Governor John Bel Edwards will travel to New Jersey on Thursday to discuss criminal justice reform with President Donald Trump. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carbo says the invite comes a year after statewide reforms led to a promising reduction in prison population.
Cut 13 (11) “did it”
Carbo says the reforms enacted last year have lowered the incarceration rate, improved public safety and is reducing the recidivism rate.

The Louisiana Department of Health has fined five private companies 50-thousand dollars each for failing to provide accurate information for where Medicaid recipients can access their care. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says the error rates topped 10-percent, which triggered the fines…
Cut 10 (09) “…be correct”
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee meets this morning to discuss a state audit that was critical of the how L-D-H’s supervises their managed-care companies.

The Louisiana Department of Education has released back-to-school resource guides for parents….
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Many local school superintendents are cautioning parents that upcoming school letter grades could be lower this year, because of a tougher rating system. There have been changes in the calculation of school performance scores, which look at testing, academic growth and graduation rates.

Governor John Bel Edwards will meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss criminal justice reform efforts that were enacted last year. The legislation helped Louisiana lose the title of Incarceration Captial of the World, by reducing the inmate population, while expanding probation and parole opportunities for mostly nonviolent offender. Edwards is one of a handful governors invited to the meeting.

Colorado State University hurricane researchers continue to predict a below average season as we get closer to the season’s historical peak for activity. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

A Kenner mom is under arrest after allegedly assaulting the citizens who rescued her 11 month and 3 year-old children from a hot car. Kenner Police Lt. Michael Cunningham says after the mother discovered strangers helped her children get out of the stuffy vehicle, the mother ran out out of a place of business, and started punching the good Samaritans.
Cut 6 (10) “called 911”.
The mother, 22-year-old Shawnise Sherman, was arrested and booked on battery and Child Desertion charges.

The Harvest Center Church in Lafayette had a break-in, where items from a school supply drive were stolen. But Pastor Daniel Kelly says they are not asking authorities not to press charges against the alleged thief….
cut 14 (10) “…in his life”
Kelly says news of the break-in has led to more financial and school supply donations.

The governor’s office says John Bel Edwards will be one of a handful of governors who will meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss criminal justice reform. Louisiana’s justice reforms have lowered the state’s prison population, but Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and Senator John Kennedy say its put dangerous criminals back on the streets.

Kenner Police are applauding the Good Samitarians that rescued two children found locked in a vehicle in a strip mall parking lot. Lt. Michael Cunningham says the citizens got an 11-month and three-year-old child out of the hot car…
cut 8 (10) “….there eventually”
Cunningham says unfortunately the children’s mother, 22-year-old Shawnise Sherman, tried to beat up the individuals who helped her kids and she now faces battery and child desertion charges.

The Colorado State hurricane forecast team continues to predict a below-average hurricane season. Lead researcher Doctor Phil Klotzbach says they expect nine additional named storms this year….
cut 4 (10) “…one major hurricane”
Klotzbach says there’s a 19-percent chance the Gulf Coast will see a major hurricane making landfall this year.

The pastor of Harvest Center Church in Lafayette says they will not press charges against a man who broke into their church and stole donated school supplies. Daniel Kelly says when they confronted the culprit, the man said he took the items, because he needed the school supplies for his family. Kelly says they will try and help the man and the story has resulted in more donations…
cut 13 (10) “…for their kids”

The President of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, Ricky Babin, says the criminal justice reforms approved over a year ago, has led to the release of five men who have been since rearrested and charged with murder. But the head of the state’s corrections department, Jimmy LeBlanc, says the reforms need time to get established…
cut 12 (11) “…gotta change”
Leblanc says the reforms saved 12-million dollars last fiscal year and 70-percent of those savings will be spent on programs to reduce recidivism.

Colorado State’s revised hurricane forecast still calls for a below-average season, with nine additional storms expected. But C-S-U researcher Phil Klotzbach says Gulf coast residents still need to be ready…
cut 5 (04) “…season for you”

The television channel Investigation Discovery will air a two-hour doucmentary tonight that will examine the fatal shooting of a black man handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser in New Iberia. Victor White the Third was in custody of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office when he suffered the fatal gunshot wound in 2014. Radio talk show host Tony Brown says the investigation has been filled inconsistencies. He points to the police report that says White shot himself in the back, but the coroner’s report says the bullet entered the front of his body…
cut 10 (07) “…decent Louisiana resident”
But the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office says a State Police investigation and the coroner both determined that White’s gunshot wound was self-inflicted. The show “Sugar Town” airs at 7 PM.

According to the Advocate, Attorney General Jeff Landry favors Louisiana’s current split jury law, which requires 10 of 12 jurists to convict a suspect in a felony case. A constitutional amendment is on the November 6th ballot that would change Louisiana’s law, requiring unanimous verdicts.

