For the second consecutive month, the state’s unemployment rate hit a record low, with a seasonally adjusted rate of 3-point-six-percent in July. And the number of people employed is the second highest in recorded history. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says they hope to add even more jobs with the state’s new Tech Ready Program, which offers thousands of courses to help people gain new skills and increase their readiness..
cut 6 (13) “…..and top level”

The state Department of Children and Family Services is hiring additional case workers after failing to respond adequately to reports of potential substance abuse involving a two-year-old child who ended up dying from a fentanyl overdose. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they are searching for people who want to help children…
cut 9 (12) “….looking for”

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch until Tuesday night as a big rain producing system is moving in from Texas. Six to eight inches of rain is possible through the middle of the week for north-central Louisiana. Four to six inches is possible for Shreveport. Monroe, Natchitoches and Jena.

Two years since Hurricane Laura slammed southwest Louisiana, Calcasieu Parish schools are still in need of repairs. Marsanne Golsby has more…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

Louisiana’s unemployment rate fell for a second straight month in July, to its lowest level ever. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

According to a report in the Advocate newspaper, homicides in rural Louisiana are surging. Based on data from the CDC and the FBI, the homicide rate for rural Louisiana in 2020 was just under 17 per 100-thousand people. That’s nearly three times higher than the national rural homicide rate. The biggest increase has occurred in Washington Parish.

The state Department of Children and Family Services announces policy changes as a result of an overdose death of a two-year-old child. D-C-F-S admits they were contacted three times by hospital staff about substance abuse involving the child, but because of a variety of reasons they failed to have a case worker inspect the home. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says that will never happen again…
cut 8 (08) “….response”
The supervisor overseeing Mitchell Robinson’s case has resigned, while the worker assigned to the case has been suspended.

The two-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura making landfall in southwest Louisiana is Saturday and many schools in the Calcasieu Parish School System still have temporary roofs as they await for FEMA money to make the repairs. But school superintendent Stephen LaFargue says despite the physical condition of their schools, LEAP scores are up…
cut 15 (08) “…the classroom”

The Department of Children and Family Services admits they were contacted three times by hospital staff about the well-being of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson before he died from a fentanyl overdose on June 26th. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says a case worker assigned to Mitchell’s case was on sick leave when he died and a supervisor failed to follow up on the third report…
Cut 7 (08) “…in time”
The supervisor has resigned and the case worker who was on sick leave has been suspended.

For a second straight month, Louisiana set a record-low unemployment rate in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment is 3.6-percent. She says, coincidentally, the EMPLOYMENT rate is looking very good…:
Cut 4 (11) “…is high as well.”
July 2022 figures estimate slightly over 2-million people in Louisiana are currently employed.

Several Calcasieu Parish School buildings are still under repair from Hurricane Laura—which struck southwest Louisiana as a category four storm two years ago. One of the strongest storms to ever make landfall in Louisiana did at least 400 million dollars’ worth of damage to the schools alone. But Schools superintendent Shannon LaFargue says they’ve made a lot of progress.
Cut 13 (08) “…sense of normalcy.”
LaFargue says many schools still have temporary roofs as FEMA money continues to be tied up by red tape.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is now ranked among the nation’s top 100 public research universities. Last year the school invested over 181-million dollars in research and development, a 193-percent increase in funding over eight years. V.P. for Research & Innovation at ULL Dr. Ramesh Kolluru (ko-LOO-roo) says part of that research was pandemic related…
cut 11 (10) “…emergency authorization”

The state Department of Children and Family Services announces policy changes as a result of an overdose death of a two-year-old child. D-C-F-S admits they were contacted three times by hospital staff about substance abuse involving the child, but because of a variety of reasons they failed to have a case worker inspect the home. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says that will never happen again…
cut 8 (08) “….response”
The supervisor overseeing Mitchell Robinson’s case has resigned, while the worker assigned to the case has been suspended.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is now ranked among the nation’s top 100 public research universities. Last year the school invested over 181-million dollars in research and development, a 193-percent increase in funding over eight years. V.P. for Research & Innovation at ULL Dr. Ramesh Kolluru (ko-LOO-roo) says part of that research was pandemic related…
cut 11 (10) “…emergency authorization”

The state Supreme Court rules incumbent Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins CAN run for re-election this fall. More from Kevin Gallagher…:.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

State Police say a 45-year-old woman fired a handgun at Lake Charles Police officers yesterday before she was shot in the lower torso from return fire. Sheri Carlson of Lake Charles suffered non-life threatening injuries and no officers were injured. Police were dispatched to a home on Hodges Street in reference to suspicious circumstances.

