TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
More than a million Texas voters have been placed on “voter suspense” lists.
Election officials say voters will have to update their addresses by October 5, 2026 or face additional paperwork on election day before they can cast their ballot.
Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports:
SOT:
“Texas voters can wind up on a voter suspense list if their county attempted unsuccessfully to get in touch with them by mail – either to send them a voter registration card or a jury summons. Alicia Pierce is with the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. “That doesn't mean that their registration is suspended. It just means that they might need to update their voting information, and it's better to do that ahead of the October 5th registration deadline. But even if you don't, you'll still have options about how you can vote.” Voters can update their information online at Vote-Texas-dot-gov. They can also download a registration application from their county voter registrar’s website and mail it in or fill out an application at any of their county voter registrar’s offices.”
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INTRO:
In less than three years in office, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has issued 406 executive orders.
Landry has already surpassed his predecessor, two-term governor John Bel Edwards. LaPolitics Weekly publisher Jeremy Alford says Landry has used executive orders to reshape state government such as creating new boards and commissions.
Alford says the governor’s frequent use of executive orders has largely gone unquestioned and unchallenged, so far:
SOT:
“We haven’t had any massive, landmark legal decisions challenging his use of executive orders and I think it’s going to continue to keep this pace.”
TAG:
By the end of the year, Landry could even surpass Edwin Edwards, who issued 441 executive orders during his four terms in office.
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INTRO:
The Louisiana Democratic Party is voicing opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment that would add to gubernatorial term limits.
The amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot would prevent a governor from serving an additional term after serving two terms, followed by at least one term out of office. Democratic Party Chairman Randal Gaines says the amendment would take away a choice from Louisiana voters:
SOT:
“It unfairly denies the voters the opportunity to choose the governor that they would like to lead the state.”
TAG:
Amendment supporters contend the change would bring new ideas to the governor’s office and prevent former governors from using their fundraising advantages against first-time candidates.
Gaines says he thinks the constitutional amendment was designed to prevent former Governor John Bel Edwards from seeking another term.
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INTRO:
In Arkansas… there is a growing sense of urgency to lower the state’s “snap error rate.”
That refers to the under-and-over payments to recipients that pay for monthly food assistance.
The Arkansas State House and Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor committees met in a joint session this week, looking for answers.
Arkansas’ current error rate stands at 8.81%. Committee Co-Chair Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, advised fellow lawmakers about the costs involved by not lowering the error rate by October of 2027:
SOT:
“We have to get our error rate below 6% because of our budget, okay. We are a balanced-budget state. We cannot be hit arbitrarily with a $48 million penalty out of the blue.”
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READER:
The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for
* Slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1:00 p.m. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105 today.
* Tomorrow: identical forecast, minus the chance for rain and storms.
* Saturday: while the high doesn’t budge, a 30% chance of afternoon showers & thunderstorms does return to the area.
* The Flood Watch has been extended through 4:00 p.m. this afternoon for portions of Lower East Texas south of I-20.
* Additional rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches, with isolated higher amounts in excess of 4 inches, are possible in the watch area through this afternoon.
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