After a child was infected by a brain-eating amoeba while swimming in Lake Claiborne, Louisiana health officials are advising you to protect yourself when swimming in fresh water. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

DCFS tells a Senate committee the number of child deaths this year is on pace to surpass that of last year. It says abuse or neglect has played a role in 25 child deaths so far this year, compared to 29 in all of last year.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests a former substitute teacher for allegedly triggering false active shooter alerts. Investigators say 58-year-old Lytonja (luh-TAHN-jah) Barfield used the school district’s emergency management system to falsely report six active shooter alerts at various schools. Corporal Vincent Jackson says it was easy for the school board to determine who was triggering those false alarms.

Cut 10 (07) “…to those schools.” 

The lottery for the first-ever recreational alligator hunting season is now open. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says you will have plenty of chances to score a tag.

Cut 4 (11) “…ten-thousand opportunities statewide.”

Louisiana public health officials are urging you to take precautions when swimming in fresh water following a brain-eating amoeba infection in Claiborne Parish. Willis Knighton Health pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Joseph Bocchini says the infection occurs when water containing the amoeba gets up your nose.

Cut 6 (11) “…brain-eating infection.”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a former substitute teacher for allegedly triggering false active shooter alerts. Corporal Vincent Jackson says 58-year-old Lytonja (luh-TAHN-jah) Barfield used the school district’s emergency management system to falsely report active shooter alerts at several schools.

Cut 9 (13)  “…out five more.”

For the first time ever, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is holding a recreational alligator hunting season, and the lottery for tags opened this morning. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says the state is able to open up the harvesting of alligators to recreational hunters thanks to an act of legislature in this year’s session, because the state is being overrun with alligators.

Cut 3 (08) “…has fully recovered.”

Governor Landry is expected to announce next Tuesday that SpaceX will build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The Advocate reports a decade-long coastal damages lawsuit filed by Vermilion Parish and the state against ExxonMobil has been dismissed as part of the deal. Advocate reporter Stephanie Riegel says more details will be announced in Abbeville.

Cut 14 (08) “…puts in place.”

The lottery for the first-ever recreational alligator hunting season is now open. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says you will have plenty of chances to score a tag.

Cut 4 (11) “…ten-thousand opportunities statewide.”

The season will run throughout the entire month of October.

The first poll in the U.S. Senate general election race shows Julia Letlow with a four-point lead over Jamie Davis. One finding of the poll of 518 registered voters is that more than half had neither a favorable nor an unfavorable opinion of Davis, compared to just over one-fourth for Letlow. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says it shows Letlow’s advantage in name recognition.

Cut 11 (10) “…the Republican nomination.”

State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by some public and charter schools. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

From questionable spending to questionable judgement – a Caddo Parish substitute teacher is arrested for allegedly triggering false active shooter alerts. Sheriff Henry Whitehorn says 58-year-old Lytonja Barfield used the school district’s emergency management system to falsely report active shooter alerts at five schools.

For the first time ever, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is holding a recreational alligator hunting season, and the lottery for tags opened this morning. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says the state is able to open up the harvesting of alligators to recreational hunters thanks to an act of legislature in this year’s session, because the state is being overrun with alligators.

Cut 3 (08) “…has fully recovered.”

Bosworth says there are roughly three-million alligators in the coastal zone alone – that’s about two-thirds of the state’s human population. 

The K-12 School Transparency Project, which launched last year, has identified questionable spending by Louisiana public and charter schools. State Treasurer John Fleming says that’s led to a complaint investigated by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

Cut 9 (13)  “…a private institution.”

Governor Landry is expected to announce next Tuesday that SpaceX will build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The Advocate reports a decade-long coastal damages lawsuit filed by Vermilion Parish and the state against ExxonMobil has been dismissed as part of the deal. Advocate reporter Stephanie Riegel says more details will be announced in Abbeville.

Cut 14 (08) “…puts in place.”

The first poll of the U.S. Senate general election campaign may indicate a more competitive race than expected. The poll by Public Policy Polling shows Julia Letlow with a four-point lead over Jamie Davis. The poll of 518 registered voters shows more than 20-percent are undecided, and LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says Letlow still has the advantage.

Cut 12 (09) “…towards her side.”

State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by Louisiana public and charter schools. Fleming says nearly everyone wants to see teachers make more money, and it’s possible that could happen if state dollars were spent appropriately.

Cut 8 (10) “…misdirecting these funds.”

President Trump is proposing slashing five-billion dollars from the National Institutes of Health in the 2027 fiscal year budget, and that has doctors greatly concerned. Dr. Chancellor Donald with the Tulane University School of Medicine says the clinical trials that lead to breakthrough treatments for debilitating diseases are all funded by money Congress allocates to the N-I-H.

Cut 5 (10) “…here in Louisiana.”

Governor Landry is expected to announce next Tuesday that SpaceX will build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in coastal Vermilion Parish that will be used to launch rockets into orbit. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A new college sports eligibility rule could pave the way for players competing for NFL roster spots to return to college for one more season. A Baton Rouge judge has granted a temporary restraining order to allow 16 football players to go back to college for one more season, including former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn. He’s one of the plaintiffs while trying to make the Buccaneers roster.

Doctors in Louisiana are sounding the alarm over potential funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by some public and charter schools. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Governor Landry is expected to announce next Tuesday that SpaceX will build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in coastal Vermilion Parish that will be used to launch rockets into orbit. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Louisiana doctors are sounding the alarm over a proposed massive funding cut to the National Institutes of Health. For the 2027 fiscal year, President Trump is proposing slashing five-billion dollars from NIH funding, representing 12-percent of its operating budget. Dr. Chancellor Donald, the interim chief of the division of hematology and medical oncology at the Tulane University School of Medicine, says if Congress doesn’t restore that funding by September 30th, the impact will be devastating.

Cut 4 (10) “…in their toolbox.”

Dr. Donald says the clinical trials that lead to breakthrough treatments for debilitating diseases are all funded by money Congress allocates to the National Institutes of Health.

Cut 5 (10) “…here in Louisiana.”

Donald says if NIH funding is cut, that would greatly slow down the progress in finding cures for life-threatening diseases like cancer.

Cut 6 (11) “…tomorrow’s blockbuster cures.”

Donald says NIH funding has paid huge dividends over the years. He notes that the five-year survival for breast cancer has jumped from 75-percent to more than 91-percent, metastatic melanoma survival has jumped from less than 10-percent to more than 50-percent, and childhood leukemia survival has soared from 10-percent to 90-percent.

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State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by Louisiana public and charter schools. The online portal which launched last year allows citizens to see how public and charter schools spend taxpayer dollars, and Fleming says it has uncovered potential misuse of public funds.

Cut 7 (09) “…stores and restaurants.”

Fleming says the portal also shows how school systems have spent thousands of dollars on balloons and fireworks, and there’s also a case where a political donation was made. The state treasurer says nearly everyone wants to see teachers make more money, and it’s possible that could happen if state dollars were spent appropriately.

Cut 8 (10) “…misdirecting these funds.”

Fleming says the financial data that the K-12 School Transparency Project provides to the public led to a complaint investigated by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

Cut 9 (13)  “…a private institution.”

Fleming urges the Legislative Auditor and the Attorney General’s office to investigate any questionable use of public funds.

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We have our first poll in the U.S. Senate general election matchup between Republican Julia Letlow and Democrat Jamie Davis. The poll conducted by Public Policy Polling shows Letlow leading Davis by four points, 41 to 37-percent, with 22-percent undecided. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says it’s important to note that this is the only poll out thus far.

Cut 10 (13) “…in this state.”

One finding of the poll of 518 registered voters is that more than half had neither a favorable nor an unfavorable opinion of Davis, compared to just over one-fourth for Letlow. Hogan says it underscores the gap in name recognition.

Cut 11 (10) “…the Republican nomination.”

Hogan says over the next two-plus months, those 22-percent of respondents who are currently undecided will eventually make up their minds, and he says Letlow has the advantage.

Cut 12 (09) “…towards her side.”

Among the 518 respondents, Republicans outnumbered Democrats by 14 points. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus four-percent.

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Governor Jeff Landry will reportedly announce next Tuesday that Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The Advocate reports the spaceport would be built on 130 acres of coastal marshland near Pecan Island, about 45 miles southwest of Lafayette, and would launch rockets into orbit. Advocate reporter Stephanie Riegel says the project could potentially bring thousands of jobs to Louisiana.

Cut 13 (11)  “..in Richland Parish.”

As part of the deal, a decade-long coastal damages lawsuit filed by Vermilion Parish and the state against ExxonMobil has been dismissed. Riegel says more details will be announced Tuesday at 11 a-m in Abbeville.

Cut 14 (08) “…puts in place.”

SpaceX and Landry have not commented. Musk says the company needs more launch sites to support its goal of deploying up to a million Starlink satellites.

There have been whispers about the proposed project for weeks, and Riegel says there are many in Vermilion Parish concerned about what this will mean for their way of life.

Cut 15 (11) “…Pecan Island community.”

The area is popular for recreational hunting and fishing.

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UL-Lafayette football coach Michael Desormeaux says redshirt junior wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr. is progressing in his rehab but is still sidelined during practice. Sampson was the Cajuns’ leading receiver with 32 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns last season. Desormeaux says he has been out longer than expected.

Cut 16 (14) “…the conditioning part.”

The Cajuns are relying on dynamic redshirt junior quarterback Lunch Winfield to make the next step after leading the team to a 4-and-4 record as the starter last season. Desormeaux says he has done a better job of taking what the defense gives him and has been more accurate through fall camp. He tries to complete 70-percent of his passes every day.

Cut 17 (14) “…are four yards.”

Three weeks into fall camp, Desormeaux has been very impressed with freshman linebacker Harrison Kidder.

Cut 18 (16) “…good football player.”

_________________________________________

The Saints will participate in their final joint practice of the preseason against the Rams today. Los Angeles is coming off a 12-and-5 season behind MVP Matthew Stafford, so Saints linebacker Danny Stutsman says they will be a great test for the defense.

Cut 19 (17) “…Orleans Saints football.”

