US Senator Bill Cassidy is the latest Republican to back Jeff Landry in the governor’s race. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Gas prices are on the rise again with the average price for a gallon of regular gas statewide at $3.36 up by fifteen cents compared to last week. Teiko Foxx explains…

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”  

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US Senator Bill Cassidy officially endorses Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor. Landry is the perceived front-runner in the race and is one of five Republicans who’ve declared their intent to run. Cassidy issued his support this morning.

Cut 3 (08) “…of the state.” 

University of Louisiana Monroe political science professor Pearson Cross believes other Republicans will follow suit and begin to announce their support of Landry.

Cut 4 (12)  “…unchecked.” 

Cassidy says Landry, like himself, is fighting to make flood insurance more affordable.

Cut 5 (11)  “…paying jobs.”

And Cassidy says Landry also agrees the state must increase access to mental health services.

Cross says the momentum for Landry continues to grow he believes after the October 14^th primary that Landry will be in a runoff against the lone Democrat in the race, Shawn Wilson.

Cut 6 (09)  “…fundraising.” 

We’ll find out on August 10th if any of the seven formidable candidates drop out of the gubernatorial race. Qualifying is next week, August 8-10.

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Despite a decrease in demand, the cost of gasoline in the Bayou State jumped up fifteen cents since last week. Today’s statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.36 according to AAA. Fuel analyst Don Redman says crude prices and other factors are pushing prices higher.

Cut 7 (11)  “…weakening supply.” 

Crude oil prices were down at 67 dollars a barrel last month. Redman says oil-producing countries recently agreed to hold back oil production on crude driving prices higher.

Cut 8 (11)  “…the market.” 

Redman says the current average is less than this time last year’s price at $3.89. He says scorching temperatures have forced refineries to slow down and motorists to travel less…

Cut 9 (12)  “…the heat.”

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The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for most of north and southeast Louisiana. The warning is in effect from 10:00 today to 7:00 this evening in southeast Louisiana and 11:00-8:00 in north Louisiana. Meteorologist Aaron Davis says residents within the warning area will experience downright oppressive temperatures…

Cut 10 (10)  “…some areas.”

The National Weather Service has not issued any warnings for the rest of the week but Davis says they’re evaluating whether one may be necessary tomorrow as well. It doesn’t look like relief will be coming anytime soon…

Cut 11 (08)  “…into the weekend.”

Louisiana has experienced an uncharacteristically dry summer and it looks like that trend will continue. Davis says North Louisiana and east Texas are already in severe drought conditions and rainfall isn’t expected…

Cut 12 (11) “…and thunderstorms” 

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The City of Minden will soon be without power as a citywide blackout is planned to repair damage to an Entergy substation due to an early morning fire Sunday. Mayor Nick Cox says there was major damage to the transformer that connects to the power grid…

Cut 13 (12) “…on fire.”

Entergy and AEP currently are working to plan a timeline for the controlled outage. Cox says the major issue right now is his concern for residents dealing with the heat. He disputes any current rumors on timelines and advises residents to look out for official communications through social media and local radio for updates…

Cut  14 (12)  “…to us.”

Officials are working with the Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness to establish relief for residents during the outage. Cox says preparation is underway for possible challenges that may come about during this time.

Cut 15 (09) “…we’re ready.”

One legislator is calling for more transparency and oversite into the third party vendor OMV data breach. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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If you have blue tarp on your house because of previous damage to your roof, the Louisiana Housing Corporation has a Blue Tarp Roofing Repair Program that can result in a new roof. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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With election season right around the corner, are you ready for an onslaught of text messages from the candidates? Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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After the data breach involving a third party vendor used by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles last month, the OMV is offering a free year of Life Lock credit monitoring to those impacted. But Leesville Representative Chuck Owen believes the incident warrants legislative oversite.

Cut 4 (09)  “…the administration.”

Owen says at this time he only knows what information was released to the public about the data breach and he admits he hasn’t reached out directly to OMV for more information. He says he’d like to know the types of data that were stolen…

Cut 5 (09)   “…to expect.”

A decision on whether to call for an oversite committee into the matter is left to the Speaker of the House. Owen believes the breach could fall under the scope of existing committees either Homeland Security or Transportation, or a special committee could be merited as well.

Cut 6 (11)  “…the future.”

For more information about the data breach, you can visit nextsteps.la.gov.

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Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) expands the 2023 Blue Tarp Fund Roofing Repair Program waitlist for those with roof damage who did not apply in February. LHC Executive Director Joshua Hollins says with additional funding will help cover parishes beyond the capital region…

Cut 7 (12) “…few years.”

The program guidelines require homeowners to meet low-income requirements of 80 percent of the area median income or lower. Hollins says the home must be their primary residence and purchased a year prior to the assistance. He says certain groups of applicants will be placed at the top of the list…

Cut 8 (06) “…the home.”

Since February, LHC has been able to award nearly 150 applicants with new roofs in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. Hollins hopes this is the beginning of a commitment to help communities recover and rebuild after disasters

Cut 9 (12)  “…storm damage”

Blue Tarp Program awards will be awarded on a first come first served basis and will be subject to funding availability. Homeowners can apply at lhc.la.gov/bluetarp.

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Construction for a new warehouse for Second Harvest Food Bank in Houma will get underway in August. The 17,000-square-foot facility will allow the agency to better serve Grand Isle along with Terrebonne, Lafourche, and St. Mary parishes. Second Harvest President Natali Jayroe…

Cut 10 (10) “…in operation.”

