Governor Jeff Landry has offered up a plan to reform the auto insurance and it would result in new regulations on insurance companies and lawyers. The legislation the governor supports would force lawyers to show an injury claimed in a crash actually happened in the crash. The governor also wants to reign in lawyer advertising and pass laws to minimize distracted driving….

Cut 14 (08) “….today”

Landry says he supports a bill that would allow law enforcement to pull drivers over that are caught texting or using social media while driving.

ULM acting president Nick Bruno is considering furloughs as the university in Monroe is facing a budget shortfall that’s been reported to be five to six million dollars. Bruno says if furloughs are implemented, it will not affect students.

Cut 11 (10) “…reduced staff anyway.”

The consulting firm New Orleans hired in the wake of the New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street is out with its recommendations. Andrew Greenstein explains.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Jeff Landry says the Office of Motor Vehicles’ computer system has been doing better over the last several days, since a technical change was made last Thursday. OMV field offices have been plagued by frequent computer crashes because of an antiquated mainframe system. OMV says the eventual goal is to get a new computer system.

Governor Jeff Landry announced his insurance reform plan today that lawmakers will discuss during a two month long legislative session that begins next week. The governor says one of the bills he’ll push is legislation to reign in lawyer advertising as he believes that’s pushing car crash victims to seek big settlements…

Cut 13 (15) “….Louisiana families”

Consultants hired by the City of New Orleans have recommended that Bourbon Street be permanently closed to vehicular traffic. Now, the question is – will the city heed that recommendation? In a news conference this morning, Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick seemed non-committal.

Cut 6 (11) “…the community wants.”

Kirkpatrick says she appreciates the Fort Knox approach, but is it viable?

A seven-year-old girl injured in a house fire in Shreveport on Sunday morning has died. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux confirmed the terrible news during an interview with LRN affiliate KEEL radio.

Cut 3 (14) “…to her injuries.”

The seven year-old  is one of four people that died in the blaze. A five-year-old year was also killed, along with her grandmother and great-grandmother.

ULM is facing a six-million dollar budget deficit this fiscal year and Acting President Nick Bruno says they are looking at furloughing staff. Bruno says layoffs aren’t currently being considered, though campus restructuring is likely. He says A hiring freeze began on Monday and all employees working remotely have been recalled…

Cut 10 (12) “…to disperse that.”

Bruno says the furloughs should not affect student learning.

Consultants hired by the City of New Orleans in the wake of the New Year’s Day terror attack have recommended that Bourbon Street be turned into a permanent pedestrian mall. Teneo also recommended that St. Charles Street also be closed to vehicular traffic. But Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says that’s a little more problematic.

Cut 8 (16) “…to their homes.”

The seven-year-old girl injured in the house fire in Shreveport over the weekend has died. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux tells LRN affiliate KEEL radio that this is the worst possible outcome.

Cut 5 (05) “…a long time.”

The other three victims are the girl’s five-year-old sister, her grandmother and her great-grandmother. Investigators say all died of smoke inhalation.

Governor Landry unveiled his insurance reform plan today. He says if approved by lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session it will lower prices for Louisianans. Jeff Palermo has the details…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Governor Landry released his insurance reform plan that would put new regulations on both insurance companies and trial lawyers. The governor says one of the bills he’s pushing would require attorneys to prove that injuries are the result of the accident…

Cut 12 (15) “…after the accident.”

The City of New Orleans now has the recommendation from the consulting firm it hired in the wake of the New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street. Teneo says Bourbon Street should be transformed into a permanent pedestrian mall. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says that recommendation only addresses ramming.

Cut 7 (11) “…have prevented that.”

A fourth victim in last weekend’s Shreveport house fire has died. A seven-year-old girl initially survived the fire that killed her five-year-old sister, her grandmother and her great-grandmother, but she has succumbed to her injuries. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux tells LRN affiliate KEEL radio that this is the worst fire he has experienced as mayor.

Cut 4 (11) “…as a mayor.”

ULM plans to request approval from the University of Louisiana System Board to implement staff furloughs to address an up to six-million-dollar budget shortfall before the end of the fiscal year on June 30th. Acting President Nick Bruno emphasized that the financial position of the university is fragile.

Cut 9 (09)  “…correcting that problem.”

Consultants hired by the City of New Orleans have recommended that Bourbon Street be permanently closed to vehicular traffic. Now, the question is – will the city heed that recommendation? In a news conference this morning, Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick seemed non-committal.

