Starting tomorrow, your regular driver’s license won’t be enough to board a commercial flight – you will need a REAL ID. As such, OMV offices across the state are jammed with people trying to get one. One woman who showed up at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs has no immediate travel plans but needs a REAL ID for work. She says if you don’t have immediate travel plans, you can wait.

Cut 4 (08) “…at the moment.”

One of the bills in the legislature getting the most attention is the one that would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates he or she deems to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. It has passed in the full House and is now awaiting debate in a Senate committee. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple opposes it, saying he has rejected rates because they’re either too low or too high.

Cut 9 (06)  “…the drawing board.”

The Rayne Police Department is grieving over the loss of one of its officers who was killed by friendly fire. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A horrific scene in Caddo Parish, as four people are dead in a murder-suicide in Keithville. Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the home at around seven yesterday morning, and gunfire erupted in the house a few minutes later. At this time, it’s unclear what led to the shooting.

OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs, as regular driver’s licenses will no longer be adequate to board commercial flights starting tomorrow. As such, people are waiting a long time, even those who are there for something other than REAL ID.

Cut 3 (09) “…minutes at best.”

Last month, the OMV and Public Tag Agents processed more than 97-thousand REAL ID applications.

Independent Marshall Simien was elected as mayor of Lake Charles on Saturday, defeating two-term Republican incumbent Nic Hunter. Simien says he’ll look to bring the city together once he’s sworn in on July 1^st…

Cut 11 (11) “…tent for everybody”

Simien will be the first Black mayor in Lake Charles history.

If you’re unemployed, you might soon be required to increase your work searches and keep your job interview appointments to keep your benefits. The House has passed House Bill 153 by a vote of 73 to 24. It’s written by Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert, who says he’d heard from employers who have been stood up for job interviews.

Cut 13 (13)  “…there with unemployment.”

The legislation heads to the Senate for more discussion.

Bogue Chitto State Park near Franklinton is undergoing a significant expansion with the acquisition of over 800 adjacent acres, increasing the park’s total area by 45-percent to nearly 2,600 acres. Office of State Parks Assistant Secretary Brandon Burris….

Cut 6 (07) “…has to offer.”

Burris says the newly acquired acres will need some restoration projects in the future to maintain the quality and standards for Louisiana State Parks.

OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs on this deadline day. Andrew Greenstein is at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs.

Cut 1 (35) “…Andrew Greenstein”

The Rayne Police officer killed while investigating a stabbing a home has been identified. Rayne Police chief K-P Gibson says 47-year-old Allen Noochie Credeur was shot by friendly fire while executing a search warrant related to a violent crime. Gibson calls it a devastating accident.

JMC Analytics has released a poll conducted by the Fleming campaign that shows a very tight U-S primary election between John Fleming and incumbent US Senator Bill Cassidy next year. Fleming is challenging Cassidy, claiming he’s the more conservative candidate. Pearson Cross teaches political science at ULM…

Cut 4 (08) “…support too”

Cassidy’s campaign has also released its own poll, which shows the Senior Senator with a double digit lead over Fleming.

The entire state is under a flood watch. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the highest rainfall totals are projected for the Acadiana area…

Cut 8 (12) “….to four days’

The flood watch for south Louisiana extends into Thursday.

A year from now we could be experiencing a runoff in the Republican U-S Senate primary. Incumbent Bill Cassidy and challenger John Fleming each have released their own polls which show different results. Sean Richardson spoke with a ULM professor that teaches political science…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a murder-suicide where four people ended up dead. Deputies were called to a home in Keithville and while on the scene they heard a gunshot inside the home. A drone search of the interior of the home found four people dead.

At the state capitol, The Louisiana House approved a bill that would require those on unemployment to do more work search actions in order to keep their unemployment benefits….

Cut 14 (10) “…a job quicker”

That’s Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert. The bill passed on a 73-24 vote and heads to the Senate for further discussion.

Marshall Simen has a new job. He was elected as mayor of Lake Charles on Saturday, defeating two-term Republican incumbent Nic Hunter, receiving 52-percent of the vote to 48-percent. Simien says he’ll look to bring the city together once he’s sworn in on July 1^st…

Cut 11 (11) “…tent for everybody”

Simien will be the first Black mayor in Lake Charles history.

If you expect to keep collecting unemployment benefits, you may soon be required to up your weekly job searches and keep your job interview appointments. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Rayne Police Department in Acadia Parish is mourning the loss of one of its officers. KLFY-TV is reporting the shooting occurred while officers were investigating a domestic dispute at a home in Rayne. And according to sources, the Rayne Police officer was accidentally shot. The officer has been identified as Lt. Allen Credeur.

