Qualifying for U.S. House of Representatives gets underway in Baton Rouge this morning…again.  You’ll recall, qualifying was held in February, but the closed primary was cancelled after the Supreme Court ruled the state’s previous congressional map unconstitutional. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says with districts five and six open, there are a few wild cards.

Cut 10 (12) “…to the sixth.”

It’s back to school time across Louisiana and officials are reminding us all to be patient and pay attention around school buses. Dayne Huval (HUE-vahl), the president of the Driving School Association of Louisiana, says too many kids get hurt when people are in a rush and try to drive around school buses. And remember using a handheld cell phone in a school zone is a primary offens.

Cut 9 (10)  “…and pay attention.”

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A close call for a five-year-old boy. Baton Rouge Police say he shot himself in the hand after finding his older brother’s gun. Corporal Saundra Watts says the boy’s 21-year-old left his gun on a bed while babysitting. Corporal Watts says it’s an important reminder that guns are not toys and should never be treated as such.

Cut 5 (14) “…danger as well.”

Coach Lane Kiffin and the LSU football Tigers kick off preseason camp today. Preston Guy with Tiger Bait-dot-com says there are a lot of questions surrounding Kiffin’s first LSU team, but one area loaded with veterans is the offensive line, and Preston says that’s not exactly a positive with this team.

Cut 14 (10) “…all those problems.”

It’s take two on candidate qualifying for U.S. House races in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A Lake Charles tourism leader is now one of the most powerful voices in global destination marketing.  Kyle Edmiston, President and CEO of Visit Lake Charles, has been elected chair of the world’s largest organization supporting tourism boards and convention and visitors bureaus. He is only the second Louisiana CEO to hold the Destinations International chair. The first was Steven Perry of New Orleans.

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A close call for a five-year-old boy. Baton Rouge Police say he shot himself in the hand after finding his older brother’s gun. Corporal Saundra Watts says 21-year-old Haidyn Moten left his gun on a bed while babysitting his younger brother.

Cut 4 (09) “…injury, thank God.”

Now that school’s starting in many parts of the state, drivers need to be aware of school buses and the youngsters who’ll be getting on and off of them.  Dayne Huval (HUE-vahl), the president of the Driving School Association of Louisiana, is reminding us all that when a school bus stops and puts out its stop signs, you must wait behind the bus until the driver brings in the signs. He says to take the same caution as if it was your own child.

Cut 8 (09) “…that’s their job.”

A close call for a five-year-old Baton Rouge boy. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A 13-year-old boy is charged with the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old girl. It happened Sunday afternoon at a home in Shreveport.  The Caddo Parish coroner’s office identified the victim as 14-year-old Makayla Pennywell.  We’re told the 13-year-old boy is facing a  second-degree murder charge and is being held at a juvenile detention center.

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With the school year already getting underway in some parts of the state, it’s time once again to be patient and pay attention around school buses. Dayne Huval (HUE-vahl), the president of the Driving School Association of Louisiana, says too many kids get hurt when people are in a rush and try to drive around school buses.

Cut 7 (09) “…in our communities.”

LSU football begins preseason camp today – its first under new head coach Lane Kiffin. Preston Guy with Tiger Bait-dot-com says there are a lot of questions surrounding Kiffin’s first LSU team, most of which deal with chemistry.

Cut 13 (11)  “…to the team (2x).”

Three groups are coming together to challenge Entergy Louisiana’s proposal to build seven new gas plants for Meta’s new A-I data center in Richland Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A federal inmate serving life in prison for his role in the kidnapping and murder of a Northwest Arkansas man died yester after being found unresponsive at the U.S. prison in Pollock on Sunday.  Prison officials have not released a suspected cause of death.

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If you held a State Farm auto insurance policy before the end of last year, be on the lookout for a check in the mail. State Farm is Louisiana’s largest auto insurer, and 136-million dollars in dividend payments will be issued in total. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says any refund is good money, and any money back in the pockets of consumers is a blessing.

Cut 11 (09) “…other than insurance.”

The Department of Children and Families has a new website.  DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris says the re-design makes the website more user friendly and just like most reputable websites, the new DCFS website is also mobile-friendly.

Cut 6 (14) “…your cell phone.”

With the recall effort against East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards falling way short, what does that mean for the two statewide efforts? Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

New Orleans police are investigating an aggravated battery in the Seventh Ward after they say a man was deliberately set on fire.  It happened last night around seven.  That’s when police got the call that a man had been doused with flammable liquid and set on fire on North Roman Street. We’re told the victim suffered burns to his arms and legs and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

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If you held a State Farm auto insurance policy before the end of last year, be on the lookout for a check in the mail. State Farm is issuing policyholders in Louisiana a special dividend of around 138 dollars per vehicle on the policy. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says dividends like this one are not uncommon.

Cut 10 (08) “…that money back.”

The Department of Children and Families has a new website. DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris says the site’s more user friendly now, in part because the department was able to simplify the website.

Cut 5 (09) “…easier to navigate.”