Cut 6 (11) “…the community wants.”

The seven-year-old girl injured in the house fire in Shreveport over the weekend has died. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux confirmed that this morning in an interview with KEEL radio.

Cut 3 (14) “…to her injuries.” 

The other three victims are the girl’s five-year-old sister, her grandmother and her great-grandmother. Arceneaux calls it the worst fire he has ever seen in his time as mayor, 

Two Lake Charles boys reported missing in November are back home thanks in part to the show On Patrol Live.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Leaders for a Better Louisiana released a report showing that while high school student participation in internships and apprenticeships has grown, the state still trails peer southern states. The group says in 2023, about 5-percent of Louisiana’s 42-thousand graduates earned internship credit, which trails Georgia and Tennessee by a wide margin.

Governor Landry is set to announce his plan for lowering insurance premiums at the top of the hour, and a new poll shows that this could be the single most important announcement of his governorship. The poll by Bernie Pinsonat and Greg Rigamer shows that Landry’s favorable and unfavorable ratings are split almost down the middle, and the high price of insurance is a major factor. Pinsonat says the survey also shows that 36-percent hold the legislature accountable for addressing the crisis.

Cut 11 (11) “…cost of insurance.”

If the City of New Orleans heeds the recommendations of consultants it hired, Bourbon Street will become a permanent pedestrian mall. Consulting firm Teneo says while the final decision rests with the city council, anything short of permanently closing off Bourbon Street to vehicular traffic increases the risk of a repeat of the New Year’s Day terror attack.

The group Restore the Mississippi Delta is speaking out after the Landry administration ordered a 90-day pause on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project in Plaquemines Parish. Campaign Director Simone Maloz (muh-LAWS) says the project is essential to slowing the loss of coastal land to erosion. 

Cut 14 (14) “…restore our coast.”

Two Lake Charles children reported missing in November are back home with their father, thanks to a television show. On March 7th, REELZ’s On Patrol: Live aired “Missing” segments featuring Colton and Cohen Desormeaux. Angeline Hartman with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says the show changed everything.

Cut 5 (09) “…get involved.”

Governor Landry is set to announce his plan for lowering insurance premiums this morning, and a new poll shows that this could be the single most important announcement of his governorship. The poll by Bernie Pinsonat and Greg Rigamer shows deep dissatisfaction with the state’s direction on insurance.  Pinsonat says nearly everyone surveyed said he or she was concerned about the direction of insurance premiums.

Cut 12 (09) “…continue to rise.”

Two Lake Charles children reported missing in November have been found and are back home with their father after being featured on REELZ’s On Patrol: Live March 7^th.  National Center for Missing & Exploited Children spokesperson Angeline Hartman says to date, 40 people have been recovered thanks to On Patrol: Live, whose fanbase plays a critical role in spreading awareness.

Cut 6 (12) “…missing children.”

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The group Restore the Mississippi Delta is speaking out after work is halted on the 3.1-billion-dollar Mid Barataria Sediment Diversion Project in Plaquemines Parish. Colleen Crain reports…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Leaders for a Better Louisiana released a report showing high school student participation in internships and apprenticeships is up…but still ranks lower than other southern states.   CABL CEO Adam Knapp says that’s why Better Louisiana is proposing legislation to streamline work-based tax credits and expand student access to real-world learning.

Cut 9 (11) “…for their businesses.”

Two Lake Charles boys reported missing in November are back home in part thanks to the show On Patrol Live.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

New Orleans Police are set to hold a media briefing later this morning to talk about the Teneo advisory group report regarding public safety recommendations for the French Quarter.  The report is in response to the New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street.  Today’s briefing is scheduled for this morning at ten.

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Leaders for a Better Louisiana released a report showing that while high school student participation in internships and apprenticeships has grown, the state still trails peer southern states. CABL CEO Adam Knapp says in 2023, about 5-percent of Louisiana’s 42-thousand graduates earned internship credit, better than previous years but still low compared to Georgia and Tennessee’s 15–20-percent.

Cut 7 (11) “…high school students.”

Governor Landry’s set to announce his plan for lowering insurance premiums this morning, and a new poll shows that this could be the single most important announcement of his governorship. The poll by Bernie Pinsonat and Greg Rigamer shows a majority of tose polled aren’t happy with the way the legislature’s handled premiums thus far.  Pinsonat says the pressure is on Landry to get something done.

Cut 10 (09) “…lot of credit.”