News

Rev. Timothy Keller gets the show started by discussing Christianity in America and the world today.

Jim talks with Baton Rouge state Representative Ted James and Andrew Muhl, with the American Cancer Society, about Governor Jindal's plans to raise tobacco taxes as part of his big tax reforms.

A state judge has thrown out rules passed last session tying teacher tenure and pay to classroom performance. Monday's decision is a turnaround from the same judge’s previous ruling.

In December, Judge Michael Caldwell threw out parts of what’s been called the “Teacher Tenure Act,” – parts that didn’t directly address teacher tenure, but made rules for school boards, visiting teachers, superintendents and principals.

That day, the governor touted the ruling as a success because it kept his tenure overhauls. Now the judge is saying the whole thing has to go. 

A visit with Louisiana Department Of Revenue head Timothy Barfield, to talk about Governor Jindal's proposed tax reform plan.

Jazz trumpter Wayne Bergeron, who'll perform tonight at the LSU Union Theatre

So far, this has been a relatively mild winter, as a result many of the tropical plants in our landscape get really big by July.

Jim chats with south Louisiana filmmaker Zack Godshall, director of the documentary "A Man Without Words", and author Susan Schaller, who wrote the non-fiction book upon which the film is based.

Tulane University's Dr. Geoff Nagle and LSU's Dr. Kirby Goidel discuss a recent joint study on early childhood development in Louisiana.

Jim talks with Dr. Jeff Carney, with LSU's Coastal Sustainability Studio.

Jim talks with State Treasurer John Kennedy about Governor Jindal's proposed 2013 state budget. Kennedy thinks aspects of it will not work.

Nutrition expert Dr. Neal Barnard on his book "Power Foods for the Brain".

In Nashville, public school officials are finding it a challenge to balance school improvement plans with a desire for racial diversity.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is slated to approve the school funding formula next week. The new proposal, released Thursday, still pays for the voucher program with dollars that would otherwise go to local districts. But, state Supt. John White is pitching alternative financing that would skirt the formula.

On the Jim Engster Show Thursday morning, Division of Administration Commissioner Kristy Nichols relied on talking points that have been repeated by officials in the Jindal administration. 

The Commissioner has cherry-picked her facts.

State Treasurer John Kennedy talks with Jim about the Governor's 2013 proposed state budget and state government spending.

Audio should be posted by 11 am on Friday,  March 1