Since reaching a record high in mid-June, gasoline prices have fallen over 30-cents in the last month. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Lafayette-based food delivery service WAITR announces they’ll rebrand as ASAP, and begin delivering not only restaurant orders, but also goods from all sorts of businesses. The move is to counter competitors like Uber Eats and DoorDash, who’ve also expanded their delivery base. WAITR says the rebranding is already underway.

Economic development in northwest Louisiana. Teal Jones Group has begun construction of a $110-million lumber production plant in Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish. When finished, it’ll produce a variety of wood products. About 125 direct new jobs are expected, plus about 370 indirect jobs; all at salaries starting the high-40’s. The project should be up and running by fall of 2023.

A California OB/GYN – worried about women’s reproductive rights after Louisiana’s abortion trigger law went into effect – proposes an abortion cruise ship parked in the Gulf. Dr. Meg Autry says donors would foot the bill to buy and refit the ship. It would operate in federal waters, out of reach from state laws that ban abortions. She says women living in poverty in the southeast will be impacted the most by the ban…:

CUT 04(07)      “…individuals.”

She says, right now, it’s just in the planning and fund-raising stage.

To provide access to abortion services in the southeast a California physician proposes a floating clinic in the Gulf of Mexico to skirt state bans. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Meanwhile, WBRZ TV in Baton Rouge reports lawyers for a Shreveport abortion clinic have filed a request for a Baton Rouge judge to block the state’s abortion ban. A New Orleans judge punted to matter to a Baton Rouge court last week. No word on a hearing date as yet.

The deadline for lawmakers to vote on having – or NOT having – a special veto override session is midnight tonight. As of now it seems unlikely to happen. A veto session happens automatically, unless a simple majority of members in both chambers vote “no” by mail-in ballot. House Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee, of Houma, says convening a session just requires members to vote “yes” or not vote at all…:

CUT 07(14)      “…trying to say.”

Magee says any bills that were vetoed by the Governor this year can be reintroduced next year.

Many of us are happy to see gasoline prices dropping below $4-a-gallon again. GasBuddy.com fuels analyst Patrick DeHaan says after setting record high prices in mid-June, we are now seeing one of the steepest declines in gas prices ever…:

CUT 13(10)      “…in 2008.”

State Police are investigating two separate car crashes that killed five people Sunday on the Northshore. A head-on crash killed two people in Lacombe yesterday morning and three people died in a single-vehicle crash in Franklinton. LSP Sergeant Dustin Dwight says speed and impairment were factors in both wrecks. In the latter, Dwight says three people ranging from ages 22 to 35 were killed, when the vehicle came up on a three way intersection on LA 16 and failed to stop…

CUT 10(09)      “…all those occupants.”

In the Lacombe crash, two vehicles collided head-on in a failed attempt to pass traffic on US 190.

To help reduce travel costs for women seeking abortion services in the southeast a California OB/GYN is proposing a floating clinic in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Meg Autry, who’s also a professor at University of California San Francisco, says there’s been an assault in the US on bodily autonomy and access to care…:

CUT 03(06)      “…communities.”

We are starting to see gas prices below four-dollars a gallon again. Gas-buddy-com’s Patrick DeHaan says the statewide average has fallen 33-cents in the last month to $4.19 a gallon that is the fourth lowest statewide average in the country…:

CUT 12(11)      “…$3.92.”

DeHaan says a drop in oil prices in response to a potential recession has resulted in lower prices at the pump.

The man convicted of killing LSU basketball star Wayde Sims back in 2018 was found dead in his East Baton Rouge Parish jail cell Sunday. 21-year-old Dyteon Simpson apparently took an overdose of fentanyl. He was just sentenced to life in prison last week.

Construction begins on a $110-million sawmill in Plain Dealing, in Bossier Parish. It’s expected to mean around 500 new jobs with salaries starting in the high 40’s.

The ban on abortions in Louisiana is in effect after a New Orleans judge lifted the restraining order but decided to let a Baton Rouge judge hear the complaint that the new trigger laws are too vague. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(36)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Attorneys for a Shreveport abortion clinic have filed a petition asking a Baton Rouge court to block the state’s abortion law from being enforced.

The deadline for lawmakers to vote on having – or NOT having – a special veto override session is midnight tonight. As of now it seems unlikely to happen. Houma Representative and House Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee says getting the “yes” votes to convene isn’t as large a task as mustering the  supermajority votes needed in both chambers for a successful override…:

CUT 06(13)      “…one republican short.”

Magee says then Senate has several GOP members unavailable for a veto session as well. He says any bills vetoed can be brought back next year.

The 2022 World Horseshoe Pitching Tournament Championship begins today at the Monroe Civic Center. President of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Gary Roberts says the winner will take home about $3000 in prize money and some trophies, but first they need to beat some distinguished competition…:

CUT 14(13)      “…that 26.”

