A federal Grand Jury has indicted New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell. Details of the indictment that was announced Friday are still coming in but she is the first mayor to face federal charges while still in office.  Reports of a Federal investigation into her activities began in 2022 and people surrounding her have been indicted including her former bodyguard and alleged boyfriend who has been charged with defrauding the New Orleans Police Department.

Louisiana’s legislative district map violates the federal Voting Rights Act says a panel of judges on the U-S 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals. The plaintiffs in the case argue Blacks and Democrats are not fairly represented in the Louisiana Legislature. Political analyst Scott Hughes says one-third of the state’s voting population is black, but Republicans have a super majority control in the House and Senate…

Cut 8 (12) “..they are really not” 

Hughes says the legislative map issue isn’t going to be resolved, until there is a U-S Supreme Court ruling regarding the state’s contested Congressional map scheduled to be reargued in October.

A Gallup poll finds 54-percent of Americans drink alcohol, which is a record low percentage. LSU Health New Orleans physiology professor Nick Gilpin says more Americans are understanding the health hazards that come with consuming one or two drinks a day…

Cut 9 (07)  “…and your body.”

He said decades old research said one to two drinks were actually good for you but new research debunks that theory.

The multi-state Powerball jackpot is up to 565-million dollars for Saturday night’s drawing. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Chrislyn Maher (Mayor) says it’s the biggest Powerball jackpot of the year…

Cut 3 (11) “…big one”

A six-year-old Slidell boy was riding his scooter in his driveway when he was hit and killed by an SUV whose driver then fled the scene. It happened Wednesday around 6 PM and St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office Spokesperson, Lt. Suzanne Carboni says the SUV was located later in the evening and the driver, 35-year-old Cody Beaudette was arrested. She says Sheriff Randy Smith sends his condolences to the child’s family

Cut 11 (10) “…neighborhoods.”

18-hundred military homes at Fort Polk will now be powered by thirty-thousand solar panels provided by Corvias. Bartost Wojszyk (Voice-chick), President of Energy at Corvias says they invested 29-million-dollars and it took them two years to plan and complete construction

Cut 7 (12) “…Garrison commanders.”

The state department of transportation is launching a new program that gives businesses an opportunity to get involved in the fight against litter. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Entergy is offering its residential customers the opportunity to receive up to two smart thermostats at no cost. Heather Leblanc with Entergy says the smart thermostats learn your temperature preferences and usage habits and can be controlled from a smartphone. She says go to entergy-solutions-la-dot-com to order yours…

Cut 5 (11) “…for free.”

A six-year-old Slidell boy was struck and killed by an SUV while riding his scooter in his driveway just before 6 last evening. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson, Lt. Suzanne Carboni says after hitting the child, the driver of the SUV, 35-year-old Cody Beaudette, kept going. Beaudette’s SUV was located later that night in another part of town and Beaudette was taken into custody.

Cut 10 (09) “…suspended license.”

Baton Rouge Police Sgt Caleb Eisworth will be laid to rest Saturday. He died Sunday after spending 7 weeks in the hospital being treated for injuries sustained when he was allegedly intentionally hit by a truck while on his motorcycle. Eisworth was a decorated officer who served 23 years. Baton Rouge Police Chief, TJ Morse says Sgt Eisworth impacted many lives.

Cut 26 (06) “people’s lives”

Entergy says smart thermostats help save energy and the power company is offering them free to their residential customers this month. Heather Leblanc with Entergy says the smart thermostats learn your habits and adjust automatically.

Cut 4 (10) “…utility bill.”

Thirty thousand solar panels have been installed at Fort Polk to provide energy to 18-hundred miliary homes. Military bases historically have relied on civilian power grids, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, cyberattacks, and physical attacks. President of Energy at Corvias, Bartost Wojszyk (Voice-chick), says the 13-megawatt power generation project is completely independent, moving Fort Polk closer to its goal of readiness..

Cut 8 (12) “..housing” 

Corvias invested 29-million dollars in the project.

Entergy is offering its residential customers the opportunity to receive up to two smart thermostats at no cost. There are no promo codes or rebate forms. Heather Leblanc with Entergy says the smart thermostats efficiently manage energy by learning temperature preferences, usage habits and can be controlled from a smartphone…

Cut 3 (10) “…not home”

The promotion runs through the end of the month or while supplies last.

