Last weekend’s shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses have shaken the nation, including the legislative community. Louisiana House Speaker Phillip DeVillier says the shootings should serve as a reminder that public officials – elected or otherwise – should moderate their messaging.

Cut 3 (11) “…that is unnecessary.”

DeVillier says while the debate at the statehouse may get heated at times, he always has great respect for all his colleagues, including those on the other side of the aisle.

Today marks the official start of summer and LSU public health climatologist Barry Keim says get ready for a lot of heat and humidity. Keim says the climate prediction center is forecasting a warmer and wetter summer than normal for Louisiana…

Cut 12 (09) “…for the summer”

Tomorrow night is game one of the championship series of the College World Series between LSU and Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers have won 26 in a row. Coach Jay Johnson says Coastal doesn’t make many mistakes…

Cut 16 (14) “…program traits”

First pitch tomorrow night is at 6 PM.

ULM has ended its women’s tennis program due to increased operating and infrastructure costs. The Warhawks now sponsor the NCAA minimum 16 sports as required for an FBS program. Athletics Director John Hartwell says this was an unfortunate fiscal necessity.

Cut 13 (09)  “…and expenditues.”

Louisiana ranks second for the percentage of its residents delinquent on debt payments. Sean Richardson has more…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The summer driving season is in full swing and there’s been an uptick in gas prices. According to Triple-A, the statewide average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.83. That’s up nearly ten cents from a week ago. Analysts say the price at the pump is increasing because crude oil prices are up and demand is also up.

A milestone for East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, as it has successfully completed its first heart transplant. It was performed on a woman in her early 60s by Dr. Jamil Borgi (BORE-jee) and Dr. Sasha Vukelic (voo-KELL-itch). Dr. Vukelic says the patient is recovering well at home.

Cut 10 (13) “…it becomes stable.”

The heart transplant at East Jefferson Hospital is a major milestone in expanding live-saving heart care for the Gulf South.

The LSU baseball team enjoyed last night off in Omaha after beating Arkansas in heart stopping fashion on Wednesday night. Because LSU did not play last night, it allows them to use their top two starters in games one and two of their championship series against Coastal Carolina. Coach Jay Johnson….

Cut 18 (10) “….got me now”

The Tigers championship series against Coastal Carolina gets underway tomorrow night at 6 PM.

Louisiana ranks second for most delinquent on debt payments with residents delinquent on 13-percent of all their individual loans and lines of credit and Louisiana residents are delinquent on 12-percent of their entire debt. Wallethub analyst Chip Lupo…

Cut 5 (08) “….cases”

Lupo says if you are behind on paying back a loan, many lenders offer hardship programs.

History has been made at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie as the medical facility has performed its first heart transplant. Doctor Sasha Vukelic (voo-KELL-itch) says the procedure took two hours, but the recovery time is considerably longer…

Cut 11 (11) “….around two months”

Vukelic says the heart transplant is a major milestone in expanding live-saving health care for the Gulf South.

As LSU gets set to battle with Coastal Carolina for the national championship at the College World Series, there’s no doubt who will win the Jello Shot Challenge at Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina across the street from the stadium. Of the eight teams represented, Rocco’s has sold more than three times the number of LSU Jello Shots than the second-place team. Manager Pat McAvoy says LSU has been bolstered by a few heavy hitters, including Raising Cane’s CEO Todd Graves.

Cut 7 (10) “…we did that.”

Another wave of LSU fans arrive in Omaha today ahead of the start of the championship series tomorrow night against Coastal Carolina.

To balance its athletics budget, ULM announced this week that it’s ending its women’s tennis program. The program consisted of eight scholarship athletes and ULM will honor their scholarships if the tennis student athletes decide to stay at the school. Athletics Director John Hartwell says as the students graduate or transfer, he says the scholarships will be reallocated to other women’s sports.

Cut 14 (09) “…ratio is.”

Louisiana ranks second among the states where people are most delinquent on debt according to a study by the personal finance website Wallethub. Delinquency can trigger fees, higher interest rates, and credit damage; but hardship programs and a 30-day grace period may offer relief. Wallethub analyst Chip Lupo says the best course of action is to reach out to your lender and make a payment to become current on your account…

Cut 6 (10) “…several years”

Hopefully people are not going into debt buying Jello shots at Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina in Omaha. LSU is the run away winner of this year’s Jello Shot challenge as more than 25-thousand purple and gold jello shots have been purchased. Rocco’s manager Pat McAvoy says some heavy hitters have stepped up, like Todd Graves and Gordon McKernan…

Cut 8 (14) “….Todd did it”

One dollar from every LSU purple and gold Jello shot gets redirected to the Baton Rouge Food Bank.

ULM discontinued its women’s tennis program as it works to balance its athletic budget. Kace Kieschnick has the story.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported this week that Louisiana Tech could replace Texas State in the Sun Belt if Texas State leaves for the PAC-12. But Dave Schultz, host of the Locked on Sun Belt Podcast, says Sun Belt schools outside of Louisiana do not want Tech in the Sun Belt, because it would make the league to Louisiana centric with three schools.

A new report from WalletHub shows financial hardships loom large in this state. Its first quarter report shows Louisiana with the second highest percentage of delinquent accounts, with 13-percent of tradelines and nearly 12-percent of loan balances delinquent. WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo says this signals risks to credit scores and financial stability.

Cut 4 (11) “…to be damaged.”

