Kelly Schulz of New Orleans & Company and Sig Greenebaum, co-founder of NOLA x NOLA, join Brian Haldane to discuss New Orleans’ booming food, music and tourism industries. Schulz highlights the city’s recognition as a top foodie destination and a strong convention calendar, while Greenebaum explains how NOLA x NOLA grew from a post-pandemic idea into an annual celebration featuring hundreds of shows across dozens of venues. The guests also discuss free music events, industry conversations and the economic impact of tourism.

Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse joins Brian Haldane to discuss football season security, plans for a stronger police presence downtown and the latest crime trends. Morse shares details on BRPD’s recruiting efforts, new virtual reality training technology and an officer-involved shooting investigation. He also reports that overall crime is down 11% year to date, with declines in armed robberies, burglaries, vehicle crimes and homicides.

David Cresson, President and CEO of the Louisiana Chemical Association, joins Brian Haldane to discuss carbon capture and storage and its potential role in Louisiana’s industrial future. Cresson explains why he believes CCS could help attract investment, support jobs and keep Louisiana manufacturers competitive. He also addresses concerns surrounding the technology and discusses the state’s recent industrial growth, including major projects involving Hyundai and CF Industries.

Jeff Crouere, host of Ringside Politics, joins Brian Haldane to discuss the latest developments in New Orleans. Crouere reflects on  the impact of the National Guard’s departure, NOPD staffing and the city’s ongoing public safety efforts. The conversation also explores the challenges facing downtown New Orleans, including struggling businesses, infrastructure projects and the future of the Central Business District. Crouere highlights recent private investment and the potential for new business development to help revitalize the city.

During a lively radio broadcast, local culinary favorite Rocco introduced his newest menu creation, the "Ruffalotta," which combines signature slow-cooked top round roast beef and rich brown gravy with a fresh, un-toasted Leidenheimer muffuletta bun. The hosts highlighted the distinct flavor upgrade offered by seeded bread and debated the merits of traditional room-temperature presentation versus toasted options. Alongside mouthwatering food commentary, the pair engaged in humorous banter covering local college football eligibility debates and funny personal anecdotes. The special sandwich will be available to local food lovers for a limited two-week run starting Tuesday following the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill provided vital insights into ongoing legal battles surrounding NCAA student-athlete eligibility rules. She argued that late administrative rule changes trap college players in unfair systems without clear career options. The SEC recently launched a federal lawsuit against LSU officials, but Murrill called the filing legally flawed and open to counter-suits. With dozens of similar cases pending across the nation, Louisiana stands firmly at the forefront of collegiate athletic reform.

East Baton Rouge Parish has applied for a competitive $125 million Department of Justice grant to transform public safety through a unified parish-wide initiative. Spearheaded by Chris Csonka and over 15 local agencies, the proposal addresses systemic crime by funding substance abuse services, juvenile diversion programs, and civilian crisis response teams. The strategy also modernizes technology by creating a unified crime data system and expanding real-time crime centers across local jurisdictions. If selected by the end of the year, East Baton Rouge will gain vital resources to hire key judicial staff, eliminate DNA backlogs, and build long-term community solutions.

Brian Haldane and expert Haggai Davis analyzed the converging worlds of financial prediction markets and wearable technology. The pair detailed how high-profile college football boosters utilize platforms like Kalshi to hedge multi-million-dollar coaching bonuses, sparking intense legal debate between federal circuit courts over whether event contracts represent legitimate commodity trading or unregulated gambling. Turning to consumer tech, the discussion highlighted a growing global privacy backlash against camera-equipped smart glasses, with critics demanding camera-free augmented reality alternatives. Ultimately, the segment underscored how modern technology continues to challenge traditional regulatory frameworks across both financial markets and personal privacy.

The Louisiana Office of Workers’ Compensation is actively reforming its enforcement and support systems under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Brian Blackwood. To support Louisiana’s growing workforce, the agency prioritizes vocational rehabilitation to help injured employees safely return to fulfilling jobs. Concurrently, the OWC is launching a major crackdown on employer fraud, preparing around 100 lawsuits against companies using illegal misclassification tactics to avoid paying full insurance premiums. Utilizing modern AI and digital tools, the agency aims to root out deliberate bad actors while ensuring fair, compliant businesses can thrive.

Louisiana’s newly enacted Act 648 restores an employer’s right to initiate formal court discovery in workers' compensation cases, eliminating a long-standing legal bottleneck. The law ensures that businesses can obtain essential medical records and conduct depositions without disrupting ongoing benefits for legitimately injured workers. By closing loopholes that previously extended claim durations, the state aims to combat fraudulent claims and reduce excessive employer costs. Ultimately, this common-sense reform fosters a fairer legal environment, helping attract new economic development and high-paying jobs to Louisiana.