Bossier, Caddo and Webster Parishes are under a tornado watch until 9:00 tonight and tomorrow the severe weather threat will expand statewide. LSU Public health climatologist Barry Keim says heavy rainfall is a possibility with this storm system. North Louisiana could see two to three inches, while an inch of rain could fall along the coast…

Cut 4 (12) “…rainfall amounts.”

Sweeping tariffs of 10 percent on all imports are now in effect along with higher rates on key trading partners, such as China (34%) and the European Union (20%), and that has sparked concerns across Louisiana industries.  Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says it could cost more to eat out…

Cut 6 (10) “…no question about it.”

In a 711 to 650 vote, ULM students approved a 75-dollar per semester fee expected to bring in 600-thousand dollars in the first year for the school’s athletic department. ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell says opponents of the fee said they do not attend athletics events or questioned the need to spend more money on sports but he says a successful athletic program improves the entire university…

Cut 11 (11) “…your diploma.”

A Rayville High School Student was arrested Thursday evening for Terrorizing. Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office says the student posted a about potential violence at Friday’s RHS track meet. The student said she meant no harm, but extra deputies were assigned to the track meet. RPSO says they want to remind parents to monitor their children’s social media and make sure they know charges are serious and could potentially have long lasting consequences.

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Deputies found a couple dead in their home near Amite Thursday afternoon and they are searching for the couple’s son in connection with a double homicide investigation. During a welfare check, deputies first found 66-year-old Priscilla Brocato deceased and later found 75-year-old Marc Brocato deceased on the property. 34-year-old Joshua Brocato has been named a person of interest He is 5 feet, 9 inches and weighs 200 pounds with brown hair and eyes believed to be driving a white 2014 Ford utility van with a last known to be in Lafayette. Sheriff Gerald Sticker asks anyone with information to call TPSO, State Police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-554-5245.

Economists are concerned President Donald Trump’s sweeping 10% and higher tariffs could slow the U-S economy, and Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says the restaurant industry is bracing for increased costs for essential goods.

Cut 7 (06) “…or replace equipment.”

ULM students have voted to put a 75-dollar fee on themselves with the money going to the school’s athletic department. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A 73-year-old immigrant living in Lafayette was taken into custody by immigration authorities and his family is pleading for his release. Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez has lived in the U.S. for 45 years since he fled Cuba. His stepdaughter, Christian Cooper Riggs posted this emotional plea on Facebook…

Cut 13 (14)  “…not the solution.”

Bossier, Caddo and Webster Parishes are under a tornado watch until 9:00 tonight and tomorrow the severe weather threat will expand statewide. LSU Public health climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 3 (15) “…severe weather.”

Heavy rainfall is a possibility with this storm system. Kein says north Louisiana could see two to three inches, while an inch of rain could fall along the coast

Louisiana State Police say a man killed in a head-on crash on I-10 in Ascension Parish was traveling the wrong way. Officials identified the victim as 39-year-old James Burns of Amite. According to preliminary investigation around 1:30 Friday morning, a tractor-trailer traveling east was struck by Burns’ GMC Sierra. The Vehicles caught fire. Authorities say Burns died at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.

Sweeping 10-percent and higher tariffs on all imports has sparked concern across Louisiana industries.  Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The family of a 73-year-old immigrant who was taken into custody in Lafayette is pleading for his release. Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez’s stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs says Rodriguez tried to become an official citizen for the last ten years, but because he committed a crime in the first couple of years after he arrived in the U.S., he’s been unsuccessful. She says for the last 43 years her stepfather has been a model immigrant

Cut 12 (15) “…our country.”

With 10 percent tariffs on all imports now in effect and higher tariffs on imports from key trading partners like China (34%) and the European Union (20%), some Louisiana industries are expressing concern.  Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris believes costs will potentially go up and low profit margin businesses like restaurants will have to do some belt-tightening.

Cut 8 (11) “…period of time.”

ULM students approved a 75-dollar per semester fee in a 711 to 650 vote. The extra 600-thousand dollars the fee is expected to generate in its first year is going to the athletic department. ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell…

Cut 10 (10) “…sports medicine program.”

The family of a 73-year-old man who cares for his wife who has dementia is pleading for his release after immigration enforcement agents took him into custody near his home in Lafayette. Cuba native, Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez has lived in the U.S. for 45 years. His stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs took to Facebook saying she understands the there’s an immigration problem, but a 45-year resident who works and cares for his family is not the problem…

Cut 14 (05) “…a machete.”

Riggs says, for 10 years, Rodriguez’s attempts to become an official citizen have been unsuccessful because he committed a crime when he first arrived in the U.S. but since then has been a model immigrant.

