Vice President Kamala Harris is slightly ahead of former President Donald Trump in the polls after the Democratic National Convention. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (32) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

34-year-old Jason Chiasson Jr. has been arrested in connection with a boating accident that caused two deaths and several injuries. LDWF Sgt. Randy Lanoux says Chiasson Jr. was driving a Sea Fox up the Tickfaw River just after midnight on July 28 when he collided with a pontoon…

Cut 6 (11) “…(x2) was killed.”

Nearly 550-million dollars in renovations have been completed on the Superdome. Spokesperson Mike Hoss says the four-phase project removed hundreds of thousands of square feet of concrete ramps and replaced them with escalators, which resulted in more open space allowing more natural light…

Cut 10 (09) “…different areas.”

The Saints regular season home opener is September 8th and the Caesars Superdome will host the Super Bowl on February 9th.

LSU football will have two players wearing number 7 and 18 this year. The number seven jersey goes to LSU’s top playmaker. Offensive tackle Will Campbell will once again wear a number seven patch and linebacker Harold Perkins is changing his jersey number to seven. 2-4-7 sports LSU reporter Glen West says Perkins had a strong preseason camp

Cut  14 (10) “…tackles for loss.”

The Democratic National Convention has wrapped up with national polls showing Vice President Kamala Harris slightly ahead of former President Donald Trump. LSU Political Science Professor Dr. Robert Hogan says Democrats had been lagging in the polls before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. He says neither party is likely to sway anyone except swing voters, but adds both campaigns need to ensure they’re focusing on appealing to all types of voters…

Cut 4 (12) “…going to win.”

7-year-old Jeremiah Falgout (Fal-goo) died after he was hit by the school bus he had just exited. Trooper Tiah Larvadain says the accident occurred Thursday afternoon. No one else was injured. Larvadain says the bus driver was NOT under the influence…

Cut 13 (07) “…detected.” 

The crash is still under investigation.

Jimmy LeBlanc is leaving his position as Secretary of Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections citing health reasons. Though LeBlanc will vacate his position on the 29^th of August, he will return to his position as warden of Hunt Correctional Center but will take a leave of absence for his health. LeBlanc, first appointed by Former Governor Bobby Jindal, has served as secretary almost 17 years.

Nearly 550-million dollars in renovations have been completed on the Superdome just in time for the Saints to host the Titans on Sunday in the final preseason game of the year. Superdome spokesperson Mike Hoss says the renovations were done to improve the fan experience

Cut 9 (09) “…concourse.”

Hoss says the four-phase renovation project removed hundreds of thousands of square feet of concrete ramps and replaced them with escalators, which resulted in more open space.

Officials have arrested 34-year-old Jason Chiasson Jr. of Holden in connection with a boating accident that caused two deaths and several injuries. LDWF Sgt. Randy Lanoux says Chiasson was booked into the Livingston Parish jail on multiple counts, including vehicular manslaughter, first-degree vehicular negligent injury, and DWI. Though Lanoux doesn’t expect any more arrests, he says everybody in that situation came out a loser.

Cut 8 (09)  “…winners here.”

This is an ongoing investigation.

A tragic story out of Terrebonne Parish, as State Police are investigating a school bus crash that led to the death of 7-year-old Jeremiah Falgout (Fal-goo). Trooper Tiah Larvadain says the bus hit the child Thursday afternoon after dropping him on off on LA Highway 665 in Montegut….

Cut 12 (11) “…critical injuries.”

More than 500-million dollars in renovations have been completed on the Caesars Superdome….

Cut 2 (00)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

LSU football will have two players wearing number 18 this year. 2-4-7 sports LSU reporter Glen West says Running back Josh Williams and linebacker Greg Penn will each wear 18, which goes to the player who is a great representative of LSU football on and off the field. West says Penn…

Cut  16 (07)   “…defensive room.”

Grambling State University has made state history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library building earlier today. Dean of the Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber says the digital library reflects a tech-forward shift not just among students, but among libraries and institutions as well.

cut 5 (12) “…with the times.”

The power in a premium office building in downtown Shreveport is set to be shut off Monday afternoon because the owners haven’t paid the electric bill for months. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says an investment group from California owns Regions Tower.

cut 9 (11) “…five hundred thousand dollars.”

