11:30 LRN Newscast Sept 1

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.”