A federal judge halts President Joe Biden’s moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales on federal lands and waters. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 2 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards has signed a bill that lessens the penalties for possession of a small amount of marijuana. The maximum penalty for possessing up to a half-ounce of pot is now 100-dollars, the possibility of jail time is no longer an option, even for repeat offenders. The new law goes into effect on August 1st.

Senator Bill Cassidy is part of a bipartisan group of 10 senators who supports a 579-billion dollar infrastructure plan that could help pay for new bridges in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. Cassidy says the proposal includes plans to reduce carbon emissions by building infrastructure that claims to capture carbon from manufacturing facilities, which will create new opportunities for blue-collar workers.
Cut 11 (09) “…the ground.”
Cassidy says raising the federal gasoline tax can help pay for new infrastructure spending, but President Biden doesn’t like that idea.

The LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital is now offering total hip replacement surgery for dogs who have advanced hip osteoarthritis. Doctor Charles Walls says there are signs to look for that can let you know if your dog is suffering from arthritis in the hips…
cut 14 (10) “….narrow-based”
If this sounds like your dog, call the LSU Veterinary Small Animal Surgery Department to see if a hip replacement is a possible option.

Forecasters say Louisiana residents should brace for the potential of heavy rainfall later this week as a result of a tropical system. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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A year after Troy Middleton’s name was removed from the LSU Library his heirs are suing to have Middleton war memorabilia held by the school returned. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Forecasters say there is a high chance a disturbance in the southern Gulf of Mexico will develop into at least a tropical storm over the next five days. National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Schott says the broad area of low pressure will eventually move northward and flash flooding is possible in south Louisiana on Friday

Cut 3 (06) “…heavy rainfall, rainfall”

The National Hurricane Center says they will have a better idea once the system actually develops. If named, it will be called Claudette. Schott says even if doesn’t get to tropical storm strength, it could be a big rainmaker…

Cut 4 (12) “…heavy heavy rain”

Schott says prepare now for a big rainmaker on Friday and Saturday…

Cut 5  (12) “….for flooding” 

Some of the models are showing rainfall totals of ten plus inches in less than 12 hours.

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There are reports LSU and Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco are discussing the possibility of the former Tiger catcher and pitching coach becoming the next head coach of the LSU baseball program.  LSU beat reporter for the USA Today Network Glen Guilbeau says right now Bianco is the school’s top candidate.

Cut 6 (09) “…more talks”

Bianco has been the head coach at Ole Miss since 2000. He’s the winningest baseball coach in school history and had led the Rebels to the College World Series one time.  Guilbeau says Bianco has always been well-liked by those who have played with Skip Bertman…

Cut 7 (07) “…got there”

LSU fans can be tough to please and Guilbeau believes if this hire were to be made, it would receive mixed reviews.

Cut 8 (10) “..mixed bag” 

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The family of former LSU President Troy Middleton is suing LSU demanding the school return a collection of the General’s World War Two memorabilia.

Middleton family attorney Jill Craft says the family has tried to retrieve the collection but keeps getting the runaround.

Cut 9 (12) “…get it (x2).”

Middleton’s name was removed from the school’s library last summer amidst an outcry over the former President’s support for segregation during his tenure running the school in the 50s and 60s.

Craft says this collection was never given to LSU, it was loaned for the purpose of a specific exhibition. Now that the loan purpose has expired the family wants the items returned.

Cut 10 (12) “…returned”

Craft says the school has not provided documents proving the collection was not a loan and says there are news articles from the time it was handed to the school calling the exchange a loan. She also notes the school is currently displaying some of the collection in a newly opened WW2 exhibit on campus.

The suit also seeks damages for “extreme humiliation and embarrassment”. Craft says that is a last resort should the school refuse to turn over the collection.

Cut  11 (12) “…payback” 

In a statement, LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard said they’ve told the family while they can give back some of the collection, parts of it may constitute historical records that belong to the federal government or university.

“Earlier this year LSU offered to return parts of the collection constituting General Middleton’s personal belongings and memorabilia. However, LSU as a state institution cannot simply give away the parts of the collection that constitute historical government records and documents that may properly belong to the university or federal government.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards signs legislation decriminalizing possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana.

Policy Director for Louisiana Progress Peter Robins-Brown says decriminalization is a widely popular policy that creates more trust between law enforcement and their local community.

Cut 12 (08) “…law”

Under the new law, written by Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover, possession under 14 grams cannot lead to jail time and comes with a maximum fine of 100 dollars.

The legislation has historically been pushed by Democrats but Robins-Brown says this year it got a lot of Republican support that some found surprising.

Cut 13 (12) “…for this.”

Before being signed only New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport had decriminalized possession.

Robins-Brown says his guess is that this bill is another step towards full legalization of marijuana.

Cut 14 (12) “..point” 

Governor Edwards released a statement about the signing saying “I believe deeply that the state of Louisiana should no longer incarcerate people for minor legal infractions, especially those that are legal in many states.” Per the AP the legislation is set to take effect on August 1st.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill into law that ends the possibility of jail time for a person if they are convicted of possessing a small amount of recreational marijuana. Policy Director for Louisiana Progress Peter Robins-Brown says the measure has support from both Republicans and Democrats…
cut 13 (12) “…for this”
A person convicted of possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana will be fined up to 100-dollars, but no possibility of jail time, even if they are a repeat offender.

