For the first half of this week, the heat will be pure torture. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the culprit is an area of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico that serves as a pump.

Cut 3 (12) “…clouds from forming.”

The lack of cloud cover allows the sun to bake on the landscape, preventing rainfall and anything else that could cool us off. 

The Department of Revenue sends out almost 23-thousand letters to taxpayers who have refunds owed to them. Department spokesman Byron Henderson says if you receive one of them, you can claim your refund in one of two ways.

Cut 11 (13) “…unclaimed property letter.”

Any refunds not claimed by September 4th will go into unclaimed property.

The Louisiana Department of Education has recognized the state’s teacher and principal of the year. Jeff Palermo tells us who won.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The search for the remains of 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather enters its third week. Searchers are combing through the North Landfill in Zachary, near Baton Rouge, sifting through thousands of cubic yards of material, including glass, needles and other hazardous items. Investigators say 51-year-old Maurice Parms killed the teen and put his body in a dumpster.

The heat for the first half of this week will be downright brutal. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says an area of high pressure is pumping warm, moist air in from the Gulf of Mexico, preventing clouds from forming. Combine that with above-normal humidity levels, that’s going to make it that much more unbearable. 

Cut 5 (09) “…week moves on.”

If you have a state tax refund due to you, time is running out to claim it from the Department of Revenue. Department spokesman Byron Henderson says it sent nearly 23-thousand unclaimed property letters to individual and business taxpayers.

Cut 10 (12) “…state treasurer’s office.” 

Any money not claimed by September 4th will be transferred to the unclaimed property division.

Your 2026 teacher of the year is Alisha Butler. She teaches dual enrollment English and intermediate Braille at the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired in Baton Rouge. Butler says she’s proud to be a teacher in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (06) “…humbling.”

By winning the award, Butler gets to drive a new Mercedes Benz for a year.

A new at-home treatment for Alzheimer’s disease could soon be available. The Spectris headset uses brain stimulation to help slow the disease. It’s still in clinical trials, but Ochsner regional medical director Dr. Richard Zweifler says early results show the therapy may help remove the plaque associated with Alzheimer’s.

Cut 14 (11) “…high quality of life.”

Ochsner says FDA approval could come by next June.

McNeese has a new president – and for the time being, he’ll be doing double duty. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

We could see triple digit high temperatures this week. LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 4 (11) “…of those days’

Rain chances return on Thursday.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is reporting good news about the state’s whooping crane recovery effort.   18 of the 20 total pairs that nested were able to hatch chicks this year, the largest percentage ever. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski…

Cut 8 (11) “…figured out.”

Louisiana’s whooping crane reintroduction project began in 2011 and the Louisiana whooping crane population is now up to 84.

The Louisiana Department of Education has named Alisha Butler as the Louisiana Teacher of the Year. Butler teaches dual enrollment English and intermediate Braille at the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired in Baton Rouge….

Cut 6 (10) “…several years.”

Lauren Rentrop, the principal at Patterson Junior High in St. Mary Parish was named the Louisiana Principal of the Year. The Louisiana Early Childhood Leader of the Year is Sarah Corley of Alexandria. Katie Weber, a ninth grade English Teacher at Fontainebleau High School in St. Tammany is the New Teacher of the Year.

“We’re going to have heat on steroids this week.” Those are the words of LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim as he describes the heat and humidity that’s blanketing Louisiana this week. Keim says the culprit is an area of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico that serves as a pump.

Cut 3 (12) “…clouds from forming.”

The lack of cloud cover allows the sun to bake on the landscape, preventing rainfall and anything else that could cool us off. 

LDWF reported the state’s whooping crane recovery effort saw 10 fledged chicks, bringing the state’s total population to 84. Biologist Sara Zimorski says it was a historic nesting season.

Cut 7 (14) “…had this year.”

