A 528-bed holding facility for migrant families and unaccompanied children is going up at England Airpark in Alexandria. Jeff Palermo has the details.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The percentage of working-age people in Louisiana employed or actively seeking work grew more than in any other state. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Last week, we heard from Julia Letlow after she clinched the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. Now, we’re hearing from her Democratic opponent. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A 528-bed holding facility for migrant families and unaccompanied children is under construction at England Airpark, a former military base in Alexandria. Ralph Hennessy, the executive director of the England Airpark Authority, says the people that will stay at this ICE facility are individuals volunteering to go back home and those who are going back as a family unit.

Cut 4 (06) “…in other ways.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is calling the Alexandria facility a staging area, not a detention center. Hennessy says migrants awaiting deportation on a chartered flight will only be there a few days.

Cut 5 (09) “…to four days.”

Several immigration advocates have raised the possibility that children could be at the Alexandria facility for weeks or months. The nonprofit group Children’s Rights says it’s an expansion of the deportation system in ways we have not seen before.

Hennessy says the LaSalle Family Foundation will run the facility. He says for the England Airpark Authority, one of its missions is to use the England Air Force Base in producing economic development.

Cut 6 (07) “…thousand a year.”

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Louisiana’s workforce participation growth tied for the most in the nation with 58.8-percent of the working-age population in the labor force. That’s nearly a one-percent increase from last year, accounting for almost 33-thousand new workers. Louisiana Works Secretary Susie Schowen (SHAU-in) says workforce participation is a key economic indicator.

Cut 7 (10) “…things like that.”

The national labor force participation rate declined by six tenths of a percent. Louisiana was one of five states to see an increase.

Schowen says her agency suspects many of the new workers are people who previously were not pursuing employment that now are. She says it’s hard to pin down, but it could also be credited to more Louisiana graduates staying in-state.

Cut 8 (10) “…rolls are shrinking.”

Louisiana was number-one in the country for construction employment growth, thanks largely to the recent investments in data center and manufacturing projects across the state. Over nine-thousand new construction jobs came to the state in the last year. Schowen says Louisiana can’t entice new workers without having good jobs available.

Cut 9 (12) “…things happened together.”

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When it comes to the burden of car ownership, nowhere do drivers have it worse than here in Louisiana. Rob Bhatt (“bot”), an insurance analyst with LendingTree, says Louisiana drivers spend on average 6.1-percent of their gross income on auto insurance – the highest rate in the nation.

Cut 10 (09) “…in other states.”

The LendingTree study found that the average Louisiana driver spends 327 dollars a month on auto insurance, compared to a median gross monthly income of 5,350 dollars.

Bhatt says nationally, drivers spend less than three-percent of their gross income on auto insurance.

Cut 11 (11) “…have low rates.”

Bhatt says there are things you can do to make auto insurance more affordable.

Cut 12 (13) “…in an accident.”

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Last week, we heard from Julia Letlow after she officially became the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. Today, we’re hearing from her Democratic opponent. Jamie Davis notes that in both the primary and the runoff, nearly as many Democrats voted for him as the number of Republicans who voted for Letlow – despite Letlow spending more money by far.

Cut 13 (14)  “…tremendous amount different.”

As such, Davis rejects the notion from political analysts that Letlow will run away with the general election.

Cut 14 (12) “…wins this election.”

Davis is a farmer and former Tensas Parish police juror, and he says he’s putting together a campaign that will resonate with Louisianans of all backgrounds.

Cut 15 (13) “…Louisiana that’s white.”

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LSU received its 16th football recruiting commitment for 2027 in Ruston four-star safety Jayden Anding. Anding announced his decision between LSU and Ole Miss yesterday after postponing his pledge date last week. Matt Belinson with the Ruston Daily Leader says he was always going to be a Tiger.

Cut 16 (13) “…choice for him.”

Jayden’s brother, Aiden Anding, is a sophomore cornerback at LSU.

Anding said he chose LSU because he wants to develop under secondary coach Corey Raymond. Belinson says he was also the latest in a growing line of LSU commits who credited their recruitment to Coach O.

Cut 17 (14) “…have been happening.”

