The political heat in the country right now has gotten to a boiling point as of late, and the deadly shooting of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk threatens to turn the heat up even further. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

U-S Senator John Kennedy said on X that Kirk’s senseless death makes him sick, Democratic Congressman Troy Carter says violence is never the answer.

Registered voters in the coming days will receive a letter from Secretary of State Nancy Landry explaining how the closed party primaries will work….

Cut 6 (08) “…our website”

That’s Deputy Secretary of State Joel Watson, who says starting next year, races for federal offices, state supreme court, PSC and BESE will move from an open primary to a closed party primary.

Former NFL stars highlight the 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction class, including a Saints fan favorite. Wide receiver Joe Horn was a four-time Pro Bowler for the Black and Gold in the early 2000s. Chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Doug Ireland says Horn played 12 seasons in the NFL, seven of them in New Orleans.

Cut 13 (08)  “…fascinating cat.”

14-year NFL veteran and former LSU star offensive lineman Todd McClure and Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams from Monroe are also part of the 2026 class.

New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell entered a not guilty plea in federal court today. Cantrell allegedly spent 70-thousand dollars in city funds on personal activities that involved her former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie. Paperwork was filed that showed Vappie was working, but prosecutors say they were having an affair.

The East Baton Rouge District Attorney is considering pursing the death penalty in the case of a man accused of raping a four-year-old child.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Florida will soon become the first state in the country to exempt all children from routine childhood vaccines as a condition of enrolling in school. Senator Bill Cassidy, who’s a medical doctor by trade, says it’s a bad decision.

Cut 6 (05) “…will be immunocompromised.”

Cassidy says the childhood vaccines have been administered for years; and up until now, school districts in all 50 states have required them.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is challenging you to perform at least one random act of kindness to animals over the course of the next 30 days. Founder and Director Jeff Dorson has some ideas.

Cut 9 (09)  “…you feel good.”

Dorson says this is the first year that the Humane Society is doing the “Be Kind To Animals 30-Day Challenge,” and it comes at a time when Louisiana is facing challenges such as overpopulation, stray animals and limited resources for shelters.

According to the Center of Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU, DWI arrests increased by four percent from the previous year in 2024. Mark Lambert with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says increased law enforcement is helping keep the roads safer.

Cut 15 (09) “…any damage”

The number of people killed on Louisiana roads in 2024 dropped to its lowest level in five years. Lambert says the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission believes that’s because of less drunk driving and more people are buckled up.

Florida has announced they plan to repeal its vaccine requirements for children attending school. Louisiana U-S Senator Bill Cassidy believes that’s a bad idea and he’s not the only Republican to think that…

Cut 7 (05) “…that decision”

Florida’s Surgeon General says they are moving forward with this policy because he believes you have sovereignty over your body and that’s that.

The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office is considering seeking the death penalty against a man who allegedly raped a four-year-old child, infecting that child with a sexually transmitted disease. 25-year-old Anthony Jelks is charged with first-degree rape. District Attorney Hillar Moore says the biggest obstacle in pursuing the death penalty against Jelks is a 2008 Supreme Court decision that ruled that executing someone for a crime in which the victim did not die amounts to cruel and unusual punishment…

Cut 3 (06) “…several years ago.”

Moore says if the death penalty is not an option, Louisiana has laws that allow for chemical or surgical castration of a person convicted of raping a child.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is challenging you to perform at least one random act of kindness to animals over the course of the next 30 days. Founder and Director Jeff Dorson has some ideas.

Cut 9 (09)  “…you feel good.”

Dorson says this is the first year that the Humane Society is doing the “Be Kind To Animals 30-Day Challenge,” and it comes at a time when Louisiana is facing challenges such as overpopulation, stray animals and limited resources for shelters.

The number of people killed on Louisiana roads has dropped to its lowest level in five years. Last year, 753 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes and of those victims, 261 were not buckled up. Mark Lambert with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says drivers cannot control what others do on the road, which is why wearing a seatbelt is so important.

Cut 14 (09) “…your seatbelt”

Lambert says they are pleased to see that in 2024, a record was broken for the fewest number of people killed in motorcycle crashes. But pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities were up.

We’ve reached the halfway point in this year’s quiet hurricane season but LSU Health Climatologist, Barry Keim says there’s still time for a destructive storm to impact Gulf Coast.

Cut 12 (13) “…October storms.”

All options are on the table for the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney in the case of a man accused of raping a four-year-old child, including a punishment not carried out for that crime in more than 60 years.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State Police say they are looking for a 1997 to 2004 Ford F-150 painted in turquoise green. It’s believed that vehicle was involved in a hit and run crash on I-10 in Jefferson Davis Parish on August 27^th that killed 53-year-old Bonnie Fontenot of Jennings.

The mayor of New Orleans will be arraigned in a federal courtroom this afternoon. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Todd Graves, is the 46^th richest person in America according to the Forbes 400 list. Graves’ net worth is 22-billion dollars. Saints and Pelicans Gayle Benson ranks 176^th with a net worth close to eight billion dollars.

Due to new federal rules, Louisiana is one of 12 states where a prescription is now required to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Senator Bill Cassidy says there is a go-around – a blanket prescription issued by State Surgeon General Ralph Abraham.

Cut 7 (11) “…the prescription written.”

There’s been no comment from the Louisiana Department of Health if Surgeon General Ralph Abraham is considering such a blanket prescription.

Today is the statistical peak of the hurricane season, and the National Hurricane Center is not expecting a storm to form over the next week. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says there have been six named storms and just one hurricane.

Cut 10 (12) “…count on it.”

Keim says a Bermuda High Pressure has kept storms away from the United States.

Louisiana’s U-S Senate race has the potential to be heated with Senator Bill Cassidy facing three formidable challengers in a primary election that will be held in April. Many are wondering if President Trump will make an endorsement. Jeremy Alford with L-A Politics weekly says it’s possible Trump stays out of the race…

Cut 9 (10) “…wouldn’t it”

State Treasurer John Fleming, state senator Blake Miguez and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta are challenging Cassidy, who is seeking a third term.

An NFIB survey finds optimism among small business owners continues to increase. NFIB state director Leah Long says in Louisiana small business owners believe recent legislation approved will help their business grow, including the tort reform measures designed to reduce frivolous lawsuits and hold down excessive litigation costs…

Cut 4 (10) “…business owners ”

Some news on the progress of the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge. Project spokesperson Johnathan Hill told the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury construction should start early next year, with a finish date set for 2030. Hill says the new bridge will require a toll, but not until a year after the bridge opens.

Cut 15 (13) “…August of 2031.”

Someone stole a rare 64-pound silver statue of Abraham Lincoln from the Houmas House and Gardens in Ascension Parish. Kevin Kelly is the owner of the historic antebellum estate that features multiple restaurants and rooms to stay the night. Kelly reported the theft on Facebook and the comments on the post are upsetting…

Cut 7 (08) “….Abraham Lincoln”