The race is on for the open state treasurer seat, as candidates qualified today for the position vacated by US Senator John Kennedy. The field is full of capable candidates, like Republican Colombia Senator Neil Riser touted his experience as chair of the Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs and seat on the Bond Commission…:
Cut 12 (12) “to do so”
Former Republican Covington Representative John Schroder and Former Republican Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis are also among the GOP candidates to qualify today. New Orleans Democrat Derrick Edwards is also officially in the race.

The US Senate has decided to shorten its traditional August recess by two weeks, following a request from Senator John Kennedy and other Republicans. Kennedy says he would prefer the entire month of August, but is pleased about the decision.

The state Department of Education announces 33% of students scored Mastery on LEAP tests in 2017, which is the same as last year. Superintendent John White says this is still an improvement of four percent since 2015 in ELA, math and science combined, so it’s good news that those gains have remained steady this year…:
CUT 6 (10) “science scores”
White added these results keep showing that more must be done to close gaps between disadvantaged students and their peers.

The ESPY’s take place tonight and will be hosted by five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning of New Orleans. Saints superfan Jarrius Robertson of Reserve, who has undergone two liver transplants, has been selected to receive the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. Robertson says he’s never met Manning, but plans to thank him for the interception the then Colts Q-B threw in the Superbowl game when the Saints won their first NFL title the 2009 season.