Former Louisiana House Speaker Joe Salter has passed away at the age of 82. Salter served as House Speaker during a chaotic time as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita crippled Louisiana. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Governor Kathleen Blanco leaned on Salter to help create the federally funded Road Home program, re-establish K-through-12 education in New Orleans and push the governor’s initiative to increase teacher pay…

Cut 10 (14) “…the state.”

Salter was known as friendly and even-keeled.

Those with seizure disorders now have the option of having an indicator placed on their driver’s licenses. Nick Gremillion (GREM-ee-on) with the Department of Public Safety says eligible residents can now apply to have the designation added to their licenses or ID cards.

Cut 12 (07) “…other first responders.”

Gremillion says it’s open to those who have been diagnosed with a seizure disorder by a qualified medical or mental health professional.

Drivers headed to Texas early Saturday morning had some unexpected overhead obstacles to dodge. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of a Colfax man for third-degree rape. 19-year-old Herbert Poisso was taken into custody after receiving a report last December that Poisso was allegedly involved in criminal sexual conduct involving a juvenile. He’s in the Rapides Parish Detention Center on a 100-thousand dollars bond.

Former Louisiana House Speaker Joe Salter has died at the age of 82. Salter was an educator from Sabine Parish and spent 22 years in the House. He served as House Speaker from 2004 to 2008 when Kathleen Blanco was governor. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat remembers Salter as a friendly man.

Cut 9 (12)  “…consoling.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser hopes that the new Mardi Gras service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, leads to an expansion of passenger rail service throughout Louisiana. He said he’d like to see service from Baton Rouge to New Orleans and then Baton Rouge to Shreveport and a line that crosses north Louisiana along I-20.

Cut 4 (12) “…will be.”

Drivers headed to Texas on I-10 early Saturday morning found themselves having to dodge unexpected obstacles up above. Cables dangling from a construction crane caused four crashes, in which two people suffered minor injuries. State Trooper Henry Perez says 37-year-old Matthew Vincent of Vinton decided to hop into the idle crane in the median near Highway 108, about eight miles from the Texas state line, and moved the cables over the westbound lanes.

Cut 7 (12) “…on an Interstate.”

Perez says investigators were led to Vincent after finding the key fob to his disabled pickup truck inside the crane.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is excited about the possibilities Amtrak’s new passenger rail service between New Orleans and Mobile will bring to the state. Nungesser says the new passenger rail service is another attraction for international travelers…

Cut 3 (07) “…of New Orleans.”

Drivers headed to Texas on I-10 early Saturday morning found themselves having to dodge cables dangling from a construction crane. State Police Trooper Henry Perez says 37-year-old Matthew Vincent of Vinton, for some unknown reason, decided to hop into the idle crane in the median near Highway 108, about eight miles from the Texas state line, and moved the cables over the westbound lanes.

Cut 6 (07) “…and hijacked it.”

Perez says investigators found Vincent’s key fob inside the crane, making it very easy for them to identify their suspect.

So how strong is the public corruption case against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell? Jeanne Burns spoke with a legal analyst who says it’s very strong.

Cut 2 (40) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Saints Coach Kellen Moore may have a difficult decision ahead of him as to who the starting quarterback will be this season. Tyler Shough started yesterday, but Spencer Rattler rallied the team to a game-tying touchdown in the waning moments of the game.

LaToya Cantrell has made history – albeit dubious history. She has become the first sitting mayor in New Orleans history to be indicted. She and retired NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie (VAH-pee) are accused of covering up a romantic relationship, cheating the city out of 70-thousand dollars for trips they took together under the guise of Vappie providing security. Loyola University New Orleans Law Professor Dane Ciolino says he’s surprised the indictment didn’t come sooner.

Cut 9 (11)  “…year ago”

Passenger rail service starts today between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, as Amtrak’s new “Mardi Gras Service” begins twice-daily routes. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says interest is high.

Cut 10 (10) “…by that.”

The service will have morning and evening departures and the train will also make stops along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.

Some good news about auto insurance rates. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says auto insurers have filed over 20 rate decreases in the Louisiana market.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

College students are starting to return to campus for the fall semester. In fact, in Baton Rouge, today marks the first day of the fall semester at Southern University. LSU students spent the weekend moving in, with this week being Welcome Week. Fall semester starts one week from today.