Thirty-thousand solar panels are now providing energy to 18-hundred military homes at Fort Polk. Corvias provided the funding and partnered with the U-S Army to complete the 13-megawatt power generation project. Bartost Wojszyk (Voice-chick), is the President of Energy at Corvias and he says they work with the military to make sure installations are energy resilient…

Cut 6 (06) “…18-hundred houses”

Corvias’ investment was 29-million dollars.

A hit and run crash in Slidell has claimed the life of a six-year-old boy who was riding his scooter in his driveway. Jeff Palermo has more on the story…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana is seeing an increase in the number of people infected with Vibrio vulnificus, commonly called flesh eating bacteria. State epidemiologist, Theresa Sokol says typically, at this time of year, we see less than ten cases but so far this year, 20 people have been hospitalized and four have died. She says Vibrio thrives in warm salt and brackish waters.

Cut 13 (10)  “…vibrio infections.”

She says if you have a wound stay out of brackish and salt waters.

A six-year-old Slidell boy is dead after he has hit by an SUV while riding his scooter. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff deputies say the driver of the SUV kept going and has been charged with vehicular homicide, reckless operation and felony hit and run. Lt. Suzanne Carboni says the child was hit on Northshore Lane near Slidell..

Cut 9 (11)  “…and continued.”

Carboni says the vehicle was located later that night on East Gause Boulevard and the driver, 35-year-old Cody Beaudette was taken into custody.

The state department of transportation is starting a new program called “Sponsor A Highway” that allows businesses to get involved in cleaning up the litter. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says local businesses can sponsor one-mile segments of a highway and help pay for litter removal…

Cut 10 (10) “…litter.”

Entergy says they’ve come up with a way to save on your utility bills. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Don Molino.”

18-hundred military homes at Fort Polk are now powered by thirty-thousand solar panels provided by Corvias. Bartost Wojszyk (Voice-chick), President of Energy at Corvias says they invested 29-million-dollars and it took them two years to plan and complete construction

Cut 7 (12) “…Garrison commanders.”

Military bases historically have relied on the civilian power grid, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, cyberattacks, and physical attacks.

Louisiana is seeing an increase in the number of people infected with Vibrio vulnificus, commonly called flesh eating bacteria. State epidemiologist, Theresa Sokol says most of those infected are through wounds. Typically, at this time of year we see less than ten cases but so far this year, 20 people have been hospitalized. She says Vibrio thrives in warm Gulf waters.

Cut 13 (10) “…Vibrio infections.”

A Port Allen man is accused of trying to set fire to a Baton Rouge home with four children inside early Tuesday morning. Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesperson Justin Hill says the suspect, 46-year-old Alfred Jarvis had two restraining orders again him and allegedly threatened the occupants of the home two days before he tried to set the fire. Jarvis have been charged with four counts of attempted first degree murder…

Cut 11 (12) “…witnesses said.”

A New Orleans Police officer has been arrested for allegedly hire sex workers while on duty in the French Quarter. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

An effort to raise the 75-thousand-dollar homestead exemption set in 1980 failed in the last legislative session. St. Tammany Parish assessor Louis Fitzmorris says in the 80s and 90s, you could purchase a home and not pay property taxes. He purchased a home in Abita Springs in the 90s for 48-thousand dollars…

Cut 3 (05) “…200-thousand dollars”

He says the 75-thousand-dollar homestead exemption is a stealth tax increase on homeowners and if the homestead exemption kept up with inflation from 1980 it would need to be about $300,000.

A Port Allen man is accused of trying to set a Baton Rouge home on fire Tuesday morning and there were four children inside. Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesperson Justin Hill says no one was injured and thanks to the work of several agencies they apprehended the suspect, 46-year-old Alfred Jarvis. Jarvis had two restraining orders again him and he allegedly threatened the occupants of the home two days before he tried to set it on fire….

Cut 10 (09) “…to the home.”

The current 75-thousand-dollar homestead exemption was set 45 years ago. St. Tammany Parish assessor Louis Fitzmorris says if the homestead exemption kept up with inflation from 1980, many homeowners would not pay property taxes.

Cut 4 (08) “…300-thousand dollars.”

There was an effort in the last legislative session to increase the homestead exemption.

