Lockport basted Bollinger Shipyard has agreed to pay over a million dollars to resolve allegations that they knowingly billed the U.S. Coast Guard for vessels built using illegal workers. The Coast Guard paid Bollinger for their Fast Response Cutters built from 2015 to 2020 without confirming employee’s legal status to work in the U.S. resulting in several ineligible employees working on the contract that provided the vessels say authorities. Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari with the Department of Homeland Security says, “Today’s settlement sends a clear message that contractors providing services to DHS programs will be held accountable for breaking the law.”

Louisiana is expected to have nice warm temperatures before brutal cold moves in. National Weather Service meteorologist Nick Slaughter says it’s still too early to determine whether any area will have wintry precipitation.

Cut 8 (10) “…still up in the air”

The Committee of 100 for Economic Development and the Council for A Better Louisiana are merging. CABL president Barry Erwin says CABL and the Committee of 100 can do great things for the state under the new moniker of Leaders for a Better Louisiana.

Cut 11 (07) “…so to speak.”

Louisiana U-S Representative Clay Higgins blasted the former head of Social Security Administration, Martin O’ Malley for agreeing to a telework agreement with SSA union employees saying it caused extremely long wait times when calling the Social Security helpline. O’Malley blamed Congress for reducing staffing levels to 50-year lows. Higgins wants to reverse the current telework union agreement that runs through October 2029…

Cut 14 (10) “…watch us do it.”

17-year-old LSU backup quarterback Colin Hurley was found in his Dodge Charger unresponsive but breathing around 2:45 this morning after LSU Police say he crashed into a tree near the south gates of LSU. The cause of the crash has not been released and may be unknown, but investigators say they do not believe Hurley was impaired. Emergency personnel removed Hurley from the vehicle and transported him to an area hospital. Hurley is the third string QB behind Garrett Nussmeier and Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren.

Louisiana is bracing for brutally cold temperatures next week.   National Weather Service in Lake Charles Meteorologist Nick Slaughter says freezing temperatures are expected to impact the region from Sunday night through at least Wednesday night, bringing extended subfreezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills.

Cut 7 (08) “…single digits.”

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins expresses his frustration with the customers service Americans are receiving when they call the Social Security Administration’s helpline. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The federal government gives the final okay for the state to receive funding for the deployment of broadband statewide. Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of Connect L-A, says Louisiana is the first state in the country to secure federal approval of broadband funds.

Cut 3 (08) “…our federal funds.”

During a Congressional hearing, Louisiana U-S Representative Clay Higgins blasted the former head of the Social Security Administration, Martin O’ Malley, for agreeing to a telework arrangement with the Social Security Administration union, blaming a telework agreement for slow service. He called the SSA helpline during the hearing and was on hold for an hour and a half without speaking to an employee.

Cut 13 (12) “…nobody (phone thrown down).”

O’Malley blamed Congress for reducing staffing levels to 50-year lows.

The Committee of 100 for Economic Development and the Council for A Better Louisiana are merging to become Leaders for a Better Louisiana. CABL president Barry Erwin says CABL and the Committee of 100 have unique things to bring to a merged organization.

Cut 10 (12) “…state as well.”

He says they can do great things for the state under the new moniker of Leaders for a Better Louisiana.

Louisiana takes a huge step towards launching broadband internet statewide. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Much of Louisiana could experience freezing rain, sleet, icy roads, and possibly even snow, starting Monday night and into Tuesday. National Weather Service in Lake Charles Meteorologist Nick Slaughter says artic air will move in on Sunday and it will get very cold a couple of days later.

Cut 6 (05) “…Tuesday and Wednesday.”

He says freezing temperatures are expected to impact the region from Sunday night through at least Wednesday night

As the old saying goes – what goes up must come down. That will certainly be the case here in Louisiana in terms of the weather. This weekend, temperatures will be very pleasant, but that will quickly give way to brutal cold that would make Minnesota jealous. National Weather Service meteorologist Nick Slaughter says it’s still too early to determine whether any area will have wintry precipitation.

Cut 8 (10) “…still up in the air”

Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins and other Republicans used a Congressional hearing to blast the former head of Social Security for agreeing to a telework agreement with SSA union employees. Higgins says it’s resulted in extremely long wait times when calling the Social Security helpline

Cut 12 (12) “…Social Security.”

The federal government gives the final okay for the state to receive funding for the deployment of broadband statewide. Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of Connect L-A, says construction will begin very soon, and that people across the state should be connected by the end of summer.

Cut 5 (10) “…of this year.”

