A volunteer softball coach at a Lafayette High School has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a student. Authorities say Ronnie Naomi is charged with incent behavior with juveniles and prohibited sexual conduct between educator and student. Lafayette Parish School System says Naomi was not employed by LPSS but was contracted as Head Softball Coach at David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy. Naomi was arrested at the school Thursday and booked into the Lafayette Parish Jail on $40,000 bond.

As relations with Canada are strained by tariffs and comments by President Trump, more than half of the Canadians scheduled to appear at the Great Acadian Awakening in Lafayette this fall have cancelled their plans. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana that he’s very concerned and the souring relations between the two countries are also impacting Louisiana leaders’ travels to Canada.

Cut 10 (13) “…this thing closely.”

The head of the Office of Motor Vehicles has resigned. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana has a nonpartisan guide to help voters learn about the four constitutional amendments on Saturday’s ballot. PAR president Steven Procopio says Amendment three removes a list of 16 crimes for which people under age 17 can be charged as adults so lawmakers can more easily expand the list of laws that could result in a person under 17 being charged as an adult…

Cut 13 (12)  “…issue.”

To read up about the amendments, go to PARlouisiana.org

Saturday, voters will cast their ballot on four constitutional amendments. Amendment two is a big one. It would enact new tax rules like caping the state income tax rate that lawmakers can charge and double the standard deduction for anyone 65 and older. Public Affairs Research Council president Steven Procopio says the measure would also dissolve three education trust funds and use the money to pay down retirement debt.

Cut 12 (11) “…pay raise.”

Come Monday morning, ULM will see a familiar face in their president’s office. The University of Louisiana System Board appointed former ULM President Nick Bruno as ULM’s acting president. Bruno served as president of the university from 2010 to 2020. Dr. Ron Berry began serving in 2020 but earlier this year, he announced his decision to return to the classroom. The UL System Board will continue their search for a new ULM president in April.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 7:00 PM for Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Vernon Parishes. Central and southwest Louisiana are under a flash flood watch until one o’ clock Saturday afternoon. Meteorologist Lance Escude says the heavy rainfall is the result of a storm system moving in from southern Texas…

Cut 4 (10) “…begin falling” 

Crawfish App co-founder Laney King says the start of April marks the historical true start of the heart of crawfish season, and she expects prices will continue to decline as we approach Easter weekend. Fontenot says 2025 looks like a good crawfish season…

Cut 7 (12) “…the road.”

Four constitutional amendments are on Saturday’s ballot. The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana has a nonpartisan guide available for voters. PAR president Steven Procopio says Amendment one gives the Louisiana Supreme Court the authority to discipline out of state -lawyers and it gives the Louisiana legislature the authority to create specialty courts not limited to parish and judicial district boundaries…

Cut 11 (11) “…specialized cases.”

The State flagship university, LSU in Baton Rouge announces a hiring freeze. President Dr. William Tate names unpredictable and unprecedented federal funding changes along with and a shifting landscape of financial support are the factors that made the freeze necessary. He says they must shore up operations and protect current revenue to drive progress and support the academic core. The freeze is effective immediately but there is a process for critical hires. He says other cost savings steps are also being taken.

After half of the Canadians who had been scheduled to appear at the Great Acadian Awakening in Lafayette in October cancelled their plans, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser expressed concern about the strained relationship with Canada over tariffs and President Trump’s remarks about the neighbors to the north. He says the impacts on the Great Acadian Awakening could be just the start if relations between the two countries continue to decline.

Cut 9 (11)  “…country to celebrate.”

A weather alert for Southwest and Central Louisiana.  The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 7:00 PM for Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Vernon Parishes. A flash flood watch for Southwest and Central Louisiana is in effect until one o’ clock Saturday afternoon. National Weather Service meteorologist Lance Escude says it will be wet…

Cut 3 (12) “…or so.”

There’s the potential for heavy rainfall for southwest Louisiana and the Alexandria area today and tomorrow. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has the latest…

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Bill Jacquemin.”

Crawfish prices have dropped 25 cents, hitting a new low for 2025. According to the Crawfish App, live crawfish are averaging $3.64 a pound, when it comes to boiled crawfish, you can expect to pay a little more than six-dollars a pound. Prices are dropping, because supply is up. Evangeline Parish crawfish farmer Jonathan Fontenot…

Cut 6 (06) “…more promising.”

More than half of the Canadians who were scheduled to appear at the Great Acadian Awakening in Lafayette in October have cancelled their plans to attend and President Trump’s tariffs and talk of making the country the 51^st state are the reasons they say. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana that he’s very concerned.

Cut 8 (06) “…on that celebration.”

