It’s National Oyster Day but how is the state’s oyster industry fairing? Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Five years ago Louisiana enacted the most comprehensive criminal justice reform in state history. The goal was to safely reduce the state’s high imprisonment rate, but now there’s a change. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”  

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It’s National Oyster Day and the Bayou State is very familiar with the well-loved seafood, but the local industry has been in serious recovery mode thanks to the last two hurricane seasons. Oyster Task Force Chairman Mitch Jurisich says they are starting to see oyster spawns.

Cut 3 (11) “…market time.” 

He says Ida wiped out the Houma area, and in Plaquemines Parish, they lost about 30 percent of their crop, and other areas lost as much as 80 percent.

In addition to hurricanes, freshwater released from the Bonnet Carre spillway also damaged oyster beds. But Jurisich, a third-generation oyster farmer says Louisiana still holds a claim to fame with oysters.

Cut 4  (09) “…by a thread.”

Even though the industry is in recovery mode, Jurisich says they are hopeful they will continue to rebound and that the current and future hurricane seasons are kind. He says as long as there are oysters to be harvested, farmers will continue to take pride in their work.

Cut 5  (08) “…biggest and the best.”

So in honor of National Oyster Day be sure to consume some Louisiana oysters today.

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Based on data collected by the Public Affairs Research Council, Louisiana has the second highest incarceration rate in the country. PAR President Steven Procopio says Mississippi was number one…

Cut 6   (06) “…570” 

Following Mississippi and Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Alabama rank in the top five for the highest incarceration rates. Procopio says once you get past the top five, the incarceration rate really falls off…

Cut 7 (08) “.. of our 570.” 

Procopio says a major issue in Louisiana and the rest of the country is the number of inmates who return to prison within five years after being released. He says the three-year recidivism rate for those convicted of crimes in Louisiana is 34-percent

Cut 8 (06) “…violent crime”

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Police Baton Rouge arrest a 20-year-old Houma man for the alleged rape of an underage girl. BRPD spokesman Sgt. L’Jean (EL-gene) McKneely says 20-year-old Kwan Allen made contact with the 16-year-old girl via social media; representing himself being much younger. McKneely says he courted the girl online , via SnapChat, for weeks before enticing her to a meeting at the Mall of Louisiana…:

Cut 9 (09)  “…upon her.”

McKneely says the victim’s 8-year-old sister was waiting in the teen girls’ car, while the assault was occurring in Allen’s vehicle. He says the victim did the smartest thing next; she went straight home and then to a hospital, where a sexual assault kit was performed..:

Cut 10 (07) “…to a hospital.” 

The girl could not fight Allen off because he was so much bigger. The attack occurred in late May. A warrant was issued for Allen’s arrest in early June, and he was apprehended Wednesday and charged with sexual battery and 2^nd degree rape. McKneely says parents need to be aware of their children’s online activities…:

Cut 11 (09)  “…has happened.”

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The Great American Seafood Cook is Saturday in New Orleans and Amanda Cusey of Lake Charles will try to beat out 13 other chefs from around the country to be named the Queen of American Seafood. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Cusey is the executive chef at Lake Charles’s “The Villa Harlequin”….

Cut 12 (09) “…and cheated.”  

Cusey received her Cordon Bleu training in England and worked at several restaurants in England Ireland until she became a head chef at Italian inspired pop-up restaurant in Dublin.

Opening ceremonies are at 11:15 at the New Orleans Convention Center and Nungesser says the cooks have a limited amount of time to cook up their best seafood dish in front of a live audience and nationally acclaimed judges…

Cut 13 (09) “…and tasting.”

Each dish will be scored based on presentation, creativity, composition, craftmanship and flavor. Biloxi, Mississippi chef Austin Sumrall won last year. Nungesser says it’s great to have tis competition in New Orleans, which has the best tasting seafood in the world…

Cut 14 (12)  “…our crabs.” 

New laws signed by the governor aim to make cutting edge cancer detection and new treatments more readily available…and covered by your insurance. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is off to Europe today to swap flood control challenges with the Netherlands. Marsanne Golsby has more:

Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby.” 

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As residents continue to experience high utility bills, the Public Service Commission says they are trying to help. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The governor hosted a ceremonial bill signing Thursday at the Capitol, to herald in a package of new bills providing for improved, cutting-edge cancer care. Among those in attendance, former state representative and cancer survivor Julie Stokes. She says one bill will expand access to so-called precision medicine, by requiring health care insurers to cover it. Stokes says precision medicine is a more focused method than chemotherapy…:

Cut 4 (08)  “…of chemotherapy.”

