The Louisiana Department of Health is warning you of an active season involving a flesh-eating bacteria. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Small Business Administration is encouraging Louisianians to apply for low-interest disaster loans if they need financial help to repair damages caused by Tropical Storm Arthur. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt spoke to members of the media for the first time as a Tiger. Kace Kieschnick has more…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

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Governor Jeff Landry is defending the use of non-disclosure agreements that employees in the governor’s office signed as part of the negotiations with Meta that resulted in the tech giant building a 50-billion-dollar A-I data center in Richland Parish. Landry says confidentiality is critical when state government talks with private companies about mega projects.

Cut 4 (07) “…close the deal.”

But transparency advocates and legal experts say NDAs can create a culture of fear and it keeps the public in the dark about how deals are reached and its impact to the taxpayer. Landry pushes back on the idea that his office is trying to hide critical information.

Cut 5 (09) “…the public domain.”

According to the Gulf States Newsroom and Type Investigations, more than 50 elected officials have signed nondisclosure agreements with Louisiana Economic Development from the time Landry took office.

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If statistics are any indication, Steve Scalise should have the easiest path to re-election among Republicans in the state. Based on voter registration, the first district – which includes St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, Lafourche and portions of Terrebonne and Tangipahoa parishes – is the most heavily Republican district in the state. Scalise says he’s proud of his record on job creation.

Cut 6 (08) “…in south Louisiana.”

Scalise says the job growth in south Louisiana has reversed the population trend in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (12) “…in this state.”

The massive partisan voter disparity is not stopping Democrat Lauren Jewett from her quest to unseat Scalise, though. During qualifying last week, Jewett took state lawmakers to task for putting their own interests ahead of everyone else’s.

Cut 8 (15) “…that’s a strategy.”

Jewett says state lawmakers are counting on Democrats to quit, but that’s not how she rolls.

Cut 9 (10)  “…is too important.”

Scalise and Jewett will be joined on the open primary ballot by Republican Randall Arrington and no party candidate Liddy Glass.

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The Louisiana Department of Health is warning you of a rise in cases of vibrio vulnificus infections. Vibrio is a flesh-eating bacteria that lives in warm coastal waters. Over the last ten years, Louisiana averages seven cases and one death. Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) says this year has already exceeded that total, and we’re not halfway through August yet.

Cut 10 (11) “…lost their life.”

While people can be infected with vibrio by eating raw seafood, especially raw Gulf oysters, all nine cases this year are related to wounds exposed to sea water, and Greenstein says all nine patients had underlying health conditions. He says certain people are at greater risk of infection.

Cut 11 (15) “…undergone stomach surgery.”

Greenstein says if you fall into one of the groups who are at highest risk of severe complications, pay very close attention to symptoms of vibrio infection.

Cut 12 (08) “…drainage or discharge.”

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The Small Business Administration is encouraging residents and business owners who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Arthur to apply for low-interest disaster loans. SBA spokeswoman Michelle Genovese (jen-oh-VEESE) says four-million dollars in loans have already been approved.

Cut 13 (10)  “…helps rebuild communities.”

Genovese says homeowners, renters and businesses in Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes may qualify if they suffered storm damage between June 17th and 24th.

Cut 14 (07) “…physical damage loan.”

Interest rates on disaster loans can be as low as 2.87-percent for homeowners and renters. Payments don’t begin until 12 months after the first loan disbursement.

Genovese says homeowners may qualify for up to 500-thousand dollars to repair their primary residence, and collateral is not required for smaller loans.

Cut 15 (08) “…50-thousand dollars.”

Small businesses and private nonprofits may also qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to two-million dollars if they suffered financial losses because of Tropical Storm Arthur.

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LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt made his first media appearance since moving to Baton Rouge yesterday. The Oregon native said Louisiana wasn’t a real place to him growing up, but now that he’s here, he’s embraced every part of the Bayou State – even the humidity.

Cut 16 (14) “…being out here.”

The big question for most of the offseason has been Leavitt’s recovery from season-ending Lisfranc surgery. The mobile passer says it hasn’t affected his play, and he has felt great for months.

Cut 17 (17) “…question for me.”

Leavitt said one of the reasons he chose to come to LSU was to improve as a quarterback. He said he gets to play against great players in practice and is coached by great offensive minds like Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr.

Cut 18 (14) “…what it’s been.”

