New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes continues to call for leadership changes with the Department of Children and Family Services after the state agency admitted they failed to follow up properly after receiving three reports of a child subjected to substance abuse. That two-year-old child died in June of a drug overdose. Hughes says he’s tired of excuses…

Cut 8 (10) “…administration.”

State Police is investigating a fatal police shooting in Cut Off. Trooper Ross Brennan says the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a domestic disturbance, shots were fired, and an officer Port Fourchon Harbor Police discharged his weapon striking 32-year-old Geraldo Reyes.

Cut 4  (09) “…this incident.”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign is underway through Labor Day. Spokesperson Mark Lambert…

Cut  11 (07)  “…the message.” 

He says officers are specially trained to detect impaired drivers and it’s not about writing tickets for revenue it’s about changing behavior and saving lives.

The widow of former Governor Edwin Edwards, Trina Edwards is engaged. Former Louisiana House speaker and Senate President John Alario popped the question outside Ruth’s Chris Friday night on her 44^th birthday. On Jim Engster’s Talk Louisiana this morning she said Alario opted to propose in the car before dinner because it was raining.

Cut 5  (06) “…endearing.”

As for when the two will get married Trina Edwards says they haven’t set a date yet but most likely it will be next year.

After several insurance companies have left our state Louisiana Citizens, the state’s last-resort property insurer has doubled its number of customers. Kevin Gallagher reports what that may mean, as the height of storm season approaches…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A documentary called Katrina Babies premieres on HBO tonight. Filmmaker Edward Buckles, Jr was 13 when Katrina devasted New Orleans 17 years ago. Buckles’ interviews others like him who were just children and says it’s a story about that hasn’t been told.

Plans to move violent youth offenders from the Bridge City Center for Youth to Angola are on hold after a motion on the grounds the move violates a juvenile’s due process was filed. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the state’s plan must demonstrate how they will keep youth offenders separate from the adult population and juveniles will continue to receive rehabilitation services.

Cut 6 (10)  “…differently.”

Judge Shelly Dick has ruled a plan must be submitted by September 2^nd

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign is underway through Labor Day. Spokesperson Mark Lambert says the Commission funds extra law enforcement patrols during peak driving times and they are specially trained to look for the signs of drunk drivers.

Cut 12 (11) “…been drinking.” 

Plans to move violent youth offenders from the Bridge City Center for Youth to Angola are on hold after a motion was filed on the grounds that it violates a juvenile’s due process. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says it has merit because the US Supreme Court says you can’t treat juveniles the same as adults.

Cut 4 (10)  “…productive adults.”

A trial on the matter is scheduled for September 6^th and 7^th.

The life expectancy in Louisiana has declined by three years. The CDC says in 2020 it’s 73 years you’re expected to live in Bayou State. Dr. Benjamin Springgate, Chief of Community and Population Medicine at LSU Health says the pandemic played a significant role in lowering the age.

Cut 7 (13) “…in life expectancy.”

A Shreveport man is under arrest for allegedly possessing images and videos of child porn and bestiality. A cybercrimes investigation turned up the images on 25-year-old Jacob Butler’s PC and devices. He’s in the Caddo jail without bond for now. More charges are likely as the investigation continues.

State officials say fatal vehicle crashes caused by drunk drivers are the leading cause of highway deaths—and it appears to be getting worse. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says drunk driving deaths increased eleven percent in 2020. Spokesperson Mark Lambert says forty percent of fatal accidents are caused by drunk drivers.

Cut 10 (11) “…in a crash.”

New LEAP test results indicate a literacy bill that failed to pass the legislature was likely a good idea. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

If you’re a fan of Only Murders in the Building on Hulu, here’s a clue, the actor who plays Martin Short’s son is a ULL alum. 32-year-old Ryan Broussard of Beaux Bridge used to play baseball in his hometown and at ULL and now he’s gone to playing a role on the hit tv show, the season finale is tonight.

Nationally traffic deaths from January to March this year were the highest since 2002, But in Louisiana, they were down slightly compared to the same period last year. Louisiana DOT spokesperson Rodney Mallet says drivers need to take precautions and improve their focus and remove any distractions.

Cut 8 (:10)  “…pay attention.”

In Louisiana, there were 194 traffic deaths for the first quarter of the year.

The Apple TV series Five Days at Memorial is based on actual events during Hurricane Katrina. It chronicles the choices hospital caregivers were forced to make during the crisis without resources and how 45 people died as a result. It’s adapted from the book by Sheri Fink who says it’s important to tell the story, so we are prepared for the next crisis.

Cut 4 (09)  “…learn from it.”

