Newell Normand

Newell broadcasts LIVE from the Metropolitan Health Group in Meterie for the Holiday Food Drive.

This hour, Newell has on

John Sillars, Chief Strategy Officer of the Second Harvest Food Bank,

and Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana Billy Nungesser.

The United States has only 18 mental health beds per 100,000 people, far below what is needed to serve people in need. For individuals with the most severe mental health conditions, there must be enough inpatient hospital beds to provide safe, effective, and stabilizing treatment. That requires reforming Medicaid rules so psychiatric care in Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs) can be reimbursed. David Ridenour, Chairman of the National Center for Public Policy Research, joins Newell to explain what rules need to be changed and how to go about changing them.

Leo John Arnett, Policy Advisor at GNO Inc., joins Newell and Michael Hecht to discuss this weekend’s election results and how they will impact the future of the city.

New Orleans voters approved $510m in bonds backed by Mayor-elect Helena Moreno to fund housing, parks, drainage, and major infrastructure, though none can address the city’s budget deficit. The election also saw Calvin Duncan win clerk of Criminal Court, while Aimee McCarron and Jason Hughes secured City Council seats. Turnout was low, but voters broadly supported bond measures and other charter changes, enabling long-planned projects across the city to advance. Michael Hecht, President & CEO of GNO Inc., joins Newell to talk about that and more.

Billy Nungesser, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, joins Newell to talk about Louisiana restaurants receiving Michelin Guide Honors, the JRNY America Awards, open primaries, and more.

John Sillars, Chief Strategy Officer of the Second Harvest Food Bank, joins Newell to talk about the importance of Second Harvest during the holidays and the government shutdown's impact on food shortages.

On today's show, Newell has on

Dr. Skip Gallagher, UNO Professor & NOPD Watchdog, to discuss overtime abuse at the NOPD,

Pastor John Gerhardt, Executive Director of Urban Impact New Orleans, and son Elijah Garhardt to talk about their dedication to transforming the lives of the youth in Central City,

Mark Hamrick, Washington Bureau Chief & Senior Economic Analyst at Bankrate.com, to preview the September jobs report,

Ken Johnson, Endowed Chair of Real Estate and Professor of Finance at the University of Mississippi, to discuss how New Orleans homeowners are spending nearly a third of their income on mortgages,

and Kirk Lowery, Chairman of the Louisiana Report Card, to talk about Louisiana's infrastructure receiving a grade of C- by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Newell speaks with Ken Johnson, Endowed Chair of Real Estate and Professor of Finance at the University of Mississippi, to discuss how New Orleans homeowners are spending nearly a third of their income on mortgages. Then, Kirk Lowery, Chairman of the Louisiana Report Card, joins the show to talk about Louisiana's infrastructure receiving a grade of C- by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

For the first time in nearly a decade, a group of civil engineers has assessed Louisiana’s roads, bridges, water systems, and more, giving the state’s infrastructure an overall grade of C-. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its 2025 infrastructure report card on Wednesday (Nov. 12), stating that Louisiana “struggles to maintain its infrastructure” for a “safe, modern society.” Kirk Lowery, Chairman of the Louisiana Report Card, joins Newell to talk about the grading.

New Orleans homeowners are increasingly burdened by housing costs, spending nearly a third of their income on mortgages, making the city one of the most house-poor in the nation. Even with home values below the national average, New Orleans ranks third in the country for the share of income devoted to housing, outpacing cities like Los Angeles, Miami, and Honolulu. Rising insurance premiums and higher interest rates have slowed the housing market and limited homeowners’ ability to build equity. Between 2020 and 2024, the share of the median household’s income going toward housing climbed past 28 percent. As monthly costs grow faster than incomes, the idea of homeownership as a reliable wealth-building tool is increasingly in doubt, particularly for new buyers who face rising expenses with little expectation of price appreciation. Ken Johnson, Endowed Chair of Real Estate and Professor of Finance at the University of Mississippi, joins Newell to discuss it.