A new survey by the National Federation of Independent Business indicates a slight uptick in optimism among small businesses last month but inflation and labor quality are still a major concern. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says owners are more optimistic about the future
Cut 13 (11) “…61 percent.”
But 42-percent of owners report job openings are hard to fill, which is a historically high percentage.

The lone announced candidate running for Insurance Commissioner, Tim Temple, an insurance professional who has a business in Baton Rouge, plans to launch a statewide media buy. Temple says there’s not enough insurance companies in Louisiana, and hence there is no competition to drive costs down…
cut 5 (11) “….business in Louisiana”
Current Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is not running for re-election.

Schools and athletic events in Louisiana are now required to have an automated external defibrillator, better known as an AED. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields authored the legislation, and he says two lives have already been saved in those settings because an AED was readily available.
Cut 20 (12) “…talk about it”
The state legislature also appropriated funding for schools to purchase the A-E-Ds and schools are also required to have an action plan.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith says the suspect in Monday’s hostage situation at a home on Crooked Creek Drive had an unusual amount of ammunition with him. Smith says the suspect eventually set fire to the home that result in his death…
cut 9 (03) “…of surrending”
Smith says three officers had to breach a window to get a 13-year-old girl out of the home, before the fire was set. The teen and a neighbor were treated at a local hospital for non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

A nationwide survey of small businesses finds optimism is up slightly but inflation and labor quality are still a concern…
cut 14 (12) “….a problem”
That’s NFIB state director Dawn McVea who says owners are still raising selling prices at an inflationary level.

Saints star running back Alvin Kamara pleads no contest to a lesser misdemeanor charge of breach of peace for his involvement in a 2022 fight in Las Vegas. As part of the plea deal, Kamara no longer faces felony charges, but he still could be suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Host of Locked on Saints podcast Ross Jackson says any suspension could be met with an appeal…
cut 12 (09) “….even longer”

We are less than one month away from qualifying for the statewide elections and there’s still just one announced candidate for Insurance Commissioner. Insurance professional Tim Temple is seeking to replace Jim Donelon, who is not running for re-election. Temple says he will campaign as hard as if he did have a challenger…
cut 6 (11) “…every single day”
Temple is set to launch a statewide media campaign.

A more than four hours standoff with Shreveport Police Monday morning ends with what authorities believe is the suspect’s charred remains found inside a Crooked Creek home. Police Chief Wayne Smith says the incident ended when the suspect set the home on fire.
Cut 7 (09) “…this time.”
Smith says the suspect was heavily armed when he went to the home and shot three people, including a 13-year-old girl inside the house. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from a fight that took place in a Las Vegas hotel in 2022. As part of the plea deal, Kamara must perform community service and pay over $100,000 to the victim, Darnell Greene, for medical bills. Host of the Locked-On Saints Podcast Ross Jackson says Kamara avoids jail time…
Cut 10 (10) “…Alvin Kamara.”
Now we wait to see if the NFL will suspend Kamara for multiple games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

The latest nationwide survey of small businesses finds optimism is up slightly, but inflation and labor quality remain big concerns. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says it’s good to see small business optimism improving and hopefully that will result in strong second half of 2023…
cut 15 (13) “…the end of the year”

The lone declared candidate for Insurance Commissioner is about to start his campaign media blitz….
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

North Louisiana is under a flash flood watch effect until one o clock this afternoon as periods of heavy rainfall will occur, possibly producing three to five inches of rain.

Two former state troopers could be cleared of wrongdoing in the Ronald Greene case.  Judge Thomas Rogers has quashed the obstruction of justice charges against John Peters and Dakota DeMoss and giving prosecutors three days to fix deficiencies in some charges against three other defendants.  Legal analyst Franz Borghardt…

Cut 5 (10) “…not a judge.”

The state health department is reporting Louisiana’s first two human cases of West Nile Virus for 2023. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says mosquito pools are present and cases have been discovered in two parishes across the state.

