11:30 KFNV

The MegaMillions Multistate Lottery Jackpot is approaching $1 billion dollars, that’s a billion with a “B.” The $910 million prize is one of the largest in U.S. lottery history. Dustin Annison with the Louisiana Lottery says tonight’s jackpot has a cash value of $464.2 million.

Cut 3 (06) “…US history.” 

To be eligible for tonight’s drawing you must purchase your ticket by 9 PM.

News that the proposed new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge will require a toll hasn’t set well with many including Lake Charles Representative Phillip Tarver. The Republican says funding for the bridge can be prioritized to avoid the use of tolls…

Cut 10 (13) “…with people.”
Tarver says they’ll ask the Senate and House Transportation Committee not to approve the plan.

The National Retail Federation expects consumers will spend $94 billion on back-to-college shopping this year. That’s an increase of 20 billion from last year. Katherine Cullen with the N-R-F says big-ticket items are responsible for the huge increase in spending…

Cut 8 (11) “…nights of studying”

Twelve Louisiana sports legends will be inducted on Saturday into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches. Two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning and former LSU Coach Paul Mainieri headline the class. Hall of Fame Foundation President Ronnie Rantz says Mainieri has a connection to one of the other inductees…

Cut 13 (14) “…1976.” 

A new law that goes into effect on August first requires operating rooms to have equipment to remove harmful surgical smoke from the rooms. Executive director of the Louisiana State Nurses Association Ahnyel (On-yell) Burkes says there are policies and procedures in place…

Cut 4 (08)  “…healthcare workers.”

Louisiana is the 12^th state to enact surgical smoke legislation.

The National Retail Federation expects consumers will spend nearly 42 million dollars for both back-to-school and back-to-college shopping this year. N-R-F Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen says consumers are still looking for the best deals to save money…

Cut 9 (12)  “…department stores”

Twelve Louisiana sports legends will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class of 2023 this weekend in Natchitoches. Hall of Fame Foundation President Ronnie Rantz spoke about some of the headliners of the class. Kace Kieschnick has more…

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

UL-Lafayette wide receiver Lance Legendre (Le-john) was arrested Wednesday with domestic battery of a dating partner. University officials say Legendre has been suspended indefinitely from all team-related activities.

Starting August 1^st, legislation requiring operating rooms to provide smoke evacuation for surgical smoke in Louisiana goes into effect. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (31)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

No Mega Million jackpot winner Tuesday night. That means the jackpot for tonight’s drawing will be worth about $ 910 million making it the eighth-largest ever in the U.S. A lump-sum cash award would be about $ 465 million.

More criticism from Lake Charles officials over the state department of transportation’s proposal to use toll money to pay for a proposed two-point-one billion dollar I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River. Lake Charles Representative Phillip Tarver believes the project is too elaborate and so is the price tag…

cut 12 (10) “…years now”

He says the alternatives would be for a legislative transportation committee to vote against the project and/or wait until there’s a new governor and see if more funds can be diverted for the project.

Back-to-school and back-to-college spending are expected to reach record highs this year according to the National Retail Federation. N-R-F Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen says this increase is driven by a high demand for electronic devices…

Cut 7 (12) “…survey’s history”

The N-R-F says back-to-school spending is expected to reach an all-time high of 41.5 billion dollars.

News that the proposed new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge will require a toll hasn’t set well with many including Lake Charles Representative Phillip Tarver. The Republican says funding for the bridge can be prioritized to avoid the use of tolls…
Cut 10 (13) “…with people.”
Tarver says they’ll ask the Senate and House Transportation Committee not to approve the plan to use tolls to help fund construction of the two-point-one billion dollar bridge.

Starting August 1st, operating rooms must have equipment that can quickly get smoke out of the room. Surgical smoke as its called can happen when flesh is burned during a procedure. Director of the State Nurses Association Ahnyel Burkes says it will happen during a C-Section…
cut 6 (05) “…..being used”

The National Retail Federation is predicting record spending for back-to-school items. Michelle Southern has the story…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

An Opelousas man has received a 26-month sentence after attempting to use a fake 20-dollar bill at a local donut shop last August. 33-year-old Gabriel Bates pleased guilty in a federal courtroom to counterfeiting. Secret Service agents also found numerous fake 20 and 100 dollar bills at his home.