State Treasurer John Fleming’s Senate campaign released a poll showing the race between him and incumbent Bill Cassidy is a statistical tie. The two are expected to square off in next spring’s Republican Senate primary. Pearson Cross teaches politics at ULM and says Fleming has released the poll in the hopes he can catch up to Cassidy in fundraising…

Cut 6 (04) “…has an advantage”

On July first, Independent Marshall Simien will take over as Lake Charles mayor. He’s replacing two-term Republican Nic Hunter, who he defeated in a close election on Saturday. Simien says one of his biggest challenges will be leading Lake Charles during a time of economic growth, because of a growing energy sector…

Cut 12 (14) “….to stay here”

Economist Loren Scott’s economic forecast has Lake Charles as the fastest growing area in the state, adding about 81-hundred jobs in 2025 and 2026.

The Louisiana House has approved requiring residents on unemployment to perform at least five work search actions a week, instead of three to keep their unemployment. A work action would be participating in an interview, filling out an application or attending job fairs or networking events.  Lafayette Representative Troy Hebert says the legislation would also result in disqualification for unemployment if they miss a scheduled job interview or do not accept a suitable job offer…

Cut 15 (15) “…..doing bad things”

The bill passed on a 73-24 vote. Opponents of the legislation say the measure is designed to make it easier to kick out of work individuals off of unemployment. Hebert says his goal is help the unemployed find a job quicker.

Lake Charles will soon have a new mayor. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The entire state is under a flood watch. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the flood watch means that excessive rainfall is possible, which could lead to flooding in low-lying areas, that includes rivers and creeks and we could see street flooding…

Cut 9 (12)  “…forth to work.”

We are expecting a lot of rain over the next few days. The entire state is under a flood watch. State Climatologist Jay Grymes…

Cut 7 (08) “..higher than that”

The Lafayette area could see six to eight inches of rain and the National Weather Service says a foot of rain over the next three days is possible.

At the state capitol, The Louisiana House approved a bill that would require those on unemployment to do more work search actions in order to keep their unemployment benefits….

Cut 14 (10) “…a job quicker”

That’s Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert. The bill passed on a 73-24 vote and heads to the Senate for further discussion.

A year from now we could be experiencing a runoff in the Republican U-S Senate primary. Incumbent Bill Cassidy and challenger John Fleming each have released their own polls which show different results. Sean Richardson spoke with a ULM professor that teaches political science…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson”

Ruston police have arrested a Louisiana Tech defensive back and charged him with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Investigators say 20-year-old Jacob Fields was chaperoning a 15-year-old and 17-year-old who were visiting Tech for a recruiting event. At an apartment, Fields allegedly smoked marijuana with them and one of the teens had an adverse reaction to it. According to police, Fields then dropped the brothers off at a hotel where their mother was staying and the mother called police. Fields appeared in 12 games last season and had two interceptions.

If you’re unemployed, you might soon be required to increase your work searches and keep your job interview appointments to keep your benefits. The House has passed House Bill 153 by a vote of 73 to 24, with all but one of the “no” votes coming from Democrats. It’s written by Lafayette Republican Troy Hebert, who says he’d heard from employers who have been stood up for job interviews.

Cut 13 (13)  “…there with unemployment.”

Hebert’s legislation would require those on unemployment to perform five work search actions a week, up from the current three. Opponents of the bill say it maybe difficult in rural areas to do five work search actions a week, because employment opportunities are limited.

The entire state is under a flood watch. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the highest rainfall totals are projected for the Acadiana area…

Cut 8 (12) “….to four days’

The flood watch for south Louisiana extends into Thursday. Most of the state is expected to see two inches, four to six inches for the Baton Rouge area.

On July 1st, Lake Charles will have a new mayor, as Marshall Semien unseated two-term incumbent Nic Hunter over the weekend. Mayor-elect Semien says it was a hard-fought campaign, but Mayor Hunter was very gracious in defeat.

Cut 10 (12) “…without my input.”

Semien says one of his biggest priorities is managing the economic boom Lake Charles is expected to see as a result of a growing energy sector.

Dueling polls are out in the 2026 Senate race. Republican challenger John Fleming has released a poll that shows next year’s Republican Senate primary is neck and neck, while Republican incumbent Bill Cassidy has a poll that shows he has a comfortable lead over Fleming. Pearson Cross teaches political science at ULM and says Fleming must make up ground in fundraising and his poll showing the race is a statistical tie is an effort to drum up financial support…

Cut 5 (11) “….please invest”

The latest campaign finance report shows Cassidy with 2.2 million dollars in cash on hand, while Cassidy has 7.5 million.