The state Bond Commission votes to withhold some state money from the City of New Orleans; $39-million in sewer & water cash. It’s in response to Mayor LaToya Cantrell threatening she would not enforce the state’s abortion law, which is currently on hold. During arguments for and against, State Treasurer John Schroder wasn’t pleased at using the Bond Commission to send a political message..:

CUT 11(11)      “…to get on.”

The excessive heat is threatening Louisiana crops. State Ag Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain says corn and soy farmers are working overtime to assure their crops don’t dry up in the heat…:

CUT 13(12)      “…of the heat.”

Some parts of the state are getting some cooling rain, but that means another problem; mosquitos which transmit West Nile and Eastern encephalitis.

COVID-19. The BA.5 variant means the current surge in Louisiana is on track to be one of the longest. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 01(34)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana Tech’s men’s basketball team is headed for Puerto Rico. The Bulldogs travel to San Juan early next month for an NCAA three game summer exhibition tour. Head Coach Talvin Hester says it’ll be a great experience for his guys. Tech has ten players returning from last season.

The Louisiana Bond Commission votes to withhold funding for the New Orleans water and sewerage board over the city’s threat to not enforce state laws that ban abortions. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02(34)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

In Caddo Parish, a 21-year-old Haughton man gets the longest sentence possible, after pleading guilty to raping a child. Oscar Gonzalez was ordered to 40 years behind bars for the 2020 assault on a 7-year-old. He will also have to register as a se offender for life.

As we hear news that President Biden has COVID, state health officials say we need to be vigilant of the BA.5 variant; more infectious, but less deadly. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says 3400 new cases are reported today, but there are likely many more cases yet undetected…:

CUT 04(07)      “…access to testing.”

If there’s an upside, it’s that BA.5 COVID is sending fewer people to the hospital than previous variants.

A Baton Rouge woman told sheriff’s deputies she had to play dead, after being shot by her ex right in front of her kids, in hopes she’d avoid being shot again. The victim says 30-year-old Roy Haynes instead kicked her in the stomach and left. Her children, ages 9 and 15, witnessed the whole thing. She will be OK. Haynes is now in custody; charged with attempted murder and convicted felon in possession of a gun.

The state Bond Commission will withhold at least SOME state money from the City of New Orleans, to send a message to the Mayor who has vowed NOT to enforce the state’s abortion ban law. The $39-million for the Sewerage & Water Board held back, is in response to a request from Attorney General Jeff Landry who wanted it ALL held back. One commission member voting against that was Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne…:

CUT 10(09)      “…politically correct vote.”

The Bond Commission will consider again next month whether to release that money to the city.

The President has COVID, despite four total COVID shots. Medical experts say that BA.5 variant is awfully easy to catch. Louisiana’s state Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says COVID in its 6^th surge and this is one track to be the longest…:

CUT 03(07)      “…transmissible variant.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is elated at Senate Energy Committee approval of his offshore revenue sharing bill today. Called the RISE Act, that stands for Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems. Cassidy says the bill would remove limits on how much annual revenue sharing can flow into the state, and that money can be put to important use…:

CUT 08(12)      “…to natural resources.”

The bill goes now to the full Senate for debate. A number of Senators from all parties signed on as co-sponsors, which is good sign.

A Winn Parish woman and her unborn child were killed in a single-vehicle crash on state Highway 505 a few miles west of the town of Dodson. State Police say 32-year-old Bronwyn Chandler crashed into tree. She was taken to a hospital, but she and her baby didn’t make it.

The State Bond Commission agrees to withhold SOME state funding for the City of New Orleans; a response to Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s vow to NOT enforce the state’s abortion ban law. Attorney General Jeff Landry made the request. A $39-million line of credit for the city’s Sewerage & Water Board has been suspended by a 12-2 VOTE. Commission member and Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is in full support…:

CUT 09(12)      “…be impeached.”

Senator Bill Cassidy’s bill to provide the state bigger revenue shares of offshore energy developed passed the U.S. Senate Energy committee this morning. Cassidy says the bill will lift a cap on state revenue sharing (currently at $375-million a year), and create a revenue sharing mechanism for offshore wind energy..:

CUT 07(11)      “…other coastal states.”

