Federal Labor Statistics show Louisiana’s unemployment rate dropped last month a little more than four percent. Experts say the capitol city alone added 200 jobs from May to June and almost seven thousand jobs since May of last year. Louisiana Workforce Commission Director of Research and Economic Analysis Emily Epps says that wasn’t unexpected, but was a little surprising, month to month job growth in Alexandria…

Cut 14 (08)  “…MSAs.”

A Louisiana businessman says his insurance rates are up over 40% and he’s not sure how long he can take it. Todd Hine, owner of Hine Environmental Services, a small waste services business in Sulphur, says he’s been told auto insurance rates are going up because of the state’s legal climate. He likens it to a casino…

Cut 4 (12) “…every single day.”
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Governor Landry vetoed a bill that would have given him the ability to pardon certain first-time convicted marijuana possession offenders without the recommendation of the pardon board. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has said he supports our state’s new law mandating the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms and says he thinks it will survive any legal challenges. The law, which has sparked controversy across the country, requires the Ten Commandments be in Louisiana classrooms beginning in 2025 and requires the posters include three paragraphs about their influential role in American history.

President Joe Biden will meet former President Donald Trump for the first presidential debate of 2024 tonight at 8 on CNN. Mel Bridges explains what that means.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Mel Bridges.” 

The man accused of killing a Loranger woman and her four-year-old daughter is now listed as an inmate in the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center. Daniel Callihan had been held in Mississippi since his arrest June 13^th. The Plaquemines Parish Detention Center is one of three jails that hold inmates for New Orleans federal court. Callihan has already been charged in Mississippi and Tangipahoa Parish.

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Governor Jeff Landry vetoed a bill that would have given his office the ability to pardon certain first-time convicted marijuana possession offenders without the recommendation of the pardon board. New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd says the veto letter explanation that her bill was soft on crime doesn’t make sense.

Cut 10 (11) “…a second chance.”
Data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Louisiana’s unemployment rate decreased for the month of May to 4.1%. Louisiana Workforce Commission Director of Research and Economic Analysis Emily Epps says there were 86 thousand individuals unemployed last month, and the state is recording over 100 thousand vacant jobs, which will likely remain unfilled.

Cut 13 (08)  “…that exist.”

Police in New Orleans are investigating a fatal shooting that happened early this morning in the French Quarter. It happened in the 600 block of Bourbon Street around four this morning. The man who’d been shot was taken to the hospital where he later died. So far neither the name of the victim nor a possible motive for the shooting has been released.

Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law is front and center across the country…and it could face legal challenges here. The ACLU has said it plans to fight the law in court. But author of the legislation, Haughton Representative Dodie Horton believes it will withstand the challenge. In the meantime…

Cut 8 (09)  “…in schools.”

Under the law, public schools, including colleges and universities that receive state funding, are required to post the Ten Commandments in the classroom no later than January 1, 2025.
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The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 2024 class tonight. Among those being honored, former Saints quarterback Drew Brees, LSU’s Seimone Augustus, and former McNeese star turned Canadian Football League MVP Kerry Joseph. There are also some great coaches being honored, including Tulane men’s basketball coach Perry Clark, former high school football coach Frank Monica and legendary Grambling Coach Wilbert Ellis, who won 701 games in 26 seasons as a head coach…

Cut  14 (11) “…win games.” 

Governor Landry has signed legislation giving the Louisiana Workforce Commission the responsibility of spearheading state workforce changes and solutions. Under the bill, LWC will also empower the Department of Education to expand access to high school and university internships and apprenticeships. LWC Secretary Susana Schowen says this bill is an important first step to fixing several issues in the state, not just economic ones.

Cut 11 (08) ” …get better.”

As Louisiana’s law requiring the Ten Commandments be posted in public classrooms continues to attract national attention, groups like the ACLU have said they plan to fight it in court. is receiving national attention and groups like the ACLU say they plan to fight it in court. Alanah Odoms with the ACLU of Louisiana says the law clearly violates the First Amendment and the law calls for a government-mandated version of the Ten Commandments.

