Starting Saturday, outdoor balloon releases for memorials and celebrations will be illegal in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo explains why.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The next time you cast your ballot, your “I voted” sticker will have a new look. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Saints begin preseason practice in year two of the Kellen Moore era today. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieshnick.”

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A new law taking effect Saturday will ban outdoor balloon releases in Louisiana for memorials and celebrations. Harahan Representative John Illg authored the measure and says balloons can create environmental problems when they are released.

Cut 4 (08) “…our waterways.”

Lawmakers approved the ban last year, but Governor Jeff Landry vetoed it. This year, the governor allowed the measure to become law without his signature. Illg says the ban has support from Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the agriculture industry.

Cut 5 (10) “…then possibly die.”

Illg says people have found alternatives to other traditions, like replacing rice at weddings with bird seed, and he believes families can find other ways to honor loved ones or celebrate special occasions.

Cut 6 (08) “…one of them.”

First-time violators could face a fine of up to 500 dollars or eight hours of community service. Repeat offenders could face fines up to 25-hundred dollars and lose their driver’s license. Illg says the goal is not to punish people, but to educate the public about the environmental impact of plastic balloons.

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Households that suffered financial losses from Tropical Storm Arthur can apply for Disaster SNAP benefits this week. Tim Jenkins, who oversees the SNAP program for the Louisiana Department of Health, says applicants must live in designated disaster areas of Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany or Terrebonne parishes, but not everyone in those parishes will qualify.

Cut 7 (09) “…census block ratio.”

Eligibility is based on ZIP code and whether a household was impacted by flooding in the designated disaster areas.

Applications will be accepted through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. by calling 888-524-3578. Jenkins says most applicants will find out during their interview if they qualify.

Cut 8 (11) “…eligible for assistance.”

Today, households with last names beginning with N through Z can apply. On Thursday and Friday, applications will be accepted from anyone in the eligible areas. Jenkins says D-SNAP is intended to help families recover from storm-related financial losses.

Cut 9 (12)  “…participating in that.”

Current SNAP recipients are not eligible for D-SNAP and should not apply.

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A voting system will be undergoing testing for certification this morning in Baton Rouge. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says after five voting systems and one ballot marking device have been previously certified, a voting system manufactured by Smartmatic will now be tested.

Cut 10 (10) “…to be certified.”

The testing will happen at the Louisiana State Archives from nine to noon – and Secretary Landry says the best part is, you’re invited.

Cut 11 (03) “…see the demonstration.”

Landry says the state is still on track to select a new voting system by the end of this year.

Cut 12 (12) “…it after this.”

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The next time you cast your ballot, your “I voted” sticker will look a little different. The crawfish named Mark de Ballot is being retired; in its place is a work of art created by New Orleans artist Terrence Osborne. The sticker pays tribute to the whole state, and the centerpiece is a trumpet. Osborne says his imagination took over from there.

Cut 13 (09)  “…of the horn.”

Osborne says it was important to incorporate various symbols of Louisiana.

Cut 14 (08) “…to New Orleans.”

Osborne says he created his image in a way to symbolize the trumpet blaring the story of Louisiana through images.

Cut 15 (10) “…they represent sound.”

As for Mark de Ballot, there’s no truth to the rumor that he’s been boiled in Tony Chachere’s seasoning with potatoes and corn.

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The Saints hold their first practice of training camp today. It’s one of the most optimistic preseasons in recent years for a Saints team trying to end a five-year playoff drought. That is largely thanks to second-year quarterback Tyler Shough, who General Manager Mickey Loomis says confirmed he has the intangibles to be a successful quarterback this offseason.

Cut 16 (14) “…can take us.”

To help Shough make the next step in year two, the Saints signed running back Travis Etienne (AY-chan) and drafted first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Head coach Kellen Moore says maybe most important to Shough’s production will be All-Pro receiver Chris Olave.

Cut 17 (16) “…continuing to grow.”

Loomis says Olave and the team are in negotiations for a contract extension, and both sides would like the former first-rounder to stay in New Orleans.

New Orleans was able to bring back veteran stars Cameron Jordan and Alvin Kamara this offseason. Kamara took a pay cut to fill a new role alongside Etienne in the backfield, and Moore says last year’s stagnant run game can now be a strength of the team.

Cut 18 (16) “…group for us.”

Wide receiver Mason Tipton and defensive lineman Keeshawn Silver were placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start camp. Loomis said Olave and Tyson, as well as running back Kendre Miller, are all cleared and good to go.

