Governor Landry signed the App Store Accountability Act, requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent before allowing minors under 18 to download apps or make in-app purchases. Louisiana Family Forum Director Gene Mills says when minors download apps, they enter into a contractual term of service.

Cut 7 (10) “…download that app.”

This new law takes effect July 1^st 2026.

The Trump Administration has made the decision to withhold seven billion dollars in education grants, 109-million dollars was targeted for K-through-12 schools in Louisiana. Executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, Michael Faulk, says the funding pause not only hurts kids, but adults counting on extra income…

Cut 11 (08) “..coaches’

The U-S Education Department says it holding back the money so a review can be conducted on the grant programs.

Three sea turtles have been released into the Gulf of Mexico after rehabilitation by the Audubon Aquarium Rescue in New Orleans. Jeanne Burns has the story…

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Over the weekend 12 firefighters from Louisiana went to Texas to support ongoing emergency efforts in response to the catastrophic flooding that’s left at least 80 dead in Central Texas. The State Fire Marshal’s Office says this team brings specialized training and equipment to conduct swift water rescue and Urban Search and Rescue operations under the most challenging conditions.

Three sea turtles have been released into the Gulf of Mexico after rehabilitation by Audubon Aquarium Rescue in New Orleans. Jeanne Burns has the story…

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

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Governor Jeff Landry recently signed the App Store Accountability Act, requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Looking ahead to the April election, it will be a big ballot, with Congressional Primary races, including U-S Senate, and there will also be five constitutional amendments.  Jeanne Burns has more.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

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Three sea turtles have been released into the Gulf of Mexico after rehabilitation by Audubon Aquarium Rescue in New Orleans. Stranding and Rehab Coordinator Gabriela Harlamert says two critically endangered Kemp’s ridley turtles, Libra and Dorado, were rescued after cold-stunning in New England and treated in New Orleans.

Cut 4 (11) “…into the Gulf.”

Francois, a 227-pound loggerhead found weak and dehydrated in Louisiana, also returned to the Gulf after nearly two years of care.  Harlamert says Francois had buoyancy issues…

Cut 5 (14) “…cleared itself up.”

Harlamert says the two Kemp’s turtles were originally set to be released earlier, but had some long-term effects from the cold-stunned

Cut 6 (07) “…more T-L-C.”

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Governor Jeff Landry recently signed the App Store Accountability Act, requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent before allowing minors under 18 to download apps or make in-app purchases. Louisiana Family Forum Director Gene Mills says many don’t realize that when minors download apps, they are entering into a contractual terms of service.

Cut 7 (10) “…download that app.”

Mills says the law mandates that features like “Ask to Buy” be enabled by default for minors, and app stores must share users’ age categories with developers.

Cut 8 (14) “…transactional decision.”

The bipartisan legislation aims to enhance parental oversight and child safety online, following earlier failed attempts to regulate app store practices. Mills says the idea of age verification was pioneered here in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (13)  “…upheld 6 to 3.”

The law will take effect July 1, 2026

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Louisiana public schools are waiting for more information after the U-S Department of Education told individual states it’s withholding nearly seven-billion dollars in education grants. Executive Director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, Michael Faulk, says schools were planning to use this money pay for tutoring, after school programs, summer activities and professional development of teachers…

Cut 10 (08) “…the cuts”

The Learning Policy Institute estimates Louisiana could lose out on more than 109-million dollars in federal K-through-12 education funding. Faulk says the funding pause not only hurts children, but adults who were counting on extra income…

Cut 11 (08) “…coaches.”

Faulk says the funding freeze caught school systems off guard as their fiscal years began on July 1^st…

Cut 12 (12) “…for this.”

Congress approved the grant funding earlier this year, but the U-S Education Department said it holding back the money so a review can be conducted on the grant programs. No timeline was given on when the review would be completed.

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Remnants of Constitutional Amendment Two that failed to receive voter approval last November will re-appear on the April 18^th ballot because of legislation approved in the 2025 legislative session. Amendment Two would have paid down teachers’ retirement debt to make a two-thousand-dollar teacher stipend permanent. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says on the April ballot, teacher pay is a stand-alone measure

Cut 13 (13)  “…bit of a raise.”

