A new ICE detention center is now open at Angola. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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A children’s advocacy group says child care providers are having a hard time staying in business.  Mattilyn Batson, with the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, says they’re being stretched thin financially.

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Batson says nearly every expense involved in running a child care center has gone up in recent years.

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20 years ago, Hurricane Katrina nearly trapped Pat Sajak, Vanna White and the rest of the Wheel of Fortune crew in New Orleans. They were in town taping three weeks worth of shows.  Harry Friedman, who was the executive producer at the time, says by the time they decided to evacuate, they had no way to get out – so they commandeered two tour buses.

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The two weeks of shows they did manage to tape aired in November, with an introduction from Pat and Vanna stating that they were taped just before the storm. Friedman says staff made sure that all 30 contestants who appeared on the show were accounted for.

Cut 11 (11) “…of the hurricane.”

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy is testifying before the Senate Finance Committee this morning amid chaos at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This, after Kennedy fired Susan Monarez, triggering a wave of resignations by top employees. Senator Bill Cassidy, who’s a member of the Finance Committee, says he will have lots of questions for the secretary.

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Governor Landry and federal officials announce Camp J at the Angola Prison has been renovated to house what they are calling the worst of the worst criminal illegal migrants arrested by ICE. Landry says this facility fulfils the President’s promise to make America safer…

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Renovations to Camp J were paid for by what the President calls his “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

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A children’s advocacy group says child care providers are finding it more difficult to remain in business. Andre Champagne reports.

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President Donald Trump yesterday suggesting a federal crime crackdown could be launched in New Orleans.  And Governor Jeff Landry has said he would support the move.  If the National Guard is deployed to New Orleans, it’s likely their presence would be concentrated in the French Quarter. As of now, there’s no timetable on when or if the deployment would happen.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson will face a Democratic challenger in next November’s general election. Andre Champagne reports.

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Powerball mania is in full effect across the country as the prize for tonight’s jackpot is up to an estimated 1.3 billion dollars.  Tonight’s jackpot is the fifth largest in Powerball history with an estimated cash value of $589 million dollars.

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State and Federal officials are set to make a big announcement later today, making it official that Angola will house ICE detainees in Camp J.  It has been closed since 2018. However, Louisiana Illuminator Editor Greg LaRose says ays in late July the governor declared a state of emergency for expedited repairs.

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The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living says smoke-free policies are working when it comes to reducing the rate of smoking-related cancers.  And Senior Director Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson, says the positive effects of smoke-free policies have many more benefits.

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Louisiana’s 2026 U.S. Senate race could get even more crowded. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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Democrat Conrad Cable has announced he will run against U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson in the general election next November.  Cable on who he is as a candidate.

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Governor Jeff Landry, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi will announce this afternoon that the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola will house ICE detainees. Louisiana Illuminator Editor Greg LaRose says the ICE detainees will be housed at Camp J.

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The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living says smoke-free policies have been very effective in reducing the rate of smoking-related cancers. Senior Director Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson, says Orleans and Ouachita parishes, where smoking is prohibited in all indoor establishments, including bars and gaming facilities, both experienced a much higher decrease in smoking-related cancers, relative to the rest of the state.

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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson will have a Democratic opponent in next November’s general election for his District Four House seat. Conrad Cable has announced that he is running for Johnson’s seat. Cable says he’s not a politician; he’s a vegetable farmer.

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We could see more Republican candidates enter next year’s U.S. Senate race and challenge incumbent Bill Cassidy. Carencro State Representative Julie Emerson told the Advocate she will throw her hat into the ring, if Congresswoman Julia Letlow doesn’t get in the race. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says everyone is waiting to see if Letlow will make a run for Senate.

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One anti-smoking group says smoke-free policies help contribute to a drop in smoking-related cancer. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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The billion-dollar Powerball jackpot is still on the rise! The prize has surged to an estimated $1.30 billion for tonight’s drawing, with an estimated cash value of $589 million.  Tonight’s jackpot is the fifth largest in Powerball history.

Former Governor and then Congressman Bobby Jindal is looking back on Hurricane Katrina twenty years later. Jindal represented Louisiana’s first Congressional district when Katrina came ashore leaving much of southeast Louisiana destroyed. He says the immediate aftermath of Katrina was a dark time for the state and the recovery was hard, but gives a lot of credit to the people of Louisiana for making the Bayou State what it is today.

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It looks like most restaurants in Slidell who claim their shrimp re gulf shrimp, are telling the truth.  That’s according to SeaD (“seed”) Consulting, who recently conducted genetic testing on shrimp from 24 restaurants that claim their shrimp are locally sourcedCo-founder David Williams on what they’re looking for in those tests.

