Three arrests have been made in the shooting death of 20-year-old Steven Harris, the former Southern student who was reported missing on July 17^th when he didn’t return for a custody hearing for his one-year-old son. His body was found in Mississippi days later. West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Brian Spillman says they believe the hearing played a role in his murder.

Cut 13 (10)  “…this child”

21-year-old Martin, along with 20-year-old Calajia (Cah-lie-ah) Jack (Female), and 21-year-old Derek Terrell Hollins are also charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Phase 2 of the state’s SUN Bucks program that provides a one-time payment of 120-dollars to low-income families to help pay for groceries when children are out of school for the summer months begins this week. DCFS Economic Stability Director Timothy Jenkins says recipients include children who have Medicaid or are part of the FITAP or Kinship Care Subsidy Program.

Cut 10 (07) “…Phase 2 benefits.”

Legislative leaders announce there will not be a special session on tax reform this year. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

The US Senate Health Committee has voted 16-4 to subpoena the CEO of Steward Health, Dr. Richard de la Torra. Committee Co-Chair Senator Bill Cassidy says Steward’s financial mismanagement has had deadly consequences.

Cut 4 (06) “…to treat.”

Glenwood in West Monroe is one of 31 Steward hospitals across the country.

West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Brian Spillman says the mother of 20-year-old Steven Harris’s son has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of the former Southern University student. Harris was reported missing on July 17^th when he didn’t return for a custody hearing for his one-and-a-half-year-old son. His body was found in Mississippi on Tuesday. 21-year-old Allyah Martin, along with 20-year-old Calajia (Cah-lie-ah) Jack (F) and 21-year-old Derek Terrell Hollins face a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Martin, Jack, and Hollins allegedly lured Harris to a party but took him to Wilkinson County. Spillman expects the three to be charged with murder in Mississippi.

Phase Two of the Sun Bucks program begins issuing benefits this week.  The federal money goes to low-income families to cover increased summer time food costs. DCFS Economic Stability Director Timothy Jenkins says 75-thousand EBT cards will go out each week

cut 11 (05) “…. expunged”
A US Senate health committee is investigating Steward Health’s financial mismanagement, a committee co-chaired by Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (34) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Talk of a special session next month so that lawmakers can then vote to hold a constitutional convention…is dead. Lapolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says changes to the constitution could be needed to respond to this potential budget deficit, but legislative leaders still might not want to take the dramatic step of holding a constitutional convention…

Cut 8 (06)  “…could see that.”

Three people have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of missing former Southern University student, Steven Harris IV whose body was found Tuesday in Wilkinson County Mississippi.  West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s made the arrests.  21-year-old Derek Terrell Hollins, and Jr., 20-year-old Calajia Jack, of St. Francisville, and 21-year-old Allyah Martin of Zachary face charges of conspiracy to commit first degree murder. Hollins also faces a charge of possession of a machine gun. Harris was reported missing by his family on July 17.

The US Senate Health Committee has voted to subpoena the CEO of Steward Health, Dr. Richard de la Torra. Committee Co-Chair Senator Bill Cassidy says they are investigating what led to Steward’s bankruptcy which is severely impacting care at hospitals across the country including West Monroe’s Glenwood Regional Medical Center. What happened at Glenwood is not unique. Cassidy says at a Steward-owned hospital in Massachusetts, a woman died after giving birth…

Cut 5 (11)  “…Steward’s hospitals”

Legislative leaders announce there will not be a special session on tax reform this year. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Phase 2 of the state’s SUN Bucks program that provides a one-time payment of 120-dollars to low-income families to help pay for groceries when children are out of school for the summer months. begins this week. DCFS Economic Stability Director Timothy Jenkins says recipients include children who have Medicaid or are part of the FITAP or Kinship Care Subsidy Program.

Cut 10 (07) “…Phase 2 benefits.”

Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned from the Secret Service after Speaker Mike Johnson continually called for her to step down after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

Cut 3 (11) “…Republicans and Democrats.”