More criticism from Lake Charles officials over the state department of transportation’s proposal to use toll money to pay for a proposed two-point-one billion dollar I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River. Lake Charles Representative Phillip Tarver believes the project is too elaborate and so is the price tag…
cut 12 (10) “…years now”

Louisiana is the 12th state to enact surgical smoke evacuation legislation. Director of the State Nurses Association Ahnyel Burkes says smoke can form when skin is burned during surgical procedures…
cut 5 (10) “….is harmful”
The new law requires operating rooms to have equipment to get the smoke out of the room.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class of 2023 will be inducted this weekend in Natchitoches. Hall of Fame Foundation President Ronnie Rantz gave Kace Kieschnick a rundown…
cut 3 (33) “…I”m Kace KIeschnick”

One of the top pitchers in the Southeastern Conference is transferring to LSU. Alabama’s Luke Holman is heading to Baton Rouge after going 7-4 with a 3.67 ERA and 87 strikeouts.

WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge is reporting the autopsy on former LSU student Madison Brooks found no DNA inside her from the suspects who were in a vehicle with her when she was allegedly raped before she died. The NAACP says the charges should be dropped, while District Attorney Hillar Moore is upset these details were leaked.

A law requiring operating rooms to provide smoke evacuation for surgical smoke goes into effect on August 1st. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Local officials in the Lake Charles area continue to express frustration over tolls being used to fund the construction of a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. The state department of transportation proposed a toll schedule that it would cost over 12-dollars for a large truck with a toll tag to cross the new bridge, almost 19-dollars without a tag. Lake Charles Representative Phillip Tarver says that would put more trucks on the I-210 bridge….
cut 11 (10) “…18 dollars”
These concerns are expected to be brought to the House and Senate transportation committee who will need to approve the DOTD’s toll plan.

A law requiring operating rooms to provide smoke evacuation for surgical smoke in Louisiana goes into effect on August 1^st. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (31)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The National Retail Federation is predicting record spending on back-to-school items. Michelle Southern has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

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The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class of 2023 will be inducted this weekend in Natchitoches. Hall of Fame Foundation President Ronnie Rantz spoke about some of the headliners of the class. Kace Kieschnick has more

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

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A new law that goes into effect on August first is one to increase safety in operating rooms so surgical smoke is properly removed from the rooms. It’s the smoke from burning flesh that presents the hazard. Executive director of the Louisiana State Nurses Association Ahnyel (On-yell) Burkes says the law requires that policies and procedures are in place…

Cut 4 (08)  “…healthcare workers.”

Louisiana is the 12^th state to enact surgical smoke legislation. Burkes says whenever skin, for example, is burned during a surgical procedure…

Cut 5 (10)   “…is harmful.”

Burkes says a common procedure that generates surgical smoke is a c-section which is often performed after a mother has given birth.

Cut 6 (05)  “…being used.”

Burkes says the passage of the bill has also raised awareness about the dangers of surgical smoke.

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The National Retail Federation expects consumers will spend record amounts for both back-to-school and back-to-college shopping this year. N-R-F Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen says this increase  in expected spending is primarily driven by more demand for electronics…

Cut 7 (12) “…survey’s history”

The N-R-F says back-to-school spending is expected to reach an all-time high of 41.5 billion dollars, up nearly 37 million dollars from last year. Back-to-college spending is expected to hit 94 billion dollars, about 20 billion dollars more than last year’s record. Cullen says big-ticket items are leading to a huge increase in spending…

Cut 8 (11) “…nights of studying”

Cullen says even though consumers plan to spend more on school and college-related items this year, they are still looking to find the best value and deals…

Cut 9 (12)  “…department stores”

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News that the proposed new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge will require a toll hasn’t set well with many including Lake Charles Representative Phillip Tarver. The Republican says funding for the bridge can be prioritized to avoid the use of tolls…

Cut 10 (13) “…with people.”

Tarver worries the high cost for large trucks to travel one way over the bridge will force them, along with others, to use the alternative route of the I-210-loop…

Cut 11 (10)  “…and $18 dollars.”