Stokes is the founder of SCAN, the Survivors Cancer Action Network. She says the precision medicine bill couples with another bill establishing enhanced “biomarker” testing, to detect possible genetic causes of cancers and possible mutations…:

Cut 5 (09) “…are for you.”

Another bill in the package provides for health insurers to cover biomarker testing for babies in natal intensive care, to help them get out of a NICU faster and live normal lives. The final bill paves the way for patients to have easier access to their own medical records, so they can navigate cancer treatments with fewer problems. Stokes says the bills, and precision medicine treatments, are a major step in health care for Louisianans…:

Cut 6 (09)  “…is so exciting.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is off to Europe today to swap flood control challenges with the Netherlands.

Cut 7 (07) “….water levels increase.”

The governor says Louisiana’s experience in dealing with rising waters caused by climate change is valuable to European governments facing the same challenges.

Cut 8 (10)  “…and  water management.”

The governor adds that innovations to fight climate change actually bring with them economic development opportunities involving new environmentally-friendly projects.

Cut 9 (06)  “…and the transition.”

The governor will also travel to France to raise awareness about a 400-million dollar capital campaign for the National World War Two Museum. Edwards says he’ll also use the trip to advance Louisiana’s economic interests with major international companies and discuss the energy industry’s transition. The delegation is scheduled to return on Sunday, August 14th.

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High utility bills continue to plague residents and PSC Commissioner Craig Greene says they are looking at ways to help lower rates. He says the commission wants utility providers to become customer service-focused, more energy efficient, and look at long-term resiliency.

Cut 10 (08) “…we’ve had.”

He says you can ask your local PSC office to review your bill for possible errors.

Greene says even though companies like Entergy spent $4.5 billion to restore power after the hurricanes, they have to be reimbursed for that cost which falls on the ratepayer. Greene says he’s often asked if the company is going to send their shareholders a billion dollars why can’t they chip in on repairs?

Cut  11 (09)  “…taking the risk.” 

The price of natural gas is at record high levels and Greene says the current structure does not incentivize utility providers to lock in prices early and pass those savings along to the ratepayer.

Cut 12 (10) “…their profit.” 

Greene says they are also lobbying the federal government to pay for restoration costs instead of the consumer.

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Monkeypox has been declared a health emergency in the US, and LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine is hosting an event today to give healthcare professionals the most up-to-date information. Infectious Disease Professor Dr. Michael Hangensee (Hagen-see) says they’ll look at the recent spread of the virus…

Cut 13 (07) “…prevent infection.”

Hagensee says treatment includes the medicine T-pox, which can be given by pill or intravenously for severe cases…

Cut 14 (08)  “…New Orleans area.”

Monkeypox is currently spread mostly among homosexual men and Hagansee says healthcare officials in the state are trying to prevent an outbreak during Decadence Labor Day Weekend, but that being said…

Cut 15 (10)  “…of others.”

As of Thursday, the state reported 69 cases in the state, an increase of 11 from Wednesday.

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Preseason camp is underway for the LSU Tigers as the Bayou Bengals are 30 days away from the season opener against Florida State in the Superdome. That’s when the Brian Kelly era will officially kick off. The first-year coach is still getting to know his team including his star wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who he watched practice for the first time yesterday

Cut 16 (14)  “…so hard” .

Kelly announced after the team’s first practice that running back Tre Bradford is no longer at LSU. Bradford appeared in one game after transferring from Oklahoma. But LSU still has a lot of options at running back led by John Emery Junior, Penn State transfer Noah Cain and Josh Williams who scored two touchdowns in the spring game. Kelly says they’ll also get a chance to carry the rock…

Cut 17 (20) “..some fashion ” 

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Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu says he’s appreciative of the support he’s received from the organization after missing the first six practices of training camp. Mathieu returned on Wednesday and is not saying why he was away…

cut  18 (13) “   great spirits”

Mathieu is expected to start at safety. Cornerback Bradley Roby is also expected to make a significant impact this season. He was acquired just four days before the season opener last year and Coach Dennis Allen says Roby looks more comfortable this year

 cut 19 (19) _“…so far” 

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The Ragin Cajun begin this season once again the team to beat in the Sun Belt West. They’ve won the division four years in a row. First-year head coach Michael Desormeaux says in years past the Cajuns started clicking offensively in October, he would like to see the offense reach midseason form earlier…

Cut 20 (18) “ …the season”