Do you want to know how public-school districts and charter schools are spending their money? You can find that information at treasury-dot-la-gov.  State Treasurer John Fleming says click the box that reads Louisiana K-12 School Transparency Project.

Cut 13 (11)  “…want to know”

A 73-year-old native of Cuba who has lived in the United States for the last 45 years was picked up by enforcement agents near his Lafayette home. Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriguez’s family is calling for his release…

Cut 13 (13) “…not the solution”

That’s Rodriguez’s stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs. Riggs is hoping the public will hear their story and contact their elected officials and demand for Rodriguez’s release.

President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs of 10 percent on all imports and higher rates on key trading partners, such as China (34%) and the European Union (20%), has sparked concerns across Louisiana industries.  Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says it could cost more to eat out…

Cut 6 (10) “…no question about it.”

It is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Louisiana and state officials are making the case again, when behind the wheel put the phone down. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Bryan Adams went from State Fire Marshal to Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner this week as Governor Landry has called on Adams to lead the effort in modernizing the outdated OMV system. The current mainframe system is 50 years old, and keeps crashing, causing delays at OMV offices, forcing customers to make another appointment for another day.  Adams says enough is enough.

Cut 5 (11) “…really deserve.”

It is Distracted Diving Awareness Month and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission plans to push lawmakers in the upcoming session to approve a hands-free primary law, which would allow police officers to ticket drivers who use a hand held cell phone while driving. The Commission’s executive director Lisa Freeman…

Cut 26 (07) “….tremendous results”

ULM students have approved a 75-dollar fee per semester that will generate 600-thousand dollars in its first year for the school’s athletic department. ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell says the fee goes into effect for the 2025 Fall Semester…

Cut 9 (11)  “…21 million dollars.”

Hartwell says they plan to use the money to install a new video board in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The A-D says there’s also plans to spend the money on improving the nutrition program, mental health services and strength and training programs for the school’s 17 athletic teams.

LSU star women’s basketball player Flau’Jae Johnson is reportedly returning for her senior season. Reed Darcey of the Advocate says Johnson said after the team’s season-ending loss to UCLA, she wanted to get past the Elite Eight…

Cut 16 (19) “…own championship.”

The family of a 73-year-old grandfather is pleading for his release after immigration enforcement agents took him into custody near his home in Lafayette while on his way to work. He’s at an ICE processing center in Evangeline Parish. The family says Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez has lived in the U-S for 45 years since he fled Cuba. Rodriguez’s stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs posted this emotional plea on Facebook…

Cut 12 (15) “…to our country”

Riggs says Rodriguez tried to become an official citizen for the last ten years, but because he committed a crime in the first couple of years of his time in the U-S, he’s been unsuccessful.

It is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Cell phones are believed to be a major contributor to distracted or inattentive crashes. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple urges parents to set an example of not using a phone while behind the wheel…

Cut 8 (09) “…your kids.”

Preliminary data shows that distracted driving crashes led to 180 fatalities in 2024 in Louisiana.

On the state Department of Treasury’s website, there is a portal that provides information on how public-school districts and charter schools spend their money. State Treasurer John Fleming says they are still collecting data, so not every school’s financial information is published yet…

Cut 15 (110 “….data to come”

Fleming is incredibly proud of the website, which was enacted as a result of a state law passed in 2023. He says sunlight is the best disinfectant to fight efficiency and waste.

This week, Governor Jeff Landry appointed Bryan Adams as the new leader for the Office of Motor Vehicles following Commissioner Dan Casey’s resignation. OMV is suffering from system outages due to outdated technology. Adams was serving as the State Fire Marshal and he’s optimistic OMV customers will start to see improvements as early as next week…

Cut 4 (10) “…citizens of Louisiana.”

The current mainframe system is 50 years old and it keeps crashing,

It is Distracted Driving Awareness Mont. Department of Transportation Secretary Joe Donahue says preliminary data from 2024 shows that distracted driving crashes led to 180 fatalities and 1,295 serious injuries in Louisiana…

Cut 7 (12) “…fully recover”

Cell phones are believed to be a major contributor to distracted or inattentive crashes.

The rejection of Constitutional Amendment 2 in last Saturday’s election could result in a decrease in teacher pay, if state lawmakers cannot find 200-million dollars in revenues to make sure they continue to receive a two-thousand dollar stipend. Randal Gaines, the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, says he’s calling for a permanent pay raise for teachers with no strings attached.

Cut 12 (15) “…as  a whole.”

We’ll see if the state legislature can find the money to keep teacher pay at its current level. A fiscal session begins April 14^th.

What a performance by sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson last night! The Tigers ace struck out 14 hitters as LSU shutout Oklahoma two to nothing. Anderson threw 135 pitches in the complete game shutout.