The Apple TV series Five Days at Memorial is based on actual events during Hurricane Katrina. Brooke Thorington has more from the book’s author.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Federal officials say nationally the traffic death numbers for the first quarter of this year are the worst in twenty years. State officials say there’s a glimmer of good news here, but only a glimmer. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby” 

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New LEAP test results indicate a literacy bill that failed to pass the legislature was likely a good idea. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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The Apple TV series Five Days at Memorial is based on actual events during Hurricane Katrina. It chronicles the choices hospital caregivers were forced to make during the crisis without resources and how 45 people died as a result. It’s adapted from the book by Sheri Fink who says it’s important to tell the story, so we are prepared for the next crisis.

Cut 4 (09)  “…learn from it.”

Fink, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist says the eight-episodes cover what happened just before, during, and after Katrina. When the levees broke and the city flooded, the New Orleans hospital lost power for five days. Caregivers were forced to prioritize patient care under extreme circumstances.

Cut 5 (11) “…the story.”

The series examines how unprepared the hospital was to shelter and care for patients. Fink says for many the realistic portrayal is extremely difficult to watch, especially for those who lived through Katrina seventeen years ago.

Cut 6 (12)  “…the future.”

The Apple TV series premiered on August 12^th and new episodes can be streamed on Fridays.

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Federal officials say nationally, traffic deaths from January through March of this year were the highest since 2002. State Department of Transportation spokesman Rodney Mallet says Louisiana numbers are slightly down from last year. But 194 traffic deaths in Louisiana through the first quarter of this year is still very high

Cut 7 (:11) “…driving distracted”

Mallet says they need drivers to double down on taking precautions to avoid serious crashes. Especially by focusing on driving and by putting away distractions.

Cut 8 (:10)  “…pay attention.”

Mallet says the goal is zero fatalities. He hopes this year’s slight drop in fatalities is the beginning of a downward trend similar to the one between 2017 and 2019.

Cut 9 (08)  “…trend downward.”

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New LEAP test results – showing a decline in literacy – have one state lawmaker saying “I told you so,” after his literacy & retention bill failed to pass this year. Mandeville Republican Representative Richard Nelson’s bill to hold 3^rd graders back a year if they continuously failed reading assignments failed to win passage. He says, despite objections from colleagues, the same law worked well for our neighbor to the east…:

Cut 10 (11) “…out of the water.”

The LEAP results show that 41 percent of 4th-grade students read below their grade level. Mississippi adopted the same law in 2013 and has seen its students excel and surpass Louisiana’s in literacy. Nelson says it’s imperative that reading-challenged students get the help they need before they leave 3^rd grade…:

Cut  11 (12)  “…throughout society.” 

Under Nelson’s proposal, 3^rd graders held back due to literacy would get intensive instructional help to assure they were prepared, and have the reading proficiency to move up in grade level. Critics argued the law would unfairly punish minority students, but Nelson says the bill would have done just the opposite…:

Cut 12 (10) “…later in life.” 

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A flood watch remains in effect for the northern half of the state. Meteorologist Matt Hemmingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says in the past 24 hours some areas north of Alexandria received anywhere from two to three inches of rain on the low end while other areas had as much as five to six inches of rain.

Cut 13 (08) “…north Louisiana.”

Hemmingway says while the small disturbance off the coast of Texas was a slight contributing factor to the rains, we’re seeing in the northern half of the state…

Cut 14 (11)  “…ahead of that front.”

He says in general a rich tropical air mass was already in place leading up to the frontal boundary stalling out.

Rain chances should begin to taper off in north Louisiana as we go into the evening hours, but Hemmingway says don’t put away the umbrella too quick.

Cut 15 (10)  “…after seven o’clock.”

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Former Rummel star Chandler Fields has beat out Ben Wooldridge for starting quarterback duties at U-L Lafayette. Cajuns Coach Michael Desormeaux says Fields gives them the best chance to win….

Cut 16 (19)  “…operating it.”

Fields has been with the Cajuns since 2019. Wooldridge transferred to U-L after appearing in five games at Fresno State in 2020 as a sophomore. Desormeaux says Wooldridge took the news hard that he would not start the season opener against Southeastern Louisiana…

Cut 17 (20) “..keep competing” 

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Louisiana Tech plans to start TCU transfer, Matthew Downing,

at Q-B when the Bulldogs open the season at Missouri a week from Thursday. Downing beat out Parker McNeil. Downing says there are no hard feelings between him and McNeil…

Cut  18 (15)“…lot of fun.”

Downing played for head coach Sonny Cumbie in 2020, when Cumbie was the offensive coordinator for the Horned Frogs. Before that Downing was at Georgia….

