As the Department of Children and Family Services is under fire for child welfare concerns, New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes remains a harsh critic of DCFS and head of the agency Secretary Marketa Garner Walters. Hughes says he has yet to hear Walters accept any responsibility.

Cut 9 (09)  “…not leadership.”

Governor Edwards continues to support his appointment of Walters.

Louisiana Agriculture Secretary Mike Strain says excessive rainfall in August has damaged soybean crops. He says the beans are so wet that they are hard to harvest. Leaving farmers in a bind.

Cut 3 (08) “…huge issue.” 

Strain says a federal disaster declaration will be necessary, but that will not come until after harvest.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is celebrating a successful breeding season for the endangered whooping crane. LDWF biologist Sara Zimorski says eight more chicks have reached fledgling stage in south Louisiana that’s out of the 15 that hatched….

Cut 7 (07) “…a record.”

The first wild-hatched Louisiana chick came in April of 2016, the first to hatch in the state in more than 75 years.

When the Saints kick-off the season on Sunday, star receiver Michael Thomas is expected to make his long-awaited return after missing all of last season to recover from ankle surgery. Thomas says he’s excited…

Cut 6 (13) “…make highlights” 

The Saints open the season against the Falcons in Atlanta.

LDH is recommending individuals who are 12 and older and fully vaccinated against COVID, get the newest booster that’s formulated for the Omicron variant. LDH Deputy Director Glennis Gray says it offers protection against the original strain…:

Cut 7 (08) “…and the BA.5.”

The updated booster should be widely available in the coming days.

After his truck failed to stop on LA 103 and ran into Bayou Teche early Wednesday morning, Troopers say 59-year-old Phillip Gilyard survived the crash but believe he fell victim to the water. Trooper Thomas Gossen says Gilyard was wearing a seatbelt and made a call for help when his truck began to go under, Gossen says some assume it’s safer to not wear a seatbelt when it comes to water.

Cut 15 (08)  “…water itself.”

The body was located away from his Ford F150.

When the Saints kick-off the season on Sunday, star receiver Michael Thomas is expected to make his long-awaited return after missing all of last season to recover from an ankle surgery. Thomas says he’s excited…

Cut 6 (13) “…make highlights” 

The Saints are set to visit the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday.

It’s the hottest ticket in town and LSU Executive Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry says it’s sold out for the first historic match-up of Southern at LSU this Saturday. And it’s also proving profitable with Southern getting paid $700,00, with an extra $60,000 going to their athletic foundation fund.

Cut 5 (10) “…institutions out.”

Kick-off is 6:30

A new poll on the recall effort against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell shows 55-percent surveyed say she needs to go. University of New Orleans political science professor Dr. Ed Chervenak says it’s just a snapshot of voter feelings and Cantrell could change her behavior before the deadline arrives to collect over 53-thousand recall signatures…:

Cut 12 (08) “…change those perceptions.” 

The Louisiana Department of Health is recommending individuals who are 12 and older and fully vaccinated against COVID, get the newest booster that’s formulated for the Omicron variant. LDH Deputy Director Glennis Gray says Moderna booster is for ages 18 and older and the Pfizer booster is for ages 12 and up.

Cut 8 (12)  “…age guidelines.”

The new booster should be available in the coming days.

LSU announces Saturday night’s historic football game against Southern University is a sell-out. Whitney Thomas has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

A Facebook post by Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson denouncing actor Danny Devito’s newest sitcom reaches millions. Johnson is objecting to the FX animated sitcom “Little Demon” where Devito is the voice of Satan. The show airs on Thursdays at 9pm.

A former caseworker at the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services calls the environment within the state agency toxic. Stacey McPherson left her job as a Rapides foster care worker in July. She says supervisors failed to address repeated complaints and concerns…:

Cut 10 (11) “…from us” 

DCFS told state lawmakers more money and more employees will help but offered no real plan of action to improve child safety.

After a St. Martinville woman was killed when a cigarette ignited her oxygen tank, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents not to have an open flame near oxygen tanks. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says tanks should be kept at least five feet away from anything flammable and not just cigarettes.

Cut 7 (08) “… a fuel.” 

The new 988 suicide crisis call in line in Louisiana received more than 14-hundred calls in its first month and the majority of calls were answered in-state. Dr. Robyn Thomas, Suicide Prevention Coordinator says it’s important the crisis line has certified local counselors because they understand the state’s culture and unique stressful events like hurricanes.

Cut 5  (10) “…as possible.”

ASAP, the Louisiana-based delivery app formerly known as Waitr, has a new NIL deal for all of LSU’s student-athletes. ASAP’S Kevin Burke declined to say how much the student-athletes would make but says it gives fans the chance to help them earn extra money.

Cut 14 (10)  “…student-athletes.” 

A former employee at the state’s child welfare agency tells lawmakers about the difficult work environment inside DCFS. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (33) I’m  Jeff Palermo”  

And Louisiana’s own Lainey Wilson is having one heck of a breakout year. The Baskin native has received 6 CMA nominations including album of the year, female vocalist of the year, and song of the year. She’s also the fourth artist in history to earn six Country Music Association nominations in their first year. Lainey joins the ranks of Clen Campbell, Brad Paisley, and Kacey Musgraves.

The new 988 suicide crisis call in line in Louisiana received more than 14-hundred calls in its first month and the majority of calls were answered in-state. Dr. Robyn Thomas, Suicide Prevention Coordinator says it’s important the crisis line has certified local counselors because they understand the state’s culture and unique stressful events like hurricanes.

Cut 5  (10) “…as possible.”

