There has been growing opposition to license plate-reading Flock Safety cameras, but Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse says they are nothing new. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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A new school year is underway, and State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley is optimistic the recent gains in student achievement will continue. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The state is in for another brutally hot weekend. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the humidity is going to make it unbearable to be outside.

Cut 3 (10) “…into the weekend.”

Grymes says while parts of the state have seen some rain this week, today will likely be the last day we’ll see any rain for quite some time.

Cut 4 (10) “…into the weekend.”

As for the tropics, Tropical Storm Christobal has formed way out in the central Atlantic but will be no threat to the U.S. coast since, just like Jim Marshall in 1964, it’s going the wrong way. And there’s a disturbance that has a good chance of becoming Tropical Storm Dolly, but Grymes says don’t count on being able to say, “Hello, Dolly.”

Cut 5 (15) “…it could dissipate.”

Another disturbance is right behind it, but Grymes does not expect that one to be a threat to Louisiana either.

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State representative Danny McCormick has proposed a ban on all AI-powered Flock cameras in Louisiana. He says their recording of vehicle details and license plates violates citizens’ privacy, but Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse says that is not true.

Cut 6 (13) “…public roadways.”

Morse says the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that there is no expectation of privacy in a public space.

Flock Safety cameras have been used in millions of cases across the country. Morse says the images are invaluable when looking for missing persons and tracking down criminals.

Cut 7 (10) “…these cameras.”

Despite their utility to law enforcement, there has been growing opposition to Flock cameras nationwide. But Morse says any abuse of the technology has been due to misuse by law enforcement, not the cameras themselves.

Cut 8 (10) “…abuse it.”

Morse says anyone with access to the Flock database must go through a certification process.

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A new school year is underway, and State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley wants to keep the momentum going in student achievement. According to the latest Education Scorecard, Louisiana public school students rank first in the nation in reading growth and second in math growth. Brumley says one reason for the improvement is teachers getting back to the basics of education…

Cut 9 (05)  “…next in life.”

Brumley says classroom discipline will also be a major focus this school year. He’s urging local school leaders not to tolerate disruptive behavior that interferes with other students’ ability to learn…

Cut 10 (06) “…can learn.” 

Brumley says nearly 90 percent of the teachers who taught last year have returned for the new school year. He says teacher vacancies have also dropped, from about 2,500 a few years ago to roughly 1,000 today.

Brumley says teacher morale appears to be improving as well…

Cut 11 (10) “…paperwork.”

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The LSU women’s basketball schedule is out. The Lady Tigers tip off the season against Southeastern Louisiana on November 2^nd.   SEC play begins December 31^st at Auburn, and The Advocate’s Reed Darcy says Kim Mulkey’s squad could go undefeated in January.

Cut 12 (12) “…postseason after that.” 

LSU ends the regular season with South Carolina, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Darcy says the Lady Tigers have a difficult non-conference slate, a rarity under Mulkey. LSU plays powerhouse UConn in Nashville December 20th and also has matchups with UNC, NC State and Villanova.

Cut 13 (12) “…Kim Mulkey.”

Darcy says Mulkey has had to rebuild her squad after their heartbreaking loss to Duke in the Sweet 16, but this year’s team is poised to compete for a deep tournament run again.

Cut 14 (12) “…transfer portal.”

A 17-year-old girl in Tangipahoa Parish died due to injuries from a reckless driving incident two weeks ago. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Another huge economic development win for central Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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One of the most destructive floods in Louisiana’s history happened ten years ago this week. Jeff Palermo has a look back at the Great Flood of 2016.

Cut 3 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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An 18-year-old is facing a negligent homicide charge, and a 17-year-old is dead as a result of a dangerous driving stunt in Tangipahoa Parish. Sheriff Gerald Sticker says Josean (ho-ZAY-in) Martinez was driving his truck recklessly while Dulce (DUL-chay) Rudas was sitting outside the passenger window and another 20-year-old was standing in the bed of the vehicle. He says this is a tragedy with a sobering lesson.

Cut 4 (11) “…go home again.”

Sticker says Martinez drove away from the scene and tried to hide his truck, leaving the two passengers injured in the street. Rudas passed away in the hospital Sunday, a week after the incident. Sticker has a message for young drivers.

Cut 5 (14) “…onboard that vehicle.”

