US Senator Bill Cassidy is the latest Republican to announce his support of Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor. Cassidy says Landry, like himself, is fighting to make flood insurance more affordable.
Cut 5 (11) “…paying jobs.”
Qualifying for the October 14th primary election is next week.

Can any of the gubernatorial candidates do anything about the rising cost of insurance in general. Louisiana drivers insured by State Farm are about to see sticker shock on their premiums….
cut 13 (12) “…not liability”
State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says 29 percent of motorists in Louisiana have State Farm coverage.

Despite a drop in demand, gas prices rose during July to a statewide average of $3.36 a gallon for regular gasoline, which is almost 30-cents higher than a month ago. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the supply of gasoline has decreased and the hot weather is partly to blame…
cut 9 (12) “…the heat”

The heat is keeping many of us inside in the air conditioning, but livestock do not have that option. Doctor Pat Bagley, director of the Beef Cattle Research Center at Southern, says this type of heat is not good as it slows down reproduction…
Cut 4 (09) “…this small.”
Bagley says fewer cattle will result in a decline in supply, which means higher prices for consumers at the grocery store.

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 at Monroe political science professor Pearson Cross believes other Republicans will follow suit and begin to announce their support of Landry.
Cut 4 (12) “…unchecked.”
The other Republicans in the race are Sharon Hewitt, Richard Nelson, John Schroder and Stephen Waguespack. Independent Hunter Lundy is also in the race and Governor Edwards has endorsed the lone major Democrat Shawn Wilson. Qualifying is next week.

Just an extremely hot day across Louisiana with high temperatures near 100-degrees. Expect extremely hot temperatures every day this week and Aaron Day at the National Weather Service in Shreveport says there’s little chance for rain…
cut 12 (11) “….and thunderstorms”

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 are currently are working on a timeline for the controlled outage.

Attorney General Jeff Landry, the front-runner in the 2023 governor’s race, has received the endorsement of U-S Senator Bill Cassidy. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the momentum continues to grow for Landry….
cut 6 (09) “…fundraising”
Meanwhile the other candidates in the race are taking shots at Landry. Sharon Hewitt, says Landry is Louisiana’s top law enforcement official, but yet crime has increased the last eight years.

The city of Minden is bracing for the loss of power after an Entergy substation caught on fire Sunday and in order for repairs to be done, the electricity has to be shut off. Minden Mayor Nick Cox…
cut 15 (09) “….we’re ready”
Cox says they do not know when the power outage will occur or how long it will last.

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.”

Plastic fabrication company, Ampacet Corporation will close its production plant in DeRidder early next year. 65 workers will lose their jobs. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the first round of layoffs will take place the last full week of August.

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.”

With tomorrow being August first, several new laws will go into effect, including Act 436 which limits what books minors can check out of public libraries. The legislation requires libraries to adopt a policy that prevents children from getting access to sexually explicit material at the library.

An excessive heat warning is in effect for north and southeast Louisiana, which means heat index values above 110-degrees. Expect extremely hot temperatures every day this week and Aaron Day at the National Weather Service in Shreveport says there’s little chance for rain…
cut 12 (11) “….and thunderstorms”

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.

With a big election season coming up in Louisiana, get ready to start receiving political text messages. A few of the gubernatorial candidates have already started doing this as they try to build their name recognition ahead of the October 14th primary. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says this new way of campaigning helps those candidates that do not have a lot of money…
cut 14 (08) “…less costly”
And the FCC says text messages from political candidates are legal as long as the sender does not use autodialing technology.

The Rapides Parish coroner has positively identified Robert Owens. He’s the geocacher from New Jersey who was reported missing on July 17th in the Kisatchie National Forest. Detectives say there are no signs of foul play. Investigators say its likely Owens died from heat stroke on the first day he went into the National Forest.

It’s been a hot summer and it will only get hotter next week. High temperatures are expected to run between 102-104 degrees for Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria next week. South Louisiana will see highs between 100 and 101-degrees. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the state will see also oppressive heat indices…
cut 7 (05) “….at times”
Rain chances are also 20-percent or lower next week.

If you have a blue roof on your home because of previous storm damage, you might want to listen up. The Louisiana Housing Corporation has funding available to fix your roof through the Blue Tarp Fund Roofing Repair Program. L-H-C Executive Director Joshua Hollins says to be eligible, the homeowner must be 80-percent of the area median income or less and certain groups of applicants will be placed a the top of a waiting list…
cut 8 (06) “…living in the home
For more information go to lhc.la.gov.

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 decision on whether to call for an oversite committee is left to House Speaker Clay Schexnayder.

WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge is reporting the family of deceased LSU student Madison Brooks wanted law enforcement to look into the possibility of her being sexually assaulted before her death. Brooks was killed by a passing car after a heavy night of drinking in January. Four people have been charged for their involvement in an alleged rape of Brooks prior to her death. But WBRZ is reporting no DNA from the suspects was found in Brooks.

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

Construction for a new warehouse in Houma for Second Harvest Food Bank 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 Natalie 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.

State Farm customers who have auto insurance will see a rate increase. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the on average 17-percent rate increase is being driven by inflation, the cost of labor for auto repairs, and spiraling increases in the cost of parts and equipment for damaged vehicles. 29-percent of Louisiana drivers are insured by State Farm.

Students who received reduced price meals at school are now able to have them for free. Brooke Thorington explains…
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A brutally hot week is coming up for Louisiana as triple-digit highs are predicted across the state for the entire week. State Climatologist Barry Keim urges everyone not to spend a lot of time outdoors when the heat index is 110 and above…
cut 8 (110 “…..of yourself”

Some great coaches and athletes will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches tonight. The 2023 class includes Eli Manning, Paul Mainieri, Wendell Davis and Matt Forte. Women’s basketball great Alana Beard is also part of the class. She had a great career in the WNBA and at Duke. But Beard 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.