A trio of groups is joining forces in challenging Entergy Louisiana’s proposal to build seven new gas plants for Meta’s new A-I data center in Richland Parish through Governor Landry’s “Lightning Speed” initiative. Susan Stevens Miller, a senior attorney at Earthjustice, says Entergy and Meta are trying to ram through these gas plants by leveraging their political influence.

Cut 7 (13) “…long-term impacts.”

With the recall effort against East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards coming up way short, what does that mean for the efforts against Governor Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill? LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says since Landry and Murrill are much more closely aligned with the Trump administration, certain voters may be more motivated to act against them.

Cut 13 (09)  “…would join in.”

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State Farm is giving 136-million dollars in dividends back to Louisiana policyholders. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A Pitkin man is accused of setting fire to his home to commit insurance fraud.  Officials with the State Fire Marshal’s office said 37 year old was arrested Friday in connection with a house fire on Hopewell Road in February.  Ware faces two counts of insurance fraud and one count of arson with the intent to defraud.

One of several new laws going into effect today allows retired teachers to return to the classroom without having their retirement benefits reduced.  It also allows retirees to suspend their benefits and regain membership in the retirement system and allows for a new supplemental benefit. by Gonzales Senator Ed Price, who authored the bill says the new should benefit everyone.

Cut 9 (09)  “…retirement system.”

Navy Seaman Joseph Ucline Conner is being laid to rest in Lake Charles today, more than 85 years after he was killed in Pearl Harbor thanks to anthropological and mitochondrial DNA. Connor was 24 years old when he joined the military and rose to the rank of Fireman 1st Class when he was aboard the USS Utah on that fateful day in 1941.

Cut 4 (11) “…including Joseph Conner.”

Conner was decorated with several service medals, including the Purple Heart.

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Participants in the Louisiana Women, Infants and Children program may begin using their new EBT cards today. Leslie Lewis, the nutrition operations manager at the Louisiana Department of Health, says in most cases it’ll mean fewer clinic visits for participants.

Cut 11 (07) “…just about yearly.”

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave spoke yesterday, just a day after signing a four-year, 132-million-dollar contract extension. Kace Kieschnick has details.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschncik.”

Participants in the Louisiana Women, Infants and Children program may begin using their new EBT cards today. Leslie Lewis, the nutrition operations manager at the Louisiana Department of Health, says the new cards help modernize the whole system.

Cut 12 (08) “…a federal requirement.”

Participants will need to call the number on the back of the card or use the MyWIC app to choose a PIN before using their new cards.

Chris Olave spoke at training camp yesterday after signing a four-year, 132-million-dollar extension. Olave had the best season of his career last year with 100 catches, over one-thousand yards and nine touchdowns. He says this is the most momentum there has been in New Orleans since he’s been there, and it means a lot to stay long-term.

Cut 15 (11) “…that every day.”

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After 85 years, a Cameron Parish seaman will finally get a proper funeral here in Louisiana today.  Andrew Greenstein reports.

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Visitation is being held today from 5 to 8 p.m. and 9 to 11 tomorrow morning before the service. All veterans are invited to the visitation.

Quite a few new laws go into effect today. Among them is one that allows retired teachers to return to the classroom without having their retirement benefits reduced. It was authored by Gonzales Senator Ed Price, who says it will help support teachers and the school systems.

Cut 8 (10) “…agreed to.”

Another one toughens penalties for those who assault teachers and other school personnel. Among other things, it subjects students who assault teachers to expulsion, and it allows up to a year of paid medical leave for teachers and other school personnel injured on the job by an unruly student. Author of the bill, New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says her bill gives them peace of mind.

Cut 7 (12) “…of their administration.”

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WIC participants may begin using their new EBT cards today. LDH Nutrition Operations Manager Leslie Lewis says these cards are different from the old cards that had to have benefits loaded in person every three months.

Cut 10 (08) “…be loaded remotely.”

More than 85 years after he was killed in Pearl Harbor, Navy seaman Joseph Ucline Connor will be laid to rest at his home in Lake Charles today. Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says the Defense Accounting Agency and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used anthropological and mitochondrial DNA analysis to identify him.

Cut 3 (12) “…from family members.”

Louisiana’s cyclosporiasis outbreak cases have now reached 100. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says if you typically like to start your dinner with a salad, you shouldn’t be afraid to continue doing so. She says  simply taking the precautions you should be taking anyway with fresh produce, should suffice…like washing it and…

Cut 12 (11) “…of the parasites.”

Quite a few new state laws are going into effect this weekend, one of which prohibits businesses from adding a surcharge to your bill if you pay with a debit card. Businesses can still charge a fee when you use a credit card. Author of the measure, Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell…

Cut 8 (07) “…hear from people.”
Mizell says the state law gives consumers more protections.

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The Saints agreed to a contract extension with their top offensive playmaker. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend and you’re into the paranormal ParaCon in New Orleans’ French Quarter. It’s happening at the Crowne Plaza Hotel today through Sunday.  Event Producer Jennifer Talley…

Cut 5 (09) “…developing psychic abilities.”