Mornings with Brian Haldane

Jacob Couvillon of Newley's in Prairieville shares the story behind the family-owned restaurant, highlights its signature burgers, po'boys, wings, and catering menu, and explains how fresh ingredients and family recipes have fueled more than a decade of growth.

DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett shares the latest on the I-10 widening project, including upcoming overnight closures and traffic detours. He also discusses the progress of the proposed new Mississippi River bridge and explains the environmental review process that will help determine the final route.

In this episode, Patrick Gremillion joins Brian Haldane to discuss Baton Rouge's top 100 private companies and what it will take to keep jobs, talent, and corporate headquarters in Louisiana. They explore workforce development, business growth, succession planning for family-owned companies, and why investing in local talent is key to strengthening the region's economy.

State Rep. Jessica Domangue discusses her column on Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, explaining why she believes certain political messaging tactics influence modern campaigns. She also shares her views on carbon capture, social media, and the importance of critical thinking during elections.

Kyrin Minor of Guarantee Health Solutions explains why healthcare organizations should measure marketing success by patient acquisition, retention, and experience rather than clicks and impressions. He also discusses how aligning marketing with operations helps drive sustainable growth and better patient outcomes.

Former Democratic strategist Ted Devine says the Democratic Party's handling of the 2016 presidential primary continues to shape American politics. During a recent interview, Devine discussed his book, How the Democrats Screwed Bernie, arguing that party leaders unfairly favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders during the nomination process. Devine Details 2016 Primary Controversy According to...

INDY Fest serves as a premier launchpad for the next generation of independent media creators. Young filmmakers are currently driving a shift toward raw, deeply personal storytelling that captures authentic human experiences. Meanwhile, student podcasters are leveraging accessible tools to build powerful digital communities without needing expensive studio equipment. This vibrant celebration of cr...

Louisiana State Representative Vanessa LaFleur recently shared key insights regarding major policy wins from the latest legislative session. Her new human trafficking law legally protects survivors from prostitution charges by properly classifying them as victims of coercion. Additionally, she established a permanent litigation program to save court costs and created a zero-dollar school screening...

Baton Rouge Crime Stoppers is calling on the community to support local first responders this Saturday at Electric Pickle's "Pickleball for Heroes" fundraiser. At the same time, police are urgently hunting a female hit-and-run driver who left a young pedestrian with a broken leg near Airline Highway. Investigators also need your help tracking down dangerous fugitives Brandon Hoover and Jonathan Am...

Baton Rouge is successfully leveraging opioid settlement funds to fuel an innovative workforce program that channels local tax dollars back into the community. By partnering with local recovery organizations, the city-parish helps transition unhoused individuals through dynamic rehabilitation and sober living pipelines. Participants receive specialized trade and equipment training while actively m...

Tech Gumbo celebrates a massive milestone this week with its 400th episode diving into the latest high-tech aviation news. The FBI is actively cracking down on unauthorized drones at the World Cup, seizing hundreds of aircraft and threatening pilots with massive federal penalties. Meanwhile, Amazon is launching an autonomous drone delivery service right here in the Baton Rouge area for packages un...

DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet provided an update on the new Mississippi River Bridge project, saying officials expect to select a preferred route by the end of the year after completing environmental reviews. He discussed the project's funding options, public input process, and estimated timeline, with construction planning to follow and a possible bridge opening in 2032 or 2033.

State Representative Gabe Firment announced his campaign for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District, saying the new district map created an opportunity to run. He discussed his conservative platform, highlighted his legislative record, and said his campaign will focus on issues important to rural Louisiana, including economic growth, constitutional values, and working with President Trump and Hous...

Josh McLeod of the National Federation for Independent Business (NFIB) explained the federal Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting rule and why small business groups oppose it. He argued the rule creates unnecessary paperwork, raises privacy concerns, and imposes heavy penalties for noncompliance. Although enforcement is currently paused, Congress is considering legislation to repeal th...

Attorney Franz Borghardt discussed Louisiana's bond system following Governor Jeff Landry's criticism of a recent bond decision. He explained that while people can debate whether a bond is too high or too low, comparing bond amounts across different courts is misleading because each jurisdiction follows its own practices. The conversation also covered the purpose of bail, factors judges consider w...

The National Flood Insurance Program faces growing scrutiny as rising premiums strain homeowners across the country. A new bipartisan bill seeks to force FEMA to release the specific algorithms used to calculate these changing rates. While local communities invest heavily in flood mitigation, they rarely see a clear reduction in their overall insurance costs. This issue is rapidly expanding beyond...

Former Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne joined the show to promote his upcoming free history lecture, "After Huey: The Elusive Road to Reform," happening this Thursday at 5:30 PM at the Old Governor's Mansion. Dardenne will explore the legacy of Huey Long’s political successors, specifically highlighting how his brother Earl Long and various "reform" governors shaped the state's turbulen...

East Baton Rouge Parish Schools have achieved their strongest post-pandemic academic performance since 2020, showing broad growth across all core subjects. The district demonstrated improvements or stability in 27 out of 31 tested areas, with middle school social studies hitting multi-year highs and science scores surpassing pre-pandemic benchmarks. Historically underserved groups, including Black...

Following a highly productive legislative session, State Representative Paul Sawyer secured an unexpected $20 million windfall for the Amite River Basin Commission. The massive financial boost includes $4 million for upper Amite restoration, $1 million for parish flood-risk reduction, and a critical $16 million in savings achieved by negotiating away a heavy state matching-funds requirement. The c...

The deep political division between New Orleans and the Louisiana state government has reached a flashpoint following a controversial 16-count judicial indictment. While local leaders view the state's administrative overhauls as aggressive overreach, state advocates argue that New Orleans must eliminate redundant, patronage-filled government positions to align with the rest of the state. This poli...

Janet Simmons, Maurice Velasquez, and HR Director Corey Luttrell joined The BREC Room to thank voters for renewing BREC's park tax, discuss how the funding supports parks and recreation programs, and highlight upcoming events. They also shared updates on hiring, improvements at Farr Park Equestrian Center, and community programs for residents of all ages.

Moon Griffon joined Mornings with Brian Haldane to discuss the legal developments involving Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, his upcoming interview with Murrill's attorney Laura Rodrigue, and the recent shift that made Republicans the largest registered voting bloc in Louisiana. He also celebrated hosting his 8,500th radio show and reflected on his broadcasting career.

Alice Glenn of New Orleans & Company recapped a successful Essence Festival and previewed a busy summer of events in New Orleans. She highlighted Tales of the Cocktail, the X Games, the Bocuse d'Or and Pastry World Cup Americas, Satchmo SummerFest, and COOLinary New Orleans, showcasing the city's packed calendar of food, music, sports, and cultural events.

Patrick Robinson of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) joined Mornings with Brian Haldane to preview the upcoming Workers’ Compensation Conference and discuss major workers’ compensation reforms passed during the recent legislative session. Robinson highlighted changes to the medical fee schedule, new claims procedures for employers, and why the conference is important for b...

Attorney Franz Borghardt discussed the Louisiana Supreme Court's decision to temporarily halt Attorney General Liz Murrill's arrest following her grand jury indictment. He explained the difference between a stay and dismissing an indictment, questioned the timing of the charges before the July 4 holiday, and argued the court's comments on the case were unusual. Borghardt also discussed the $400,00...