 Cut 19 (23) “…play this year” 

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre suffered a medical emergency overnight and is currently under a physician’s care. The news was posted on the department’s Facebook page, and a spokesperson for the office says his family is requesting privacy and no visitors so he can rest. His health condition will be addressed at a later date.

Baton Rouge state Representative Larry Selders is charged with DWI, reckless operation, and driving under suspension after he was busted over the weekend speeding and doing burnouts near the LSU campus. State Trooper Christian Reed…:

Cut 10 (10) “..was subsequently arrested.” 

State Police declined to say why Selders had a suspended license. Selders has since issued a written statement of apology.

Data from the CDC and FBI indicate the homicide rate for rural Louisiana in 2020 was just under 17 per 100 thousand people. Almost three times higher than the national average. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist, Peter Scharf says the federal government needs to assist with funding to address the immediate issue and we also need to think about long-term solutions.

Cut 8 (07) “…their kids.”

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow night. National Weather Service meteorologist Davyon Hill says a stalled frontal boundary has set up over the I-20 corridor…:

Cut 3 (10) “…24 to 48 hours” 

Hill says four to six inches is likely across the area, but there’s the potential for as much as eight inches for some areas.

Baton Rouge Representative Larry Selders is charged with DWI, reckless operation, and driving under a suspended license. Trooper Christian Reed says officers witnessed Selders doing burnouts near LSU.

Cut 9 (07)  “…doing a burnout.”

Selders took a breath test, was arrested, and released on a summons.  He released a statement saying he takes public safety seriously and is committed to making better decisions.

The CDC and the FBI say the 2020 homicide rate for rural Louisiana was almost three times higher than the national average. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist, Peter Scharf says it comes down to drugs and the fact that rural law enforcement doesn’t have the capacity to address the issue.

Cut 7 (12) “…overwhelmed.” 

New research has determined the mounds on LSU’s campus near Tiger Stadium are the oldest known manmade structures in North America. LSU Geology and Geophysics Professor Emeritus Brooks Ellwood says the age estimate is based on studying sediment from the bottom of the mounds which is ash from burned reed and cane plants as well as charred mammal bone fragments…

Cut 13 (10) “.    these mounds’ 

Several Calcasieu Parish School buildings are still under repair from Hurricane Laura—which struck southwest Louisiana as a category four storm two years ago. Schools superintendent Shannon Lafargue says the school system has maxed out its insurance and really needs FEMA’s help.

Cut 14 (10)  “…week to week”

An investigation determines hospital staff contacted the Department of Children and Family Services three times about potential substance abuse involving a two-year-old child, before he died of a fentanyl overdose. Kevin Gallagher reports…

Cut 2 (32) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher” 

A Baton Rouge Representative Larry Selders faces DWI charges after troopers saw him doing burnouts in his Dodge Challenger near LSU early Sunday morning. He was also charged with Reckless Operation and Driving Under Suspension.

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow night. National Weather Service meteorologist Davyon Hill says a stalled frontal boundary has set up over the I-20 corridor and four to six inches is likely across the area, but there’s the potential for as much as eight inches for some areas.

Cut 4  (12) “…some locations.”

Several Calcasieu Parish School buildings are still under repair from Hurricane Laura—which struck southwest Louisiana two years ago. One of the strongest storms to ever make landfall in Louisiana did at least 400 million dollars’ worth of damage to the schools alone. But Schools superintendent Shannon LaFargue says they’ve made a lot of progress.

Cut 13 (08) “…sense of normalcy.”

The state Department of Children and Family Services announces policy changes as a result of an overdose death of a two-year-old child. D-C-F-S admits they were contacted three times by hospital staff about substance abuse involving the child, but because of a variety of reasons they failed to have a case worker inspect the home. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says that will never happen again…

Cut 8 (08)  “…priority response.”

For a second straight month, Louisiana set a record-low unemployment rate in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment is 3.6-percent. She says, coincidentally, the EMPLOYMENT rate is also looking good…:

Cut 4 (11)  “…is high as well.”

U.L. Lafayette is now ranked among the nation’s top 100 public research universities. The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) annual Higher Education Research & Development Survey (HERD) ranks ULL 94th among 655 colleges that do research. ULL’s Vice President for Research & Innovation Dr. Ramesh Kolluru (ko-LOO-roo) says it’s an important distinction for a Louisiana university…:

Cut 10 (09) “…in the top 100.”

Several Calcasieu Parish School buildings are still under repair from Hurricane Laura—which struck southwest Louisiana as a category four storm two years ago. Schools superintendent Shannon LaFargue says the school system has maxed out its insurance and really needs FEMA’s help.

