The political heat in the country right now has gotten to a boiling point as of late, and the deadly shooting of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk threatens to turn the heat up even further. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

U-S Senator John Kennedy said on X that Kirk’s senseless death makes him sick, Democratic Congressman Troy Carter says violence is never the answer.

Registered voters in the coming days will receive a letter from Secretary of State Nancy Landry explaining how the closed party primaries will work….

Cut 6 (08) “…our website”

That’s Deputy Secretary of State Joel Watson, who says starting next year, races for federal offices, state supreme court, PSC and BESE will move from an open primary to a closed party primary.

Former NFL stars highlight the 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction class, including a Saints fan favorite. Wide receiver Joe Horn was a four-time Pro Bowler for the Black and Gold in the early 2000s. Chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Doug Ireland says Horn played 12 seasons in the NFL, seven of them in New Orleans.

Cut 13 (08)  “…fascinating cat.”

14-year NFL veteran and former LSU star offensive lineman Todd McClure and Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams from Monroe are also part of the 2026 class.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly told the media that starting center Braelin Moore practiced with the team on Tuesday and that he will practice again on Wednesday. Moore is most likely going to be probable heading into the Florida game after injury his ankle versus Louisiana Tech.

Kelly also announced that Texas transfer defensive tackle Sydir Mitchell is no longer with the team after not meeting team standards. Mitchell did not log a snap in the first two games for the Tigers.

Florida coach Billy Napier has a record of 20-and-20 through his first 40 games with the Gators. He’s aware of the criticism he is getting for losing, but he says that it is important that he and his staff respond to adversity.

Cut 18 (17) “…those areas.”

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 induction class. The class will feature Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Sylvia Fowles, NFL stars Joe Horn, Todd McClure and Pat Williams, Major League Baseball All-Star Jonathan Lucroy and legendary basketball coaches John Brady, Mike McConathy and Dewain Strother. The induction will take place from June 25^th to June 27^th of next summer.

Grambling State is coming off of a 70 to nothing loss to the number one ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Head coach Mickey Joseph said that even though the Tigers did not stay within reach, he is glad that they came  out of the game healthy.

CUT 27 (15) : “survive it.”

Grambling returns home this week to hosts its first home game of the season on Saturday at 6 p.m. against the Kentucky State Thorobreds.

New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell entered a not guilty plea in federal court today. Cantrell allegedly spent 70-thousand dollars in city funds on personal activities that involved her former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie. Paperwork was filed that showed Vappie was working, but prosecutors say they were having an affair.

The East Baton Rouge District Attorney is considering pursing the death penalty in the case of a man accused of raping a four-year-old child.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Florida will soon become the first state in the country to exempt all children from routine childhood vaccines as a condition of enrolling in school. Senator Bill Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, says it’s a bad decision.

Cut 6 (05) “…will be immunocompromised.”

Cassidy says the childhood vaccines have been administered for years; and up until now, school districts in all 50 states have required them.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is challenging you to perform at least one random act of kindness to animals over the course of the next 30 days. Founder and Director Jeff Dorson has some ideas.

Cut 9 (09)  “…you feel good.”

Dorson says this is the first year that the Humane Society is doing the “Be Kind To Animals 30-Day Challenge,” and it comes at a time when Louisiana is facing challenges such as overpopulation, stray animals and limited resources for shelters.

According to the Center of Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU, DWI arrests increased by four percent from the previous year in 2024. Mark Lambert with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says increased law enforcement is helping keep the roads safer.

Cut 15 (09) “…any damage”

The number of people killed on Louisiana roads in 2024 dropped to its lowest level in five years. Lambert says the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission believes that’s because of less drunk driving and more people are buckled up.

Florida has announced they plan to repeal its vaccine requirements for children attending school. Louisiana U-S Senator Bill Cassidy believes that’s a bad idea and he’s not the only Republican to think that…

Cut 7 (05) “…that decision”

Florida’s Surgeon General says they are moving forward with this policy because he believes you have sovereignty over your body and that’s that.

