Mornings with Brian Haldane

Councilwoman Laurie White Adams says the Baton Rouge Metro Council is preparing for major discussions over proposed employee pay raises and long-term budget concerns. The current proposal includes a 3.5% raise for city-parish employees. Leaders are also reviewing pay scales after a study found many workers earn below market averages. White Adams says some positions still start in the teens or low...

Trey Godfrey from the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership joined Talk Louisiana to discuss the changing tone at the State Capitol and several workforce development bills moving through the Legislature. He explained how recent redistricting fights and congressional map debates shifted the atmosphere inside the session and slowed movement on other legislation. Godfrey also highlighted Senate Bi...

Bill Cassidy joined Brian Haldane to discuss Louisiana’s upcoming Senate primary election and urged voters to head to the polls Saturday. Cassidy stressed that Republican voters will decide the race and reminded no-party voters they must request a Republican ballot to participate. During the interview, Cassidy responded to negative campaign ads and text messages flooding voters ahead of election d...

Political tension is heating up across Louisiana as lawmakers continue battling over congressional redistricting maps and government consolidation efforts in New Orleans. During Tuesday’s interview, Jeff Crouere discussed the fallout from a chaotic legislative hearing involving State Rep. Jay Morris. The conversation touched on accusations that lawmakers were being baited during testimony as emoti...

BREC leaders say the search for the agency’s next superintendent is nearing a decision after an intense week of interviews, park tours, employee town halls, and meetings with community leaders. Officials discussed the three finalists and said a decision could come as early as May 13, with a projected start date around mid-July. The episode also highlights BREC’s restoration efforts across local pa...

Louisiana lawmakers are racing to redraw congressional maps after the Supreme Court ruled the current map unconstitutional. State Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter says lawmakers spent nearly nine hours hearing public testimony on the issue. He says emotions remain high, but lawmakers wanted everyone to have a chance to speak. Kleinpeter explained that drawing new districts is complicated because maps must me...

Louisiana middle school students are competing in the state’s first Civics Bee hosted by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Foundation. Students in grades 6 through 8 are writing essays, defending their opinions, and answering tough government and history questions. Regional competitions are happening across the state before the championship heads to LSU Shreveport on June 27. The...

Sid Edwards joined the show to discuss Baton Rouge’s recent police pay raise and what comes next for city-parish employees. He said the BRPD raise is already helping attract new recruits and confirmed another pay raise proposal is heading to the Metro Council for other workers, including DPW employees and finance staff. Edwards also addressed the deadly Mall of Louisiana shooting, calling it heart...

Louisiana lawmakers are moving quickly through the 2026 legislative session, according to State Rep. Beau Beaullieu. During a Baton Rouge radio interview, Beaullieu discussed major issues including constitutional Amendments 3 and 4, the state budget, infrastructure spending, and congressional redistricting. He warned that failed amendments could create financial pressure for local governments and...

Louisiana lawmakers could vote Monday on three major menhaden fishing bills that conservation groups say would bring more oversight to the industry. CCA Louisiana’s Rad Trascher says the bills would require vessel tracking, tougher penalties for crossing fishing boundaries, and more catch data transparency. Supporters argue large-scale harvesting near Louisiana’s coast hurts the ecosystem and impa...

How do healthcare organizations know what’s actually working for patients? Guaranty Health Solutions says it starts with measurement. Kyren Minor joined Brian Haldane to explain how the company uses patient feedback, online reviews, and real-time data to help healthcare providers improve care and operations. From reputation management to “voice of the customer” programs, Guaranty Health Solutions...

The mystery surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is taking another turn. NewsNation reporter Brian Entin says retired FBI profilers no longer believe this looks like a traditional ransom case. From missing proof-of-life evidence to strange ransom letters sent to media outlets, investigators think another motive may be at play. We break down the newest theories, the latest DNA evidence, and wh...

Travel and tourism continue to drive major growth in Baton Rouge, according to leaders at Visit Baton Rouge . During National Travel and Tourism Week, Visit Baton Rouge President and CEO Jill Kidder highlighted how the city continues to attract visitors through youth sports, family attractions, and a growing food scene.

Louisiana State Representative Dixon McMakin joined Brian Haldane to break down Amendments 3 and 4 ahead of the May 16 election. McMakin explained how Amendment 3 would fund permanent teacher pay raises without new taxes and why Amendment 4 could help parishes compete for more business by phasing out the inventory tax. He also encouraged voters to take advantage of early voting.

Crime Stoppers officials discuss end-of-school-year safety warnings for students, including the dangers of senior pranks and risky behavior. The episode also highlights a fatal Baton Rouge hit-and-run investigation, theft suspects wanted by BRPD, and a domestic violence suspect sought in Ascension Parish.

AI is changing everything from online shopping to personal privacy. This episode of Tech Gumbo dives into the future of AI-powered clothing recommendations, 3D body scanning technology, and how tools like Claude are helping everyday people build websites without coding experience. Haggai Davis and Brian Haldane also tackle the darker side of artificial intelligence, including a disturbing case inv...

A powerful Mental Health Awareness Month conversation with Jordan from NeuroJust and patient James. James shares his decades-long battle with anxiety, chronic pain, panic, and stress, plus how TMS treatment helped him regain confidence and control of his life. The discussion also covers grief triggers around graduations, holidays, and Father’s Day, along with the connection between mental and phys...