Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry has told the USA Today Network there’s no doubt he can beat John Bel Edwards if he challenges the Democrat in next year’s governor’s race. Landry says he’s receiving a lot of encouragement to run and it’s becoming harder to tell his supporters he won’t mount a campaign against Edwards.

Switchblades are no longer illegal in Louisiana as a result of legislation approved in the last regular session. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Congressional auditors say about 30 million people will have to fork over more money to cover their 2018 taxes next year. Member of the Louisiana CPA Society, Bill Potter, explains why that will be the case following the tax reform plan put into place by President Trump.
Cut 12 (12) “…from someone’s paycheck.”
Potter says has uncovered that some employers have been withholding too much money from employee paychecks.

LSU football received the verbal commitment from the state’s top wide receiver in the Class of 2019. Shea Dixon of 24-7 sports says Kentwood’s Trey Palmer could be a player that contributes right away in 2019….
cut 10 (13) “…off the bench’
LSU’s 2019 recruiting class is now ranked seventh in the nation.

Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry told the USA Today Network that he’s seriously considering running for governor next year. Landry told Greg Hilburn there’s no doubt he would beat Governor John Bel Edwards and added you can tell him I said that.

Congressional auditors say about 30 million people will have to fork over more money to cover their 2018 taxes next year because employers withheld too little from their paychecks. Kevin Barnhart spoke with a local tax preparer…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The state department of education can remove 45-hundred low income families from a list that’s been waiting for government assistance to help pay for child care for their children. Executive director of Early Childhood operatins, Lisa Brochard, says a one-time federal grant makes it possible, but they still have some 25-hundred children on the waiting list…
cut 8 (11) “….great for these”
Brochard says notices will go out today letting 45-hundred families know they’ll be able to access child care through this one time payment.

The state’s number one ranked high school receiver for the class of 2019, Trey Palmer, has verbally committed to LSU. 24/7 Sports recruiting analyst Shea Dixon says the Kentwood wide out is a big get for the Tigers as he also considered Alabama…
Cut 9 (10) “…this year”
LSU now has 19 verbal pledges for next year.

More than 430 new laws go into effect today as a result of the spring legislative regular session. One of those bills is the Max Gruver Act, which increases the penalties and makes it a felony to orchestrate hazing that leads to serious injuries or death. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry is the author of the legislation…
Cut 14 (08) “the future”
It’s also now legal to carry around switchblades. Decades ago, they were banned because switchblades were considered a dangerous weapon based on how they were used in mob and greaser moves in the 1950s and 60s. Covington Representative Mark Wright authored the legislation to make them legal again. He says it’s common sense legislation…
cut 5 (08) “…own these”
But Wright says it remains illegal to conceal them from officers during traffic stops.

Good news for 45-hundred low income families on a waiting list to receive assistance to send their young kids to child care. They will be removed from that list and have the opportunity enroll in a child care center thanks to a 39-million dollar one-time investment by the federal government. Executive Director of the Early Childhood operations, Lisa Brochard, this will not only benefit the children, but parents too…
cut 7 (12) “….way of assisting families”
Letters are going out today to those families that are coming off the waiting list.

Four-star wide receiver Trey Palmer from Kentwood High School announced his commitment to LSU. Shea Dixon with 24-7 sports says Palmer’s decision could cause a domino effect for other high profile recruits…
cut 11 (12) “…for them”
Palmer is rated as the number one receiver in the Class of 2019.

Over 430 new state laws take effect today, one of them will allow you to get married 24 hours after receiving a marriage license. The previous law said eager couples had to wait 72 hours. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson says the change puts Louisiana in line in with what other states do and it still keeps overenthusiastic couples from tying the knot while on an alcoholic bender…
cut 16 (09) “….as marriage’
Switchblades are also legal in Louisiana as of today. Covingston Representative Mark Wright says legislators banned them decades ago, because switchblade was the made weapon used in mob and greaser gang movies in the 1950s and 60s. Wright says he’s glad his legislation makes them legal now, but you still can’t conceal them during a traffic stop…
cut 4 (09) “…with that”
There are more serious laws going into effect today, like the legislation that makes hazing a felony.

