to attain a minimum ACT score to graduate, eliminating the need for end-of-course exams. HB 243 proposes accountability measures for the LA GATOR voucher program, but Leaders for a Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin says it’ll be tough to get it passed.

Cut 8 (10) “…wild about either.”

A bill would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Director Lisa Freeman says texting while driving is tantamount to driving blindfolded.

Cut 7 (13) “…miles per hour.”

H-B 519 was filed by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath.

A Republican state senator has a bill that would provide an alternative to the fortified roof grants. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his proposal is geared towards people who want to take advantage of the grants but have the financial means to install the fortified roof.

Cut 10 (08) “…ten-thousand dollars.”

To be clear – Talbot’s bill would not replace the fortified roof grant program; it would be an addition to it.

Several education bills are waiting to be debated in the session, ranging from school funding to testing requirements and proposed changes to the TOPS scholarship programs. Leaders for a Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin says there is also teacher pay, and whether teachers will continue to stay at the same pay level after the failure of Amendment 2.

Cut 23 (12) “…of people want.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has struggled to secure a meeting with Governor Landry, despite Landry’s push to address the state’s sky-high auto insurance rates. Temple says he’s made every effort to talk but hasn’t been able to engage in a substantive discussion with the governor.

Cut 12 (12) “…hasn’t taken place.”

LSU football coach Brian Kelly spoke publicly this morning for the first time since the death of former Tiger football star Kyren Lacy. Lacy was one of Kelly’s first signees out of the transfer portal after he arrived in Baton Rouge in November of 2021.

Cut 3 (05) “…incredible personality”

Lacy died Saturday night in Houston from an apparent suicide.

Dying eggs is an Easter tradition and the high price of eggs this year is not expected to change the practice. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the Department of Justice was told by the Trump Administration to take a hard look at egg prices.

Cut 10 (09) “…pricing of eggs.”

The average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen but Strain recommends shopping around for the best prices.

The legislature is taking aim at distracted driving this session. A bill by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal. Studies show using a hand-held cell phone while driving has deadly consequences. Suzanne Salter knows that all too well. Her 31-year-old daughter, Nicole, was killed by a distracted driver in Livonia in 2014.

Cut 6 (14) “…heard the thump.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says that the legislative package he supports targets the real cost drivers, excessive bodily injury claims and litigation. Temple stresses the need to “bend the loss curve” to bring down rates, indicating that while there are disagreements, both he and Governor Landry ultimately share a common goal: reducing Louisiana’s oppressive insurance premiums.

Cut 14 (10) “…committed on doing.”

Former State Representative Billy Montgomery of Haughton has died. Montgomery represented district 9 from 1988 to 2008. He was an educator, a principal, and a coach who was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He led Haughton High School’s basketball team to back-to-back state championships in 1968 and 1969. The gym at Bossier Parish Community College and the basketball court at Haughton High School are named in his honor. He was 87 years old.

Despite rising egg prices across the United States, families will still practice the beloved Easter tradition of dyeing eggs. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says at the start of April the average wholesale price in Louisiana was $3.75 per dozen and in other markets $6.23 per dozen.

Cut 9 (09)  “…before you buy them.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has faced difficulty arranging a meeting with Governor Jeff Landry, even as Landry emphasizes tackling Louisiana’s soaring auto insurance rates, the highest in the country.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Landry says wants to address at least one more item to address rates and that is cracking down on handheld cell phone use while driving

Cut 8 (11) “…their insurance premiums.”

A bill by Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso and Covington Senator Patrick McMath would make using a hand-held cell phone while driving illegal.  Hand-held cell phone usage is already a primary violation in school zones and construction zones.