The final goodbyes for the fallen Baton Rouge cops will begin today with the funeral of Matthew Gerald of BRPD. Deputy Brad Garafola will be laid to rest on Saturday, and BRPD’s Corporal Montrell Jackson’s services are set for Monday. Lacey Rogers brought flowers to the memorial at the gas station where Sunday’s tragedy took place. She has hope for change…:
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Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to attend the funerals.

State Police have made an arrest in the fatal hit and run crash that killed a skateboarder near the Southeastern Louisiana campus on May 11th. Trooper Dustin Dwight it’s 37-year-old Vincent Young of Natalbany…:
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Young faces several charges including Felony Hit and Run.

The AG’s office urges caution when donating to charities in lieu of the officers killed in the ambush in Baton Rouge. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s is now among one of the law enforcement divisions who have made an arrest in the case of someone who was threatening cops on social media. 25-year-old Michael Evans is accused of making a post on Facebook suggesting that Sheriff Steve Prator should be “flat lined.” Evans has ties to the Shreveport area, but officials say he was located in Fairfield, California where he is being held on a warrant for terrorizing.

Today is the first of three funerals that will be held for the fallen Baton Rouge officers. The memorial at the gas station where Sunday’s tragedy took place has grown tremendously, as mourners have placed flowers, balloons, and cards at that location. Chris Brown put three crosses he built in front of the memorial. He says it’s a token from his family to theirs…:
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Funeral services for Matthew Gerald is today. Deputy Brad Garafola will be laid to rest on Saturday and Baton Rouge police officer Montrell Jackson’s services will be Monday.

Local law enforcement is set to receive $650,000 in federal funding to help with the costs of all it took to deal with last weekend’s deadly police shooting. Families of the fallen officers will also be receiving $340,000 in assistance..

Tomorrow it’ll be one year since a man opened fire during a showing of a movie at a Lafayette theater, killing two people and injuring nine others. Joey Durel was the mayor on July 23rd, 2015. He’s called the shooting a tragic anomaly, but it never meant that Lafayette and Acadiana are not safe communities…:
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Durel said they couldn’t have moved on as easily if it weren’t for the love and support from people throughout the state, and the nation.

It looks like the NBA All-Star game could be returning to New Orleans next year. The league wants to move out of Charlotte because of its objections to a North Carolina law that limits anti-discrimination protections for the LGBT community.

As temperatures continue to rise across the state, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging people to be cautious. GOHSEP Director Jim Waskom says forecasters predict this pattern to carry on into the fall as a heat dome is covering a large part of the country. He wants to remind drivers to look before you lock.

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Waskom says we’re expected to see temperatures reach the high 90s and even into the 100s.

A former Texas law enforcement law officer made three custom caskets to donate to the fallen Baton Rouge police officers. Trey Ganem says he will have a full police escort to each funeral home as he delivers the three caskets.

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Ganem says he incorporated something unique about each officer on to each casket

A state record was set at the Secretary of State’s office during the first day of qualifying, as 52 people entered one of the federal races. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says open seats for high office always draw large fields. But he says it could be voter frustration as well that’s embodied by the Trump movement.

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Two Democratic candidates in the 2^nd Congressional District race are already making verbal jabs at each other. Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden is criticizing incumbent Congressman Cedric Richmond for not doing enough in the Capital City following both the Alton Sterling shooting and the ambush on police.

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But Richmond says Holden is the one who has been missing in action. He says it’s not fair to the citizens of Baton Rouge for Holden to run because the city needs a full time mayor

A former Texas police officer has custom made caskets for the three law enforcement officers who were killed in Sunday’s attack in Baton Rouge. Michelle Southern has more…
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One of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Deputies injured in the ambush was released from the hospital today. Deputy Bruce Simmons suffered injuries to his shoulder and arm after being shot by gunman, Gavin Long, on Sunday. Simmons underwent two surgeries at Baton Rouge General. Deputy Nicholas Tullier is still in critical condition and is being treated for gunshot wounds to the head and torso.

Verbal attacks are already being made in the race for the 2nd congressional district seat, featuring Democrats US Rep. Cedric Richmond and Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden. Richmond says it’s not fair to Baton Rouge that Holden is entering the race because the Capital City needs a leader during these tough times. He says he welcomes Holden to the race, but he needs to resign as mayor.
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But Holden defended his absence by saying he has been in confidential briefings and has been very active behind the scenes.