Sticker says parents need to teach their children the importance of driving safely and taking that responsibility seriously.

Cut 6 (09) “…have been made.”

Martinez is facing up to ten years in prison. He is also charged with negligent injury, failure to seek assistance, obstruction of justice, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and driving with no license.

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Alexandria is having a Coke and a smile. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company has announced that it’s investing more than 100-million dollars to modernize and expand its warehouse and distribution operations in Alexandria. Louisiana Central President and CEO Chris Masingill says while Coca-Cola was looking at multiple locations in several states, they found that their best option was to stay put and add on to their existing facility.

Cut 7 (15) “…of their work.”

Masingill says this expansion underscores Coca-Cola’s commitment to its longtime home for decades to come

Cut 8 (13) “…they have here.”

Along with retaining the more than 21-hundred current positions, the expansion will result in 75 direct new jobs with an average salary of 65-thousand dollars a year. In all, it will result in more than 130 total new jobs when the indirect jobs are factored in. Masingill says in the long run, it made all the sense in the world for Coca-Cola to remain in central Louisiana.

Cut 9 (08)  “…and Rapides Parish.”

Construction is expected to begin in February, with completion slated for October of 2028.

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Here we go again – the Powerball jackpot has once again hit ten figures. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says be sure to buy your tickets for tonight’s billion-dollar drawing.

Cut 10 (05) “…a billion dollars.”

If it seems as if billion-dollar jackpots are happening more frequently in Powerball, you’re right. That’s due in large part to a change that happened in 2015, in which they added ten white balls and removed nine red balls, reducing the odds from less than one in 175-million to less than one in 292-million. Maher says no wonder no one has won the jackpot in quite a while.

Cut 11 (06) “…of this run.”

Maher says even if you don’t win the billion-dollar prize, you can still win a seven-figure prize by matching all five white balls, as evidenced by a certain drawing back in April.

Cut 12 (08) “…here in Louisiana.”

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Ten years ago today, thousands of lives were changed when a slow-moving weather system dumped torrential rain across south Louisiana, causing catastrophic flooding from the Lafayette area to southeast Louisiana. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry remembers planning a meeting for the morning of August 12th, only to have it cancelled because the water was rising.

Cut 13 (05)  “…inches of water.”

More than 25 inches of rain fell in parts of Livingston Parish within hours, sending the Amite River in Denham Springs to a record crest of more than 46 feet. About 30-thousand people had to be rescued as rivers across the region overflowed their banks.

Landry says many flood victims were rescued by civilian volunteers called the Cajun Navy.

Cut 14 (09) “…help other people.”

Landry says 78-percent of homes in Denham Springs had at least 18 inches of water inside, yet only about one in four residents had flood insurance.

Cut 15 (09) “…it’s never enough.”

The storm was later known as the Great Flood of 2016. In its aftermath, billions of dollars in federal aid were sent to south Louisiana to rebuild homes and businesses, elevate houses and improve flood-control systems.

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Louisiana Tech head coach has a kicking battle on his hands in Ruston. Redshirt freshman Kaegan Kent and redshirt junior Hunter Rioux are looking to take over after the Bulldogs finished bottom 12 in the country last year, hitting field goals at just a 60-percent clip. Kent closed out the season perfect on field goals and extra points.

Cut 16 (20) “…fall camp.”

Redshirt senior offensive guard Ashanti Cole will look to lead an offensive line that lost a lot of veteran leadership and production. The Bulldogs have leaned on their O-line play and stout rushing attack. Cumbie says Cole is the guy he wants commanding the trenches.

Cut 17 (20) “…young man.”

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Boise State transfer Ty Benefield is expected to be a difference maker in LSU’s defensive secondary. He’s six-foot-three, close to 210 pounds and registered over 100 tackles last season for the Broncos. His size allows him to disrupt passing lanes. Benefield is expected to be an early-round selection in the 2027 NFL draft after what could be a big season in Baton Rouge…

Cut 18 (19) “..things like that.”

After three seasons at Boise State, Benefield entered the transfer portal and he was the first defensive player to commit to the Tigers. The California native felt like LSU was the place for him…

Cut 19 (13) “…is amazing.”

Benefield says he can’t wait to play in Tiger Stadium. He got his welcome to LSU moment earlier this summer when he met Tyrann Mathieu…

Cut 20 (17) “…rest of my life.”