Mornings with Brian Haldane

Louisiana lawmakers are focusing on small business issues in week two of the legislative session. The biggest concerns are high insurance costs, complicated sales tax rules, and workforce shortages. Business groups support legal reforms to lower insurance rates and reduce lawsuit costs. A proposed centralized sales tax system would simplify filing and cut expenses for businesses operating in multi...

A high-profile staged crash trial is exposing a system driven by big money and raising questions about accountability. At the State Capitol, the legislative session is off to a busy start, with less direct control from the governor and major debates forming around education funding, carbon capture, and foreign land ownership. In New Orleans, aging infrastructure is under pressure as officials roll...

Week two of the 2026 Louisiana Legislative Session is underway, and several major policy debates are beginning to take shape. Political commentator Moon Griffon says carbon capture legislation is expected to dominate early discussions at the Capitol.

State Representative Jessica Domingue of Terrebonne Parish says the debate over carbon capture during the Louisiana legislative session should focus on facts and science rather than misinformation. 

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. According to colorectal surgeon Dr. Kelly Finan with Our Lady of the Lake Health, colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Cases are rising in younger adults. It is now the leading cause of cancer death among people under 50.

Bill Cassidy says Congress is working on possible changes to college athletics as NIL deals and revenue sharing reshape the system. After holding a roundtable with coaches, athletes, and experts, Cassidy said both the old NCAA model and the current NIL environment create problems for student-athletes. Lawmakers are reviewing issues such as athletes losing academic credits after transferring, lack...

Southern Palette is a new food and drink fundraiser for the LSU Museum of Art happening March 21 from 6–10 PM in downtown Baton Rouge near the Shaw Center. The event will feature 30 chefs from across the South, each serving a specialty dish for guests to sample. Attendees can also enjoy craft cocktails, wine, and beer while walking through the outdoor tasting event. Live music from the Laura Doyle...

Mental health care continues to evolve, and NeuroJust is helping patients find relief when traditional options fall short. The Baton Rouge clinic specializes in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive therapy designed to treat depression and anxiety without medication side effects. For many patients, TMS offers a new path after years of struggling with therapy, prescriptions, or bo...

The fundraising event will feature a private concert by the Chase Tyler Band, along with food, drinks, and a silent auction. Auction items include trips, a Movado watch, and sports packages. Tickets are $99 and include access to the concert and event activities. Proceeds from the gala support the Salvation Army’s local programs, where officials say 86 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to...

The Louisiana Travel Association will host its Women in Leadership Forum April 20–21 at the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel. The two-day event focuses on leadership development, mentorship, and networking for women across industries, not just tourism and hospitality.

Louisiana lawmakers are moving into the busiest phase of the 2026 legislative session as committees begin meeting and bills start advancing. State Senator Franklin Foil says the state budget remains the top priority. Lawmakers must pass a balanced budget while deciding how to use more than $500 million in surplus funds from last year. Much of that money may go toward infrastructure projects. Foil...

Guaranty Health Solutions helps healthcare organizations grow by connecting the right patients to the right care. Director of Marketing and Partner Integration Kyrin Minor says the company’s “ATTRACT” pillar focuses on data-driven marketing that aligns a practice’s brand, operations, and patient experience. The strategy goes beyond traditional advertising. It includes brand development, social med...

College athletics faces growing pressure for federal oversight as lawmakers examine the expanding revenue sharing system between universities and athletes. Sports attorney Fritz Metzinger says recent roundtables involving lawmakers, including Senator Bill Cassidy, show rising concern in Washington about the direction of college sports. One proposal gaining attention is the SCORE Act, a federal bil...

Mike Strain said Louisiana crawfish season is running into a serious labor shortage because many returning H-2B crawfish peelers still have not arrived. He said that is hurting processors, driving down prices for farmers, and could cost farmers about $121 million, with a broader economic hit near $300 million. Strain said the problem also affects rice farmers who rely on crawfish income to stay pr...

Two recent child deaths have shaken the Baton Rouge community as Crime Stoppers urges residents to help stop violence and assist ongoing investigations.

Louisiana lawmakers are considering several tax-related proposals during the 2026 legislative session, even though it is not a fiscal session. A major focus is a bill that would centralize the state’s sales tax collection system, which supporters say could simplify the process for businesses and generate additional revenue without raising taxes. Some legislators have also filed bills to reduce or...

Technology continues to evolve, but consumers now approach new gadgets with more caution. During a recent discussion on Tech Gumbo, tech expert Haggai Davis broke down several emerging trends, including the potential arrival of Windows 12, the growth of smart homes, and how artificial intelligence is shaping the next generation of devices.

The Our Lady of the Lake Tiger 10K returns to LSU on April 19. Runners finish on the 50-yard line inside Tiger Stadium, creating one of the most unique race experiences in Louisiana. Organizers expect more than 6,000 participants this year.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Library will host community workshops to help residents explore local government data and shape a new transparency tool. The sessions begin March 16 at the Bluebonnet Regional Library and continue through mid-May at branches across the parish.

The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport says operations remain smooth even as a partial federal government shutdown affects Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees nationwide. While major airports report long lines and delays, local officials say travelers in Baton Rouge should expect normal operations.

LSU is bringing the AI conversation back to Baton Rouge with a sharper focus this year. The AI in Action Symposium is set for Friday, March 20, 2026, at the LSU Student Union, with programming scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is open through March 15, and the event is hosted by the E. J. Ourso College of Business.

Attorney Franz Borghardt discussed two major Louisiana legal cases during his weekly segment. First, he explained the retrial of Melanie Curtin in Livingston Parish. Curtin’s previous conviction was overturned after an appeals court ruled the original trial included errors, including evidence that may have unfairly prejudiced the jury. Borghardt said selecting jurors will be difficult because many...

Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter called for renewed negotiations to end the federal government shutdown, warning that federal workers should not suffer because of political disputes. He also raised constitutional concerns about U.S. military action involving Iran and urged the State Department to help Americans leave the Middle East safely. Carter also hosted a town hall and resource fair to conn...