News

Spring has sprung, and with it comes pollen and allergies.  But what is pollen?

Dr. Steven Heymsfield, Executive Director the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, discusses the health of Baton Rouge and Louisiana in general.

Political blogger Stephen Sabludowsky talks about the health of Governor Jindal's tax reforms proposal.

Award winning author Amy Stewart on her new book, "The Drunken Botanist"

In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for universal pre-K.

The President singled out Georgia and Oklahoma as states that have already made pre-K a priority.

Louisiana should also be ahead of the curve.

The state enacted a universal pre-K promise in 2008. Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, LA-4 classes are supposed to be provided at no cost to every eligible child.

Plans to privatize most of LSU’s public hospitals are making repairs and construction to the facilities more expensive.

Representatives from the state-established Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation told the State Bond Commission on Thursday that if they operated like a regular insurance company and another storm hit, they’ll be insolvent.

Jim talks with LSU Latin American Studies professor Stephen Andes, about Pope Francis I, the first South American pontiff, and the first from the western hemisphere.

Jan Moller, director of the Louisiana Budget Project, talks about the 62nd annual Gridiron show this weekend, which skewers local politics and events. Jan is joined by Sophia Kunen and Michael Stagg, with Forward Louisiana, to talk about Governor Jindal's tax reform proposal and why Louisiana should accept the Medicaid expansion that's part of the federal health care reforms.

Buddhist monk Anam Thubten discusses the recent rash of self-immolations among monks and holy men in his home country. He''ll speak locally this weekend at the Agame Meditation Center on Acadian.

When it comes to enrollment rates, neither the South nor the U.S. is anywhere near “universal Pre-K.” Only eight states provide it to more than half their four-year-olds. Georgia is one of them. Louisiana enacted legislation in 2008 promising to provide pre-K to every eligible child through the state-run LA-4 program starting with the 2013-14 school year.

Alabama's state-funded pre-K program has been recognized as one of the country's best. But as the Southern Education Desk's Dan Carsen reports, just six percent of eligible kids are enrolled.

State police officials came before the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday to defend what's left of their proposed operating budget.

Jim talks with Robert Zirkelbach, VP of America's Health Insurance Plans, about budget challenges facing Medicare.

Filmmakers Tom Anton and  Sandi Russell, discuss their new film "The Pardon",  the true story of the last woman to be executed in Louisiana, back  in the 1942.

LSU Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope, who's at odds with the LSU  Board of Supervisors over the secrecy in choosing a new university president.

Also, LSU horticulturist Carl Motsenbocker talks with Jim about the 3rd Annual Dinner In The Field & Farm Tour, and the virtues of eating "slow foods".

The state Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on the constitutionality of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s pension overhaul passed by the legislature last session.