Louisiana Universities Face $850M Shortfall—But Where Is the Money Going?

Stay connected with us at americangroundradio.com, on Facebook, and Instagram.You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show March 20, 2026.In this episode of American Ground Radio, the conversation starts with a simple but powerful question: what do you call a system that says it’s broke—but keeps spending like it’s rich?From there, we dive into a major issue facing Louisiana—an $850 million higher education funding gap. But as the numbers come into focus, so does a deeper problem. While universities are asking taxpayers for more money, millions are being lost on athletic programs that rarely turn a profit. Is this really a funding crisis… or a priorities crisis?We break down the growing tension between academics and athletics, asking tough questions about the true purpose of higher education. Should taxpayers be on the hook for college sports deficits? Or is it time for universities to rethink how they spend—and what they value most?In the “Top 3 Things You Need to Know,” we cover a major legal case involving staged truck accidents that drove up insurance rates across Louisiana, a controversial candidate entering the Shreveport mayor’s race, and a historic appointment of the youngest police chief in state history.Then things take a more serious turn as we uncover a disturbing national security story—multiple waves of advanced drones spotted over Barksdale Air Force Base. Who’s behind them, and why were they able to operate undetected over sensitive military areas? The implications raise real concerns about evolving threats and the future of modern warfare.We also explore new polling on the 2028 presidential race, breaking down who’s leading on both the Republican and Democrat sides—and what it could mean moving forward.From state spending and education priorities to national security and the future of American politics, this episode connects the dots on some of the biggest issues facing the country today.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!Federal jury convicts New Orleans attorneys in staged 18-wheeler crash fraud trialFerriday’s LaKisica Bowman becomes youngest police chief in Louisiana at 27Multiple unauthorized drones recently spotted over Barksdale Air Force basePoll: Kamala Harris still Democratic favorite for 2028