A few bills approved by lawmakers earlier this year will go into effect August 1st. One of them is legislation by Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman which would allow a woman to recoup 50-percent of her pregnancy related medical expenses from the biological father. Frieman says the measure received strong support from women groups and fellow lawmakers…
cut 11 (09) “….and the Senate”
Paternity must be proven for mothers to recoup half of their pregnancy-related medical expenses.

Covington Republican Representative Paul Hollis is running for a seat on the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Hollis is term-limited as a state lawmaker but wants to continue his public service.
Cut 6 (09) “…the ballot.”
Hollis is looking to replace Jim Garvey on the board. Garvey is term limited.

The Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo got underway today. It was only a couple of weeks ago that the fishing pier damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021 reopened and it now has high quality lights that attract fish of all kinds…
cut 5 (12) “…..a fish”
That’s Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet who says the island will attract about 25-thousand visitors this weekend.

And Saturday night is the induction ceremonies for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches. Shreveport native and former LSU star Wendell Davis is among the athletes who will be inducted. Hall of Fame Foundation President Ronnie Rantz says for a receiver Davis put up big numbers in the 1980s….
cut 14 (10) “…of the Bears”
Also going into the Hall, Eli Manning, Paul Mainieri and former WNBA great Alana Beard.

The Louisiana Pardon Board has decided not to act on the 56 clemency applications they received from death row inmates. Dashing their hopes of Governor Edwards commuting their sentences to life without parole. The Board says based on its own rules, they can not take up the cases, because the applications were not made within one year of their last appeal. But Louisiana Capital appeals Project director Cecelia Kappel says they’ve waived this rule before…
cut 14 (08) “….procedural grounds”
Kappel hopes the governor will request that the Louisiana Pardon Board look at the cases.

Covington Republican Representative Paul Hollis is running for a seat on the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Hollis is term-limited as a state lawmaker but wants to continue his public service.
Cut 6 (09) “…the ballot.”

Beginning August 1st pregnant women in Louisiana will have the ability to recoup half of their out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical expenses from the father. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

No break from the heat and it will only get hotter as the entire state could see triple-digit readings this weekend lasting into next week. At Saints training camp, where the heat index reached 111 degrees, two receivers Shaq Davis and Keith Kirkwood, could not finish this morning’s practice because they were over heated. Coach Dennis Allen says the heat is a serious deal.

The Louisiana Pardon Board has decided not to hear the clemency applications from 56 death row inmates hoping Governor Edwards would reduce their sentence to life in prison. Louisiana District Attorneys Association Director Loren Lampert says if the Pardon Board took up these petitions they would violate their own rules
Cut 13 (10) “…must be changed.”
An attorney for some of the death row prisoners says A-G Jeff Landry gave the Board a wrong reading of its policies in an attempt to steamroll a legitimate request to have these cases heard. Cecelia Kappel says the governor still has the authority to direct the Louisiana Pardon Board to review the cases
Cut 15 (08) “…does so.”
No comment from the governor’s office.

Earlier today, we told you Alexandria Representative Lance Harris plans to run for a District Five seat on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Well, Covington Representative Paul Hollis says he’s running for the District one seat on BESE. Hollis says much of the focus at the state capitol has been on meeting the needs of teachers, he wants to shift the focus to students…
cut 8 (09) “….can provide”

The Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo gets underway today, it’s the oldest saltwater fishing tournament in the United States. Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet says it’s more than a fishing tournament….
cut 4 (11) “…each night”
The rodeo begins today and ends Saturday.

A law to allow women to recoup half of their out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical expenses from the father goes into effect on August 1st. Abita Springs Republican Representative Larry Frieman says his legislation gives mothers a way to recover those expenses, but you hope fathers would do so on their own…
Cut 9 (06) “…have today.”
Frieman says he filed the bill after a family practice lawyer told him there’s no way for women to legally recover half of those expenses.

The oldest fishing tournament in the United States gets underway today at Grand Isle. 23 months ago, the state’s only inhabited barrier island, took a pounding from Hurricane Ida. But Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet says Grand Isle is once again ready to host thousands of fishermen and their families…
Cut 3 (09) “…live bait.”
Tarpon Rodeo starts today and lasts through Saturday.

SunGas Renewables is planning to build a $2-billion green manufacturing facility in Central Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Pardon Board has decided not to act on the 56 clemency applications they received from death row inmates. Dashing their hopes of Governor Edwards commuting their sentence to life without parole. The Board says based on its own rules, they can not take up the cases, because the applications were not made within one year of their last appeal. But Louisiana Capital appeals Project director Cecelia Kappel says they’ve waived this rule before…
cut 14 (08) “….procedural grounds”
Kappel hopes the governor will request that the Louisiana Pardon Board to look at the cases.

