The state is experiencing a very rare mid-summer cold front this week, bring widespread rainfall and cooler temps.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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 Two Gretna cops have been fired after a national controversy erupted over a threatening Facebook post about a New York Congresswoman…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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 A Cajun Navy special is running on Discovery Channel tonight, following a few members as they rescue folks from rising waters during Hurricane Harvey and Florence…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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A very rare mid-summer cold front is making its way through the state this week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says in addition to cooler temps, rainfall will be widespread across Louisiana.

Cut 4 (08) “…and tornadoes.” 

Keim says high temps across the state are expected to hit the mid to high 80’s but expect truly pleasant conditions at the start of the day.

Cut 5  (10) “… closer to 70.” 

Keim expects the front to last through the work week with Wednesday and Thursday and by Sunday it should essentially be over.

Cut 6 (09) “…means do so.”

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Two Gretna cops have been fired after one posted a threatening comment on Facebook about New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the other liked it.

The post by Charlie Rispoli and reads “This vile idiot needs a round, and I don’t mean the kind she used to serve”. Gretna Police Chief Arthur Lawson says the comment was embarrassing.

Cut 7 (10) “…tolerate that”

Ocasio-Cortez is one of a group of freshman, minority women Democratic lawmakers whose were the target of a tweet from the president last week where he told them to “Go back to where they came from”.

Lawson says the officers were being trained on racial bias and social media when the posts were made, and he’d even recently reminded them of similar incidents in other departments.

Cut 8 (11) “…disturbing.”

The comment was a caption to a post he shared from a satirical website that claimed the Congresswoman wanted to cut soldier’s pay. It’s not known whether he knew the story was satire.

Lawson says he does not believe Rispoli’s post was an actual threat he planned to carry out, but it was unacceptable none the less, and nothing something he can just take back.

Cut 9 (11) “…too late”

Rispoli had been on the force since 2005, and Angelo Varisco, who liked the post, had worked there for three years.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife says during the summer months, alligators are more active and officials are encouraging residents and visitors to not feed the giant reptilians.  LDWF fur and alligator program manager Jeb Linscombe says feeding gators may lead to a situation where someone gets bit when one approaches another human looking for a snack.

Cut 10 (10) “…very very bad thing.”

Linscombe says there are instances where people may be feeding gators and they do not even realize they are doing so.

Cut 11 (11) “…also inadvertently feeding them.”

Linscombe says the high waters around the state mean people are seeing more gators in areas where they may not be used to seeing them.

Cut 12 (11) “…part of the equation.”

You can find a list of gator “do’s and don’t’s” at LAGatorProgram.com

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The Discovery Channel is airing a special tonight on the Cajun Navy, following the group through Hurricane’s Florence, Harvey, and even to it’s early roots in Hurricane Katrina.

Discovery sent crews out to interview and follow members as they deployed to rescue people during natural disasters. Cajun Navy member Allen Lenard says none of what you’ll see tonight was staged.

Cut 13 (11) “…do it.”

Cajun Navy membership has spread across the region after multiple deployments to disasters in other states. Lenard says he hopes the documentary will inspire more volunteerism, a core American value.

Cut 14 (09) “…you had”

Lenard says the program is a reminder that even with the country’s growing partisan divide, nothing reminds people that we’re all in the same boat like a natural disaster.

Cut 15 (12) “…burning.”

The program airs at 9PM central tonight.

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Cut 16  (11) “…looking for better things.”  

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cut 17 (19) “to do” 

A study shows 34 percent of Louisiana high schoolers drink and 8 percent use injectable drugs, the highest rates in the nation. Matt Doyle has more…

cut  2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”  

The US Army Corps of Engineers has begun to close the Bonnet Carre Spillway.  This year marks the first time the spillway has had to be opened twice in one year, with the current opening lasting 74 days.  Corps spokesperson Matt Roe says the decision to begin closure comes as the river levels have seen a downward trend.

Cut 6 (06) “…of the workers.”

LSU believes it has set the standard with its renovated football operations building that includes a new training room, players lounge, cafeteria and locker room. Equipment manager Greg Stringfellow says each player’s locker features a pod as a chair that folds out into a bed, allowing a player to take a nap
Cut 3 (11) “…resting.”
The 23-million project also includes a new performance nutrition center that will serve healthy and delicious meals.
The state’s sugarcane crop is on track for another successful harvest, despite the impact of Hurricane Barry that delivered anywhere from three to fourteen inches of rain across the sugarcane belt. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says there were some pockets of flooding from rainfall and storm surge that needed some attention.
Cut 10 (06) “…worst of it.”
Gravois expects mills to open for processing around September 17th, an early start date because of this year’s large crop.