Anding is a 5-10, 165-pound safety rated as a top ten prospect in the state and the number-21 safety nationwide by 247Sports. Belinson says he does it all for the Bearcats.

Cut 18 (15) “…front line.”

Anding is the second Ruston High product to commit to LSU this cycle, joining five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson.

For 100 dollars, you can purchase a chance to win season tickets to every major team in South Louisiana for an entire year! New Orleans Sports Foundation President and CEO Jay Cicero says money raised by the Premier Season Ticket Raffle will help it bid on major sporting events at a time when New Orleans faces increasing competition.

Cut 7 (14) “…seek to host.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the legislative session was a good one for his department. He says one new law passed by lawmakers increases the annual aggregate limit of fines his office can issue, noting that the old caps were ten-thousand dollars for insurance professionals and 100-thousand dollars for insurance companies.

Cut 10 (11) “…it can multiply.” 

Facing a major blood shortage, Vitalant (vy-TALENT) is holding blood drives throughout the summer in Morgan City, Lafayette and the Baton Rouge area. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The man shot dead by Shreveport Police early Sunday morning was from Baton Rouge. He’s been identified as 27-year-old Timothy Christian. Investigators say Christian was involved in an altercation outside a bar and was wildly firing a gun. One shot hit an officer; the officer returned fire, hitting and killing Christian. The officer’s bulletproof vest saved her life.

The State Office of Tourism is encouraging you to enjoy a Louisiana Staycation this summer. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Public and charter students in grades three through 12 achieve the highest overall Mastery-plus rate on the LEAP test in history. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The head of the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission says the indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill is a bad look for the criminal justice system. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The Louisiana Office of Tourism is encouraging residents not to forget the Bayou State when planning their summer vacations this year. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the Louisiana Staycation campaign reminds Louisianians of the destinations, attractions, festivals, food and culture their state has to offer.

Cut 4 (12) “…of our state.”

Nungesser says Louisiana offers getaways of every kind, from the natural beauty of North Louisiana to the flavor and culture of Acadiana, and everything in between. He says after your staycation, share your experience with others.

Cut 5 (08) “…tourism industry statewide.”

The campaign comes at a time when researchers found 40-percent of travelers are looking for destinations closer to home. Nungesser says the campaign will also target travelers in neighboring states just a quick drive away.

Cut 6 (13) “…haven’t seen before.”

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Public and charter school students in grades three through 12 achieved the highest overall Mastery-plus rate in state history, according to results from the 2026 LEAP tests. The Department of Education says 36-percent of those students achieved an overall score of Mastery or Advanced. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says for example, Math Mastery-plus in grades three through eight increased by one point overall, as the state expands its comprehensive numeracy strategy.

Cut 7 (14) “…calculus and trigonometry.”

Brumley says thanks to the new Freedom Framework social studies standards, Mastery-plus increased among high school students by five points in civics and three points in U.S. history.

Cut 8 (08) “…last few years.”

Brumley says nine out of ten school systems improved or maintained their Mastery-plus rate, with 75-percent improving, ten-percent maintaining and 15-percent declining.

Cut 9 (09)  “…improvements as well.”

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The 2026 Louisiana State Pickleball Championship will be held in Bossier City for the first time in the event’s history. Emma Boone with Visit Shreveport-Bossier says it will be a huge boost for tourism when the tournament is held October 9th through the 11th.

Cut 10 (14) “…in this tournament.”

Boone says the event will be held at The Picklr Bossier City, which opened in February and features 11 indoor courts, so weather will not be a factor.

Cut 11 (12) “…into Shreveport-Bossier.”

Boone says sports tourism is becoming a big business throughout northwest Louisiana.

Cut 12 (13) “…the first time.”

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An anti-corruption watchdog group calls the indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill on malfeasance and public intimidation charges a black eye for the city of New Orleans and its criminal justice system. New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission President and CEO Raphael Goyeneche says Murrill did not do anything wrong when she warned New Orleans elected officials about the consequences of not following state law.

Cut 13 (12)  “…to stand down.”

Less than 24 hours after the indictment was announced, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued a stay, which temporarily halted the case. A lower court or even the Louisiana Supreme Court could completely dismiss the charges.

