Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt announces she’s running for governor. Jeff Palermo has more on her candidacy…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The lineup for Jazz Fest is out, and organizers say this year they are back in their full glory. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________

Add another name to the list of candidates who are running for governor. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt made her candidacy official today. The Republican has served in the state senate since 2016 and she’s also an engineering executive…

Cut 3 (08) “…and results” 

She is the chairwoman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and led the Senate GOP’s redistricting efforts last year.

If elected Hewitt would be the state’s first woman Republican governor. The 64-year-old says she one of the first female executives at Shell Oil as she oversaw Shell’s central deepwater assets in the Gulf

Cut 4 (09)  “…our state.” 

Hewitt has been married for 40 years and helped raised two sons and she’s a grandmother. Hewitt says she’ll put her business experience to work growing the economy, cutting taxes and creating more opportunity across Louisiana….

Cut 5 (13) “…in Louisiana.”

Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry, GOP State Treasurer John Schroder and Lake Charles Hunter Lundy are also running. Lundy will listed on the ballot as an Independent.

_______________________________________________

Kumho (Coo-moe) Tires announces plans to construct a 350-thousand-square-foot warehouse and future plans for a distribution center in Franklin. Brandy Christian President of the Port of New Orleans says it’s a significant multi-million-dollar investment in St. Mary Parish

Cut 6 (12)  “…as well.” 

Kumho Tires manufactures 17-inch passenger and light truck tires.

Christian says it’s also significant for the public-private partnership with the Port of New Orleans to establish a $1.8 billion container facility, further growing Louisiana’s import and export capacity.

Cut 7 (11)  “…and manufacturing.” 

The state-of-the-art facility will have the annual capacity to manufacture five million tires annually. Christian says they are excited to see Kumho Tires’ commitment to the region and it’s indicative of the future growth of the Port of New Orleans.

Cut 8 (11)  “..the Midwest.” 

The tire distribution center is expected to create upward of 200 full-time jobs.

___________________________________________

The lineup for the 2023 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival was unveiled this morning. Festival producer Quint Davis says the headliners run the gamut in musical genres.

Cut 9 (10) “…it’s for everybody.” 

The pandemic forced the festival to postpone and then eventually canceled in 2020 and 2021. Davis says last year was an abbreviate comeback festival but this 2023 festival is reminiscent of those before COVID and it’s about darn time.

Cut 10 (11) “…put them on.” 

Davis says Ed Sheeran is kicking off his American tour at Jazz Fest the first weekend, and Dead & Company, who isn’t on tour will perform the second weekend.

The annual event is held at the Fairgrounds and Racecourse, which Davis says while it’s one of the biggest race tracks in the country it’s easy to navigate and you can catch all your favorite acts.

Cut 11 (11)  “…on time (x2).”

The festival kicks off on April 28^th and runs through May 7th. For tickets and the full line-up visit NOjazzfest.com

_________________________________________________________

Seimone Augustus is considered the greatest women’s basketball player from Louisiana and on Sunday LSU will unveil a statue of the former All-American. It will be located near the Maravich Center. Lady Tigers Coach Kim Mulkey says Augustus is very deserving of the statue

Cut 12 (12) “…Olympics”

Augustus scored 27-hundred points at LSU, led the Lady Tigers to three Final Fours, won four W-N-B-A titles and won three gold medals for the U-S Olympic team. Mulkey says Augustus was a great shooter…

Cut 13 (12) “…jump shot” 

Augustus’ statue will be located next to the statues other LSU basketball legends, Shaquille O’ Neal, Pete Maravich and Bob Petit. Augustus is the first statue on LSU’s campus of a female-student athlete. Mulkey pushed for it…

Cut 14 (07)   “…for Louisiana”

Independent Lake Charles attorney Hunter Lundy makes his candidacy for Governor this fall official. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

______________________________________

Freshman quarterback Walker Howard has reportedly entered the transfer portal after just one season at LSU. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Niagara Bottling announced its plans to invest $160 million in a state-of-the-art production facility near Hammond. The company – headquartered in Diamond Bar, California – operates more than 40 production facilities with over 7,000 employees worldwide. Tangipahoa Parish president Robby Miller, says this is a great company to work for.

Cut 3 (10) “…good operation” 

The new facility will have highly automated technology used to increase production efficiency, allowing the company to meet high demands. Miller says the new development will be advanced.

Cut 4 (12)  “…really excited.” 

The Company expects to begin construction on the 500,000-square-foot facility 6 months into the year. Miller says work on the facility has begun. 

Cut 5 (12) “…not mistaken.”

_______________________________________________

Amid talk of who is and is not running for governor this fall, the first person who officially declared candidacy is Lake Charles attorney Hunter Lundy. Lundy is an independent, who says the fact that he is not aligned with either big political party makes him the best choice for voters…:

Cut 6 (10)  “…sides of the aisle.” 

Lundy says, if elected, he’d work to ease poverty and hunger in Louisiana and take steps to reduce recidivism among prison inmates. He says he’ll be open to proposed legislation, with no prejudices as to party affiliation…:

Cut 7 (08)  “…gonna go with it.” 

Lundy has a campaign ad and video that are about to start airing on television and social media that lays out his campaign philosophy. Lundy says, after years in the courtroom, he’s ready to look toward the Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion…:

Cut 8 (11)  “..that’s what I’m doing.” 

Find more information on the candidate at “lundyforlouisiana.com”

___________________________________________

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office arrest a Gray teen in connection with a social media threat that he was attempting to acquire a gun and bring it to HL Bourgeois High School Thursday. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Blake Tabor says they received an anonymous tip Wednesday afternoon and soon after took him into custody.

Cut 9 (11) “…of terrorizing.” 

Tabor says the patrol division quickly identified who sent the message and the suspect is being held without bond at the Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Justice Complex.

Cut 10 (10) “…nor should we.” 

The juvenile’s name and age has not been revealed, and the Tabor says more information will be released once it’s available. He says the investigation is ongoing.

Cut 11 (05)  “…from happening.”

_________________________________________________________

Freshman LSU quarterback Walker Howard has reportedly entered the transfer portal. Tiger Rag Assistant Editor William Weathers says Howard was third string on the depth chart behind starter Jayden Daniels and back-up Garrett Nussmeier…

Cut 12 (09) “…number two guy”

The Lafayette native guided St. Thomas More to a state championship in 2020 and this past season appeared in two games for the Tigers. His father, Jamie Howard, played for the Tigers in the 1990s and his late mother was also an LSU graduate. Weathers says it’s hard for Tiger fans to see Walker leave after one season…

Cut 13 (09) “…he could do.” 

Weathers says when starting QB Jayden Daniels announced he would  return for his senior season, it delayed Howard’s opportunity at getting serious playing time…

Cut 14 (09)   “…little quicker.”