The new warehouse will also contain a 3,400-square-foot community kitchen in the future that will be able to serve up to 3,000 meals daily.

Second Harvest currently operates out of three warehouses and serves the southern portion of the state, from Mississippi to Texas. Jayroe says after Katrina they opened a facility in Lafayette, and they hope to have a total of four after the expansion.

Cut 11 (09)  “…resilient hubs.”

Jayroe says they’ll do some economic development with the hubs, they’ll be outfitted for local farmers to be able to process their crops. The hubs will also house emergency workers…

Cut 12 (08)   “…neighbors” 

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new warehouse is scheduled for August 29^th.

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Louisiana’s gubernatorial candidates are using text messaging as another way to reach out to voters. You may have received a text message from Sharon Hewitt, Richard Nelson, Stephen Waguespack or one of the other candidates. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan…

Cut 13 (11) “…name recognition” 

Hogan says even campaigns that do not have a lot cash can use text messages as a way to reach out to voters…

Cut 14 (08)  “…less costly.” 

Hogan says text messages from candidates can also backfire on them as it might anger potential voters…

Cut 15 (11)  “…from campaigns.”

The FCC says political text messages can be sent without permission as long as the sender does not use autodialing technology.

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The Saints begin their first full week of training camp today and it’s still a little surreal seeing tight end Jimmy Graham back on the practice field and wearing Black and Gold. Graham signed with the Saints last week re-joining a franchise that drafted him in 2010, but traded him to Seattle in 2015…

Cut 16 (20) “..this city” (2x)

After four straight seasons of 85 catches or more, Graham says he was shocked and also hurt by the trade to the Seahawks…

Cut 17 (21) “…for me.”

Graham admits he didn’t do many media interviews in Seattle, because he didn’t want talk about the Saints trading him. After three years with the Seahawks, two years in in Green Bay, and two years in Chicago, Graham is now hoping to make the Black and Gold a Super Bowl contender again….

Cut 18 (21) “…my career” 

If you thought this past week was hot, weather officials say next week’s temperatures will be stunningly awful. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx” 

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Students who received reduced prices meals at school in Louisiana are now able to have them for free. Brooke Thorington explains…

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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The MegaMillions Multistate Lottery Jackpot is approaching $1 billion dollars, that’s a billion with a “B.” The $910 million prize is one of the largest in U.S. lottery history. Dustin Annison with the Louisiana Lottery says tonight’s jackpot has a cash value of $464.2 million.

Cut 3 (06) “…US history.” 

Annison says sales in Louisiana through this MegaMillions Jackpot run that began on April 19th are more than $12.9 million.

Cut 4 (07)  “…like this.” 

To be eligible for tonight’s drawing you must purchase your ticket by 9 PM. And if you don’t have all the winning numbers on your ticket Annison says don’t toss it aside too quickly…

Cut 5 (12)  “…to be won.”

You can check your ticket on the Louisiana Lottery App on your smartphone or take it to one of the vendors and have it reviewed there also.

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Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits once again baking the Bayou State starting this weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s no true insight into the dome of high pressure that has parked itself over the south.

Cut 6 (10)  “… unusual setup.” 

Dangerous heat with peak index values of 102-104 degrees is forecasted for Shreveport and Monroe. Keim says the state will see oppressive heat indices…

Cut 7 (10)  “…at times.” 

This stretch of hot weather will continue well into next week across the state. Keim urges everyone not to spend a lot of time outdoors when the heat index hits dangerous triple digits.

Cut 8 (11)  “…of yourself.” 

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Louisiana students who received reduced-price lunches and breakfast will be able to get those meals at no cost now thanks to Marrero Representative Kyle Green’s legislation. Green says because Louisiana is such an impoverished state there’s a great need to also provide meals to these 7,000 students.

Cut 9 (11)  “…the classroom.”

Providing additional free meals will cost the state about $859,000. Green says it’s an investment in the education of students because you can’t learn on an empty stomach. He says another benefit of the bill is to end the practice of lunch shaming in schools.

Cut 10 (12)  “…of substance.”

Green, who’s running for re-election, says this is just the beginning. He plans to introduce legislation in the future to expand the program to include all students.

Cut 11 (06)  “…well spent.”

Green credits the Louisiana Budget Project for helping him get the legislation across the finish line this legislative session.

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Former LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame tomorrow night during a ceremony in Natchitoches. Mainieri coached at LSU for 15 seasons and won four SEC regular season titles and six SEC Tournament championships. He led the Tigers to a national title in 2009…

Cut 12 (09) “…talent” 

Mainieri and two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Eli Manning highlight the 2023 induction class, which also includes former LSU wide receiver Wendell Davis and former Tulane star Matt Forte (For-tay). Forte was a consistent running back in the NFL, rushing for nearly 10-thousand yards and caught over 500 passes…

Cut 13 (12) “…I had.”

Also going into the Hall is women’s basketball great Alana Beard. She scored over 26-hundred points at Duke and won a W-N-B-A Championship with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016. But she says it all started at Southwood High School in Shreveport and playing for legendary coach Steve McDowell….

Cut  14 (12)  “…my life.”

Louisiana Public Broadcasting will livestream Saturday night’s induction ceremonies.

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