
WWL First News with Tommy Tucker
1,046 episodes — Page 15 of 21

Hour 1: Farmers getting hit hard and what voters care about
* The midterms are still months away, but how are things looking at the moment? Will the big issues right now be what decides the elections? We’ll talk to political scientist Justin Buchler. * Checking in with Ag Commissioner Mike Strain

There were some big changes to student loans. Here's what borrowers need to know
The SAVE plan recently ended, affecting over 7 million student loan borrowers. We’ll get the details on what’s changed and what borrowers need to know. Betsy Mayotte, President and Founder of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, joins us.

The stage is set for Will Wade to return to LSU basketball
Tommy talks with Toyloy Brown, LSU men's basketball beat writer for The Advocate, about Will Wade's imminent return to LSU.

A messy situation: a fight over birds - and their poop - in Harahan
A years-long fight over birds in Harahan has reached the court system. We talk to WWL Louisiana reporter Meg Farris and explain what’s going on and why some people are upset.

The legislative session rolls on. Here's some of what they're working on
Checking in with State Senator Pat Connick about the legislative session and what he’s working on.

The Croatian Festival is this weekend! Here's what you need to know
The Croatian Festival is this Friday and Saturday! We get the details from Barbara Oustalet.

Data centers offer a big opportunity, but there are big questions
Data centers are proving to be a big opportunity for Louisiana. And some have big questions about the impact. We’ll talk with Jan Moller, the executive director of Invest in Louisiana, about some of the concerns.

Diesel, fertilizer costs and the lack of workers are hurting Louisiana farmers
Tommy talks with Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry, about some of the different ways Louisiana farmers are getting hit.

What are voters likely to care about when the midterms happen?
The midterms are still months away, but how are things looking at the moment? Will the big issues right now be what decides the elections? We’ll talk to Justin Buchler, Associate Professor of Political Science at Case Western Reserve University

BONUS: Nostalgia reigns in the US as iPods make a comeback and road trips become all the rage
Times are tough so who else is ready to go back to the 90s?

BONUS: No Kings rallies this weekend aim to be biggest ever and send message that ICE must be defunded and Iran War must end
Wondering what the No Kings rallies are about this weekend? It's laid out here by an organizer and then analyzed. Is it a good idea? Plus, the latest on rising measles cases in schools as more opt out of vaccines, and moves to halt police from helping ICE.

Full Show 3-25-26: Tunnels under NOLA, higher prices, managing chronic pain

Hour 4: LSU spring practice, Jazz Fest cubes, and underground tunnels in New Orleans

Hour 3: Judges' roles and managing chronic pain
* We’ll take our weekly deep dive into crime and policing in the New Orleans area with former NOPD chief Ronal Serpas and talk furloughs, staffing, and the role judges play. * Almost a quarter of Americans deal with chronic pain. Do you? We’ll talk with Dr. Eric Stockwell from LSU Health about tips for preventing it…and managing it if it does become a problem.

Hour 2: Protecting Louisiana kids and making sense of oil and gas prices
* We’ll spend some time with State Senator Jay Luneau about his frustrations with the Department of Children and Family Services and what needs to happen to protect Louisiana’s kids. * We'll get the latest on oil and gas prices and what we're paying at the pump with Patrick De Haan, the chief petroleum analyst for Gas Buddy.

Hour 1: MRI disruptions? Louisiana education changes?
* Could the Iran war lead to MRI disruptions? We’ll explain why some are concerned and what helium has to do with it * Several bills have been filed for the session that would change some testing requirements for Louisiana students. Would they help or hurt?

Everything you need to know about the Jazz Fest cubes
The Jazz Fest cubes are out! We’ll break ‘em down with Keith Spera from the Times Picayune.

An underground tunnel loop in New Orleans?
An underground transporation tunnel in New Orleans? Elon Musk's Boring Company selected the city for an underground loop tunnel. Could it actually work? HJ Bosworth, a professional engineer, joins us.

