WWL First News with Tommy Tucker

This week, things are getting a little intense. We have a playdate with snakes, spiders and bullfrogs, a discussion about flatulence research, questions about robot doctors and a peek into the world of black market fish. Featuring audio from KCBS Radio in the Bay Area, The Dave Glover Show out of KMOX in St. Louis, the Dana & Parks Show out of Audacy station KMBZ in Kansas City and Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans.

* It's a beautiful weekend. Try these some outdoor dining spots * Using AI to help field 911, 311 calls in New Orleans * Did we overestimate LSU baseball, or have they been underperforming? * A former LSU golfer is tied for the leader after Round 1 of the Masters * Will the Saints add another weapon for Tyler Shough in the first round? * Looking for a new place to get crawfish? Try here * Should college sports agents in Louisiana be regulated like pro agents?

* We go live to Augusta, Georgia and get an update on the Masters * Jefferson Parish secured over $3 million for a food incubator to help small businesses. We’ll go over that and see what else the parish has cooking with Jerry Bologna with JEDCO.

* The NFL draft is less than two weeks away. We’ll break down some of the possibilities for the Saints with WWL sports director Steve Geller. * The Orleans Parish Communications District handles 911 and 311 calls, and they’re understaffed. But a new AI tool could help. * How family-friendly are businesses in Louisiana? The Best Place for Working Parents will recognize employers that have family-friendly policies…policies that can also boost a business’s bottom line.

* We’ll preview LSU baseball’s weekend series against Ole Miss with WWL.com columnist Jeff Palermo. Will the Tigers get back on track after another tough mid-week loss? * We’ll check in with State Senator Pat Connick about the session, how his bills are progressing, and some questions about coastal restoration.

* Looking for boiled crawfish? Brisket? Check out Bon Temps Boulet’s. They’re only open January-June. * Want to go meat-heavy and support a good cause? Hogs for the Cause is this weekend * It's going to be a beautiful weekend. Here are some places with patios or outdoor seating. Tommy and Ian McNulty, who covers food and dining culture for The Times Picayune | New Orleans Advocate, go over some places you have to try this weekend.

Jefferson Parish secured over $3 million for a food incubator to help small businesses. We go over that and see what else the parish has cooking with Jerry Bologna, Executive Director of JEDCO (Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission).

We go live to Augusta, Georgia and get an update on the Masters with Scott Rabalais, sports columnist for The Times Picayune.

The NFL draft is less than two weeks away. We’ll break down some of the possibilities for the Saints with WWL sports director Steve Geller.

The Orleans Parish Communications District handles 911 and 311 calls, and they’re understaffed. But a new AI tool could help. We go over it with executive director Karl Fasold.

How family-friendly are businesses in Louisiana? The Best Place for Working Parents will recognize employers that have family-friendly policies…policies that can also boost a business’s bottom line. We get the details from Alex Cory, the Outreach & Partnerships Manager for the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

Checking in with State Senator Pat Connick about the session, how his bills are progressing, and some questions about coastal restoration.

We preview LSU baseball’s weekend series against Ole Miss with WWL.com columnist Jeff Palermo. Will the Tigers get back on track after another tough mid-week loss?

This is a very confusing economy and here are the latest numbers. Gold, jobs, gas prices, futures, and an analysis of how 'lifestyle creep' ruins advancements in pay.

* Colorado State researchers are releasing their hurricane forecast for 2026. We’ll talk to Lauren Beard about the outlook for this year. * Closed primaries are coming to Louisiana, and the deadline to register or change your party affiliation ahead of the primaries in May is April 15. We'll talk to Secretary of State Nancy Landry about what you need to know * The Masters is getting underway! We’ll go live to Augusta and talk with Scott Rabalais from The Times Picayune about the top contender and big storylines.

* We’ll get the latest on the what’s happening with the ceasefire with Iran as some attacks continue around the Middle East * We’ll talk with Patrick De Haan, the chief of petroleum analysis at Gas Buddy and see how the oil and gas markets are reacting.

UNO is moving to the LSU system in July. We spend some time with UNO President Kathy Johnson and find out how the transition is going, what’s changing, and what current and prospective students need to know.

Colorado State researchers released their hurricane forecast for 2026, and it's good news. We’ll talk to research assistant Lauren Beard about the outlook for this year.

