Mornings with Brian Haldane

Central Mayor Wade Evans says the city is moving toward a hybrid police model that blends Central Police with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. He believes this approach improves response times, reduces long-term costs, and avoids the financial strain many municipalities face with fully staffed police departments. Existing sheriff substations in Central and Pride already support the structure...

Jeff Crouere said Mardi Gras 2026 brought the biggest crowds since COVID and strong weather, even with a handful of controversies that dominated early headlines. He noted several viral incidents — including claims that float riders threw beads at police and at protesters — were later debunked. One krewe did remove 41 riders mid-parade, but overall, the season ran smoothly. Crouere said New Orleans...

BREC is gearing up for summer with camp registration opening March 7 and a full lineup of art, sports, outdoor adventure, and adaptive camps across East Baton Rouge Parish. The Baton Rouge Zoo continues to grow with a new safari playground, a new giraffe, and plans for an education building. Parish park upgrades are underway, including work at Beaver Creek Golf Course, new playgrounds in Allison,...

Moon Griffon opened Monday’s segment with big news. A new industry ranking places him at No. 10 nationwide among mid-market midday news talk hosts. He laughed off the praise, saying he stays focused on storytelling, entertainment, and growing his audience. Griffon also previewed the fast-approaching legislative session. He said he waits until the final week to dig into pre-filed bills because lawm...

Louisiana businesses still pay some of the highest workers’ compensation premiums in the South. Patrick Robinson with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) says the problem is not workplace safety. Instead, he points to a system that keeps injured workers out for too long and drives up costs. With the legislative session approaching, he laid out the key issues and the reforms L...

Cardiac arrest can strike anywhere, and quick action can save a life. Federico Guillermo De Puy, MD, with Our Lady of the Lake, says CPR matters most in the first critical minutes after the heart stops. About 350,000 cardiac arrests happen each year, and most occur at home. Hands-only CPR is simple: call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Keeping blood moving protects the bra...

The Hondo Rodeo Fest rides into the Caesars Superdome April 10–12 with a million-dollar purse and the top eight competitors in every major rodeo discipline. CEO James Trawick describes it as the sport’s version of the Super Bowl, bringing together the best athletes in team roping, steer wrestling, bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, and barrel racing. These comp...

The Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump could not impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the fallout continues. Jeremy Dalrymple of the R Street Institute says the decision wasn’t shocking, but the delay was. The Court found that IEPA was never intended for tariffs and reinforced that Congress—not the president—controls taxation. Trump has alre...

Baton Rouge gathers tomorrow for the Roux Rally at Galvez Plaza, a gumbo cook-off that fuels both flavor and purpose. The event supports Songs of Survivors, a Louisiana nonprofit that helps veterans heal through peer-to-peer songwriting workshops. Veterans share their stories, write music together, and find relief through connection and creativity. Doors open at 11 a.m. Admission is $10 and includ...

State Representative Mike Echols launched his campaign for Congress in Louisiana’s 5th District with a focus on lowering health care costs, improving infrastructure, and strengthening the economy. Echols said his background as a business developer and legislator prepares him to bring federal resources home. He pointed to his work on pharmacy benefit manager reform, efforts to reduce prescription c...

The Planting Seeds of Hope event returns on February 24 with a mission that hits home for Louisiana families, student-athletes, and veterans. Hosted in partnership with Rain Will Bring Flowers, LSU Athletics, the L Club, and the Joe Burrow Foundation, the evening will center on open conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. Doors open at 5 PM, giving attendees access to 50+ mental...

New Orleans leaders say the 2026 Mardi Gras season delivered big crowds, packed hotels, and strong momentum for the city’s tourism industry. Though final numbers are still being tallied, early indicators show a successful Carnival and a promising spring ahead.

Louisiana’s statewide program, The Boot, helps veterans transition from military service into civilian careers. The team visits bases across the country, meets service members before they separate, and matches their military skills with job openings across the state. So far, the program has placed 280 veterans, creating more than $18 million in economic impact. A key tool is LACES, a database that...

