An LSU grad student left a vulgar voicemail on the phone of Houma Senator Michael who voted in favor of the governor’s veto of a legislation that prohibits medical procedures that changes the sexual identity of a minor. Authorities say Marcus Venable has been identified as the caller…

Cut 3 (10) “…already suffering”     

Venable taught a class at LSU as a grad assistant. The university says Venable will not be able to teach at the university but can continue his studies.

Mental health officials are celebrating the anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that launched a year ago. State Suicide Prevention Coordinator Dr. Robyn Thomas says the number of calls increased by 11 percent and they’ve added more counselors from the Bayou State.

Cut 6 (11)  “Louisianans face.” 

The in-state answer rate rose from 64 percent in June 2022 to 91 percent over the last year. Thomas says the previous seven-digit number was shortened to easy-to-remember 988.

The media at SEC Media Days has picked LSU to finish second and placed Alabama on top – winning the SEC West. But Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne believes the Tigers should be the preseason favorites to win the West…

Cut 12 (08) “…none of that.” 

Gas prices are up by about 5 cents since last week to a statewide average of $3.18 a gallon for regular gasoline. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says demand for gasoline has decreased about 10% since the Fourth of July, but prices are rising despite the fall…

Cut 9 (12)  “…on production.”

State Police is investigating a profanity laced voicemail that was left on the phone of Houma Senator Mike Fesi….
cut 5 (10) “….the ground”
That’s the voice of LSU grad student Marcus Venable who is upset Fesi voted to override the governor’s veto of a bill that bans medical procedures on minors that can alter a person’s biological sex. LSU says Venable crossed the line with his angry message and is no longer allowed to teach as a grad assistant.

The Speaker Pro Tem of the Louisiana House has decided not to run for re-election, ending his legislative career after eight years. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says Washington D-C type partisan attacks have filtered into Baton Rouge…
Cut 15 (07) “really changed”
Magee says he looks forward to raising his 14-year-old triplets.

It’s been one year since the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline changed its number to 9-8-8 and the Louisiana Department of Health says call volume has increased by 11 percent. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

The federal government has announced the first ever offshore wind energy lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico will take place place on August 29th. Energy companies will bid on 300-thousand acres of federal waters near Lake Charles and Galveston, Texas. The feds say this has the potential to generate clean, renewable energy for nearly 1-point-three million homes.

Houma Senator Mike Fesi received a profanity laced, angry voice mail from LSU grad student Marcus Venable. Venable is upset Fesi voted with his Republican colleagues to overturn the governor’s veto of a bill that bans medical procedures that can alter a child’s biological sex…
cut 4 (12) “….get this care”
Venable taught classes at LSU as a grad assistant, but the school says he crossed the line with his profanity in the message and will no longer be allowed to teach at LSU.

Speaker Pro Tem of the Louisiana House, Houma Republican Tanner Magee, says he will not run for re-election. Magee says special interest groups have too much control…
Cut 16 (11) “..just a game”
Magee says he’s looking forward to raising his 14-year-old triplets.

The state office of Behavioral Health says calls to their Suicide and Crisis Lifeline have increased by 11-percent since the number was changed to 9-8-8 last July. State Suicide Prevention Coordinator Doctor Robyn Thomas encourages anyone experiencing mental distress to call or text 9-8-8. She says they have specialized support for veterans, Spanish speakers, LGBTQ-plus youth and deaf people…
cut 8 (11) “….crisis worker”

The media at SEC Media Days has picked LSU to finish in second place in the SEC west behind Alabama. But the media selected Tigers quarterback Jaiden Daniels on the all-sec preseason first team. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says Daniels deserves that recognition…
cut 14 (09) “….Jayden Daniels”

A state senator receives a profanity-laced voicemail after voting to override the governor’s veto on a bill to ban sex-altering medical procedures on minors. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 1 (36)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

33-year-old Gabrielle Breax of New Iberia and her unborn child were killed when the vehicle she was riding in collided with an alligator crossing the road. Authorities say Breaux’s truck plowed into the gator on State Highway 35 near Corpus Christi. Breaux was seven months pregnant.

Mental health officials celebrate the first anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. State Suicide Prevention Coordinator Dr. Robyn Thomas says the goal is to remove barriers to make a connection with residents statewide…

Cut 7 (08)  “…childhood education.” 

OBH launched an awareness campaign in May that included a 988 dashboard. The lifeline offers specialized support to veterans and their families, Spanish speakers, LGBTQ+ youth, and deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

The 2023 football season is right around the corner, and the media at SEC Media Days has picked Alabama to win the SEC West over LSU, who was picked to finish second. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says LSU has shown they can win at Alabama…

Cut 13 (09) “…in Tiger Stadium.”

State Police is investigating a profanity laced voicemail left on the phone of Houma Senator Michael Fesi. Fesi voted in favor of the override of the governor’s veto of a bill that bans sex altering medical procedures on minors. Authorities say the man who left the voice mail is LSU grad student Marcus Venable
Cut 3 (10) “…already suffering”
Venable also taught a class at LSU as a grad assistant. The university says Venable will no longer teach at LSU, but can still be a student.

The statewide average price for a gallon of gasoline has increased five cents over the last week. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman says it’s the result of a cutback in production by OPEC countries. Redman is hopeful we do not see a big increase, but that changes if a storm threatens the Gulf Coast….
cut 10 (10) “….increase”
Right now the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.18.

The media at SEC Media Days has picked Alabama to win the SEC West in a close vote over LSU, who is picked to finish second. But Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne believes the Tigers should be the preseason favorites to win the West…
cut 12 (08) “….Alabama has none of that”
LSU Quarterback Jayden Daniels is a first team All SEC selection.

