If you’re interested in a career investigating child abuse cases, the Department of Children and Families wants to hear from you. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A study from the Cenla economic dashboard reports steady growth for the Central Louisiana economy. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Still plenty of controversy over Speaker Mike Johnson sending the House home for summer recess instead of holding a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Jeanne Burns reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

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The Department of Children and Family Services needs second shift Child Protective Services investigators. DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris says they need workers in the second shift because child maltreatment does not happen just between the hours of 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday.

Cut 4 (08) “…to respond timely.”

Harris says they’re looking to hire 53 people to work four, 10-hour shifts per week. And she says you do not need a college degree or any special licenses.

Cut 5 (10) “…first response world.”

Harris while those who work second shift will be required to work weekends, they will get every other weekend off. But working second shift does have its advantages, like additional pay.

Cut 6 (12) “…per hour worked.”

Those hired would start their new jobs as early as September 15th.

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Central Louisiana is showing steady economic growth, according to a study from the Cenla Economic Dashboard. The Alexandria metropolitan area has gained 707 jobs since May, and the dashboard’s author, LSUA Professor Randall Dupont, says Natchitoches is recovering from the April closure of its International Paper plant.

Cut 7 (08) “…of this year.”

Consumer spending has also been on the rise. Dupont says the dashboard measures sales tax revenue to track spending rates. He says a successful job market leads to a fruitful local economy.

Cut 8 (11) “…over year.”

Alexandria and Pineville each recorded quarterly growth of four to five percent, and Natchitoches posted an eight percent quarterly gain.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announces honorably discharged military veteran residents can purchase a recreational hunting and fishing combination license for $20, a reduction of $80 for the Sportsman’s Paradise license. Republican Lafayette Senator Brach Myers authored the legislation that resulted in a big discount for military veterans.

Cut 9 (09)  “…outdoors in Louisiana.”

LDWF operates mostly on license fees, but Senator Myers says giving our veterans the ability to hunt and fish in Louisiana at a reduced cost is a small token of our appreciation for their selfless service to our country.

Cut 10 (09) “…the right heroes”

Myers says the law was a result of collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and The Boot, an organization seeking to incentivize military veterans to make Louisiana their home once their service has ended.

Cut 11 (14) “…the outdoors.”

Applications for the combo license can be found on the LDWF’s website.

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Still plenty of controversy – even among Republicans – over Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send the House home early for its summer recess rather than hold a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Johnson says he’s committed to getting to the bottom of who was responsible for the sexual abuse of the women and teenage girls at the hands of Epstein and his associates.

Cut 12 (11) “…is the President.”

But Johnson says he only wants to do so after all files are completely pored over and all names of victims are redacted. 

Cut 13 (07)  “…be permanently destroyed.”

Among the Republicans criticizing Johnson is Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick, who went as far as issuing a statement condemning his move. McCormick says in his statement, he was defending fellow Republican Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored a resolution with Democrat Ro Khanna to force the release of those files. 

Cut 14 (05) “…them get released”

McCormick says Johnson was wrong for calling out Massie, even though he’s the main Republican sponsoring the resolution.

Cut 15 (07) “…singled him out.”

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Fall camp is underway in Lafayette as the Ragin’ Cajuns prepare to defend their Sun Belt West title. The headline of camp will be the three-way quarterback battle between redshirt junior Walker Howard, redshirt freshman Daniel Beale and redshirt sophomore Lunch Winfield. Head coach Michael Desormeaux says they don’t have much college experience, but…

Cut 16 (18) “…really well.”

Howard committed to Ole Miss as a five-star out of Lafayette in 2022, and Beale appeared in three games for the Cajuns last season including the 31-3 loss to Marshall in the sun Belt championship.

The Cajuns will rely on a dynamic running back duo of sophomore Bill Davis and junior Zylon Perry. The tandem posted nearly 800 and 700 rushing yards last season, respectively, and Desormeaux says he expects improvement this season.

Cut 17 (18)  “…special for us.”

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The LSU Tigers begin the first full week of preseason camp today after taking Sunday off. On Saturday, Ju’Juan Johnson was  at running back. Johnson was a record-breaking quarterback at Lafayette Chrisitan. Johnson started at LSU as a defensive back, but moved to running back during his freshman season. He took snaps at quarterback in the spring but on Saturday he was back at running back. Offensive tackle Tyree Adams believes Johnson can be a playmaker for the offense…

Cut 18 (14) “…make plays.”

The defense has shown it can compete with LSU’s explosive offense during the first few days of fall camp. Linebacker West Weeks says the defensive playbook is bigger this year with Blake Baker in his second year as defensive coordinator…

Cut 19 (19) “…Q-B.”

LSU is less than a month away from its season opener against Clemson. The Tigers are looking for their first win in week one since 2019. Defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory has been at LSU in 2020 and wants to start 1-0….

Cut 20 (16) “…the place.”

If you are driving slower than the speed limit in the left lane of a highway and holding back traffic, you can receive a 150-dollar ticket because of a new law that went into effect on Friday. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The Superdome will celebrate  50 years as the iconic center of downtown New Orleans Sunday.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Congressmen Cleo Fields and Clay Higgins are teaming up on the Fisheries Modernization Act. Fields says it would expand fishery disaster relief programs.

Cut 3 (05) “…and other crawfish.”

Fields says wild-caught crawfishermen are currently not eligible for fishery disaster assistance under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and he says that’s not right.

Cut 4 (10) “…frankly years ago.”

Fields says the USDA has helped other industries affected by droughts; he says it’s time to include the crawfish industry, which is vital to Louisiana’s economy.

Cut 5 (06) “…the same light.”

