Have you received a text message from a candidate running for office this fall? This is becoming more and more common and LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s an easy way to get your name out there:
Cut 13 (11) “name recognition”
The FCC says political text messages can be sent without permission as long as the sender does not use autodialing technology.

The Louisiana Housing Corporation has expanded the Blue Tarp Fund Roofing Repair Program for homeowners who were unable to previously apply. LHC Executive Director Joshua Hollins says the home must be a primary residence and applicants must meet low-income requirements. he says certain groups will be placed at the top of the list…:
CUT 8 (06) “the home”
Homeowners can apply at lhc.la.gov/bluetarp.

One legislator is calling for more transparency and oversite into the third-party vendor OMV data breach. Brooke Thorington has more..:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The entire state is under heat advisories and warnings today as Louisiana braces for another week of likely record-breaking temperatures. Highs are expected to be above 100 degrees all week with heat index values nearing 115.

State Senator Mike Fesi responds to the expletive filled voicemail left by a now former LSU professor over the lawmaker’s vote to ban gender affirming care. The Republican from Houma says he decided to involve law enforcement when the message became threatening…:
CUT 11 (07) “if anything”
Fesi says it’s a shame someone would go to such lengths instead of simply agreeing to disagree on the matter. LSU says Venable will no longer teach at the school.

If you’ve applied for or received a state-issued driver’s license or ID then your personal information has been compromised, so the OMV is offering free credit monitoring as a result of the recent nationwide hack. To activate one free year of LifeLock identity theft protection, visit NextStepsLa.Gov.

It’s been one year since the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline changed its number to 9-8-8 and the Louisiana Department of Health says call volume has increased by 11 percent. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

And once again the Mega Millions jackpot was not won last night, and the prize soars to an estimated $820 million dollars. That’s the 5th largest in the history of the game. The winner has the option to receive an up-front, $422 million lump sum. The next drawing is Tuesday.

State Senator Michael Fesi (Fay-Zee) responds to being cussed out on a threatening voicemail left by an LSU professor enraged the Republican from Houma voted to bring back a ban on gender altering procedures for minors. Fesi says it’s a shame some people would go to such lengths.
CUT 17 (09) “for sure”
Police were quickly able to track the call back to Marcus Venable who has now been banned from teaching at LSU.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is offering residents free credit monitoring and identity theft protection due to the hack that potentially compromised data for anyone with a state-issued driver’s license or ID. To activate your membership online at no cost, visit nextstepsla.gov. That’s next steps la dot gov.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has received 5 million calls in the first year of being available for people seeking mental support. Louisiana Department of Health’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator Dr. Robyn Thomas says the three-digit number made a big difference…:
CUT 7 (11) “for them”
If you need support during a crisis, you can simply call or text 988.

LSU football has been picked to finish 2nd behind Alabama in the SEC West in a preseason poll released by the media Friday. The Tigers travel to face the Crimson Tide on November 4th, and Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne believes Coach Brian Kelly’s team has the upper hand..:
Cut 13 (09) “in Tiger Stadium”
LSU is predicted to be the third-best team in the conference with Georgia the favorite to win the SEC Championship.

A state senator receives a profanity laced voicemail after voting to override the governor’s veto on a bill to ban sex altering medical procedures on minors. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 1 (36) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

And once again the Mega Millions jackpot was not won last night, and the prize soars to an estimated $820 million dollars. That’s the 5th largest in the history of the game. By the way, the odds of winning are 1 in 302.6 million. The next drawing is Tuesday.

Gas prices are climbing once again as the statewide average for a gallon of regular rose another 2 cents overnight to $3.19 cents. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says though we’re seeing an increase at the pump, demand for has hardly budged from last week…:
CUT 16 (13) “week or so”
He says Louisiana is one of just 10 states that have seen the largest increases over the past month.

Reporters came away from SEC Media Days last week choosing Alabama to win the West in a preseason poll, with LSU a close second. But Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne believes the Tigers should be in the top spot…:
Cut 12 (08) “none of that”
Alabama picked up 165 first place votes to LSU’s 117.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says companies participating in the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program have written more than 17,000 policies as of May 31st. He says SafePoint Insurance has been approved to take nearly 20 thousand policies out of Louisiana Citizens:
Cut 5 (11) “first year”
Donelon says getting policyholders out of Citizens is vital to the state’s economic recovery.

The Speaker Pro Tem of the Louisiana House has decided not to run for re-election, ending his legislative career after eight years. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says Washington D-C partisan attacks have become too much…:
Cut 15 (07) “really change”

The first-ever Gulf of Mexico offshore wind power lease sale has been approved by the federal government to take place August 29th…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Teiko Foxx”

State Police is investigating the case of a teacher at LSU who left a profanity laced voicemail to a state senator for voting to override the veto of a ban on transgender care for minors. The University says Marcus Venable is a graduate student who teaches, and he’s now been pulled from his position. Venable said in the voicemail he can’t wait to see Senator Mike Fesi’s name in the obituaries.

