Health officials are urging the public to take steps to avoid water going up your nose when swimming in fresh water. This warning is in response to a seven year-old child who has been hospitalized with a brain-eating amoeba infection after swimming in Lake Claiborne. Willis Knighton Health pediatric infectious disease specialist Doctor Joseph Bocchini says the only way to get the infection is through nasal exposure….

Cut 8 (11) “…your nose”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a substitute teacher for allegedly making false active shooter alerts at five schools in Caddo Parish. Corporal Vincent Jackson says 58-year-old Lytonja Barfield used the school district’s management system to report active-shooter alerts….

Cut 10 (07) “…those schools”

Louisiana is getting ready to hold its first-ever recreational alligator hunting season in October, and the lottery for tags is now open.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Students or teachers who had damage to their home and personal property from Tropical Storm Arthur can apply for FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA says eligible individuals in Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes can receive money to repair or replace computers, textbooks, school supplies and vehicles. The deadline to apply is October 1^st at disaster-assistance-dot-gov.

Louisiana public health officials are urging you to take precautions when swimming in fresh water following a brain-eating amoeba infection in Claiborne Parish. Willis Knighton Health pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Joseph Bocchini says the infection occurs when water containing the amoeba gets up your nose.

Cut 6 (11) “…brain-eating infection.”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a former substitute teacher for allegedly triggering false active shooter alerts. Corporal Vincent Jackson says 58-year-old Lytonja (luh-TAHN-jah) Barfield used the school district’s emergency management system to falsely report active shooter alerts at several schools.

Cut 9 (13)  “…out five more.”

For the first time ever, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is holding a recreational alligator hunting season, and the lottery for tags opened this morning. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says the state is able to open up the harvesting of alligators to recreational hunters thanks to an act of legislature in this year’s session, because the state is being overrun with alligators.

Cut 3 (08) “…has fully recovered.”

Governor Landry is expected to announce next Tuesday that SpaceX will build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The Advocate reports a decade-long coastal damages lawsuit filed by Vermilion Parish and the state against ExxonMobil has been dismissed as part of the deal. Advocate reporter Stephanie Riegel says more details will be announced in Abbeville.

Cut 14 (08) “…puts in place.”

Governor Jeff Landry will reportedly announce next Tuesday that Elon Musk’s SpaceX will build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The Advocate reports the rocket launching site will be built on 130 acres of coastal marshland near Pecan Island. Advocate reporter Stephanie Riegel says the project could potentially bring thousands of jobs to Louisiana.

Cut 13 (11)  “..in Richland Parish.”

Hunters who want to hunt alligators in October can apply for a recreational alligator license tag starting today, through August 30^th. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Tyler Bosworth says if you’re successful in snagging one of the ten-thousand available tags, there are rules to follow.

Cut 5 (11) “…with landowner consent.”

After a child was infected by a brain-eating amoeba while swimming in Lake Claiborne, Louisiana health officials are advising residents to protect themselves when swimming in fresh water. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

And the Louisiana Department of Health is urging the public to avoid areas of Henderson Lake in St. Martin Parish where a blue-green algae bloom can be seen. LDH officials are concerned that this algae bloom contains cyanobacteria which produces toxins that are harmful to people and animals.

The lottery for the first-ever recreational alligator hunting season is now open. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says you will have plenty of chances to score a tag.

Cut 4 (11) “…ten-thousand opportunities statewide.”

The season will run throughout the entire month of October.

The first poll in the U.S. Senate general election race shows Julia Letlow with a four-point lead over Jamie Davis. One finding of the poll of 518 registered voters is that more than half had neither a favorable nor an unfavorable opinion of Davis, compared to just over one-fourth for Letlow. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says it shows Letlow’s advantage in name recognition.

Cut 11 (10) “…the Republican nomination.”

State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by some public and charter schools. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

From questionable spending to questionable judgement – a Caddo Parish substitute teacher is arrested for allegedly triggering false active shooter alerts. Sheriff Henry Whitehorn says 58-year-old Lytonja Barfield used the school district’s emergency management system to falsely report active shooter alerts at five schools.

For the first time ever, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is holding a recreational alligator hunting season, and the lottery for tags opened this morning. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says the state is able to open up the harvesting of alligators to recreational hunters thanks to an act of legislature in this year’s session, because the state is being overrun with alligators.