In announcing that he will not seek a second term in his second stint in Congress, Cleo Fields says a lot has changed in the 28 years between his two stints on Capitol Hill, and not for the better. The Baton Rouge Democrat says before, Democrats and Republicans were actually civil towards one another. Today, however, not so much – and that lack of cordialness has spread well beyond the halls of Congress.

Cut 12 (08) “…talking at all.”

The new president of McNeese also happens to be a sitting state senator. Mike Reese, a Republican from Leesville, says he will serve in one more legislative session and will not run for re-election. But between now and the end of his term, given the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day, Senator Reese – make that President Reese – will be juggling his time between his two jobs.

Cut 6 (11) “…as state senator.”

In announcing that he will not seek a second term in his second stint in Congress, Cleo Fields noted that a lot has changed since the first time he served on Capitol Hill, and not for the better. He said when he served in the House for the first time from 1993 until 1997, representatives from opposite parties were actually cordial towards one another.

Cut 10 (09) “…their families together.”

Ochsner Health is partnering with Cognito Therapeutics to develop the Spectris headset, an at-home treatment for Alzheimer’s which uses brain stimulation to help slow the disease. The device is still in clinical trials and has not been approved by the FDA. But Ochsner regional medical director Dr. Richard Zweifler says early results show the therapy may help remove the plaque associated with Alzheimer’s…

Cut 14 (11) “…high quality of life.”

Louisiana’s whooping crane reintroduction project fledged 10 chicks this nesting season, the most ever. Whooping cranes a federally endangered species that was once native to the state but had not lived in the Louisiana wilderness since 1950 before the project began in 2011. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski says the department has a history of restoring endangered native species in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (14)  “…the next ones.”

LSU baseball signee Logan Schmidt will not sign with the Cleveland Guardians after being selected 59^th overall in the MLB Draft. The lefty pitcher wanted more than the one-point-seven-million Cleveland could pay him. Schmidt is LSU’s top signee and ranked as the number-12 prospect in the country, but he still might not make it to campus. He is reportedly also considering Golden West College, a juco that would allow him to re-enter the draft next year. If he came to LSU he would not be draft-eligible until 2029

LDWF’s whooping crane reintroduction project had its most successful nesting season ever. Kace Kieschinck has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A new headset that uses brain stimulation to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease could soon be available, and Ochsner Health is partnering with Cognito Therapeutics to make happen.  Ochsner regional medical director Dr. Richard Zweifler…

Cut 15 (05) “…game changing.”

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In announcing that he will not seek a second term in his second stint in Congress, Cleo Fields made it a point to point out that things have changed on Capitol Hill since he last served in 1997, and not for the better.  He says the ability to be cordial when heated discussions are over on the floor has gone by the wayside and it’s affecting the whole country.

Cut 12 (08) “…talking at all.”

State senator Mike Reese is now the president at McNeese State University.  He took over July 1^st and says he’s thrilled for the opportunity to help shape the University’s future. As for his political career, Reese says he won’t run for re-election…but in the meantime, time-management will be key in getting both jobs done.

Cut 6 (11) “…as state senator.”

Ochsner Health has partnered with a company testing a new Alzheimer’s treatment that’s showing promising results. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is reporting good news about the state’s whooping crane recovery effort.   18 of the 20 total pairs that nested were able to hatch chicks, the largest percentage ever. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski…

Cut 8 (08) “…figured out.”

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A lot has changed in congress since 1997.  That’s according to Congressman Cleo Fields who’s decided not to seek a second term in his second stint on Capitol Hill.  On the day Fields left Capitol Hill the first time, there was no such thing as Facebook, X was merely the 24th letter of the alphabet, and Donald Trump hadn’t even launched “The Apprentice” yet. Times have changed, and Fields says so has Congress.

Cut 11 (09) “…has to change.”

State senator Mike Reese is the new president at McNeese State University.   Reese takes over for Wade Rousse, who’s now heading the LSU system. Reese notes that 78-percent of McNeese’s graduates remain in Louisiana, so it’s important that the school work very closely with the community to prepare them for life after college.

Cut 5 (08) “…meaningful to them.”