Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion that is a setback for death row inmates seeking a clemency hearing with the state Board of Pardons. Louisiana District Attorneys Association Director Loren Lampert says Landry states that clemency requests must be made to the Pardon Board within a year after a judge issues a ruling on their appeal
Cut 9 (09) “…emergency exception”
But an attorney for for several of the clemency applicants says the clemency hearings should take place because of a myriad of problems with the state’s death penalty system.

Governor Edwards was asked on his monthly call-in show about a recent poll that shows 55-percent of the state’s residents believe Louisiana is heading in the wrong direction. Edwards says certainly more can be done in the area of education.
cut 7 (08) “…childhood”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says progress is being made in reducing the number of policyholders who have to rely on Citizens for their homeowners insurance. Donelon says since the state incentivized insurance companies to write homeowners insurance policies, 17-thousand new polices have been written, which allows homeowners to avoid the more expensive Citizens Insurance…
cut 21 (05) “…increase”

Hollywood South is reeling from the writers and actors strike. Louisiana Entertainment Media Director Chris Stelly says the film industry impacts the economy and hopes there will be a resolution soon to get the cameras rolling again…:
Cut 12 (11) “ more importantly”
Many actors believe the labor stoppage will take a while to solve.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion that may result in dozens of death row inmates not receiving a clemency hearing. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

Lake Charles Police are trying to find the person who severely beat and sexually assaulted a 75-year-old woman who has died from her injuries. Sherry Vincent of Lake Charles was attacked on July 5th and she passed away yesterday morning. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Lake Charles P-D.

All but one Louisiana death row inmate is seeking clemency from the governor, but Attorney General Jeff Landry says if the Pardon Board hears these cases, they would violate their own rules by allowing the hearings to take place one year after their last appeal was denied. Louisiana District Attorney Association director Loren Lampert…
cut 10 (10) “…an emergency’
The Capital Appeals Project says Landry’s opinion has no binding force.

Record breaking heat and drought is affecting crop yields. Farmers across the country will see smaller harvests this year. That’s according to Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain who says the heat causes plants to go into survival mode, slowing photosynthesis…
Cut 3 (13) “….United States.”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s disappointed but not surprised the Republican led Legislature overturned his veto of a bill that bans doctors from performing medical procedures on children that could alter their biological sex. He believes politics played a role…:
CUT 15 (09) “two thirds vote”
Edwards says the legislation harms a very small population of vulnerable children, their families and health care professionals. But the bill’s author, Pollock Representative Gabe Firment, says his legislation protects kids who might be temporarily confused about their biological sex…
Cut 14 (11) “…not health care”
Firment’s law goes into effect January 1st, but will likely face a legal challenge.

Attorney General Jeff Landry urges the Louisiana Pardon Board to follow its rules when it comes to considering clemency petitions from 55 death row inmates. Landry says in many cases an emergency is needed for the board to hear these cases, like an approaching execution date. Louisiana District Attorneys Association Director Loren Lampert is also concerned about trying to hear these cases before Governor Edwards’ leaves office…
cut 11 (13) “….clemency”

No sign of a break from the summer heat. Heat and humidity help suppress reproductive hormones in livestock which Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says can cause Louisiana markets to be left behind…
Cut 5 (11) “…heat and humidity.”

Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion that is a setback for death row inmates seeking a clemency hearing with the state Board of Pardons. Louisiana District Attorneys Association Director Loren Lampert says Landry states that clemency requests must be made to the Pardon Board within a year after a judge issues a ruling on their appeal
Cut 9 (09) “…emergency exception”
But an attorney for for several of the clemency appliants says the clemency hearings should take place of the myriad of problems with the state’s death penalty system.

