Mornings with Brian Haldane

LSU climatologist Dr. Jill Trepanier says the 2026 hurricane season is expected to be quieter than recent years, with NOAA forecasting 8 to 14 named storms. However, she warns it only takes one storm to impact Louisiana. Trepanier says warm Gulf waters can rapidly strengthen storms, especially those that develop close to home in the Gulf or Caribbean. She encourages residents to stay prepared thro...

Workforce development was one of the biggest wins of the 2026 Louisiana Legislative Session, according to GBREP's Trey Godfrey. New laws will expand paid student internships through the Learn and Earn Act and improve coordination between workforce agencies. Godfrey says those changes will help connect more Louisianans with high-demand jobs while supporting business growth.

A new energy project could bring jobs, investment, and advanced manufacturing to St. John the Baptist Parish. The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced funding for a rare earth demonstration facility in the parish. Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson shared details on Talk 107.3. She called the project an important step for Louisiana and the nation's supply chain.

The 2026 Louisiana Legislative Session is over, and while lawmakers tackled several major issues, many observers say it was a session defined more by incremental progress than sweeping change. The biggest story was congressional redistricting. The debate dominated the final weeks of the session and drew significant public attention. Other notable measures included the Caleb Wilson Act, continued s...

BREC says it has made major progress cleaning up its finances, cutting audit findings from 18 to 8 and reporting no misappropriation of funds in its latest audit. Leaders Janet Simmons and Maurice Velasquez discussed new financial controls, reduced purchasing cards, improved oversight, and efforts to increase transparency through public access to budgets and audits. The conversation also focused o...

As Louisiana's legislative session comes to a close, Moon Griffon joined Brian Haldane to discuss the challenges of tracking thousands of bills and the last-minute rush that happens every year. Griffon criticized lawmakers for claiming they ran out of time, arguing they had plenty of opportunities to address key issues throughout the session. The conversation focused on the lack of meaningful insu...

Louisiana's 2026 legislative session is coming to a close after lawmakers considered more than 1,800 bills and 200 resolutions. Erin Bendily of the Pelican Institute joined Talk 107.3 to discuss the session's biggest issues, including pharmacy benefit managers, energy policy, workforce development, the state budget, and congressional redistricting. She highlighted efforts to strengthen workforce t...

New Orleans wrapped up a successful Sail250 event as thousands visited the city's waterfront to tour tall ships from around the world. Kelly Schultz with New Orleans & Company said the event highlighted not only New Orleans' culture and tourism appeal, but also its critical role in global trade through the Port of New Orleans. The city also earned major culinary recognition during North Americ...

Louisiana energy expert Gifford Briggs says the current global oil crisis looks very different from the energy shocks of the 1970s. Despite major disruptions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Americans have avoided widespread fuel shortages thanks to record U.S. oil and natural gas production. Briggs credits advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing for hel...

Miss Louisiana Gabrielle McLeod joined the show to reflect on her year as the state's ambassador. The ULM kinesiology student shared how she went from competing in her first pageant to winning Miss Louisiana and representing the state at Miss America. McLeod discussed her passion for youth fitness, her plans to pursue a career in athletic training, and why encouraging children to stay active remai...

Mason’s Grill has become one of Baton Rouge’s favorite restaurants. The local spot is known for its award-winning burgers, Louisiana seafood, and busy weekend brunch service. During a recent appearance on Talk 107.3’s Foodie Friday, owner Robert Alamirie shared what makes the restaurant stand out.

State Rep. Brett Geymann says House Bill 804 would block climate change lawsuits in Louisiana that seek damages tied to greenhouse gas emissions. He argues the lawsuits are difficult to prove and could impact energy companies, landowners, farmers and other businesses. Geymann also says a Senate amendment strengthened the bill by clarifying it does not affect existing or future coastal lawsuits.

Dr. Quentin Taylor discussed a partnership between RPCC, ExxonMobil, and the Louisiana State Fire and Emergency Training Academy that provides free emergency response training for Louisiana firefighters. The program focuses on pipeline and carbon capture safety, keeps training local, and helps first responders prepare for real-world emergencies.

Researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System discussed the COACH Trial, a program designed to help children ages 5 to 17 who struggle with obesity. The program offers nutrition counseling, behavioral support, and personalized guidance for families. Experts say childhood obesity affects more than one in five children nationwide and can...

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board is considering a teacher pay raise that would increase starting salaries from $50,000 to $56,000. Board member Patrick Martin said the proposal aims to improve teacher recruitment and retention while creating more long-term salary growth opportunities. The plan would use reserve funds, projected revenue growth, and budget reallocations instead of new taxes....

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple joined Talk 107.3 to discuss Louisiana's expanded Fortified Roof Program. The state is adding $50 million in funding, allowing thousands more homeowners to qualify for grants that help strengthen roofs against hurricane damage. Temple said fortified roofs reduce storm losses, protect homes from water intrusion, and can help lower insurance costs over time. The nex...

Mental Health Awareness Month began in 1949 to help people better understand mental health conditions and reduce stigma. CrescentCare's Lucy Cordt says nearly 900,000 Louisianans are living with a mental health condition, including substance use disorders. She highlighted the unique challenges faced by veterans and first responders, who experience higher rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression due...

Louisiana is gaining more control over how federal education dollars are spent after receiving a new waiver tied to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. During an interview on Talk 107.3’s “DC Current,” Congresswoman Julia Letlow said Louisiana is only the second state in the country to receive the waiver. She called the move a major win for local education leaders and taxpayers.

Ascension Parish Chamber President Donnie Miller discussed new business growth efforts happening across the region, including the launch of the Ascension Business Report in partnership with Business Report. The weekly publication highlights development, restaurants, nonprofits, and business activity across Ascension Parish. Miller also previewed upcoming chamber events, including a June luncheon f...

Rebecca Harris with Louisiana DCFS says the department is making major changes to improve child safety and strengthen support for families. During a recent Senate hearing, Harris explained that the agency is focusing on prevention, accountability, and getting more experienced staff back on the front lines. She said DCFS is working to address issues like burnout, delayed responses, and workforce sh...

iCare is expanding its summer prevention programs across East Baton Rouge Parish by offering free presentations for camps, churches, and community groups. Prevention specialist LaTosha Mitchell said the sessions help students stay connected to important life skills while school is out. The program covers topics like vaping prevention, bullying, cyber safety, mindfulness, conflict resolution, and l...

LABI President and CEO Will Green says Louisiana lawmakers made major progress this session on workforce development and business reform. One of the biggest wins is the BayouWorks bill, which creates a framework to help businesses train skilled workers for high-demand jobs tied to billions in economic investment across the state. Green also highlighted Senate Bill 408, which would modernize Louisi...

Brian Haldane and Haggai Davis covered several major technology stories, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence and its growing role in society. The conversation started with Waymo self-driving vehicles struggling in flooded streets. Davis explained that LIDAR systems can fail when water reflects signals away from the sensors, making it difficult for autonomous vehicles to recognize danger...

Louisiana’s Teacher Leader Summit brought together nearly 8,000 educators to focus on student achievement, teacher development and school improvement. State Superintendent Cade Brumley praised teachers for driving Louisiana’s education gains and highlighted leadership lessons shared by LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey. Louisiana leaders pointed to national rankings showing the state leading...

Kevin George discussed Louisiana’s continued education growth and the work teachers are doing to improve student outcomes. He highlighted stronger statewide performance in literacy and math, crediting alignment between teachers, school leaders, and state education goals. The conversation also focused on early learning, ambitious academic targets through 2028, and how educators are building momentu...