The Senate passed the Big Beautiful Bill, but it’s not headed to President Trump’s desk just yet. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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People are looking back at the life and ministry of the Reverend Jimmy Swaggart, who passed away yesterday at the age of 90. Sean Richardson has more.
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Entergy’s natural gas customers will now be making payments to a new company. Colleen Crain reports.
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The Big, Beautiful Bill now heads to the House after passing in the Senate 51-to-50, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The final vote came after more than 24 hours of votes on amendments, most of which were put forth by Democrats. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says the bill deals with a lot of controversial issues.
Cut 4 (08) “…state like Louisiana.”
One of the most contentious issues was the cuts to Medicaid and how many people would lose coverage as a result. Hogan says after hours of debate, there was little movement on the issue.
Cut 5 (08) “…ultimately receive it.”
Hogan says passing the bill as-is in the House is far from a slam-dunk.
If the House makes any changes, it would have to go back to the Senate. Hogan says he believes one way or another, the bill will get passed in some form and will end up on President Trump’s desk.
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The Christian world is mourning the passing of Jimmy Swaggart, who died yesterday at the age of 90. He had gone into cardiac arrest in June and never regained consciousness. Jimmy Swaggart Ministries spokeswoman Megan Kelly says his family is grieving but in good spirits.
Swaggart began his ministry in 1973, televising and broadcasting the gospel to the world. Kelly says its incredible to think there’s not one place on this earth that his ministry hasn’t touched.
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Swaggart had a fall from grace with a prostitution scandal in 1988. But he didn’t lose his faith, and Kelly says Swaggart got on his knees and asked God for forgiveness and to change his life.
Cut 9 (11) “…is just tremendous.”
The public viewing and wake will be held Saturday, July 12th, from 11 to two; and the celebration of life service is Sunday, July 13th, at six p-m. Both will be held at the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge.
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New Orleans-based Delta Utilities has completed its purchase of Entergy’s natural gas business, adding more than 200-thousand customers in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Delta Utilities CEO Tim Poche (poe-SHAY) says for those customers, the transition from Entergy will be seamless.
Cut 10 (06) “…will continue unaffected.”
Poche says the biggest difference those customers will experience is instead of receiving a single bill from Entergy for both electric and natural gas service, they will now receive a separate bill from Delta.
Cut 11 (09) “…will continue seamlessly.”
Poche says the transition was also seamless for those who used to work for Entergy’s natural gas operations.
Cut 12 (13) “…that same service.”
Entergy says the sale of its natural gas operation will allow it to sharpen its focus on its electric operations. With its acquisition of Entergy’s natural gas operation, along with its earlier acquisition of CenterPoint’s natural gas operations in Louisiana and Mississippi, Delta Utilities becomes the largest regulated natural gas utility in Louisiana.
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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says CVS was being deceptive when sending text messages opposing legislation that would ban pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies.
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That text blast is the focus of one of the three lawsuits Murrill filed against the drug store chain last month, with the attorney general alleging that CVS used private patient information to send out a political message. Murrill says she received one of those text messages; she says it targeted seniors, veterans and people with serious health issues.
Cut 14 (08) “…to scare people.”
CVS said in its text blast that if House Bill 358 had passed, it would have to close all of its pharmacies throughout Louisiana, putting hundreds of employees out of work. Murrill says in an indirect way, that’s the focus of another of her lawsuits against the company.
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CVS has previously issued a statement denying all allegations.
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WWL’s Mike Detillier spoke with LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at the Manning Passing Academy. Nussmeier was confident in the Tigers revamped offensive line and always lethal weapons. One target he expects to play a big role is six-seven sophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green.
Cut 16 (16) “…really long time.”
Green played in all 13 games his freshman season and tallied 4 touchdowns and 101 yards on just 13 receptions.
On the other side of the ball, Nussmeier highlighted five-star freshman cornerback DJ Pickett. The 6-foot-4 Florida product was ranked as the No. 1 overall corner in the 2025 class by On3 and Rivals and second by ESPN and 247Sports. Nussmeier says Pickett is next in the line of great LSU corners.
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LSU will kick off the season at Clemson August 30. Detillier previewed the matchup with Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, who was also in Thibodaux this past weekend. The junior signal caller is looking forward to welcoming the Tigers to Memorial Stadium.
Klubnik passed for over 36-hundred yards and 36 touchdowns in his second season as a starter. The former five-star out of Austin Westlake High School in Texas says he chose Clemson because of head coach Dabo Swinney.