Cut 7 (11) “…by this.”  
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 2024 class tonight. Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees and LSU women’s basketball star Seimone Augustus are the headliners. Brees is not the only former Q-B being inducted. Former McNeese star Kerry Joseph will also be inducted. The New Iberia native led the Cowboys to the 1995 Division One-Double-A semifinals and turned into an M-V-P performer in the Canadian Football League

Cut 13 (10) “…before me.”

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After a delay in request for two missing Loranger girls, a lawmaker is calling for an overhaul of Louisiana’s AMBER Alert system. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

The man accused of killing Callie Brunette and her four year old daughter Erin is expected to be extradited back to Louisiana to face charges here. A Tangipahoa jury indicted 36 year old Daniel Callihan and a second suspect 32 year old Victoria Cox on Thursday. The two are both in the custody of the U-S Marshall’s Service. Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney Scott Perrilloux says he hopes to have Callihan back in Louisiana as soon as possible.

A Baton Rouge Representative is calling for an overhaul of Louisiana’s AMBER Alert system after a three hour delay in a request for one on two missing Loranger girls. Baton Rouge Representative Dixon McMakin sent a letter to the governor saying the current system is tedious and overcomplicated.

Cut 3 (08) “…in Louisiana.”
Governor Landry has signed legislation giving the Louisiana Workforce Commission the responsibility of spearheading state workforce changes and solutions. LWC now has the power to align certain agencies and create a single point of contact in every region of the state to develop solutions to workforce needs. LWC Secretary Susana Schowen (sh-ow as in ouch-en) says these changes can only result in good things.

Cut 10 (12) “…workers are.”

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As Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law is making national headlines it also faces litigation. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 2024 class on tonight.  Headliners are former Saints quarterback Drew Brees and LSU women’s basketball star Seimone Augustus.

Cut 12 (10) “…amazing people.” 

The man accused of killing a Loranger mother and child is expected to be extradited back to Louisiana to face charges here. 36 year old Daniel Callihan is accused of killing Callie Brunette and her 4 year old daughter Erin. A Tangipahoa jury indicted Callihan and a second suspect 32 year old Victoria Cox on Thursday. The two are both in the custody of the U-S Marshall’s Service. Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney Scott Perrilloux says he hopes to have Callihan back in Louisiana as soon as possible.

Baton Rouge Representative Dixon McMakin is calling for an overhaul of Louisiana’s AMBER Alert system after a delay in request for Callie Brunette’s two missing daughters. Police records showed it took 3 hours to issue an alert after Erin and Jalie Brunett were reported missing last week. McMakin says part of the rework would make sure alert requests always go through to a real person.

Cut 4 (12) “…hour or two.”
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Louisiana’s law requiring the Ten Commandments be posted in public classrooms is getting plenty of national attention and groups like the ACLU say they plan to fight it in court. Author of the legislation, Haughton Representative Dodie Horton believes it will withstand the challenge.

Cut 6 (09) “…the test.”

Public schools, including colleges and universities that receive state funding, are required to post the Ten Commandments in the classroom no later than January 1, 2025.

Governor Landry has signed legislation giving the Louisiana Workforce Commission the responsibility of spearheading state workforce changes and solutions. LWC Secretary Susana Schowen (sh-ow as in ouch-en) says Senate Bill 293…

Cut 9 (12) “…employers.”
 

The man accused of killing Callie Brunett and one of her two daughters that he kidnapped from their Loranger home confessed to reporters on Friday. Brooke Thorington has the story

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Three Shreveport residents killed in a single vehicle crash early Sunday have been identified by the Caddo Parish Coroner’s office. 19 year old Devion Patterson, 18 year old Jamario Washington and 17 year old Zaleaia Young all died in the crash that happened just after two am yesterday.

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The Supreme Court struck down a Trump-era ban on rapid-fire bump stocks, saying bump stocks did not fit the definition of machine guns. Though this ruling undoes a ban that came after a mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017, in which a man killed 60 and injured hundreds more using semi-automatic rifles equipped with bump stocks, Loyola New Orleans law professor Dane Ciolino says it has more to do with regulation than with guns.

