ESPN reports that negotiations between the Saints and their star wide receiver Michael Thomas are progressing so well that a new deal could be in place before the start of training camp and when it’s said and done, the former first round pick will be the highest paid pass catcher in the NFL. Thomas led the NFL with 125 catches last season.

The NBA draft is tomorrow night and speculation is increasing on whether the Pelicans will trade the fourth overall pick, which they got from the Lakers. ESPN reports the Hawks are looking to package their 8th and 10th overall picks for New Orleans fourth overall selection.

Also, the Timberwolves, Celtkicsand Bulls are looking to trade up as they’ve expressed interest in Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland. Meanwhile, New Orleans has reportedly looked at acquiring Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal, but Washington is apparently not interested in trading Beal.
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The state’s top high school basketball player has committed to LSU. Walker’s Jalen Cook is gearing for his senior season at Walker High School, but the four-star prospect says he plans to attend LSU after his prep days are done. He’s the reinging Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year.

And LSU football received a verbal commitment from Alabama defensive lineman Eric Taylor. The six-foot-five, 280-pounder is the 19th pledge of the 2020 class.

LSU Hall of Famer Ebert Van Buren has passed away at the age of 94 at the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans hom. Van Buren helped LSU land a berth in the 1949 Sugar bowl and he was the team captain of the 1950 squad. He played for three seasons with the Eagles after Philadelphia made him a first round draft pick. Before coming to LSU, Van Buren served in the US Army 96th Infantry Division in the Pacific during the World War Two, receiving a Purple Heart and two bronze stars. His brother is the late Steve Van Buren, who is a member of both the LSU and NFL Halls of Fame.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control is accepting permit applications from retailers who want to sell C-B-D products. A-T-C Commissioner Juana Marine Lombard says they will begin processing applications immediately…
cut 9 (12) “…C-B-D products”

Five Louisiana nursing homes are on a federal list that identifies facilities who fail to meet certain health and safety requirements. Louisiana Department of Health spokesperson Bob Johanessen has this advice when looking for a nursing home for a loved one…
cut 13 (09) “…homes”
Tioga Community Care Center, St. Helena Parish Nursing Home, Lake Charles Care Center, South Lafourche Nursing and Rehab, and Belle Maison Nursing Home in Hammond were named.

Many Motorists who use the Causeway Bridge in New Orleans are having to find a car wash right away because they are hitting huge swarms of non-biting midges. Research Entomologist Ed Freytag says many of the flies are carrying eggs when they are hit…
cut 8 (10) “…to your paint”
Freytag blames the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway for creating the huge swarms of bugs.

Bossier Parish deputies say a homeowner in Haughton caught his neighbor stealing items from his garage, including his surveillance camera. Lt. Bill Davis says 43-year-old Franklin Welzbacher never turned the camera off, so it was easy to catch him….
cut 5 (08) “….bad guy”
Welzbacher has been charged with simple burglary.

A federal judge sentences Nate Cain, the former warden of the Avoyelles Correctional Center, to 38-months to federal prison, and his ex-wife Tonia Bandy was given an eight-month sentence for spending more than 150-thousand dollars in public funds on personal expenses. U-S Attorney David Joseph…
cut 30 (10) “…personal things”
The duo has been ordered to pay more than $42,000 in restitution.

A Haughton man was arrested after allegedly sneaking into a neighbor’s garage and stealing a number of items, including a live streaming surveillance camera that he didn’t turn off. Bossier Sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Bill Davis says the victim installed the camera because his garage door was malfunctioning…
Cut 3 (12) “…House”
Davis says the homeowner shared the footage with deputies, which made for an easy arrest of 43-year-old Franklin Welzbacher.

Congressman Ralph Abraham grabbed 180 votes, while fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone received 94 votes in a straw poll of southwest Louisiana Republican voters. It’s a small sample size, but UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the almost two-to-one margin in favor of Abraham is a red flag to the Rispone campaign.
Cut 14 (10) “…problem.”

Many motorists crossing the Causeway Bridge in New Orleans are hitting the car wash after swarms of bugs left marks on their vehicles. The insects are known as the non-biting midge and they breed in water like mosquitos, but only live three to five days. Research Entomologist Ed Freytag says the high numbers are likely due to the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway.
Cut 6 (10) “…not salty anymore.”
Freytag says its uncertain how much longer these swarms will occur.

Congressman Ralph Abraham grabbed 180 votes and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone had 94 votes in a straw poll of southwest Louisiana Republicans. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Abraham says it appears the U-S Representative is solidifying his frontrunner status among GOP voters.
Cut 13 (06) “wants.”
The gubernatorial primary is for October 12th and Abraham and Rispone is seeking to get in a November runoff against Governor Edwards.