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Saints head coach Kellen Moore has named second-year player Spencer Rattler as the team’s starting quarterback. Andre Champagne has the story.

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Third-string quarterback Jake Haener did not make the 53-man roster and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire also failed to make the team.

State Representative Dixon McMakin will be the Voice of Tiger Stadium as he’s been named the new public address announcer for LSU football games.  He replaces Dan Borne, who announced his retirement earlier this summer after 38 years.

The young mother-to-be who was shot in a road rage incident Sunday morning in Tangipaoa Parish has died.  That’s according to Katelynn Strate’s  family. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s officials say the attempted murder charge against 54 year old Barry West  has been upgraded to second degree murder in light of Strate’s death.

People in New Orleans are searching for answers as the mourn the death of 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez.  He’s the boy who went missing from his New Orleans East Home August 14^th.  His body found yesterday by the United Cajun Navy.  New Orleans Police superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick says their investigation into Bryan’s disaparance and death will be very thorough.

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Kirkpatrick says they’re also investigating why it took police five hours to respond to the initial call that Bryan was missing. She says people have every right to be angry about that, and NOPD needs to regain the public’s trust.

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A recent audit of independent seafood restaurants in Slidell shows that nearly all of them which advertise that their shrimp comes from the Gulf of Mexico are telling the truth. SeaD (“seed”) Consulting conducted genetic testing on shrimp from 24 restaurants that claimed that their shrimp was locally sourced, and it found that 21 of them were telling the truth. Co-founder David Williams says he’s not surprised…

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As we continue to reflect on the 20^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, former Governor Bobby Jindal is taking a look back.  Jindal was sworn in as governor in 2008 and remembers the battles with the federal government over recovery dollars. He says the 474-million dollars owed to the state to replace the city’s Charity Hospital was ultimately used to build a new academic medical center in New Orleans.

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A recent audit shows that nearly all independent restaurants in Slidell who say they serve Gulf shrimp are telling the truth. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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We continue to reflect on the 20^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Bobby Jindal represented Louisiana’s first Congressional district when Katrina came ashore leaving much of southeast Louisiana destroyed. Jindal remembers the outpouring of support from regular citizens, but the federal government was slow to react.

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The investigation into the death of a nonverbal 12 year old boy missing for twelve days from his East New Orleans home continues this morning.  The body of 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez, was found in by the United Cajun navy in a lagoon near his home just yesterday. When Bryan was discovered missing, there was no Amber Alert issued. NOPD Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick says the disappearance did not rise to the level that justified an Amber Alert.

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Second year quarterback Spencer Rattler will get the week-one start against the Arizona Cardinals when the Saints hit the field.  Head Coach Kellen more making that announcement.  Moore says the Saints will benefit from Rattler in his second season in the league as he has improved his decision-making while still finding a way to do what the coaching staff asks of him.

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Former Governor and Congressman Bobby Jindal was a major figure in the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Jeff Palermo spoke with Jindal as he reflected on the 20^th anniversary.

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The young mother to be who was shot in a road rage incident Sunday morning in Tangipaoa Parish has died.  That’s according to her family.  Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s officials say the attempted murder charge against 54 year old Barry West  has been upgraded to second degree murder in light of Strate’s death.

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The investigation into the death of 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez continues in New Orleans. Bryan was a nonverbal autistic boy who disappeared from his home  in East New Orleans August 14th when he climbed out of a bedroom window. The United Cajun Navy found his body in a lagoon near his home yesterday. NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says investigators are not ruling out foul play.

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Saints head coach Kellen Moore announced that second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler will be the team’s starting quarterback for week one against the Arizona Cardinals. Rattler won a tight competition over rookie Tyler Shough. Moore says Rattler was more consistent during training camp and in preseason games.

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Early this morning we got an update on the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland.  Andrew Greenstein has details.

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We’re told a temporary flight restriction is also in effect for a three mile area.

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Former LSU Tiger and NBA hall of famer Shaquille O’Neal will invest in the proposed new $400 million dollar arena on the LSU campus.  O’Neal has vouched for Oak View Group, the developer that is the sole finalist for the project. You may recall, LSU pressed pause on the deal after Oak View’s CEO stepped down last month after he was indicted on bid-rigging allegations connected to a project in Austin.  If the project does happen, the arena will host LSU sporting events and graduation ceremonies as well as concerts and other entertainment events.

The Saints wrap up preseason play at noon today against the Broncos in the Superdome. Mike Hoss, the Saints’ play-by-play announcer on WWL radio says there’s battle brewing for backup running back behind Alvin Kamara, who will not play today.

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