The US Supreme Court has set a date to revisit Louisiana’s congressional map and decide whether it violates the 14^th and 15^th Amendments. Last November the court agreed to hear the case challenging the map as illegally gerrymandered but did not rule before the term ended. The case is now scheduled to be reargued on October 15^th. At issue is a redrawn district that cuts a diagonal through the state from Shreveport to Baton Rouge.

A Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy is on administrative leave after he was arrested for insurance fraud. State Police Trooper Eddie Thomas says a months long investigation has determined 50-year-old Frank Launer of Blanchard got into a wreck last April and did not have automobile insurance and then quickly obtained coverage and filed the claim later that same day. Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn says his office does not condone the alleged actions attributed to Launer and Thomas says Sheriff Whitehorn supports L-S-P’s investigation…

Cut 11 (09) “…as well.”

U-S Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is on a “Returning Education to the States” tour and she made Louisiana her first stop. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says Louisiana’s improved reading scores is why she decided to start her tour by visiting Jefferson Terrace Academy in Baton Rouge…

Cut 5 (10) “…our state”

Optimism is up among small businesses according to a new survey released by the NFIB. NFIB state director Leah Long says it’s good to see improving conditions with the 20 percent small business tax deduction being made permanent and new attention to insurance reform, but labor quality remains the single most important problem facing small businesses…

Cut 8 (08) “…to hire” 

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 while allegedly uninsured but quickly obtained coverage after the accident. An arrest warrant was issued after months of investigation provided enough evidence to show that Launer obtained and filed a claim with his insurance provider after he got into a wreck.

Cut 10 (09) “…insurance fraud.”

After U-S Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s “Returning Education to the States” tour stop in Louisiana, State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley commented on the improvement in Louisiana’s reading scores from 49th to the 32nd on a national test called the nation’s report card. Brumley says they went back to the basics…

Cut 4 (10) “…academic excellence.”

A wildlife has burned 15-hundred acres in the Kisatchie National Forest, but Jeff Palermo reports officials are confident they can get fire contained by the end of the week…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Optimism is up among small businesses according to a new survey released by the NFIB. State Director Leah Long says federal legislation that makes a 20-percent small business tax deduction permanent is positive and in Louisiana there’s optimism that the tort reform legislation approved in the last regular session can help reduce insurance rates over time….

Cut 7 (07) “…for that.”

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office found Medicaid paid nearly ten-million dollars to healthcare organizations for 1,072 deceased beneficiaries between February 2019 and March of this year. State auditor Chris Magee says they’ve recommended to the Louisiana Department of Health to use third-party data sources to identify and remove coverage for beneficiaries who have died

Cut 8 (05) “…with our recommendation”

LSU running back JT Lindsey is suspended from the team until his accessory to murder charge is resolved. Lindsey is accused of harboring two murder suspects in his apartment style dorm. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says a Baton Rouge TV station reports U.S. Marshals found multiple guns in his dorm room…

Cut 9 (12)  “…that facility”

McNeese is helping incoming freshmen adjust to college life. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon kicked off her returning education to the states tour this morning at Jefferson Terrace Academy in Baton Rouge. She says she’s impressed with Louisiana’s recent improvement on the Nation’s Report Card, and she believes each state should decide what’s best for itself when it comes to improving student achievement in the classroom.

Cut 13 (11)  “…to do.”

Secretary McMahon will also visit Arkansas and Tennessee this week.

An accidental shooting in Ville Platte sent a 10-year-old boy to the hospital Sunday. Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office says two 10-year-old boys were playing a game Sunday afternoon when one of them picked up a loaded weapon that was supposed to be locked up. Authorities say the boys were unaware the gun was loaded and one of them shot the other sending him to the hospital. No word on his condition. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon was in Baton Rouge this morning to kickoff her returning education to states tour. Secretary McMahon visited Jefferson Terrace Academy and participated in a roundtable conversation on Louisiana’s literacy progress. McMahon says she’s impressed with Louisiana’s improvement on the Nation’s Report Card…

Cut 12 (12) “…making it work.”

Secretary McMahon will also visit Arkansas and Tennessee this week.

The preseason AP Top 25 poll was released today and the LSU Tigers are ranked in the top 10. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

McNeese State is helping their incoming Freshman adjust to their first year of college life with their First Year Experience program. The program is funded for five years with a 2.2-million-dollar grant from the Department of Education and Director of the First Year Experience Jacqueline Clark says a portion of that money goes towards hiring student mentors.

Cut 5 (09) “…the students”

Medicaid reportedly paid nearly ten-million dollars to healthcare organizations for over a thousand deceased beneficiaries between February 2019 and March of this year according to a report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office. State auditor Chris Magee says their recommendation to the Louisiana Department of Health is to use third-party data sources in their effort to make sure beneficiaries of Medicaid have not passed away…

Cut 7 (07) “…data basis.”

LSU running back JT Lindsey is suspended from the team until there is resolution of his accessory to murder charge involving 2 teens accused of murder staying in his apartment earlier this year. His attorney says the Alexandria High School football star didn’t know the teens were wanted. Lindsey’s suspension leaves LSU with three scholarship running backs but Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says a former high school football quarterback from Lafayette Christian could be used as a ball carrier out of the backfield this season…

Cut 11 (12) “…to fill in as well.”

In Natchitoches Parish, a wildfire burning in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area named the Backbone fire has been burning for about a week and has burned through about 1200 acres. Yesterday, crews were able to perform a burn out operation and hope to continue through Tuesday, weather permitting. The fire was reportedly caused by a lightening strike and this morning was 15 miles south of Natchitoches.

