Mornings with Brian Haldane

Chris Meyer of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation discussed efforts to transform City Brooks Park and the University Lakes into a premier recreational destination. He said golf remains part of the plans and highlighted momentum behind Plan Baton Rouge III, including a proposed downtown headquarters hotel and River Center redevelopment to boost tourism and economic growth.

Brian Haldane and tech expert David D. discuss how Ring doorbell footage can aid investigations, emphasizing that video clips rarely tell the whole story and that storage settings determine how long footage remains available. They also explore future Mars missions, explaining why a lunar base could serve as a refueling station and why human missions to Mars are still likely 15 to 20 years away.

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow discussed Louisiana’s recovery from Tropical Storm Arthur, highlighting efforts to secure federal disaster assistance for affected communities and farmers. She urged residents to report property and crop damage to support aid requests. Letlow also emphasized her growing support in the Senate race, pointing to endorsements from President Donald Trump, Rep. Clay Higgins, and B...

State Rep. Jessica Domangue joined Mornings with Brian Haldane to discuss how Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race has become centered on carbon capture and eminent domain. Domangue said the debate has turned personal, including online attacks and threats, while more pressing issues like flood insurance, coastal restoration, roads, schools and jobs are being pushed aside. She argued voters should focus on...

Rowdy Gaudet with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry joined Talk 107.3 to discuss nominations for the 2026 Louisiana Business Excellence Awards. LABI is looking to recognize business leaders, companies, entrepreneurs, manufacturers and workforce innovators who are making a difference across Louisiana. Nominations are open now at LABI.org, and winners will be honored at a luncheon i...

Attorney Franz Borghardt joined Brian Haldane to break down Pastor Tony Spell’s second-degree battery arrest. Borghardt said the video creates serious legal questions, especially because Spell appears to run across Hooper Road toward another person’s property before the fight begins. He explained why self-defense depends on who started the fight, where it happened and whether the force used was re...

Congressman Troy Carter joined Talk 107.3 to discuss the new $16 million Ninth Ward stadium project tied to Carver High School and other New Orleans schools. Carter said the stadium will give student-athletes a modern place to play while building pride, teamwork and opportunity. He also discussed the bipartisan CRAW Act, which would reclassify crawfish processing jobs as agricultural labor and hel...

Secretary of State Nancy Landry joined Talk 107.3 to explain what voters need to know before the June 27 election. She said voters seem more comfortable with Louisiana’s new closed party primary system, but she urged everyone to check their sample ballot before heading to the polls. Landry also explained how no party voters’ ballot choices work, why some voters may be locked into the same choice t...

Jeremiah Piper with Renovigo Chemicals joins the show to explain how carbon utilization could change the future of manufacturing. He breaks down how CO2, water, and renewable electricity can be used to produce important chemicals such as ethanol, methanol, and ethylene. Piper says this technology is no longer years away. It is already happening, and companies are investing millions to scale it. He...

Paul Hollis, Louisiana’s own and the director of the U.S. Mint, joined Talk 107.3 to discuss America’s 250th anniversary coin designs. Hollis shared how a childhood gift from his grandmother sparked his love of coins and explained the new 2026 releases, including the Thomas Jefferson quarter with dual 1776-2026 dates. He also highlighted a rare “July 4” privy mark quarter. Only 250,000 were releas...

Daniel Erspamer of the Pelican Institute joins Brian Haldane to discuss the group’s “Barriers to Energy Dominance” report. Erspamer says Louisiana’s energy debate is being shaped by out-of-state money, including millions tied to groups opposing carbon capture, pipelines, refineries and other energy projects. He explains why the Pelican Institute believes Louisiana needs transparent rules, strong p...

Jeff Crouere, host of Ringside Politics, joined Brian Haldane to discuss the upcoming Louisiana runoff election, expected voter turnout and the state’s first real test of its new party-primary system. Crouere predicted low turnout, likely between 15% and 20%, but said key races could still motivate voters, including the U.S. Senate runoff, the Public Service Commission District 1 race and the BESE...

