A new law will put an end to speeding tickets that show up in drivers’ mailboxes without warning. Halen Doughty has more…

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The state Department of Education announced the Teacher and Principal of the Year. Jeff Palermo has more on the teacher from the Baton Rouge area and the Acadiana principal.

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A new law goes into effect today that will no longer allow most juvenile killers to be eligible for life sentences without the chance of parole. Emelie Gunn has more…

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Drivers should no longer receive speeding tickets in the mail from hidden speed cameras thanks to a new law that goes into effect today. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter’s legislation requires signs to be posted ahead of speed enforcement camera in order to collect on the fine. He says if the goal of these cameras is really to stop speeders, municipalities should have no problem posting warning signs.

Cut 4  (07) “moment”

The law requires the signs to be clearly visible between 250 and 500 feet ahead of the speed camera. Carter says in the past drivers who received tickets from these cameras simply had to pay it because they had no recourse. But his law gives motorists that due process.

Cut 5  (10)  “no ticket”

Carter hopes this will put an end to drivers being greeted with surprise tickets in their mailboxes. He says safety should always be a priority on the road, but tricking people into paying tickets isn’t the way to improve safety.

Cut 6 (11) “money grab”

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A school teacher from the Baton Rouge area and a principal from Acadiana are the Louisiana State Teacher and Principal of the Year, which is awarded annually by the state Department of Education.  Kimberly Eckert, a 9^th grade English teacher at Brusly High School in West Baton Rouge, received the teacher of the year honor. She says her kids make being a teacher so worthwhile.

Cut 7 (09)  “them stronger”

This fall, Eckert will enter her 10^th year of teaching. Eckert has received numerous different grants to benefit her school and classroom and says she’s always able to see what is needed for her students.

Cut 8 (11) “further them”

Tommy Byler, the principal of North Vermilion High School, received the honor of Principal of the Year. Byler says it’s amazing to be an ambassador for public education.

Cut 9 (10)  “my success”

Byler has been in education for 26-years. He says seeing his students from a starting point to an ending point is the best part of his job.

Cut 10 (11) “pushing them”

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U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy met with White House officials Monday afternoon to discuss proposals to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Before the meeting started, Cassidy said he’s not giving up on repealing the current federal health care law, because it fails the Jimmy Kimmel test

Cut 11 (06) “individual market”

The Jimmy Kimmel test is in reference to the late night talk show host, who said no family should be denied medical care, because they can’t afford it. Cassidy and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham are pushing a health care bill to replace Obamacare, which is why Cassidy received an invite to meet with Health Secretary Tom Price and President Trump’s top aides…

Cut 12 (05) “lack coverage”

Politico reports the Cassidy-Graham proposal would maintain protections for individuals with pre-exisiting conditions, keep most of the taxes connected to the Affordable Care Act, send federal health care funds to state in block grants, but end the requirement all Americans must buy health insurance or pay a tax. Cassidy says the individual mandate hurts poor people

Cut 13 (11) “lower income Americans”

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Most juvenile killers will no longer be eligible to receive life sentences without the chance for parole, as a new law goes into effect today. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says the law was needed because the US Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that murderers convicted as juveniles could not be sentenced to life without parole. He says the argument was made because of young people’s capacity to change.

Cut 14 (11) “mind development”

Claitor notes that just because a lifer is given a chance for parole, it doesn’t mean they will be released. The purpose of this law is simply to bring the state in line with the Supreme Court decision. He adds not all killers convicted as juveniles will be granted parole eligibility.

Cut 15 (08) “of the worst”

Claitor says the District Attorneys will decide who is the worst of the worst and use that provision sparingly. He says if they don’t, it could open up the state to more litigation.

