A state lawmaker is battling breast cancer. Jeff Palermo reports a lot of people are pulling for Kenner Republican Julie Stokes to win the fight…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Once again, Louisiana ranks number one in the Tax Foundation’s study for the highest sales tax rate in the country. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

A cat suffering from a gunshot wound to the face is expected to make a full recovery. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________________________________

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the deadly August south Louisiana flood, the head of Louisiana’s Office of Community Development, Pat Forbes, says they are ramping up on spending the federal grant money designed to help flood victims get back in their homes. Forbes says they have reimbursed some families for the work that’s already been done

Cut 4  (09) “for them”

Forbes says one of the complaints they’ve heard from flood victims is that there’s not enough money available to provide assistance. He says they actually have enough to help out a whole bunch of folks….

Cut 5  (09)  “help you”

Forbes says flood victims seeking assistance to rebuild must fill out a survey that can be found at Restore-dot-LA-dot-gov. He says a majority of grants that have been handed out, went to individuals who have finished rebuilding….

Cut 6 (11) “area”

________________________________________________________

The Tax Foundation has updated its national review of sales tax rates and  Louisiana continues to rank number one with a combined state and local sales tax rate averaging just above 10-percent. Director of state projects for the Tax Foundation, Scott Drenkard, says Louisiana has one of the highest local sales tax rates in the nation….

Cut 7 (12)  “10.02 percent”

The other states in the top five are Alabama, Washington, Arkansas and Tennessee is ranked number two behind Louisiana. He says the Bayou State has high sales taxes, because its property taxes are lower than most states thanks to the Homestead Exemption

Cut 8 (12) “of revenue”

Drenkard says when you combine sales, property and income taxes, Louisiana is one of the least tax burdened states. He says we are actually tied with Texas. But he says Louisiana can benefit from tax reform, because it has one of the most complex tax structures in the nation…

Cut 9 (10)  “Louisiana”

________________________________________________________

A Denham Springs couple has discovered a cat suffering from a gunshot wound to the face when the feline walked up to the front door of their home. The Humane Society of Louisiana Executive Director Jeff Dorson says the cat has received medical attention and is getting the care he needs…

Cut 10 (09) “has survived”

Dorson says the cat has been nicknamed “Scar face”. He says it’s amazing that given the horrendous injury, he has so much will to live.

Cut 11 (06) “amazing story”

Dorson says they are working with law enforcement to determine who could’ve shot the cat. He says the cat will undergo reconstruction and extraction surgery.

Cut 12 (10) “full recovery”

Dorson encourages anyone who can to donate for the surgery costs on the Humane Society’s website.

_________________________________________________

Kenner Representative Julie Stokes bows out of the State Treasurer’s race because of cancer. Stokes says she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and faces at least five months of chemotherapy. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says Stokes is a highly regarded and respected state lawmaker…

Cut 13 (12) “fiscal questions”

Stokes was set to qualify for the State Treasurer’s race next week. Dubos says the Republican was considered one of the favorites to win…

Cut 14 (10) “Acadiana”

Former state legislator John Schroder from Covington and Columbia Senator Neil Riser have been on the campaign trail for John Kennedy’s old job. Former Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis might also run. Dubos expects a very competitive race…

Cut 15 (06) “strong campaigns”

Stokes says she hopes to be fully recovered by the time the 2018 legislative session begins.

Bad news for LSU baseball as pitcher Eric Walker will miss the 2018 season due to Tommy John surgery. Jeff Palermo has more….

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

State Police is investigating an officer involved shooting that left a man dead and an Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s deputy injured. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Education leaders are letting teachers and students know what policy changes can be expected when they head back to class in August. Debbie Meaux, Louisiana Association of Educators President, says a new law was recently signed by the governor that would limit testing time, to 2% of a student’s learning time…:

Cut 3 (10) “that area”

Meaux also says that teachers and administrators will be engaging with a new accountability system. She says in addition to grading schools based on how students do on tests, there will also be a new element that looks at how kids’ are growing and improving..:

Cut 4  (11) “their peers”

Meaux says expects with these tighter grading changes, some of the highest scoring schools and districts will be impacted negatively, at least at first…:

Cut 5  (10)  “their scores”

________________________________________________

An Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Deputy has been injured and a man is dead after an officer involved shooting in Mamou. State Police Trooper Scott Moreau says the deputy responded to a call of an attempted burglary after 4 o’clock this morning. He says the officer confronted 27-year-old Dejuan Guillory and an altercation occurred between the two.

Cut 6 (04) “the scene”

It’s not clear how the officer was injured. Moreau says the investigation is ongoing and the deputy is in stable condition.

Cut 7 (06)  “seeking treatment”

__________________________________________________________

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri announced today that pitcher Eric Walker will undergo surgery for a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow, causing him to miss the 2018 season. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says this is bad news for the Tigers as they expected him to be the starting Friday night pitcher.