Cheatle told a House Committee Monday the agency failed in protecting former President Donald Trump. Louisiana U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says it’s outrageous the public spotted the shooter before the Secret Service acted….

Cut 12 (10) “…did nothing.”

A PAR survey says nearly one in five Louisianans receive food stamps. Brooke Thorington has more.

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

If Vice President Kamala Harris becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, a former Louisiana congressman could be her choice for vice presidential running mate. Cedric Richmond, a New Orleans native and 1998 graduate of Tulane Law School is being considered for the position. Harris has reportedly requested vetting materials on Richmond who previously worked in the Biden Administration. In 2020 Richmond resigned from his position representing the 2nd Congressional District to join President Biden’s administration.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Benton announces a Bipartisan Task Force will investigate the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 1 (33) …I’m Sean Richardson.”

Cheatle testified in front of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee yesterday telling members she was the right person to lead the Secret Service despite the assassination attempt. Louisiana U-S Senator Bill Cassidy is glad Cheatle changed her mind and decided to step down…

Cut 13 (12) “…resignation.” 

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning double homicide just outside Amite. Around 5:00 AM Tuesday morning, Amite Police responded to a 911 call for help from a woman saying she had been shot. Police arrived at the mobile home on MLK Street to find a man and woman dead from gunshot wounds. The couple is believed to be live-in romantic partners in their late 20s. Their identities have not yet been released. Sheriff Gerald Sticker is asking for anyone with information to contact the Sherriff’s office.

Jimmy Genovese (Gen-o-vez) was introduced today as the 21st president of Northwestern State. Genovese says he left his job as a Louisiana Supreme Court Judge to help out his alma mater, which suffered a reported 22-percent drop in enrollment over the past four years…

Cut 11 (13) ” …about that.”

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned today, one day after saying the agency failed in protecting former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally. Louisiana U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says it’s outrageous the public spotted the shooter before the Secret Service acted….

Cut 12 (10) “…did nothing.”

House Speaker Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced a bipartisan House Task Force consisting of seven Republicans and six Democrats to investigate the assassination attempt and get answers to the American public.

Cut 4 (11) “…ever happening again.”

The task force will be empowered with all investigative authority of the House of Representatives including subpoena authority.

A Public Affairs Research Council survey says nearly one in five Louisianans receive food stamps. Brooke Thorington has more.

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

The 21st president of Northwestern State University was introduced today. Jimmy Genovese (Gen-o-vez) has been an attorney or a judge during his adult life, but he believes he has the experience to run a university. The 74-year-old plans to sell Northwestern State as a great place to continue their education…

Cut 10 (10) “…on Broadway.”

Louisiana’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Presidential nominee and PSC Commissioner Davante Lewis says Biden looked at the campaign to see if he could deliver for the American people and concluded it was in the best interest to step aside.

Cut 7 (09) “…Democratic Presidency.”

The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago August 19-22. The next Presidential debate is scheduled for September 10^th.

Republican Governor Jeff Landry was a guest on the Moon Griffon show and said Mr. Biden’s policies over the last four years have failed America and he says whoever ends up as the Democratic nominee never did anything about rising inflation or the increase of illegal immigrants across the southern border

Cut 11 (12) ” …failures”

An LSU defensive back is facing video voyeurism charges. Jeff Palermo has the details…

Cut 1 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Southland Industrial Coating is investing $13-million dollars to construct a new fireproofing facility in the St Landry Parish town of Washington. Chief Strategy Officer Randy Ross says the project will bring 120 new direct jobs to the Acadian Region, with more than $53,000 in salaries and 178 indirect new jobs.

Cut  14 (07) “…as well.”