Cut 16 (08)  “in court”

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LSU will have two number 18s on the field this season as both defensive end Christian LaCourture and fullback J.D. Moore will wear number 18 on their jersey. At LSU, the number 18 is synonymous with success, both on and off the field. LaCourture was presented his 18 jersey in the spring and Head Coach Ed Orgeron says Moore was given received his jersey at a team meeting to kick off preseason camp…

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LSU’s first practice of preseason camp was Monday afternoon. Orgeron says senior quarterback Danny Etling looks healthy following back surgery….

Cut 18 (08) “very healthy” 

Orgeron says creating more turnovers is a focus on defense this year…

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Moore says he’s honored to wear number 18 at LSU….

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New litter laws take effect tomorrow. Jeff Palermo has more…

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Slidell Police say a domestic disturbance lead to a fatal stabbing Sunday evening. Michelle Southern reports…:

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New laws take effect tomorrow that seek to curb the litter problem in Louisiana. One law lowers the fine for littering from $1,000 to $900. Fines for littering were doubled in 2015, which triggered jury trial provisions that made enforcement less likely. Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Susan Russell hopes reducing the fine will lead to better enforcement of litter laws.

Cut 3 (11) “throwing them out”

The law also increases the community service penalty for littering. First offense penalties double from 8 to 16 hours, and second offense increase from 16 hours to 20 hours. Russell hopes requiring litterers to pick up trash will discourage them from littering again.

Cut 4  (11) “the problem is”

Another law requires litter prevention to be taught in schools from kindergarten through fifth grade. Russell says educating our youth is a great way to address the litter problem. She says the younger generation has to deal with waste management in ways that older people never have.

Cut 5  (11)  “growing up”

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency has proposed adding the American Creosote Deridder, an environmentally contaminated site in Deridder, to the Superfund National Priorities Site. Greg Langley with the state Department of Environmental Quality says once this Beauregard Parish site is added to the list, it’s in line to receive federal funding that can go towards cleanup efforts.

Cut 6 (08) “water too”

The state currently has 27 other Superfund sites. Langley says they don’t know when the funds will become available but this is a step in the right direction for getting the area cleaned up. He says the creosote was originally used on the timber to make it last longer and protect it from insects but…

Cut 7 (09)  “the soil”

The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry links Creosote to blisters on the skin, damage to vital organs and stomach pains. Langley says the site in Beauregard Parish was used to treat lumber from the 1920s to the 1940s. He says it took decades to realize the negative impact of the creosote.

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Slidell Police say a domestic disturbance lead to a fatal stabbing Sunday evening. Detective Daniel Seuzeneau says officers learned that the suspect, 25-year-old Joseph Thibodeaux of Pearl River, was arguing with his fiance, and threatening to stab others in the house..:

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Seuzeneau says the uncle died at the scene, and Thibodeaux fled to Mississippi where he was caught last night…:

Cut 10 (09) “more charges”

Seuzeneau says the message here remains that domestic violence is a very serious issue…:

Cut 11 (08) “domestic related issues”

(Thibodeaux was booked with second degree murder and more charges are expected to be filed.)

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It was a deadly weekend in Baton Rouge, as multiple people have died from violence in the Capitol City. Sgt. Don Coppola with the Baton Rouge Police Department says two teens were killed when a drug deal went wrong on Sunday evening.

Cut 12 (10) “his injuries”

The victims are identified as 19-year-old Kenyi Kolok and 18-year-old Orenthean Daniels. Coppola says police are working to determine if a third suspect was involved.

A woman was found stabbed to death in a home on Sunday morning. Coppola says detectives are working to identify a suspect in the death of 41-year-old Sara Hernandez.

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Anyone with information is encouraged to contact authorities.

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A former Livingston Parish teacher admits to having a sexual relationship with a teen a student. 33-year-old Lynsie Pendarvis pleaded guilty to all charges against her and sentenced to five years. But District Attorney Scott Perrilloux says Pendarvis might not serve any time in jail…

Cut 14 (10) “15 years”

Perrilloux says Pendarvis is also required to participate in a two year program for sexual offenders offered by the Department of Corrections. He says because Pendarvis pleaded guilty, the victim is not required to testify in court.

