There has been growing opposition to Flock Safety cameras, but Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse says they are nothing new. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Tragedy in Concordia Parish as a 15-year-old boy is shot to death. Police in Vidalia say the boy and a 14-year-old were playing with a loaded gun when it discharged, striking the victim. The victim was airlifted to a hospital but did not survive his injuries. The 14-year-old was detained at the scene; no word of any charges at this time.

Summer vacation is over; school is now back in session. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says nearly 90-percent of the teachers who taught last year have returned for the new school year. He says teacher vacancies have also dropped, from about 25-hundred a few years ago to roughly one-thousand today. And he says teacher morale appears to be improving as well.

Cut 11 (10) “…paperwork.”

The LSU Lady Tigers are gearing up for another season; it tips off November 2nd against Southeastern Louisiana. The Advocate’s Reed Darcy says Head Coach Kim Mulkey has had to rebuild her squad after their heartbreaking loss to Duke in the Sweet 16, but this year’s team is poised to compete for a deep tournament run again.

Cut 14 (12) “…transfer portal.”

A new school year is underway, and State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley is optimistic the recent gains in student achievement will continue. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana is losing film industry jobs at an alarming rate. A new report from Giggster says Louisiana had the highest percentage of decline in film industry jobs since 2024, and it had the fourth most total job losses from 2024 to 2025.

State representative Danny McCormick has proposed a ban on Flock cameras in Louisiana, saying they violate citizens’ privacy. But Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse says that is not true.

Cut 6 (13) “…public roadways.”

Morse says the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that there is no expectation of privacy in a public space.

The LSU women’s basketball schedule is out. The Lady Tigers tip off the season against Southeastern Louisiana on November 2nd. SEC play begins December 31st at Auburn, and The Advocate’s Reed Darcy says Kim Mulkey’s squad could go undefeated in January.

Cut 12 (12) “…postseason after that.” 

LSU ends the regular season with South Carolina, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Thousands of lives were changed ten years ago today when a slow-moving weather system dumped torrential rain across south Louisiana, causing catastrophic flooding from the Lafayette area to southeast Louisiana. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry says 78-percent of homes in the city had at least 18 inches of water inside, yet only about one in four residents had flood insurance.

Cut 15 (09) “…it’s never enough.”

As for the rain chances for the rest of this week, State Climatologist Jay Grymes says today will likely be the last day we’ll see any rain for quite some time.

Cut 4 (10) “…into the weekend.”

And that’s going to give way to heat and humidity, with heat index values exceeding 110 in some areas.

There’s been growing opposition to Flock Safety cameras, but Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse says they are nothing new. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Tragedy in Concordia Parish as a 15-year-old boy is shot to death. Police in Vidalia say the boy and a 14-year-old were playing with a loaded gun when it discharged, striking the victim. The victim was airlifted to a hospital but did not survive his injuries. The 14-year-old was detained at the scene; no word on any charges at this time.

A 17-year-old is dead and an 18-year-old is facing a negligent homicide charge as a result of a driving stunt in Tangipahoa Parish. Sheriff Gerald Sticker says Josean (ho-ZAY-in) Martinez was driving his truck recklessly while Dulce (DUL-chay) Rudas was sitting outside the passenger window and another 20-year-old was standing in the bed of the vehicle. He says this is a tragedy with a sobering lesson.

Cut 4 (11) “…go home again.”

The Coca-Cola Bottling Company announces that it’s investing more than 100-million dollars to expand its warehouse and distribution operations in Alexandria. Louisiana Central President and CEO Chris Masingill says in the long run, it made all the sense in the world for Coca-Cola to remain in central Louisiana.

Cut 9 (08)  “…and Rapides Parish.”

One of the most destructive floods in Louisiana’s history happened ten years ago this week. Jeff Palermo has a look back at the Great Flood of 2016.

Cut 3 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

In the aftermath, billions of dollars in federal aid were sent to south Louisiana to rebuild homes and businesses, elevate houses and improve flood-control systems.

Qualifying is over, so let the congressional campaigns begin. In the two open seats in the fifth and sixth districts, political analysts expect Republicans to win both, albeit not decided until runoffs in December. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says it would get very interesting if the balance of power in the House is not decided in November, and a Democratic candidate was in one or both races.

Cut 8 (11) “… redistricting.”

Optimism continues to rise among small businesses, but challenges persist. NFIB state director Leah Long says labor quality is a problem that the Landry administration, state lawmakers, K-through-12 and higher education leaders are trying to fix.

Cut 10 (15) “…owned businesses.”

A doctor with LCMC Health performs the first single-port robotic lung cancer surgery in the Gulf South on a man from Metairie, who is now cancer free. Dr. Wassim Abi Jaoude says the groundbreaking procedure involves just a single incision instead of four or five, and that provides great benefits to the patient.

Cut 4 (09) “…potentially less complication.”

Here we go again – the Powerball jackpot has once again hit ten figures. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says be sure to buy your tickets for tomorrow night’s billion-dollar drawing.

Cut 10 (05) “…a billion dollars.”

If it seems as if billion-dollar jackpots are happening more frequently in Powerball, you’re right. That’s due in large part to a change that happened in 2015, in which they added ten white balls and removed nine red balls, reducing the odds from less than one in 175-million to less than one in 292-million.

The latest nationwide survey finds that optimism continues to rise among small businesses, but challenges persist. NFIB state director Leah Long says for the month of July, the top reported issue was labor quality or availability.

Cut 9 (08)  “…definitely an issue.”

Long says it’s a problem that the Landry administration, state lawmakers, K-through-12 and higher education leaders are trying to fix.

