LPB documentary short premieres on HBCU Week NOW YouTube channel

 SHINING A NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY’S JAZZ ENSEMBLE 

(LOUISIANA STATEWIDE - March 26, 2026) – The Southern University Jazz Ensemble is in the spotlight through a nationwide collaboration between Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) and Maryland Public Television (MPT). BAYOU MAGIC: THE ALVIN BATISTE JAZZ INSTITUTE is a new LPB documentary short that highlights the impact of the ensemble and the influence of its creator, jazz legend Alvin Batiste. The film is part of the national HBCU Week NOW project and is now available for streaming on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube channel.

Governor Jeff Landry will open the 2026 Legislative session

LPB Will Provide Live Coverage of the Governor's Opening Address

(LOUISIANA STATEWIDE – March 5, 2026) - Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) will provide live coverage of Governor Jeff Landry’s opening address to the Louisiana Legislature for the 2026 Regular Session on Monday, March 9 at 1:00pm. It will air statewide on LPB-HD, WLAE-TV & WYES-TV, the PBS station serving New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. The address will also be streamed live on lpb.org and LPB’s YouTube channel. State lawmakers will convene in Baton Rouge to debate hundreds of proposed bills, including efforts to grant parishes more control over carbon capture projects and increased funding for the governor’s school voucher program. Governor Jeff Landry will begin the session by outlining his goals for the year. 

LPB Premieres New Documentary on a Small Fruit’s Big Impact

(LOUISIANA STATEWIDE – February 25, 2026) – In Louisiana, the strawberry is more than just a sweet treat. It is a fruit that helped shape an entire region of the state. Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) premieres the independent documentary THE LOUISIANA STRAWBERRY on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00pm on LPB stations statewide.  From independent filmmaker and Hammond native Paul Catalanotto, explores the history of the crop, the farmers who sustain it, and the cultural traditions that have grown alongside it. From family farms to the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, the program captures how agriculture, community, and heritage intersect in Tangipahoa Parish and beyond.  

LPB Premieres Statewide Travel Series LA64

(LOUISIANA STATEWIDE - January 21, 2026) - For 50 years, Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) has told the stories of the people, places, and traditions that make Louisiana unlike anywhere else. That storytelling tradition continues Monday, February 2 at 8:00pm with the premiere of LA64, a new LPB original weekly travel series exploring every corner of the state.The first season of LA64 features twelve episodes, each spotlighting a single Louisiana parish. Over a planned five-year run, the series will visit all 64 parishes, uncovering the culture, customs, cuisine, festivals, folklore, and hidden attractions that shape Louisiana’s identity. The series begins in Vermilion Parish and continues with episodes in Sabine, Jefferson, and St. Landry parishes throughout February.

Louisiana, Gálvez, And The American Revolution

(Statewide - Louisiana – January 20, 2026) - Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) has released a new educational collection on the American Revolution that is now available to educators, students, and families nationwide through PBS LearningMedia, highlighting the pivotal role Spanish Louisiana and Governor Bernardo de Gálvez played in America’s fight for independence.
 The collection, Louisiana’s Hidden History: Spanish Louisiana in the American Revolution, is available on PBS LearningMedia at lpb.pbslearningmedia.org. Educators, students, and families can access the materials by searching "Gálvez."

LPB Call for Nominations for Louisiana Young Heroes

(Statewide - Louisiana) - Louisiana Public Broadcasting announces the 2026 Louisiana Young Heroes program and the statewide call for nominations of students to be recognized as Louisiana Young Heroes. A Young Hero is defined as an exceptional individual who has excelled in academics, given significantly of themselves through public service, overcome adversity, exhibited extraordinary heroism, or inspired others through their deeds and strength of character to become better students, persons, and citizens. Parents, principals, teachers, guidance counselors, family members, and friends who know of high school students deserving of recognition for their tenacity, good work and commendable deeds, are encouraged to nominate them!

FRENCH MOVIES RETURN WITH A NEW SEASON OF CINÉMA FRANÇAIS ON LPB

(Louisiana Statewide – January 8, 2026) – Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s (LPB) mission to showcase our state’s unique culture and history includes our ongoing showcase of French heritage and language. We are happy to announce the return of LPB Presents: Cinéma Français – a late-night exploration of classic French films. 

PBS News Special Report: Presidential Address

(Louisiana Statewide - December 17, 2025) President Donald Trump is expected to address the nation tonight (12/17/25) at 8:00pm.

Season's End of Game Notes

(Louisiana Statewide - December 15, 2025) – From bowl matchups featuring Louisiana programs to conversations with college football coaches across the state, Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) presents GAME NOTES – 2025 SPECIAL WRAP-UP EDITION, airing Friday, December 19 at 8:00 p.m. on LPB’s statewide network. 