Goyeneche says even if the indictment is tossed out, the saga is not over, because investigations will take place to see if Judge Leon Roche (RO-shay) handled the grand jury proceedings in accordance with state law. Goyeneche says there are also issues with special prosecutor Laurie White and a conflict of interest because the attorney general’s office represents White in a civil sexual harassment lawsuit.

Cut 14 (10) “…all of this.”

Those investigations could take a year or two to complete.

There’s been a long-running public feud between the Democratic leaders of New Orleans and Republican Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill. Goyeneche says this indictment is an example of political weaponization, and it must stop.

Cut 15 (11) “…government in general.”

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The Saints are three weeks away from players reporting for training camp July 28th. The offense hopes to see improvement in year two under head coach Kellen Moore and quarterback Tyler Shough. Luke Johnson with the Times-Picayune says training camp will bring some answers to a fresh unit.

Cut 16 (14) “…under Kellen Moore.”

Shough led the Saints to a 5-and-4 record in nine starts last season. He averaged 265 passing yards a game and threw 10 touchdowns. Johnson says he is high on the sophomore gunslinger but says fans may need to temper expectations.

Cut 17 (13) “…good NFL quarterback.”

On the other side of the ball, coordinator Brandon Staley’s defense lost key players Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor. New Orleans welcomed back linebacker Kaden Ellis to replace Davis, and second-year safety Jonas Sanker is expected to fill Taylor’s nickel corner role. Johnson says he isn’t sure if they’ll make up for the loss of the veterans.

Cut 18 (12) “…a good team.”

The lawyer for Attorney General Liz Murrill is expressing concern about how the Orleans Parish grand jury conducted its business in handing down its 16-count indictment against her client. Laura Rodrigue says if reports are corroborated, the grand jury went about its approach in an illegal manner.

Cut 10 (13) “…the grand jury.” 

Public and charter students in grades three through 12 are making record-breaking achievements in the classroom. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says this year’s LEAP scores set new standards for the state.

Cut 12 (12) “…36-percent.” 

A person was killed in the shooting of a Shreveport officer outside a downtown bar early yesterday morning. Four people were fighting in an alley next to the business when the officer stepped in. The shooter fired wildly, hitting the officer. The officer’s bulletproof vest saved her life; she returned fire, killing the shooter. Two of the other three were arrested. Bar owner Tim Huck says the officer should be commended.

Cut 8 (08) “…saved lives.”   

DOTD is taking the next steps in building the I-49 Lafayette Connector by signing a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Deidra Druilhet with the DOTD says it’s a required document evaluating the environmental impacts of a project.

Cut 3 (09) “…next phase.”

The lawyer representing Attorney General Liz Murrill says the Orleans Parish grand jury which indicted her client on 16 felony counts had leaked information, in violation of the law. Laura Rodrigue says that would give Murrill great concern about Orleans Parish grand juries as a whole.

Cut 11 (09) “…in New Orleans?”

Students in grades three through 12 achieve the highest statewide performance ever on the LEAP test, with 36-percent scoring Mastery or Advanced. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says that’s especially notable, especially given what the state has been through in the seven years that he’s been the education superintendent.

Cut 13 (12) “…educators had prevailed.”

A person was killed in the shooting of a Shreveport officer outside a downtown bar early yesterday morning. Bar owner Tim Huck says four people were fighting in an alley next to the business when the officer stepped in.

Cut 6 (11) “…wrong time.”

Huck says the officer’s bulletproof vest did its job, and her injuries are non-life-threatening. 

DOTD is taking the next steps in building the I-49 Lafayette Connector by signing a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The connector is part of a larger I-49 project to upgrade U.S. Highway 90 to Interstate standards and improve the commute between Lafayette and the Gulf Coast and eventually New Orleans. Deidra Druilhet with DOTD says Lafayette is part of one of the fastest-growing regions in the state.

Cut 5 (12) “…that matter.”

The lawyer for Attorney General Liz Murrill is expressing concern about how the Orleans Parish grand jury conducted its business in handing down its 16-count indictment against her client. Laura Rodrigue says if reports are corroborated, the grand jury went about its approach in an illegal manner.

