University Medical Center New Orleans’ expanded cancer center officially opens at 11 this morning. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

An 8-year-old Ruston area girl has died after contracting a rare, brain-eating amoeba infection during a recent swim at Lake Claiborne.  Lillian Smart died Saturday from severe brain injuries caused by Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba that leads to primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Little Lillian died just a day after her birthday.

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Amazon Web Services will hold an open house tomorrow at the Shreveport Convention Center to discuss the three data centers they are building in the Shreveport-Bossier area. There are concerns about how much water and electricity the facilities will use. AWS Vice President of Economic Development Roger Wehner says the data centers will use water for cooling only when temperatures climb above 85 degrees — which he says is expected to happen less than 13 percent of the year.

Cut 13 (11)  “…load on the grid.”

A new mRNA vaccine to reduce the risk of melanoma returning is showing great promise. Dr. Katherine Chang, an assistant professor of ear, nose and throat surgery at LSU Health Shreveport, says each vaccine is patient specific, based on their genetic profile, taken in combination with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda and she says clinical trials have been quite successful.

Cut 11 (11) “…the long term.”

Amazon Web Services hosts an open house at the Shreveport Convention Center tomorrow to answer community questions about the three data centers they are building in Shreveport-Bossier. Here’s Jeff Palermo.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A 37-year-old school coach and bus driver in Rapides Parish is facing charges of human trafficking of children for sexual purposes and purchase of commercial sexual activity.  Authorities say Esaw Owens, III was arrested Friday following an undercover chat operation.
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University Medical Center New Orleans officially opens phase one of its expanded cancer center, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 this morning. Dr. Amelia Jernigan says the additional space will allow cancer patients to be able to be seen quickly for frontline care.

Cut 4 (13) “…patients with cancer.”

A new mRNA vaccine to reduce the risk of melanoma returning is showing great promise. Dr. Katherine Chang, an assistant professor of ear, nose and throat surgery at LSU Health Shreveport, says the vaccine being developed by Merck and Moderna works by removing the melanoma tumor, testing it for genetic mutations and creating the vaccine specific to the patient’s genetic profile – and combining the vaccine with immunotherapy drug Keytruda.

Cut 10 (09) “…it from coming back.”

May and June were very wet months in Louisiana. August – not so much. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Bit of a scary sight at the UL Lafayette baseball park yesterday as a fire at M.L “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park sent huge plumes of smoke into the sky.  We’re told one of the advertising billboards next to the scoreboard caught fire and the flames were quickly put out. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Louisiana lawmakers heard from frustrated foster parents upset they are receiving less money from the state to provide care for kids in state custody.  Starting July first, DCFS raised the foster care board rate payments from 600 to 900 dollars a month but stopped reimbursing families for incidental expenses. Danielle Eley from Franklin Parish says it was packaged as a raise for foster parents, but in reality that’s not the case.

Cut 9 (06)  “…go up.”

LSU fifth-year senior offensive guard Bo Bordelon has earned his starting spot the old-fashioned way. The Raceland native spent four years as a backup but has stood out as the likely week one starter during spring and fall practices. He says he just put his head down and worked.

Cut 12 (14) “…100-percent.”

Louisiana lawmakers heard from frustrated foster parents upset over a new policy change that gives them less money to provide care for kids in state custody.   Starting July first, DCFS raised the foster care board rate payments from 600 to 900 dollars a month but stopped reimbursing families for incidental expenses. Danielle Eley cares for three children and she says the reimbursements help pay for a lot of incidental expenses.

Cut 10 (11) “…theater.”

Eley testified before the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children. Covington Senator Patrick McMath is a member of that panel and based on the testimony urged DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris to bring back the reimbursements.

Cut 11 (09) “…this fiscal year.”

Harris agreed and reimbursements will return for the remainder of this fiscal year, which will end on June 30th, 2027.

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After a really wet May and June, Louisiana’s seeing quite the opposite so far this month. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the unusually dry August is due in part to El Nino, and a lot of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico.

Cut 4 (12) “…Gulf into Louisiana.”

A more than two million dollar grant from the Louisiana Department of Health means good news for ULM…as it’s expending its health science offerings.  Dr. Wendy Bailes, the dean of the ULM College of Health Sciences, says one of three initiatives of the grant is to increase nursing school enrollment.

Cut 7 (08) “…students per year.”

The other two initiatives are adding a Diagnostic Medical Sonography concentration to the Bachelor of Science in Radiological Technology program, and establishing a Nurse Residency Hub serving rural hospitals in northeast Louisiana.

Foster parents went before state lawmakers to say a recent policy change has made it more difficult to care for children in state custody. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake struck north of Coushatta around 3 yesterday afternoon.  According to the US Geological Survey, it was the third biggest since a magnitude 4.9 earthquake in the same area on March 5, which was the largest ever recorded in Louisiana.

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What a difference a couple months make in Louisiana.  While we saw quite a bit of rain in May and June, August has been a different story so far.  LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says this month has been almost completely devoid of rain throughout the state.

Cut 3 (09) “…way, way behind.”

ULM is expanding its health science offerings, thanks to a grant of more than two-million dollars from the Louisiana Department of Health through the Rural Transformation Project. Dr. Wendy Bailes, the dean of the ULM College of Health Sciences, says the grant will allow the school to provide well-educated medical professionals to rural hospitals.

