The Colorado State hurricane forecast team has increased its prediction for the Atlantic hurricane season from below-average to above-average. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Global business software company 360 Insights announces it is moving its U.S. headquarters to New Orleans. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was in Jonesboro Thursday to unveil the latest civil rights trail maker. Teiko Foxx reports this one honors the Deacons for Defense Justice which protected civil rights workers, their families and the black community…

Cut 3 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

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Researchers at Colorado State University have revised their original forecast for the Atlantic hurricane season, instead of slightly below average, now it’s expected to be an above-average season.  Alex DesRosiers, a member of the Hurricane Forecast Team at CSU says record warm sea surface temp prompted the revision.

Cut 4 (08)  “…intensity.”

(2023 July CSU predicts 18 named storms, nine hurricanes, four major hurricanes, Cat 3 or higher)

(Previous CSU forecast from April – 13 named storms, six hurricanes, two major hurricanes)

Researchers say there’s more uncertainty than usual due to conflicting signals between warmer than normal waters in the Atlantic and a robust El Nino expected for the peak of hurricane season. DeRosiers says the height of the season is right around the corner. It’s a reason to prepare not to panic…

Cut 5 (12)   “…your community.”

DesRosiers says individuals who live in a coastal community should never let their guard down even if a below-average season is predicted. Last year’s predictions for the Atlantic were slightly below normal, but DeRosiers says it certainly didn’t feel that like after Ian to Floridians

Cut 6 (07)  “…evacuate.”

So far this year, there was a subtropical in January and three tropical storms in June, Arlene, Bret, and Cindy.

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Global business software company 360Insights announces it will move its U.S. headquarters from Delaware to New Orleans. Louisiana Economic Development says the company will bring at least 50 direct jobs and another 50-plus indirect jobs to the Crescent City. Josh Fleig (“FLEG”) is Senior VP of Business Dev elopement with Greater New Orleans Inc. He says the deal had been under works for over a year…:

Cut 7 (07) “…development sector.”

Fleig says GNO Inc. worked with the New Orleans Business Alliance and Louisiana Economic Development to attract 360Insights to move to the Bayou State. He says the state’s Digital Software Development Tax Credit program was a big enticement…:

Cut 8 (12) “…in the area.’”

Fleig says the company’s CEO has already moved to New Orleans and begun the groundwork for the move. He says the interview and hiring process has already gotten underway…:

Cut 9 (10)  “…85-thousand dollars.”

360Insights expects to be fully staffed in New Orleans within two years.

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Personal income growth in Louisiana grew by 6.2 percent in the first quarter of 2023, outpacing the national average of 5.1 percent according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. University of Louisiana at Lafayette Economist Gary Wagner says an increase in social security payments accounts for most of the hike…

Cut 10 (12) “…right now.”

The six-point two percent increase means Louisianan’s personal income grew higher than Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama. Wagner says overall the state’s workforce earnings increased slightly but so did inflation…

Cut 11 (13)  “way up.”

Wagner says last year, Louisiana ranked 50^th in personal income data for the nation. He says quarterly increases are not normally that high nationally….

Cut 12 (11)    “…income growth.” 

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Louisiana Civil Rights Trail unveiled its 11^th physical historical marker. The newest marker commemorates the founding of the Deacons for Defense and Justice in Jonesboro. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says this marker is one of many stories representing the brave men and women who played a pivotal role in Louisiana Civil Rights era…

Cut 13 (12) “…tourism trail.”  

The marker is located at the Deacons for Defense Park in Jonesboro.  The Deacons for Defense was an armed group of African Americans who provided protection for civil rights workers, their families, and the black community. Nungesser says the journey of the Deacons will continue through family members and for years to come…

Cut 14 (12)  “…to come.”