Conservation groups and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are working to restore a popular fishing area in Terrebonne Parish. Coastal Conservation Association Louisiana Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Page says crews are installing 650 NATRX exoform reef structures to enhance the area.

Cut 12 (12) “…excited about that.”

A voting system will be undergoing testing for certification tomorrow  morning in Baton Rouge. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says after five voting systems and one ballot marking device have been previously certified, a voting system manufactured by Smartmatic will now be tested.

Cut 10 (10) “…to be certified.”

Louisiana is one of five states still in the running to host a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo .”

Former LSU football coach Brian Kelly has a new job. Kelly is a part of CBS Sports’ college football coverage. Kelly will be a member of the studio show “Inside College Football” on Tuesdays and call mainly Mountain West games. His booth debut will come August 29 in a week zero matchup between North Dakota State and Jacksonville State.

Louisiana is one of five states under consideration for a new Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. Patrick Courreges with the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy says the U.S. Department of Energy chose the five states after reviewing 28 applications from 26 states…

Cut 4 (10) “…go forward.”

Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Idaho are the other finalists.

The next time you cast your ballot, your “I voted” sticker will look a little different. The crawfish named Mark de Ballot is being retired; in its place is a work of art created by New Orleans artist Terrence Osborne. The sticker pays tribute to the whole state, and the centerpiece is a trumpet. Osborne says his imagination took over from there.

Cut 13 (09)  “…of the horn.”

The Saints reported for training camp today, with practice kicking off tomorrow. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

One Saints rookie is already making an early impression in the community. Yesterday, defensive tackle Christen Miller was at a Rouses in Metairie, when he entered the checkout line with just one bag of fresh shrimp. A woman named Leslie let him go in front of her – and Miller proceeded to pay for her entire grocery order. Needless to say, Leslie was speechless.

A Thibodaux man is charged with sex crimes involving a child. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says juvenile detectives began investigating 61-year-old Gregory Leblanc last month after allegations surfaced about inappropriate behavior years ago with a girl who was under ten years old at the time.

Cut 9 (05)  “…the child’s knowledge.”

Leblanc is charged with multiple counts of indecent behavior, video voyeurism, child pornography and child molestation.

A beloved St. Landry Parish elementary school teacher was killed in a head-on crash on I-49 Sunday. Leonville Elementary School confirmed the death of Katelyn LeBlanc in a Facebook post yesterday. Andre Champagne was one of her students and says she taught him life lessons like patience that prepared him for life beyond the classroom.

Cut 6 (06) “…stuck with me.”

LeBlanc’s four daughters attend Leonville Elementary. 

The economic impact of Meta’s 50-billion-dollar A-I data center is already being felt across northeast Louisiana. Grow NELA President and CEO Rob Cleveland says the economic boom is fueling residential development, and local restaurants and other businesses are seeing increased customer traffic.

Cut 15 (09) “…normal business activity.”

The Hyperion data center is expected to become operational in 2030, and final completion is expected by 2032.

State Education Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley is urging school districts to crack down on unruly student behavior this upcoming school year. Brumley is calling on districts to make a commitment to stand firm on inappropriate behavior.

Cut 7 (11) “…make that happen.”

Brumley is also calling on school systems to enforce the state’s anti-bullying laws.

The St. Landry Parish community is mourning the death of a Leonville Elementary School teacher, killed in a head-on car crash on I-49 Sunday. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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The state education superintendent has a message for school district leaders – crack down on unruly kids. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Northeast Louisiana is already seeing an economic boost from Meta’s artificial intelligence data center — and the facility isn’t even open yet. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A beloved St. Landry Parish elementary school teacher was killed in a head-on crash on I-49 Sunday. Leonville Elementary School confirmed the death of Katelyn LeBlanc in a Facebook post that read, “She loved her students wholeheartedly and poured herself into helping them learn, grow, and feel valued each day.” One of her former students, Andre Champagne, says she was a pure soul.

Cut 4 (09) “…of the classroom.”

Champagne says LeBlanc was a beloved mentor in the tight-knit Leonville community. He says she made students look forward to coming to class each day and cared about them inside and outside of the classroom.

Cut 5 (09) “…that same resource.”

Champagne says LeBlanc’s guidance as an English teacher helped him become a professional sportswriter. More importantly, though, he says she taught her students life lessons like patience and prepared them for life beyond the classroom.