The tourney ends July 23^rd.

Louisiana’s abortion ban is back in effect after a New Orleans judge refused to extend a temporary restraining order that allowed the procedures to continue for a short time. Rape and incest are not exceptions to Louisiana’s abortion ban, but there are a few exceptions, including cases where the mother’s life is in danger. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman is a pro-choice advocate…
cut 6 (07) “…into the hospital”

State Police is investigating two separate car crashes that killed five people on Sunday on the Northshore. A head-on crash killed two people in Lacombe yesterday morning and three people died in a single-vehicle crash in Franklinton. L-S-P Sergeant Dustin Dwight says speed and impairment were factors in both wrecks…

Cut 9 (09) “..we investigate.”

The National Hurricane Center is watching what may develop in the northern gulf coast a weakening front is expected to park offshore and develop into a surface trough.  LRN’s John Weatherbee has more…

Cut 2 (31) “….John Weatherbee.” 

The man convicted of killing LSU basketball player Wayde Sims was found dead in his prison cell last night. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office says Dyteon  Simpson was found unresponsive just before 8 PM. Medics rendered aid, but the 23-year-old was pronounced dead, and a preliminary toxicology report came back positive for Fentanyl.

The state’s three abortion clinics remain closed today after a New Orleans judge refused to extend a temporary restraining order that allowed clinics to operate for a short time after a trigger law that bans abortions went into effect. The judge also ruled the case must be heard in state court in Baton Rouge. Gene Mills with the Louisiana Family Forum expects the ban will remain in effect…

Cut 3 (07) “…effective date.”
Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says if the case reaches the Louisiana Supreme Court, he expects the state’s highest court will side with pro-life advocates.

On August first a law to allow veterans to carry a concealed weapon without a permit goes into effect. While it passed overwhelmingly in the regular legislative session, U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says some believe now is not time to expand gun rights…

Cut 9 (10)  “…fuel on a fire.”
Earlier this month LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine opened the Stephenson Pet Clinic after a decade of planning and construction. The new 40-thousand square foot facility houses what spokesperson Ginger Guttner says most people consider out-patient services.

Cut 10 (08) “…integrated medicine.”

They’ve also doubled the number of exam rooms for patients.

The 2022 World Horseshoe Pitching Tournament Championship begins today at the Monroe Civic Center. President of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Gary Roberts says the tournament unites people from more than 40 states, four foreign countries and he equates it to a big family reunion.

Cut 13 (10) “…all of us.”

The tournament wraps up on the 23^rd.

The question over whether Louisiana’s trigger law that bans abortions in most cases in this state shifts to a courtroom in Baton Rouge after a New Orleans judge ruled that legal questions over legislation approved by the Legislature should be heard first in the East Baton Rouge Judicial system. Gene Mills, president of the Louisiana Family Forum says the laws are very clear….
cut 5 (06) “….gotta go”
New Orleans Representative and pro-choice advocate Aimee Freeman remains very concerned Louisiana’s abortion ban does not provide any exceptions for rape or incest…
cut 4 (11) “…horrific”
The Advocate newspaper reports there is an effort to see if emergency contraception also known as the morning after pill can be used to prevent pregnancies from rape.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a surface trough of low pressure just off the Florida panhandle for possible tropical development. LRN meteorologist John Wetherbee has more….
cut 2 (31) “….John Wetherbee”

The family of a six-year-old boy who was bitten by an alligator while in Lake Maurepas in Livingston Parish says the child is doing fine after the traumatic experience. A four-foot alligator bit the boy when he was playing in three to four feet of water. Local officials are urging the public not to feed alligators in Lake Maurepas.

Louisiana’s abortion ban is back in effect after a New Orleans judge refused to extend a temporary restraining order that allowed the procedures to continue for a short time. Rape and incest is not exception to Louisiana’s abortion ban, but there are a few exceptions, including cases where the pregnant woman’s life is in danger. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman is a pro-choice advocate..
cut 6 (07) “…into the hospital”

LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine has opened the Stephenson Pet Clinic after a decade of planning and construction. Spokesperson Ginger Guttner says the new 40-thousand square foot facility has several out-patient services.
Cut 10 (08) “…integrated medicine.”
The new building houses 15 exam rooms where the previous facility had seven.

A proposal to allow Louisiana residents to conceal carry without a permit failed to receive approval in the Louisiana Senate this year, but the Legislature approved a bill that allows veterans who have been honorably discharged and have a clean criminal record to conceal carry without a permit. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says many argue veterans are proficient with weapons and know how to use them safely…
cut 8 (12) “…around a gun”

The World Horseshoe Pitching Tournament begins today in Monroe as there are 649 athletes competing in nine different divisions. President of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Gary Roberts says the Babe Ruth of horseshoe pitching is in northeast Louisiana…
cut 14 (13) “….number 26”
That tournament runs through July 23rd.