An LCMC Health doctor performs a groundbreaking lung cancer procedure. Dr. Wassim Abi Jaoude (ZHAO-day) of East Jefferson General Hospital performed the first single-port robotic lung cancer surgery in the Gulf South on a man from Metairie, who is now cancer free.

Cut 3 (09) “…only one incision.”

Abi Jaoude is currently the only surgeon in the region offering the single-port robotic lung cancer surgery.

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan could miss the start of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

It’s believed to be one of the largest methamphetamine busts in Louisiana history. Deputies with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office pull over an 18-wheeler on eastbound I-12 in Denham Springs and found almost 800 pounds of meth in the trailer. Anton Rakov, a Russian national, was arrested and is now in ICE custody.

A man from Metairie is now cancer-free, thanks to a groundbreaking lung cancer surgery performed by an LCMC Health doctor. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan could miss the start of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

____________________________________________

An LCMC Health doctor performs a groundbreaking lung cancer procedure. Dr. Wassim Abi Jaoude (ZHAO-day) of East Jefferson General Hospital performed the first single-port robotic lung cancer surgery in the Gulf South on a man from Metairie, who is now cancer free.

Cut 3 (09) “…only one incision.”

Dr. Abi Jaoude says through this single incision, he’s able to do the exact same thing that he’s able to do with the traditional multiple incisions. But by using that one incision measuring between two and seven centimeters long along with the Vinci Single Port Robotic Surgical System, that provides great benefits to the patient.

Cut 4 (09) “…potentially lest complication.”

Abi Jaoude says while that certainly results in reduced recovery times, they’re not quite at the point where the procedure could be an outpatient procedure just yet.

Cut 5 (10) “…not happened yet.”

Abi Jaoude is currently the only surgeon in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi offering the single-port robotic lung cancer surgery.

____________________________________________

Qualifying is done and the Congressional races can officially begin. Pearson Cross teaches political science at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and says the race to replace Republican Julia Letlow is wide open as four state lawmakers seek a seat in the U-S House…

Cut 6 (12) “…barn burner”

The two most notable candidates in the sixth district Congressional race are state senators Blake Miguez and Rick Edmonds. Cross says Miguez and Edmonds are Republicans, who have served together in both the House and Senate and both are now attacking each other…

Cut 7 (08) “…the case.”

Political analysts expect a Republican will win the 5^th and 6^th Congressional district races, but both races will likely be decided in a December runoff. Cross says it would get very interesting if the balance of power in the U.S. House was not decided in November and a Democratic candidate was in one or both races…

Cut 8 (11) “… redistricting.”

____________________________________________

The latest nationwide survey finds that optimism continues to rise among small businesses, but challenges persist. NFIB state director Leah Long says for the month of July, the top reported issue was labor quality or availability…

Cut 9 (08)  “…definitely an issue.”

Long says it’s a problem that the Landry Administration, state lawmakers, K-through-12 and higher education leaders are trying to fix.

Cut 10 (15) “…owned businesses.”

Long says overall small business owners are encouraged by what they are seeing and one reason for that is inflation has slowed…

Cut 11 (06) “…in their business.”

Twenty-five percent of small business owners nationally plan to make capital outlays in the next six months.

Qualifying is over, so let the congressional campaigns begin. In the two open seats in the fifth and sixth districts, political analysts expect Republicans to win both, albeit not decided until runoffs in December. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says it would get very interesting if the balance of power in the House is not decided in November, and a Democratic candidate was in one or both races.

Cut 8 (11) “… redistricting.”

Optimism continues to rise among small businesses, but challenges persist. NFIB state director Leah Long says labor quality is a problem that the Landry administration, state lawmakers, K-through-12 and higher education leaders are trying to fix.

Cut 10 (15) “…owned businesses.” 

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan could miss the start of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is blasting President Trump for his executive order to split the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine across three separate visits. Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, says the MMR vaccine which was first introduced in 1971 is overwhelmingly safe.

If statistics are any indication, Steve Scalise should have the easiest path to re-election among Republicans in the state. Based on voter registration, the first district – which includes St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, Lafourche and portions of Terrebonne and Tangipahoa parishes – is the most heavily Republican district in the state. Scalise says he’s proud of his record on job creation.

Cut 6 (08) “…in south Louisiana.”

The massive partisan voter disparity is not stopping Democrat Lauren Jewett from her quest to unseat Scalise, though. Jewett says state lawmakers are counting on Democrats to quit, but that’s not how she rolls.

Cut 9 (10)  “…is too important.”

Scalise and Jewett will be joined on the open primary ballot by Republican Randall Arrington and no-party candidate Liddy Glass.

The Small Business Administration is encouraging Louisianians to apply for low-interest disaster loans if they need financial help to repair damages caused by Tropical Storm Arthur. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is blasting President Trump for his executive order to split the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine across three separate visits. Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, says the MMR vaccine which was first introduced in 1971 is overwhelmingly safe.

Governor Landry is defending the use of non-disclosure agreements that employees in the governor’s office signed as part of the negotiations with Meta that resulted in the tech giant building a 50-billion-dollar A-I data center in Richland Parish. Landry says confidentiality is critical when state government talks with private companies about mega projects.

Cut 4 (07) “…close the deal.”

It’s another active year for vibrio vulnificus in Louisiana. So far this year, nine people have been infected with the flesh-eating bacteria due to exposure with open wounds, five of whom have passed away. Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein says if you have liver disease, diabetes or cancer, be sure to pay close attention to vibrio infection symptoms.

Cut 12 (12) “…drainage or discharge.”

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt spoke to members of the media for the first time as a Tiger. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

What does LSU’s former head coach think of the current team’s chances? Brian Kelly, who’s now a college football analyst for CBS Sports, predicts the Tigers will go 10-and-2 this season, with one of those losses coming in Oxford against Lane Kiffin’s old team, Ole Miss.