Another huge jackpot is up for grabs as the Powerball tally reaches one billion dollars. Dustin Annison with the Louisiana Lottery says it has a cash value of $484 million and that’s no April Fool’s joke.

Cut 9 (08) “…Louisiana winner.” 

And speaking of Louisiana winners, a ticket purchased in Alexandria for Saturday’s drawing will take home $1 million.

The Louisiana House approves a bill to fine larges businesses of up to $50,000 for mandating COVID vaccines and small businesses, up to $10 thousand. Monroe Representative Michael Echols says his bill would empower the state Attorney General’s Office to investigate complaints.

Cut 7 (11) “…mandate that.”  

LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey has blasted a Los Angeles Times article and described the Lady Tigers as villains and dirty debutantes. They later edited the column saying Ben Bloch’s submission did not meet the Times editorial standards. LSU guard Hailey Van Lith…

Cut 13 (12) “…not right.”

The LA Times has issued an apology and the Lady Tigers play Iowa at 6:15 tonight in the Elite 8.

ASAP, the Louisiana-based food delivery company formally known as Waitr, announced its closure over the weekend. UNO business professor Mark Rosa says the rising cost of food, coupled with delivery fees made it cost-prohibited for many consumers to use ASAP.

Cut 4 (06) “…as well.” 

The Louisiana House approves a bill that could result in fines of up to $50,000 on hospitals, public agencies, and other employers for mandating the COVID-19 vaccine. Bill sponsor, Monroe Representative Michael Echols…

Cut 6  (12) “…the bill.” 

Small businesses, defined by the SBA of 500 employees or less, who violate the ban would be fined $10 thousand dollars. Large businesses would face a $50 thousand fine.

LSU Lady Tiger’s coach Kim Mulkey says comments by Los Angeles Times writer Ben Bolch who called the women’s basketball team villains and dirty debutantes, were sexist. LSU guard Hailey Van Lith believes the comments made by the L-A Times reporter were also racist…

Cut  14 (05) “…our team” 

The L-A Times edited the column after it was published saying it did not meet the Times editorial standards.

The Louisiana-based food delivery service ASAP has ceased operations. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey has blasted Los Angeles Times writer Ben Bolch for describing the Lady Tigers as villains and dirty debutantes. Coach Kim Mulkey called the column sexist…
cut 12 (15) “…I’m sorry”
Bolch made the bold statements because of Mulkey’s rant against the Washington Post and Angel Reese’s history of trash talking. The L-A Times edited the column after it was published saying it did not meet the Times editorial standards.

ASAP, the Louisiana-based food delivery company formally known as Waitr, announced its closure over the weekend. UNO business professor Mark Rosa says in the business world there are winners and losers and the combination of COVID, rising inflation, and interest rates is creating more losers.
Cut 3 (12) “…out of business.”
Waitr originated in Lake Charles in 2013 then moved operations to Lafayette in 2016.

House Natural Resources approves a bill to raise fees on Louisiana processors and distributors who import foreign seafood. Colleen Crain reports the additional dollars will help fund a state program that tests imported seafood…
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Colleen Crain.”

An investigation has resulted in the arrest of a former State Trooper who allegedly mishandled two drunk driving crashes in St. Tammany Parish last April. 56-year-old Brett Dupre has been charged with malfeasance in office and filing false public records. L-S-P says because of Dupre’s false crash reports, two suspected impaired drivers were not taken into custody.

Legislation that would require seafood dealers to pay higher fees for importing foreign catch into the state has passed the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support. Bill sponsor, Houma Representative Jessica Domangue…

 Cut 7 (09) “…increase testing.”

The bill would increase the annual flat fee of $100 currently collected from processors and distributors of foreign seafood to 0.1% of their annual gross revenue.

Louisiana could hold its first constitutional convention in half a century. The plan calls for 171 delegates, 144 state lawmakers and Governor Jeff Landry would handpick the other 27 delegates. LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says private dollars would pay for the convention.

Cut 6 (12) “…find out.”

New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu proposes the convention begins May 20^th and ends July 15^th.

Folks across Louisiana and elsewhere will be entertained by a total lunar eclipse Monday, April 8th. LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Dr. Natalie Hinkel says Louisianans can view the eclipse around 12:30, with the best view around 1:45, and it will end by 3:10.She warns you not to look directly at the sun unless you have specialized eyewear, not your average sunglasses.

Cut 11 (12) “…eclipse glasses.”

Mansfield Mayor Thomas Jones says 12-year-old “DJ” Daniel of Houston as an honorary officer last week. Daniel has a rare form of terminal brain and spine cancer. The reason DJ’s father, Theodis Daniel, chose Mansfield is that his family, who had been there since the early 1900s, left after his great-uncle was lynched. Jones says the visit was an emotional and significant one.

Cut 14 (05)  “…to know.”