LSU has opened its doors to a newly constructed football operations center that features a place where players can take a nap in front of their locker. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The US Army Corps of Engineers has begun to close the Bonnet Carre Spillway.  Corps spokesperson Matt Roe says the closure isn’t a speedy, press-of-a-button process.

Cut 8 (03) “…and everything’s good.”

The decision to begin closure comes as the river levels have seen a downward trend.

New Orleans music legend Art Neville has passed away.  Neville died today after years of declining health. He was 81.

The state’s sugarcane crop is on track for another successful harvest, despite the impact of Hurricane Barry that delivered anywhere from three to fourteen inches of rain across the sugarcane belt. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says despite the gloomy forecast prior to the storm, the state did okay.

Cut 9 (09) “…standing back up.”

Gravois expects mills to open for processing around September 17th, an early start date because of this year’s large crop.

A study by Project Know shows Louisiana high schoolers consume alcohol and injectable drugs at the highest rate in the nation.

American Addiction Centers Researcher Ruchi Dhani says the state as a whole has some of the worst drug use rates in the nation…

Cut 13 (09) “…Louisiana”

The US Army Corps of Engineers has begun to close the Bonnet Carre Spillway. The environmental effects of opening have resulted in a negative impact to the seafood industry in St. Bernard Parish as well as shuttering Mississippi beaches. Corps spokesperson Matt Roe says the process on the closure began this morning.

Cut 7 (04) “…bays each day.”

This year marks the first time the spillway has had to be opened twice in one year, with the current opening lasting 74 days.

Two Gretna Police officers have been fired after one of them wrote a threatening Facebook post about New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the other liked it. The post by former officer Charlie Rispoli read “This vile idiot needs a round, and I don’t mean the kind she used to serve”, a reference to the Congresswoman’s previous employment as a bartender.

Ocasio-Cortez is one of the four members of “The Squad”, a group of freshman, minority women Democratic lawmakers whose were the target of a tweet from the president last week where he told them to “Go back to where they came from”.

LSU believes it has set the standard with its renovated football operations building that includes a new training room, players lounge, cafeteria and locker room. Equipment manager Greg Stringfellow says no other college football program in the country has a locker room where you can actually lay down and get some rest. He says to have that and a first-class nutrition area should help maximize a player’s efficiency

Cut 5 (11) “…perform.”

The project cost 23 million dollars.

A study by Project Know shows Louisiana high schoolers consume alcohol and injectable drugs at the highest rate in the nation. American Addiction Centers Researcher Ruchi Dhani says the national average for alcohol use is 28 percent, but Louisiana topped the list at 34 percent, and led in another concerning category as well.

Cut 12 (11) “…percent.”

Louisiana’s high school rate of marijuana use was about average at 18.8 percent.

A study shows 34 percent of Louisiana high schoolers drink and 8 percent use injectable drugs, the highest rates in the nation. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

The US Army Corps of Engineers has started closing the Bonnet Carre Spillway. This is the first year the spillway has been opened twice, due to high Mississippi River levels, but Corps spokesperson Matt Roe says the river is finally starting to go down.
Cut 6 (06) “…of the workers.”
The opening has resulted in mass toxic algae blooms.

Based on social media posts, LSU players can not get over their new lockers at the renovated football operations center. Each one has a pod that folds out, so players can take a power nap. Equipment manager Greg Stringfellow says the facility also contains a nutrition center and the Tyrann Mathieu players lounge…
cut 4 (12) “…and recline”
LSU has invited the media to see the new facility Wednesday

LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says Hurricane Barry did minimal damage, which means the state’s sugarcane crop is on its way towards another successful harvest. Gravois says good prices are drawing more people into the sugarcane business and production this year is expected to be around a record high…
cut 11 (09) “…that’s very attainable”
He expects mills to open for processing around September 17th.

LSU has opened its doors to a newly constructed football operations center that features a place where players can take a nap in front of their locker. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A study shows 34 percent of Louisiana high schoolers drink and 8 percent use injectable drugs, the highest rates in the nation. Matt Doyle has more…

cut  2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”  

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LSU believes it has set the standard with its renovated football operations building that includes a new training room, players lounge, cafeteria and locker room. Equipment manager Greg Stringfellow says each player’s locker features a pod as a chair that folds out into a bed, allowing a player to take a nap

Cut 3 (11) “…resting.”

The 23-million project also includes a new performance nutrition center that will serve healthy and delicious meals. Stringfellow says the players will also enjoy the Tyrann Mathieu players lounge

Cut 4 (12) “…and recline”

Stringfellow says no other college football program in the country has a locker room where you can actually lay down and get some rest. He says to have that and a first-class nutrition area should help maximize a player’s efficiency

Cut 5 (11) “…perform.”

