When it comes to the high price of auto insurance, Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple are pointing their fingers – not at the insurance companies or trial lawyers, but at one another. When he announced the 20 insurance reform bills he’s supporting, Temple noted that he has not had a conversation with Landry about the issue in a long time.

Cut 3 (11) “…for property reform.”

Governor Landry names a new Secretary of the Department of Health. Soon to be secretary, Bruce Greenstein is not new to the position having served as former Governor Bobby Jindal’s LDH Secretary from 2010 until in 2013 Jindal learned Greenstein was under federal investigation for his role in the award of a multimillion-dollar Medicaid contract. Though he was never charged. There are many in office who laud this appointment saying there is no one better for the position because of Greenstein’s experience.

Last month, the Port of New Orleans recorded over 165-thousand cruise passenger movements, setting a new monthly record Port Pres Secretary Kimberly Curth says as the 6th largest U.S. cruise port and the only one offering both ocean and river cruises, the Port benefits from its prime location near the French Quarter.

Cut 10 (07) “…one of a kind.”

Major cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian continue strong partnerships, offering year-round sailings.

And Visit Lake Charles has launched the “Always Here” campaign to highlight tourism’s vital role in Southwest Louisiana’s economy. Visit Lake Charles CMO Timothy Bush says tourists come for leisure, events, business, and sports, supporting local hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Cut 7 (10) “…southwest Louisiana.”

As the legislature gets set to fight for auto insurance reform, Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple are at odds. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Long time employees of the International Paper Mill in Campti say goodbye as the doors of the mill close today. Many have reported for duty there for decades. International has been a constant in the lives of many of the people in the small North Natchitoches Parish town.

It Festival season and the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is this weekend. Since 1972, Tangipahoa Parish has hosted this festival to celebrate the strawberry industry. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, who’s from nearby St Tammany Parish, says the Strawberry Festival is the largest free harvest festival in the state…

Cut 13 (09)  “…and jellies.”

The three-day festival attracts an estimated 300-thousand visitors every year.

As we near Easter weekend, crawfish prices are $1.50 cheaper than they were last Easter says Crawfish App Co-founder Laney King. And she says this year the weather is going to be perfect, and the crawfish supply will be plentiful.

Cut 15 (08) “…sooner than later”

Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple launch a war of words over their competing plans to address soaring auto insurance rates. Temple says nothing will be accomplished through bickering.

Cut 5 (11) “…of Louisiana benefit.”

Temple says Governor Landry’s proposal to limit injury lawyer advertising is easier said than done, saying a similar law in Florida was struck down in the courts.

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is this weekend. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, who’s from nearby Abita Springs, says if you love strawberries and music this is the festival for you…

Cut 12 (12) “…incredible.”

Tangipahoa Parish has hosted this festival to celebrate the strawberry industry since 1972, and it generates an estimated 12-million dollars to the economy. 

Last month, the Port of New Orleans set a new monthly record with 165-thousand cruise passenger movements. Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Visit Lake Charles has launched the “Always Here” campaign to highlight tourism’s vital role in Southwest Louisiana’s economy. Visit Lake Charles Chief Marketing Officer Timothy Bush says in 2023, the region welcomed over seven million visitors, generating $800 million in spending.

Cut 6 (06) “…to our local economy.”

The gloves are off between Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple over exactly how to rein in out-of-control auto insurance premiums. In announcing his own insurance reform plan earlier this week, Landry said he wanted to limit the ability of trial lawyers to advertise. Temple says, good luck with that. He says Florida passed a regulation limiting attorney advertising, and that was overturned by the courts.

Cut 4 (08) “…of that conversation.”

Crawfish prices are dropping as Easter approaches. According to The Crawfish App Co-founder Laney King live crawfish average $3.14 per pound, and boiled crawfish about $5.55. Some live crawfish sacks are now under three dollars a pound.

Cut 14 (12) “…anticipation of Easter.”

The Port of New Orleans sets a new record for passenger movements. Last month, Port NOLA recorded over 165-thousand movements, surpassing the previous high of 155-thousand in March 2023. Kimberly Curth with Port NOLA says this milestone follows a record-breaking 2024 with more than 1.2 million cruise passenger movements.

