Louisiana
Will Louisiana’s U.S. Senate candidates debate? Bill Cassidy says no to Moon Griffon.
Louisiana’s U.S. Senate campaign was stuck Tuesday in a debate about debates.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, fighting for his political life against two formidable Republican opponents, rejected a debate invitation issued last week by conservative radio talk show host Moon Griffon, who has nicknamed the senator “Psycho Bill.”
Griffon said his program offers the best forum for conservatives to hear from candidates in advance of the May 18 party primary.
Treasurer John Fleming and U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow have agreed to the debate, which Griffon said would take place in his Lafayette radio station studio from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on April 28. Griffon appears on affiliates throughout Louisiana.
Meanwhile, Letlow has yet to accept Cassidy’s challenge from March 6 that she agree to three televised debates. Two TV networks have offered to host the events.
“Day 18: What is Liberal Letlow Hiding?” read a headline in a press release issued by Cassidy’s campaign staff on Tuesday. “Louisiana voters are still waiting for an answer. This would be Letlow’s first real debate opportunity in a competitive statewide race, and instead of stepping up, she continues to avoid the spotlight.”
The Letlow campaign did not respond to a request for an interview with her on Tuesday.
Is talk radio the right venue?
Answering a question in a call with Louisiana reporters, Cassidy said a debate on Griffon’s radio network wouldn’t attract a big enough audience.
“Anyone with a lick of sense, unless they’re promoting their own show, understands that a primetime TV station is where we should be,” Cassidy said. “You want the maximal opportunity for the people on that debate to explain their position.”
Griffon on his program Tuesday ridiculed Cassidy’s view.
“Most people will watch it later in the day, later in the night,” Griffon said in his trademark Cajun growl. “Cassidy doesn’t understand that at all.”
On Monday, Griffon pledged to treat Cassidy fairly, saying he wouldn’t ask any “gotcha” questions.
But on Tuesday, Griffon blasted Cassidy, saying of Letlow and Fleming, “Compared to him, they are super great…. We will have two candidates here to talk about the issues.”
Griffon went on to complain that Cassidy appeared on his show for years until the radio host lit into him for voting to convict Trump on impeachment charges for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. The vote led Griffon to brand Cassidy as “Psycho Bill.”
Griffon said 1,915 days have passed since Cassidy has been on his show.
Cassidy said Fleming and Letlow would have a home field advantage on Griffon’s program. He said the host does not raise questions about Letlow’s failure to report individual stock trades more than a year late. Cassidy and a super PAC supporting him have pounded Letlow on this issue.
During commercial breaks, listeners heard ads for Letlow and Fleming but none from Cassidy.
Letlow’s ad repeatedly noted that President Donald Trump has endorsed her in the Senate race.
Fleming’s ad describes how he worked his way through college, became a doctor for the Navy and then opened a general practice, has operated businesses, was elected to Congress and worked for the first Trump administration.
On a daily basis, Griffon rails against liberals and Democrats and praises Trump. He also sometimes criticizes Republicans, including then-Gov. Bobby Jindal and Gov. Jeff Landry for, in his view, straying from the conservative line.
Frustrated that Cassidy won’t agree to appear with Letlow and Fleming, Griffon upped the ante on Tuesday, calling on Cassidy to debate him one on one.
On Monday, Jim Engster, who hosts the biggest talk radio program in Baton Rouge — one that is not openly partisan or ideological — offered to host a debate.
Speaking of Griffon, Engster added, “He is a partisan. Because of that, I think Cassidy would be out of his mind to go on that show.”
Engster then noted that Cassidy rejected calls that he debate his opponents during his 2020 reelection campaign.
The senator probably would not debate his Democratic opponent in November if he wins the Republican primary, Engster predicted. Cassidy would probably be heavily favored in that election against either Nick Albares, Jamie Davis or Gary Crockett.
Louisiana ranks among the top 10 most affordable states to retire, according to a new study from Retirement Living, a national journal of retirement research.
Researchers analyzed each state’s housing costs, living expenses and tax friendliness to compile the ranking. Louisiana, they say, is the eighth most affordable state for retirees.
In Louisiana, the median monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $932, the median home sale price is $255,000, monthly grocery spend per capita is $272, the average price per gallon of regular gas is $4, the average Medicare Advantage monthly premium is $13.35 and the average effective property tax rate is 0.55%.
West Virginia is the most affordable state to retire, followed by Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, Indiana and Kansas. Researchers describe the South as “the sweet spot for an affordable retirement.”
The most expensive state to retire, meanwhile, is California, followed by Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Utah, New York and Minnesota.
Read Retirement Living’s full report here.