The special features season recaps and forward-looking discussion with Northwestern State University Head Coach Blaine McCorkle, Nicholls State University Head Coach Tommy Rybacki, Southeastern Louisiana University Head Coach Frank Scelfo, University of Louisiana Head Coach Michael Desormeaux, and University of Louisiana at Monroe Head Coach Bryant Vincent.

LPB Welcomes Christina Jensen

(LOUISIANA STATEWIDE – Nov. 6, 2025) – Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) is pleased to welcome Christina Jensen as anchor, reporter, and producer for the long-running news and public affairs program, Louisiana: The State We’re In. A seasoned journalist with a passion for storytelling that connects communities, Jensen brings a wealth of experience and energy to LPB’s flagship series.

LPB Celebrates Fifty Years

(LOUISIANA STATEWIDE – Sept. 3, 2025) - Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) is celebrating fifty years of service with a statewide slate of special programming and archival content honoring Louisiana’s rich history, vibrant culture, and extraordinary people. The anniversary festivities kick off on Saturday, September 6, 2025, with an evening of viewer-favorite documentaries and an exclusive first look at LPB’s newest production.

LPB Explores Katrina 20 Years Later in a Louisiana: The State We’re In Special

(LOUISIANA STATEWIDE – August 26, 2025) - Twenty years have passed since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, forever changing the lives and landscape of Louisiana—especially in New Orleans. In KATRINA 20 – A LOUISIANA: THE STATE WE’RE IN SPECIAL, Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) revisits the storm’s enduring impact through the voices of those who lived it, while also looking ahead to the lessons learned and the changes still unfolding.

LPB Responds to Congressional Passage of Rescissions Bill

This week, Congress passed a rescissions bill that eliminates previously approved federal funding for public broadcasting. For Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), that means a loss of $2.4 million in annual support, funding that helps us deliver trusted children’s programs, maintain vital emergency communications infrastructure, and create and share stories and documentaries that define our state.

While this setback is serious, it is not insurmountable.

Statement from Louisiana Public Broadcasting Regarding the Passing of Dorothea Wilson

Dorothea Wilson joined the LPB news team as co-anchor and reporter for Louisiana: The State We're In in September of 2024. Originally from the West Bank of New Orleans, Dorothea's journalism career took her north to Monroe, Louisiana and then to Little Rock, Arkansas, before her interest in being closer to family and an opportunity at LPB brought her back home to South Louisiana. When she began at LPB, Dorothea remarked, “I remembered all the shows that I grew up watching on PBS and wanted to be a part of the mission and vision of the network and to share compelling stories about our great state.”

Dorothea Wilson, co-anchor and reporter for Louisiana: The State We're In (SWI), and beloved member of the LPB family, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 26.

LPB Kicks off the season with Series Premiere of Game Notes!

(LOUISIANA STATEWIDE – AUGUST 19, 2025) – Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) is making a bold play this fall with the premiere with its new weekly sports series, GAME NOTES. Celebrating Louisiana’s unmatched passion for college football, the series spotlights eleven teams from six conferences across the state.

The season kicks off with a Fall Preview Special on Thursday, August 21 at 7:00pm. Regular coverage begins with the weekly GAME NOTES program on Saturday, August 30 at 10:00am and the POST GAME NOTES wrap-up on Sunday, August 31 at 6:00pm continuing throughout the football season.

Friends of LPB Honors Six Louisiana Legends at 2025 Awards Gala

The 2025 Louisiana Legends Gala began with a cocktail reception in the rotunda of Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, followed by an elegant dinner in the Senate Chamber. Guests then participated in a live auction featuring some of the most sought-after items from the Louisiana Legends online auction. LPB President and CEO, Clarence "C.C" Copeland, expressed gratitude to the bidders, sponsors, and Friends of LPB members, highlighting that every dollar raised directly supports meaningful change—demonstrating the strength and passion of the Louisiana community.
The Gala continued with the Louisiana Legends Awards Ceremony that was broadcast live statewide from the Old State Capitol's House Chamber. 

LPB Honors Six Students as Young Heroes

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is honoring six high school students from around the state as Louisiana Young Heroes. These outstanding students have been role models within their local communities and join over 230 past honorees who have received this award since 1996.

The 2025 Louisiana Young Heroes are:
Jessica Anderson of Youngsville
Gabrielle “Gabby” Essex of Natchitoches
Mateo Guerrero of Bossier City
Jared Lane of St. Francisville
William Matthews of Baton Rouge
Ja’Nika Stanley of Baton Rouge