Fields says this legislation was needed following the historic drought of 2023, which significantly resulted in low yields of crawfish in 2024.

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Dozens of new state laws went into effect today including a measure that could result in a motorist receiving a ticket for traveling below the speed limit in the left lane on a highway. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau hopes his legislation will reduce road rage and accidents…

Cut 6 (07) “…injury to the people.”

Luneau’s legislation was approved in this year’s legislative session, receiving overwhelming support in the House and Senate. The longtime legislator says the public also strongly supports this measure…

Cut 7 (09) “…move over.”

The previous law said that drivers travelling in the left lane ten miles per hour or below the speed limit could receive a ticket. Luneau’s legislation changes the law so that a ticket can be issued if a motorist is not going at least the speed limit….

Cut 8 (07) “…get ticketed.”

The first offense could result in a 150-dollar ticket, second offense a 250-dollar ticket and third offense 350-dollars. Three or more offenses in a year could result in jail time.

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The Superdome is celebrating its 50th anniversary Sunday. From the Rolling Stones to Muhammad Ali, the venue has brought legends and fans from all over the world to the Crescent City. Vice President of ASM Global, the company that manages the stadium, Doug Thornton, says its impact on downtown New Orleans has been immeasurable.

Cut 9 (12)  “…those days.”

Opened August 3, 1975, the Superdome’s convention and meeting rooms, turned club lounges, and enormous unobstructed space were unheard of in its time. Thornton says the founding fathers of the Superdome knew what it could mean to the city.

Cut 10 (11) “…that billing.”

The Superdome houses two million square feet of space, twice the size of the Astrodome when it was built. Thornton says it was an engineering marvel ahead of its time, and its massive footprint has allowed it to be reinvented over the years.

Cut 11 (12) “…couldn’t survive.”

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U-S Senator Bill Cassidy launched his re-election campaign during a press event in Metairie in front of a room full of supporters. The 67-year-old Republican is seeking a third term in the Senate…

Cut 12 (16) “…all of us.”

Cassidy has drawn three well-known challengers from his own party, state treasurer John Fleming, state senator Blake Miguez and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta. His challengers claim Cassidy is not a true conservative, but Cassidy says that’s a false allegation

Cut 13 (15)  “…gender ideology.”

Despite having nine million dollars in cash on hand, political analysts say Cassidy faces a tough re-election big, because of his vote to impeach President Trump in 2021. But Cassidy maintains he has a productive working relationship with President Trump…

Cut 14 (09) “…all of us.”

Governor Jeff Landry announces his father, Al Landry, has passed away. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The statewide ban on the herbal supplement kratom goes into effect tomorrow. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Governor Jeff Landry is mourning the death of his father, Al Landry, who passed away Wednesday. In a social media post, Landry said “Go rest my weary servant your task on earth is done. The governor described his father as the silent foundation of their family. Former state senator Fred Mills says many people in St. Martin Parish loved Al Landry and he loved his family…

Cut 3 (10) “…so proud.”

Governor Landry says his father is now re-united with his mother Edna, who passed away in 2019. They were high school sweethearts in St. Martinville and got married after graduating from the University of Southwest Louisiana. They had four children.

Al Landry was an architect and Mills says Al Landry’s fingerprints are on many public buildings in St. Martin Parish….

Cut 4 (08) “…was building.”

Governor Jeff Landry said in his social media post that “the trumpets of heaven sound for Al and Edna Landry are together again. The governor said his father was a ship without a rudder or compass since his wife’s passing. Mills says Al and Edna had great chemistry…

Cut 5 (07) “…back of everything.”

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The LSU Student Food Pantry has reaped the benefits of Tigers fans indulging in Jello shots at Rocco’s during the College World Series. The food pantry received a check from Rocco’s for $52,390 – one dollar for each Jello shot LSU fans scarfed down during Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge during the College World Series – which, as you know by now, LSU won. Campus Life Manager Jennifer Cristina says it was exciting to see the tote board go into the stratosphere like it did two years ago.

Cut 6 (09) “…things like that.”

Cristina says that money will come in very handy.

Cut 7 (11) “…all of us”

Cristina says you may not realize this, but the need for food pantries at college campuses is tremendous during these times.

Cut 8 (14) “…that many students.”

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The herbal supplement kratom becomes illegal in Louisiana tomorrow, thanks to Act 41 approved in the last legislative session. Kratom comes from a plant native to Southeast Asia and can cause psychosis at high doses. The bill’s author, Republican West Monroe Senator Jay Morris, says Kratom has the addictive qualities of opioids.

Cut 9 (10)  “…in the brain.”

Louisiana is not the only state to ban the substance, but it will be one of the first. Morris does have concerns about its return through states where it is legal, but starting Friday it can no longer be sold in gas stations and convenience stores.

Cut 10 (07) “…does help.”

Some use kratom to treat pain, anxiety or drug dependence and argue it has beneficial qualities. Morris says potential addiction and devastation outweigh any benefits.

Cut 11 (14) “…regulatory scheme.”

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Starting tomorrow, you can show off more of a dark side as you cruise down the highway. That’s because a new law goes into effect allowing for your front windows to be tinted darker – 25-percent light transmission, down from the previous standard of 40-percent. The bill was written by Marksville Republican Representative Daryl Deshotel, who says tinted windows are needed for Louisiana’s climate.

Cut 12 (07) “…us stay cooler.”

Deshotel says before, only certain people were permitted to have dark-tinted front windows, and that caused great confusion among people, especially law enforcement.

Cut 13 (05)  “…get those exemptions.”

Deshotel says of all the bills he got passed in this session, this one was the most popular.

Cut 14 (08) “…to be done.”