LSU spring football is underway! What we know, and what we're watching
What did we learn from Lane Kiffin’s first practice as a Tiger? What did we learn from Day One? We talk with Wilson Alexander, LSU beat writer for The Advocate.

What you need to know about managing chronic pain
Almost a quarter of Americans deal with chronic pain. Do you? We’ll talk with Dr. Eric Stockwell, Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at LSU Health New Orleans, about tips for preventing it…and managing it if it does become a problem.

Do some judges make it harder to hold criminals accountable?
We take our weekly deep dive into crime and policing in the New Orleans area with former NOPD chief Ronal Serpas and talk furloughs, staffing, and the role judges play.

What we're seeing with oil prices and the Iran war - and why
We'll get the latest on oil and gas prices and what we're paying at the pump with Patrick De Haan, the chief petroleum analyst for Gas Buddy.

What needs to happen with DCFS to make sure Louisiana children get the help they need?
We spend some time with State Senator Jay Luneau about his frustrations with the Department of Children and Family Services and what needs to happen to protect Louisiana’s kids.

Could moving to fewer standardized tests undo some of our education gains?
Several bills have been filed for the session that would change some testing requirements for Louisiana students. Would they help or hurt? We talk to Barry Erwin with Leaders for a Better Louisiana about his concerns.

Could the Iran war hurt some pharmaceuticals and even MRIs?
Could the Iran war lead to pharmceutical and MRI disruptions? We’ll explain why some are concerned and what helium has to do with it. Prashant Yadav, a healthcare supply chain expert at the Council on Foreign Relations

BONUS: 'Everything is so bad:' ICE agents deployed to airports as TSA workers quit in droves and questions swirl about deadly plane crash in NY
Here's the latest on the plane crash at LaGuardia Airport that killed two pilots, and chaos at airports across the US as TSA workers struggle without paychecks amid a partial government shutdown.

Full Show 3-24-26: Lakeside Mall's success, Iran war disruptions, and recreational marijuana
* How Lakeside Mall is bucking a trend and thriving * Fertilizer shortages could hurt farmers...which could hurt you * Should Louisiana legalize recreational marijuana sales? * Could we see higher prices because of the Iran war? * Uninsured drivers beware: Kenner police will tow your car * Who stood out at LSU's pro day & the biggest questions for spring practice

Hour 4: Lakeside Mall thriving, drought, and LSU pro day standouts
* Malls around the country have been on the decline in recent years…but Lakeside Mall seems to be bucking that trend. We’ll spend some time with Tricia Phillpott about how they keep attracting businesses and customers. * LSU had their pro day. We’ll go over the standouts and look at which Tigers could be early round draft picks next month with Mike Detillier. * How much rainfall has Louisiana had in recent weeks? What are drought conditions looking like?

Hour 3: Recreational marijuana and lengthy TSA delays
* We’ll check in with Sheldon Jacobson, an aviation security expert at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, about how bad the TSA sickouts and delays have gotten. * Could Louisiana have recreational marijuana sales? We’ll check in with State Representative Candace Newell about what her bill would do.

Who stood out at LSU's pro day? What are the biggest questions for spring practice?
LSU had their pro day. We’ll go over the standouts and look at which Tigers could be early round draft picks next month with Mike Detillier. Plus, it's the first day of spring practice. What are the biggest questions?

Hour 2: Targeting uninsured drivers and oil and gas ripple effects
* Kenner Police are warning drivers they will tow your car if you don’t have insurance. We’ll talk to Deputy Chief Mark McCormick. * Another area impacted by Iran war is the energy sector. What are we seeing happen with the oil and gas industry? Could companies make a bigger push for renewable energy to avoid future disruptions?

Hour 1: Supply chain disruptions and fertilizer shortages
* One item the Iran war is impacting is fertilizer. We’ll break down what’s going on fertilizer supplies for farmers and the costs * How is the war with Iran impacting supply chains? Could it lead to higher consumer prices if it drags on?

