Angola State Penitentiary may begin housing detained immigrants in a currently unused part of the prison. According to the Advocate, Louisiana leaders and the Trump administration are in early talks to use the facility – possibly a wing previously known as Camp J which closed in 2018 due to its condition. Concerns have reportedly been raised over housing non-violent immigrants in the same facility as those convicted of violent crimes. And at least one interested party reportedly expressed concern over the conditions of Camp J.

A new school year begins this week and is bringing some new areas of emphasis. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says more high school students will participate in internships as they expand work-based learning opportunities. Educators are also putting an emphasis on more structured physical education classes…

Cut 4 (10) “…thoughtful than that.’”

Brumley says structured P-E classes will complement mandatory recess time for students between kindergarten and fifth grade.

In a first of its kind deal, B.J. Bell, the Voice of Grambling State’s World-Famous Tiger Marching Band has landed an NIL deal.

Cut 7 (13) “…NIL deal.”

He signed with Monroe-based Attorney Eddie Clark and Associates. Bell and Clark both attended Carroll High School in Monroe.

A new school year gets underway this week and the Louisiana Department of Education has plans to expand work-based learning opportunities for high school students and have more structured physical education classes which will complement mandatory recess time for students between kindergarten and fifth grade. State Superintendent of Education, Cade Brumley…

Cut 5 (11) “…too long.”

Starting this school year, school districts will be permitted to accept advertising from politicians and political groups for athletics and other school clubs. The new law was written by Gonzales Senator Eddie Lambert, who says rural school districts were put at a huge disadvantage under the old law.

Cut 10 (13) “…support the teams.”

Self-driving trucks are taking to the highways between Dallas and Houston and could service the Bayou State as soon as 2027. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

In an effort to better the health of Louisiana public assistance recipients, five parishes have been added to a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program pilot for a total of 11 parishes where recipients receive a bonus of 30 cents for every SNAP dollar they spend on fresh produce. There’s a limit of $25 per month that can be added back to the SNAP assistance. Last week, it was announced that Louisiana is one of six more states where SNAP cards will soon not cover candy, soda, and energy drinks.

A new law limiting the time death row inmate have for appeals went into effect Friday. Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso authored the legislation and says the purpose is to give victims’ families swift justice.

Cut 5 (14) “…off the books.”

He says the convict is still afforded due process, including the ability to get DNA testing.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance applauds President Trump’s 25-percent tariff on shrimp imports from India. Board member Cheri Blanchard of Houma says she hopes the tariffs will level the playing field between local shrimpers and the exporters

Cut 12 (10) “…those sources out.”

The LSU defense will be anchored by preseason All-SEC linebackers Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins. Perkins has been a dominant pure pass rusher, but head coach Brian Kelly says he’s grown more comfortable with the other aspects of the position as well.

Cut 16 (15) “…not distracted.”

After just eighteen months on the job, ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell announces his resignation. Sean Fox, the sports director at Sports Talk West Monroe, says Hartwell’s resignation comes as a surprise and an exact reason for his departure is unknown. He says ULM hired a new president in May, Doctor Carrie Castille.

Cut 14 (12) “…they were behind.”

Death row convicts can no longer drag out their appeals for decades, thanks to a new law that went into effect last Friday. Slidell Republican Representative Brian Glorioso authored House Bill 675, and says under the old law, death row convicts and their attorneys were incentivized to delay the proceedings for as long as possible, forcing the families’ victims to wait until final justice is served.

Cut 6 (12) “…up the system.”

Glorioso says the convict is still afforded due process, including the ability to get DNA testing.

President Trump’s 25-percent tariff on shrimp imports from India is getting praise from the Southern Shrimp Alliance. Board member Cheri Blanchard of Houma says shrimp exporters from India, Indonesia and Vietnam, do not abide by the same rules as domestic shrimpers, and that makes imported shrimp much less healthy.

Cut 11 (12) “…tits natural state.”

The search is on for a new athletics director at ULM after John Harwell suddenly resigns after 18 months on the job. Andre Champagne (SHOM-pine) has the story…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Plans for wind farms off in Federal Waters off the Louisiana Coast are off after the announcement by the Trump administration. There are currently three operating wind farms off the eastern coast and four more projects under construction off the Northeastern coast. Executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies Greg Upton expects those projects to continue.

Cut 8 (11) “…right now.”

The Southern Shrimp Alliance is applauding President Trump’s 25-percent tariff on shrimp imports from India, which is by far the biggest exporter of shrimp to the U.S. Board member Cheri Blanchard of Houma says the low cost of imported shrimp is costing local shrimpers their livelihoods.

Cut 10 (10) “…make a profit.”

She also says the imported shrimp is less healthy since the importers are not held to the same standards as domestic shrimp.

Louisiana is one of six states that will now restrict the purchase of sodas, energy drinks, and candy with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP funds. The waiver making the restrictions possible was signed by Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins yesterday. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy, Jr. and several governors joined her. Governor Jeff Landry applauded the move and said Louisiana isn’t just participating in the Make America Healthy Again movement; we’re leading it. The new SNAP restrictions go into effect next year

Among the new laws that went into effect last Friday is one that relates to the post-conviction appeals process. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Trump administration is canceling plans for wind farms in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Greg Upton, the executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says several Louisiana-based energy companies were excited about the development of offshore wind energy projects and in May, shipbuilder Edison Chouest Offshore completed construction of a ship to service the five-billion-dollar Empire Wind project off the New York coast.

Cut 9 (09)  “…the Northeast.”

