The first week of the college football season kicks off tonight and two new sports betting parlors open today in Louisiana. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says there’s the Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans and last night he toured the DraftKings sportsbook at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles…

Cut 9 (10)  “…it’s huge.”

And L’Auberge in Baton Rouge is expected to open its Barstool sportsbook soon.

WestRock has broken ground on a 97-million-dollar expansion at its paper mill in Hodge. State Representative Jack McFarland says Jackson Parish mill will expand and modernize the facility which produces high-quality containerboard used in manufacturing containers…

Cut 4  (05) “…decade or two.”

The mill began operations in 1928.

Morgan City is gearing up for the first Shrimp and Petroleum Festival since 2019. The festival was canceled the last two years due to the pandemic and Ida. Carrie Stansbury, Executive Director of the Cajun Coast Visitor’s Bureau says the annual event celebrates two of the state’s largest industries.

Cut 6 (07) “…culture of our community.” 

The five-day event, which kicks off today and wraps up Labor Day.

The Ad Council and the U.S Department of veteran affairs launches the “Don’t Wait Reach Out” campaign to assist veterans with mental health issues. Veteran’s Affairs executive director Lisa Kearney says normalizing the discussion of suicide is the objective of the campaign the website VA.gov forward slash reach offers instant support.  

Cut 12 (11) “…to get to us.” 

WestRock has broken ground on a 97-million-dollar expansion at its paper mill in Hodge. The paper mill has been a major employer in Jackson Parish for 90 years as its responsible for 450 direct jobs. State Representative Jack McFarland says the facility is also a driver of economic activity for surrounding parishes

Cut 3 (11) “…wood chip community” 

McFarland says the 97-million dollars will expand and modernize the facility.

The University of Louisiana – Lafayette embarks on two new projects that will create a “biopharmaceutical corridor” in the state and advances in medicine. ULL President Dr. Joe Savoie (SAV-wah) says the projects are the result of a $50-million investment made by the Legislature and Governor Edwards…:

Cut 7 (06) “…the economy for Louisiana.”

An LSU study of how football players reacted to COVID indicates their immune system fared better compared to older adults with co-morbidities. And LSU’s School of Kinesiology Associate Professor Guillaume (gee-um) Spielman says the research continues, in addition to comparing immune system responses of older adults now, they are looking at the responses of sedentary adults and athletes.

Cut 14 (06)  “…non-athletes.”

The Ad Council and the U.S Department of veteran affairs have collaborated, creating a “Don’t Wait Reach Out” campaign that assists veterans with mental health issues.  Veteran’s Affairs executive director Lisa Kearney says veterans will gain support in numerous ways.  

Cut 10 (09) “…connect to support .”

For more information visit  VA.Gov/reach  

Louisiana is donating up to 300 travel trailers, originally acquired for Hurricane Ida to assist flood survivors in Eastern Kentucky.  GOHSEP Director Casey Tingle, says the trailers are ones that have been returned to the state by Louisiana residents and some displaced individuals are working directly with FEMA on temporary housing in Louisiana.

Cut 5 (10) “…recovery process.”

An LSU study of how football players reacted to COVID shows their immune system fared better compared to older adults with co-morbidities. LSU’s School of Kinesiology Associate Professor Guillaume (gee-um) Spielman says early studies indicated an increased risk of myocarditis in athletes with COVID, but extended research proved otherwise.

Cut 15 (10)  “…athletic populations.”

UL-Lafayette embarks on two projects to establish it as part of a biopharmaceutical corridor in Louisiana. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

During an event in Alexandria where federal, state, local and community leaders were on hand for the Broadband Solutions Summit, Governor John Bel Edwards announced over 35-million dollars in grants will help bring affordable high-speed internet within the next two years to nearly 15-thousand locations in Vernon and LaSalle Parishes

Louisiana is donating up to 300 travel trailers to eastern Kentucky, which is suffering from severe flooding. They were used by residents who suffered severe damage to their homes from Hurricane Ida. Kentucky is paying for the transportation. Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Casey Tingle says the state still has a good supply of travel trailers if another hurricane hits Louisiana…
cut 6 (11) “….need them”

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announces plans to invest 50-million dollars in state money to create a biopharmaceutical corridor. 25-million dollars will go towards a creating a Level 3 biosafety Lab at the New Iberia Research Center and U-L-L President Doctor Joe Savoie says the other 25-million is for the construction of the Iberia Bio-Innovation Accelerator…
cut 9 (13) “…out of Louisiana”

WestRock has broken ground on a 97-million dollar expansion of its paper mill in Hodge. The governor’s office says the company is expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program to expand and modernize the facility which is responsible for more than 450 direct jobs in Jackson Parish.

September is national suicide prevention awareness month and the U-S Department of Veterans Affairs has a website where vets can get instant support at V-A-dot-gov-slash reach…
cut 3 (31) “…I’m Whitney Thomas”

Up to 300 travel trailers that the state purchased for residents that lost their homes in Ida are headed to Kentucky. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

During an event in Alexandria where federal, state, local and community leaders were on hand for the Broadband Solutions Summit, Governor John Bel Edwards announced over 35-million dollars in grants will help bring affordable high speed internet within the next two years to nearly 15-thousand locations in Vernon and LaSalle Parishes.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announces plans to create a biopharmaceutical corridor in Iberia Parish. The plans call for the expansion of the school’s New Iberia Research Center…
cut 8 (11) “….can be developed”
That’s university president Doctor Joe Savoie who says a Level 3 biosafety lab will have global implications on infectious diseases.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and unfortunately military veterans are more at risk. Executive Director of the Veterans Crisis Line, Doctor Lisa Kearney, wants veterans to know there is a website where they can get help, it’s v-a-dot-gov-slash reach…
cut 11 (09) “….all in one place”
Kearney is encouraging veterans to reach out before a crisis happens.

Louisiana is donating up to 300 travel trailers, originally acquired for Hurricane Ida to assist flood survivors in Eastern Kentucky. GOHSEP Director Casey Tingle, says the trailers are ones that have been returned to the state by Louisiana residents who now have permanent housing.
Cut 4 (11) “…and Ida.”
The state acquired these trailers to speed up the process for those who lost their homes after Ida.

An LSU study of how football players reacted to COVID indicates their immune system fared better compared to older adults with co-morbidities. LSU’s School of Kinesiology Associate Professor Guillaume (gee-um) Spielman says the findings were reassuring that the players were healthy after the CDC-recommended isolation period.
Cut 13 (10) “…from COVID-19.”

UL-Lafayette embarks on two projects to establish a biopharmaceutical corridor in Louisiana. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”