Are we in a drought?
How much rainfall has Louisiana had in recent weeks? What are drought conditions looking like? We’ll talk to LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim.

How Lakeside Mall is bucking a trend and thriving
Malls around the country have been on the decline in recent years…but Lakeside Mall seems to be bucking that trend. We’ll spend some time with Tricia Phillpott, Regional Director of Leasing for Lakeside Mall, about how they keep attracting businesses and customers.

What can be done to make airport security an easier experience?
We’ll check in with Sheldon Jacobson, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign who has studied aviation security for over 25 years, about how bad the TSA sickouts and delays have gotten.

Should Louisiana legalize recreational marijuana sales?
Could Louisiana have recreational marijuana sales? We’ll check in with State Representative Candace Newell about what her bill would do.

Uninsured drivers beware: Kenner police will tow your car
Kenner Police are warning drivers they will tow your car if you don’t have insurance. Chief Keith Conley joins us.

How long will the oil and gas industry feel the impacts of the Iran war?
Kenner Police are warning drivers they will tow your car if you don’t have insurance. We talk to Chief Keith Conley.

Fertilizer shortages could hurt farmers...which could hurt you
One item the Iran war is impacting is fertilizer. We’ll break down what’s going on fertilizer supplies for farmers and the costs with Michael Deliberto, an agricultural economist with the LSU Ag Center.

Could we see higher prices because of the Iran war?
How is the war with Iran impacting supply chains? Could it lead to higher consumer prices if it drags on? We’ll talk with Patrick Penfield, a supply chain expert from Syracuse

Full Show 3-23-26: Boots on the ground? TSA delays? LSU baseball struggling? We get into it
* Could we see boots on the ground in the Iran war? * What to expect with TSA delays, ICE agents at MSY * The Trump administration wants a national AI framework. We get into it * Why is LSU baseball struggling so much? * Bank On It: What you need to know about private credit * LSU women's basketball has been rolling in the NCAA tournament * Audubon's new riverfront park is opening next month!

Hour 4: Regulating AI and the new riverfront park
* The Trump administration laid out a framework for AI policy. We’ll go over what it would do * Audubon’s new riverfront park is set to open next month! We’ll get all the details from Jackson Kerby with Audubon Nature Institute.

Hour 3: TSA delays and AI ads
* Getting the rundown on TSA delays, ICE agents at the airport, and an exciting 20 year master plan for Louis Armstrong International Airport * AI political ads have made their way to Louisiana. Will voters care if an ad is made with AI or not? We’ll talk with LSU political scientist Robert Hogan.

Hour 2: Boots on the ground? Private credit? Take a listen
* Getting an update on the war with Iran * Bank On It, financial insights you can count on with Jason Shields, the COO of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

Hour 1: LSU's good and bad weekend and the Iran war impacting China
* LSU baseball struggled, but LSU women's basketball cruised * How is the war with Iran impacting China? Will President Trump still meet with their leader soon? We’ll talk with Joshua Eisenmann from Notre Dame.

Audubon's new riverfront park is opening next month!
Audubon’s new riverfront park is set to open next month! We’ll get all the details from Jackson Kerby, Vice President of Construction at Audubon Nature Institute.

The Trump administration wants a national AI framework. Here's what it could look like
The Trump administration laid out a framework for AI policy. We’ll go over what it would do with Andrew Schwarz, an LSU businesses professor who has focused on artificial intelligence.

What to expect with TSA delays, ICE agents at Louis Armstrong International Airport
Tommy talks with Kevin Dolliole, the Director of Aviation for Louis Armstrong International Airport, about TSA delays, ICE agents, and an exciting plan for the airport's future.

Will AI political ads work, or will voters be turned off by them?

Bank On It: What you need to know about private credit
Bank On It, financial insights you can count on with Jason Shields, the COO of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust