A class action lawsuit against a major homebuilder alleges the company is not building homes to properly withstand the heat and humidity in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Vandals ransacked Vidalia Junior High School last weekend; doing over $200-thousand in damage. Surveillance video captured images of the culprits who appear to all be between 10 and 13 years of age. Volunteers started cleaning & fixing up the school this week.

Minden Mayor Terry Gardner passed away today at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer. Gardner publicly announced on May 24th he had pancreatic cancer and it also spread to his liver. Minden Councilwoman Pam Bloxom says Mayor Gardner was the ultimate supporter of Minden…:

CUT 13(05)      “…Terry Gardner.”

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

State Wildlife & Fisheries agents arrest a Breaux Bridge man for possessing two illegal and VERY venomous snakes. Spokesman Adam Einck says 40-year-old Caleb Hudson’s copperhead rattlers were seized and…re-homed…:

CUT 05(05)      “…Alexandria Zoo.”

The statewide average price of regular gas is down again; now at $4.43-a-gallon. That’s 8-cents less than one week ago, but still 20-cents more than a month ago.

A New Orleans judge issues a temporary restraining order barring enforcement of the state’s trigger law banning abortion. In the meantime Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport says they will resume service tomorrow. Loyola University law professor Dan Ciolino says he believes the case will be litigated for some time…:

CUT 14(12)      “…regulate abortion.”

In the meantime, a hearing on the temporary restraining order is set for July 8^th. The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the restraining order on behalf of the Hope Medical Group for Women, and a group called Medical Students for Choice.

District 3 Congressman Clay Higgins says the city of Sulphur, in Calcasieu Parish, will get nearly $6.5-million federal dollars as reimbursement for debris removal and recovery from Hurricane Laura in 2020. The federal bucks will come to the state, which will – in turn – give to money to the city.

The National Hurricane Center now says the low pressure system off the coast of Venezuela will quite likely be this season’s first named storm. For now, it is dubbed Potential Tropical Cyclone 2, but its projected path takes it inland somewhere in Central America. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this one of three systems out there, but there’s no threat to Louisiana…:

CUT 10(07) “…five to seven days.”

Natchitoches Police are investigating a double homicide that happened early Saturday morning. NPD spokesman Cpl. John Greely says a gunfight erupted between two groups of enemies as one of them was pumping gas. Two men were killed and several others fled the scene…:

CUT 12(09)      “…$2000.”

A third victim survived the gunplay and is in stable condition at a local hospital.

A New Orleans judge issues a temporary restraining order on Louisiana’s abortion trigger law, thus allowing them to continue until a July 8^th court date. Brooke Thorington has more..:

CUT 02  (32)        “…Brooke Thorington.”

Shreveport Police plan no arrest in a Saturday road rage incident that left a man shot and injured. SPD officers say the aggressor in this case was the man who was shot, and the shooter was defending himself. The victim’s wounds are non-life-threatening.

Three people died Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Lafourche Parish on Louisiana Highway 308 in Lockport. State Police Trooper Ross Brennan says 47-year-old Grant Gremillion of Sulphur was pronounced dead at the scene. Brennan says 44-year-old Ramiro Pineda-Perez of Berwick and 38-year-old Alexander Vigil of Morgan City also died instantly in the crash. They were in the vehicle struck by Gremillion’s pickup truck when it crossed the center line…:

CUT 04(10)      “…fatal injuries.”

The National Hurricane Center website is now tracking three tropical waves; one in the Gulf and two in the western Atlantic. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the system in the Gulf is stalled not far off the Louisiana coast, but should head west into south Texas or even Mexico. Another system off Venezuela’s coast is quite likely to reach named storm strength, but Keim says it should also be nothing we need worry about…:

CUT 09(08)      “…lots can change.”

A New Orleans judge issues a temporary restraining order barring the enforcement of the state’s trigger law banning abortion. In the meantime Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport says they will resume service tomorrow. Loyola University law professor Dan Ciolino says the restraining only adds uncertainty about abortions in Louisiana…:

CUT 13(12)      “…into effect.”

