At the State Capitol, Senate members vote to resurrect a bill to ban transgender medical procedures for minors…after it was killed last week in the Health & Welfare Committee. Members voted to call the bill from the committee and sent it to a Judiciary committee, where it was sent to the Senate floor…:

CUT 08(11)      “…with amendments.”

A floor vote could mean final passage for the bill, but the Governor has said several times he will veto it. Will lawmakers want to muster an override vote?

Orleans Parish DA Jason Williams is reportedly considering running for Governor; which would make him the second Democrat in the race. On Jim Engster’s radio show, Baton Rouge political consultant Mary-Patricia Wray says some may decide to get out of the race before the October 14^th election…:

CUT 14(07)      “…on August 10^th.”

LSU is ending its controversial, seven-figure agreement allowing Caesar’s entertainment to advertise sports betting across the campus. Playfly sports, who helped broker the deal, says talk of ending it started when a bill was filed in the Legislature to prohibit state colleges from such agreements. Colleges in Michigan and Maryland have also severed ties with sports betting.

The peach industry continues to battle a fungus in the soil as the City of Ruston prepares to celebrate the 73^rd Peach Festival Saturday…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Teiko Foxx.”

A bill to ban transgender medical procedure for minors has been resurrected in the session’s final week. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted against the bill, but the full Senate voted to move the bill to Senate Judiciary A, which quickly advanced it to the Senate floor. Last week, Senate Health & Welfare Committee killed the bill, with committee chair Fred Mills casting the deciding vote. Mills says the bill got a fair hearing…:

CUT 07(12)      “…found a solution.”

The bill goes to the Senate floor, for what could be final passage. Governor Edwards is likely to veto.

The Louisiana Cancer Research Center is holding a Promising Practices Conference at Louisiana Tech University today to discuss statewide efforts to rid Louisiana of the epithet “Cancer Alley.” LCRC’s Earl Benjamin-Robinson says public input is invited…:

CUT 09(11)      “…going on.”

There are now three candidates to be the state’s next Attorney General, after one of them decided to step away from that race. Brooke Thorington reports…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

We’re only two days into the hurricane season, yet out in the Gulf swirls Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the season. The system is packing 40-mile-an-hour winds, but is expected to track south toward Cuba, and pose no threat to Louisiana.

At the Capitol, a bill banning transgender procedures for minors is alive again. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to kill the bill last week, but the full Senate voted to move the bill to Senate Judiciary A. Chairman of Health and Welfare Fred Mills opposed the move because of the work his committee already did on the proposal…:

CUT 06(09)      “…they could.”

Judiciary A has sent to bill to the Senate floor for what might be final passage…or final defeat for this year.

The Senate Finance committee will burn some weekend time on the House-approved state budget bill. The chambers are at odds over how to best spend a $2.2-billion revenue surplus for the fiscal year that starts July 1^st. House members want to pay down debt and replenish the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Senate members want to raise the cap on spending and invest a bunch in infrastructure.

Is another Democrat about to announce a run for governor? Speculation runs high about whether Orleans Parish D.A. Jason Williams will enter the race. Baton Rouge political consultant Mary-Patricia Wray says the state Dem Party supports Shawn Wilson, but it’s all about the polling…:

CUT 13(08)      “…numbers go.”

Wray says she fully expects a Democrat to make runoff election; quite possibly against Jeff Landry.

The weekend in Ruston, the 73^rd annual Peach Festival. But peach growers are dealing with a ten-year fight with a nasty soil fungus that threatens their crops. Mitcham Farm’s Joe Mitcham says it’s slowly taking out his entire orchard…:

CUT 04(13)      “…a tree.”

Peach Festival with live music, arts, and great food plus peachy treats…tomorrow in Ruston.

And then there were three, Brooke Thorington has more on the list of candidates for Attorney General…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

The body of a 38-year-old woman who fell from a boat into the Mississippi River in West Feliciana Parish earlier this week has been recovered. Wildlife and Fisheries says Rachel Hann’s remains were pulled from the water Thursday, just a couple of miles from where she went missing on Sunday.