SunGas Renewables is looking at investing one-point-eight billion dollars to build a low-carbon methanol production facility in Pineville. Mayor Rich Dupree says a Danish shipping company has signed a letter of intent to purchase fuel from the proposed Pineville facility…
cut 5 (12) “…..marine fuels”
SunGas expects to make a final investment decision on August 2024.

With football season starting up again, sports betting will also be picking up. Michelle Southern has the story…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Activities get underway tonight in Natchitoches with a free reception from five to seven PM at the Hall of Fame museum. The 2023 class that will be inducted this weekend includes Eli Manning, Alana Beard, Paul Mainieri, Paul Byrd, Wendell Davis and Olympic track star Walter Davis.

The Louisiana Pardon Board has decided not to hear the clemency applications from 56 death row inmates hoping Governor Edwards would reduce their sentence to life in prison. Louisiana District Attorneys Association Director Loren Lampert says if the Pardon Board took up these petitions they would violate their own rules
Cut 13 (10) “…must be changed.”
An attorney for some of the death row prisoners says A-G Jeff Landry gave the Board a wrong reading of its policies in an attempt to steamroll a legitimate request to have these cases heard.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says Louisiana ranks top ten nationally per capita in the amount of money wagered on legal sports bets…..
cut 8 (11) “…..of Louisiana”
Johns says June was a good month as many LSU baseball fans were betting on the Tigers.

There is some potentially big economic development news for Central Louisiana as SunGas Renewables is looking at building a one-point-eight billion dollar clean fuel facility in Pineville. Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree just started his second year as mayor and hopes SunGas’ plan to build a green methanol production facility will spur more economic development for the region…
cut 6 (07) “…..this manufacturer”
SunGas plans to make a final investment decision by August 2024.

Alexandria Representative Lance Harris has decided to run for a seat on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Harris believes the state needs to be more proactive in recruiting and retaining certified teachers. He says that includes compensation and reducing the burden
Cut 12 (11) “…that correction.”
Harris has served in the state House of Representatives for the last 12 years and he’s term limited.

The Louisiana Pardon Board has decided not to act on the 56 clemency applications they received from death row inmates. Dashing their hopes of Governor Edwards commuting their sentence to life without parole. The Board says based on its own rules, they can not take up the cases, because the applications were not made within one year of their last appeal. But Louisiana Capital appeals Project director Cecelia Kappel says they’ve waived this rule before…
cut 14 (08) “….procedural grounds”
Kappel says the governor can request the Louisiana Pardon Board hear the cases, but Louisiana District Attorneys Association Director Loren Lampert believes that will not happen….
cut 16 (11) “…this is no”

SunGas Renewables is looking at building a $2 billion clean fuel facility in Pineville at the former International Paper Mill site. SunGas says the facility would manufacture nearly 400-thousand metric tons of green methanol for their customers worldwide. Louisiana Central President and CEO Jim Clinton said SunGas anticipates the creation of more than a thousand jobs at peak construction and more than 100 local jobs during operation
cut 4 (09) “….indirect jobs”
The company expects to make a final investment decision in August 2024, with construction beginning by the end of the year.

Alexandria Republican Representative Lance Harris announces his candidacy for a seat on the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Harris is term-limited as a state lawmaker and has served the last two years as chair of House Education.
Cut 10 (11) “…educational issues.”
BESE member Ashley Ellis, who’s not seeking re-election, has endorsed Harris to be her successor.

SunGas Renewables is planning to build a $2-billion green manufacturing facility in Central Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The CEO of Community Coffee, David Belanger, says he plans to retire next year. Belanger has led the coffee company based in Baton Rouge for the last 13 years. Belanger started at Community Coffee in 1998 as director of operations. Community’s board of directors says the business doubled in size under Bellanger’s leadership.

The Louisiana Pardon Board has returned the clemency applications filed by 56 death row inmates who are hoping Governor Edwards will commute their death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The board decline to hear the cases, because the application was not made within one year of their final appeal of their conviction. Director of the Louisiana Capital Appeals Project Cecelia Kappel says the governor can still request the Pardon Board to review their cases…
cut 15 (08) “….does so”
The governor’s office is not commenting.

Alexandria Representative and chairman of the House Education Committee, Lance Harris, has announced he’s seeking a seat on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Harris says he would like to pass policies that improve workforce development and literacy rates….
cut 11 (12) “….programs”