Scott Payne joins the show to delve into his experiences working undercover, offering listeners a fascinating look into the world of covert operations. Throughout the discussion, Payne shares intriguing insights and challenges faced while working undercover, shedding light on the complexities and dangers inherent in such roles. His firsthand accounts provide a rare and authentic perspective on the skills, strategies, and psychological resilience required to navigate the shadowy realm of espionage. In addition to recounting his undercover experiences, Payne discusses his latest book, "Code Name: Pale Horse."

This book promises to captivate readers with its thrilling narrative, which is deeply rooted in Payne's real-life undercover work. The story weaves together elements of espionage, suspense, and action, creating a compelling and immersive reading experience. Payne's ability to translate his experiences into a gripping storyline showcases his talent as both a storyteller and a former operative. "Code Name: Pale Horse" offers readers a unique glimpse into the world of covert operations, blending real-life espionage with gripping storytelling. The book not only entertains but also educates readers about the intricacies of undercover work, the psychological toll it can take, and the high stakes involved. Payne's narrative is enriched by his deep understanding of the field, making the book a must-read for anyone interested in espionage and covert operations. 

Overall, Scott Payne's appearance on the show provides valuable insights into the life of an undercover operative and the challenges they face. His latest book, "Code Name: Pale Horse," serves as a testament to his experiences, offering readers a thrilling and authentic portrayal of the world of espionage. Through his discussion and his writing, Payne continues to shed light on the hidden aspects of undercover work, captivating audiences with his stories and expertise.

Matt Edwards, Community Outreach Coordinator from the Mayor's Office joins the show to discuss "Love the Boot" Week and the Keep Baton Rouge Beautiful initiative on the show. He highlights the importance of community involvement in beautifying and maintaining the city. Edwards emphasizes various activities planned for the week, including clean-up events and educational programs aimed at promoting environmental stewardship. The conversation underscores the collective effort needed to enhance Baton Rouge's appearance and foster civic pride.

Jaysen Newell from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) joins the show to discuss the Riverplex Mega Park. He highlights the park's potential to boost economic development in the region, attract new businesses, and create job opportunities. Newell emphasizes the strategic location and infrastructure of the park, which are designed to support various industries and enhance the area's growth prospects. The conversation underscores the importance of this project for Baton Rouge's future.

Andrew Ward from the Acadiana Veteran Alliance and Robby Piper from the Storage Center discuss their collaboration to support veterans. The alliance provides career placement and health programs, including a PTSD treatment called Stella ganglion block. The Storage Center's donation helps fund these treatments. They also announce a new scholarship program to recognize community contributions.

Lieutenant Don Coppola from Capital Region Crimestoppers joins the show to discuss the effectiveness of anonymous tips that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of wanted criminals.

 Lt. Coppola also shares about the upcoming Pickleball Tournament on May 3rd and 4th

If you have any information and would like to leave an anonymous tip, call 344-7867.For more, visit: crimestoppers225.com and facebook.com/CS225

Insurance Commissioner, Tim Temple joins the show to discuss  the current state of insurance in Louisiana. He emphasizes the importance of affordable and available insurance, noting that people are more concerned about insurance than tax reform. Despite the failure of four constitutional amendments, including one on tax reform, Temple believes this has highlighted the need for focused attention on insurance issues.Temple outlines a comprehensive package of bills aimed at insurance reform, including property and auto insurance.

He mentions that while property insurance has seen improvements, with rate decreases and fewer increases, there is still work to be done. He plans to introduce additional bills to tweak and improve the market further. Temple also highlights the success of reforms in neighboring states like Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, suggesting that Louisiana needs to continue making progress to avoid falling further behind.For auto insurance, Temple discusses several key reforms, including medical transparency (formerly known as collateral source), distracted driving, and the Housley presumption, which aims to bring fairness to injury claims. He also mentions a "no pay, no play" bill, modified comparative fault, general damage caps, and attorney interest involvement. Additionally, Temple proposes reducing the premium tax on auto insurance and extending the notice period for policy cancellations from 30 to 45 days, with a requirement for insurers to provide reasons for cancellations.

Temple emphasizes the need for continuous improvement and collaboration with legislators and stakeholders to achieve meaningful reform. He also discusses redirecting tax revenue from insurance claims to support communities affected by catastrophic events, such as the fortified roof program. Overall, Temple is optimistic about the potential for significant progress in insurance reform during the upcoming legislative session.

Haggai Davis joins the show for a Cup of Tech Gumbo to discuss the NFL's chain gang, the use of Hawkeye technology, and the future of virtual reality (VR). He explores how these technologies impact sports and whether VR is likely to remain relevant or fade away.

Julia Letlow joins the show to discuss Amendment 2, providing insights into its implications and significance. She explains the key aspects of the amendment, its potential impact on the community, and the reasons behind its proposal. Letlow emphasizes the importance of informed voting and encourages listeners to understand the details of Amendment 2 to make educated decisions. The discussion aims to clarify any misconceptions and highlight the amendment's benefits.

Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana's State Superintendent of Education, joins the show to discuss key educational initiatives and challenges. He highlights the third-grade retention law, which mandates that third graders must demonstrate minimum reading proficiency to advance to fourth grade. This law aims to end social promotion and ensure students are academically prepared. Brumley emphasizes the state's efforts to improve elementary reading scores, noting significant progress.He also discusses the Louisiana Gator program, an educational savings account initiative that allows families to direct education dollars to their chosen schools or service providers. With nearly 30,000 applications received, the program's initial funding will support 11,000 students. Brumley stresses the importance of legislative approval for vendor support to administer the program effectively.Additionally, Brumley addresses the need for high school internships, acknowledging that Louisiana lags behind neighboring states in this area. He advocates for integrating internships into the state's accountability system to better prepare students for the workforce. Brumley highlights the collaboration between the business community, schools, and policy leaders to enhance career education and work-based learning opportunities.Throughout the discussion, Brumley underscores the importance of communication between parents, schools, and the Department of Education to ensure students' success. He remains optimistic about the future of Louisiana's education system and the potential for significant improvements in student outcomes.

Doctor Scott Burns joins the show to discuss the significance of Liberation Day, which marks a major expansion of tariffs implemented by President Trump. Unlike the targeted tariffs of 2018-2019, which affected $400 billion worth of goods, the new tariffs impact $3.2 trillion worth of traded goods. Burns explains that these reciprocal tariffs are a response to other nations imposing higher tariffs on American goods. He emphasizes that tariffs are essentially taxes on U.S. citizens and companies, leading to higher costs for consumers. Burns argues that retaliating with tariffs is not beneficial, as it harms domestic jobs and raises taxes on American citizens. He compares trade to a win-win scenario, unlike the zero-sum nature of sports. Burns suggests that while Trump's approach might be seen as a negotiating tactic, it ultimately reflects his long-standing antagonism towards free trade. He highlights that global trade should be viewed as mutually beneficial, rather than a competitive game. Burns concludes by noting that past presidents have had varying views on tariffs, with recent decades seeing fewer tariffs compared to the McKinley or Teddy Roosevelt eras.