Cut 6 (06) “…stuck with me.”

LeBlanc’s four daughters attend Leonville Elementary.

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State Education Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley is urging school districts to crack down on unruly student behavior this upcoming school year. Brumley is calling on districts to make a commitment to stand firm on inappropriate behavior.

Cut 7 (11) “…make that happen.”

Brumley says laws are in place to deal with students who habitually disrupt classroom learning.

Cut 8 (11) “…an automatic expulsion.”

In this past legislative session, lawmakers adopted a House resolution which urges school systems to comply with and enforce the state’s anti-bullying laws. Brumley says students have made such tremendous strides in the classroom in recent years, and he doesn’t want to see it undone by a select few students who act up.

Cut 9 (08)  “…inappropriate student behavior.”

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The search for the remains of 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather is now in its third week in the North Landfill in Zachary, near Baton Rouge. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says the hot, humid conditions are making things very hard for the searchers, especially with them being covered in gear from head to toe.

Cut 10 (12) “…go back out.”

Moore says the searchers are sifting through thousands of cubic yards of material, including hazardous items.

Cut 11 (10) “…in-home care.”

Investigators say 51-year-old Maurice Parms killed the teen and put his body in a dumpster, and those contents were subsequently dumped in the landfill. Moore says the searchers are not giving up.

Cut 12 (11) “…were their child.”

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The economic impact of Meta’s 50-billion-dollar A-I data center is already being felt across northeast Louisiana. Grow NELA President and CEO Rob Cleveland says just 18 months into construction, sales tax collections are soaring.

Cut 13 (09)  “…40-million dollars”

The Hyperion data center is under construction in Richland Parish, where Cleveland says first-quarter sales tax collections reached 38-million dollars — six times higher than during the same period last year. He says sales tax revenues are also climbing in neighboring Franklin Parish, while Ouachita Parish is on pace for a record-breaking year.

Cleveland says Meta’s investment is also attracting new businesses to the region.

Cut 14 (10) “…in Ouachita Parish.”

Cleveland says the economic boom is fueling residential development, and local restaurants and other businesses are seeing increased customer traffic.

Cut 15 (09) “…normal business activity.”

The Hyperion data center is expected to become operational in 2030, and final completion is expected by 2032. The massive A-I data center is expected to produce 75-hundred construction jobs and one-thousand permanent jobs once construction is completed.

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The Saints report for their second training camp under head coach Kellen Moore today. New Orleans went 6-and-11 in Moore’s first season but ended the season 5-and-4 when rookie Tyler Shough took over as the starting quarterback. Luke Johnson covers the Saints for NOLA-dot-com and says fans should be hopeful heading into year two.

Cut 16 (16) “…of the ball.”

With Shough returning and big free agent additions like running back Travis Etienne (AY-chan), guard David Edwards and linebacker Kaden Ellis, Johnson says there will not be as many preseason battles to earn a starting spot. He’s more intrigued by depth battles like in the running back room.

Cut 17 (15) “…for this team.”

The Saints and wide receiver Chris Olave are negotiating a contract extension after the former first-rounder’s All-Pro season last year. Johnson says it isn’t a question of if an extension gets done but when. He expects Olave to be a top playmaker for the Black and Gold offense.

Cut 18 (13) “…he stays healthy.”

The average homeowners insurance premium runs nearly six-thousand dollars a year in the Bayou State. While that’s almost two and a half times the national average, the rate of premium increases has actually slowed considerably. Leaders for a Better Louisiana CEO Adam Kanpp says the fact that it’s been years since the last major hurricane in Louisiana has something to do with that.

Cut 14 (08) “…better pricing.”

The Department of Revenue sends out almost 23-thousand letters to taxpayers who have refunds owed to them. Department spokesman Byron Henderson says if you receive one of them, you can claim your refund in one of two ways.

Cut 11 (13) “…unclaimed property letter.”

Any refunds not claimed by September 4th will go into unclaimed property.

The Louisiana Department of Education has recognized the state’s teacher and principal of the year. Jeff Palermo tells us who won.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Here we go again with the huge lottery jackpots. Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is up to 633-million dollars. And if you don’t win tonight – and trust me, you won’t – you can try Mega MillionS tomorrow night. That jackpot is up to 800-million dollars. The odds against you winning either jackpot are less than one in 292-million. Good luck, you’re going to need it.

