The Louisiana Department of Health is urging parents and teachers to talk to kids about the dangers of vaping. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office detained a Ferriday man who made threats against the Departments of Child and Family Services. Reginald McCoy was arrested after calling DCFS and telling them he had shot multiple employees and planned to shoot more in different parishes. No employees were actually harmed.

Nineteen parishes throughout Louisiana have burn bans in effect, mostly in North Louisiana. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says more bans could be on the way, and if you live in a parish where there’s not currently a burn ban in effect, still use extreme caution, and never leave a fire unattended.

Cut 5 (13) “…that it causes.”

Saints running back Alvin Kamara will be sidelined for at least a month with an MCL sprain. Cornerback Quincy Riley also left yesterday’s practice early with a groin injury, the severity of which is unknown. Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says it could be a big loss for the Saints if the second-year starter is unable to return.

Cut 11 (09) “…for New Orleans.”

The Saints hold their final joint practice of the preseason against the Rams tomorrow.

The Louisiana Department of Health has reported a brain-eating amoeba infection in a resident. The department says the resident likely became infected while swimming in Lake Claiborne in Cameron Parish. LDH says the infection may result when freshwater containing the amoeba rushes up one’s nose and reaches the brain. It says while the infection is extremely rare, it’s almost always fatal.

Staying with LDH, it says youth vaping remains a critical public health crisis in the state, and it’s urging parents and teachers to talk to kids about the dangers of vaping. Taylor Reine (“renn”), who oversees the division of chronic disease prevention at LDH, says kids need to know that vaping is no safer than smoking cigarettes.

Cut 12 (13) “…for lifelong addiction.” 

Reine says there are resources available for teens who want to quit vaping, including free text-based counseling support.

Amid hot, dry conditions, burn bans are now in effect in 19 parishes – mainly in north Louisiana, with five parishes being in south Louisiana. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says more burn bans could be forthcoming, and they’re always issued at the local level.

Cut 4 (13) “…a burn ban.”

Saints running back Alvin Kamara will miss the start of the regular season with an MCL Sprain suffered during a joint practice with the Cowboys yesterday. The 31-year-old took a pay cut to stay in New Orleans alongside free agent back Travis Etienne this offseason. Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says his availability was one of the reasons he took that cut.

Cut 9 (11)  “…state level.”

The Louisiana Department of Health says a Claiborne Parish resident has been infected with a brain-eating amoeba after swimming in Lake Claiborne. The brain eating amoeba lives in warm lakes and it can cause a deadly brain infection when water containing amoeba rushes up the nose and reaches the brain. State health officials urge the public that if you go swimming in  warm freshwater, limit the amount of water that goes up your nose.

Burn bans are now in effect in 19 parishes…

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Louisiana Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association President Tommy Faucheux is hailing the latest offshore lease sale a success as 12 companies submitted 69 bids totaling almost 100-million dollars….

Cut 9 (13) “….to see return”

Faucheux says they will continue advocating for federal policies that encourage increased domestic energy production and capital investment in the Gulf of America.

Louisiana’s long-standing “Move Over Law” has been expanded. The Move Over Law requires motorists to merge into the left lane on four-lane roads when there is an emergency vehicle stopped on the shoulder. The law has been expanded to include all types of vehicles, including passenger vehicles. State Police Master Trooper Casey Wallace….

Cut 8 (10) “…out there”

Burn bans are now in effect in 19 parishes throughout the state. Most are in north Louisiana, along with Jefferson Davis, East Feliciana, St. Helena (hu-LEE-nah), Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes in south Louisiana. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says conditions outside are not conducive to burning anything.

Cut 3 (09) “…firefighters to control.”

Now more than ever, be on the lookout for stalled vehicles on the shoulder of the roadway. That’s because the state’s long-standing “move over” law has now expanded. State Police Master Trooper Casey Wallace says whereas the old law applied to emergency vehicles such as police units, fire trucks and ambulances, the new law now includes all types of vehicles, including private passenger vehicles and even motorcycles.

Cut 6 (10) “…broken down, stranded.”

Amazon Web Services says it’s adding a third data center in Northwest Louisiana. This one’s going up at Resilient Technology Park in west Shreveport. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Amazon has promised to protect natural resources and invest in infrastructure as it constructs these three data centers.

Cut 14 (05) “…hardening the grid.”

Louisiana nonprofit The Boot has helped 255 service members transition into post-military careers during the previous fiscal year. CEO Benjamin Armstrong says the careers that the servicemembers pursue usually relate in some way to the training they received while serving their country.

Cut 5 (15) “…is another one.”

Authorities believe they have found the remains of 15-year-old Je’Darrius Minnieweather at the East Baton Rouge Parish landfill, ending a 36-day search looking through thrash for the teenager. Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse says DNA testing will be conducted to confirm the remains.

Cut 10 (08) “…very, very hopeful.”