It’s been a hot summer, and mostly dry for parts of the state. But Ag Commissioner Mike Strain hopes it doesn’t result in a big yield loss for Louisiana crops….
cut 4 (09) “…the fruit”

On his monthly radio program, the governor was asked about a poll by Citizens for a New Louisiana that shows only 24 percent of residents believe the state is moving in the right direction. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

A Powerball ticket sold in Los Angeles matched the necessary numbers to win last night’s one-billion dollar drawing. But the Louisiana Lottery says a 100-thousand dollar ticket was sold in Youngsville and a 50-thousand dollar ticket was sold in Eunice. Friday night’s Mega Millions jackpot is 720-million dollars.

Governor John Bel Edwards is not surprised the legislature overrode his veto of the bill that would ban doctors from performing sex change operations on minors, but he is disappointed…:
CUT 13 (10) “inside families”
He says the measure violates the constitution and expects a legal challenge.

On his monthly radio call-in show Ask the Governor – Edwards addressed a statewide poll by Citizens for a New Louisiana that shows 55 percent of residents think the state is heading in the wrong direction. Edwards says the state has made strides but agrees progress is needed in certain areas…
Cut 6 (10) “to be.”
.
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has secured $2.4 million in funding for new equipment for the New Orleans Criminal Justice Crime Lab. The State Police Crime Lab in Baton Rouge has dealt with processing backlogs. Cassidy says if Orleans can process their own crime lab material, it helps everyone…:
Cut 28 (10) “state police”
Cassidy expects a Senate vote soon on the funding request.

Record breaking heat and drought is affecting crop yields. Farmers across the country will see smaller harvests this year. That’s according to Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain who says the heat causes plants to go into survival mode, slowing photosynthesis…
Cut 3 (13) “….United States.”

A legal challenge is likely coming now that the Legislature overrode the governor’s veto of a bill that bans trans youth from undergoing medical procedures that can alter their sex. Federal judges in other states have ruled the legislation unconstitutional, but Pollock Representative Gabe Firment says appellate courts have ruled the other way…
cut 16 (09) “….into effect”
Louisiana’s law is set to go into effect on January 1st.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has secured $2.4 million in funding for new equipment to outfit the New Orleans Criminal Justice Crime Lab. Cassidy says the upgrade will be a difference-maker…
Cut 4 (10) “…our state.”
The State Police Crime Lab in Baton Rouge handles much of the DNA testing and Cassidy says upgrading the lab in New Orleans can result in faster arrests when DNA is a major part of the investigation.

With writers and actors on strike, Hollywood South is quiet on the set. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

56 of Louisiana’s 57 death row inmates have filed for clemency with the state Pardon Board, but Attorney General Jeff Landry has issued a legal opinion that says the Pardon Board in most cases can not take up clemency requests that have been filed more than a year after judge has issued an appeal ruling in capital cases. An attorney representing the death row prisoners says Landry’s opinion has no binding force.

Advocates are asking a judge to order for the removal of incarcerated youth housed at Angola. They are concerned with the lack of air conditioning and teens are sometimes in solitary confinement. Southern Poverty Law Center senior policy analyst Delvin Davis is urging the state to reform Louisiana’s juvenile justice system…
cut 10 (09) “…incarceration”
The Office of Juvenile Justice says they do not comment on legal action.

The search for a missing New Jersey man in Rapides Parish is over as the body of 58-year-old Robert Owens was found in a densely wooded area this morning. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tommy Carnline says Owens was a geocacher…
cut 7 (10) “…..the country”
Owens was known to be an active geocacher.

Lottery retailers were busy today spitting out Powerball tickets for tonight’s one billion dollar jackpot drawing. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says the odds of winning the jackpot are 1-in-292 million…
cut 5 (08) “….luck everyone”

LSU catcher Alex Milazzo announced on Tiger Rag Radio last night that he will return to the LSU baseball team for his fifth season. Milazzo says it’s an honor to wear the purple and gold and is not ready to give it up…
cut 13 (13) “…down the road”
Milazzo started five games behind the plate during the College World Series. Veteran catcher Hayden Travinski from Shreveport also says he’s coming back next year.