Death row convicts will no longer have decades to appeal their cases, thanks to a new law that went into effect last Friday. Slidell Republican Representative Brian Glorioso authored House Bill 675, which, among other things, speeds up deadlines in death-row cases.

Cut 4 (07) “…or 25 years.”

He says the purpose of the new law is to give the victims’ families the swift justice that they deserve and the inmate is still afforded due process, including the ability to get DNA testing.

The Trump administration announced the cancellation of plans to use more than 3.5 million acres of federal waters for offshore wind farms, ending plans to have wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico. Greg Upton, the executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says planning got underway to construct wind farms in the gulf during the Biden administration.

Cut 7 (06) “…wind energy.”

Four projects under construction off the Northeastern coast are expected to continue.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance is applauding President Trump’s 25-percent tariffs on shrimp imports from India. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

There’s a big shakeup at the University of Louisiana at Monroe as Athletic Director John Hartwell announces his resignation after only 18 months on the job. Hartwell is responsible for several major hires, in particular football head coach Bryant Vincent, who led the Warhawks to a 5 and 1 start last season. Sean Fox, the sports director at Sports Talk West Monroe, says Hartwell gained a lot of credibility from the Vincent hire.

Cut 13 (11)  “…of the town.”

Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send the House home early for its summer recess rather than hold a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files didn’t sit well with everyone including fellow

Republican, Oil City Representative Danny McCormick, who went as far as issuing a statement condemning the move. McCormick says in his statement, he was defending fellow Republican Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored a resolution to force the release of those files.

Cut 14 (05) “…them get released”

Johnson says he wants to release the files but after they are completely pored over and all names of victims are redacted.

The Department of Children and Family Services needs second shift Child Protective Services investigators because child maltreatment does not happen just between the hours of 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday says DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris. She says they need 53 people to work four, 10-hour shifts per week including every other weekend. But she says working second shift has  advantages like additional pay.

Cut 6 (12) “…per hour worked.”

Those hired would start their new jobs as early as September 15th.

LSU is less than a month away from its season opener against Clemson. The Tigers are looking for their first win in week one since 2019. Defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory has been at LSU in 2020 and wants to start 1-0….

Cut 20 (16) “…the place.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announces honorably discharged military veteran residents can purchase a recreational hunting and fishing combination license for $20, a reduction of $80 for the Sportsman’s Paradise license. Republican Lafayette Senator Brach Myers authored the legislation that resulted in a big discount for military veterans.

Cut 9 (09)  “…outdoors in Louisiana.”

Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send the House home early for its summer recess rather than hold a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files raised controversy but  Johnson says he’s committed to releasing the files and bringing Epstein and others to justice but only after all files are completely pored over and all names of victims are redacted.

Cut 13 (07)  “…be permanently destroyed.”

The Department of Children and Family Services needs help. DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris says child maltreatment does not just happen between the hours of 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday and they need second shift Child Protective Services investigators. They want to hire 53 people to work four, 10-hour shifts per week. And she says you do not need a college degree or any special licenses.

Cut 5 (10) “…first response world.”

A study from the Cenla economic dashboard reports steady growth for the Central Louisiana economy. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announces deeply discounted combo hunting and fishing licenses for honorably discharged military veteran residents Senator Brach Myers authored the legislation that resulted in the discounts and says it was a result of collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and The Boot, an organization that encourages military veterans to make Louisiana their home once their service has ended.

Cut 11 (14) “…the outdoors.”

The Department of Children and Family Services needs second shift Child Protective Services investigators. DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris says they need workers in the second shift because child maltreatment does not happen just between the hours of 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday.

Cut 4 (08) “…to respond timely.”

Honorably discharged military veterans can now get deeply discounted Louisiana Purchase combination hunting an fishing licenses. Author of the bill that made it possible Senator Brach Myers says, LDWF operates mostly on license fees, but giving our veterans the ability to hunt and fish in Louisiana at a reduced cost is a small token of our appreciation.

Cut 10 (09) “…the right heroes”

Still plenty of controversy over Speaker Mike Johnson sending the House home for summer recess instead of holding a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Jeanne Burns reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Good news for Central Louisiana. According to a study from the CENLA Economic Dashboard, Consumer spending has is on the rise. LSUA Professor Randall Dupont, says the dashboard measures sales tax revenue to track spending rates and he says a successful job market led to a fruitful local economy.

Cut 8 (11) “…over year.”

Alexandria and Pineville each recorded quarterly growth of four to five percent, and Natchitoches posted an eight percent quarterly gain.

Still plenty of controversy – even among Republicans – over Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send the House home early for its summer recess rather than hold a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Johnson says he’s committed to getting to the bottom of who was responsible for the sexual abuse of the women and teenage girls at the hands of Epstein and his associates.

Cut 12 (11) “…is the President.”

He says, after the victims’ names have been redacted from the files.

Central Louisiana is showing steady economic growth, according to a study from the Cenla Economic Dashboard. The Alexandria metropolitan area has gained 707 jobs since May, and the dashboard’s author, LSUA Professor Randall Dupont, says Natchitoches is recovering from the April closure of its International Paper plant.

Cut 7 (08) “…of this year.”

Alexandria and Pineville each recorded quarterly growth of four to five percent, and Natchitoches posted an eight percent quarterly gain.

If you’re interested in a career investigating child abuse cases, the Department of Children and Families wants to hear from you. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announces honorably discharged military veteran residents can purchase a recreational hunting and fishing combination license for $20, a reduction of $80 for the Sportsman’s Paradise license. Republican Lafayette Senator Brach Myers authored the legislation that resulted in a big discount for military veterans.

Cut 9 (09)  “…outdoors in Louisiana.”