NOAA slightly revised its hurricane prediction for this year. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Governor Edwards will leave Louisiana tomorrow for a trip to overseas. The governor’s office says Edwards will lead a delegation of business and state leaders on an economic development, water management and resiliency mission to the Netherlands and France. Edwards will use the trip to develop economic partnerships and examine solutions those nations have implemented for flood control.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has provided more details on a fatal house fire in Pineville on Tuesday morning. Office spokesperson Ashely Rodrigue says when the Alpine Fire Department responded to the call, they found a male victim alone in the bathtub.
Cut 12 (09) “…at the time.”
Rodrigue says investigators have determined the fire began in the carport area and it could have been an electrical malfunction.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is reminding residents to prepare sooner rather than later to get the REAL ID card. OMV spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says beginning May 3rd, citizens 18 years and older will need to present a REAL ID driver’s license or passport to fly domestically or enter a federal building
cut 8 (11) “…ready now”
Customers can visit express-lane-dot org to book an appointment at their local OMV field office.

The Louisiana Department of Education says public school students performed better on LEAP tests during the 2021-22 school year after seeing test scores fall in the previous school year due to the pandemic. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says fewer students scored unsatisfactory, including a three-point decrease in students scoring unsatisfactory in math…
Cut 23 (11) “…in math”

Today the state department of education is hosting a school safety summit in Baton Rouge. Over 800 people are in attendance that includes local school leaders, law enforcement, governmental agencies and mental health experts. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says in over 70-percent of school violence incidents, a student knew something was amiss, but told no one…
cut 8 (10) “…reporting that”

The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is smaller than last year. It’s at 3,275 square miles. That’s less than half the size of last year. LSU marine ecologist Nancy Rabalais says a combination of weather events led to the smaller size. She says drought conditions in the Midwest reduced the water flow from the Mississippi River into the Gulf…
cut 12 (11) “…continental shelf”
Rabalais says the goal is to get the dead zone to less than 19-hundred square miles by 2035 and more needs to be done to reduce the fertilizer runoff into the Mississippi River.

In the next hour we’ll get a revised forecast from NOAA on how many named storms we’ll see this hurricane season. So far we’ve only seen three, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says we are still a couple of weeks away from the heart of the season…
cut 6 (09) “….of the season”
NOAA previously predicted 14 to 21 named storms this year and six to ten hurricanes.

The Louisiana Department of Education is hosting its first school safety summit today. Local school leaders, law enforcement, government agencies and mental health providers are gathering in Baton Rouge to share best practices around school safety and emergency preparedness. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the goal is to prevent a mass shooting inside a Louisiana school….
cut 9 (07) “….in one door”

Meanwhile, the Safe Schools Louisiana App announces its now in over 500 schools in Louisiana. Greater New Orleans Crimestoppers President Darlene Cusanza says when a threat is reported on the app, a team approach betwen law enforcement and school leaders respond…
cut 14 (11) “…done properly”
SafeSchools Louisiana app is free to download.

This morning NOAA will issue its yearly August update to the Atlantic Hurricane season and even though it’s been quiet so far, State Climatologist Barry Keim doesn’t expect their update to differ greatly from the forecast in May of 14 to 21 named storms, in which six to 10 would be hurricanes.
Cut 4 (11) “…teeth of the season.”
So far only three named storms this year.

The Gulf of Mexico’s infamous dead zone is much smaller than usual this year. Marsanne Golsby has more.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby.”

Education leaders and State Police will host the state’s first-ever School Safety Summit in Baton Rouge today. Education superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley says this is about keeping kids safe while at school…:
Cut 7 (08) “…for all of us.”
Brumley says they are expecting over 800 people at the summit. That includes law enforcement, government agencies and mental health providers.

The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, which is an area of low-oxygen where sea life can’t live, is less than half the size of last year at 3,275 square miles. But LSU marine ecologist Nancy Rabalais says the goal is to get the dead zone to less than 19-hundred square miles by 2035…
cut 11 (09) “…right now”

NOAA will give an update this morning on the current Atlantic Hurricane Season and if their earlier predictions remain on track…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Department of Health, instead of the Department of Agriculture is now regulating the state’s medical marijuana program. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says LDH has more labs which should benefit the patient….
Cut 4 (07) “…a lot of delays.”

NOAA will provide an update this morning to its Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook. Back in May they predicted between 14 and 21 named storms and so far there have only been three named storms and no hurricanes through June and July for the first time since 2017. But State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s every expectation 2022 will still be an above-average hurricane season…
cut 5 (10) “….this year”
Keim says above average sea temperatures coupled with a La Nina, tend to create a busy hurricane season and both are in place.

The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is smaller than last year…
cut 10 (03) “…..3,300 square miles”
That’s LSU marine ecologist Nancy Rabalais who says that’s less than half the size of last year. The dead zone is an area of low oxygen and Rabalais says a combination of weather events led to the smaller size this year.

Today in Baton Rouge, the first-ever Louisiana School Safety Summit. Kevin Gallagher on what it’s all about…:
Cut 2 (33) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The SafeSchools Louisiana app has been deployed to more than 500 schools across the state. New Orleans Crimestoppers President Darlene Cusanza says the app gives students and parents a way to anonymously report on-campus concerns, like guns, fights, drugs, or even potential self-harm.
Cut 13 (09) “…whatever it is.”
Anonymous tips are monitored and once vetted, assigned representatives are immediately notified for engagement.

The state’s Workforce Commission launches its “Tech Ready Louisiana” program, which will provide free access to five-thousand courses for Louisianans to help them develop new skills and increase career readiness…
cut 10 (10) “…as well”
LWC Secretary Ava Cates says learners can earn a certificate in six months and work around their busy schedule.

Legislation to enhance and change oversite of the state’s medical marijuana program went into effect this month. Houma Representative Tanner Magee’s bill allows existing marijuana licensed pharmacies to have satellite pharmacies so the product is more accessible for those with cannabis prescriptions.
Cut 3 (08) “…access.”
Instead of the State Department of Agriculture regulating medical marijuana, oversite is transferred to the Louisiana Department of Health.

There’s been a stunning development in the Shreveport Mayoral race, the incumbent, Adrian Perkins, has been disqualified.…
cut 2 (31) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher’

Noodling is now legal in Louisiana thanks to a law authored by Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland. Noodling is fishing with your bare hands and McFarland wrote the law to make sure it’s legal…
cut 5 (07) “…..and social media”
It can be a dangerous sport as many times your sticking your hand into a muddy hole to catch a catfish.