Liam Combs
Reporter/Anchor
Baton Rouge, La.
Liam Combs joined the WAFB news team in September of 2024. He is from Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from Northern Arizona University in May 2024 with a degree in Political Science and Journalism.
As WAFB’s Capitol Correspondent, Liam covers Louisiana politics and the issues that shape people’s day-to-day lives – from redistricting fights at the Capitol to criminal justice reform, education, insurance, and public health. In July 2025, WAFB sent him to Central Texas to cover the United Cajun Navy’s recovery effort following devastating floods that claimed hundreds of lives.
From dancing on Bourbon St. during Mardi Gras to anchoring the Sunday evening newscasts, Liam’s passion lies with the people, finding stories that highlight the real impact of public policy.
Liam has a traveler’s spirit, spending his final semester of college in Madrid, Spain. He hopes journalism will allow him to continue to tell stories from around the world and bring new perspectives to the American political space.
The plan would pay teachers $2,000 stipends and support staff $1,000 stipends.
Gov. Jeff Landry’s proposal would dip into the Minimum Foundation Program to pay for $168 million in one-time teacher stipends, excluding administrators. The plan would amount to a 5% cut from each school district.
The search continues for the remains of missing 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather, even after a suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.
Floodwaters from Tropical Storm Arthur submerged homes and roads in rural Avoyelles Parish on Wednesday, displacing an estimated hundred residents but causing no fatalities.
U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow discussed the Republican Senate primary runoff, attacks over DEI, AI-generated campaign videos, campaign finance issues, and her priorities if elected.
Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is running for U.S. Senate at 75, mounting a primarily self-funded campaign against fellow Republican Julia Letlow and alleging election interference by Gov. Jeff Landry. In the first candidate interview of the primary election, WAFB sat down with Fleming to discuss his platform.
School districts across the state are expressing concerns about the governor’s plan to fund teacher stipends this year.
Education leaders across the state are demanding answers from the governor on his plan to pay teachers their $2,000 stipends this year.
Baker Police Chief Carl Dunn said an individual was taken into custody following a shooting at Baker High School on Wednesday morning.
Meta is launching a workforce training program in Baton Rouge following its data center investment in Richland Parish. Local officials with knowledge of the project told WAFB they were not aware the program would be coming to Baton Rouge until Meta made a public announcement.
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said this year’s rate decreases are a sign of a healthy insurance marketplace.
A bill to increase compensation for people wrongfully convicted in Louisiana was vetoed by Gov. Jeff Landry, despite passing the state House and Senate without opposition.
Gov. Jeff Landry signed House Bill 568, increasing penalties for smoking or vaping marijuana within 2,000 feet of Louisiana schools and college campuses.
Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order Tuesday directing state education leaders to identify non-instructional spending that can be redirected toward teacher pay.
Louisiana’s legislative session ended Monday with lawmakers still without a plan to fund teacher pay raises, leaving a $198 million gap that must be filled to avoid pay cuts for educators.
Louisiana lawmakers entered the final hours of the 2026 legislative session after passing a new congressional map, a balloon release ban and other statewide bills.
Louisiana lawmakers sent SB 121 back to the state Senate after the House approved a new congressional map in a 66-35 vote with changes.
House lawmakers are expected to vote on the Republican proposal for the state’s new congressional election map Thursday.
Gov. Jeff Landry said he is committed to getting teachers and support staff their permanent pay raises by the end of the year, though he remained guarded about the plan’s details during a press conference Tuesday.
Louisiana teachers are once again at risk of a pay cut after Amendment Three failed, leaving lawmakers scrambling to find a solution to the state’s teacher pay problem.
Hundreds of residents lined up for hours Friday to sign a petition seeking to recall Gov. Jeff Landry, with organizers coordinating the effort with other groups across the state.
A bill that reduces the number of majority-Black congressional districts to one and splits East Baton Rouge Parish has passed the Senate with a 27-10 vote.
Roland Domino admitted to killing Patricia Jackson outside Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in March 2025
In a heated exchange over the future of Louisiana’s congressional election map State Senator Jay Morris stood up and told audience members behind him “y’all need to shut up.” That’s what WAFB’s camera picked up in the room but Democratic Party Executive Director Dadrius Lanus claims the senator called him ‘boy’ and used an expletive.
Louisiana lawmakers began debating four new congressional map proposals after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the state’s majority-Black districts.
The Louisiana Legislature is moving to attract private aerospace companies with a package of bills that offer major tax breaks and shield projects from public records.
A Louisiana bill to create a psychedelic-assisted therapy research initiative has passed both chambers without opposition and now heads to the governor.
The Civil Service Commission currently decides what state employees receive civil service protections, but Amendment 1 on the May 16 ballot would let the legislature override that power.
East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore testified before the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday, asking the state for more money.
Louisiana Democrats are urging voters to continue casting ballots despite the cancellation of U.S. House elections, following a Supreme Court decision that sent the state’s congressional map back for revision.
Louisiana lawmakers are considering expanding Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic to include patients with obesity, not just those with diabetes.
Louisiana’s child welfare agency faced criticism from state senators after a new audit revealed hundreds of policy lapses and a breach of whistleblower protections.
Gov. Jeff Landry is pushing to double funding for Louisiana’s educational savings account program and expand it to students of all income levels, but the proposal faces skepticism in the state Senate.
Louisiana lawmakers are advancing a proposal to study ways to keep college graduates from leaving the state by offering businesses tax incentives to boost starting salaries.
Two Republican judges are competing for a Louisiana Supreme Court seat representing the 1st Supreme Court District, which includes Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes.
The Louisiana House of Representatives approved a $47 billion budget Thursday 104-0, advancing a spending plan that doubles funding for private school scholarships despite Senate opposition.
Measure would impose fines and jail time while creating diversion programs for homeless individuals.
The House Education Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would force students who receive TOPS scholarships to repay that money back to the state if they lose their scholarship.
D’Aquilla died at home on Sunday, April 12, at 85 years old.
House-backed bill would eliminate third-party inspections, but emissions testing would remain in some parishes.
Louisiana law enforcement is warning parents to take children with them and lock their vehicles after a Baton Rouge Amber Alert ended with a baby found safe in an abandoned stolen truck.
Authorities have found an infant that was in a truck that was stolen from a convenience store in Baton Rouge.
The House Civil Law and Procedure Committee voted down a bill that would have capped insurance payouts for general damages at $500,000.
A new initiative has been launched to clean up blight and attract first-time homebuyers in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Sen. Bill Cassidy escalated attacks against Rep. Julia Letlow this week, calling her “liberal” and criticizing her record as the Louisiana Republican Senate primary continues without a scheduled debate.
As artificial intelligence continues to blur the lines between what is real and what is fake, lawmakers want to make sure you know the difference when it comes to political campaigns.
A lack of school resource officers across the state is leading to vacancies and an increased safety risk, according to lawmakers.
Legislation would give retirees over 60 a 2% cost of living adjustment on first $81,000 of annual pension
A bill that would have prevented companies from using eminent domain to seize land for carbon capture projects was killed in committee Tuesday after a contentious hearing at the Louisiana State Capitol.
A state lawmaker is proposing a property tax exemption for people who clean up blighted properties on their own.
