Despite four separate federal indictments against Donald Trump, the former president continues to receive strong support from Republicans in his bid to return to the White House. That’s according to Louisiana pollster John Couvillon….
cut 6 (11) “…ganging up on him”
Couvillon just concluded a survey of 11-hundred likely Republican primary voters nationwide and 52-percent say they would vote for Trump in the Republican Presidential Primary.

According to a new study from WalletHub, Louisiana employers have the third biggest hiring struggle in the U-S. Analyst Jill Gonzales says wages, benefits, and a flexible work schedule is critical in attracting workers…
cut 11 (07) “…to happen’

The State Fire Marshal’s Office reports a brush fire in Washington Parish has resulted in one death. Authorities say the brush flames engulfed a home in Franklinton yesterday afternoon. The blaze was so intense, it took several hours before firefighters can get inside the home and they found one person dead.

Homes have also been destroyed in Sabine Parish this week. Brooke Thorington has more on what’s happening on the western side of our state…
cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has postponed a hearing on the proposed sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to Elevance Health. Concerns about the effect on customers have been raised about the two-point-five billion dollar deal. A new hearing date has been set for October 5th and sixth.

Raising Cane’s has donated $125 thousand dollars and 15 percent of all profits made on Thursday to help people impacted by the wildfires in Maui.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

In the last newscast, we heard from two of the three state treasurer candidate on investing taxpayer dollars into companies that have liberal environmental, social and corporate government policies. Republican Scott McKnight opposes the idea, Democrat Dustin Granger calls a ban on ESGs misguided, while Republican John Fleming says says ESG’s are a poor return on investment, but will not rule it out…
cut 6 (10) “….on investment”

The state department of agriculture and forestry reports more than 135 wildlfires have burned across Louisiana over the past week. There is a statewide burn ban in effect, but South Sabine Fire Chief Douglas Downs says that has not stopped multiple wildfires from breaking out in northwest Louisiana…
cut 8 (09) “….as it is”

According to the state department of agriculture and forestry about 24-hundred acres have been damaged by wildfires since the middle of last week. Wildfires in Sabine Parish this week destroyed ten homes and eight other buildings and some vehicles. South Sabine Fire Chief Douglas Downs says there are still a few hotspots burning…
cut 7 (08) “…..if not weeks”
A statewide outdoor burn ban is in effect.

Raising Cane’s is donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to a Maui-based homeless shelter that was completely lost in the deadliest wildfire in modern U-S history. Spokesperson Zach Corbin says 125-thousand dollars, plus 15-percent of yesterday’s profits will go to an organization that has done so much to serve the people of Maui…
cut 14 (11) “….those fires”

The Public Affairs Research Council held a candidate forum featuring the three men running for state treasurer. They were asked about investing in companies that have environmental, social and corporate governance policies. Republican Scott McKnight says investing in companies that go directly against what Louisiana’s economy is built on is not the best return on dollars…
cut 4 (11) “…to our economy”
But Democrat Dustin Granger says the treasurer is a fiduciary of state funds and should not act as a lobbyist for the oil and gas industry…
cut 5 (11) “…investing 101”
Republican John Fleming says investment decisions should be made on what gives the best return on investment and he adds ESG investments are generally poor performers.

A statewide poll paid for by Nextstar Media Group finds that 40-percent of the respondents support Republican Jeff Landry in the race for governor. Democrat Shawn Wilson is second at 22-percent. The rest of the candidates are in the single digits. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry’s opponents need to do something to shake up the race…
cut 7 (12) “….the governor”

The race for Insurance Commissioner has been decided as political unknown Rich Weaver has decided to take his name off the ballot, which means well-funded Tim Temple is now commissioner-elect. Governor John Bel Edwards says Temple steps into a tough situation with rising homeowners insurance rates, but believes Temple is ready..
Cut 9 (06) “…good job.”
Current Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is retiring.
Discount supermarket chain Aldi is buying 400 Winn-Dixie and Harvey Supermarkets in the south from Southeastern Grocers in a cash deal. LSU Economist Jim Richardson says based on the information he’s seen on the reported deal, some Winn Dixie stores will turn into an Aldi….
Cut 4 (10) “…of time.”
There are currently eleven Aldi locations in Louisiana.

