Governor Edwin Edwards’ widow announces her engagement to another major Louisiana political figure. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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State Representative Jason Hughes continues to call for leadership changes at the Department of Children and Family Services, despite the state agency announcing changes in policy and a push to increase staff. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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State Police is investigating a fatal police shooting in Cut Off. Trooper Ross Brennan says the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to call of a domestic disturbance when a subject inside the home shot at deputies and an officer with Port Fourchon Harbor Police

Cut 3 (06) “…that subject” 

Brennan says the subject has been identified as 32-year-old Geraldo Reyes.

Cut 4  (09) “…this incident.”

He says further information will be released as it becomes available.

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The widow of former Governor Edwin Edwards, Trina Edwards is engaged. Former Louisiana House speaker and Senate President John Alario popped the question outside Ruth’s Chris Friday night on Edwards’ 44^th birthday. On Jim Engster’s Talk Louisiana this morning she said Alario opted to propose in the car before dinner because it was raining.

Cut 5  (06) “…endearing.”

Edwin Edwards, who was 51 years older than his third wife, passed away last summer at the age of 93, and the couple shared one child Eli.

Trina Edwards says she met 78- year old Alario years ago during a dedication ceremony after the death of his wife in 2006. Trina says they crossed paths several times but didn’t begin dating until after the death of Edwin.

Cut 6 (08) “…our time yet.” 

As for when the two will get married, Trina Edwards says they haven’t set a date yet but most likely it will be next year. Even though she’d dropped several hints that she wanted to get married, she says Alario was still apprehensive.

Cut 7 (08) “…so sweet.” 

Trina Edwards says she has a good relationship with Alario’s children and he does with her children as well.

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New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes continues to call for leadership changes with the Department of Children and Family Services after the state agency admitted they failed to follow up properly after receiving three reports of a child subjected to substance abuse. That two-year-old child died in June of a drug overdose. Hughes says he’s tired of excuses…

Cut 8 (10) “…administration.”

DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters  says reports of small children consuming or ingesting a controlled dangerous substance will warrant an immediate trip to the home and they are also increasing staff.

But Hughes says not only does Walters need to go, but so does the Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare and the Assistant Secretary of Family Support…

Cut 9 (09)  “…the agency.”

Hughes also says DCFS has failed to complete a technology upgrade to its reporting system that was approved in 2019. He says there’s also the case of a foster father arrested for allegedly sexually abusing three different children and he says morale is low in the department

Cut 10 (07) “..starts at the top” 

DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they deeply regret the death of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson and the agency is taking steps to lessen the likelihood of similar tragedies.

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Fighters in the ongoing war against opioid addiction have just received another weapon. The ULM College of Pharmacy has a 2.5 million dollar grant to train first responders on getting people suffering overdoses into treatment. Associate Professor of clinical practice Dr. Alexis Horace says the goal is to help people get long-term treatment in addition to treating the overdose on the spot.

Cut 11 (12)  “..into care.”

Dr. Horace says her team will lead education programs for first responders and community members in Ouachita Parish, Orleans Parish and surrounding rural parishes

Cut 12 (09) “….that are in need.”  

Dr. Horace says one important hurdle to overcome for the training to be effective is the stigma some first responders have towards those who overdose and the distrust some drug users have of first responders.

Cut 13 (09) “to first responders.” 

Dr. Horace says her goal is to educate four thousand first responders in Louisiana by 2026 and to increase the program’s collaboration with local treatment and recovery centers by eighty percent.

Plans to move violent youth offenders from Bridge City to Angola are on hold. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The CDC says Louisiana’s life expectancy dropped by three years between 2019 and 2020. The state is ranked 49^th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby” 

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After several insurance companies have left our state Louisiana Citizens, the state’s last-resort property insurer has doubled its number of customers. Kevin Gallagher reports what that may mean, as the height of storm season approaches…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Plans to move violent youth offenders from the Bridge City Center for Youth to Angola are on hold after attorneys representing Louisiana youth and their families filed a motion on the grounds that it violates a juvenile’s due process. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says it has merit because the US Supreme Court says you can’t treat juveniles the same as adults.

Cut 4 (10)  “…productive adults.”

A trial on the matter is scheduled for September 6^th and 7^th.

While the adult prison system’s purpose is also rehabilitation, it also includes retribution and public protection. However, Ciolino says today’s youth offender has become increasingly more violent.