Cut 8 (10) “isn’t good”

The surgery is known as the Tommy John surgery where the ligament is replaced by a tendon from somewhere else in the body. Moran says Walker’s injury means there will e three new weekend starters for the 2018 season.

Cut 9 (09)  “around that”

Walker first complained of discomfort in his forearm before the College World Series. He tried to pitch in a game in Omaha, but left in the third inning, because he felt the pain reach his elbow. Moran says this surgery was inevitable, regardless of Walker’s pitching during the College World Series.

Cut 10 (11) “the fall”

__________________________________________________________

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Agents arrested five boaters for allegedly operating their vessel while intoxicated during their Operation Dry Water Weekend. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says agents were on patrol with a heightened awareness for impaired boat operators. He says driving a boat drunk comes with the same dangers as driving a car drunk.

Cut 11 (10) “fatalities”

Those arrested ranged in ages from 47 to 21 and most of the arrests took place in south Louisiana. Einck says the penalties for receiving a DWI on the water are the same as one on the road.

Cut 12 (10) “a car”

__________________________________________________________

A two-year-old Lockport boy is another child who has died in a rash of drownings around Louisiana. Lt. Brennan Matherne with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office says around noon on the 4^th of July deputies responded to a call of a child found unresponsive in the bottom of a pool. He says Kevin Cortez III was last seen playing with other kids inside the home…

Cut 13 (10) “CPR”

Matherne says Cortez was taken to the hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead. He says the Cortez’s were at an Independence Day family gathering.

Cut 14 (07) “drowned in

__________________________________________________________

It looks as if there is a mayoral shift in Louisiana has five major cities in the state have or will see a new leader in the last two years. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Four children have died in a rash of drownings in Tangipahoa Parish, so the state’s child welfare agency is urging parents to be vigilant of water safety. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Forecasters at Colorado State University have increased the number of hurricanes predicted this season. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (31) “Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________________________________

On the one year anniversary of the shooting death of Alton Sterling, seven people were arrested during a protest at Baton Rouge Police Headquarters. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says four men and three women  members of the New Black Panther Party tried to push through a barricade. He says one officer was hurt.

Cut 4  (11) “injured officer”

McKneely says one female protester injured her knee and received medical treatment. He says the seven individuals arrested were booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Cut 5  (05)  “arrest”

Authorities say a film crew was on hand to film the 25 to 30 Black Panther members protesting. McKneely says they are investigating who and where these protesters are from.

Cut 6 (10) “area”

________________________________________________________

It looks as there is a mayoral shift moving through the state as five of Louisiana’s biggest cities have experienced a change in power over the last two years. That’s according to, Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com, who says right now it’s difficult to tell if there are ties that bind but….

Cut 7 (10)  “some way”

Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport and soon to be New Orleans have recently seen a change. Alford says the most interesting thing about these elections is only one candidate was able to flip a seat, Republican Nic Hunter replaced Democrat Randy Roach in Lake Charles. He says New Orleans residents will select a new mayor in the fall.

Cut 8 (09) “New Orleans”

Alford says political change isn’t something that Louisiana typically sees in politics but that could all change with this new wave of mayors. He says the biggest teller of change is looking back years down the road and seeing what positive impacts were made.

Cut 9 (10)  “Louisiana”

________________________________________________________

A two-year-old boy is now the fourth child to die in a rash of drownings in Tangipahoa Parish. The state Department of Children and Family Services is advising parents of water safety during the summer months. Mona Michelli with the DCFS Division of Child Welfare says this is a time to be vigilant.

Cut 10 (10) “of water”

Louisiana had the second highest rate of drownings in the nation from 2013 to 2015 with 71 children dying, according to the state Health Department. Michelli says teach children to swim with a partner, never alone. She also adds, keep toys out of the pool area when not in use.

Cut 11 (10) “no occur”

Michelli says pool owners should install a fence with a locked gate around a pool that is beyond a child’s reach. She also adds it’s smart for parents to learn CPR in the event of an emergency and know the signs of drowning.

Cut 12 (08) “TV”

_________________________________________________

Colorado State University hurricane forecasters are now calling for an above average hurricane season as they’ve upped their total of named storms to 15. Lead researcher Phil Klotzbach says they predict eight hurricanes. He says the higher numbers are because of an uptick in sea surface temperatures along with…

Cut 13 (11) “hurricanes”

Klotzbach says they previously predicted 14 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes but…

Cut 14 (10) “or greater”

The CSU forecast team says there is a 38-percent chance a major hurricane will make landfall along the Gulf of Mexico coast. Klotzbach says active seasons typically have more landfalling hurricanes.

Cut 15 (10) “managment”

____________________________________________________