Cut 15 (08) “her actions”

Pendarvis was arrested last June when police discovered her relationship was with a 15-year-old student at Walker Freshman High School. Perrilloux says she pleaded guilty to all charges.

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A report by the Center for American Progress finds a gun is stolen from a private owner every 67 minutes in Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more on this shocking statistic….

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Tomorrow, Lafayette becomes the 11^th Louisiana city to prohibit smoking in bars, clubs and public places as the ban takes effect. Halen Doughty has more…

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LSU returns to the practice field this afternoon as the first full season with head coach Ed Orgeron at the helm begins. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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A gun is stolen from a private owner every 67 minutes in Louisiana, according to the Center for American Progress. The non-profit’s Vice President of Guns and Crime Policy, Chelsea Parsons, told the Jim Engster Show that Louisiana is in the top 15 states for the most firearms stolen.

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Data from the FBI finds from 2012 to 2016, 718 guns were stolen from firearms dealers in the state. Parsons says there are some common sense policy changes that could help prevent these thefts. She says right now, the ATF has no authority to require a dealer to put a lock on their store and…

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The report also finds the majority of states who see the most gun thefts are located in the southern part of the country. Parsons says between 2012 and 2015, 31-thousand guns were stolen from individuals in Louisiana. She says the ATF is extremely worried about this growing problem and hopes to implement new protections.

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Research from LSU Health New Orleans suggests walnuts may promote health by helping good bacteria grow in your gut. Lead researcher Dr. Lauri Byerley says walnuts can help promote good bacteria growth in your digestive organs.

Cut 7 (10)  “potentially”

Byerley says walnuts in the diet increase the number of microbes present in the bowels. She says they also noticed the types of bacteria present were related to probiotics. She says a more diverse bacteria community in the gut can lead to better health.

Cut 8 (08) “type bacteria”

Byerley says walnuts are linked to better health outcomes because they contain antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. But she says that doesn’t mean eating more walnuts will lead to better health. She says one explanation would be that people who have more walnuts in their diets tend to eat healthier.

Cut 9 (11)  “inflammatory bowel disease”

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Beginning tomorrow, smoking will no longer be permitted at bars in Lafayette, as a ban approved by the city-parish council goes into effect. CEO of the Smoking Cessation Trust Mike Rogers calls the new ordinance a victory. He hopes this will help more people kick their smoking habit.

Cut 10 (11) “quit for real”

Opponents to the ban call it government overreach. But Rogers says as more and more smoking bans are enacted around the state, they’re seeing more smokers put down their packs. He says as people run out of places to smoke, the Smoking Cessation Trust will be there to help them stop smoking for good.

Cut 11 (10) “call it quits”

Lafayette is the 11^th Louisiana city to ban smoking in bars. But not everyone is thrilled about the new rule, as bar owners in particular say it could be bad for business. Rogers says it’s more about health. He hopes as smokers run out of places to light up, they’ll decide to quit.

Cut 12 (11) “smoking purposes”

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Another LSU football season is underway as the Tigers have reported for preseason camp and they’ll practice for the first time today. Ed Orgeron is beginning his first full season as the head coach and he’s excited about a lot of things with his team, especially with his offensive coordinator

Cut 13 (12) “the season”

LSU returns 11 starters from last year’s team, six on offense and five on defense. It’s unclear who will emerge as the Tigers top wide receivers behind senior D.J. Chark. There’s also big position battles at linebacker and safety and how much has Danny Etling improved at quarterback. Orgeron says he’s ready to see it come together

Cut 14 (11) “ready to do work”

LSU’s leading pass catcher is Chark who grabbed 26 passes last year. There’s a lot of experience with the wide receiver unit. Orgeron says he’s waiting for several guys to step up, including six-foot-three sophomore Drake Davis…

Cut 15 (23) “great work ethic”