Cut 5 (07) “…there is.”

Public safety came to the forefront after the most recent incident involving escapees from the Bridge City facility resulted in the shooting of a 59-year-old man who remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Judge Shelly Dick has ordered the state to submit a detailed plan on the proposed transfer to the court by September 2^nd prior to the trial. Ciolino says the plan must demonstrate how they will keep youth offenders separate from the adult population and that those juveniles will continue to receive adequate rehabilitation services.

Cut 6 (10)  “…differently.”

In addition to their detailed plan, the state has to provide the proposed list of juveniles to be transferred to Angola along with their guardian’s information to the court by Wednesday. Attorneys who filed the complaint have until Monday to interview juveniles who reside in the Bridge City facility.

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Louisiana ranks 49^th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in life expectancy. That’s according to the latest CDC data which says Louisiana’s life expectancy in 2020 was 73 years, a decline of almost three years from 2019. Dr. Benjamin Springgate is Chief of Community and Population Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans and he says the pandemic played a significant role in a lower life expectancy…

Cut 7 (13) “…in life expectancy.”

He says the increase is due to a combination of COVID deaths, poor health care, and drug deaths. He says the increase in drug deaths is tied to the opioid crisis and stressors caused by the COVID pandemic.

Cut 8 (12)  “…overdose deaths.”

Springgate recommends the state invest more in access to prevention treatment, which is far more cost-effective than jamming emergency rooms.

Cut 9 (06)  “…intensive care unit.”

It’s not all bad news though. Springgate says the expansion of access to insurance and health care means Louisiana is definitely making progress. He believes Louisiana is slowly moving in the right direction.

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State officials say fatal vehicle crashes caused by drunk drivers are the leading cause of highway deaths—and the problem appears to be getting worse. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says drunken driving deaths were up eleven percent in 2020 compared to 2019. Spokesperson Mark Lambert says 40-percent of fatal accidents are caused by drunk drivers.

Cut 10 (10) “…in a crash.”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign is underway through Labor Day.

Cut  11 (07)  “…the message.” 

Lambert says the Commission pays for extra law enforcement patrols during peak driving times, such as Labor Day. They are specially trained to look for the signs of drunk drivers.

Cut 12 (11) “…been drinking.” 

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As the state heads into the heart of hurricane season, the state-run last-resort property insurer, Louisiana Citizens, has doubled its number of properties covered in just two years. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Citizens was covering 50-thousand before Hurricane Laura in 2020, But after Laura and Delta – followed by Hurricane Ida last year – another 50-thousand have had no choice but to go with Citizens. He says that’s about 100-thousand policies…:

Cut 13 (11) “…last spring.”

Donelon says Citizens – like all other property insurers – needs re-insurance; basically their own insurance to cover the cost of claims. He says Citizens’ current re-insurance coverage is for 50-thousand policies…:

Cut 14 (07)  “…a hundred thousand policies.”

Citizens has $150-million on-hand; ready to meet the possible demand of 2022 storm claims. Donelon says the bulwark insurer requested a line of credit from the state Bond Commission last week…:

Cut 15 (08)  “…as we were last year.”

Donelon says Citizens’ customers needn’t fear they will not be covered if there is a disaster this year. By law, they WILL be. If necessary, assessments will be added to ALL property policies in the state, as they were after Katrina and Rita in 2005.

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Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas was still not at practice Tuesday, but quarterback Jameis Winston and defensive end Marcus Davenport took part in team drills. Davenport is coming back after offseason shoulder surgery and having a part of his left pinkie amputated. Coach Dennis Allen says he’s pleased with Davenport’s progress, but there’s still more work…

Cut 16 (18)  “…drills today.”

Saints tight end Taysom Hill was back at practice yesterday after missing a few days with an injury. Allen says Hill is also progressing well…

Cut 17 (24) “..that position” 

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LSU Coach Brian Kelly is not ready to make a decision on starting quarterback. Kelly says Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier are neck-and-neck…

Cut  18 (14)“…pretty close”

Kelly knows they’ll have to make a decision in the next few days with the season opener right around the corner on September fourth against Florida State….

 Cut 19 (16) “…the SEC” 

On the defensive side of the football, sophomore defensive tackle Maason Smith is expected to have a big season. Kelly likes that Smith wants to get better…

Cut 20 (22) “ …stands out”