Nungesser says the impact on the Great Acadian Awakening could be just the start if relations between the two countries continue to go south. He says he is also scaling back his plans to visit Canada

Of the four amendments on tomorrow’s ballot, Amendment 2 is by far getting the most attention. It would make several changes to Article Seven of the state constitution, which deals with revenue collection and taxation. Governor Landry says passage will end the boom-and-bust cycles and set the state towards the path of prosperity…

Cut 8 (10) “…that cure.”

Invest Louisiana is one of several groups which oppose the passage of Amendment Two. The group’s director Jan (YAHN) Moeller finds it interesting that some conservatives oppose the bill because it would make it easier to remove tax breaks for churches…

Cut 10 (10) “…during the debate.”

Landry says the amendment preserves the exemption for religious organizations and he would never support anything that would harm them.

The legislature in the upcoming regular session will consider a bill that would eliminate local sales taxes on groceries. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says with the state having the highest combined sales tax rate in the nation, food at the grocery store should not be taxed…

Cut 13 (06)  “…at this point.”

The LSU Lady Tigers face North Carolina State tonight in the Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. LSU is playing its best basketball of the season as they scored more than 100 points in their last two games. Coach Kim Mulkey points to the health of her top players…

Cut 17 (16)  “…right now.”

LSU beat the Wolfpack 82-65 in November in a tournament in the Bahamas.

Four constitutional amendments are on tomorrow’s ballot, and Amendment 2 is receiving the most attention. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Polls open at seven tomorrow morning and close at eight tomorrow night, and Secretary of State Nancy Landry says results should be announced a short time later.

Cut 6 (04) “…for the presidential.”

Landry says about 180-thousand voters have already cast ballots.

The Humane Society of Louisiana’s Animal Fighting Task Force rescues more than 40 dogs who were being used for dogfighting in Concordia Parish. HSLA Director Jeff Dorson says the dogs are on the road to recovery; and, pending a temperament assessment, they’ll be put up for adoption.

Cut 16 (06) “…and watered regularly.”

44-year-old Maurice Sheppard was arrested and is charged with animal cruelty.

The eighth ranked LSU baseball team was down six to two in the fifth inning last night, but scored five runs in the fifth inning and went on to beat Mississippi State eight to six to take game one of the series. Daniel Dickinson hit a three-run homer to cut LSU’s deficit to one run. Later in the inning, Stevan Milam hit a two-run homer to give LSU a one-run lead. Dickinson on the big five-run fifth…

Cut 30 (09) “…or the ninth”

Same two teams meet again at 6:30 tonight.

The Humane Society of Louisiana’s Animal Fighting Task Force has rescued more than 40 dogs who were being used for dogfighting in Concordia Parish. On a tip the sheriff’s office used drones to locate the dogs, found abused and abandoned.HSLA Director Jeff Dorson says the Animal Cruelty Task Force was formed to be ready to respond to calls in places like Concordia Parish, which does not have a public shelter or an animal control unit.

Cut 15 (07) “…type of situation.”

State lawmakers will consider a bill that would eliminate local sales taxes on groceries in the upcoming regular session. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says while Louisiana does not impose a state sales tax on groceries, local governments do, leading some residents, particularly in Caddo Parish, to cross state lines to get groceries.

Cut 12 (09) “…any sales tax.”

Tomorrow is Election Day in Louisiana. While there will be a small handful of special races to be decided, all voters will be deciding the fate of four proposed constitutional amendments. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says the turnout in early voting was very brisk.

Cut 4 (06) “…or voting absentee”

Polls open tomorrorow morning at seven.

One of four constitutional amendments on tomorrow’s ballot is getting lots of attention and that’s Amendment 2, which makes changes to Article Seven of the state constitution regarding revenue collection and taxation.  Teacher unions support the amendment as does Governor Jeff Landry.

Cut 7 (13) “…pay raise (2x).” 

The LSU Lady Tigers continue their march towards the national championship tonight. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Humane Society of Louisiana’s Animal Fighting Task Force has rescued more than 40 dogs who were being used for dogfighting in Concordia Parish. They were found abused and abandoned on a 28 acre property in Clayton.  HSLA Director Jeff Dorson.

Cut 14 (06) “…of animal cruelty.”

As for the dogs, Dorson says they’re on the road to recovery; and, pending a temperament assessment, they’ll be put up for adoption.

—————————-

There are four proposed changes to the state constitution on Saturday’s ballot, and Amendment 2 is getting lots of attention. It makes several changes to Article Seven of the state constitution, which deals with revenue collection and taxation. Governor Jeff Landry has said this election is a defining moment as passage of this Amendment Two will end the cycle of boom-and-bust cycles and set the state towards the path of prosperity…

Cut 8 (10) “…that cure.”

Invest Louisiana is one of several groups who oppose the passage of Amendment Two. The group’s director Jan (YAHN) Moeller says this amendment comes from a 115-page bill passed by the legislature last November, and the ballot language does not explain the extensive changes that will be made to the constitution….

Cut 9 (09)  “…take a pause.”