A pair of government advocacy groups are joining forces. The Committee of 100 for Economic Development and the Council for A Better Louisiana, or CABL, have announced that they’re merging to form Leaders for a Better Louisiana. Barry Erwin, who was the president of CABL, says this merger was a long time in the making.

Cut 9 (09)  “…way, we hope.”

Erwin says CABL and the Committee of 100 have unique things to bring to a merged organization.

Louisiana is bracing for brutally cold temperatures next week – at least brutally cold in Louisiana standards.   National Weather Service in Lake Charles Meteorologist Nick Slaughter says freezing temperatures are expected to impact the region from Sunday night through at least Wednesday night, bringing extended subfreezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills.

Cut 7 (07) “…till at least Wednesday.”

The state is one step closer to building a statewide broadband network after securing final approval for federal funding. Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of Connect L-A, says the state awarded contracts to many companies, several of which based in Louisiana, to build the broadband infrastructure in a robust way.

Cut 4 (13) “…and north Louisiana.”

Iyengar says the state should be connected by the end of summer.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins expresses his frustration with the customer service Americans are receiving when they call the Social Security Administration’s helpline. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana is preparing for an unusual winter weather event next week, bringing conditions the state rarely faces. Residents of Lafayette and Acadiana could experience freezing rain, sleet, icy roads, and possibly even snow.  National Weather Service in Lake Charles Meteorologist Nick Slaughter says temperatures are expected to drop sharply, with highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s.

Cut 6 (13) “…in the single digits.”

The federal government gives the final okay for the state to receive funding for the deployment of broadband statewide. Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of Connect L-A, says Louisiana is the first state in the country to secure federal approval of broadband funds.

Cut 3 (08) “…our federal funds.” 

Three men are now under arrest in connection with the shooting at the bonfire in Webster Parish last weekend that injured six people, two critically. Sheriff Jason Parker says thankfully, all victims will survive.

Cut 15 (08) “…that they’re okay.”

Two men are charged with six counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one other is charged with accessory after the fact.

Nearly every genre will be represented at the 2025 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Cubes and show times have not yet been released, but producer Quint Davis says if you go to n-o-jazz-fest-dot-com you can find out which weekend the different artists will perform…

Cut 11 (11) “…zip code.”

The festival takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course April 24th to May 4th.

Appearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Governor Landry urged the new Congress to provide more federal dollars for an improved Interstate system. The governor says connecting I-49 from Shreveport to New Orleans has been discussed since the early 1980s….

Cut 8 (10) “…been completed.”

The latest Small Business Optimism Index by the National Federation of Independent Business shows that small business owners are more optimistic today than they have been in the last six years. State Director Leah Long says here in Louisiana, the reduction in the income tax will be a big boost to small business owners.

Cut 21 (06)  “…hire more employees.”

Long says small business owners are looking forward to a new presidential administration, and one thing they want in the new term is the reauthorization of the Main Street Tax Act.

The lineup for the 2025 New Orleans Jazz Fest has been announced. Michelle Southern reports this year’s festival features a wide array of artists and something special for Louisiana residents…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

It’s going to be a nice weekend outside for much of the state – but come the outset of the next work week, temperatures will turn frigid – at least relative to what we’re used to. Overnight lows throughout most of the state will be below freezing starting by Sunday night; and depending on where you’re at, temperatures might not get out of the 30s during the day. Temperatures should warm up again by the end of next week.

Governor Landry testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, saying the state is moving forward on building a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles. He says while tolls will help pay for the two-point-three-billion-dollar project, he can lower them if the state can receive more federal dollars.

Cut 9 (13)  “…can help.”

Three men are now under arrest in connection with the shooting at the bonfire in Webster Parish last weekend. 23-year-old Zyan Stanley of Minden and 21-year-old Kobe Sheppard of Sibley are each charged with six counts of attempted first-degree murder. 22-year-old Jacolby Snell of Doyline is charged with accessory after the fact and two counts of modifying a pistol to a machine gun. Sheriff Jason Parker says the organizers of the bonfire did not obtain a permit ahead of time.

Cut 13 (11) “…having get-togethers.”

New Orleans may become the new place to recharge… at least, recharge your electric vehicle, as the city just got over 9 million dollars to install EV chargers. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

The NFL is teaming up with law enforcement to beef up security in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl 59. ESPN is reporting the plan involves SWAT team members, armored vehicles, special agents on rooftops, government surveillance drones and extra security cameras throughout the city. Customs and Border Protection will patrol the Mississippi River, and the TSA will deploy more than 90 bomb-sniffing dogs.