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Holden is criticizing Richmond for not speaking out and taking part in the recovery of Baton Rouge after all the recent violence the city has seen.

A man in Texas who makes custom caskets, has designed and donated his work to the families of the three police officers killed in an ambush in Baton Rouge. Trey Ganem is also a former law enforcement officer, and said he gets very emotional when designing each casket…:
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He says each one features something unique about each officer like a Superman shield.

Louisiana is in the grip of more sweltering heat this week, and state officials are urging residents to be careful outdoors these days. GOHSEP Director Jim Waskom says monitor friends and loved ones who are home bound during this extreme heat…:
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Qualifying for the fall elections in Louisiana has seen record numbers. Never before have 52 people signed up for a federal election in one day over a three day qualifying period in the state. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says, with 17 candidates in the race for US Senate, anything is possible…:
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Qualifying ends tomorrow.

Rumors are swirling the LHSAA executive committee is seeking to buyout or terminate the contract of executive director Eddie Bonine. LHSAA President Vic Bonnafee says Bonine received a positive evaluation a couple of months ago from the executive committee, but…:
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Members weren’t happy about comments Bonine made about high school sports in Louisiana and a special meeting Monday is called to allow him to explain.

A record 52 people in one day qualified in one of Louisiana’s federal elections. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says it’s rare to have an open senate seat and two open Congressional seats in Louisiana. Qualifying ends Friday, and Dubos says we could see even more people join the race between now and then.

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17 individuals have signed up for the state’s senate race.

A former Texas law enforcement officer is donating custom made caskets to the three officers who lost their lives in Sunday’s ambush in Baton Rouge. Trey Ganem is the owner of Trey Ganem Designs says he decided to make the caskets after watching a video featuring one of the fallen officers, Montrell Jackson.

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Ganem says they also incorporated something unique about each officer on the caskets

Verbal jabs are already being exchanged between two 2^nd Congressional District Democratic candidates, Congressman Cedric Richmond and challenger Baton Rouge mayor Kip Holden. Holden is criticizing Richmond for not taking part in the discussions or the recovery in the Capital City following both the Alton Sterling shooting and the ambush on police.

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But Richmond says Holden is the one who has been missing in action.

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Here’s today’s commodities…

Cut: MiniPig

Very hot temperatures are hanging on big time this week, so the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging everyone to take caution. GOHSEP Director Jim Waskom says it’s very important to drink lots of water and take frequent breaks in the shade…:
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Forecasters predict this pattern to carry on into the fall as a heat dome is covering a large part of the country.

A state record was set at the Secretary of State’s office during the first day of qualifying, as 52 people entered one of the federal races. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says open seats for high office always draw large fields. But he says it could be voter frustration as well that’s embodied by the Trump movement…:
cut 10 (05) “incumbents”
Qualifying ends Friday, and Dubos says we could see even more people join the race between now and then.

The 2nd Congressional District race is already heating up, as verbal blows were exchanged between the candidates at qualifying. Halen Doughty has more…:
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The Louisiana Department of Health has received confirmation of one additional case of Zika virus. The patient had traveled to a region with ongoing Zika transmission and sought medical care in Louisiana after returning, where tests confirmed the viral infection. This is the ninth case of travel-associated Zika confirmed in Louisiana. There have been no confirmed cases of local transmission within Louisiana.

Three prominent republicans are the among the 15 that have put down their names on the ballot for the US Senate seat, and all of them think they have what it takes to represent Louisiana in Washington…
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The blood drive to honor the three officers who were killed in a shootout with a gunman over the weekend is now underway at the Capitol. One of the first people to arrive and donate this morning was Governor John Bel Edwards. The donation bus will be parked outside of the building until 2:30 this afternoon.

Governor John Bel Edwards says after all the violence we’ve seen in the past few weeks, it’s time to turn away from hate and look towards peace and love. He say we have a large percentage of our population that is incarcerated and we have to start looking at other states that have strategies proven effective at reducing their incarceration rates and saving money.
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Edwards says a community memorial is set for next Thursday to honor the three law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the ambush this weekend.

As Senator David Vitter is leaving politics shortly and Bobby Jindal is out of office, many are wondering who is the face of the Louisiana Republican Party. Some are pointing to Steve Scalise but ULM political science professor Dr. John Sutherlin says the House Majority Whip is the third-ranking Republican in the Congress, but isn’t well known everywhere.
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