A constitutional amendment on the inventory tax is the other constitutional amendment part of Amendment Two last November . Procopoio says it would give parish governments the option of not charging an inventory tax, which business leaders hate, but parishes count on it for local revenue…

Cut 14 (10) “…want to do.”

The April ballot will also include constitutional amendments that would give the Legislature the ability to remove positions from civil service protection, raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75, and an amendment that would establish a school system for St. George in East Baton Rouge Parish. Procopio says the whole state will vote on this amendment, and it must pass statewide and in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Cut 15 (06) “…towards this.”

President Trump will sign the Big Beautiful Bill in a July fourth ceremony at the White House this afternoon. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise says the legislation lower taxes, secures the border, and unleashes American energy dominance…

Cut 30 (14) “…One Big Beautiful Bill”

But Democrats call it he Big Ugly Bill. Democrats point out that the bill strips 900-billion dollars from Medicaid and will ultimately strip health care coverage from 17-million Americans. Reagan Carter, the director of health and policy and governmental affairs at the Louisiana Primary Care Association, says that will have a ripple effect on health care centers.

Cut 9 (08)  “…end up closing.”

Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry says Louisiana’s Legislature may need a special session to rearrange dollars to adequately fund hospitals.

A two-year-old boy was run over in a driveway and killed earlier this week in Baton Rouge. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is increasing their patrols this weekend, looking for intoxicated operators. LDWF Lt. Garrett Kimble says it’s Operation Dry Water…

Cut 13 (11) “…last year”

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the One Big Beautiful Bill this afternoon. The legislation funds the President’s domestic agenda and Republicans say it will also provide American families with tax relief. Democrats are concerned about a massive cut to health care. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise says the legislation reforms the Medicaid program by forcing able bodied adults to work….

Cut 8 (08) “…Mr. Speaker”

State Police is investigating a fatal officer involved shooting that took place in a Lake Charles residential neighborhood yesterday morning. Authorities say the man who was fatally shot, shot at officers three separate times for unknown reasons. Chief Shawn Caldwell says the violent scene ended when the suspect came running out of a shed and firing his gun at SWAT officers…

Cut 17 (07) “….from his injuries”

Six officers are on administrative leave.

Louisiana law enforcement is participating in “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, targeting impaired driving during the Fourth of July holiday. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says the campaign promotes safety on the roadway.

Cut 11 (10) “…drinking and driving.”

Fischer says between 2019 to 2023, 339 people were injured or killed in car crashes across the state during the Fourth of July holiday involving impaired drivers.

Louisiana Department and Wildlife and Fisheries Agents are also participating in Operation Dry Water this Fourth of July Weekend, which means LDWF agents will be patrolling state waterways looking for impaired boat operators. Lt. Garrett Kimble says…

Cut 14 (09) “…boating class”

A DWI on the water in Louisiana carries the same penalties as on the road.

After months of fierce debate, Congress has passed the Big, Beautiful Bill by the July 4th deadline that President Trump had set. One of the biggest points of contention related to Medicaid. Congressman Steve Scalise noted that under the new requirements, those who can work will now be required to do so to receive Medicaid benefits.

Cut 7 (09) “…playing video games.”

Democratic Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields says about 260-thousand people in our state will lose health insurance as a direct result of this bill. Fields says the bill also puts over 30 of Louisiana’s rural hospitals at risk of closure. Jeff Reynolds, the executive director of the Louisiana Rural Hospital Coalition, says if medical centers close, that will have a negative effect on the overall economy of rural communities.

Cut 10 (09) “…receive those services?”

Police in Lake Charles shoot and kill a man who they say opened fire on them in a neighborhood. Police Chief Shawn Caldwell says officers responded after a driver called 911 to say that someone was pointing a gun at traffic.

Cut 15 (07) “…shot at her.”

Caldwell says as more officers arrived, the suspect shot at another officer and then ran into a nearby shed. The chief says the man eventually came out of the shed running towards SWAT officers and firing at them. An officer returned fire, shooting the suspect, who died at a local hospital.

This week in East Baton Rouge Parish a two-year-old boy died after he ran in front of a car pulling into a driveway. The director of Kids and car safety Amber Rollins says 60 children are run over by slow, forward moving vehicles in parking lots and driveways every week…

Cut 5 (07) “…trucks and SUVs”