BREC Interim CEO Janet Simmons, Maurice Velasquez and Dr. Ray Harrell Lawson joined Mornings with Brian Haldane for the latest “BREC Room” segment. They discussed the upcoming millage renewal, stressing that it supports maintenance and operations across the park system. They also shared updates on Imagine Your Parks 3, project prioritization, public safety, park maintenance, recent flooding impact...

Moon Griffon joins Brian Haldane to talk about Louisiana’s heated Republican race between John Fleming and Julia Letlow. Griffon explains why he supports Fleming, but says he will back Letlow in November if she wins the primary. The conversation covers dark money, political attack ads, and whether the GOP can unite after a nasty campaign. Griffon also shares why he believes the closed primary give...

New Orleans is using the World Cup to draw international fans into the city, even though it is not hosting any matches. Alice Glenn with New Orleans & Company says the city targeted fans in nearby host markets like Houston and Dallas with digital and social media ads, encouraging them to make an easy side trip to New Orleans. She also highlighted a packed summer calendar, including ESSENCE Fes...

Councilwoman Laurie White Adams joins Brian Haldane to break down Baton Rouge’s ongoing stormwater and flash flooding problems. She explains why asphalt and parking lots are part of the issue, but not the whole story. Adams discusses the Stormwater Master Plan, new development rules, drainage capacity projects, federal funding challenges, and the role residents play in keeping drains clear of tras...

Foodie Friday brought the flavor for Father’s Day weekend with Raging Cajun in studio. The crew served up chili dogs made with Raging Cajun Championship Chili, 80-20 ground beef, hot dogs, cheese and a splash of beer for extra depth. They also showed off a jalapeno relish potato salad with blackened seasoning for a sweet heat twist. The guys shared easy ways to use the chili, from Frito pie and wa...

Desiree Lemoine with Industry Makes joined Talk 107.3 to discuss growing tension around Louisiana’s carbon capture debate. She described a recent DEQ permit hearing in Pineville for the proposed Beaver Lake Biofuels project, where she said opponents focused heavily on carbon capture even though the hearing was for the plant permit itself. Lemoine also shared an incident where she said she felt int...

Pennington Biomedical Research Center is looking for volunteers for a new weight loss study called DEIP. Participants spend about five days in a metabolic chamber while researchers track how the body burns calories during normal eating, fasting and refeeding. The study focuses on people ages 18 to 40 with a BMI below 20 or above 30, and participants can earn $1,500. Researchers hope the data helps...

U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary James Danly joins the show to talk hurricane season, power grid response and the future of American energy. He explains how utilities coordinate during major storms, why most outages happen at the local level, and how backup generation can reduce stress on the grid. Danly also breaks down the push for small modular nuclear reactors and why he believes nuclear power wil...

Jason Young, co-founder of Americans for Lower Drug Prices, joined Talk 107.3 to break down Louisiana’s new prescription drug transparency law. He explained how SB 401 will require drug makers to justify rising prices, how it fits with other new pharmacy and PBM reforms, and why Louisiana’s bipartisan approach could become a model for other states.

Trey Godfrey joined Talk 107.3 to discuss the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership, formerly known as BRAC, and why the organization changed its name. Godfrey explained that the new title better reflects the group’s role as both a chamber of commerce and an economic development organization. He talked about the importance of supporting local businesses, attracting new investment, creating jobs...

SQL Saturday Day of Data returns to Baton Rouge on July 18 at LSU with free IT sessions, career panels, sponsors, lunch and networking.

State Rep. Paul Sawyer joined Talk 107.3 to discuss his first legislative session, insurance relief, and flood protection projects across the Amite River Basin. Sawyer said he entered the session shortly after taking office on March 24. House rules allowed him to introduce five bills. All five passed and were signed into law.

Dave Freneaux joined Mayor Wade Evans to discuss the growth and impact of Sullivan Theater in Central. Freneaux shared how the nonprofit Central Cultural Foundation spent years building support for the arts before launching Sullivan Theater in 2023. The theater is now in its fourth season and produces nine shows annually. The conversation highlighted the theater's role in enhancing quality of life...