The Louisiana Pardon Board met Monday and did not take up the 56 clemency applications filed by death row inmates. The Louisiana District Attorneys Association has asked the pardon board not to rush through these applications, while the Capital Appeals Project is pushing for the applications to be considered before Governor Edwards leaves office.

STEM students in southwest Louisiana talk with astronauts on the International Space Station this morning.
cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Hundreds of magicians have descended on New Orleans, which is hosting the Society of American Magicians. Organizer Michael Dardant says it’s a chance for magicians to exchange tricks of the trade, especially to younger magicians. Dardant says they are starting to see more female magicians. He says traditionalists will have to learn accept anyone willing to learn the art of magic…
cut 9 (11) “….much variety”

School is around the corner and many families are trying to squeeze out one more vacation before the summer ends. AAA’s Don Redman advises motorists to check if their tires have enough tread. Redman says is to put a quarter, with George Washington’s head upside-down in the treads…
Cut 15 (05) “…those tires.”

Louisiana pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics conducted a nationwide survey that finds if the Republican Presidential primary was held today, 53-percent would vote former President Donald Trump. Couvillon says in order for any of the 14 declared Republicans to gain traction they need to have a breakout moment in one of the debates…
Cut 20 (08) “…look weak”
Trump arrives in Louisiana later today as he’ll hold a big money fundraiser in Metairie hosted by businessmen Boysie Bollinger and Joseph Canizaro. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says Republican voters in the Bayou State have been in Trump’s corner through thick and thin….
cu 11 (08) “…..58-percent of the vote”

For the first time ever, Louisiana students will speak with astronauts this morning who are currenty in outer space. Doctor Frank Rubio and Woody Hoburg are aboard the International Space Station and students attending NASA’s Astro Camp in Lake Charles were selected to ask them questions about living in space. The questions have already been submitted and Mark Arseneault, STEM Center Director for Southwest Louisiana, says the parents made sure the kids were dressed to impress the astronauts…
cut 6 (08) “…..really excited”
You can watch the event at NASA’s website at 9:15.

The Society of American Magicians is holding its annual conference in New Orleans this week. Organizer Michael Dardant says conferencegoers will share tricks of the trade and learn the traditional practices. Dardant says many young magicians learn from TikTok or Youtube videos, and it’s important they learn how to perform magic in front of a live audience…
Cut 8 (12) “…two-dimensional atmosphere.”

Former President Donald Trump arrives in Louisiana later today as he’s holding a fundraiser tonight in Metairie for his presidential campaign. The VIP reception costs 33-hundred dollars. For about 20-thousand dollars more you can take your picture with the former President…
cut 12 (13) “….right now”
That’s LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan who says during a similar event in California last week, President Biden raised ten-million dollars over two days.

It will be an out-of-the-world experience for STEM students attending Space Camp in Calcasieu Parish this morning. STEM Center Director for Southwest Louisiana Mark Arseneault says campers submitted questions in advance and this morning they’ll hear directly from astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Cut 4 (10) “…week here.”
You can watch on NASA’s website at 9:15 this morning.

New Orleans is hosting hundreds of magicians as they attend The Society of American Magicians’ national conference. Kace Kieschnick has the story…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Former President Donald Trump will hold a high-priced fundraiser for his 2024 presidential campaign in Metairie tomorrow. It will cost 23-thousand dollars a person or per couple to take a picture with Trump. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says despite his legal troubles, Trump is still able to collect large dollars from GOP donors….
cut 12 (13) “….right now”

So far this year, there have only been six boating fatalities on state waterways, that’s compared to 29 deaths in 2022. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck.
Cut 9 (11) “…last year.”

According to the Tax Foundation, Tennessee has surpassed Louisiana for the highest average combined state and local sales tax. Louisiana is at a 9.547 percent average which is one-one-thousandth of a percent behind Tennessee. Jared Walaczak says a high sales tax rate is better than a high income tax rate, but nearly ten-percent is still too high…
cut 5 (12) “….should be”
Louisiana’s state sales tax is set to drop .45 percent to four percent in July 2025.

The Saints report to training camp tomorrow and they are favorites to win the NFC South. Luke Johnson covers the Saints for NOLA-dot-com and says health will be a big key…
cut 13 (13) “…win the division”
The Saints last NFC South title came in 2020.

Louisiana pollster John Couvillon surveyed 11-hundred Republicans across the nation and found 71-percent have a favorable opinion of former President Donald Trump and 53-percent said they would vote for him in a Republican Presidential primary. Couvillon says Trump getting indicted on multiple charges in two separate federal cases is not hurting his popularity among Republicans. And he says the large field of Republican presidential hopefuls is helping the former President’s 2024 campaign…
Cut 8 (08) “…anti-Trump vote.”
Trump will be in Metairie tomorrow for a fundraiser.