New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu’s has filed legislation that would result in lawmakers rewriting the state’s constitution by removing certain items and putting them in state law. LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says Louisiana could hold its first constitutional convention in half a century, but there are concerns about completing the work that needs to be done in the regular session.

Cut 4 (11) “…session early.”

The House Natural Resources Committee passed legislation to increase fees on processors and distributors importing seafood from foreign countries. Bill’s author, Houma Representative Jessica Domangue is the bill’s author. The daughter of a commercial fisherman says it’s important the state does supplemental testing because the feds do not do enough.

Cut 8 (08) “…human health.” 

Domangue says the fees currently collected by the Louisiana Department of Health only partially fund needed screening. The bill now heads to the full House for consideration.

If you would like to view the total eclipse next week, LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Dr. Natalie Hinkel says the northwest corner of Louisiana will have the best view. Followed by the Lake Charles and Alexandria areas at 90% view. The Baton Rouge and Lafayette regions will have an 85% view. And if you haven’t purchased your certified eclipse glasses yet, Hinkel suggests visiting Eclipse.aas.org.

Cut 12 (08) “…eclipse glasses.” 

You can also find a link and map at LouisianaRadioNetwork.com. The next solar eclipse for continental U.S. will be 2044.

Mansfield, Louisiana Mayor Thomas Jones says he will never forget last week’s council meeting as the small town deputized 12-year-old “DJ” Daniel of Houston.  Jones says meeting DJ and the magnitude of his family’s return to the small DeSoto Parish city, was better than any church service he’s ever attended.

Cut 15 (07)  “…days ahead.”

It was the 821^st time the young man with a rare form of terminal brain and spine cancer had been sworn in as an honorary officer.

A bill that would result in the state’s first constitutional convention in 50 years has been filed. La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says there’s an effort to rewrite the state’s constitution by removing certain items out of it and putting them in state law…
cut 5 (13) “….for now”
The goal is to give legislators more flexibility when facing budget deficits. There are many items that can not be cut as they are protected by the constitution and this results in higher ed and health care taking a brunt of the cuts.

LSU and Iowa meet tonight for a trip to the Women’s Basketball Final Four. A Los Angeles Times columnist referred to LSU as “basketball villains” and dirty debutantes because they like to trash talk. LSU’s Hailey Van Vith, who is white, called the column racist…
cut 29 (06) “…on our team”

The full House will likely hear a bill this week that would raise the fees on processors and distributors who work with seafood from other countries. Houma Representative Jessica Domangue is the author of the legislation…
cut 9 (07) “….functions”
Domestic seafood producers have raised concerns about the safety of imported seafood.

A 12-year-old with a rare form of terminal cancer’s visit to Mansfield, Louisiana last week was both memorable and heart-touching. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Legislation calling for a constitutional convention has been filed. New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu’s legislation calls for the convention to begin May 20th, which means the regular session would have to end two weeks early. La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says private dollars would pay for the convention…
cut 6 (12) “….find out”
Governor Landry is pushing for a streamlined state constitution.

A week from today a total solar eclipse will darken the skies. LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Dr. Natalie Hinkel says the northwest corner of Louisiana will have the best view
Cut 10 (09) “…the earth.”
For Louisiana, the eclipse will begin around 12:30, with the best view around 1:45, and it will end by 3:10.

House Natural Resources approves a bill to raise fees on Louisiana processors and distributors who import foreign seafood. Colleen Crain reports the additional dollars will help fund a state program that tests imported seafood…
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Colleen Crain.”

LSU fans will be rushing home from work today to get in front of the TV tonight for the rematch of last year’s national championship game, LSU versus Iowa. The winner advances to the Final Four. A record for women’s college basketball nine point nine million people watched this game last year.

Legislation that would allow lawmakers to rewrite the state’s constitution has been filed. Teiko Foxx spoke with LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford who explains the process.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

It’s LSU and Iowa tonight in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament. The Lady Tigers beat the Hawkeyes in last year’s national championship game. A women’s basketball record nine point nine million people watched and another huge TV audience is expected tonight. Ti[p off is at 6:15.

A week from today there will be a total solar eclipse. Texas and Arkansas will get the full effect of the total solar eclipse and in Louisiana, the Shreveport area will have a 95-percent view and in southeast Louisiana 80-percent. LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Doctor Natalie Hinkel encourages people to get their eclipse glasses now…
cut 11 (12) “…eclipse glasses”

Mansfield, Louisiana Mayor Thomas Jones says he will never forget last week’s council meeting as the small town deputized 12-year-old Davarjaye “DJ” Daniel of Houston. It was the 821st time the young man with a rare form of terminal brain and spine cancer had been sworn in as an honorary officer. Jones says DJ is an inspiration.
Cut 13 (07) “…help somebody.”
The city had a uniform and badge specially made for DJ whose goal is to be sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible.