Children and Family Services is partnering with CASA this month for a major recruitment drive for much-needed volunteers. Connor Ferrill has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “I’m  Connor Ferrill”

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Senator John Kennedy says the Louisiana Bond Commission decision against banks who restrict financing to gun sellers is a template for other conservative leaders who want to push back against gun control efforts.

Cut 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle” 

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A Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Deputy was at the right place at the right time to be a hero for a kindergarten teacher on the first day of school at Plantation Park Elementary.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services and Louisiana Court Appointed Special Advocates have partnered up this month for a major drive to recruit foster parents and CASA volunteers across the state, which is in serious need of volunteers. 7,900 children are in foster care for abuse or neglect in the Bayou state and only 3,900 have access to a CASA volunteer. Judge Kathleen Stewart-Richie cites a national study that says those volunteers have a major impact on children in the system…

Cut 4 (09) “…volunteer”

Casa volunteers are trained and supervised judicial appointees who must be above 18 and have a background check to qualify. Richie says these requirements are rooted in the child’s safety…

Cut 5 (10) “…therapists”

Richie says once a volunteer has qualified the workload to benefit a child is simple…

Cut 6 (10) “through camp.”

For more information about volunteering visit Louisianacasa.org

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Unemployment for the month of July in Louisiana was 4.9 percent, continuing a promising string on unemployment numbers for the state. The national average currently sits at 3.9 percent. Louisiana Workforce Commissioner Ava Dejoie says it’s continuing a trend of employment numbers that are looking better than they have in over a decade.

Cut 7 (07) “of July”

Dejoie says the numbers are backed by continuing tech sector expansion in the state, along with the stabilization of oil industry jobs as work picks up in the gulf. She highlighted two sectors that have been high performers for the year.

Cut 8 (12)  “82 months”

But Acadiana is still reeling from the disintegration of the oil and gas industry in Louisiana over the last decade. Dejoie says the region is still trying to recover, but it appears for now that they’ve been able to stem the bleeding of lost jobs.

Cut 9 (11)  “700 jobs.”

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Senator John Kennedy says the 7-6 Bond Commission decision against allowing bids from banks who deny financing to certain gun manufacturers and sellers is a statement victory that will inspire similar efforts in other conservative states, and even Congress. Kennedy says the result has inspired gun rights leaders crafting their own plans for going after companies that push gun control.

Cut 10 (11)   “every state“

Combined the two Banks hold 23 percent of the state’s existing bonds. State Treasurer John Shroder, a commission member, says they will not be targeting those existing bonds for further retaliation.

The Senator sent a letter asking the commission to side against allowing Citibank and Bank of America to get the bid for 600 million dollars’ worth of infrastructure financing. Kennedy says he can’t say much at the moment, but he is planning on addressing corporate gun control efforts at the national level.

Cut 11 (06) “federal legislation.” 

The tight vote split between House and statewide Republican leaders who supported the ban, and the governor’s allies and the Senate who opposed it, with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, potentially a pivotal vote, not in attendance. Kennedy says it shouldn’t have been such a tight vote.

Cut 12 (11) “police lost”

John Bel Edwards’ administration has criticized the move, saying the bond commission is not the place to bring up social issues, and that the decision will ultimately result in the state paying higher interest rates for infrastructure projects as a result.

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A Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Deputy was at the right place at the right time to be a hero for a kindergarten teacher on the first day of school at Plantation Park Elementary.  Deputy Chris Slopak states he was roaming the halls when he encountered the teacher, Mrs. Burns, in distress.  Slopak says Burns explained what happened once she could speak again.

Cut 13 (10) “…her windpipe area.”

Slopak says deputies never know what to expect each day, but a video of the incident filmed on school security cameras that has spread around the internet, showcases just how quickly he reacted, and his training kicked in.

Cut 14 (06) “…it’s natural.”

Slopak says although he has been trained for it, he has no previous experience in aiding someone in a real-life choking incident.

Cut 15 (07) “but it worked.”

The DEA is reducing the number of opioids that pharmaceutical companies are allowed to make for the third year in a row as the opioid addiction crisis continues to claim on average 115 American lives a day. Prescription opioids will see a ten percent reduction in production. Senator John Kennedy praised the organization for the reductions but says laws regulating the production of opioids need major changes.

Cut 3 (11) “addiction

Max Gruver’s family is suing LSU, that national and local Phi Delta Theta fraternities, and individuals in the fraternity for 25 million dollars in a civil suit related to Max’s death last year in an alleged hazing incident. Baton Rouge Lawyer and Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt says suing public institutions is notoriously difficult, but in this situation they have a good case.

Cut 6 (12) “to happen.”

Attorney General Jeff Landry is defending the 7-6 vote of the Bond Commission to exclude Citibank and Bank of America as part of a $600 million road financing plan in the state.  Both were omitted from the financial plan after placing gun control regulations on commercial banking customers.  Landry says he hopes to send a message to banks around the nation with the exclusion.

Cut 10 (09) “…state of Louisiana.”

Since taking office in January 2017, US Congressman Mike Johnson has held thirty-one town hall meetings in the state’s fourth district, adding three more this past week.  Although the conflicts have recently cooled down, Johnson says other politicians were deterred from town hall participation by protestors.

Cut 13 (09) “…it’s so important.”

The DEA is reducing the number of opioids that pharmaceutical companies are allowed to make for the third year in a row as the addiction crisis continues to claim on average 115 American lives a day. Prescription opioids will see a ten percent reduction in production. Senator John Kennedy says he’s looking to implement changes that would shift production of the schedule II narcotic away from market demand, and based more on how much of the product front line doctors think is actually necessary.

Cut 5 (12)  “ American 

LSU wide receiver Drake Davis was arrested on Friday on one count of second-degree battery.  Davis is accused of punching his ex-girlfriend and breaking one of her ribs.  The junior wide receiver was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a count of second-degree battery.  Bond was not immediately set, according to the inmate list. Police then talked to the victim, who is an LSU student. She told investigators she and Davis were in a relationship that began in January 2017 and ended earlier this month.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is defending the 7-6 vote of the Bond Commission to exclude Citibank and Bank of America as part of a $600 million road financing plan in the state.  Both were omitted from the financial plan after placing gun control regulations on commercial banking customers.  Landry explains the financial institutions firearm restriction policies for their corporate customers.

Cut 11 (07) “…purchase a gun.”

Since taking office in January 2017, US Congressman Mike Johnson has held thirty-one town hall meetings in the state’s fourth district, adding three more this past week.  Johnson says he views other elected officials choosing to not frequently participate in town hall meetings as a travesty, as he says it is vital for how the government is set up.  He adds among the concerns of attendees is healthcare, immigration, and the farm bill.

Cut 14 (07) “…do that job.”

Senator John Kennedy praised the DEA’s move to cut opioid production levels, but says bigger changes are needed to stop the addiction crisis. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Since taking office in January 2017, US Congressman Mike Johnson has held thirty-one town hall meetings in the state’s fourth district, adding three more this past week.  Johnson says he makes time to participate in such meetings as he say he looks at them as an essential portion of his job.

Cut 12 (07)   “…hear their concern.”

Max Gruver’s family is suing LSU, that national and local Phi Delta Theta fraternities, and individuals in the frat for 25 million dollars in a civil suit related to Max’s death last year in an alleged hazing incident. Baton Rouge Lawyer and Legal Analyst Borghardt says it’s impossible to put a price on human life, but the dollar figure being sought in this case comes from precedent.

Cut 7 (11) “attorney’s fees”

Gruver’s death lead to the passage of the “Max Gruver Act” which makes people involved in hazing related deaths liable for felony charges.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is defending the 7-6 vote of the Bond Commission to exclude Citibank and Bank of America as part of a $600 million road financing plan in the state.  Both were omitted from the financial plan after placing gun control regulations on commercial banking customers.

Cut 9 (08)  “…the point here.”

The DEA is reducing the number of opioids that pharmaceutical companies are allowed to make for the third year in a row as the opioid addiction crisis continues to claim on average 115 American lives a day. Prescription opioids will see a ten percent reduction in production. Senator John Kennedy praised the organization for the reductions but says laws regulating the production of opioids need major changes.

Cut 3 (11) “addiction

Max Gruver’s family is suing LSU, that national and local Phi Delta Theta fraternities, and individuals in the fraternity for 25 million dollars in a civil suit related to Max’s death last year in an alleged hazing incident. Baton Rouge Lawyer and Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt says suing public institutions is notoriously difficult, but in this situation they have a good case.

Cut 6 (12) “to happen.”

Attorney General Jeff Landry is defending the 7-6 vote of the Bond Commission to exclude Citibank and Bank of America as part of a $600 million road financing plan in the state.  Both were omitted from the financial plan after placing gun control regulations on commercial banking customers.  Landry says he hopes to send a message to banks around the nation with the exclusion.

Cut 10 (09) “…state of Louisiana.”

Since taking office in January 2017, US Congressman Mike Johnson has held thirty-one town hall meetings in the state’s fourth district, adding three more this past week.  Although the conflicts have recently cooled down, Johnson says other politicians were deterred from town hall participation by protestors.

Cut 13 (09) “…it’s so important.”

The New Orleans Saints gave a lot of young players at crucial question mark positions a chance to prove their promise in the first half of Friday night’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.

While some rose to the challenge, but a player who had generated his fair share of preseason hype, faltered.

Offered his first chance to start an NFL preseason game, second-year quarterback Taysom Hill failed to protect the ball against Arizona’s starting defense.  Hill started at quarterback and committed four turnovers. The rest of the Saints offense struggled behind him in a 20-15 loss in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Drew Brees didn’t play for the second consecutive preseason game. He was joined on the bench by star defensive end Cam Jordan and star running back Alvin Kamara.

ESPN has released its preseason NFL power rankings, earlier this week, assembled by over 80 panelists considering what all 32 franchises have to offer. They’ve settled on the sensible 1-2 ranking of last year’s Super Bowl contenders – the victorious Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots – followed by a surprise to probably everyone but fans of the black and gold: the New Orleans Saints at 3.

As prepares to hold LSU holds its second preseason scrimmage this weekend, Head Coach Ed Orgeron is hoping to see it go better than the previous.  During a press event Wednesday, Orgeron said there were way too many penalties—mostly false starts and holding—that put the offense in long-yard situations. He thinks part of that will clear up because the team no longer has to run four quarterbacks.

Max Gruver’s family is suing LSU, that national and local Phi Delta Theta fraternities, and individuals in the fraternity for 25 million dollars in a civil suit related to Max’s death last year in an alleged hazing incident. Baton Rouge Lawyer and Legal Analyst Borghardt says it’s impossible to put a price on human life, but the dollar figure being sought in this case comes from precedent.

Cut 7 (11) “attorney’s fees”

Gruver’s death lead to the passage of the “Max Gruver Act” which makes people involved in hazing related deaths liable for felony charges.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is defending the 7-6 vote of the Bond Commission to exclude Citibank and Bank of America as part of a $600 million road financing plan in the state.  Both were omitted from the financial plan after placing gun control regulations on commercial banking customers.

Cut 9 (08)  “…the point here.”

Senator John Kennedy praised the DEA’s move to cut opioid production levels, but says bigger changes are needed to stop the addiction crisis. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Since taking office in January 2017, US Congressman Mike Johnson has held thirty-one town hall meetings in the state’s fourth district, adding three more this past week.  Johnson says he makes time to participate in such meetings as he say he looks at them as an essential portion of his job.

Cut 12 (07)   “…hear their concern.”

Attorney General Jeff Landry is defending the 7-6 vote of the Bond Commission to exclude Citibank and Bank of America as part of a $600 million road financing plan in the state.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

The DEA is reducing the number of opioids that pharmaceutical companies are allowed to make for the third year in a row. Senator John Kennedy praised the move but says the current production levels are far beyond what the public needs.

Cut 4 (13) “week supply”

Max Gruver’s family is suing LSU, that national and local Phi Delta Theta fraternities, and individuals in the fraternity for 25 million dollars in a civil suit related to Max’s death last year in an alleged hazing incident. Baton Rouge Lawyer and Legal Analyst Borghardt says suing public institutions is notoriously difficult, but in this situation they have a good case.

Cut 6 (12) “to happen.”

Gruver’s death lead to the passage of the “Max Gruver Act” which makes people involved in hazing related deaths liable for felony charges, and ups the fine and prison time for those found guilty of hazing.

Since taking office in January 2017, US Congressman Mike Johnson has held thirty-one town hall meetings in the state’s fourth district, adding three more this past week. Last summer saw mass protests targeting republican town halls around the caucus’s push to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Johnson says the conflicts have recently cooled down, but that other politicians were deterred by protestors.

Cut 13 (09) “…it’s so important.”

2:30 PM Newscast

The DEA is reducing the number of opioids that pharmaceutical companies are allowed to make for the third year in a row as the opioid addiction crisis continues to claim on average 115 American lives a day. Prescription opioids will see a ten percent reduction in production. Senator John Kennedy praised the organization for the reductions but says laws regulating the production of opioids need major changes.

Cut 3 (11) “addiction

As prepares to hold LSU holds its second preseason scrimmage this weekend, Head Coach Ed Orgeron is hoping to see it go better than the previous.  During a press event Wednesday, Orgeron said there were way too many penalties—mostly false starts and holding—that put the offense in long-yard situations. He thinks part of that will clear up because the team no longer has to run four quarterbacks.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is defending the 7-6 vote of the Bond Commission to exclude Citibank and Bank of America as part of a $600 million road financing plan in the state.  Both were omitted from the financial plan after placing gun control regulations on commercial banking customers.  Landry says the state will not deal with companies that attempt to interfere with Second Amendment rights.

Cut 9 (08)  “…the point here.”

Since taking office in January 2017, US Congressman Mike Johnson has held thirty-one town hall meetings in the state’s fourth district, adding three more this past week.  Although the conflicts have recently cooled down, Johnson says other politicians were deterred by protestors.

Cut 13 (09) “…it’s so important.”

Senator John Kennedy praised the DEA’s move to cut opioid production levels, but says bigger changes are needed to stop the addiction crisis. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Attorney General Jeff Landry is defending the 7-6 vote of the Bond Commission to exclude Citibank and Bank of America as part of a $600 million road financing plan in the state.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”