Two notable founders of the Deacons are Earnest ‘Chilly Willy’ Thomas and Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick. Nungesser says there were 21 Deacons of Defense and Justice organizations founded across the southeastern U.S. He says the Louisiana civil rights trail narrates compelling stories and experiences of the people who dedicated themselves and their lives to making civil rights real in Louisiana.

Cut 15 (13)  “…the average.”

The current trail consists of 15 site markers, commemorating Civil Rights Era in Louisiana. Visit louisianacivilrightstrail.com to follow the historical journey.

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The first round of the Major League Baseball draft is Sunday night and LSU’s Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes are considered the top two players in the draft, but that doesn’t mean Pittsburgh, who holds the number one pick, will select Crews or Skenes. Baseball America prospect writer Geoff Pontes says M-L-B teams only have so much bonus dollars to spend on drafted players, so the Pirates could draft someone else that may not cost as much…

Cut 16 (18) “..could do that.”

Pontes says if the Pirates do not select Skenes or Crews, they may take the best high school prospect in the draft, outfielder Max Clark from Indiana…

Cut 17 (19) “…this draft.”

Crews has been a steady player during his LSU career and a two-time SEC Player of the Year and the 2023 Golden Spikes Award winner. But Pontes says Skenes 100 mile per hour fastball could put him in the major leagues as soon as next year, but there are greater risks with pitchers

Cut 18 (18) “…potentially” 

Authorities continue to track down leads in the July 4th block party mass shooting in Shreveport that killed four people and injured seven others.  Teiko Foxx has the story…

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

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Is Twitter causing users to cut the cord and needle their way to Threads? So far 30 million have signed up. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (30)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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A new independent poll on the 2023 governor’s race shows Attorney General Jeff Landry with a huge lead over his GOP opponents. Kaplan Strategies of Florida surveyed one-thousand likely voters just before the Fourth of July and 30-percent support Landry as the state’s next governor. Pollster Doug Kaplan…

Cut 3 (11) “…general election.”

Kaplan says the other Republicans and independent in the race are receiving minimal support, polling between six and two percent. Kaplan says if they drop out of the race and Landry chips away at the 24-percent of undecided voters, he could get to 50-percent and avoid a run-off…

Cut 4 (10)  “…his way” 

Kaplan says in his poll, 20-percent back the lone major Democrat in the race, Shawn Wilson. He says Wilson will need to rally to pull off an upset this fall…

Cut 5 (10)  “…the polls”

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Shreveport authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying the gunman or gunmen who opened fire at a July 4^th block party that resulted in four deaths and seven injuries. Council member Tabitha Taylor expressed her sadness and anger toward the persons involved.

Cut 6 (12)  “…you hurt.” 

Gunfire erupted in Shreveport’s MLK neighborhood around midnight Tuesday night. About 200 people were at the annual event that has not been marked with violence in the past years. Taylor calls for swift justice…

Cut 7 (13)  “…pay relentlessly.” 

Only one victim, 17-year-old Sencere Brown has been identified by family. Mayor Tom Arceneaux urges the public to help with information to bring in those responsible so families and the community can begin mending from this massacre.

Cut 8 (12)  “…as possible” 

Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects involved is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at (318) 673-7373.

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Since Twitter announced the use of their social media app would be limited or users could pay for more access, the launch of Facebook’s similar platform Threads is taking off. Haggai Davis with General Informatics… (in-for-matics) says since Elon Musk purchased the company…

Cut 9 (07)  “…for Twitter now.”

Davis says Threads is a part of Instagram, which is also part of the Meta/Facebook platform, so you have to have an Instagram account to get a Threads account.

While charging users is a way to increase revenue for the struggling social media platform, Davis says there’s another reason Twitter is limiting the reading of tweets.

Cut 10 (11)  “…than 600.”

Since its launch, less than 24 hours ago, Threads already has 30 million users. Davis, who’s among those users says if you like Instagram you’ll enjoy Threads. But he says if you’re used to following 1,500 people on Twitter…

Cut 11 (09)  “…pretty simple.”

