A federal judge has put on hold the death sentence for a man convicted of raping and murdering a four-year-old child in 2001. Jason Reeves was set to die on August 19th. His attorneys filed a federal appeal that could extend the case another few years. Calcasieu Parish DA John DeRosier.
Cut 13 (10) “…them.”
Reeves kidnapped, raped, and then stabbed four-year-old Mary Jean Thigpen of Moss Bluff to death in November of 2001.

LSU Assistant Professor of Research Doctor Vincent Brown has found that thunderstorms in Louisiana have become more intense and dropped more rain over the last six decades. Brown says Gulf sea temperatures have been rising over the decades…
cut 11 (080 “…the air”
Brown says the higher the humidity, the more water available in the air for storm systems to utilize, thus increasing the chance of an intense downpour.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is making progress towards moving forward with $450 million dollars in renovations to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Immunization records from the Louisiana Immunization Network are now available online. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is making progress towards moving forward with $450 million dollars in renovations to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Convicted child rapist and murderer Jason Reeves appeals his death sentence to the US Supreme Court. Matt Doyle talked with Calcasieu DA John DeRosier about what that means…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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A new online service allows residents to securely view, download, and print official copies of immunization records on-demand for free.  Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public Health Dr. Alexander Billioux says it adds convenience for those who may need records for school or recreational activities.

Cut 4 (09) “…in the first place.”

Billioux says the signup and verification process is relatively quick, taking about five minutes to complete.

Cut 5 (09) “…in your dependents.”

Those who have been vaccinated out of state will be able to input their records with the help of their doctor or pharmacist.  Billioux says the state is working toward to support a technology called Blue Button, supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services that many health systems are using to share data.

Cut 6 (09) “…your old data.”

The website can be found at LA.MyIR.net.

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Governor John Bel Edwards visited Saints training camp on Monday and discussed the 450-million dollar plan to renovate the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Edwards says the massive renovation would also result in a new long-term lease agreement between the state and the NFL franchise.

Cut 7 (10) “…doing for Louisiana.”

The changes proposed include more natural light entering the building and modifications to boost the fan experience. Edwards says during the renovation the venue will not be used for as many concerts.

Cut 8 (07) “…renovations are made.”

Edwards says it is vital for the Superdome, which opened in 1975, to see optimizations that keep the facility competitive in being able to host many major events.

Cut 9 (10) “…and we upgrade.”

Artist renderings may be available by the end of the week. The renovation process is expected to start immediately after the current football season.

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An LSU study shows over the last six decades rain events have gotten more intense and drop more rain in a shorter period of time, causing increased risk of flash flood events.

LSU Assistant Professor of Research Dr. Vincent Brown was on the research team and says it’s not that all rain events are more intense on average, but we are seeing an increasing number of more severe downpours…

Cut 10 (10) “trend.”

Brown says other research is pretty clear about why this is: Gulf sea surface temperatures have been rising over the decades…

Cut 11 (08) “…the air”

And Brown says the higher the humidity, the more water available in the air for storm systems to utilize, thus increasing the chance of an intense downpour.

The change has been so gradual that Brown says it would be hard to notice it on a year to year, or even decade to decade range.

Cut 12 (10) “…period”

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A man convicted of raping and murdering a four-year-old child in 2001 has had his death sentence put on hold by a federal judge, just a week before his scheduled execution date.

Jason Reeves’s attorneys filed a federal appeal that could extend the case another few years Calcasieu Parish DA John DeRosier says it’s a ploy to hold out until the Legislature outlaws the death penalty.

Cut 13 (10) “…them.”

Reeves kidnapped, raped, and then stabbed four-year-old Mary Jean Thigpen to death in November of 2001.

DeRosier says the lengthy legal process will now cost the state and feds hundreds of thousands more in legal fees.

Cut 14 (07) “…for it.”

Even if Reeves’ team had not filed the federal appeal, it’s unlikely he would have been executed. The state says they can’t get the lethal injection drugs needed, but DeRosier says that’s just an excuse.

Cut 15 (10) “…to sleep”

The state has not carried out an execution in nearly a decade.

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One of the big position battles at LSU camp is at nose tackle, where 345-pound Tyler Shelvin is battling with 355-pound freshman Apu Ika from Salt Lake City. Senior defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko gives his take on the position battle

Cut 16  (28) “…of view”   

The offensive line is a question mark heading into the 2019 campaign. At times last season the o-line underperformed. Fehoko likes what he sees with that unit

cut 17 (17) “…reckon with.” 

Coach Ed Orgeron has said he wants to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks as he’ll ask his team to be more aggressive along the line of scrimmage. Fehoko on what that means

Cut 18 (17) “…the point” 

Along with Texas and Oklahoma, Louisiana is one of only three states where drivers can buy gas for under $2 a gallon.  The statewide average for a gallon of gasoline has dipped 8 cents over the last week to $2.24.  GasBuddy.com spokesperson Patrick Dehaan says the escalating trade tensions between the US and China can take credit for the decline.
Cut 7 (09) “…goes down anyway.”
About two dozen stations are selling gas for less than $2.

The National Weather Service has issued its first excessive heat warning of the year for the northern half of the state until Tuesday night. Meteorologist Gary Chatelain says winds out of the southwest are helping to produce the dangerous heat levels. He says we could see a break from the extreme heat on Wednesday.