In the less than five months she has left in her term, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell finds herself under an 18-count federal indictment for allegedly trying to cover up a romantic relationship with her bodyguard. Prosecutors say Cantrell and retired NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie cheated the city out of 70-thousand dollars for trips they took together. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the evidence will be difficult for Cantrell to defend.

Cut 7 (11) “…70-thousand dollars.”

In a sign that the auto insurance market might be improving, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says auto insurers have filed over 20 rate decreases since the start of the year. Temple says 14 of those decreases were for more than one percent.

Cut 4 (11) “…accident frequency.”

All aboard! Amtrak’s new “Mardi Gras” service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, is now underway, with twice-daily round-trip service. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross expects the train will have passengers taking a day trip or weekend trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast or Mobile…

Cut 11 (11) “…the day.”

They say a tie is like kissing your sister. Whether you believe that or not, that doesn’t change the fact that the Saints and Jaguars played to a 17-to-17 tie. Spencer Rattler played the entire second half, throwing for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Cut 14 (14) “…big time today.”

Indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has been keeping a low profile since an 18-count indictment was handed down against her on public corruption charges. The U-S Attorney’s Office alleges that Cantrell defrauded the city out of 70-thousand dollars by using her out of state trips and an apartment in the French Quarter to spend time with officer Jeffrey Vappie romantically under the guise that he was her bodyguard.

The mayor has previously said her relationship with Vappie was strictly professional.  But prosecutors say they found 15-thousand messages sent through the What’s App platform that provides evidence of a love affair.

Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says having an affair is not a crime, it’s using taxpayer money and then the coverup. He says if Cantrell is found guilty on most of these charges it could result in a federal prison sentence of five to six years….

Cut 8 (11) “…probateable crimes”

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has provided data that several auto insurance companies are reducing their rates. Temple says the average statewide reduction is two percent, but some policyholders are seeing even higher reductions, because there have been fewer accidents since 2024…

Cut 5 (11) “…accident frequency”

Temple says the legal reforms approved by the state legislature will also help soon.

You can now get on a train in New Orleans and take it to the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coasts as Amtrak’s Mardi Gras service begins its twice-daily run between the Crescent City and Mobile. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says the next step is to connect New Orleans and Baton Rouge with a passenger train…

Cut 12 (11) “…corridor”

1996 was the last time there was passenger rail service between New Orleans and Mobile.

A new week begins, and the top story remains the historic indictment against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Federal prosecutors allege Cantrell used her out-of-state trips as a guise to be with her bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie romantically. Vappie was indicted last summer on wire fraud charges, accused of filing fraudulent payroll documents and making false statements about his relationship with the mayor. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino is surprised the indictment against Cantrell didn’t come sooner…

Cut 9 (11)  “…year ago”

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says because there have been fewer accidents since 2024, auto insurers have been lowering insurance rates.

Cut 6 (06) “…we’re seeing”

Temple says it’s only about a two-percent decline on average statewide, but that’s better than the double digit increases we saw in 2022 and 2023.

All Aboard! You can now take the train from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama and back.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Crazy story out of Calcasieu Parish as State Police say two people were injured after multiple crashes occurred on I-10 near Vinton when 37-year-old Matthew Vincent of Vinton hijacked a construction crane early Saturday morning. L-S-P say Vincent drove his vehicle off the roadway and then jumped into the crane and manipulated the crane boom over the interstate causing four crashes.

So how strong is the public corruption case against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell? Jeanne Burns spoke with a legal analyst who says it’s very strong…

Cut 2 (40) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Former Louisiana House Speaker Joe Salter passed away on Saturday at the age of 82. Salter, who was from Sabine Parish, served 22 years in the Louisiana House and was the speaker of the House during Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

In a sign that the auto insurance market might be improving, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says auto insurers have filed over 20 rate decreases since the start of the year. Temple says 14 of those decreases were for more than one percent….

Cut 4 (11) “…accident frequency.”

Temple says it will take time for this year’s legal reforms to take effect and make a difference, but it’s a positive sign that insurers are lowering rates because there have been fewer accidents since 2024

The Saints didn’t lose yesterday, but they didn’t win either. Preseason game number two against Jacksonville finished in a 17-17 tie as New Orleans scored a late touchdown. Coach Kellen Moore is happy with his how team competed….

Cut 15 (15) “…was awesome”