The Louisiana Department of Education is removing 45-hundred children from a waiting list seeking to enroll into a child child care program. Executive Director of the Early Childhood operations, Lisa Brochard, says 39-million dollars in federal one-time money will pay for kids from low-income families to attend a child care center, but there’s still a lot more children on the list…
cut 6 (09) “…going to affect”
Letters notifying families they will be removed from the waiting list go out today.

18-year-old Louisiana Tech student Mason Andrews who is attempting to become the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world has already broken one world record during his journey. Andrews has become the youngest pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic. This morning he takes off from France, where he’ll stop in Croatia and then it’s on to Egypt.

The National Flood Insurance Program, which writes flood insurance policies for 500-thousand Louisiana residents, has been extended for four months as a result of a favorable vote in the US Senate. It was set to expire before midnight last night. Senator John Kennedy is frustrated Congress will not approve a reformed version of the NFIP..
cut 6 (09) “….the Senate”
Tweleve Senators voted against extending the the N-F-I-P for four months.

And starting this afternoon, you can place sports bets at two Mississippi casinos, Beau Rivage in Biloxi and Gold Strike in Tunica. Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, Larry Gregory, says they expect to see Louisiana license plates in their parking garages….
cut 12 (09) “…in sports then”
The state legislature failed to approve legislation in this year’s legislative session to permit sports betting at Louisiana casinos. The issue is expected to be discussed again next year.

Starting today, switch blades are legal to own in Louisiana. The devices have been banned for decades. If it comes as a surprise to you, you’re not alone, it was a surprise to bill sponsor Covington Representative Mark Wright. Wright says he looked into the background of the ban, and found it was rooted in a funny bit of six-decade-old hysteria.
Cut 3 (09) “dangerous weapons”
He says while switchblades may be legal, you can’t conceal it from officers during a traffic stop.

We are getting closer to the peak of the hurricane season. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the latest long-range forecasts have predicted a near normal season, but that doesn’t mean Louisiana will not see any storms…
cut 8 (10) “…quiet years”
A look at the tropics today, shows nothing is expected to develop this week.

Louisiana residents can go to Mississippi to place bets on sporting events starting today. The initial casinos to offer sports betting are Beau Rivage in Biloxi and Gold Strike in Tunica. On the most recent Ask the Governor radio show, John Bel Edwards said he expects legislation next year to bring sports betting to Louisiana…
Cut 13 (07) “…in the upcoming session.”

There are over 430 new state laws that go into effect today. One of them allows eager couples to get married 24 hours after they get their licensed, instead of waiting 72 hours. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson says it’s an odd law that needed to be addressed…
cut 17 (09) “….effect Louisiana”
Also switchblade knives are now legal in Louisiana. We’ll have more on that in future newscasts.

The National Flood Insurance Program has been given a four month extension. What happens next? Jeff Palermo has the story.
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

We are getting closer to the heart of the hurricane season. State Climatlogist Barry Keim says Louisiana has seen its share of major storms during August.
cut 9 (11) “…paying attention”
The National Hurricane Center is not expecting any tropical activity for at least the next two days.

More than 430 new laws go into effect today as a result of the spring legislative regular session. One of those bills is the Max Gruver Act, which increases the penalties and makes it a felony to orchestrate hazing that leads to serious injuries or death. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry is the author of the legislation…
Cut 14 (08) “the future”
The National Flood Insurance Program, which writes flood insurance policies for 500-thousand Louisiana residents, has been extended for four months as a result of a favorable vote in the US Senate. It was set to expire before midnight last night. Senator John Kennedy is frustrated Congress will not approve a reformed version of the NFIP..
cut 6 (09) “….the Senate”

Those who like to wager on sports can legally place bets on games starting today at Beau Rivage and the Gold Strike Casino in Mississippi. Executive director of the Missississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, Larry Gregory, says sports betting begins in the Magnolia State, 26 years to the day the first casino opened in Biloxi…
cut 11 (07) “…across the country”
Louisiana still needs to pass legislation allowing sports betting at its gaming establishments.

The start of August means we are getting closer to the peak of the hurricane season. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the latest long-range forecasts have predicted a near normal season, but that doesn’t mean Louisiana will not see any storms…
cut 8 (10) “…quiet years”
A look at the tropics today, shows nothing is expected to develop this week.