Mental health officials are celebrating the one anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. State Suicide Prevention Coordinator Dr. Robyn Thomas says since shortening the previous seven-digit number to 988, call volume has increased by 11 percent and they’ve increased the number of counselors from Louisiana who can take these calls…
Cut 6 (11) “Louisianans face.”
The Lifeline also offers specialized support for veterans, Spanish speakers and LGBTQ-plus youth.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announces as of May 31^st, over 17 thousand homeowner insurance policies have been written by companies that took advantage of the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program. Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, and St. Charles are the top five parishes for new policies. Donelon says…

Cut 6 (11)  “…of Citizens.”

The federal government announces nearly 300 thousand acres in the Gulf of Mexico will be auctioned off in the first offshore wind lease sale on August 29^th.  Lacey McManus Director of Future Energy at Greater New Orleans Inc. says the business community has anticipated this moment

Cut 7 (08) “…into place.”

More than 102 thousand acres offshore from Lake Charles and two areas of about 100 thousand acres each near Galveston are under consideration.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is weighing in on the 56 clemency requests sent to the Louisiana Pardon Board from death row inmates.  He says there are emergency circumstances like an execution date, but that doesn’t apply in this situation…

Cut 11 (11)  “…follow the rules.”

Executive Director of the Capital Appeals Project, Cecelia Kappel says the pardon board can also waive its rules, including the rule that requests need to be filed within one year after the last denied appeal. She says that rule has been waived before in death penalty cases…

Cut 13 (13) “…direct appeal” 

Attorney General Jeff Landry issued an opinion that advises Louisiana Pardon Board not to hear clemency requests sent by over 50 death row inmates who have filed. He says the pardon board has more than 400 applications to review before getting to death row inmates who are hoping Governor Edwards lessens their punishment to life in prison

Cut 10 (06) “…are pending.”

But Capital Appeals Project Executive Director Cecelia Kappel, says there’s a major conflict of interest….

Cut 12 (12)    “…clemency requests” 

Kappel says the pardon board can also waive its rules, including the rule that requests need to be filed within one year after their last denied appeal. She says that rule has been waived before in death penalty cases…

The first-ever Gulf of Mexico offshore wind energy power lease sale has been approved by the federal government. About 300 thousand acres near Lake Charles and Galveston, Texas will be auctioned off on August 29th. Director of Future Energy at Greater New Orleans Inc. Lacey McManus says building wind farms may be a way off but Louisiana workers are ready.

Cut 9 (09)  “…do this.”

The areas could turn wind energy into nearly 4 gigawatts of electricity each year. A sale notice can be found in the Federal Register.

Speaker Pro Tem of the Louisiana House Republican Tanner Magee says he will not run for re-election. Magee says he’s proud to help secure funds for rural roads and flood control projects in his district. But he says special interest groups have gained too much control…

Cut 16 (11) “..just a game”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says companies participating in the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program have written more than 17,000 policies as of May 31st. He says SafePoint Insurance has been approved to take nearly 20 thousand policies out of Louisiana Citizens:
Cut 5 (11) “first year”
Donelon says getting policyholders out of Citizens is vital to the state’s economic recovery.

The Speaker Pro Tem of the Louisiana House has decided not to run for re-election, ending his legislative career after eight years. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says Washington D-C partisan attacks have become too much…:
Cut 15 (07) “really change”

The first-ever Gulf of Mexico offshore wind power lease sale has been approved by the federal government to take place August 29th…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Teiko Foxx”

State Police is investigating the case of a teacher at LSU who left a profanity laced voicemail to a state senator for voting to override the veto of a ban on transgender care for minors. The University says Marcus Venable is a graduate student who teaches, and he’s now been pulled from his position. Venable said in the voicemail he can’t wait to see Senator Mike Fesi’s name in the obituaries.

In a push that’s been years in the making, the federal government has officially set the first ever Gulf of Mexico offshore wind lease sale, opening sites off the coasts of Lake Charles and Galveston, Texas. Greater New Orleans Future Energy Executive Director Lacy McManus:
Cut 8 (11) “the country”
About 300-thousand acres will be auctioned off on August 29th.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says the body of a man who went missing while swimming in the Amite River Wednesday afternoon has been recovered. They said the person reportedly jumped from a railroad trestle into the water and did not come back up Wednesday. The search was suspended that night, but divers located the victim Thursday afternoon.

Though demand for gas isn’t budging, AAA reports gas prices are once again steadily increasing. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $3.18 which is up about 6 cents from a month ago.

State Representative Tanner Magee is not running for re-election. He says the toxic stew at the capitol is a major reason why he’s getting out. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Tickets for the Garth Brooks/Lainey Wilson concert on September 2nd in the Superdome go on sale this morning at 10am. Fans are encouraged to have their Ticketmaster accounts ready in advance with updated credit card information to make the process as smooth as possible.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says progress is being made in reducing the number of policyholders who have to rely on Citizens for homeowners’ insurance.
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Speaker Pro Tem of the Louisiana House Houma Representative Tanner Magee has decided not to run for re-election, ending his legislative career after eight years. He says he’s got kids and calls the political atmosphere at the capitol toxic…:
Cut 14 (09) “process”

Attorney General Jeff Landry issued an opinion stating the Louisiana Pardon Board cannot hear clemency requests of over 50 death row inmates who have filed. He says the rule is that death row inmates must submit the application within a year from a court’s direct appeal decision:
Cut 11 (11) “follow the rules”
Capital Appeals Project Executive Director Cecelia Kappel says that rule can be and has been waived in other cases..:
CUT 13 (13) “direct appeal”
She also says Landry’s involvement is a conflict of interest as the AG’s office is prosecuting several of the inmates applying.

If you like playing Mega Millions when the jackpot is big, tonight’s drawing is worth an estimated $720 million dollars.