_____________________________

The US Army Corps of Engineers has begun to close the Bonnet Carre Spillway.  This year marks the first time the spillway has had to be opened twice in one year, with the current opening lasting 74 days.  Corps spokesperson Matt Roe says the decision to begin closure comes as the river levels have seen a downward trend.

Cut 6 (06) “…of the workers.”

The environmental effects of opening have resulted in a negative impact to the seafood industry in St. Bernard Parish as well as shuttering Mississippi beaches.  Roe says the process on the closure began this morning.

Cut 7 (04) “…bays each day.”

Roe says the closure isn’t a speedy, press-of-a-button process, but closure should be completed by the first week in August.

Cut 8 (03) “…and everything’s good.”

___________________________________

The state’s sugarcane crop is on track for another successful harvest, despite the impact of Hurricane Barry that delivered anywhere from three to fourteen inches of rain across the sugarcane belt. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says despite the gloomy forecast prior to the storm, the state did okay.

Cut 9 (09) “…standing back up.”

Gravois says there were some pockets of flooding from rainfall and storm surge that needed some attention.

Cut 10 (06) “…worst of it.”

Gravois says the industry is still likely to achieve the sugar production level predictions that were put in place prior to the hurricane.

Cut 11 (09) “…that’s very attainable.”

Gravois expects mills to open for processing around September 17th, an early start date because of this year’s large crop.

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A study by Project Know shows Louisiana high schoolers consume alcohol and injectable drugs at the highest rate in the nation.

American Addiction Centers Researcher Ruchi Dhani says the national average for alcohol use is 28 percent, but Louisiana topped the list at 34 percent, and led in another concerning category as well.

Cut 12 (11) “…percent.”

Louisiana’s high school rate of marijuana use was about average at 18.8 percent.

Dhani says the state as a whole has some of the worst drug use rates in the nation…

Cut 13 (09) “…Louisiana”

And those adult drug use numbers effect the next generation, where young people who have addicted parents are more than four times more likely to become addicted themselves.

Survey information shows many Bayou State students aren’t just using at home, they’re bringing their drugs to school with them…

Cut 14 (11) “…percent”

The study looked at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2017

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The governor’s office says the state has now saved over 12-million dollars from the 2017 criminal justice reform package approved by the state legislature. Louisiana Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says the savings are being reinvested into programs to reduce recidivism…
cut 15 (07) “….these reform efforts”
Louisiana’s prison population continues to decline, from a peak just shy of 40-thousand at the end of 2012 to 32-thousand inmates at the end of 2018.

The U-S Army Corps of Engineers began the long process today of closing the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Once closed, it would stop redirecting Mississippi River water into Lake Pontchartrain. Corps spokesman Matt Roe says they will close 10 of the 168 bys currently open and hope to have all of them completed by the first week in August…
cut 8 (03) “…everything’s good.
A recent study by Project Know finds that nearly 29-percent of Louisiana high school students admitted to using illegal drugs on school grounds. American Addiction Centers Researcher Ruchi Dhani says…
Cut 14 (11) “…percent”
The study looked at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2017.

LSU Ag Center sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says sugarcane farmers dodged a bullet from Hurricane Barry. Gravois says the storm produced three to 14 inches of rain across the sugarcane belt, but there were only pockets flooding and storm surge tha needed attention…
cut 10 (06) “…worst of it”
Gravois says they are still on pace to haul in a near-record sugarcane harvest this fall.

The US Army Corps of Engineers announces they have begun closure of the Bonnet Carre Spillway. The environmental effects of opening has resulted in a negative impact for the seafood industry in St. Bernard Parish as well as shuttering Mississippi beaches. Corps spokesperson Matt Roe says the process on the closure began this morning.

Cut 7 (04) “…bays each day.”

This year marks the first time the spillway has had to be opened twice in one year.

A study by Project Know shows Louisiana high schoolers consume alcohol and injectable drugs at the highest rate in the nation. American Addiction Centers Researcher Ruchi Dhani says eight percent of high schoolers admitted to injecting, and the state as a whole has some of the worst drug use rates in the nation…

Cut 13 (09) “…Louisiana”

And those adult drug use numbers effect the next generation, where young people who have addicted parents are more than four times more likely to become addicted themselves.

LSU believes it has set the standard with its renovated football operations building that includes a new training room, players lounge, cafeteria and locker room. Equipment manager Greg Stringfellow says each player’s locker features a pod as a chair that folds out into a bed, allowing a player to take a nap

Cut 3 (11) “…resting.”

The 23-million project also includes a new performance nutrition center.

The state’s sugarcane crop appears to be on track for another successful harvest, despite the impact of Hurricane Barry that delivered anywhere from three to fourteen inches of rain to areas across the sugarcane belt. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says despite the gloomy forecast prior to the storm, the state did okay.

Cut 9 (09) “…standing back up.”