Police in Natchitoches are investigating a weekend shooting at a gas station that left two dead and one injured. NPD spokesman Cpl. John Greely says two men with a beef opened fire on one-another, with some friends also drawing their guns. Several got away, but they have security video of the incident, and the investigation is active…:

CUT 12(09)      “…$2000”
The National Hurricane Center is tracking three systems that COULD become tropical cyclones. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 01(29)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Authorities in DeSoto Parish give the “all clear”, after evacuating an area of the town of Catuna this morning when a gas pipeline exploded. The fire is under control, and so far no injuries reported.

A sign of the times and the sign reads “closed.” The well-known New Orleans French Quarter Kako Art Gallery is closing it doors forever; citing the city’s burgeoning crime problem. Kako will close one month from today.

A natural gas pipeline explosion this morning near the DeSoto Parish town of Catuna has triggered evacuations to assure residents safety. The evacuations include areas along Highway 171 and Norwood Road. Firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and EMS are all on the scene, and traffic is being detoured away from the affected area. So far, we have no reported injuries.

Three people died Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Lafourche Parish on Louisiana Highway 308 in Lockport. State Police Trooper Ross Brennan says one of victims is from southwest Louisiana…:

CUT 03(10)      “…head-on.”

In that Chrysler, 44-year-old Ramiro Pineda-Perez of Berwick and 38-year-old Alexander Vigil of Morgan City…who were also killed instantly.

Gas prices are retreating somewhat. The statewide average price of regular is now $4.45; down 7-cents from a week ago.

Police in Natchitoches are investigating a Saturday night gunfight that left two men dead and one wounded. Natchitoches Police spokesman Cpl. John Greely says the dead are identified as 21-year-old Marquis Evans and 23-year-old Daniel Williams. Greely says a beef between the two erupted at a gas pump…:

CUT 11(11)      “..on the scene.”

The National Hurricane Center website is now tracking three tropical waves; one in the Gulf and two in the western Atlantic. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the system in the Gulf is stalled not far off the Louisiana coast, but has a small chance of developing into a tropical storm…:

CUT 08  (09)        Brownsville, Texas area

Two other systems are out there, with good chances of developing, but they should remain well to our south.

Louisiana’s so-called trigger law, that bans most abortions now that Roe vs Wade has been overturned, has been blocked by a state court. Attorneys for the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a petition for relief from the state’s law taking effect. It was met with a temporary restraining order; meaning abortion clinics in Louisiana can – for now – remain open. A hearing is set for July 8^th.

Three people died Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Lafourche Parish on Louisiana Highway 308 in Lockport. State Police Trooper Ross Brennan says 47-year-old Grant Gremillion of Sulphur was pronounced dead at the scene. Also pronounced dead at the scene were 44-year-old Ramiro Pineda-Perez of Berwick and 38-year-old Alexander Vigil of Morgan City also died at the scene. They were in a vehicle struck by Gremillion’s pickup truck, when it crossed the center line…:

CUT 04(10)      “…fatal injuries.”

The crash is under investigation.

A new law takes effect August 1^st that allows adults 24 and older who were adopted to have access to their original birth records. The bill’s author is Vernon Parish State Representative Charles Owen…:

CUT 14(12)      “…it was wrong.”

There are many people in Louisiana who are happy for Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco today. His Rebels won the College World Series yesterday with a four to two win over Oklahoma. Bianco is a former LSU player, assistant coach and a former head coach at McNeese too. It took him 22 seasons as the head coach at Ole Miss to finally win a national title…:

CUT 05(10)      “…been through.”

Ole Miss barely made the NCAA Tournament but they went on a remarkable run to win the school’s first men’s national championship.

Abortions are now illegal in Louisiana as a result of the U-S Supreme Court’s historic decision that overturned the Roe versus Wade ruling made nearly 50 years ago that guaranteed a women’s right to terminate their pregnancies. USA Today Network reporter Greg Hilburn says Louisiana just passed a new trigger law that now takes effect. It has no exceptions for rape of incest, but does except certain medical circumstances. Hilburn says doctors, or those who assist in an abortion, face up to 10 years in prison and if it’s a late term abortion the sentence could be as much as 15 years…:

CUT 05(07)      “…last week.”