The National Hurricane Center says there’s a low chance for a tropical depression or tropical storm to form in the central or western Gulf of Mexico early next week. Louisiana Radio Network meteorologist John Wetherbee says this is certainly worth monitoring….
cut 12 (10) “….upper air support”

The Nextstar Media Group funds a poll that shows Attorney General Jeff Landry with a big lead in the race for governor. The survey also shows most voters are undecided on who they will vote for in the Attorney General and Secretary of State races. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says voters are not familiar with the candidates in these races…
cut 8 (12) “….nobody knows you”

Aldi operates eleven stores in Louisiana but that number is set to grow as the discount supermarket has purchased Winn-Dixie locations in Louisiana. LSU economist Jim Richardson says the acquisition which is expected to close during the first half of next year will give Aldi hundreds of more stores in the southeast…
cut 5 (07) “…lower Mississippi”

Forecasters are monitoring possible tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico early next week. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (33) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

Wildfires continue to plague Sabine, Grant and Beauregard parishes and State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is no significant chance for rain the rest of this week…
cut 29 (03) “…rain bad”
Rain chances are expected to increase next week.

Three in four Louisiana parishes have seen more deaths than births between 2020 and 2022. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

A poll paid for by Nexstar Media shows Attorney General Jeff Landry with a big lead over his opponents in the governor’s race. 40-percent of the respondents support Landry, 22-percent support Democrat Shawn Wilson. The rest of the candidates are in the single digits. 17-percent of voters are undecided.

KATC-TV in Lafayette is reporting the hot and dry conditions are causing problems for rice farmers. Associate LSU AgCenter rice economist Michael Deliberto says rice requires a certain amount of moisture in order to grow abundtantly. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the dry weather is also impacting the cattle industry….
cut 11 (11) “….go out there”
Keim says the state could see some rain from a potential tropical disturbance that could form in the Gulf of Mexico early next week.

72-year-old Hamid Ghassemi, a used car dealer in Lafayette and Baton Rouge, will spend the rest of his life in prison after he was found guilty of paying three men to kill his wife in 2015. Ghassemi was upset with the one-million dollar divorce settlement he had to pay her. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says it’s been a painful eight years for the son…
cut 14 (11) “…relationship with”
Despite the first-degree murder conviction, Moore is not seeking the death penalty.

Republican Tim Temple will be Lousiaina’s next insurance commissioner. Temple’s lone challenger on the October 14th ballot, Rich Weaver, has dropped out of the race. Temple has spent 20 years in the insurance business and will replace the retiring Jim Donelon in January.

On his monthly call-in radio show, Governor Edwards discussed the Louisiana Pardon Board’s decision to schedule hearings to review clemency applications from 20 different death row inmates.
Cut 1 (33) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Recent research from LSU Demographer Tim Slack found that three in four Louisiana parishes saw more deaths than births from 2020 to 2022. Slack says overall the state’s population declined by 67,000 during that time period…
Cut 7 (13) “…on balance.”
Some of the parishes where deaths outnumber births by more than ten-percent…Webster, Morehouse, Winn, Franklin, LaSalle, Iberville and Pointe Coupee.

72-year-old Hamid Ghassemi, an ex-car dealer in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, faces life in prison after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder after he hired three men to kill his ex-wife in 2015 so he would not have to pay her a one million dollar divorce settlement. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says a proper verdict was rendered
Cut 13 (09) “…his life.”
Ghassemi paid ten-thousand dollars the three men to kill his wife, who was found dead in a wooded area from a gunshot wound in the spring of 2016.

In his monthly call in radio show, Governor John Bel Edwards didn’t add much to the news last week that the Louisiana Pardon Board has scheduled to hear some of the clemency applications from the 56 death row inmates looking to have their death sentences commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The hearings begin in October and Edwards says it usually takes a week or two after it goes before the board, before he receives them…
cut 5 (06) “….a decision”
Edwards opposes the death penalty and there’s a push for death row inmates to have their sentences commuted before he leaves office in January.

Wildfires continue to plague Sabine and Grant parishes and State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is no significant chance for rain the rest of this week…
cut 12 (03) “…rain bad”
There’s the possibility of tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico early next week, which could bring us some rain.

Several schools from Bossier City to Baton Rouge to Houma and New Orleans received bomb threats yesterday. Several schools were placed on lockdown and in Baton Rouge, Police Chief Murphy Paul, says they sent bomb squads and K-9 units to these schools searching for possible explosives…
cut 23 (09) “…appropriate”
The investigation continues.

A used car dealer in Baton Rouge and Lafayette has been found guilty of first degree murder for hiring three men to kill his ex-wife in April of 2015. 72-year-old Hamid Ghassemi will be formally sentenced to life in prison in September. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore…
cut 15 (10) “….outstanding job”