A Kenner mom is under arrest after allegedly assaulting the citizens who rescued her 11 month and 3 year-old children from a hot car. Kenner Police Lt. Michael Cunningham says cameras showed the citizens helping the children exit the vehicle and after the mother discovered this, Cunningham says the mother ran out, and started punching the good Samaritans.
Cut 6 (10) “called 911”.
The mother, 22-year-old Shawnise Sherman, was arrested and booked with Simple battery and Child Desertion.

Colorado State University hurricane researchers continue to predict a below average season. Researcher Phil Klotzbach says a major contributing factor is the cold temperature of the tropical Atlantic Ocean waters….
cut 3 (11) “…for storm”
Klotzbach says we haven’t had a named storm since July 15th and 2009 was the last time a name storm had not formed between July 15th and August 6th.

Investigation Discovery will air a two-hour documentary tonight called “Sugar Town,” which examines the controversial death of Victor White the Third. The 22-year-old black man died from a gunshot wound he sustained while handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser in New Iberia. Louisiana State Police and the Iberia Parish coroner say White shot himself, but White’s family says that can’t be the case. Journalist Tony Brown agrees…
cut 9 (09) “…Jimmy Hoffa”
The show begins at 7 PM.

Concerns have been raised about whether the public’s safety is at risk as a result of Governor John Bel Edwards’ criminal justice reform measures approved a year ago. Ricky Babin, who is the D-A for the parishes of Ascension, Assumption and St. James, says a third of the inmates in his district released early have reoffended again. But state Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says if DAs are upset about potentially violent prisoners gettting out too early, then the justice system should focus on giving them proper sentences to start with…
cut 13 (11) “…is it political”

According to the Advocate, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry opposes the constitutional amendment on the November 6th ballot that seeks to make it a unanimous jury decision in order to convict a suspect in a felony case. Current law, calls for at least 10 jurists on a 12-person panel to secure a conviction.

We are three months out from the November sixth election. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the 3rd district race is worth keeping an eye on. He’s confident Clay Higgins will get re-elected, but says if voters decide on someone else, it would be another Republican, Lafayette attorney Josh Guillory.
cut 5 (09) “…point to a Republican”
Alford says Republican state lawmaker Julie Stokes has the lead in funding for the Secretary of State’s race. But Alford wonders if Stokes’ votes for taxes in the recent special sessions will hurt her chances.
cut 6 (03) “…her base”
The Jefferson Parish Republican Executive Committee has endorsed former state legislator A.G. Crowe for Secretary of State.

Other major candidates for SOS, current interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, Republican state lawmaker Rick Edmonds and Democrat Renee Fontenot Free.

Louisiana Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says one year in, the criminal justice reforms put in place last year are showing great results. That’s in response to comments from Louisiana District Attorney’s Association President Ricky Babin who expressed concerns about dangerous criminals being let out. LeBlanc says the parole reforms have led to a noticeable drop in caseloads to under 135 per officer.
Cut 10 (10) “manageable”
Leblanc says probation and parole agents can focus more on the highest risk, highest need offenders, which will lead to better public safety and rehabilitation.

St. Martinville Police detectives are asking for the public’s help in trying to determine who killed a 17-year-old last night. Authorities says the male victim was shot multiple times and died from his injuries at a local hospital.

Senior tight end Foster Moreau will wear jersey number 18 this season. Kevin Barnhart has more on his reaction of joining the one-eight club…
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And it’s National Farmers Market Week and Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain is urging consumers to visit a farmers market and roadside stand. Strain says it’s not just a great place to buy fresh food, it’s an event…
cut 9 (09) “….candles’
Strain says the state department of agriculture has a list of local farmers markets in your area on their website.

Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says 2017′s criminal justice reforms are starting to show great results, despite criticism from DA’s that the program is leading to dangerous criminals being released too soon.
Cut 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle”

Investigation Discovery will air “Sugar Town” tonight at seven o’ clock. It’s a two hour documentary that examines the 2014 death of Victor White the Third, who was shot in the back of a police cruiser in New Iberia. The cororner and a State Police investigation determined White shot himself, but his family says that can’t be possible, because White was in handcuffs.

With the November 6th election three months away, the campaigns of those on the ballot are doing their best to find funding. LA-Politics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says it’s still early, but the six Congressmen running for re-election have seen solid collections….
Cut 4 (11) “…congressional district 1.”
That’s House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who faces five challengers. But Scalise has one-point-eight million dollars in cash on hand as of June 30th.

It’s National Farmers Market Week and Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is encouraging residents to visit one of Louisiana’s 75 farmer markets and 100 roadside stands. Strain says you’ll find the freshest fruits, vegetables and other Louisiana grown products…
cut 8 (12) “…flat squash”
Strain says it most cases. crops get from the field to your family on the same day at a farmer’s market.