Fifty-one-year-old Maurice Parms is charged with killing Minnieweather. Investigators say Parms beat the teen to death during an argument over Parms’ treatment of a 16-year-old girl Minnieweather knew.

The Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association is hailing the latest offshore lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico, in which 12 companies submitted 69 bids totaling almost 100-million dollars. President Tommy Faucheux says that’s a very impressive number.

Cut 7 (08) “…bids for leases.”

Faucheux says this latest lease sale shows the industry is hitting its stride.

A Louisiana nonprofit had a very successful year transitioning servicemembers into civilian life. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LDH has reported a rare case of brain eating amoeba found in a Claiborne parish resident. State health officials believe the person acquired the infection known as Naegleria fowleri (nay-GLEER-ee-uh FOW-ler-ee) swimming in Lake Caliborne.  The brain-eating amoeba is commonly found in warm freshwater lakes and the deadly brain infection occurs when water containing the amoeba rushes up the nose and reaches the brain.

Authorities are hopeful that they’ve found the remains of 15-year-old Je’Darrius Minnieweather in a 400-acre landfill in East Baton Rouge Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Investigators say Parms beat the teen to death during an argument over Parms’ treatment of a 16-year-old girl Minnieweather knew. Detectives say Parms dumped the teen’s body in a trash can that was picked up and taken to the landfill June 22nd.

Amazon Web Services says it’s adding a third data center in Northwest Louisiana. This one’s going up at Resilient Technology Park in west Shreveport. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Amazon has promised to protect natural resources and invest in infrastructure as it constructs these three data centers.

Cut 14 (05) “…hardening the grid.”

Louisiana nonprofit The Boot says it helped place 255 service members into post-military careers during the 2025-26 fiscal year. CEO Benjamin Armstrong says the leadership skills these servicemembers build during their time in the military will come in very handy in their post-military careers.

Cut 6 (11) “…their new careers.”

Since launching in 2024, The Boot has placed 366 service members into careers.

DNA testing still needs to be conducted, but Baton Rouge authorities believe they have found the remains of 15-year-old Je’Darrius Minnieweather, whose body ended up in a landfill in Zachary. East Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards says the odds were stacked against them.

Cut 11 (12) “…didn’t count that.”

Search crews spent 36 days combing through thrash and debris looking for Minnieweather, who authorities believe was beaten to death by 51-year-old Maurice Parms.

The U-S Fifth Circuit of Court of Appeals has rejected an Angola death row inmate’s attempt to avoid execution for killing two people at a Baton Rouge restaurant in 1995. Todd Wessinger is arguing that his court appointed attorneys did not provide him effective counsel during his trial. But Cicruit court judge Don Willett described Wessinger’s argument as a clever attempt, moving him closer to a possible execution date.

Another data center is coming to Louisiana as Amazon Web Services, who already announced plans to build two data centers in northwest Louisiana, is now building a third in Shreveport. Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the facilities will rely on air cooling most of the year. She says Amazon also plans to invest up to 400-million dollars to improve public water infrastructure. And L-E-D says Amazon is working with SWEPCO to fully fund the new energy infrastructure.

Bourgeois says these plans align with Louisiana’s broader strategy to responsibly support large-scale A-I investments.

Cut 15 (13) “…in that regard.”

Louisiana Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association President Tommy Faucheux is hailing the latest offshore lease sale a success as 12 companies submitted 69 bids totaling 100-million dollars….

Cut 9 (13) “….to see return”

Faucheux says they will continue advocating for federal policies that encourage increased domestic energy production and capital investment in the Gulf of America.

Amazon Web Services, which announced plans in February to build two data centers in northwest Louisiana, says it’s adding a third in Shreveport. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the additional investment shows Amazon’s confidence in Louisiana.

Cut 13 (15)  “…want to tell.”

Thanks to the efforts of Louisiana nonprofit The Boot, 255 service members transitioned into post-military careers during the 2025-26 fiscal year. That’s more than twice as much as the prior fiscal year. CEO Benjamin Armstrong says 72-percent  came from Louisiana military bases..

Cut 4 (10) “…back home here.”

Since launching in 2024, The Boot has placed 366 service members into careers.

Authorities believe they have found the remains of 15-year-old Je’Darrius Minnieweather in an East Baton Rouge Parish Landfill. Search crews have spent 36 days searching for the teen, who investigators believe was murdered by 51-year-old Maurice Parms. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says a photo of Minnieweather at the search site helped motivate crews.

Cut 12 (14) “…doing this for.”

DNA testing still needs to confirm the identity of the remains.

In the latest offshore lease sale, 12 companies submitted 69 bids totaling close to 100 million dollars. President of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Tommy Faucheux, says this is an increase from the previous lease sale…

Cut 8 (11) “…in the Gulf”

Faucheux says consistent and predictable lease sales are essential to provide the certainty companies to make long-term, multi-billion dollar investments required for offshore energy development.