In a push that’s been years in the making, the federal government has officially set the first ever Gulf of Mexico offshore wind lease sale, opening sites off the coasts of Lake Charles and Galveston, Texas. Greater New Orleans Future Energy Executive Director Lacy McManus:
Cut 8 (11) “the country”
About 300-thousand acres will be auctioned off on August 29th.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says the body of a man who went missing while swimming in the Amite River Wednesday afternoon has been recovered. They said the person reportedly jumped from a railroad trestle into the water and did not come back up Wednesday. The search was suspended that night, but divers located the victim Thursday afternoon.

Though demand for gas isn’t budging, AAA reports gas prices are once again steadily increasing. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $3.18 which is up about 6 cents from a month ago.

State Representative Tanner Magee is not running for re-election. He says the toxic stew at the capitol is a major reason why he’s getting out. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Tickets for the Garth Brooks/Lainey Wilson concert on September 2nd in the Superdome go on sale this morning at 10am. Fans are encouraged to have their Ticketmaster accounts ready in advance with updated credit card information to make the process as smooth as possible.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says progress is being made in reducing the number of policyholders who have to rely on Citizens for homeowners’ insurance.
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Speaker Pro Tem of the Louisiana House Houma Representative Tanner Magee has decided not to run for re-election, ending his legislative career after eight years. He says he’s got kids and calls the political atmosphere at the capitol toxic…:
Cut 14 (09) “process”

Attorney General Jeff Landry issued an opinion stating the Louisiana Pardon Board cannot hear clemency requests of over 50 death row inmates who have filed. He says the rule is that death row inmates must submit the application within a year from a court’s direct appeal decision:
Cut 11 (11) “follow the rules”
Capital Appeals Project Executive Director Cecelia Kappel says that rule can be and has been waived in other cases..:
CUT 13 (13) “direct appeal”
She also says Landry’s involvement is a conflict of interest as the AG’s office is prosecuting several of the inmates applying.

If you like playing Mega Millions when the jackpot is big, tonight’s drawing is worth an estimated $720 million dollars.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says companies participating in the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program have written more than 17,000 policies as of May 31st. He says this is reducing the number of Citizens policies, which are extremely expensive compared to private insurance…:
CUT 4 (08) “in need”
He urges all Citizens policy holders to contact their agents to see if they have another option.

State Police is investigating the case of a teacher at LSU who left a profanity laced voicemail to a state senator for voting to override the veto of a ban on transgender care for minors. The University says Marcus Venable is a graduate student who teaches, and he’s now been pulled from his position. Venable said in the voicemail he can’t wait to see Senator Mike Fesi’s name in the obituaries.

The first-ever Gulf of Mexico offshore wind power lease sale has been approved by the federal government to take place in late summer near Lake Charles and Galveston, Texas. Greater New Orleans Future Energy Executive Director Lacy McManus says these areas have the potential to power almost 1.3 million homes, and it’s been a long time coming…:
CUT 7 (08) “into place”
She says though it may take a while the great thing about Louisiana is that the workforce is here and ready to go.

Anyone who tried to buy tickets to Garth Brooks’ Tiger Stadium show last year knows they had better hop on Ticketmaster early today when the Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff event goes on sale. ALL tickets for the September 2nd Show in the Superdome are just $98.95 and though the sale officially opens at 10am, eager buyers are encouraged to log on to the site early to make sure their account is ready to go with up-to-date credit card information.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says companies participating in the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program have written more than 17,000 policies as of May 31st. He says this is reducing the number of Citizens policies, which are extremely expensive compared to private insurance…:
CUT 4 (08) “in need”
He urges all Citizens policy holders to contact their agents to see if they have another option.

State Police is investigating the case of a teacher at LSU who left a profanity laced voicemail to a state senator for voting to override the veto of a ban on transgender care for minors. The University says Marcus Venable is a graduate student who teaches, and he’s now been pulled from his position. Venable said in the voicemail he can’t wait to see Senator Mike Fesi’s name in the obituaries.

The first-ever Gulf of Mexico offshore wind power lease sale has been approved by the federal government to take place in late summer near Lake Charles and Galveston, Texas. Greater New Orleans Future Energy Executive Director Lacy McManus says these areas have the potential to power almost 1.3 million homes, and it’s been a long time coming…:
CUT 7 (08) “into place”
She says though it may take a while the great thing about Louisiana is that the workforce is here and ready to go.

Anyone who tried to buy tickets to Garth Brooks’ Tiger Stadium show last year knows they had better hop on Ticketmaster early today when the Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff event goes on sale. ALL tickets for the September 3rd Show in the Superdome are just $98.95 and though the sale officially opens at 10am, eager buyers are encouraged to log on to the site early to make sure their account is ready to go with up-to-date credit card information.