Cut 10 (13) “…the grand jury.” 

A recent audit of New Orleans restaurants has discovered that 11 of the 44 restaurants its diners ate at served imported shrimp. Chief Operating Officer Erin Williams says she’s taken aback by that relatively high number of restaurants serving imported shrimp, including the two that were up front about it.

Cut 25 (09) “…good Louisiana seafood.”

A shooting in downtown Shreveport early Sunday morning left one dead and an officer injured. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A close call for legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman, as a tree fell on top of his home during severe thunderstorms yesterday. Sustained winds at the time were 44 miles an hour, with wind gusts at 57 miles an hour. Coach Bertman was home at the time, but he was not injured.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has been indicted on 16 felony counts accused of threatening New Orleans elected officials. Andrew Greenstein has the story.

Cut 1 (43) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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LSU is just a few weeks away from the start of fall football practices under new head coach Lane Kiffin. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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An Orleans Parish grand jury has handed down a 16-count felony indictment against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stemming from letters she sent to New Orleans officials in May over the consolidation of the Orleans Parish civil and criminal district courts. In the letters, Murrill said Mayor Helena Moreno and other elected individuals could be removed from office if they continued to push for a special election to name an interim clerk, which the state argued was not needed. Special Prosecutor Laurie White says Murrill broke Louisiana’s law that prohibits public intimidation and retaliation.

Cut 3 (08) “…any other way.”

Murrill faces eight counts of public intimidation and eight counts of malfeasance in office. The attorney representing Murrill, Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, says the elected officials who received the letters violated the state’s usurper laws by defying a newly-passed law approved by state lawmakers, and the state’s highest court backed her position.

Cut 4 (09) “…that was accurate”

The Louisiana Supreme Court blocked the special election and ordered Chelsey Richard Napoleon to serve as consolidated clerk as required by state law.

The indictment of Murrill is the latest in a growing rift between leaders in New Orleans and Governor Landry and his attorney general.

White says Murrill was trying to intimidate the public officials with her letters.

Cut 5 (11) “…to be intimidated.”

Murrill’s bond was set at 400-thousand dollars — 25-thousand dollars for each felony count. Rodrigue believes that’s excessive.

Cut 6 (14) “…of criminal justice?”

Governor Jeff Landry said Murrill was indicted by a kangaroo grand jury and added that the criminal justice system is a circus at its finest in Orleans. He says he’ll pardon her as fast the law allows.

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The LSU Tigers are a month away from their first fall camp under new head coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin has welcomed 39 new players from the transfer portal, including three of the top ten-rated portal prospects. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says expectations are high given the talent in Baton Rouge.

Cut 7 (08) “…playoffs for sure.”

Top transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt will lead the offense. The LSU offense ranked last in the SEC in total yards and rushing yards last season. Guilbeau credits the struggle to an underperforming offensive line, which Kiffin has revamped this offseason.

Cut 8 (11) “…to see that.”

The Tigers welcomed Ole Miss interior lineman Devin Harper and Colorado tackle Jordan Seaton, who was named a Walter Camp Preseason All-American.

Third-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker returns four starters from a unit that ranked in the top half of the SEC in total and scoring defense. Former All-SEC linebacker Whit Weeks will hold down the middle of the field, while corners D.J. Pickett and P.J. Woodland join safety Tamarcus Cooley on the backend. With the addition of Boise State safety Ty Benefield, a no-fly zone is brewing in Baton Rouge.

Cut 9 (08)  “…lot of talent.”

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Law enforcement is urging you to be responsible this Fourth of July weekend if you’ve had too much to drink. Another “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is underway and runs through Monday. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says law enforcement is out in full force looking for impaired drivers.

Cut 10 (14) “…for impaired drivers.”

Fischer says Louisiana averages between five and ten fatalities during the Fourth of July holiday period due to impaired driving.

Cut 11 (10) “…behind the wheel.”

Fischer says the message that the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission wants to drive home is, “Designate before you celebrate.”

Cut 12 (14) “…sober ride home.”

Any driver found to be impaired by drugs or alcohol will be arrested and taken to jail.