Cut 7 (12)  “…out there…” 

Last year, Louisiana had 41 West Nile cases and seven deaths.

School and athletic events are required to have an AED thanks to a bill from Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields. He says he’d been working on the “Jump Start Your Heart” legislation prior to the collapse of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin in January during the Cincinnati Bengals game. He says the incident only highlighted the need for AEDs and CPR training.

Cut  14 (10)  “…nation.”

Last year Louisiana paid its more than 13,000 patrol officers and sheriff’s deputies an average annual salary of $45 thousand compared to the national average of $71 thousand. PAR President Steven Procopio says when comparing Louisiana to neighboring states, law enforcement patrol officers are paid six thousand below the regional average…

Cut 9 (11)  “…job well.”

Two former state troopers are potentially cleared of wrongdoing in the 2019 roadside death of Ronald Greene, after a judge tosses Obstruction of Justice charges against them. Judge Thomas Rogers says Dakota DeMoss didn’t when he was heard saying details would be “buried in the report” and John Peters didn’t when he turned off his body cam microphone. Baton Rouge defense lawyer Franz Borghardt says that last one surprised him…:

CUT 04  (10)        “…of justice.”

Union Parish D.A. John Belton can appeal the ruling.

The first cases of West Nile have turned up in Louisiana. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says it only takes one bite, so take care…:

CUT 06  (09)        “…severe complications.”

Seven Louisianans died from West Nile in 2022.

Schools and athletic events in Louisiana will be required to have AEDs (automated external defibrillators) and trained individuals to use them in case something goes terribly wrong. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

Saints running back Alvin Kamara has reached a plea deal for his part in the severe beating of a man outside a Las Vegas nightclub. Kamara pleads guilty to Breach of Peace and will do 30 hours community service, plus pay the victim $100k, in order to avoid jail.

A state judge has thrown out obstruction of justice charges against two former state troopers indicted in the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

Police in Hammond arrest a 14-year-old boy for the accidental shooting of a 13-year-old girl over the weekend. Officers say the teen was handling a pistol when it went off; hitting the victim. The boy is charged with negligent homicide.

Did you know police pay in Louisiana is the 3^rd-lowest in the USA? Rank & file cops, on the average, make about $45k per year, as opposed to the national average of $71k. Steven Procopio, with the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana says if we want to keep boots on the ground, salaries need to go up…:

CUT 11(12)      “…make priorities.”

It’s summertime, and once again time to Fight the Bite. State health officials report two confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, so take care. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says, as transmission vectors go, Louisiana is like Grand Central Station for the virus…:

CUT 08(12)      “…the summer.”

There were 41 confirmed cases of the serious neuro-invasive for of West Nile last year; resulting in seven deaths.

Two former state troopers could be cleared of wrongdoing in the Ronald Greene case.  Judge Thomas Rogers has quashed the obstruction of justice charges against John Peters and Dakota DeMoss. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says the judge determined Peters’ actions did not meet the level of obstruction of justice by saying “bury it in the report” when discussing Greene’s in-custody death…:

CUT 03(08)      “…in the report, right?”

Union Parish DA John Belton can appeal the judge’s ruling.

New data shows rank & file Louisiana law officers are paid more than $20-thousand less than the national average; $45k as opposed to about $70k nationally. Steven Procopio, with the Public Affairs Research Council, says that may not include supplemental pay passed by the legislature though…:

CUT 10(09)      “…in money.”

Louisiana has the 3^rd-lowest police pay in America.

Police in Natchitoches are investigating a murder at a local motel. NPD arrived at the Motel 6 on Highway 1 to find 35-year-old Michael Porter dead from multiple gunshots. They ask anyone with tips to call Natchitoches Crime stoppers; 318-238-2388.

