Sean Payton is remaining as the head coach of the Saints, despite weeks of speculation that he may want to coach for another NFL team. Payton spoke with reporters for about an hour talking about his love for the fans, the franchise and the city, despite all of its faults…
cut 14 (12) “….it is home”
Payton says he hopes Drew Brees is his quarterback in New Orleans for many years to come. Brees has one year left on his current contract.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards reappoints Jimmy LeBlanc as secretary of corrections. LeBlanc says he and Edwards are on the same page when it comes to reducing Louisiana’s prison population and progress has been made…:
CUT 6 (08) “big prisons”
LeBlanc is the lone cabinet secretary holdover from the Jindal Administration.

Trial dates have been set for the two deputy Marksville city marshals charged with the shooting death of a 6-year-old boy. 32-year-old Derrick Stafford and 24-year-old Norris Greenhouse entered pleas of not guilty and will be tried separately in the death of Jeremy Mardis. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s not a surprise that the two men will be tried separately…:
CUT 3 (10) “as well”
Stafford’s trial is set to begin September 26th, while Greenhouse’s trial will start November 28th.

A second person has been arrested in the murder of 31-year-old Shontel Joseph of Opelousas, who was found in a burned out home in Church Point this past weekend. Deputy Chief Brant Thompson with the State Fire Marshal’s office says 33-year-old Nicholas Dupuis was charged with first-degree murder and arson and more arrests are possible…
cut 11 (09) “….as well”
Twenty-two-year-old Kantarise Lazaro of Church Point has also been arrested.