Cut 9 (11)  “…prime cruise destination”

Curth noted as the 6th largest U.S. cruise port and the only one offering both ocean and river cruises, Port NOLA benefits from its prime location near the French Quarter.

When it comes to the high price of auto insurance, Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple are pointing their fingers – not at the insurance companies or trial lawyers, but at one another. When he announced the 20 insurance reform bills he’s supporting, Temple noted that he has not had a conversation with Landry about the issue in a long time. 

Cut 3 (11) “…for property reform.” 

Amid the bickering, trucking companies are urging the legislature to take aim at frivolous lawsuits that they say are driving up the cost of insurance. Jake Minner, the director at Bengal Transportation Services in Ascension Parish, says his company has been hit with very costly frivolous lawsuits.

Cut 25 (10) “…that they’re injured.”

When the legislative session opens Monday, the legislature will be considering at least seven bills designed to strengthen elections in the state. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says one of them, Senate Bill 109, is a constitutional amendment that would prohibit foreign funding of a political campaign, whether for or against a candidate or a ballot measure.

Cut 7 (14) “…against a candidate.”

Spring has arrived, and so has prime fishing season! To celebrate, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries invites you to a free Get Out & Fish! event tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Turner’s Pond in Minden. LDWF Biologist Danica Williams says no boat, no experience — no problem.

Cut 14 (12) “…that for you.”

The legislative session begins on Monday and a major priority for legislators is to lower auto insurance rates. Jake Minner, the director at Bengal Transportation Services in Ascension Parish, says his company’s insurance rates have soared from six-thousand dollars per truck per year to 23 thousand –

Cut 5 (08) “…ever seen it.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says legal reform is needed that would make it harder for people involved in accidents to sue and win big money settlements.

Governor Landry says since Amendment 2 did not pass, it’s back to the drawing board for preserving teacher pay at its current level. Senate President Cameron Henry says he’s hopeful that as the budget makes its way through the legislative process, dollars will emerge to keep teacher pay where it is.

Cut 30 (08) “…to do.”

Amendment 2 would have transformed a stipend into a permanent pay increase.

State Representative Larry Bagley has announced his candidacy for Public Service Commission. The republican from DeSoto Parish wants to serve the same district that Foster Campbell represents. Campbell is term limited and will leave office at the end of 2026. Bagley on what he’ll bring to the P-S-C…

Cut 11 (07) “…here in the state”

Bagley says he will ramp up his campaign after the 2025 legislative session.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is supporting a package of bills that she says will improve election integrity. Louisiana recently moved up to number two in an election integrity report. Landry is advocating for the passage of Senate Bill 90 which would prohibit wagering on the outcome of an election, which Landry says is already banned in 30 states…

Cut 8 (09) “….of an election”

Landry also supports a constitutional amendment that would prohibit foreign funding of a political campaign, whether for or against a candidate or a ballot measure.

Trucking companies are urging the legislature to do something about commercial vehicle insurance rates that they say are spiraling out of control. Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple say one big driver of the soaring insurance rates is frivolous lawsuits. Jake Minner, the director at Bengal Transportation Services in Ascension Parish, says his company has been hit with very costly frivolous lawsuits.

Cut 4 (10) “…that they’re injured.”

Governor Jeff Landry said at a Wednesday press conference that Louisiana’s Insurance Commissioner should have the authority to prohibit any rates deemed excessive. But at a press conference yesterday in Ascension Parish, Temple says he already has that power…

Cut 26 (08) “…exercise it”

Temple also said Landry’s claim that insurers can conceal information that he needs to regulate them is also wrong.

When the legislative session begins Monday, the legislature will considerg several bills to strengthen election integrity….

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The weather will be excellent for outdoor activities this weekend and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries  is in the process of stocking 17 locations with adult-sized Channel Catfish as part of its Get Out and Fish campaign…

Cut 15 (07) “…cooking and eating”

That’s LDWF Biologist Danica Williams. For more information go to LDWF’s website.