Global leaders continue to debate the path forward for rebuilding Gaza as funding and security concerns dominate the discussion. ABC News correspondent Jordana Miller said donor nations pledged roughly $17 billion so far, far short of the estimated $50 billion needed. She emphasized that countries want clear proof Hamas will disarm before they commit more money. Questions remain over who would enf...

Louisiana’s Ag Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain went on a trade mission to Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to open new markets for Louisiana farmers and businesses. After an intense 36-hour travel and meeting schedule, he and his team met with government ministers, U.S. Embassy officials, and industry leaders to map out two-way trade. Ivory Coast needs rice, chicken, timber, and energy products that Louis...

Teen dating violence is rising, and iCare’s Shavon Hamilton says parents and schools need to treat it as a real safety issue. Abuse among teens often happens online, at school, or through constant digital access—making coercion, intimidation, and control as damaging as physical violence. Statistics show one in three U.S. teens experience dating violence, and warning signs include sudden personalit...

The Baton Rouge Alliance for Students will host its seventh annual Education as a Civil Right event on Feb. 24 at the Shaw Center. The program highlights how access to strong education shapes opportunity across race, gender, culture, and geography. This year’s event features a multimedia exhibit and a panel with experts including Dr. Curtis Ballantyne and LSU’s Dr. Sarah Becker, who will discuss g...

A California trial is taking on whether social media platforms are addictive by design. A plaintiff known as KGB is suing Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and TikTok. YouTube argues it’s more like Netflix than social media, but Tech Gumbo’s Haggai Davis says their Shorts, likes, and shares make that impossible. Davis explained that platforms use casino-style algorithms — giving occasional “...

Congresswoman Julia Letlow said Congress completed its appropriations work, but the Department of Homeland Security remains without new funding as a partial government shutdown looms. Letlow said House Republicans passed funding bills, but Senate Democrats withheld DHS funding over immigration enforcement tied to President Donald Trump. She said agencies such as FEMA and TSA are operating with ess...

State Sen. Rick Edmonds announced his run for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District, calling it a lifelong goal to serve in Congress. The district, currently represented by Julia Letlow, was significantly reshaped through redistricting and now stretches from parts of East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes to Monroe and Bastrop. Edmonds said the new map creates a diverse district that includes f...

Sen. Bill Cassidy says he is working with President Donald Trump on new legislation aimed at lowering prescription drug costs. He described the strategy as a series of targeted reforms, including a recently signed law that reins in pharmacy benefit managers and ensures savings reach patients. He also highlighted earlier efforts to eliminate gag clauses that blocked pharmacists from sharing cheaper...

Opera Louisiana will host its annual “Sing and Swing” fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center Baton Rouge Grand Ballroom. The event supports the company’s youth outreach programs and its April production of Madama Butterfly. General Director Paul Groves said the evening features local celebrities performing popular songs, including Debra Todd singing an iconic 1980s hit...

The new I-10 interchange at Pecue Lane opens this afternoon following a final safety inspection, according to Rodney Mallett with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Crews conducted a walkthrough Wednesday morning to confirm striping, alignment and overall safety. If no issues arise, drivers will have access by midday. The project widens Pecue Lane, which carries about 45,0...

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is sending local leaders to Denver to study a national model for early childhood education. Only 40 percent of Baton Rouge children enter kindergarten ready. Leaders want to unify funding, improve access and make high-quality preschool more affordable by creating a coordinated early learning entity. The foundation is also shifting focus to long-term plans for the Un...

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a season focused on repentance, sacrifice and reflection for Christians. While many attend Mass and observe fasting traditions, conversation also turned to a major legal debate unfolding in Washington. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer introduced legislation known as “Virginia’s Law,” named for Virginia Giuffre, that would eliminate the statute of limitations for certa...