The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office is considering seeking the death penalty against a man who allegedly raped a four-year-old child, infecting that child with a sexually transmitted disease. 25-year-old Anthony Jelks is charged with first-degree rape. District Attorney Hillar Moore says the biggest obstacle in pursuing the death penalty against Jelks is a 2008 Supreme Court decision that ruled that executing someone for a crime in which the victim did not die amounts to cruel and unusual punishment…

Cut 3 (06) “…several years ago.”

Moore says if the death penalty is not an option, Louisiana has laws that allow for chemical or surgical castration of a person convicted of raping a child.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is challenging you to perform at least one random act of kindness to animals over the course of the next 30 days. Founder and Director Jeff Dorson has some ideas.

Cut 9 (09)  “…you feel good.”

Dorson says this is the first year that the Humane Society is doing the “Be Kind To Animals 30-Day Challenge,” and it comes at a time when Louisiana is facing challenges such as overpopulation, stray animals and limited resources for shelters.

The number of people killed on Louisiana roads has dropped to its lowest level in five years. Last year, 753 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes and of those victims, 261 were not buckled up. Mark Lambert with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says drivers cannot control what others do on the road, which is why wearing a seatbelt is so important.

Cut 14 (09) “…your seatbelt”

Lambert says they are pleased to see that in 2024, a record was broken for the fewest number of people killed in motorcycle crashes. But pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities were up.

We’ve reached the halfway point in this year’s quiet hurricane season but LSU Health Climatologist, Barry Keim says there’s still time for a destructive storm to impact Gulf Coast.

Cut 12 (13) “…October storms.”

All options are on the table for the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney in the case of a man accused of raping a four-year-old child, including a punishment not carried out for that crime in more than 60 years.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State Police say they are looking for a 1997 to 2004 Ford F-150 painted in turquoise green. It’s believed that vehicle was involved in a hit and run crash on I-10 in Jefferson Davis Parish on August 27^th that killed 53-year-old Bonnie Fontenot of Jennings.

The mayor of New Orleans will be arraigned in a federal courtroom this afternoon. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Todd Graves, is the 46^th richest person in America according to the Forbes 400 list. Graves’ net worth is 22-billion dollars. Saints and Pelicans Gayle Benson ranks 176^th with a net worth close to eight billion dollars.

Due to new federal rules, Louisiana is one of 12 states where a prescription is now required to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Senator Bill Cassidy says there is a go-around – a blanket prescription issued by State Surgeon General Ralph Abraham.

Cut 7 (11) “…the prescription written.”

There’s been no comment from the Louisiana Department of Health if Surgeon General Ralph Abraham is considering such a blanket prescription.

Today is the statistical peak of the hurricane season, and the National Hurricane Center is not expecting a storm to form over the next week. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says there have been six named storms and just one hurricane.

Cut 10 (12) “…count on it.”

Keim says a Bermuda High Pressure has kept storms away from the United States.

When starting center Braelin Moore was injured on the first play of the game versus Louisiana Tech, sophomore DJ Chester came into the game to replace him. Head coach Brian Kelly says the staff is comfortable with playing Chester if Moore cannot go this week.

Cut 17 (13)  “…of a job.”

The SEC has announced its conference schedule for the 2026 baseball season. LSU baseball will travel to Nashville to face Vanderbilt in the first week of SEC play before hosting Oklahoma in Baton Rouge. Other key opponents include Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Georgia on the road. In addition to Oklahoma, LSU will host Kentucky, Texas A&M, South Carolina, and Florida. Former LSU head coach Paul Manieri will return to Baton Rouge for the first time since being the Gamecocks head coach on May 1^st.

Saints tight end Juwan Johnson had the opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds against the Cardinals with a crucial drop in the endzone. Johnson says that even though New Orleans came up short, the team needs to prioritize its focus on the next game.

CUT 20 (19): “New Orleans happy.”

The Saints will take on the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans on Sunday at noon. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is questionable with a toe and shoulder injury, and star tight end George Kittle was placed on the injured reserve after injuring his hamstring against Seattle.

Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie announced that he has not named a starting quarterback for this week’s game versus New Mexico State. The Bulldogs played both quarterbacks, Trey Kukuk and Blake Baker against LSU.