Lupo says good paying jobs can help a person get back on track financially and there is promising news with Meta building an A-I facility in Richland Parish and the potential for an increase in energy jobs under the Trump Administration.

East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie has successfully completed its first heart transplant. Doctor Sasha Vukelic (voo-KELL-itch) says the surgery was done through a partnership with the Tulane Transplant Institute and LCMC Health. Vukelic says a new heart will add several years to a patient’s life.

Cut 12 (10) “…is 14 years.”

With this initial heart transplant under its belt, that will create additional opportunities for additional cardiovascular care in a state that ranks among the highest for heart disease.

Starting July 1^st, major Division One schools in college athletics can begin paying its athletes because of a landmark settlement in the federal courts. ULM has one of the smallest budgets among FBS schools. Athletics director John Hartwell will continue to offer its athletes NIL opportunities, but direct payments to players will not come from their athletic budget…

Cut 15 (08) “….revenue share”

Hartwell says they are looking at creating a fund to pay players through donations from private sources.

LSU is running away with the Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge in Omaha. As of last night, 25-thousand purple and gold Jello shots were sold by the restaurant and bar that sits just outside of Charles Schwab Field. Rocco’s Pat McAvoy says some people are buying thousands of shots a day for a good cause…

Cut 9 (15) “…they cared about”

One dollar of every Jello Shot sold in the Jello Shot Challenge goes to the local food bank in each school’s local area.

This week, State Senator Blake Miguez announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate. The New Iberia Republican introduced himself to statewide voters in a nearly two-minute-long introductory video.

Cut 7 (14) “…hard work did.”

Miguez is the second prominent Republican to challenge Bill Cassidy for his Senate seat, after State Treasurer John Fleming. MAGA says he’s choice for MAGA supporters, but Fleming says he’s the stronger candidate for Trump supporters, because he worked in the first Trump administration.

Cassidy says he’s been closely aligned with the current President, despite his 2021 vote to convict Trump in his impeachment trial. During a conference call with reporters, Cassidy also pointed out his effectiveness as a U-S Senator…

Cut 9  “…(08) “…ever gotten before”

LSU fans are still catching their breath after last night’s dramatic six to five walk-off win over Arkansas. The Tigers trailed 5-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, but scored three runs and won it on Jared Jones’ RBI single. Jones says this team never gives up…

Cut 12 (09) “…drive him in”

Luis Hernandez hit a two-run double to tie the game before Jones won it with his single. LSU will play Coastal Carolina in the championship series starting Saturday night.

Turkey callers from across the nation are in Hammond for the Louisiana State & U.S. Open Turkey Calling Championships. Contest Manager Hunter Lemoine says events are open to all ages, with Open and Friction preliminary events starting tomorrow and 12 gobblers from each division will move to the finals on Saturday.

Cut 3 (07) “…that stage saturday.”

The LSU Tigers are headed to the championship series of the College World Series and it took a valiant come back in the bottom of the ninth to beat Arkansas six to five. Thanks to mistakes in the field by the Razorbacks, LSU scored three runs in the ninth to eliminate the Hogs. Coach Jay Johnson says his guys play with a togetherness that helps them win close games…

Cut 11 (10) “….about this”

The Tigers will play Coastal Carolina in the C-W-S championship series starting Saturday night.

President Trump is extending Tik Tok ban a third time, giving the short-form video app’s parent company, Byte Dance, another 90 days to find an American owner. The host of the Tech Gumbo podcast, Haggai Davis, says there are many who do not want Tik-Tok to go away, including small businesses…

Cut 15 (12) “….go away”

The U.S. Senate primary in Louisiana is not until next April, but the gloves are already off. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A deal has been reached to keep the horses running at the Fair Grounds Race track in New Orleans. Churchill Downs, which owns the track, threatened not to have a season later this year, because the state supreme court ruled it could not have historical horse racing machines, because voter approval was required. Details of the agreement are not known, but live racing will take place at the Fairgrounds starting in late November.

LSU baseball fans are on cloud nine today, while Arkansas fans are down in the dumps. The Tigers took advantage of some big miscues in the field by the Razorbacks to score three runs in the ninth inning to beat the Hogs six to five. Jared Jones had two big swings, a solo home run to tie the game in the eighth inning and then the game winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning…

Cut 10 (15) “…second baseman’s head”

The Tigers will face Coastal Carolina in the championship series starting on Saturday.

Tragedy in Alexandria…A six-year-old is dead and two other children are in critical condition after a four-wheeler crashed into a car at an intersection last night. Police say a 12-year-old was driving the four-wheeler. It’s illegal for ATVs to operate on city streets.

A class action lawsuit has been filed against drug-store chain CVS for sending out a text message to many of its customers in a lobbying effort against a bill that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies. The legislation did not pass. CVS says if it did, they would be forced to close down pharmacies. Plaintiffs attorney Jerome Moroux says CVS used private patient information in an illicit manner…

Cut 8 (06) “…across the state”

CVS says it had a responsibility to inform its customers of what it calls misguided legislation.

Turkey callers from across the nation are in Hammond for the Louisiana State & U.S. Open Turkey Calling Championships. Contest Manager Hunter Lemoine says events are open to all ages, with Open and Friction preliminary events starting tomorrow and 12 gobblers from each division will move to the finals on Saturday.

Cut 3 (07) “…that stage saturday.”