Cut 3 (08) “…has fully recovered.”

Bosworth says there are roughly three-million alligators in the coastal zone alone – that’s about two-thirds of the state’s human population. 

The K-12 School Transparency Project, which launched last year, has identified questionable spending by Louisiana public and charter schools. State Treasurer John Fleming says that’s led to a complaint investigated by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

Cut 9 (13)  “…a private institution.”

Governor Landry is expected to announce next Tuesday that SpaceX will build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The Advocate reports a decade-long coastal damages lawsuit filed by Vermilion Parish and the state against ExxonMobil has been dismissed as part of the deal. Advocate reporter Stephanie Riegel says more details will be announced in Abbeville.

Cut 14 (08) “…puts in place.”

The first poll of the U.S. Senate general election campaign may indicate a more competitive race than expected. The poll by Public Policy Polling shows Julia Letlow with a four-point lead over Jamie Davis. The poll of 518 registered voters shows more than 20-percent are undecided, and LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says Letlow still has the advantage.

Cut 12 (09) “…towards her side.”

State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by Louisiana public and charter schools. Fleming says nearly everyone wants to see teachers make more money, and it’s possible that could happen if state dollars were spent appropriately.

Cut 8 (10) “…misdirecting these funds.”

President Trump is proposing slashing five-billion dollars from the National Institutes of Health in the 2027 fiscal year budget, and that has doctors greatly concerned. Dr. Chancellor Donald with the Tulane University School of Medicine says the clinical trials that lead to breakthrough treatments for debilitating diseases are all funded by money Congress allocates to the N-I-H.

Cut 5 (10) “…here in Louisiana.”

Governor Landry is expected to announce next Tuesday that SpaceX will build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in coastal Vermilion Parish that will be used to launch rockets into orbit. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A new college sports eligibility rule could pave the way for players competing for NFL roster spots to return to college for one more season. A Baton Rouge judge has granted a temporary restraining order to allow 16 football players to go back to college for one more season, including former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn. He’s one of the plaintiffs while trying to make the Buccaneers roster.

Louisiana doctors are sounding the alarm over a proposed massive funding cut over a proposed funding cut that would slash five-billion dollars in funding for the National Institutes of Health.  Dr. Chancellor Donald, with the Tulane University School of Medicine, says if that happens, it would greatly slow down the progress in finding cures for life-threatening diseases like cancer.

Cut 6 (11) “…tomorrow’s blockbuster cures.”

Big announcement is expected next Tuesday from Governor Jeff Landry regarding Elon Musk’s SpaceX plan to build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport on 130 acres of coastal marshland near Pecan Island in Vermillion Parish. Advocate Reporter Stephanie Riegel says though the project could mean thousands of jobs, many in Vermilion Parish are worried about how it could affect their way of life.

Cut 15 (11) “…Pecan Island community.”

———————-

State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by some public and charter schools. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The EBR Coroner’s Office has identified the remains found at the North Landfill as those of Ja’Derrius Minnieweather.  51-year old Maurice parms is charged with first-degree murder in Minnieweather’s death and authorities say he dumped the 15 year old’s body in a trash can.  Law enforcement crews spent five weeks combing through 4-thousand ons of material in the EBR Parish North Landfill looking for his remains.

Governor Jeff Landry will reportedly announce next Tuesday that Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The Advocate reports the spaceport would be built on 130 acres of coastal marshland near Pecan Island, about 45 miles southwest of Lafayette, and would launch rockets into orbit. Advocate reporter Stephanie Riegel …

Cut 13 (11)  “..in Richland Parish.”

A poll conducted by Public Policy Polling shows Republican Julia Letlow leading Democrat Jamie Davis by four points in the race for U.S Senate.  One finding of the poll of 518 registered voters found that more than half had neither a favorable nor an unfavorable opinion of Davis, compared to just over one-fourth for Letlow. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says it underscores the gap in name recognition.

Cut 11 (10) “…the Republican nomination.”

—————————–

Doctors in Louisiana are sounding the alarm over potential funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

A Ruston High teacher is now facing a second-degree rape charge after a multi-agency investigation uncovered multiple sexual assault allegations.  Ruston Police say PD, the investigation began in July when a woman reported that 32-year old Frasier Hogan had sexually assaulted her in 2020 when she was just 14.  We’re told Hogan was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center following his arrest yesterday.