Classes at McNeese begin August 25^th and Freshman students move in on August 21^st. They’ll benefit from a new First-Year Experience program to help them adjust to college life. Director Jacqueline Clark says the traditional two-day Cowboy Camp orientation is a big part of the First-Year Experience.

Cut 4 (12) “…set of friends.”

The First-Year Experience program is funded for five years with a 2.2-million-dollar grant from the Department of Education.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office releases a report that finds Medicaid paid nearly ten-million dollars to healthcare organizations for 1,072 beneficiaries who were deceased. The report covers February 2019 to March of this year and the review was conducted to further the goals of the Governor’s Fiscal Responsibility Program. State auditor Chris Magee on how they found out these beneficiaries were dead…

Cut 6 (11) “…death master file”

A procession honoring fallen Baton Rouge Police Captain Caleb Eisworth  rolled through Baton Rouge Sunday. Eisworth was surrounded by died Sunday morning after spending seven weeks in the hospital with multiple injuries sustained in June when Gad Black allegedly intentionally rammed his pickup truck into Eisworth’s motorcycle. Eisworth served 23 years in law enforcement and received BRPD’s highest honor, The Medal of Valor. District Attorney Hiller Moore says he plans to seek the death penalty against Gad Black.

McNeese is helping incoming freshmen adjust to college life. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU running back JT Lindsey is accused of harboring two murder suspects in his apartment style dorm and has been suspended from the team until the issue is resolved. Lindsey’s attorney says the former star running back at Alexandria Senior High was unaware the two teenagers were wanted for murder.  Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says it’s likely he will not play this season…

Cut 10 (09) “…serious allegation.”

With the peak of hurricane season just weeks away, the Louisiana Department of Insurance has launched an updated mobile app. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the new and improved LDI Connect app has some new features, including enhanced weather reporting.

Cut 9 (11)  “…that impact you.”

The new and improved LDI Connect app is live on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

LSU football coach Brian Kelly joked that Garrett Nussmeier will not need his leg amputated after a rumor swirled on Wednesday that the quarterback suffered a serious injury. Kelly says it’s tendinitis.

Cut 12 (07) “…his leg.”

A little boy is rescued from a hot car, and you’re not going to believe his mother’s excuse. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is bringing back its “On the Road Again” program. Assistant Secretary of Family Support, Sammy Guillory, says it’s an opportunity for noncustodial parents who lost their driver’s license because they haven’t been paying their child support to regain their driver’s license…

Cut 3 (10) “…meet em.”

An LSU Freshman running back turned himself in to LSU Police today and says he is innocent of the charge of accessory after the fact. Police say JT Lindsey of Alexandria allowed two men wanted for murder to stay at his dorm room earlier this year. Lindsey’s attorney says Lindsey was at football camp at the time and did not know the men were wanted. He says Lindsey, the 2024 winner of the Warrick Dunn Award, is innocent and they hope to have the matter resolved quickly.

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has updated their mobile app. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the improved LDI Connect app contains some useful short videos to help navigate you the sometimes-complicated world of insurance.

Cut 10 (12) “…file a claim.”

Noncustodial parents who lost their driver’s license because of delinquent child support payments have an easier chance to get their license reinstated with a program called On the Road Again. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A two-year-old boy is safe after being left in a hot car in Shreveport for around an half hour. Police Corporal Christopher Bordelon says it was 93 degrees at the time and the temperature inside the vehicle even hotter. The boy’s mother LaCrystol Johnson was arrested when she eventually walked out of the store. She told officers she felt that it would be okay to leave her 2-year-old inside the car since she left the window down. Fortunately, he came out of the ordeal unscathed.

Cut 8 (07) “…to his father.”

In Anticipation of the peak of hurricane, the Louisiana Department of Insurance has launched an updated mobile app. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says LDI Connect initially launched last year, and they took note of what worked and what didn’t work.

Cut 11 (08) “…making it better.”

The new and improved LDI Connect app is live on the Apple App Store and on the Google Play Store now.

Responding to the sensational rumors about an injury to Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier that spread all over social media this week, LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly says Nussmeier suffers from patella tendinitis.

Cut 13 (06)  “…calm it down.”

Kelly expects Nussmeier to participate in a practice setting on Saturday. LSU’s first scrimmage of preseason camp is Saturday.

A little boy is rescued from a hot car, and you’re not going to believe his mother’s excuse. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Child Support Awareness Month and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is bringing back its “On the Road Again” program, giving parents who lost their driver’s license for nonpayment an opportunity to get back on track. Assistant Secretary of Family Support, Sammy Guillory, says suspending a license is a last resort.

Cut 5 (10) “…reinstated”

The former Police Chief of Golden Meadow was booked into the Lafourche Parish Jail yesterday. Agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation say former Chief Troy Dufrene deleted twelve years’ worth of records including citations, arrest reports, expenditures, and payroll information. The system that maintains those records belongs to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and is shared by the Golden Meadow Police Department. Investigators say Dufrene tampered with the records before he vacated his office after losing the election for police chief.

LSU football fans were sent into a panic on Wednesday after a rumor on social media stated that quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was seriously injured during practice. The rumor on Nussmeier’s status blew up on multiple social media outlets, but Tiger Rag executive editor Todd Horne says that the fear initiated by the rumors was unnecessary.

Cut 12 (12) “…no veracity.”

NOAA Fisheries has increased the catch limits of red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

ULM football coach Bryant Vincent’s workload got heavier this week as he was named interim athletics director following the sudden resignation of John Hartwell. Vincent is also the offensive coordinator and is trying to build on the Warhawks encouraging five and seven season from a year ago.. Vincent says new ULM president Doctor Carrie Castille reached out to him about running the athletic department on an interim basis…

Cut 11 (11) “…we needed.”