Among celebrities who’ve joined Threads are Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and Gordon Ramsay.

Low levels in the Mississippi River have the Army Corps of Engineers ready to take steps to stop saltwater intrusion that could threaten drinking water supplies. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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The Road Information Program says traffic fatalities jumped 21 percent during the pandemic, costing an estimated $37 billion in damage and healthcare. Teiko Foxx has the story…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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The CDC releases a break down the COVID numbers of Americans 16 and older. Brooke Thorington has more on what the numbers mean.

Cut 3 (31)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says low water levels in the Mississippi River mean they will take steps to assure salt water from the Gulf does not intrude upstream, and threaten drinking water. Corps spokesman Ricky Boyette says they will begin their plans within the next few days…:

Cut 4 (14)  “.,..New Orleans, St. Bernard…”

Boyette says engineers will undertake dredging sediment to create a 45-foor high, 1500-foot wide “sill” to block the leading edge of saltwater from the Gulf from moving upriver. He says salt water is heavier than freshwater, so it stays near the bottom, but low levels can cause it to encroach inland…:

Cut 5 (11)   “…from the river.”

The sill will help pool up saltwater, then force it back downstream to the Gulf. Boyette says it has been successfully been done before; in 1988, ’99, 2012 and – most-recently – last year. He says the Mississippi River is at a low level, but it is still navigable for ship traffic…:

Cut 6 (12)  “…lower than normal.”

He says the work will start, probably, next week.

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The most recent economic impact study indicates Northwestern State University’s economic value is $520 million in income and the school supports more than seven thousand jobs. University President Dr. Marcus Jones says often nearby communities aren’t aware of the impact a college has on the region.

Cut 7 (10) “…located.”

In context, Jones says the school’s $520 million impact represents one and a half percent of the total gross regional product of northwest and central Louisiana. He says the school’s day-to-day expenses average $54 million.

Cut 8 (09) “…we spend.’”

And when you take into consideration student spending, it’s boosted the local economy by $10 million.  Jones says roughly 40 percent of their students come from areas outside of the region.

As for NSU’s overall return on investment, Jones says for every taxpayer dollar invested in the school, residents receive a cumulative of $2.40 over the course of the student’s working lives.

Cut 9 (13)  “…in return.”

Jones says findings from the study are important to stakeholders, legislators, and industry partners of the university.

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Close to 900 people were killed last year on Louisiana roads, that’s up 21 percent from the previous four years, resulting in $37 billion in property damage and health care costs, according to TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. Director of Policy and Research Rocky Moretti says the surge in fatalities among pedestrians and cyclists was alarming.

Cut 10 (13) “…and bicyclist.”

From 2019- 2022, pedestrians and cyclists saw a combined total of 84 hundred traffic-related fatalities. Motorcyclists represented 14 percent of fatalities. Moretti says traffic fatalities are costly.

Cut 11 (12)  “loss property….”

And it’s not just aggressive drivers, Moretti says the number of impaired fatal crashes increased a disturbing 22 percent. He says motorists should make better decisions by driving the speed limit and not being distracted or impaired. And agencies need to make repairs and roadway improvements.

Cut 12 (11)    “…as possible.” 

From 2019-2022, the traffic fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel (VMT) increased by 18 percent.

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The CDC says 97 percent of Americans, sixteen and older, have some type of antibodies against COVID, either from having it or being vaccinated. And LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease specialist, Dr. Fred Lopez says the study found that only 78 percent actually had COVID.

Cut 13 (12) “…natural infection.”  

And with almost a quarter of the population with antibodies, Lopez says it indicates it’s not too late to get vaccinated.

Cut 14 (08)  “…infected.”

The CDC dashboard shows almost 70 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID but when you break down Louisiana’s numbers only 53 percent of residents are fully vaccinated.

Cut 15 (11)  “…the average.”

Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have the lowest booster rates in the country.