The Department of Children and Family Services acknowledges they were contacted three times about the well-being of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson before he died from a fentanly overdose on June 26th. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says a case worker assigned to Mitchell’s case was on sick leave when he died and a supervisor failed to make sure another case worker was sent to the home…
cut 7 (08) “….in time”
The supervisor has resigned and the case worker who was on sick leave has been suspended.

For a second straight month, Louisiana set a record-low unemployment rate in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment is 3.6-percent. She says, coincidentally, the EMPLOYMENT rate is looking very good…:
Cut 4 (11) “…is high as well.”
July 2022 figures estimate slightly over 2-million people in Louisiana are currently employed.

While speaking at a town hall meeting, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell threatened to cancel Mardi Gras Parades in the Big Easy next year, because of a decline in NOPD officers. And on Friday afternoon, Cantrell released a statement that said they are not canceling Mardi Gras. She hopes stepped-up recruitment efforts and retention bonuses can stop the decline in police manpower.

By a 4-3 decision, the state Supreme Court has ruled that Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins CAN run for re-election in November. Perkins’s was disqualified by a local judge because he listed the wrong address on election qualification papers. LSU-Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow says 4 of the 7 justices felt a simple clerical error – with no evidence of intent to deceive – didn’t constitute “wrong-doing”…:
CUT 13(12) “…disqualify a candidate.”
Perkins faces nine challengers on the November eighth ballot.

Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell for a second straight month in July, to its lowest level ever. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A federal lawsuit has been filed to prevent the transfer of two dozen youth inmates at the Bridge Center for Youth to the Louisiana State Pentitentary. Governor Edwards announced the move last month as a way to reduce the violence and escapes from the juvenile facility in Jefferson Parish. But civil rights attorneys say the state does not have a solid plan to keep adult and youth prisoners separate.

By a 4-3 decision, the state Supreme Court has ruled that Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins CAN run for re-election in November.Perkins’s candidacy was challenged by a resident whose main complaint was he listed the wrong address on election qualification papers. LSU-Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow says he and many others thought the High Court would go the opposite way…:
CUT 12 (12) “…bit of a surprise.”
Perkins says he’s estatic over the ruling now he has to fend off nine other challengers in the November eighth race.

Two people at Cypress Arrow Kennel and K9 Academy in Lena face animal cruelty charges, after viral videos surfaced showing them hitting the dogs. Rapides Sheriff’s Office Chief of staff Tommy Carnline says the case has drawn a lot of public scrutiny…:
CUT 04(07) “…of the arrest.”
Business owner Tina Frey and her daughter Victoria Brimer were booked and released on bond.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell has hinted that the shortage of cops in New Orleans could mean cancelling Mardi Gras…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby”

An UPDATE to that story: late Friday afternoon, Cantrell issued a statement saying (quote) ”We ARE NOT canceling Mardi Gras”. She also noted steps underway to attract and retain police officers between now and Carnival Season. Classic walk-back.

A viral video of a trainer hitting a dog in the head has resulted in two arrests in Rapides Parish. Chief of Staff of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Tommy Carnline says 52-year-old Tina Frey and her daughter, 21-year-old Victoria Brimer turned themselves in on Thursday. Carnline says their investigation began last week, after they saw video of a trainer hitting a dog in the head with a riding crop…:

CUT 05(10)      “…aggravated cruelty.”

Both women are released on bond.

Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Walters says a supervisor has resigned as a result of the agency failing to react in a timely manner before a 2-year-old child died from a fentanyl overdose. A report issued by DCFS says their agency was contacted three times before the child’s death and Walters says they failed to get back to the house in time.