Iranian Donna Kashanian (ka-SHAHN-ee-in) is back at her New Orleans home after she was taken into custody by ICE agents on June 22^nd while gardening. Kashanian first came to the U-S in 1978 on a student visa and was allowed to stay in the U-S-A  to check in with immigration officials, and she never failed to do so. Kashanian got married in 1990 and the couple have a daughter. New Orleans state Representative Stephanie Hilferty says now that the 64-year-old is back home, she wants to make sure she stays home…

Cut 15 (06) “….attorney on that”

Colorado State University researchers have decreased their hurricane season forecast. C-S-U is now predicting 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and three major hurricanes, one less than their initial prediction for each category. Lead researcher Phil Klotzbach credits wind shear in the Caribbean.

Cut 10 (10) “…the reduction.”

We are still looking at an above average season.

Two people, not wearing seatbelts, were killed in a head-on crash Tuesday night on Louisiana Highway 17 in Richland Parish. State Police says 28-year-old Billie Myers of Oak Grove and 59-year-old James Washington of Epps were not buckled up when an 18-year-old driver crossed the centerline for reasons still under investigation and slammed into Myers and Washington’s vehicle.

A long overdue honor for a Louisiana military hero killed in action eight decades ago. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A long overdue honor for a Louisiana military hero killed in action eight decades ago. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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President Trump has threatened to phase out FEMA following the current hurricane season. Governor Landry was asked if that would really happen. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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An Iranian woman taken by ICE from her New Orleans home last month is back home. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A long overdue honor for a Louisiana military hero who was killed in action more than eight decades ago. Marine Private First Class Harry LeBert was killed in June of 1944 during World War Two. However, Louisiana V-A Secretary Charlton Meginley says his remains went unidentified for many years.

Cut 4 (08) “…World War Two.”

LeBert’s remains were transferred to the Philippines in the 1950s; and three years ago, they were transferred again to Hawaii, where forensic scientists conducted DNA testing. With 95-percent of LeBert’s remains intact, that helped scientists conclusively put LeBert’s name with the body. Meginley says LeBert was interred July 2nd at Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery.

Cut 5 (10) “…was finally home.”

Meginley says while the LeBert family finally got the closure that it had been waiting for, countless others are still waiting.

Cut 6 (09) “…to be identified.”

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The FEMA Review Council, which is looking to make major reforms to the federal disaster response agency, held its second meeting in New Orleans. Last month, President Trump said he wants to phase out FEMA after the current hurricane season. Governor Jeff Landry, who attended yesterday’s meeting, says the President’s goal is to have a competent and functional agency whether that’s FEMA or something else.

Cut 7 (10) “…that need”

Reforms were made to FEMA following hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. But Landry says the agency still requires too much red tape when it comes to providing financial relief following a natural disaster.

Cut 8 (12) “…in 2020.”

Landry says local governments and residents should not have to wait years for FEMA to distribute disaster aid.

Cut 9 (11)  “…implement it.”

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Colorado State University researchers have decreased their hurricane season forecast. Experts are now predicting 16 named storms, including eight hurricanes and three major hurricanes, one less than the school’s initial prediction for each category. C-S-U lead researcher Phil Klotzbach credits wind shear in the Caribbean.

Cut 10 (10) “…the reduction.”

Researchers still predict slightly above average activity due to warm Atlantic temperatures and other conditions conducive to hurricane formation and intensification. Klotzbach says the wind shear and Saharan dust have deterred tropical formation so far this summer.

Cut 11 (11) “..potentially substantially.”

Researchers now say there’s a 31-percent chance of a major hurricane making landfall along the Gulf Coast. Klotzbach says Colorado State will release its final forecast August 6th, when activity historically ramps up.

Cut 12 (13) “…hurricane season.”

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A 64-year-old Iranian woman taken from her New Orleans home by ICE agents last month is back home. Masked men wearing tactical gear took Donna Kashanian (ka-SHAHN-ee-in) from her home on June 22nd while she was gardening. It happened in the wake of the U.S. bombing Iranian targets. Kashanian was set to be deported to Iran; but on Monday, she was released following national outcry and outreach from elected officials from both parties, including New Orleans Republican State Representative Stephanie Hilferty.

Cut 13 (11)  “…to the administration.”

Hilferty says those letters of support described how much of an upstanding member of the community Kashanian is.

Cut 14 (12) “…teacher organization there.”

Kashanian first came to the U.S. in 1978 on a student visa and applied for asylum after the shah was overthrown a year later. She eventually was allowed to remain in the U.S. as long as she checked in with immigration authorities, which she never failed to do. She married her husband in 1990, and the couple raised a daughter. Hilferty says now that Kashanian is back home, she wants to make sure she stays home.

Cut 15 (06) “…attorney on that.”

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The Pelicans tip off Summer League action in Las Vegas today at 2:30 against the Timberwolves. The New Orleans summer league roster is headlined by first-round duo Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, and last year’s first-rounder Yves Missi. McNeese forward Christian Shumate played against Fears in high school.

Cut 16 (15) “…in the future.”

Shumate, a Chicago native, spent four years in Lake Charles, where he helped revitalize the Cowboys program along with coach Will Wade. Shumate helped McNeese to back-to-back tournament appearances and signed to the Pels Summer League roster after graduating.

Cut 17 (19)  “…back here.”

The Pelicans also signed former LSU center Will Baker to the Summer League squad.