Former Avoyelles Correctional Center Warden Nathan Cain has been sentenced to 38 months in prison, while his ex-wife Tonia Bandy Cain has received an eight-month prison sentence. U-S Attorney David Joseph says the duo admitted to stealing taxpayer money for personal benefit…
cut 6 (08) “…in this case’
The defendants have also been ordered to pay over 42-thousand dollars in restitution.

The leader of the Louisiana State Troopers Association is facing charges after he allegedly shot at his daughter’s boyfriend on Father’s Day. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office booked 71-year-old David Young with false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon. Young told investigators he only shot a warning shot into the air, but video from a witness shows the handgun was fired toward the boyfriend.

Diverted Mississippi River water into Lake Ponchartrain has resulted in trouble for marine life and financial damage to fishermen. Kevin Barnhart has more on the governor’s request for a federal disaster declaration…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

A federal judge sentences Nate Cain, the former warden of the Avoyelles Correctional Center, to 38-months to federal prison, and his ex-wife Tonia Bandy was given an eight-month sentence for spending more than 150-thousand dollars in public funds on personal expenses. U-S Attorney David Joseph…
cut 5 (10) “…personal things”
The duo has been ordered to pay more than $42,000 in restitution.

Louisiana officials are optimistic that 2016 flood victims who did not get RESTORE grant money due to receiving SBA loans will see a check in the near future. State Office of Community Development Executive Director Pat Forbes says the state is working to get final guidelines approved by HUD. After that happens…
Cut 7 (08) “…from HUD”
Households below 120 percent of the Area Median Income will receive checks first and if you make over that amount, HUD will have to take a closer look at your need.

Governor Edwards has requested a federal disaster declaration for fisheries impacted by low salinity levels as a result of the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Operation of the Bonnet Carre has diverted fresh water from the Mississippi River into Lake Ponchartrain and east toward the Mississippi Sound and marshes of St. Bernard. Assistant state fisheries secretary Patrick Banks says it has resulted in troubling mortality rates among oysters and declining fish catches….
cut 11 (08) “…since December”
Banks says the amount of federal aid remains unclear as the spring flood fight continues.

Baton Rouge businessman and gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone did not perform well in a straw poll of Republican voters in southwest Louisiana. Fellow GOP candidate Ralph Abraham had nearly twice as many votes. Rispone has 10-million dollars in his campaign war chest, but UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross wonders if Risponse will spend it…
cut 15 (08) “….on that”
The gubernatorial primary is October 12th.

Former Avoyelles Correctional Center warden, Nate Cain, will spend 38 months behind bars and his ex-wife, Tonia Bandy-Cain, a former business manager at the prison, was sentenced to eight months to federal prison for spending public dollars on personal purchases. US Attorney for Louisiana’s Western District David Joseph…
Cut 4 (10) “…better watch out.”
Joseph says the duo spent prison funds, more than $150,000, on personal expenses.

Congressman Ralph Abraham grabbed 180 votes, while fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone received 94 votes in a straw poll of southwest Louisiana Republican voters. It’s a small sample size, but UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the almost two-to-one margin in favor of Abraham is a red flag to the Rispone campaign.
Cut 14 (10) “…problem.”

A state official says 2016 flood victims who were barred from RESTORE grants due to receiving SBA loans should get their checks in the next month or so. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed legislation that puts restrictions on food labeling, which means Louisiana companies can not label a food product as vegan bacon, cauliflower rice or market a sugar alternative as sugar. The restrictions will begin in October 2020 and Louisiana’s Agriculture Commissioner will enforce the law.

Louisiana is seeking federal assistance for the state’s fishing industry. Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Patrick Banks says mortality rates for oysters are high and fish catches are down because of fresh water entering Lake Ponchatrain and eventually the gulf because of the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Banks says the amount of federal aid needed is unclear and will remain so until the Bonnet Carre closes…
cut 12 (09) “…make that determination”
An Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson says it could be another month before the spillway is closed.

The ball is in the state’s court when it comes to getting Louisiana Restore Grant money to 2016 flood victims who were initially denied federal aid because they received an S-B-A loan. HUD has approved the guidelines and State Office of Community Development Executive Director Pat Forbes says Louisiana has to write the final rules and get them approved…
cut 9 (09) “….very shortly”

Southwest Louisiana Republicans held a straw poll in the town of Iowa and Congressman Ralph Abraham is the preferred choice over fellow republican Eddie Rispone in the governor’s race….
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”