More than 10 fights broke out during the Saints and Cowboys joint practice on Tuesday. Stutsman says those scuffles can take away from the work being put in on the field, but they do help bring the team together.

Cut 20 (15) “…have everyone’s back.”

State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by Louisiana public and charter schools. The online portal which launched last year allows citizens to see how public and charter schools spend taxpayer dollars, and Fleming says it has uncovered potential misuse of public funds.

Cut 7 (09) “…stores and restaurants.”

The Louisiana Department of Health says youth vaping remains a critical public health crisis in the state, and it’s urging parents and teachers to talk to kids about the dangers of vaping. Taylor Reine (“renn”) with LDH says if your kid is trying to quit vaping, there are resources available.

Cut 14 (09) “…counseling quit support.” 

Teens can enroll in Live Vape Free by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373.

Now more than ever, be on the lookout for stalled vehicles on the shoulder of the roadway. That’s because the state’s long-standing “move over” law has now expanded. State Police Master Trooper Casey Wallace says whereas the old law applied to emergency vehicles, the new law now includes all types of vehicles.

Cut 6 (10) “…broken down, stranded.”

Saints running back Alvin Kamara will miss the start of the regular season with an MCL Sprain suffered during a joint practice with the Cowboys yesterday. The 31-year-old took a pay cut to stay in New Orleans alongside free agent back Travis Etienne this offseason. Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says his availability was one of the reasons he took that cut.

Cut 9 (11)  “…state level.”

The U-S Fifth Circuit of Court of Appeals has rejected an Angola death row inmate’s attempt to avoid execution for killing two people at a Baton Rouge restaurant in 1995. Todd Wessinger is arguing that his court-appointed attorneys did not provide him effective counsel during his trial. But cicruit court judge Don Willett described Wessinger’s argument as a clever attempt, moving him closer to a possible execution date. 

Burn bans are now in effect in 22 parishes throughout the state. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The Louisiana Department of Health says teen vaping continues to be a crisis. According to the 2023 Louisiana Youth Tobacco Survey, 30-percent of high school students and 18-percent of middle school students vape. Taylor Reine with LDH says two factors which contribute to those high numbers are the marketing of vape products to teens and their ease of availability.

Cut 13 (08) “…and retail stores.”

The state has expanded its long-standing “move over” law. Previously, you only had to change lanes when approaching an emergency vehicle on the shoulder. Now, that applies to ANY vehicle. State Police Master Trooper Casey Wallace says there is an allowance if that’s impossible given traffic conditions.

Cut 7 (15) “…with extreme caution.”

The Louisiana Department of Health has reported a brain-eating amoeba infection in a resident. The department says the resident likely became infected while swimming in Lake Claiborne in Cameron Parish. LDH says the infection may result when freshwater containing the amoeba rushes up one’s nose and reaches the brain. It says while the infection is extremely rare, it’s almost always fatal.

Staying with LDH, it says youth vaping remains a critical public health crisis in the state, and it’s urging parents and teachers to talk to kids about the dangers of vaping. Taylor Reine (“renn”), who oversees the division of chronic disease prevention at LDH, says kids need to know that vaping is no safer than smoking cigarettes.

Cut 12 (13) “…for lifelong addiction.” 

Reine says there are resources available for teens who want to quit vaping, including free text-based counseling support.

Amid hot, dry conditions, burn bans are now in effect in 19 parishes – mainly in north Louisiana, with five parishes being in south Louisiana. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says more burn bans could be forthcoming, and they’re always issued at the local level.

Cut 4 (13) “…a burn ban.”

Saints running back Alvin Kamara will miss the start of the regular season with an MCL Sprain suffered during a joint practice with the Cowboys yesterday. The 31-year-old took a pay cut to stay in New Orleans alongside free agent back Travis Etienne this offseason. Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says his availability was one of the reasons he took that cut.

Cut 9 (11)  “…state level.”

Burn bans are now in effect in 19 parishes throughout the state. Most are in north Louisiana, along with Jefferson Davis, East Feliciana, St. Helena (hu-LEE-nah), Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes in south Louisiana. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says conditions outside are not conducive to burning anything.

Cut 3 (09) “…firefighters to control.”

Now more than ever, be on the lookout for stalled vehicles on the shoulder of the roadway. That’s because the state’s long-standing “move over” law has now expanded. State Police Master Trooper Casey Wallace says whereas the old law applied to emergency vehicles such as police units, fire trucks and ambulances, the new law now includes all types of vehicles, including private passenger vehicles and even motorcycles.

Cut 6 (10) “…broken down, stranded.”

Amazon Web Services says it’s adding a third data center in Northwest Louisiana. This one’s going up at Resilient Technology Park in west Shreveport. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says Amazon has promised to protect natural resources and invest in infrastructure as it constructs these three data centers.

Cut 14 (05) “…hardening the grid.”

Louisiana nonprofit The Boot has helped 255 service members transition into post-military careers during the previous fiscal year. CEO Benjamin Armstrong says the careers that the servicemembers pursue usually relate in some way to the training they received while serving their country.

Cut 5 (15) “…is another one.”