Wind and solar power tax credits created during the Biden Administration are being phased out, thanks to the budget bill signed by President Trump. These tax credits help energy companies pay for projects that produce solar and wind energy. Dr. Greg Upton, the director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies, says without this federal subsidy, ratepayers will have to pay for these investments, but the impact to the consumer is several years away.

Cut 3 (09) “…the facility.”

Louisiana Democrats say they plan on making inroads ahead of the midterm elections by launching what they call the “Fight For Our Lives.” State Party Executive Director Dadrius (“Darius”) Lanus says that involves reaching out to people from outside the party.

Cut 9 (09)  “…that we build.”

The Saints trade in black for white with their new alternate helmet. Kace Kieschnick has more

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

University High-Baton Rouge two-way lineman Lamar Brown is set to make his college commitment at 12:15 p.m. tomorrow. Most outlets have Brown a top ten recruit, and ESPN has him as its top overall prospect. While LSU is the odds-on favorite to land Brown, given that his high school’s stadium is in Tiger Stadium’s shadow, Texas A-and-M is also very much in the mix.

Cotton was once Louisiana’s biggest crop as far as number of acres planted. But Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says high production costs have made it difficult for cotton growers to make a profit. Strain says less than 100-thousand acres of cotton could be planted this year…

Cut 14 (09) “…by soybeans”

President Trump’s budget bill phases out tax credits for energy companies that invest in projects that produce solar and wind power. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis says this will raise electricity prices. The director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies, Doctor Greg Upton says it’s possible, but not in the short term…

Cut 4 (11) “…period of time.”

New solar and wind energy projects can still receive the tax credit, but construction needs to start in the next year.

In an effort to grow the Louisiana Democratic Party, executive director Dadrius Lanus, says party officials plan to visit rural parishes…

Cut 10 (06) “…rural parishes”

Lanus says that includes parishes that lean Republican. He says the tour will be called “Fight for Our Lives.”

One of the top high school football prospects in the state will announce tomorrow where he plans to attend college. University High’s Lamar Brown is rated as a five-star defensive lineman and Zach Nagy of SI on LSU says Brown has narrowed his decision to two schools…

Cut 7 (13) “….and versatility”

Brown’s decision will be televised by ESPN Two at 12:15.

A 64-year-old Iranian woman taken from her New Orleans home by ICE agents last month is back home. With the help of Congressman Steve Scalise and others, Donna Kashanian (ka-SHAHN-ee-in) was released from ICE custody this week. She had been living in the U.S. legally since 1978. After U.S. military planes bombed targets in Iran, Kashanian was taken from her home June 22nd by masked ICE agents wearing tactical gear as she was tending to her garden. Following national outcry and outreach from elected officials from both parties, Kashanian was allowed to return home as her case plays out.

Louisiana Democrats say they plan on making inroads ahead of the midterm elections by launching what they call the “Fight For Our Lives.” State Party Executive Director Dadrius (“Darius”) Lanus says the party can become a better party by Louisiana becoming a better state.

Cut 11 (10) “…collectively.”

For decades cotton was king. But this year the Louisiana cotton crop is expected to be the smallest in history. State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says farmers will not spend time growing a crop that’s hard to turn a profit.

Cut 13 (05)  “…other crops.”

The number of cotton gins has also declined from 56 in 2001 to 15 today. 

University High in Baton Rouge two-way lineman Lamar Brown is set to make his commitment at 12:15 p.m. tomorrow. Zach Nagy of SI on LSU says he’s been a top priority for LSU’s staff, who currently have two D-line commits in the 2026 class.

Cut 8 (14) “…and he knows it.”

Cotton used to be Louisiana’s top agricultural commodity, but this year the state is expected to produce its smallest cotton crop ever. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Colorado State has revised its hurricane forecast and they are now calling for one less named storm and one less hurricane. The C-S-U forecast team is predicting 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and three major hurricanes. There have been three named storms this year, all of them have been tropical storms.

President Trump’s budget bill phases out wind and solar power tax credits created during the Biden Administration. These tax credits help energy companies pay for projects that produce solar and wind energy. Director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies, Doctor Greg Upton, says less than one percent of the electricity in Louisiana comes from solar and wind and that percentage will likely not grow as a result

Cut 5 (07) “…that speed.”

One of the top high school football prospects in the state will announce tomorrow where he plans to attend college. University High’s Lamar Brown is rated as a five-star defensive lineman and Zach Nagy of SI on LSU says Brown has narrowed his decision to two schools…

Cut 7 (13) “….and versatility”

Brown canceled his official visit to LSU following his trip to College Station.

For decades cotton was king. But this year the Louisiana cotton crop is expected to be the smallest in history. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says input costs to produce cotton has gone up and the price for cotton has gone down from two dollars a pound in the mid-1800s

Cut 12 (12) “…what’s going on.”

Soybeans is Louisiana’s largest crop, followed by corn and rice.

President Trump’s budget bill phases out tax credits for energy companies that invest in projects that produce solar and wind power. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis says this will raise electricity prices. The director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies, Doctor Greg Upton says it’s possible, but not in the short term…

Cut 4 (11) “…period of time.”

New solar and wind energy projects can still receive the tax credit, but construction needs to start in the next year to qualify.

In an effort to grow the Louisiana Democratic Party, executive director Dadrius Lanus, says party officials plan to visit rural parishes…

Cut 10 (06) “…rural parishes”

Lanus says that includes parishes that lean Republican. He says the tour will be called “Fight for Our Lives.”

The Saints traded in black and gold for white and gold with a new alternate helmet released today. Kace Kieschnick has more

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”