Schools and athletic events in Louisiana will be required to have emergency AEDs (automatic external defibrillators) and trained individuals to use them in case something goes terribly wrong. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

Two former state troopers could be cleared of wrongdoing in the Ronald Greene case.  Judge Thomas Rogers has quashed the obstruction of justice charges against John Peters and Dakota DeMoss and giving prosecutors three days to fix deficiencies in some charges against three other defendants.  Legal analyst Franz Borghardt…

Cut 5 (10) “…not a judge.”

District Attorney John Belton can appeal.

The state health department is reporting Louisiana’s first two human cases of West Nile Virus for 2023. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says mosquito pools are present and cases have been discovered in two parishes across the state.

Cut 7 (12)  “…out there…” 

Last year, Louisiana had 41 West Nile cases and seven deaths.

Last year Louisiana paid its more than 13,000 patrol officers and sheriff’s deputies an average annual salary of $45 thousand compared to the national average of $71 thousand. PAR President Steven Procopio says when comparing Louisiana to neighboring states, law enforcement patrol officers are paid six thousand below the regional average…

Cut 9 (11)  “…job well.”

Schools and athletic events in Louisiana are now required to have AEDs. Bill author Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says the health department will have oversite of the devices and provide instruction on how to use an AED.

Cut 13 (06) “…CPR training.”

Fields says the collapse of Buffalo Bill safety Damar Hamlin in January only highlighted the need for the Jump Start You Heart Act.

Two former state troopers involved in the Ronald Greene case could be cleared of wrongdoing as the judge in the case has determined they did not try to cover up the 2019 beating death of Greene in Union Parish. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt is surprised to see the judge quash the obstruction of justice charge against Dakota DeMoss who turned off his body camera audio…
cut 4 (10) :….obstruction of justice”
The judge also ruled the obstruction of justice charge against John Peters should also be quashed.

The state health department is reporting Louisiana’s first two human cases of West Nile Virus for 2023. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says it only takes one bite so protect yourself…
Cut 6 (09) “…severe complications…”
Kanter says advises residents to remove standing water around their home.

Four weeks from today, qualifying begins for the governor’s race. Is there time for another major Democrat to get in? Currently, Shawn Wilson is the main candidate for the Dems and ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley expects it to stay that way…
cut 11 (07) “…chance of an upset”
That’s what happened eight years ago when Governor Edwards upset Republican David Vitter.

Schools and athletic events in Louisiana are now required to have an automated external defibrillator, better known as an AED. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields authored the legislation, and he says two lives have already been saved in those settings because an AED was readily available.
Cut 12 (12) “…talk about it”
The state legislature also appropriated funding for schools to purchase the A-E-Ds and schools are also required to have an action plan.

Two former state troopers could be cleared of wrongdoing in the Ronald Greene case.  Judge Thomas Rogers has quashed the obstruction of justice charges against John Peters and Dakota DeMoss. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says the judge determined Peters’ actions did not meet the level of obstruction of justice by saying “Bury it in the report” when discussing Greene death…

Cut 3 (08) “….right” 

The judge has also ruled DeMoss should not face obstruction of justice charges for turning off audio on his body camera.

Qualifying for the fall elections is a month away and nine individuals say they are running for governor, but will they still feel that way in 30 days? U.L.-Monroe political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley anticipates someone will drop out before then…:

Cut 10 (11) “…happens every cycle.”

Restore Louisiana is holding an outreach event in Lake Charles this afternoon for homeowners who suffered damage from hurricanes to apply for federal rebuilding grants. State Office of Community Development Director Pat Forbes says several homeowners who are possibly eligible have not completed a survey.

Cut 4 (12) “…their homes.”

For more info visit restore-dot-la-dot-gov.

State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter is concerned child vaccination rates have dropped from 97 to 94 percent. Some children can’t be vaccinated because of their health or age. He says to avoid a measles outbreak, a 95-percent vaccination rate is required…

Cut 9 (11)  “…threshold.”

For more information visit immunizations-dot-la-dot-gov.