Tarver says DOTD isn’t taking advantage of all the federal funding that’s available for transportation projects and the proposed bridge, which he agrees is needed, isn’t to scope. He says the project is too elaborate and so is the price tag.

Cut 12 (10)   “…years now.” 

He says the alternatives would be for a legislative transportation committee to vote against the project and/or wait until there’s a new governor and see if more funds can be diverted for the project.

______________________________________________________

Twelve Louisiana sports legends will be inducted on Saturday into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame  in Natchitoches. Two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning former LSU Coach Paul Mainieri headline the class. Hall of Fame Foundation President Ronnie Rantz says Mainieri has a connection to one of the other inductees

Cut 13 (14) “…1976.” 

In football, entering alongside Manning are Tulane running back Matt Forte and LSU great Wendell Davis.  Rantz says Davis was Ja’Marr Chase before Ja’Marr Chase. He put up historic numbers for a wideout in the 80’s and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 1987

Cut 14 (10)  “…of the Bears.” 

WNBA legend Alana Beard, who Rantz says is probably the second-best women’s basketball player to come out of the state behind just Simone Augustus, will be entering while dynamic LSU track and field star Walter Davis and pitcher Paul Byrd round out the Tigers. Rantz says powerlifter Walter Imahara is on the Mount Rushmore of Louisiana powerlifters and has an incredible story…

Cut 15 (13)  “…late 50s.”

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Saints wide receiver Chris Olave had a great rookie season and the hope is that he can improve on the 72 receptions and 1,042 yards receiving he had last year. Olave says he got stronger in the offseason and he’s ready to contribute to what he thinks will be an explosive offense…

Cut 16 (17) “…ready to explode.”

If Michael Thomas can stay healthy and perform at a high level, Olave could find himself receiving a lot of single coverage. Both are from Ohio State and have built a strong relationship. Olave says he looks up to Thomas…

Cut 17 (17) “…a lot.”

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Preseason camp has started for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs’ first game is August 26th against FIU. Boise State transfer Hank Bachmeier is expected to get the start at quarterback and Coach Sonny Cumbie likes how Bachmeier is picking up the offense…

Cut 18 (16) “…learning mode.” 

During the middle of the season, Tech will play a string of games not on Saturday. It starts Friday, September 29th at UTEP, the following week it’s Thursday at home against Western Kentucky and then back-to-back Tuesday games against Middle Tennessee and New Mexico State. Cumbie is looking forward to the unique schedule…

Cut 19 (19) “…national TV.” 

ESPN U is televising the game against Western Kentucky, the others will be on CBS Sports Network.

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Cut 20 (21)  “…outstanding player.”  

A law to allow women to recoup half of their out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical expenses from the father goes into effect on August 1st. Abita Springs Republican Representative Larry Frieman says his legislation gives mothers a way to recover those expenses, but you hope fathers would do so on their own…

Cut 9 (06) “…have today.”
Frieman says he filed the bill after a family practice lawyer told him there’s no way for women to legally recover half of those expenses.

Covington Representative Paul Hollis says he’s running for the District One seat on BESE. Hollis says much of the focus at the state capitol has been on meeting the needs of teachers, he wants to shift the focus to students…
cut 8 (09) “….can provide”

Hollis is term-limited in the legislature.

The oldest fishing tournament in the United States gets underway today at Grand Isle. 23 months ago, the state’s only inhabited barrier island, took a pounding from Hurricane Ida. But Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet says Grand Isle is once again ready to host thousands of fishermen and their families…

Cut 3 (09) “…live bait.”
Tarpon Rodeo starts today and lasts through Saturday.

In Cincinnati, former LSU star and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has to be carted off the field after injuring his right calf during practice. Video shows him scrambling out of the pocket when all the sudden he can no longer put pressure on his right leg and falls to the ground. No word on the severity of the injury.

LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne tells Elle Magazine, she will complete her education online and not remain on campus out of an abundance of caution for her safety. Dunne is the top-ranked female in all of college sports in terms of NIL endorsements.  Dunne says it’s harder and harder to blend in on campus and she is routinely hounded by fans.