There has been concern that ULM was slashing its athletic budget, but KNOE-TV sports director Aaron Dietrich says that’s not the case. Andre Champagne reports…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

There are three well-known Republicans challenging Senator Bill Cassidy in next year’s U-S Senate race, but will there be a formidable Democratic candidate. LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Democrats would like to see former Governor John Bel Edwards run, but that’s unlikely…

Cut 6 (11) “…that happening”

A Port Allen man is accused of trying to set a home on fire that had four children inside. The incident happened early Tuesday morning in Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesperson Justin Hill says when investigators arrived at home, they saw evidence of a break-in…

Cut 9 (08)  “…nobody was injured”

Hill says Jarvis have been charged with four counts of attempted first degree murder…

Three Republicans are challenging Senator Bill Cassidy in next year’s U-S Senate race, but so far there’s no Democratic candidate. LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Democrats would like to see former Governor John Bel Edwards run, but that’s unlikely and he says it’s unlikely Representatives Troy Carter or Cleo Fields would give up a House seat for a chance to represent Louisiana in the U-S Senate. He says the Louisiana Democratic Party is in rebuilding mode…

Cut 8 (09) “..Republican primary” 

A New Orleans Police officer has been arrested for allegedly hiring sex workers while on duty in the French Quarter. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

There was an effort in the last legislative session to increase the homestead exemption. New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard’s bill would have allowed parishes to increase the homestead exemption, but it died on the House floor. St. Tammany Parish assessor Louis Fitzmorris says with homestead exemption holding steady at 75-thousand dollars, it’s been a stealth tax increase on homeowners…

Cut 5 (06) “…fully homestead exempted”

A New Orleans Police Officer was booked into jail today. State Police Investigators say 56-year-old Terrance “TJ” Johnson allegedly coordinated and paid for sex on multiple occasions while he was on duty in the French Quarter. The LSP Bureau of Investigations was conducting a separate investigation when they uncovered evidence of Johnson’s activity. An arrest warrant was issued and Johnson turned himself in today.

Last week, Louisiana received a SNAP waiver that bans the purchase of soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy with SNAP cards. Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham believes preventing SNAP recipients from using their food stamps to purchase the items will make for a healthier Louisiana. He says candy and soda are high in sugar and too much of it, becomes a bad thing…

Cut 15 (09) “…of the mean.”

The new restrictions go into effect in January.

There are three well-known Republicans challenging Bill Cassidy in next April’s U-S Senate primary, but we have yet to see a Democrat announce they will challenge the Republican primary winner. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Don Molino.”

There was an effort in the last legislative session to increase the homestead exemption. The current homestead exemption of 75-thousand dollars was set in 1980. St. Tammany Parish assessor Louis Fitzmorris says in the 1980s and 1990s, you could purchase a home and not pay property taxes. Fitzmorris says in the early 1990s he purchased a home in Abita Springs for 48-thousand dollars…

Cut 3 (05) “…200-thousand dollars”

He says the 75-thousand-dollar homestead exemption is a stealth tax increase on homeowners and if the homestead exemption kept up with inflation from 1980 it would need to be about $300,000.

A Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for insurance fraud. State Police Trooper Eddie Thomas says 50-year-old Frank Launer of Blanchard got into a wreck last April and did not have automobile insurance and then quickly bought coverage

Cut 9 (11)  “…same day”

Thomas says once investigators had enough evidence to show that Launer obtained and filed a claim with his insurance provider after he got into a wreck, an arrest warrant was issued.

A new national survey finds small business optimism rose in July. NFIB State Director Leah Long believes that optimism shown in the new survey released by the NFIB is due in part to federal legislation that makes a 20-percent small business tax deduction permanent gives small business owners more clarity…

Cut 6 (08) “…businesses grow”

Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham believes preventing SNAP recipients from using their food stamps to purchase soft drinks, energy drinks and candy will make for a healthier Louisiana. Last week, USDA Secretary Brooke Collins signed a SNAP waiver for Louisiana that removes them as eligible food items. The new policy goes in to effect in January and Abraham says a good portion of government assistance is going towards the purchase of these items…

Cut 13 (07)  “…will be banned.”

Over a five-year period, Louisiana’s reading scores improved from being ranked 49th to the 32nd the nation’s report card. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says that improvement is why U-S Secretary of Education Linda McMahon started her “Returning Education to the States” tour in Louisiana. He says it was validation for what’s being done in the public classroom…

Cut 3 (08) “…with disabilities”