The Louisiana Cancer Research Center is holding a Promising Practices Conference at Louisiana Tech University today to discuss statewide efforts to rid Louisiana of the moniker “Cancer Alley.” LCRC’s Earl Benjamin-Robinson on what it’s all about…:

CUT 11(11)      “…the state.”

A new hurricane season is underway. Among those getting ready is utility giant Entergy. Vice President of Customer Service Michelle Bourg says their plan for storm response includes monitoring the weather and considering potential impacts, mobilizing workers, and requesting the assistance of other utility companies when needed. She says communication is important…:

CUT 07(13)      “…personal plan.”

Entergy customers can find more information and resources at “entergynewsroom.com”.

A new hurricane season is underway. Among those getting ready is utility giant Entergy. Vice President of Customer Service Michelle Bourg says a major component of their storm preparedness is improving power systems…:

CUT 06(11)      “…year ‘round.”

Tropical Storm Arlene has formed in the eastern Gulf, south of the Florida panhandle. It’s expected to track south and pose no threat to Louisiana.

Will Orleans Parish D.A. Jason Williams run for governor? Some say the Democrat could get a lot of votes, but political consultant Mary Patricia Wray says she knows who the state Party will support…:

CUT 12(09)      “…Frontrunner.”

Wray made the comments while a guest on the “Talk Louisiana” radio show.

As the City of Ruston prepares to celebrate the 73^rd Peach Festival this weekend, growers face a problem with fungus. Teiko Foxx reports…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Foxx.”

Deputies in Tangipahoa Parish say a man wanted for shooting & killing an 18-year-old man, shot and killed himself as officers closed in on him. 26-year-old Tommie Diamond reportedly committed suicide during standoff with officer who were outside his home. He was also out on bond for a 2021 homicide in Baton Rouge.

Legislation that’s been called Louisiana’s version of “Don’t Say Gay Bill’ heads to the Senate for possible final passage. Brooke Thorington reports.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The legislative session must end Thursday and lawmakers are still trying to agree on a spending plan for next fiscal year. The Senate leadership would like to raise the spending cap in order to fund teacher pay raises and construction projects, but fiscal conservatives in the House are concerned about a loss in state revenue in 2025 when the state’s sales tax is lowered.

Ruston peaches are a sweet-tasty crop in North Louisiana but the peach industry is still dealing with a fungus in the soil nearly a decade later. Mitcham Farm Manager Joe Mitcham says farmers are still losing a portion of their crops due to the fungus.
Cut 3 (09) “…go away.”
Despite a decline in peach production in north Louisiana, the 73rd Ruston Peach Festival will still take place in downtown Ruston on Saturday.

Colorado State University researchers have increased their hurricane forecast and now predicting a near-average season. CSU Hurricane Investigator Angelie Nieves-Jimenez says they believe the 2023 season will produce 15 named storms….
Cut 14 (11) “…or more.”
Forecasters are keeping an eye on a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico, but significant strengthening is not expected as it makes its way towards Cuba.

It’s officially hurricane season and Tropical Depression Two is in the Gulf moving south toward the Florida peninsula. While it’s not a threat to Louisiana it is a good reminder to prepare. Entergy Vice President of Customer Service Michelle Bourg says customers can sign up to receive notifications from Entergy before a storm is headed this way…

Cut 7 (13)  “…personal plan.” 

The Louisiana Cancer Research Center is holding a conference at LA Tech today to discuss statewide efforts to fight cancer. Director of the Office of Community Outreach with the LCRC Earl Benjamin-Robinson says it’s about bringing the community, healthcare providers, and researchers together.

Cut 10 (09) “…those areas.”

Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office is suing FEMA; seeking transparency on why flood insurance rates are skyrocketing. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

24 (27)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The Louisiana Senate has revived a bill to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The legislation appeared to be dead for the session when the Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted against it, but the full Senate voted yesterday to bring the bill back up and it will be heard today by the Senate Judiciary A Committee.

More than half of Louisiana residents support legally allowing people to possess small amounts of marijuana for recreational use according to LSU’s 2023 Louisiana survey. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 3 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is offering a $6,000 reward for information about the Black Bear that was killed in Lincoln Parish on May 12. You’re asked to call the Louisiana Operation Game Thief hotline.

It only takes one storm to make a bad season and Entergy urges customers to have a plan and be prepared for whatever Mother Nature may bring. Vice President of Customer Service Michelle Bourg says the company works continuously on improving systems and response time.

Cut 6 (11)  “…year round.” 

And there’s already a Tropical Depression in the Gulf, but it’s not forecasted to be a threat to Louisiana.

The Louisiana Cancer Research Center is holding a Promising Practices Conference at Louisiana Tech University today to discuss statewide efforts to rid Louisiana of the moniker “Cancer Alley.” Director of the Office of Community Outreach with the LCRC Earl Benjamin-Robinson says the public is asked to share their experiences.

Cut 9 (11) “…going on.”

You can find a link to attend virtually in an article on the conference at LouisianaRadioNetwork-dot com.

Public School employees would not be allowed to discuss sexuality and gender identity under legislation that’s moving closer to final legislative passage at the state capitol. Opponents say this is not an issue in Louisiana, but the author of the legislation, Haughton Representative Dodie Horton disagrees…
cut 9 (11) “….an issue”
But Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, Louisiana’s first openly gay elected official, says the measure singles out students, teachers and parents who are different…
cut 10 (10) “…their child”
Louisiana’s version of the Don’t Say Gay Bill has been approved by the House and is awaiting debate on the Senate floor.

Louisiana and nine other states have filed a lawsuit against the federal government for the steep flood insurance rate hikes they are implementing. State Solicitor General Liz Murrill says there’s no transparency in what FEMA is doing…
cut 5 (10) “….of other states”
FEMA says they’ve calculated the new premiums by looking at scientific models and projecting the costs of rebuilding a flood damaged home.

LSU’s 2023 Louisiana Survey finds that 70-percent of residents support legal recreational use of marijuana. That percentage has increased from 42-percent in 2013. Doctor Michael Henderson organized the poll and says this is an issue the new governor and legislature will have to face…
cut 13 (09) “….with this”
Governor John Bel Edwards opposes legalizing recreational marijuana use.

House passed legislation to prohibit classroom discussion of sexual orientation and/or gender identity in public schools’ heads to the full Senate after Senate Education approved the bill. Critics refer to the legislation as Louisiana’s version of the “Don’t Say Gay Bill.” Bill author Haughton Representative Dodie Horton disagrees.
Cut 7 (09) “…conversations.”
But opponents like openly gay Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis says the bill is hateful and it tells children they aren’t accepted if they are different.
Cut 8 (09) “…the United States.”
The Senate Education Committee also sent a bill to the floor that would give school employees the right not to use alternate pronouns for children if it goes against their religious or moral convictions.

Louisiana has joined ten states in a lawsuit against FEMA over the federal agency’s Risk Rating 2.0 which is causing flood insurance premiums to go up substantially for homeowners in south Louisiana. State Solicitor General Liz Murrill says FEMA is not being transparent on how they came up with these new premiums…
cut 6 (09) “….the Federal Government”
FEMA says Risk Rating 2.0 rates are based on a home’s proximity to water, construction type and ground elevation.

Colorado State University hurricane researchers have increased their forecast slightly for this hurricane season, now calling for 15 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Researcher Angelie Nieves Jimenez says this is a difficult year to predict, as it’s rare for sea surface temperaturs to be this warm which is conducive to tropical storm formation, but an El Nino is also expected to develop which hinders storm development…
cut 16 (09) “…El Nino”