The National Hurricane Center says a disturbance in the southern Gulf of Mexico has an 80-percent chance of developing into at least a tropical depression over the next five days. National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Schott says the broad area of low pressure will eventually move northward and flash flooding is possible in south Louisiana on Friday
Cut 3 (06) “…heavy rainfall, rainfall”
Some of the models are showing rainfall totals of ten plus inches in less than 12 hours anywhere from Lake Charles to Mobile, Alabama.

Could Ole Miss Head Coach and former LSU catcher and pitching coach Mike Bianco be the next head baseball coach of the Fighting Tigers? USA Today Network LSU beat reporter Glen Guilbeau says it’s possible, even though it could lead to mixed reactions from a passionate fan base…
cut 8 (10) “…mixed bag”
Guilbeau says Bianco appears to be the choice to replace the retired Paul Mainieri.

Family members of former LSU president Troy Middleton have sued the school in an effort to get back his military memorabilia. A year ago, LSU removed Middleton’s name from the school’s main library because of his segregationist views. Attorney Jill Craft is representing Middleton’s heirs…
cut 10 (12) “…returned”
LSU says the school may have to keep some of the items because they belong to the university and or the federal government.

The National Hurricane Center is giving an area of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche a 70-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next five days. Forecasters say this could be a big rainmaker for the Bayou State later this week.

Crude oil prices are back over 70 dollars a barrel but industry experts are not optimistic this will result in increased jobs for the state’s oil and gas industry. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

It’s Tax Day for most of the state, as 2020 state and federal taxes are due. But Senior Tax Manager at Hannis T. Bourgeois, Brad Tate says there are a few parishes that received another extension.
Cut 4 (09) “…August 16th.”
Bourgeois says economic stimulus checks and the frontline worker rebate are not subject to Louisiana state income taxes and the first 10,200 of unemployment benefits is also tax-free.

Maryland-based Novavax says its COVID-19 vaccine they are testing has shown to be 90-percent effective against the disease and also protected against variants. Demand for COVID-19 shots has declined in the U-S and Tulane School of Medicine Professor Dr. Susan Hassig says this vaccine could be particularly useful in other nations that need to get vaccinated in order to prevent even more dangerous variants from mutating…
cut 11 (07) “…Moderna do”

Crude oil prices are trading above 70-dollars a barrel for the first time in nearly three years. But LSU Center for Energy Studies Director David Dismukes says don’t expect this surge in prices to result in new jobs for the state’s oil and gas industry, because of climate policies like net neutrality by 2050…
cut 8 (08) “….were at”
Dismukes says to expect to pay about a dollar per gallon more for gasoline this summer.

Carjackings are on the rise in Louisiana and it’s a big issue in New Orleans, where carjackings are up 120-percent in the first five months of this year compared to the same time period in 2020. Louisiana Attorney General Deputy Press Secretary Emmie Fuson says carjacking is a crime of opportunity for criminals…
cut 14 (11) “….looking around”
Fuson urges drivers to pay attention to their surroundings and have keys and phone in hand.

Another highly effective COVID-19 vaccine is getting closer to FDA emergency use authorization but there’s a chance it won’t be made available to Americans. Matt Doyle has more.
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The National Hurricane Center is giving a disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms in the Bay of Campeche a 70-percent chance of developing into at least a tropical depression. The system is expected to remain stationary for the next couple of days, but there’s a good chance the state could see heavy rainfall totals late this week.

Crude oil prices are back above 70 dollars a barrel for the first time in nearly three years. LSU Center for Energy Studies Director David Dismukes says Crude prices have steadily climbed as the economy reopens making experts bullish on the price…
Cut 7 (11) “…tighter.”
But Dismukes says the surge in prices will not result in an increase in oil and gas jobs due to climate policies like net neutrality by 2050.

Carjackings are on the rise in Louisiana at an alarming rate and they are happening at all hours of the day. State Attorney General Deputy Press Secretary Emmie Fuson says New Orleans has seen the largest increase in carjackings, up 120-percent in the first five months of this year.
Cut 13 (11) “…families safe.”
Fuson says approach your car with phone stored and keys in hand, park in well-lit areas, and never leave valuables in plain sight.

A study of Maryland-based Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine shows the two-dose offering is 90 percent effective, clearing the way for a fourth strong COVID-19 vaccine. Tulane School of Medicine Professor Susan Hassig says there are plenty of vaccines to go around in the United States so there’s a good chance this vaccine will be shipped out to the rest of the world…
Cut 10 (11) “…doses.”
Hassig says the Novavak is easier to distribute than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Today is tax day for most of Louisiana. Senior Tax Manager at Hannis T Bourgeois, Brad Tate, says if your salary decreased in 2020 you could be eligible for more federal assistance…
cut 5 (09) “…last year”
Taxpayers in Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville and Lafayette parishes have until August 16th to file because of last month’s flooding.

Crude oil prices are back above 70-dollars a barret and trading at their highest price in nearly three years. When you look at gas prices, the statewide average for regular gasoline is $2.71, nearly a dollar more than last year. LSU Center for Energy Studies Director David Dismukes expects the price at the pump will continue to increase…
cut 9 (07) “….with them”

For most Louisiana taxpayers, federal and state income taxes are due today. Senior Tax Manager at Hannis T Bourgeois Brad Tate reminds taxpayers that federal stimulus funds received in 2020 are not counted as income…
cut 6 (08) “….in 2020”
Because of flooding last month, taxpayers in Ascension. Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, and Lafayette Parishes have until August 16th to file their taxes.

Carjackings in Louisiana are on the rise and in New Orleans, they are up 120-percent so far this year compared to 2020. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”