Cut 14 (10)  “…week to week”

A new law in effect since August 1^st creates a new State Capitol Security Police force. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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An investigation into the deaths of two people in Florida, linked to Louisiana oysters is underway. Local industry anxiously awaits results. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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State health officials are now updating detailed monkeypox data weekly. They’re also doing a hard push to get more vaccines from the federal government. Marsanne Golsby has the update.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

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A Tulane University expert on climate change policy and politics says the actual impact of the new inflation reduction act will depend on what happens much closer to home than in Washington DC.

Joshua Basseches (rhymes with passages) says the law is a major achievement for environmentalists, but that individual states have a lot of authority over how electricity is regulated.

Cut 4 (12)  “…Public Service Commission.”

Basseches says the new law has the potential to make renewable energy cheaper.  However, he says Entergy has made major investments in traditional energy plants that aren’t out of date yet and aren’t likely to be replaced by alternatives any time soon.

Cut 5 (05) “…becomes realized”

He says the new law relies on incentives rather than forcing drastic changes.

Cut 6 (10)  “…just the beginning.”

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A new law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor will create a new Capitol Security Police agency. The bill was authored by Lafayette Senate President Page Cortez, who says a more consolidated approach to security has been discussed for years…:

Cut 7 (09) “…a lot of coordination.”

Currently, security in and around the Capitol is handled by the House and Senate sergeant of arms offices, Capitol Police, and by the Department of Public Safety. Cortez says those varying agencies don’t always communicate or coordinate well with each other…:

Cut 8 (09)  “…of all of that.”

The Capitol Security Police agency will begin taking form immediately; employing up to 24 officers and a chief, who’ll coordinate with his team and other agencies. The new agency will be funded out of the annual State Capitol operations budget. Cortez says the January 6^th Riot in Washington illustrated the need, but the concept for his bill is not new…:

Cut 9 (07)  “…Senator Robert Adley.”

Cortez says they plan to have the Capitol Security Police fully operational before the next legislative session next spring.

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The Louisiana Oyster industry made headlines this week after two deaths in Florida were linked to raw oysters from the Bayou State. Oyster Task Force Chairman Mitch Jurisich (ger ah sich) confirms the oysters involved were from Louisiana, and a thorough investigation is underway.

Cut 10 (10) “…our business.”

Jurisich says before anyone jumps to conclusions about Louisiana oysters, he wants to see what the investigation reveals and that food safety procedures were followed correctly.

Cut  11 (11)  “…properly.” 

The CDC says on average 80,000 people will get ill from eating raw oysters and about 100 will die as a result each year. Restaurants do have signs warning patrons of the risks of eating raw shellfish. Jurisich says individuals with immune disorders and those who are pregnant should avoid consuming raw oysters.

Cut 12 (10) “…facts together.” 

He expects more information to be released once the medical examiner’s report and cause of death are determined.

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State health officer Dr. Joe Kanter says while there are only 127 diagnosed cases of monkeypox in Louisiana, officials know more are out there. So they’re taking aggressive steps to warn people and to get more vaccines. He says ninety-five percent of the cases have been with men having sex with men.  Nearly sixty percent are among Black Louisianans.

Cut 13 (07) “…growing outbreak.”

He says other parts of the country with more cases are seeing them spread into other demographic groups.

Cut 14 (13)  “…spread of this outbreak”

Kanter says it should be easier to contain the Monkeypox outbreak than COVID because the treatment—smallpox vaccine—already exists, but it’s in short supply.

Cut 15 (11)  “…like Southern Decadence.”

People interested in receiving the vaccine can visit the Louisiana Department of Health website for more information. They can also call 211 to get their questions answered.

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One of the bigger position battles at LSU is for placekicker. LSU has been spoiled at this position with Cole Tracy and then All-American Cade York. Coach Brian Kelly says freshman Damian Ramos has been impressive, but there’s also sophomore Ezekeal Mata, Northwestern State grad transfer Trey Finison and freshman Nathan Dilbert….

Cut 16 (19)  “…field goals.”

Major Burns looks like he’ll be one of the starters at safety along with Jay Ward. Kelly says Burns is a high I-Q player…

Cut 17 (14) “…we do” 

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Saints will face Green Bay in preseason game number two tonight. Wide receiver Michael Thomas will not play as he gets ready to make his much-anticipated return for week one of the regular season. Thomas says he’s not all the way back before suffering that ankle injury in week one of the 2020 season…

Cut  18 (16)“…things show up.”

Thomas says he still has a lot of work to do…

 Cut 19 (16) “…practices.” 

Cut 20 (17) “ …like that.”