Baton Rouge Police have seized around one hundred and eighty-one pounds of fentanyl, over 100 doses of Adderall and Xanax, three rifles, a handgun, and more as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. Fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths in east Baton Rouge Parish, and latest stats show fatal overdoses are down by over 30-percent. Lieutenant L’Jean McKneely says it’s the product of hard work from investigators and help from the community…

cut 8 (13) “…behind bars.”

32-year-old Precious Hicks of Virginia was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of drug trafficking charges in Louisiana. St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dover says Highway Enforcement found several boxes of Fruity Pebbles that contained almost 8 thousand methamphetamine pills. Dover says this is what the Highway Enforcement Unit is there for…

cut 13 (11) “…to buy drugs.”

Baton Rouge Police have seized approximately 181 pounds of fentanyl as part of an investigation into the alleged drug trafficking operations involving 42-year-old Cendy Keophimanh (sen-dee kee-oh-fe-men). It’s believed to be the largest fentanyl seizure in Louisiana history, Lt. L’Jean MckNeely says the drugs seized in this investigation have the potential to save 42 million lives

Cut 6 (09) “…southeast region.”

32-year-old Precious Hicks of Virginia was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of drug trafficking charges in Louisiana. Hicks was arrested in January of 2023 after she and her boyfriend were pulled over traveling on I-12. St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dover says Highway Enforcement found marijuana in open view and several boxes of Fruity Pebbles cereal…

Cut 12 (14) “…ecstasy pills.”

 Grambling State University has made history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (30) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

 A 14-year-old Parkway High School Student was arrested and charged with terrorizing after making threats against the school on social media. School administrators and resource officers launched an investigation after rumors of a student possessing a gun surfaced. They conducted a search, but no weapons of any kind were found. Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington says the teen was arrested and charged with one count of terrorizing.

Baton Rouge police made the largest fentanyl seizure in state history yesterday. Kace Kieschnick has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.” 

32-year-old Precious Hicks of Virginia was sentenced to 35 years in prison for drug trafficking. She was arrested in January of 2023 after she and her boyfriend were pulled over on I-12. Authorities found marijuana and large quantities of methamphetamine. Hicks’s boyfriend pleaded guilty and with not prior criminal record, received probation. St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dover

Cut  14 (05) “…convictions.”

The California based owners of Regions Tower, a premium office building in downtown Shreveport, have an overdue electricity bill of around half a million dollars because they haven’t paid their bill in months. SWEPCO says they’ve been in contact with the Hertz Investment Group of Sherman, California but Monday they plan to shut off the power. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the building’s tenants are trying to make a deal…

Cut 10 (10) “…the building.”

SWEPCO began posting disconnection notices around Regions Tower yesterday to give tenants time to make plans in case the power does go out.

Grambling State University made state history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library building earlier today. Dean of the Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber says keeping everything online gives everyone access to the most recent, relevant information.

Cut 3 (08) “…minutes.”

43-year-old Anthony Hughes is recovering after getting shot near Bossier High School’s football stadium as a Spirit Event took place last night. Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Matt Gaydos says Hughes got into an altercation with some juveniles during the event, leading to a fight in the parking lot. Gaydos says 32-year-old Marcus Kelly shot Hughes and then the two were involved in a car crash…

Cut 3 (10) “…back of Kelly’s vehicle”

32-year-old Hannah Cormier of Jennings received a one-million-dollar bond after she was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly leaving her 10-month-old daughter in a car for two hours while she worked a shift at Wendy’s. Authorities say the mother claimed to have forgotten her child in the car, but given the situation, she was taken into custody. The charge of second-degree murder indicates there is intent. Police Chief Danny Semmes says this is not a simple case…

Cut 8 (10)  “…negligent homicide.”

Governor Jeff Landry told the Bossier Chamber of Commerce that tax reform and revamping the state’s department of transportation will be a major focus next year. Landry says when it comes to the state’s tax code, there’s too much of a benefit for special interests. He says when it comes to revamping the state department of transportation, he wants to remove the bureaucracy that’s in place, which he says is holding the state agency back…

Cut 12 (07) “…non-existent.”

A third party group is already assessing the efficiencies of the state department of transportation. And Landry promises thorough discussion on both topics, tax reform and reorganizing the state department of transportation

Another LSU team is competing for a national championship. LSU-Shreveport’s Fishing Team is heading to the Bassmaster College Series 2024 National Championship in South Carolina. The team broke a record with five boats qualifying for a two-day event that starts Thursday.