Closed primaries are coming to Louisiana, and the deadline to register or change your party affiliation ahead of the primaries in May is April 15. We talk to Secretary of State Nancy Landry about what you need to know

The Masters is getting underway! We go live to Augusta and talk with Scott Rabalais, a sports columnist with The Times Picayune, about the top contender and big storylines.

We talk with Patrick De Haan, the chief of petroleum analysis at Gas Buddy and see how the oil and gas markets are reacting.

Has the Strait of Hormuz re-opened? What do know about the proposed peace plans with Iran? We break it down with Bruce Jentleson, Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University. He previously worked in the State Department and on the Middle East peace process.

Tommy talks with Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry, about seafood safety, weekend fun, and getting ready for termites

President Trump has been a powerful figure on the ballot…but how do Republicans perform when he isn’t on the ballot? We’ll break it down with Justin Buchler, Associate Professor of Political Science at Case Western Reserve University.

The U.S. and Iran reached a ceasefire shortly before the deadline President Donald Trump had issued to bomb their civilization into non-existence. So, what's next, and will the ceasefire really be honored by all sides? Plus, here's what happened in Detroit when a gas station offered free gas.

* We’ll go over some new developments in the case against LaToya Cantrell and get a refresher on the indictment against her and where things stand with Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino. * We’ll get an update on a tough mid-week loss for LSU baseball and how spring practice is going for Lane Kiffin and LSU football with Koki Riley, LSU beat writer for The Advocate.

* We’ll have our weekly check-in with former NOPD chief Ronal Serpas on the importance of enforcing traffic laws and cracking down on things like red light running and DUIs. * We’ll check in with Councilmember Eugene about the importance of road safety * The largest ever rodeo in Louisiana is making its way to New Orleans this weekend. Let's get the details

* The US and Iran have a ceasefire. Here's what we know - and don't know - about it * We’ll get an update on the Senate race in Louisiana with all the attack ads and take a look at how the midterms across the country could play out.

Koki Riley, LSU beat writer for The Advocate, breaks down LSU baseball's loss to Bethune Cookman and Lane Kiffin's comments about spring practice.

We’ll go over some new developments in the case against LaToya Cantrell and get a refresher on the indictment against her and where things stand with Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino.

New Orleans City Councilmember Eugene Green has a message for the speeders out there: slow down! We talk with him about cracking down on those speeders and why hit and run penalties need to be more severe.

James Trawick, CEO of the Hondo Rodeo Fest, gives us all the details.

We’ll have our weekly check-in with former NOPD chief Ronal Serpas on the importance of enforcing traffic laws and cracking down on things like red light running and DUIs.

Iran has shown how vulnerable certain chokepoints can be with their attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Are there other chokepoints nations could use to try and hurt the US or the global economy? How has the US used economic warfare to achieve our goals? We spend the hour with Eddie Fishman, Director of the Center for Geoeconomics at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare, diving into it.

We’ll get an update on the Senate race in Louisiana with all the attack ads and take a look at how the midterms across the country could play out. Robert Hogan, Professor and Department Chair of Political Science at LSU, joins us.

The US and Iran agreed to a two week ceasefire. Here's what we know about it and about negotiations for a more permanent peace deal. Lindsay Cohn, Visiting Associate at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, joins us.

Artemis II's astronauts saw the dark side of the moon for the first time. So, here's a discussion of the miracle that was that moment, plus what's next. And it opens the door to an eternal debate for some conspiracy theorists ... Was the original moon landing faked in a TV studio?

* The US is striking Kharg Island. What will the impact on oil and gas be? * Housing affordability, insurance are biggest constraints on owning a home * Saltwater intrusions have been getting worse. Here's why * How can we make our roads safer for cyclists and drivers? * Is President Trump's approach to the Iran war working?

* Why have saltwater intrusions in the Mississippi River been getting worse? * We see stories and headlines talk about private equity…but what actually IS private equity? How do those companies work? What role do they play in bankruptcies?

* The US strikes on Kharg Island are raising oil prices. How long will it last? * Do you approve the way President Trump is conducting the war?

* We’ll bring you the latest on the war with Iran, President Trump’s deadline to make a deal, and what could come if there is no deal * A woman was killed on Sunday while riding her bike in New Orleans. We’ll talk with Allene La Spina, director of Bike Easy, about the dangers cyclists face and the importance for everyone to follow the rules of the road.

* Rising construction costs and ways to lower insurance rates are two of the big issues for homebuilders. * How is the real estate market in our area been? What areas are hottest? And how have mortgage rates changed since the start of the year?