Newell Normand

Sam McCabe, Director of Loyola University New Orleans' Center for Entrepreneurship & Community Development, joins Newell to talk about this year's "New Orleans Entrepreneur Week," happening Monday, March 24 to Saturday, March 29, 2025.

This hour, Newell speaks with Colonel Jeff McCausland, CBS military analyst, about the latest developments of the conflict with Iran-backed Houthis. Then, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser comes on the show to talk about Love the Boot Week.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser joins Newell to talk about “Love the Boot” Week! He wants 1000 events that week, and they’re up to 840 right now. Kickoff is April 4th in Baton Rouge. He also talked litter at a solid waste conference in Lafayette. Later today he’ll be in Marksville with Buddy Guy doing a dedication to the musician Little Walter.

Pentagon officials promise a resurging fight with the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen won’t turn into an endless war. But it’s already getting more complicated. The Trump administration is pledging to go after Houthi fighters until they end their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. And yet its days-old bombing campaign is running up against America’s political and industrial limits, including limited precision weapons stockpiles, a broader regional crisis, and a terror group unlikely to back down, even in a fight against a military superpower. Colonel Jeff McCausland, CBS military analyst, joins Newell to discuss the developments.

On today's show, Newell reviews a list of demands from the Columbia Grad Student Union to shift Columbia University into a "Sanctuary Campus."

Then, Newell speaks:

Mike Cooper, President of St. Tammany Parish,

Michael Hecht, President & CEO of GNO Inc.,

Daniel Erspamer, Chief Executive Officer of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy,

Walt Leger, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company,

and P Morrell, New Orleans City Councilmember.

This hour, Newell talks to Walt Leger, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company, about New Orleans being named the best city for food by Time Out, an update on the UNESCO “Creative Cities” Designation, the variety of conventions coming to New Orleans, and Walt being recognized and serving on Key National Boards for the Global Tourism Industry. Then, JP Morrell, New Orleans City Councilmember, joins the show to give the latest on Mayor Cantrell's dispute of the City Council's travel ban.

JP Morrell, New Orleans City Councilmember, joins Newell to give the latest on Mayor Cantrell's dispute of the City Council's travel ban.

Walt Leger, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company, joins Newell to talk about New Orleans being named the best city for food by Time Out, an update on the UNESCO “Creative Cities” Designation, the variety of conventions coming to New Orleans, and Walt being recognized and serving on Key National Boards for the Global Tourism Industry.

This hour, Newell has on Michael Hecht, President & CEO of GNO Inc., to discuss a 48% reduction in crime incidents during the 2025 Carnival season, Entergy Louisiana’s CEO saying the state is primed for AI and renewable energy-driven growth after securing Meta’s largest data center in Richland Parish, Covington-based Globalstar celebrating the opening of its new 10,000 square ft control center, and more. Then, Daniel Erspamer, Chief Executive Officer of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, joins the show to continue to bring clarification of Louisiana's proposed constitutional amendment 2.

This spring, Louisiana voters will be asked to consider the most substantial change to the state’s constitution since it was adopted in 1974. Amendment 2 on the March 29, 2025 statewide ballot is a proposed overhaul of the longest portion of the state’s foundational document, which deals with taxes and government spending. If approved by voters, it would enshrine a regressive tax system where the wealthiest people and corporations pay far lower overall tax rates than people with low incomes. It would eliminate constitutionally protected funds that provide ongoing funding for education and transportation programs and make it harder for state policymakers to deal with the ups and downs of Louisiana’s economy. Daniel Erspamer, Chief Executive Officer of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, joins Newell to continue to bring clarification of the amendment.