A judge has set a bond of one million dollars for 32-year-old Hannah Cormier of Jennings bond after she was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly leaving her 10-month-old daughter in a car for two hours while she worked a shift at Wendy’s. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes…

Cut 6 (12) “…second degree murder.”

43-year-old Anthony Hughes is recovering after getting shot near Bossier High School’s football stadium during an event there Monday night. Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Matt Gaydos says 32-year-old Marcus Kelly shot Hughes after he got into an altercation with some juveniles. Gaydos says the two were then involved in a car crash. Both were taken to a hospital where Kelly was released and was arrested and booked on multiple charges…

Cut 5 (05)  “…school campus.”

An arrest warrant for Aggravated Criminal Property Damage is pending for Hughes upon his release from the Hospital and Kelly’s bond has been set at $305,000.

Governor Landry discussed the need for tax reform during a visit to northwest Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (27)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Kaitlyn Joshua, a woman from Baton Rouge told the crowd at the D-N-C last night that because of the state’s abortion laws, she was unable get medical treatment for a miscarriage in 2022. And Joshua claims she is not the only one unable to get an abortion because of a medical emergency that could threaten the mother’s health…

Cut 10 (09) “…their doctors.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murril says there’s nothing in the state’s law that prohibits emergency care for someone having a miscarriage or any emergency situation during pregnancy. Two of the three Baton Rouge hospitals that provide obstetrics care say their pregnancy care has not changed since the state passed new abortion laws.

Governor Jeff Landry told the Bossier Chamber of Commerce that tax reform and revamping the state’s department of transportation will be a major focus next year. Landry says when it comes to the state’s tax code, there’s too much of a benefit for special interests

Cut 11 (10) ” ..special interests.”

A judge has set a bond of one million dollars for 32-year-old Hannah Cormier of Jennings bond after she was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly leaving her 10-month-old daughter in a car for two hours while she worked a shift at Wendy’s. While Cormier was at work, the heat index rose above 106 degrees and police say, the inside of the vehicle felt like 140 degrees. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes…

Cut 7 (06) “…temperature of 109-degrees.”

The charge of second-degree murder indicates there is intent or extreme recklessness involved. If Cormier is convicted of second-degree murder, she can face up to life in prison.

43-year-ol Anthony Hughes was shot after a Spirit Night event on Monday behind Bossier High School football stadium by 32-year-old Marcus Kelly. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (35) …I’m Sean Richardson.”

On the first night of the Democratic National Convention, a woman from Baton Rouge, Kaitlyn Joshua, a Community Organizer for the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice spoke to the crowd saying because of the state’s abortion laws, she was unable to get for a miscarriage in 2022

Cut 9 (11) “…my life.”

Two of the 3 Baton Rouge hospitals that provide obstetrics care, Woman’s Hospital and Baton Rouge General gave statements saying their pregnancy care has not changed since Louisiana passed new abortion laws.

Authorities are investigating an offshore explosion on Saturday night in south Plaquemines Parish that killed one person. Sgt. Kate Stegall with Louisiana State Police says they got a call that a natural gas pipeline had exploded in a marshy area near Venice, and 40-year-old Joshua Nichols of Lake Charles was missing…

Cut 12 (12) “…Mr. Nichols’ body.”

No one else was injured in the explosion or resulting fire.

The Jennings Police Department arrested Thirty-two-year-old Hannah Faith Cormier, the mother of a ten-month old child that was left in a hot car for an hour and a half last week. She’s been charged with second-degree murder and one count of cruelty to juveniles. Cormier said she accidentally left her toddler in the car while she worked a shift at a local restaurant. Police Chief Danny Semmes says they interviewed several witnesses and examined electronic devices before her arrest.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is experiencing a lull due to the presence of dry, dusty air from the Sahara Desert, known as the Saharan Air Layer. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says this phenomenon, which occurs regularly during summer months, has drastically suppressed storm development in the Atlantic.…

Cut 3 (09) “…relatively quiet”

Governor Landry says the state is embarking on the largest broadband expansion program in the state’s history with the launch of Gumbo 2.0. This program will distribute one-point-three billion dollars in federal money to expand broadband. Director of the Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity Veneeth Iyengar predicts the digital divide will be eliminated in the next couple of years…

Cut 6 (07) “…be the first to do it.”