ASAP, the Louisiana-based delivery app formerly known as Waitr, has a new NIL deal for all of LSU’s student-athletes. ASAP’S Kevin Burke says for any student-athlete that accepts the deal they can help promote ASAP on their own schedules.

Cut 12 (13) “…promo code.”  

A former caseworker at the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services calls the environment within the state agency as toxic. Stacy McPherson left her job as a Rapides foster care worker in July because her supervisors failed to address repeated complaints. McPherson says when she would bring her concerns to her supervisors, she would face retaliation….

Cut 11 (10)  “…do it.”

She testified in front of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday.

After a St. Martinville woman was killed when a cigarette ignited her oxygen tank, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents not to have an open flame near oxygen tanks. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says tanks should be kept at least five feet away from anything flammable and not just cigarettes.

Cut 7 (08) “… a fuel.” 

The state’s 988 mental health crisis call-in centers receive 14-hundred calls in its first month. Suicide Prevention Coordinator Dr. Robyn Thomas with the Louisiana Department of Health says when you call 988 you are routed to one of the state’s two certified crisis centers. One in Bossier City which answers calls in north, central, and southwest Louisiana, or the call center in New Orleans which covers southeast Louisiana.

Cut 4  (07) “…in the state.”

She says 89% of the calls from Louisiana are answered by certified counselors in the state.

A former caseworker at the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services calls the environment within the state agency as toxic. Stacy McPherson left her job as a Rapides foster care worker in July because her supervisors failed to address their repeated complaints…

Cut 9 (09)  “…excruciating”

McPherson testified in front of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee who plans to hold future meetings to look at how they can improve the agency.

Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Rhenda Hodnett also testified she says they are doing what they can to increase the number of case workers…

Cut 12 (12) “…higher gear.”  
The state agency is facing criticism for the mishandling of cases, including the overdose death of a two-year-old.

In the first month that the three-digit 988 National Suicide Hotline was launched the crisis number received more than 1,400 calls in Louisiana. And Dr. Robyn Thomas, Suicide Prevention Coordinator with the department of health says the response rate for answering local calls increased significantly.

Cut 3 (12) “…connected to services.” 

The State Fire Marshall’s Office wants to remind you not to have an open flame around oxygen tanks. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says over the weekend a 32-year-old wheelchair-bound woman in St. Martinville who was known to be a smoker was killed in a house fire.

Cut 6 (07) “…do so outside.” 

Oxygen tanks should be kept at least five feet away from anything flammable.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley wants schools and parents to know that the suggested federal Title IX protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity are just suggestions at this time. He gives examples of how the proposed Title IX expansions could impact schools.

Cut 5 (09) “…(x2) not based on biological sex.”

He says they are proposed changes and not law at this time.

In Louisiana, 20-cents of each gallon of gas goes into a fund for roads, bridges, and other transportation projects. But a report from Legislative Auditor says the money generated isn’t enough. The tax was set three decades ago and is not indexed for inflation. DOT Secretary Shawn Wilson agrees with the findings.

Cut 7 (09) “…sales tax.”

The Louisiana Department of Health is helping folks in Jackson, Mississippi after severe flooding damaged the city’s water treatment plants. Whitney Thomas has more.

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

Louisiana native Lainey Wilson receives six nominations from the Country Music Association in her first year as a nominee. Wilson is the fourth artist in award history to receive six nominations in their first year. The 30-year-old singer was raised in the small town of Baskin in Franklin Parish.

Leaders of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services went before a legislative committee today to discuss their plans on increasing case workers. Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Rhenda Hodnett

Cut 12 (12) “…higher gear.”  
The state agency is facing criticism for the mishandling of cases, including the overdose death of a two-year-old.

Typically, this is the time of year when political ads start cranking up, but political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says don’t expect the ads to get too repetitive. For example, southwest Louisiana congressman Clay Higgins’s race could become competitive because of Higgins’ low fundraising totals.

Cut 4  (11) “…grassroots.”

Higgins’ most well-known opponent is Lafayette attorney Holden Hoggatt.

Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Republicans view the Biden Administration’s ability to circumvent congress to cancel student debt as an abuse of executive and emergency powers. He expects Republicans to challenge it in court and says it’s also a violation of the nondelegation doctrine under the constitution…

Cut 8 (11) “…taxpayers’ dollars.”

A historic matchup will take place Saturday night in Tiger Stadium as LSU and Southern will face each other for the first time in football. The two coaches spoke about the matchup today. Tigers First-year head coach Brian Kelly says it should be a spectacle…

Cut 13 (12) “..college football.” 

The meeting against the Jaguars is also the first time LSU has ever played against a historically black college in football.

Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters spelled out to a legislative committee today the problems her agency is facing when it comes to having enough case workers. Walters says last week one of their best-case managers left for a lower-paying job because that employee could not handle the high case load anymore

Cut 9 (10)  “…need a break”

New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes has been very vocal about cleaning house at the department and he believes the agency doesn’t have a money problem but instead they have a low morale problem. But Walters says caseload is the biggest issue facing their employees…

Cut 11 (11)  “…job description.”

Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino believes the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness plan will end up in court. He says it’s an overreach of executive power and it’s Congress that decides how funds are appropriated and then it’s passed onto the executive branch for signature.

Cut 7 (12) “…been successful.” 

He expects Republicans will file suit against the student loan forgiveness very soon if they haven’t already.

After the Labor Day holiday, it usually gets busy during election years. Federal elections are coming up in two months. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says don’t expect it to get much nosier in Louisiana.

Cut 3 (13) “…period of time”