Fatal boat crashes have only claimed six lives in Louisiana this year. Last year 29 people died in boating accidents. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck hopes this trend continues…
cut 11 (10) “…numbers off”

Louisiana has been surpassed for the highest average combined state and local sales tax according to Vice President of State Projects with the Tax Foundation Jared Walczak. Kace Kieschnick has more…
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

A stud linebacker from Many High School has committed to LSU. Tylen Singleton chose LSU over several schools, including Arkansas, Texas A-and-M, Tennessee and TCU. Last year as a junior, Singleton had 75 tackles and four interceptions, two of them were returned for touchdowns.

The restoration efforts of three heavily eroded islands along Louisiana’s coast are providing habitat for the state’s brown pelicans. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Biologist Todd Baker says the islands serve as a great nesting ground…
Cut 4 (11) “…more birds.”
The restoration sites are Rabbit Island off of Louisiana’s southwest coast and North Breton and Queen Bess Islands off of Louisiana’s southeast coast. Funds from the BP Settlement were used to complete the island restoration projects.

New employment numbers from the Louisiana Workforce Commission, shows the state added 20-thousand jobs from June 2022 to this past June. L-W-C Chief Economist Emily DiPalma says they are encouraged to see the Lake Charles area gain nearly three-thousand jobs…
cut 8 (11) “….slower”
The Shreveport area added 33-hundred jobs, while Lafayette 39-hundred jobs.

Houma Senator Mike Fesi went to the authorities after receiving a voicemail from an irate Louisiana resident who is upset Fesi voted to override the governor’s veto of a bill that bans minors from undergoing medical procedures that changes a person’s biological sex….
cut 11 (07) “…if anything”
Marcus Venable told Fesi he can’t wait to see his name in the obituary. State Police is investigating.

Saints report to training camp tomorrow. Cam Jordan is set to begin his 13th season, but the rest of the New Orleans defensive line will have a different look. Luke Johnson covers the Saints for the Advocate and Nola-dot-com, he says the Black and Gold will rely on contributions from new additions…
cut 14 (12) “…marks there”

State Senator Mike Fesi responds to the expletive-filled voicemail left by an LSU grad student over the lawmaker’s vote to ban certain medical procedures for transgender minors.
Cut 3 (29) “Michelle Southern reporting”

The state Office of Motor Vehicles has announced they’ve retained Norton LifeLock to offer one year of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection for Louisiana residents impacted by the recent MOVEit data breach. OMV has also set up a toll-free, 24-7 call center, to take questions from residents, 1-866-861-8717.

Coastal and wildlife officials are pleased with the restoration of three coastal islands that’s produced more nesting space for the brown pelican, the state bird of Louisiana. Coastal Protection and Restoration authority Biologist Todd Baker says the North Breton project produced nearly 150 acres of new land…
cut 5 (11) “….very strongly”
BP settlement dollars funded the three completed island restoration projects.

The Saints report for training camp tomorrow. The last two years were disappointing as the franchise struggled with coaching and quarterback changes. Nola.com’s Luke Johnson says the Saints have been historically unlucky with injuries, starting a record 58 players in 2021 and 49 last year…
Cut 13 (13) “…win the division”

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals in Louisiana increased by 20 thousand from June 2022 to this past June. Chief Economist at the Louisiana Workforce Commission Emily DiPalma says there were 2,037,445 people working in this state last month…
Cut 7 (10) “…in Louisiana”
DiPalma says the Baton Rouge area has gained the most jobs over the last year, nearly 19-thousand. New Orleans has added 13-thousand jobs, Lafayette almost four-thousand and Shreveport 33-hundred.

State Senator Mike Fesi (Fay-Zee) says it’s a disappointing he received a threatening voicemail from an enraged LSU grad student, who was upset the Republican from Houma voted for legislation to ban gender-altering medical procedures for minors…
Cut 10 (09) “for sure”
Authorities say Marcus Venable is responsible for the profanity laced voicemail. State Police is investigating.

Biologists have seen an increase in brown pelican colonies on three coastal islands that have been restored as a result of B-P settlement money. LDWF project manager Katie Freer says they’ve also seen evidence the restored islands are holding up against Mother Nature…..
cut 6 (11) “….recover itself”
The brown pelicans, which is the state bird, makes the islands their home during the spring and summer months.

The National Hurricane Center says there’s a low chance of development of a depression forming from a tropical wave that’s heading towards the Caribbean.

No heat advisories issues for today.

The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is up seven cents from last week to $3.20. That’s according to Triple-A.

The state health department reported nearly 19-hundred COVID cases between July 10th to the 16th, which is a bit of an increase.