Blake Miguez ends the speculation with just hours to go until the end of qualifying – he’s running in the sixth district. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Louisiana’s cyclosporiasis cases continue to climb. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A new report shows Presidents Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana has fallen below 50 percent. Joe Gallinaro has the story…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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With just hours left to qualify, Republican Blake Miguez ended the speculation entering the race for the Baton Rouge-area sixth district. Miguez represents the New Iberia area in the state senate, which is not within the sixth district’s boundaries. Throughout qualifying, the question was whether Miguez would run in the fifth or the sixth district. 

Cut 4 (12) “…freshman at LSU.”

Miguez’s announcement came two days after his Republican state senate colleague, Rick Edmonds, qualified and took aim at Miguez for not living in the district. In a statement, Edmonds said he’s glad Miguez finally decided on the district to run in and that, in his words, he and his out-of-state supporters have been panicked since losing President Trump’s endorsement. Miguez addressed that after qualifying.

Cut 5 (11) “…this new race.”

As for where Miguez lives – he acknowledged that his primary residence is in New Iberia based on his homestead exemption, but he also accuses Edmonds of being absent from the district he aims to represent.

Cut 6 (07) “…to do that.”

Miguez and Edmonds are among ten candidates on the open primary ballot in district six – six Republicans, three Democrats and one Libertarian.

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The number of cyclosporiasis cases continues to go up across the country, including here in Louisiana. Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) says while Louisiana’s number pales in comparison to the hardest-hit state, Michigan, the cases here continue to rise.

Cut 7 (10) “…happily no deaths.”

State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says the most recent cases involve two clusters of six cases, and investigators determined that romaine lettuce was the culprit.

Cut 8 (11) “…was romaine lettuce.”

The FDA is currently working to determine what the source of that lettuce is. Up until now, contaminated lettuce that has caused cyclosporiasis had been traced to Mexico.

Greenstein says with cyclospora causing severe dehydration, it’s important to take extra precautions these days when handling not only lettuce, but any fresh produce.

Cut 9 (13)  “…and market withdrawals.”

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Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees delivered a deeply emotional, humble and grateful speech as he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. His former head coach in New Orleans, Sean Payton, was his presenter, and Brees spoke about how Payton pushed him to his full potential…

Cut 10 (14) “…be great.”

Brees spent his first five seasons in the NFL in San Diego. He arrived in New Orleans as a free agent, months after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. Brees’ play lifted NOLA’s spirit and took the Saints franchise to new heights, including a Super Bowl Championship in 2009. Brees gave an emotional thank you to New Orleans…

Cut 11 (11) “…that calling.”  (cheering)

Brees thanked many people who were part of his journey, including the late Saints owner Tom Benson, current owner Gayle Benson, general manager Mickey Loomis and his family. He gave a blanket thank you to the hundreds of players he played with during his 20-year career. Brees says it was them that kept him going and carried him to Canton…

Cut 12 (13) “…of my teammates.”

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A majority of Louisiana voters have supported President Donald Trump during his two terms in office. But his approval rating in the state has now fallen below 50 percent. That’s according to The World Population Review, which has Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana at 49 percent — down nine points from five months ago.

U-L-M political science professor Pearson Cross says presidential approval ratings typically fall when the economy struggles…

Cut 13 (09)  “…in Iran.”

According to The Economist, Trump’s national approval rating is even lower, at 35 percent.

Cross says that could be a warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterm elections…

Cut 14 (10) “…mid-term election.”

Cross says it’s not unusual for a president’s popularity to decline while in office. But he believes it could be difficult for Trump to reverse the trend…

Cut 15 (16) “…he can do.”

Trump won 60 percent of the vote in Louisiana in the 2024 presidential election.

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ULM is renaming Malone Stadium to FMOL Health St. Francis Stadium as part of an expanded partnership with the healthcare ministry. Warhawks Athletics Director SJ Tuohy says that the partnership will help balance the athletics budget and provide opportunities for student-athletes moving forward.

Cut 16 (16) “…future with them.”

St. Francis will continue to be the “Official Medical Partner” of ULM athletics, and Tuohy says it was important to partner with a local organization committed to building the Northeast Louisiana community.

Cut 17 (19) “…need to improve.”

ULM also agreed to a deal to rename its basketball arena to B1Bank Fant Coliseum. Tuohy says the corporate partnerships are an exciting opportunity that spans across the athletics department.

Cut 18 (18) “…involved with us.”

ULM will honor coach James Malone, who the football stadium was previously named after, with a new installation at the home entrance.