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – With hurricane season approaching, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is bringing the community together to prepare before a storm forms.
“We can’t stop disasters from happening. We can’t stop hurricanes from happening. But what we can do is equip our communities with the resources that they need to prepare for these storms ahead of time,” said Jayda Morris, CPRA outreach manager.
The agency hosted an event featuring interactive storm simulations and a full model of the Mississippi River.
“If you do it now, like on a sunny day like today, you’re ready to go for the rest of the season,” Jay Grymes said.
El Niño may reduce storms, but Louisiana still at risk
State Climatologist Jay Grymes said an El Niño pattern may reduce the number of storms in the Atlantic but warned against a false sense of security.
“In those 25 years, Louisiana, some part of the state has been impacted by 29 storms. That’s one a year, regardless of El Niño. So that should tell you something,” Grymes said.
He said the bigger concern is storms that can form in the Gulf with little warning.
“If we’re going to get a storm, it very possibly could be one that bubbles up in the Gulf and doesn’t give us five or seven days to track it coming our way. It gives us 40 hours to get ready for a landfall. So it’s imperative that you go ahead and do it now,” Grymes said.
Preparation goes beyond stocking water
Preparing now includes walking through yards, checking trees, and knowing whether everyone in the family can survive two weeks without power.
PhD students with the LSU College of the Coast and Environment gave the community a virtual reality experience that puts users inside a storm.
“If they wear the goggles or play with the Apple Vision Pro, they can understand how high will the flood be, and they can know how dangerous is the hurricane scenario,” said Yixuan Wang.
The VR simulation uses real historical data to show users what compound flooding looks like in New Orleans and surrounding areas. The goal is to make the science real for people who can’t picture what a flood map means.
“It’s just to let you understand the environment. We will add the audios, the different sound of the wind and the storm. And you can see how tense of the rainfall around you,” Wang said.
Organizers said the event is about making sure that when a storm threatens the area, families already know their plan.
Information from the event is available on CPRA’s website. Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.
Click here to report a typo. Please include the headline.
Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Watch the latest WAFB news and weather now.
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Louisiana homeowners can get financial help to upgrade their roofs and ensure they can better stand up to strong storms.
According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, registration for next Louisiana Fortify Homes Program lottery opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 1. The registration period will stay open through 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19.
Under the latest round of the program, 3,000 grants of up to $10,000 will go out. After applying, homeowners will get placed into a lottery and will be randomly selected.
There are many specific benefits of having a roof upgraded through the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. Officials said the roofs have stronger shingles that can protect against hail up to two inches wide, sealed roof decks to help prevent water damage, and stronger edges to keep wind from getting underneath.
Homeowners with a fortified roof can also get a certificate to receive a discount on insurance premiums.
“At the end of the day, this program is about more than just roofs,” said Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple. “It is about protecting families, it is about strengthening communities, and it is about putting Louisiana in a stronger position—both physically and economically—to face the challenges ahead.”
Only people living in Ascension Parish, Livingston Parish, Assumption Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Acadia Parish, Calcasieu Parish, Cameron Parish, Iberia Parish, Jefferson Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Lafayette Parish, Lafourche Parish, Orleans Parish, Plaquemines Parish, St. Bernard Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. James Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Martin Parish, St. Mary Parish, St. Tammany Parish, Terrebonne Parish, and Vermilion Parish are eligible to apply for the latest round of the program.
People living in a newly built home, mobile home, or condominium are not qualified.
For a detailed list of eligibility requirements, click here.
If a person registered for the program previously, he or she must do so again. The person will also need to provide the following information:
- A homestead exemption on the primary residence.
- A policy of insurance that provides wind coverage for the primary residence.
- A flood insurance policy on the primary residence if it is in a special flood hazard area.
For more information about applying, click here.
Click here to report a typo. Please include the headline.
Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Watch the latest WAFB news and weather now.
-
Detroit, MI1 minute agoFrankie Valli cancels tour. Why Four Seasons won’t be back in Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA13 minutes agoLive From Microsoft Build 2026 San Francisco
-
Dallas, TX16 minutes agoDallas Cowboys Full OTA Schedule Ahead Of 2026 NFL Season
-
Miami, FL21 minutes agoThese Miami pizza spots rank among America’s best
-
Boston, MA28 minutes agoNew England’s most welcoming towns and best summer escapes
-
Denver, CO31 minutes agoA Writer Goes Down the Rabbit Hole at Denver’s First Microdosing Cafe
-
Seattle, WA36 minutes agoMan injured during stabbing attack in Seattle’s University District
-
San Diego, CA43 minutes agoMore Thoughts on ‘Yes on A’