Cut 6 (09) “…becomes very expensive.”

May and June were very wet months in Louisiana. August – not so much. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Bit of a scary sight at the UL Lafayette baseball park yesterday as a fire at M.L “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park sent huge plumes of smoke into the sky.  We’re told one of the advertising billboards next to the scoreboard caught fire and the flames were quickly put out. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Louisiana lawmakers heard from frustrated foster parents upset they are receiving less money from the state to provide care for kids in state custody.  Starting July first, DCFS raised the foster care board rate payments from 600 to 900 dollars a month but stopped reimbursing families for incidental expenses. Danielle Eley from Franklin Parish says it was packaged as a raise for foster parents, but in reality that’s not the case.

Cut 9 (06)  “…go up.”

LSU fifth-year senior offensive guard Bo Bordelon has earned his starting spot the old-fashioned way. The Raceland native spent four years as a backup but has stood out as the likely week one starter during spring and fall practices. He says he just put his head down and worked.

Cut 12 (14) “…100-percent.”

Louisiana’s Department of Education has a new plan to get students moving. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

This Sunday is “Clean Out your Freezer” Day.  Hunters for the Hungry Executive Director Jule Grunewald says they collected nearly 18,5000 pounds of frozen goods this time last year to feed those in need and they hope to surpass that this year.

Cut 9 (09)  “…many hot meals.”
For drop off locations visit, clean-out-your-freezer.com
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Volunteers at Louisiana’s 988 Helpline get an increase in the volume of calls and texts coming in during periods of brutally hot weather conditions, like we’re seeing now. Sherrod Crespo with Via Link, the nonprofit which operates the 988 Helpline, says if the heat is affecting your mental health to the point that you’re considering harming yourself or others, you should reach out for help, regardless of the circumstances.

Cut 14 (09) “…very much is.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism announced a new marketing campaign to attract more out of state tourists.  Nungesser says the goal of the campaign, dubbed, “Every Moment Feeds Your Soul,” is to highlight the unique things in Louisiana that you don’t get to do anywhere else.

Cut 11 (08) “…in the state.”

During extended heatwaves like what we’re in right now, Louisiana’s 988 Helpline experiences an uptick in calls and texts. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Hunters For the Hungry is encouraging those of you who hunt to clean out your freezers this Sunday to prepare for the upcoming season and feed those in need. Executive Director Julie Guenewald  says simply visit clean-out-your-freezer-dot-com to find out where you can drop off your frozen food.

Cut 8 (07) “…to accept ’em.”

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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism unveiled their marketing campaign for out-of-state tourism. Nungesser says the campaign, which was unveiled during the Louisiana Travel Summit in New Orleans, is called “Every Moment Feeds Your Soul.”

Cut 10 (11) “…world to Louisiana.”

Physical education classes in Louisiana public schools will put a greater emphasis on getting students moving beginning next school year. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the old standards asked students to identify or name a skill. The new standards require them to actually demonstrate those skills.

Cut 5 (14) “…to do it.”

Louisiana Tourism officials are launching a new marketing campaign aimed at out-of-state tourists. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Starting next school year, physical education classes in Louisiana public schools will put a greater emphasis on getting students moving. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the program will help help students stay active long after graduation.

Cut 4 (10) “…and heart health.”

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Louisiana’s 988 Helpline see an increase in the number of calls and texts coming in during periods of brutally hot weather conditions, like we’re seeing now. Sherrod Crespo with Via Link, the nonprofit which operates the 988 Helpline, says the fact that people normally get less sleep in hot conditions has a lot to do with it.

Cut 13 (13)  “…the crisis line.”

Sunday is Clean Out Your Freezer Day. Hunters For The Hungry is encouraging those of you who hunt to make room in your freezer for the upcoming hunting season by removing wild game and fish out of your freezer and donating it to a local food bank. Julie Grunewald is the executive director for Hunters for the Hungry.

Cut 7 (07) “…want to donate.”

For details on drop off locations, visit cleanoutyourfreezer.com

Louisiana doctors are sounding the alarm over a proposed massive funding cut over a proposed funding cut that would slash five-billion dollars in funding for the National Institutes of Health.  Dr. Chancellor Donald, with the Tulane University School of Medicine, says if that happens, it would greatly slow down the progress in finding cures for life-threatening diseases like cancer.

Cut 6 (11) “…tomorrow’s blockbuster cures.”

Big announcement is expected next Tuesday from Governor Jeff Landry regarding Elon Musk’s SpaceX plan to build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport on 130 acres of coastal marshland near Pecan Island in Vermillion Parish. Advocate Reporter Stephanie Riegel says though the project could mean thousands of jobs, many in Vermilion Parish are worried about how it could affect their way of life.

Cut 15 (11) “…Pecan Island community.”

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State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by some public and charter schools. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The EBR Coroner’s Office has identified the remains found at the North Landfill as those of Ja’Derrius Minnieweather.  51-year old Maurice parms is charged with first-degree murder in Minnieweather’s death and authorities say he dumped the 15 year old’s body in a trash can.  Law enforcement crews spent five weeks combing through 4-thousand ons of material in the EBR Parish North Landfill looking for his remains.