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LSU-Alexandria breaks ground on its new 43-million-dollar Health Education Campus. Dr. Ryan Riche (REE-shay), the dean of the College of Health and Human Services at LSU-A, says the 78-thousand-square-foot facility will include active-learning classrooms, advanced simulation laboratories and a 240-seat auditorium.

Cut 13 (08)  “…to be successful.”

Dr. Riche says the new facility is designed to address the shortage of nurses throughout central Louisiana.

Cut 14 (11) “…alleviate that problem.”

Riche says the new campus will support about 700 additional healthcare positions throughout central Louisiana while providing a huge economic boost to the region.

Cut 15 (06) “…annual economic activity.”

Construction is beginning immediately, and the facility will welcome students in the fall of 2028.

An Orleans Parish Grand Jury has handed down a 16-count felony indictment against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stemming from letters she sent to New Orleans officials in May over the consolidation of the Orleans Parish civil and criminal district courts. In the letters, Murrill said Mayor Helena Moreno and other elected individuals could be removed from office if they continued to push for a special election to name an interim clerk, which the state argued was not needed. Special Prosecutor Laurie White says Murrill broke Louisiana’s law that prohibits public intimidation and retaliation.

Cut 3 (08) “…any other way.”

The attorney representing Murrill, Laura Cannizaro Rodrigue, says the elected officials who received the letters violated the state’s usurper laws by defying a newly-passed law.

Cut 4 (09) “…that was accurate”

Your Fourth of July cookout may be slightly more expensive this year. A survey done by the American Farm Bureau Federation found the average cookout for ten this year will cost around $73.82 – that’s up about four-percent from last year. Federation Economist Faith Parum says the most expensive items are the meats – two pounds of beef will run you around 14 dollars.

Cut 7 (11) “..beef high.”

Many families will be spending time at the pool this Fourth of July weekend. The Louisiana Department of Health is urging you to make an extra effort in keeping everyone safe. Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) says you can never take too many precautions with kids.

Cut 9 (09)  “…kids every minute.”

A New Orleans grand jury indicts Attorney General Liz Murrill on 16 counts, including intimidation and malfeasance, stemming from the letters she sent to Mayor Helena Moreno and others, threatening to remove them from their posts. Governor Landry said he would pardon Murrill as fast as the law allows.

The American Farm Bureau Federation found the average ten-person Independence Day Cookout will cost almost 74 dollars this year. Kace Kieschnick reports…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

New Orleans is gearing up for a big Fourth of July weekend. The Essence Festival of Culture begins tomorrow, and Mary Beth Romig with New Orleans and Company says it will kick off in a most historic way.

Cut 12 (09) “…of the festival.” 

And of course, Saturday is the Fourth of July, and Romig says a city that knows how to throw a party has a spectacular fireworks show on the riverfront planned to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday. 

The Louisiana Department of Health is urging you to make sure that all kids are safe at pool parties this Fourth of July weekend. Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein says swimming pools need to be supervised at all times.

Cut 10 (07) “…pool every minute.” 

And whoever is in charge needs to give the people in the pool his or her undivided attention – that means no scrolling through Facebook on the cell phone.

If it seems that summers here in Louisiana and across the country are getting hotter and hotter – well, you’re right. Shel Winkley, the chief meteorologist at Climate Central, says Louisiana’s average summer temperatures have been steadily rising ever since records have been kept.

Cut 24 (13) “…of about 82.4.”

State Representative Gabe Firment of Pollock is running for Congress. He joins at least two other Republicans — Monroe Representative Michael Echols and State Board of Regents chair Misti Cordell — in the race for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by Julia Letlow. Firment says voters can trust him.

Cut 13 (10)  “…get to Congress.”

More than 72-million Americans are expected to travel this Fourth of July weekend. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

An 18-year-old is arrested for allegedly shooting at a Caddo Parish deputy sheriff during a traffic stop early yesterday morning. Investigators say 18-year-old Daraylan Ray pulled into a Shreveport apartment complex, ran from the vehicle and fired a long rifle toward the deputy but did not hit him. Ray is charged with attempted second-degree murder.