Former Louisiana nursing home owner Bob Dean will avoid jail time, after pleading no contest to eight counts of cruelty to the infirm, five counts of Medicaid fraud, and two counts of obstruction of justice. He was charged after sending 843 nursing home patients to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida. The conditions there led to the deaths of several elderly individuals. Judge Brian Abels sentenced Dean to twenty years deferred with three years of probation. In a statement, Attorney General Liz Murrill said they asked that Dean be sentenced to a minimum of 5 years in prison and not be given only probation. And though she respects the judge has discretion, she still believes Dean should serve time in prison.

The majority of delegates from the Louisiana Democratic Party have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party’s nominee for President. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Two 18-year-olds were killed in a head-on crash in Lafourche Parish involving an underage immigrant driver, who authorities say was impaired. State Police Trooper Ross Brennan says 18-year-old Axel Flores-Cordova of Honduras slammed head-on into a vehicle on Highway 3090 near the Fourchon area

Cut 3 (13) “…hospital.”

Southland Industrial Coating is investing $13-million dollars to construct a new fireproofing facility in the St Landry Parish town of Washington.  Southland Industrial Coatings galvanizes, metalizes, sandblasts, paints, and fireproofs steel poles used in the utility, transportation, and renewable energy industries. Chief Strategy Officer Randy Ross…

Cut 12 (11) “…last 10 years.”

A federal grand jury has indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, on seven counts of wire fraud and one count of false statement. The U-S Attorney’s office says Vappie lied to cover up a romantic relationship with Cantrell and political analyst Clancy Dubos says the indictment implicates the major who is described as “public official number one”….

Cut 12 (12) “…their phones.”

The indictment says there were meals and alcohol shared between the two during at least 14 domestic and international travels from 2021 to March of this year. He says those trips cost taxpayers more than 47-thousand dollars.

There’s a good chance for more scattered thunderstorms through the weekend. National Weather Service Meteorologist Marti Calhoun …

Cut 10 (10) “…rain weather.”

A former art teacher at Golden Meadow Middle School in Lafourche Parish has been sentenced to 40-years in prison for sexually abusing one of his former students in 2009. Ralph Cheramie (cher-a-me) Junior was convicted on sexual battery, molestation, and indecent behavior charges. Prosecutor Jason Chatagnier (shot-en-ya)…

Cut 5 (11)  “…ever again.”

35-year-old Quentin Anderson is the youngest candidate running for the 6^th Congressional District. Brooke Thorington has more.

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

Louisiana public schools and universities will not be posting the 10 Commandments just yet. Friday, U.S. District Judge John DeGravelles ordered Louisiana Superintendent of Education, Cade Brumley and members of the Board of Education and Secondary Education to delay posting them until at least November 15. He says he needs time to hear both sides in a lawsuit against that claims the new law requiring schools to post the Ten Commandments violates the Constitution and separation of Church and State.

A former art teacher at Golden Meadow Middle School, Ralph Cheramie, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after he was convicted on sexual battery, molestation and indecent behavior charges with a former student. Prosecutor Jason Chatagnier says the victim initially reported the incident to school administrators, but an internal investigation yielded little action. He says the victim now as an adult decided to come forward again, this time reporting the incident to law enforcement, which led to a conviction…
Cut 4 (10) “…and her partner.”

Former New Orleans police officer and member of Mayor Cantrell’s security team Jeffrey Paul Vappie, II has been indicted by a federal grand jury. He faces several charges including 7 counts of wire fraud accused of perpetrating a scheme to defraud NOPD. He is also accused of making false statements to the FBI and charging the city for work when he was allegedly carrying on a personal relationship with Mayor Latoya Cantrell. During the times in question, Vappie allegedly drank alcohol, had meals out with the mayor and spent time in City Owned Apartment in the French Quarter.

Political newcomer, Quentin Anderson from Baton Rouge has entered the race to run for the 6th Congressional District and says he wants to bring integrity and honor back to public service. As the son and grandson of preachers and military veterans, Anderson says he was taught the value of public service.
Cut 6 (12) “…my community.”
State Senator Cleo Fields and former state lawmaker Elbert Guillory are the other notable names in the race.