Cut 9 (09)  “…device.”

The ruling leaves the door open for Congress to ban bump stocks through legislation.

Congressman Garret Graves has announced he will not seek re-election. This after the 6th District he represents was modified for the upcoming race, a majority-minority district that will stretch from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. Political commentator Bernie Pinsonat says Graves he doesn’t think this means  Graves is riding off into the sunset just yet.

Cut 15 (10)  “…give up.”

The Man accused of killing Callie Brunett of Loranger and her three-year-old daughter admitted to the media Friday that he did it and told them he’s been on and off Lexapro after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Daniel Callihan says he was just released from a mental hospital two weeks ago. When asked if he regrets what he did, Callihan said “I would kill me.”

Cut 6 (05) “…easiest thing for me.”
Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards said Victoria Cox has also been arrested as an accomplice to Callihan. Both are facing capital murder and sexual battery charges.

The Supreme Court has struck down a Trump-era ban on rapid-fire bump stocks, saying bump stocks did not fit the definition of machine guns. A bump stock is an attachment to a semi-automatic rifle that allows a rate of fire comparable to a machine gun. But, Loyola New Orleans law professor Dane Ciolino (see-oh-lean-oh) says a gun can be classified as a machine gun…

Cut 7 (08) “…times.”
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U.S. Representative Garret Graves says he will not seek re-election to Congress. This is after his district was re-drawn to a majority-minority district. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins has landed a key committee assignment as the newest member of House Armed Services. The Lafayette congressman is Louisiana’s only member of House Armed Servies after Shreveport Congressman Mike Johnson had to give up his seat on the committee last year when he was elected as the first speaker from Louisiana. Incidentally, the House is set to pass its version of the 2025 defense spending bill on Friday.

The Supreme Court has struck down a ban on rapid-fire bump stocks, an attachment to a semi-automatic rifle that allows a rate of fire comparable to a machine gun. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

Congressman Garret Graves surprised a lot of people announcing on Friday he will not seek re-election. Political commentator Bernie Pinsonat says he was not surprised by the decision.

Cut 14 (09)  “…shot at it.”

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Daniel Callihan the man accused of killing Callie Brunett of Loranger and her three-year-old daughter Erin admitted to reporters in Mississippi that he did it…adding that he was sober, but was had been on and off of Lexapro, a medication used to treat anxiety and depression.

Cut 4 (14) “…off Lexapro.”

The FBI is has taken over the investigation into those murders now because Daniel Calihan took Erin and her sister Jalie across the state line to Mississippi when he fled. Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they are working with the FBI and says since investigators have spoken with Callahan, he believes they have a much stronger case against him As far as his motive in the crime…

Cut 11 (06) “…type of crime.”

The FBI is now the lead agency investigating the murder of Callie Brunett and her three-year-old daughter Erin of Loranger. That’s because the suspect Daniel Callihan took Ein and her sister Jalie across the state line to Mississippi. Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they are working with the FBI and when asked if he believes Callihan could face the death penalty…

Cut 10 (09) “…get the death penalty.”
Shreveport police responded to a major crash early yesterday at the intersection of North Market Street and McDaniel Drive. That’s where they found an overturned 2005 Toyata Camry with multiple injuries and three fatalities. Three people were taken to the hospital . Officials believe the Camry was speeding when it veered off the road hit two curbs, overturned and hit a tree. Police say a stolen gun was also recovered from the scene.

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U.S. Representative Garret Graves says he will not seek re-election to Congress. Last month Graves said he would seek re-election, but didn’t know if he would campaign in his current district or seek to unseat Start Republican Rep. Julia Letlow. Political commentator Bernie Pinsonat wasn’t surprised.

Cut 13 (10)  “…did it.”

The Saints are on break until training camp after mandatory minicamp last week. Players and fans got their first looks at new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s new offense under quarterback Derek Carr. Carr raved about his excitement to have Kubiak in New Orleans and says he demands perfection…

Cut 16 (19) “…on my stuff.”