The state Department of Health reports 2400 new cases of COVID-19 statewide; among them Governor John Bel Edwards, who’s office announced he had the virus this afternoon. The governor gets regular routing COVID tests. We’re told he’s showing no symptoms right now and he is fully up-to-date on COVID shots & boosters.

With the reversal of Roe vs. Wade, and Louisiana’s new abortion ban taking effect, it seems like a good time to remind everyone about the Louisiana’s Safe Haven law, under which persons not prepared to have or care for a newborn can simply hand the child over at most any hospital or fire station. As long as the child is left in the hands of an employee and the child shows no signs it has been abused, the person surrendering custody can walk away without legal repercussions. For details on Safe Havens, visit “dcfs.louisiana.gov.”

Louisiana is in an early summer heat wave of record proportions. Weather stations across the state report record-setting and record-breaking high temperatures. State Climatologist Barry Keim says scorching weather is here for the next few days, but worry not; it won’t go one forever…:

CUT 15(13)      “…we see every summer.”

The state Department of Health reports 2400 new cases of COVID-19 statewide; among them Governor John Bel Edwards, whose office announced he had the virus this afternoon. The governor gets regular routing COVID tests. We’re told he’s showing no symptoms right now and he is fully up-to-date on COVID shots & boosters.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe vs Wade brings strong emotions from both side of the issue. Brooke Thorington reports…:

CUT 01  (35)        “…Brooke Thorington.”

LSU President William Tate is touting a 27-million dollar donation from Shell USA, the largest gift from a for-profit partner in the university’s history. Tate says the funds will establish the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation. Tate says Shell is the founding partner of the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation and that its commitment extends beyond the scientific mission of the institute and into the growth of Louisiana’s workforce as well…:

Cut 11  (12)      “…energy industry.”

Oh boy, is it hot!! Record highs are being recorded all over Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says hot, moist air from the Gulf is clashing with hot, dry air over land; bringing clear skies and unrelenting heat…:

CUT 14(09)      “…cool things down.”

He says somewhat cooler temperatures are coming next week.

With the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of the 1973 Row vs Wade decision this morning, abortions are- for the most part -now illegal in Louisiana. USA Today Network reporter Greg Hilburn says Governor Edwards just signed a new trigger bill into law this week…:

CUT 03  (07)        “…rape or incest.”

That new trigger law does have exceptions for medical complications however.

Louisiana is in an early summer heat wave of record proportions. Weather stations across the state report record-setting and record-breaking high temperatures. State Climatologist Barry Keim says scorching weather is here for the next few days, at least…:

CUT 13  (10)        “…100 or 110.”

Keim says warm, wet air from the Gulf is colliding with hot, dry air over land; creating this rainless heat. He says it may be well into next week before the state sees any significant rain.

Deputies in East Baton Rouge Parish say a naked woman crashed her car through the wall of a local donut shop, then tried to run from cops and attacked paramedics. It happened at around 2 a.m. She finally gave up and is having her health – physical AND mental – evaluated.

LSU women’s basketball has received a verbal commitment from the top player in the nation. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(35)      “…David Grubb.”

Now that the state’s regular legislative session is over, the question arises “will lawmakers vote to convene a special veto override session?” Winnfield Representative Jack McFarland is chair of the legislature’s Conservative Caucus. He says there a number Governor Edwards’ vetoes that deserve to be overridden…:

CUT 09(08)      “…the education bills.”

An override session is automatic, unless enough lawmakers vote NOT to have one. Ballots for that vote go out July 1^st.

Another Louisiana child dies in an accidental shooting. Police in New Orleans says a 2-year-old with the Hollygrove neighborhood found a loaded handgun, left in an unsecured place, and fatally shot himself. This is the second child to die in that manner in New Orleans this year. Six other kids have been injured by unsecured guns.

An attorney for nursing home operator Bob Dean responds to the criminal charges his client is now facing as a result of last year’s botched hurricane evacuation plan. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Due to persisting drought conditions, the police jury in Vernon Parish has issued a parish-wide burn ban until further notice. No open fires are allowed. Fires caused by open burning in Vernon has resulted in the destruction of two vehicles and a building. Look for more parishes to enact burn bans as the drought continues.