Cut 5 (13) “…rainfall”

The southern half of the state is under a heat advisory. Heat indices could range from 105 to 113.

Tomorow morning will be your best chance to catch the famed annual Perseid meteor shower. Best viewing will be just after 4AM until sunrise.  The meteorites are hurtling through the solar system at 25-30 miles a second. LSU Astronomy Professor Brad Schaefer says the “shooting stars” are formed from the friction of the speeding objects crossing the Earth’s atmosphere…

Cut 11 (06) “…can see.”

Louisiana sees a 59 percent decrease in the number of wildfires when comparing 2018 to 2008.

State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says Louisiana had 1,638 wildfires in 2008, but only 676 wildfires last year. He credits the substantial decrease to a successful public education campaign.

Cut 12 (04) “…on fire”

Strain says those 25 arson arrests were linked back to 5,240 acres of burned timberland.

The brutal heatwave continues across the state, with conditions now getting so bad that the National Weather Service has issued its first excessive heat warning of the year for the northern half of the state until Tuesday night. Meteorologist Gary Chatelain says heat indices will climb over 110-degrees.

Cut 3 (09) “…gets soaked”

Tomorrow, Alexandria could see a heat index of 110-degrees.

Louisiana sees a 59 percent decrease in the number of wildfires when comparing 2018 to 2008. Arson cases are also down 82 percent, going from 893 in 2008 to 160 in 2018. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain credits a cooperative effort between his department and the Fire Marshal for putting pyromaniacs behind bars.

Cut 14 (10) “…of arson”‘

Strain says those arrests were linked back to 5,240 acres of burned timberland.

Tomorrow morning will be your best chance to catch the famed annual Perseid meteor shower. The brilliant display comes courtesy of the Comet Swift-Tuttle’s yearly voyage around the sun.  LSU Astronomy Professor Brad Schaefer says every year around August 12^th the Earth’s orbit intersects with the trail of sand grains the comet leaves behind as it travels through the solar system.

Cut 10 (08) “…ice ball.”

Schaefer says Arabic records indicate the shower could be at least 800 years old.

Louisiana is one of only three states in the nation where drivers can buy gas for under $2 a gallon. GasBuddy.com spokesperson Patrick Dehaan says you’re already seeing it in Baton Rouge, and it is possible the statewide average for a gallon could drop to below $2 by Thanksgiving, but..

Cut 8 (12) “…go back up.”

Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma are the only three states in the nation with gas prices under 2 bucks a gallon. GasBuddy.com spokesperson Patrick Dehaan says the statewide average is 2.24, and Baton Rouge prices are a major reason why.

Cut 6 (09) “…at one station.”

About two dozen stations in Louisiana are selling gas under 2 bucks a gallon.

Tomorrow morning will be your best chance to catch the famed annual Perseid meteor shower. Best viewing will be just after 4AM until sunrise.  LSU Astronomy Professor Brad Schaefer says for best viewing find a wide-open space away from light pollution and give your eyes at least ten minutes to adjust to the darkness.

Cut 9 (11) “…do it”

With optimal conditions, you can see one meteor a minute with the dashes of light emanating from the Perseid constellation.

Be prepared for dangerous heat levels over the next couple of days. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Congressman Ralph Abraham has dropped his first statewide campaign ad of the governor’s race where a series of narrators trumpets the Congressman’s frontrunner status as the Republican best suited and most likely to take on Governor John Bel Edwards…

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Gasoline prices continue to fall, in fact, Louisiana is one of three states in the country that has service stations selling gasoline for lower than two dollars a gallon. Gas-Buddy-dot-com Senior Petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says it’s possible the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline could drop below two-dollars by Thanksgiving, but there are factors that could hinder that…
cut 8 (12) “….go back up”
The current statewide average is $2.24 a gallon.

It’s blistering hot, so hot that the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the northern half of the state. Meteorologist Gary Chatelain…
Cut 4(10) “…it quickly”
99-degrees is the forecasted high for Shreveport and Monroe. Tomorrow, Alexandria could see a heat index of 110-degrees.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry says the state has seen a drastic decrease in wildfires over the last 10 years from 1,638 in 2008 to 676 last year. Commissioner Mike Strain credits the state’s public awareness campaign that includes the Certified Prescribed Burner program…
cut 13 (08) “…the ground”
Strain also says arson cases are down 82 percent

Matt Doyle has a story on why you should wake up early tomorrow morning to see the famed Perseid Meteor shower…
cut 2 (32) I’m Matt Doyle”

Along with Texas and Oklahoma, Louisiana is one of only three states where drivers can buy gas for under $2 a gallon.  The statewide average for a gallon of gasoline has dipped 8 cents over the last week to $2.24.  GasBuddy.com spokesperson Patrick Dehaan says the escalating trade tensions between the US and China can take credit for the decline.
Cut 7 (09) “…goes down anyway.”
About two dozen stations are selling gas for less than $2.

The National Weather Service has issued its first excessive heat warning of the year for the northern half of the state until Tuesday night. The southern half of the state is under a heat advisory. Heat indices could range from 105 to 113 degrees along the I-10-I-12 corridor. Meteorologist Gary Chatelain says winds out of the southwest are helping to produce the dangerous heat levels. He says we could see a break from the extreme heat on Wednesday

Cut 5 (13) “…rainfall”

A 40-year-old Monroe woman is arrested after mistaking a misquito abatment plane for a drone and opening fire from her yard. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”