For the first half of this week, the heat will be pure torture. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the culprit is an area of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico that serves as a pump.

Cut 3 (12) “…clouds from forming.”

The lack of cloud cover allows the sun to bake on the landscape, preventing rainfall and anything else that could cool us off. 

The Department of Revenue sends out almost 23-thousand letters to taxpayers who have refunds owed to them. Department spokesman Byron Henderson says if you receive one of them, you can claim your refund in one of two ways.

Cut 11 (13) “…unclaimed property letter.”

Any refunds not claimed by September 4th will go into unclaimed property.

The Louisiana Department of Education has recognized the state’s teacher and principal of the year. Jeff Palermo tells us who won.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The search for the remains of 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather enters its third week. Searchers are combing through the North Landfill in Zachary, near Baton Rouge, sifting through thousands of cubic yards of material, including glass, needles and other hazardous items. Investigators say 51-year-old Maurice Parms killed the teen and put his body in a dumpster.

The heat for the first half of this week will be downright brutal. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says an area of high pressure is pumping warm, moist air in from the Gulf of Mexico, preventing clouds from forming. Combine that with above-normal humidity levels, that’s going to make it that much more unbearable. 

Cut 5 (09) “…week moves on.”

If you have a state tax refund due to you, time is running out to claim it from the Department of Revenue. Department spokesman Byron Henderson says it sent nearly 23-thousand unclaimed property letters to individual and business taxpayers.

Cut 10 (12) “…state treasurer’s office.” 

Any money not claimed by September 4th will be transferred to the unclaimed property division.

Your 2026 teacher of the year is Alisha Butler. She teaches dual enrollment English and intermediate Braille at the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired in Baton Rouge. Butler says she’s proud to be a teacher in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (06) “…humbling.”

By winning the award, Butler gets to drive a new Mercedes Benz for a year.

A new at-home treatment for Alzheimer’s disease could soon be available. The Spectris headset uses brain stimulation to help slow the disease. It’s still in clinical trials, but Ochsner regional medical director Dr. Richard Zweifler says early results show the therapy may help remove the plaque associated with Alzheimer’s.

Cut 14 (11) “…high quality of life.”

Ochsner says FDA approval could come by next June.

“We’re going to have heat on steroids this week.” Those are the words of LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim as he describes the heat and humidity that’s blanketing Louisiana this week. Keim says the culprit is an area of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico that serves as a pump.

Cut 3 (12) “…clouds from forming.”

The lack of cloud cover allows the sun to bake on the landscape, preventing rainfall and anything else that could cool us off. 

LDWF reported the state’s whooping crane recovery effort saw 10 fledged chicks, bringing the state’s total population to 84. Biologist Sara Zimorski says it was a historic nesting season.

Cut 7 (14) “…had this year.”

In announcing that he will not seek a second term in his second stint in Congress, Cleo Fields says a lot has changed in the 28 years between his two stints on Capitol Hill, and not for the better. The Baton Rouge Democrat says before, Democrats and Republicans were actually civil towards one another. Today, however, not so much – and that lack of cordialness has spread well beyond the halls of Congress.

Cut 12 (08) “…talking at all.”

The new president of McNeese also happens to be a sitting state senator. Mike Reese, a Republican from Leesville, says he will serve in one more legislative session and will not run for re-election. But between now and the end of his term, given the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day, Senator Reese – make that President Reese – will be juggling his time between his two jobs.

Cut 6 (11) “…as state senator.”

Cleo Fields announces he will not seek a second term in his second stint in Congress. Instead, he will turn to the 14th State Senate district – a seat he held three times previously, including earlier in the current term. He announced that he’ll run to fill the seat left vacant by the untimely death of Larry Selders. Fields says if he wins, it would be bittersweet.

Cut 8 (08) “…what he started.”

Louisiana farmers suffered an estimated 112-million-dollar loss as a result of Tropical Storm Arthur last month. Avoyelles, St. Landry and Rapides Parishes accounted for 90-percent of total losses. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says Avoyelles received 29 inches of rain in less than 24 hours.

Cut 9 (09)  “…excessive moisture.”

LSU was picked to finish fifth in the SEC in the conference preseason media poll. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Tropical Storm Bertha did nothing to cool off temperatures – and that’s going to be the case through much of the week next week. High temperatures for much of the state will be in the mid to upper nineties, with heat indexes approaching or even exceeding 110 degrees. Health officials urge you to limit your time outdoors in these conditions.