The national unemployment rate rose slightly in June, but Louisiana is on the decline, powered by a robust job market in New Orleans. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

_________________________

Louisiana casino revenues are down 10 percent year to year and industry experts are warning gaming may be shrinking in Louisiana…

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

_____________________________________

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins scoped out border security operations in McAllen, Texas. Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

__________________________________________

Louisiana’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.3 percent in June, down .7 percent from the same time last year. Louisiana’s unemployment rate is it’s lowest since January 2008.

Louisiana Workforce Commission Chief Economist Ali Bustamante says the state gained 300 jobs from May to June, which is better than most places in the US during the same period.

Cut 4 (10) “…direction.” 

The field that added the most jobs was healthcare and social assistance, which added 1,200 jobs from the previous month, and 9,400 jobs over the year.

New Orleans powered the state’s above national average performance in June, adding 1,600 jobs, the only metro area in the state to add jobs during that period.

Cut 5  (11) “… right now.” 

The city has added 8,800 jobs year to year, followed by Lafayette at 1,500 and Lake Charles at 1,100.

Houma continues to bleed jobs in the most recent report. Bustamante says the city has shed 2,900 in the last year, and 400 over the last month.

Cut 6 (10) “…competitive.”

Shreveport is down 2,400 jobs year to year, and Baton Rouge is down 1,700.

________________

Louisiana casinos have seen substantial declines in revenue in the last year, leading casino advocates to sound the alarm that the state’s gaming industry is shrinking.

Shreveport casinos are down 11.6 percent, Lake Charles 10 percent, New Orleans five percent, and Baton Rouge 13 percent. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones…

Cut 7 (11) “…operate”

Jones says gaming revenue now exceeds oil and gas revenue in funding the state.

There was a nasty fight in the legislature to get sports betting legal in Louisiana, but that attempt failed. Jones says that, plus new offerings in other states are drawing customers away…

Cut 8 (10) “…kicked.”

Seven casinos saw 10 percent or more declines in revenue year to year, but the Belle of Baton Rouge posted the most shocking decline, at 43 percent. Jones says the owner is trying to get out…

Cut 9 (11) “…yet”

On a whole, Louisiana casino revenues fell 10.2 percent from last year.

_______________

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins recently visited McAllen, Texas, where US Customs and Border Protection agents process immigrants coming across the border from Mexico. Higgins says if compassionate law enforcement is the goal in America, no one is doing it better than those at the southern border.

Cut 10 (11) “…broken a law.”

Higgins is the Republican leader of the Homeland Security subcommittee. The congressman says after seeing first-hand how the operations at the border work, he believes many media outlets are casting the treatment of immigrants in the wrong light, and the reports are being twisted to reflect the agenda of the left.

Cut 11 (10) “…totally false, man.”

Higgins says the biggest hurdle being faced at the southern border is the mass amount of people trying to be processed into the United States and the first step to fixing the situation is up to lawmakers.

Cut 12 (13) “…and Chuck Schumer.”

_____________________________

Louisiana’s Justice Reinvestment Reforms 2019 Annual Performance Report indicates the state has saved more than $12 million from criminal justice reform, twice the anticipated savings. Secretary of the Department of Corrections James LeBlanc says while it is still very early in the implementation, the numbers are a positive sign for long term goals.

Cut 13 (08) “…would be today.”

LeBlanc says the further evidence of reform efforts having an effect is the fact that Louisiana is no longer known for being the incarceration leader it once was. The report highlights a reduced total prison population for the state, falling from around 40-thousand at its peak at the end of 2012.

Cut 14 (08) “…had in 2012.”

LeBlanc says after three to five years of the implementation, the state will have a better idea of the recidivism rates under the reforms, but so far so good.

Cut 15 (07) “…of these reform efforts.”

Governor Edwards signs legislation inspired by a fatal crash in 2017 that permits drug testing in traffic crashes with severe injuries.  Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________

A Baton Rouge chef Beat Bobby Flay on his own Food Network TV show by challenging the iconic chef to a crawfish boil…

cut  2 (32) I’m Matt Doyle”  

________________________________________

Governor Edwards holds a ceremonial bill signing this afternoon for “Katie Bug’s Law.” It requires drug testing of all drivers involved in crashes that result in serious injury. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says the bill is named for 4-year-old Katie Grantham who died in the days following a wreck in 2017.

Cut 3 (12) “…he was incapacitated.”

The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash that killed Katie only pleaded guilty to running a red light.

Gatti says the new law brings justice to families who didn’t give up hope in trying to save the life of their loved ones.

Cut 4 (06) “…rules”

Gatti says Katie’s mother regularly drove back and forth from Bossier City to Baton Rouge pushing for the legislation to pass in the hopes it will prevent a similar tragedy happening to another family.

Cut 5 (07) “…remember her daughter.”

_____________________________

Baton Rouge Chef Jay Ducote Beat Bobby Flay on the Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay by challenging the world-renown chef to a crawfish boil. The program lets local chefs challenge Flay to a dish of their choice and both sides have 45 minutes to cook it. Ducote says he couldn’t thinking of a better way to represent Louisiana…

Cut 6 (09) “…home.”

Ducote, who has been featured on other Food Network programs, says he got the idea last year during crawfish season. He first thought of crawfish etouffee, but…

Cut 7 (11) “…anyway.”

While Flay went for a “deconstructed” boil with items like crawfish mayo potato salad, and crawfish tarragon buttered corn. Ducote kept it classic, and even tried for a traditional presentation.

Cut 8 (10) “…reasons.”

Flay appeared frazzled during the program, and only let his crawfish boil for five minutes. 

___________________________________

An Orleans Parish judge is allowing a Saints fan’s lawsuit over the ending of the NFC championship game to move forward. Judge Nicole Sheppard denied the NFL’s motion to dismiss the suit.  Attorney Tony LeMon says the purpose of his lawsuit is to hold the league accountable and just because the NFL is big, does not mean they are untouchable.

Cut 9 (10) “…for civil liability.”

The judge also ruled that LeMon could get the chance to question NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and game officials in depositions, something the league has already appealed.

Cut 10 (12) “…it took place.”

LeMon says if the league has nothing to hide, they should not resist being questioned in court, adding they should apologize if they did something wrong.

Cut 11 (60) “…going on.”

The suit seeks $75,000 in damages. LeMon says any sort of monetary winnings  would go to charity, he says he’s more interested in the truth.

___________________

Media at Southeastern Conference Media Days pick LSU to finish second in the Western Division behind Alabama. LSU was picked to finish fifth last year, but the Tigers outperformed the low expectations. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says LSU is once again thought of as the Crimson Tide’s biggest challenger in the West

Cut 12 (08) “…last year.”

The Tigers are set to report for preseason camp on August 1st. Moran says LSU landed eight players on the preseason All-Southeastern Conference teams, which is why LSU is picked to finish near the top of the division standings

Cut 13 (12) “…second team”

All offseason Coach Ed Orgeron has talked about an improved offense that will feature quick passes out of the shot-gun formation, but remaining physical in the running game. Moran says most people believe the hiring of Joe Brady passing game coordinator will pay dividends

Cut 14 (09) “…design things”