A bunch of senators have signed on as co-sponsors; a good indication it could pass the full Senate.

The BA.5 variant has the current surge of COVID in Louisiana on track to become one of the longest surges yet…:

CUT 01(34)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

A Jefferson Parish family is upset at their high bill from Entergy; especially because there’s been no power to their home since Hurricane Ida. The Avondale residents say the power company wants $2200, but the wire to their meter has been cut for the past 11 months. So far, no response from Entergy.

A Calcasieu Parish jury gives convicted cop killer Kevin Daigle a death sentence. Daigle shot and killed State Police Trooper Steven Vincent in August of 2015. He was found guilty in 2019. Calcasieu D.A. Stephen Dwight says Daigle was cold and unrepentant, and he stands by the choice of capital punishment…:

CUT 28(07)      “…on video.”

Daigle’s appeal is automatic under Louisiana law.

Senator Bill Cassidy’s bicameral bill to provide the state bigger revenue shares of offshore energy developed passed the U.S. Senate Energy committee this morning. Cassidy says it’s called the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems Act, aka RISE…:

CUT 06(10)      “…restore that coastline”

The full Senate will debate it next.

Lafayette prosecutor Holden Hoggatt says he’s the first well-funded Republican to challenge Congressman Clay Higgins. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 26 (33)     “…Brooke Thorington.”

…and now Farm Bureau’s Avery Davidson with today’s markets….

Baton Rouge Judge Donald Johnson has ruled the state’s three licensed abortion clinics can continue to operate until a lawsuit challenging a law that bans nearly all abortions is resolved. Plaintiffs have argued that the trigger laws that make abortion a crime in Louisiana are so ambiguous it will make it difficult for doctors to do their job. State Attorney General Jeff Landry anticipates the case will ultimately end up before the state supreme court.

The man who murdered State Trooper Steven Vincent seven years ago in Calcasieu Parish gets the death penalty. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The coroner in St. Tammany Parish warns of the dangers of taking illegal pills that could contain the drug fentanyl. Dr. Charles Preston says the recent death of healthy 22-year-old Cameron Landry was alarming because he apparently overdosed on a single pill. Dr. Preston says lab results are pending, but he’s fairly certain that pill contained fentanyl…:
Cut 7 (11) “…than morphine.”
Preston says having an adult man weighing over 250 pounds O.D. on a single pill is unusual, but testament to how dangerous fentanyl can be.

Animal shelters across the state are overwhelmed with pets that have been surrendered. Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana Jeff Dorson says some pets are being left to fend for themselves in the woods and on the streets..:
Cut 14 (07) “as well”
To assist an animal in need you can donate at humaneLA.org.

A Calcasieu Parish jury gives convicted cop killer Kevin Daigle a death sentence. Daigle shot and killed State Police Trooper Steven Vincent in August of 2015. He was found guilty in 2019. Calcasieu D.A. Stephen Dwight says Daigle showed no remorse at any point during court proceedings, and it’s better he never walks free again. Dwight says he and others are glad the whole ordeal is over…:

Cut 6 (08)  “…State Police community.”

Official sentencing is coming up in early September.

St. Tammany Parish Coroner, Dr. Charles Preston warns of the dangers of taking illegal pills that could contain the drug fentanyl. He says many are buying illegal meds that may look like something simple, like Percocet, but have varying amounts of fentanyl. He says the overdose rescue drug Narcan should be in every first aid kit…:

Cut 8 (07)  “…that dispense it.”

Lafayette prosecutor Holden Hoggatt has qualified to run against Congressman Clay Higgins. Hoggatt says Higgins has never has a run against a proper, well-funded Republican candidate and that Higgins first win was a fluke. Hoggatt believes he’s the candidate to represent the district and help those who are still suffering from the 2020 hurricanes.

Cut  11 (11)  “…my race to lose.” 

Qualifying ends on Friday.

Animal shelters across the state and the country are overwhelmed with pets that have been surrendered. Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana Jeff Dorson says numerous pet owners are unable to care for their animals due to inflation and many people who adopted a pet during the pandemic have returned to work full-time.

Cut 13 (07) “…to shelters.”

To assist an animal in need you can donate at humaneLA.org