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.”

———————–

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.”

———————-

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.

Governor Jeff Landry will reportedly announce next Tuesday that Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to build a multi-billion-dollar spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The Advocate reports the spaceport would be built on 130 acres of coastal marshland near Pecan Island, about 45 miles southwest of Lafayette, and would launch rockets into orbit. Advocate reporter Stephanie Riegel …

Cut 13 (11)  “..in Richland Parish.”

A poll conducted by Public Policy Polling shows Republican Julia Letlow leading Democrat Jamie Davis by four points in the race for U.S Senate.  One finding of the poll of 518 registered voters found that more than half had neither a favorable nor an unfavorable opinion of Davis, compared to just over one-fourth for Letlow. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says it underscores the gap in name recognition.

Cut 11 (10) “…the Republican nomination.”

—————————–

Doctors in Louisiana are sounding the alarm over potential funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

A Ruston High teacher is now facing a second-degree rape charge after a multi-agency investigation uncovered multiple sexual assault allegations.  Ruston Police say PD, the investigation began in July when a woman reported that 32-year old Frasier Hogan had sexually assaulted her in 2020 when she was just 14.  We’re told Hogan was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center following his arrest yesterday.

An announcement is expected from Governor Landry on Tuesday regarding a multi-billion-dollar spaceport that will be built in Vermillion Parish.  Kace Kieshnick has details on the SpaceX project that will launch rockets.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Louisiana doctors are sounding the alarm over a proposed funding cut that would slash  five-billion dollars in funding for the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Chancellor Donald, from the Tulane University School of Medicine, says the impact of those cuts would be devastating.

Cut 4 (10) “…in their toolbox.”

——————-

We have our first poll in the U.S. Senate general election matchup between Republican Julia Letlow and Democrat Jamie Davis. The poll conducted by Public Policy Polling shows Letlow leading Davis by four points, 41 to 37-percent, with 22-percent undecided. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says it’s important to note that this is the only poll out thus far.

Cut 10 (13) “…in this state.”

State Treasurer John Fleming says the K-12 School Transparency Project has identified questionable spending by Louisiana public and charter schools. The online portal which launched last year allows citizens to see how public and charter schools spend taxpayer dollars, and Fleming says it has uncovered potential misuse of public funds.

Cut 7 (09) “…stores and restaurants.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given the thumbs up for the new Louisiana International Terminal that will be able to accommodate much larger ships. Port NOLA President and CEO Beth Branch it will transform the city of New Orleans and the region into a major logistics hub.

Cut 9 (14)  “…six national railroads.”

Construction is expected to take five years.

Today’s the one year anniversary of the kick-off of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras line connecting New Orleans to Mobile. New Orleans and Company President and CEO Walt Leger says they with more than twice the number of riders expected, the Mardi Gras line has led to a 20-percent increase in visitors to the city from the Mobile area, giving New Orleans a huge economic boost.

Cut 5 (07) “…extending their stays.”

—————-

Louisiana State Police cited 26 commercial truckers along the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge last week. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A Caddo Parish Commissioner wants to make changes to a tax incentive pilot program passed last year for data center projects.  Commissioner John Paul Young  wants to see a resolution passed that puts a two-year moratorium on tax benefits for future data center projects. The moratorium would stop tax benefits for future data center projects or expansions of current ones.

It was one year ago today when the Amtrak Mardi Gras line took to the tracks for the first time. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

————————————–
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers grants a federal permit for the new Louisiana International Terminal. Port NOLA President and CEO Beth Branch says the new terminal will mean Louisiana can accommodate much larger ships.

Cut 8 (13) “…24-thousand containers.”

Twenty-six commercial truck drivers on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge were cited by Louisiana State Police during a targeted enforcement operation to keep trucks out of the left lane. Renee Amar, the executive director of the Louisiana Motor Transportation Association, says commercial vehicles have been required to stay in the right lane while crossing the bridge since 2003.

Cut 10 (10) “…regional drivers do.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers grants a federal permit for a new International Terminal in Louisiana. Joe Gallinaro explains what it could mean for our state.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Boomtown Casino in Harvey is the latest Louisiana casino to announce plans to build on land.  PENN Entertainment says it will build a 140-thousand square foot development with a casino, sportsbook and dining options that will be rebranded as Hollywood Casino.

———————-

It was one year ago today when the Amtrak Mardi Gras line connecting New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, welcomed its first passengers. New Orleans and Company President and CEO Walt Leger says they expected about 75-thousand passengers to board the trains in the first year; instead, ridership was about 150-thousand.

Cut 4 (07) “…for our region.”

If your spouse or partner has dementia, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America wants to hear from you. AFA spokesman Chris Schneider says it’s launched a groundbreaking national research study to examine the impact caring for a spouse or partner with dementia has on physical and mental health.

Cut 13 (07)  “…is all about.”

This could be the hottest weekend of the summer in Louisiana. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says an area of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico will drive up temperatures and humidity levels.

Cut 9 (08)  “…the next week.”

Louisiana’s new N-I-L and athlete agents website is live. It provides information for athletes, families, schools and agents on the state’s new NIL and athlete agents laws. Attorney General Liz Murrill says Act 895 requires agents to register with the state.

Cut 12 (12) “…integrity and character.”

Agents in existing representation agreements were required to register by August 1.

———————

Legendary LSU baseball coach and Athletic Director Skip Bertman is being remember after he passed away early yesterday morning. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (40) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Guilbeau says Bertman had the Midas touch as Athletic Director from 2001 to 2008, revolutionizing LSU athletics fundraising and ticket sales.

LSU legend Skip Bertman passed away early this morning at the age of 88. Bertman led LSU Baseball to five College World Series titles and 11 trips to Omaha and hired four national championship-winning coaches as Athletic Director. Former LSU pitcher Ben McDonald says Bertman transformed LSU into the greatest baseball program in the country.

Cut 3 (10) “…game of baseball.”

Louisiana’s new N-I-L and athlete agents website is live. Attorney General Liz Murrill says the new law extended existing athlete agent oversight to N-I-L agents and gave student-athletes the power to sue agents for damages, attorney fees and other compensation.

Cut 13 (08) …interests at heart.”

———————–

The Louisiana Public Service Commission heard from several citizens this week concerned their energy bills will go up as a result of Meta’s 50-billion dollar AI data center in Richland Parish. Governor Jeff Landry was a guest on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana and says Meta is paying for its own power use, and pointed out that the data center is part of the biggest construction boom the state has ever seen, and says the jobs they’re creating are here to stay…

Cut 16 (12) “…coming to Louisiana”

Louisiana could be facing its hottest weekend of the summer right now.  LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says an area of high pressure is driving up humidity and the temperatures, leading to outrageous heat indices which will linger for days.

Cut 10 (09) “…110 and 115.”

Legendary LSU baseball coach and Athletic Director Skip Bertman is being remember after he passed away early yesterday morning. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (40) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Guilbeau says Bertman had the Midas touch as Athletic Director from 2001 to 2008, revolutionizing LSU athletics fundraising and ticket sales.

———————-

Louisiana’s new N-I-L and athlete agents website is live. It provides information for athletes, families, schools and agents on the state’s new NIL and athlete agents laws. Attorney General Liz Murrill says Act 895 requires agents to register with the state.

Cut 12 (12) “…integrity and character.”

Agents in existing representation agreements were required to register by August 1.

This could be the hottest weekend of the summer in Louisiana. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says an area of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico will drive up temperatures and humidity levels.

Cut 9 (08)  “…the next week.”