Gun rights groups are hoping a last-second push will help get a veto override of legislation that would remove the need to get a permit to concealed carry over the finish line when the veto override session begins tomorrow. Matt Herriman with the NRA says they’re trying to convince skeptical lawmakers that this won’t lead to increased gun violence…

Cut 4 (09) “…particular crime”

Bill author West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says the override effort is a “50/50” right now.

Louisiana’s construction industry is now down 21 thousand jobs from February of 2020.  Louisiana Associated General Contractors C-E-O Ken Naquin says the President’s moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales is playing a big role in the slow recovery…

Cut 9 (07) “…rebounded since.”

Nearly eleven months after southwest Louisiana was struck by Hurricane Laura, still no disaster aid funding from Congress Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington” 

The state is now enduring a fourth surge in COVID cases, this time propelled by the more virulent Delta variant. Hospitalizations are up nearly 500 from the start of the month and positivity rates are back over ten percent for the first time since the winter surge. Despite this dramatic rise the Governor says he has no plans, as of now, to reinstitute COVID restrictions.

Lawmakers will gavel in the historic veto override session tomorrow at noon. The soon-to-be-spectacle has brought in attention from around the country, particularly from gun rights groups that want Governor Edwards’ veto of legislation allowing permit-less concealed carry overturned. Matt Herriman with the NRA says the bill had supermajority support in the regular session and he’s confident that support will remain…

Cut 5 (11) “…the house”

It will take a two-thirds majority vote, 70 in the House and 26 in the Senate to overturn the governor’s veto of the legislation.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the city is growing increasingly peeved about the Congressional failure to approve a Hurricane Laura disaster relief bill…

Cut 8 (07) “…Louisiana”

Louisiana has seen a 15 percent drop in construction jobs since last February, the second-worst decline in the country. Louisiana Associated General Contractors C-E-O Ken Naquin says that’s 21-thousand fewer jobs, mostly due to supply chain woes…

Cut 10 (11) “…that work.”

Naquin says another factor is the ongoing moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales.

The state has seen a dramatic increase in COVID community spread since the start of July. We’re now up to 711 COVID-related hospitalizations after beginning the month at only 259 and positivity rates on tests statewide have now crossed the 10 percent mark. The cases are disproportionally involving younger people, 25 percent of the nearly 4,000 cases reported over the past few days were those aged 18-29. Only 22 percent of those in that age group are fully vaccinated. 

Tomorrow at noon lawmakers will return to the Capitol for a historic veto override session. Gun rights groups are hoping that means Governor Edwards’ veto of legislation removing the need to have a concealed carry permit will get overturned despite objections from law enforcement groups who say it will lead to more gun violence. Matt Herriman with the NRA…

Cut 4 (09) “…particular crime”

A supermajority of lawmakers approved the bill in the regular session.

The State Fire Marshal reports a slight uptick in home fire fatalities compared to last year. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says that’s partially been linked to a rise in distracted cooking-related fires…

Cut 12 (11) “..forgetting”.

Close to 11 months after southwest Louisiana was struck by Hurricane Laura, the City of Lake Charles has yet to receive supplemental disaster aid. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington” 

A historic veto override session kicks off tomorrow at noon and gun rights advocates are hoping lawmakers will overturn the Governor’s rejection of legislation that would allow Louisianans 21 and older without a record to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Matt Herriman with the NRA…

Cut 3 (09) “…get started” 

That legislation passed in the regular session with supermajority levels of support.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter made pleas for federal help on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster” this morning. Hunter says it’s been nearly eleven months since Hurricane Laura but the federal government has yet to approve a federal disaster aid bill.

Cut 6 (11) “…not yet”

LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Clinical Medicine Dr. Catherine O’Neal says the new Delta variant of COVID that’s now circulating through the state poses a bigger threat to unvaccinated individuals because it features a mutation that allows it to hide in your body for longer before it is detected.

Cut 16 (12) “…alive” 

Despite this new threat Governor Edwards says he is not considering reinstating previous COVID restrictions.

A new report shows 21-thousand fewer construction jobs in Louisiana compared to February 2020. The 15-percent loss is the second-highest in the country. Louisiana Associated General Contractors C-E-O Ken Naquin says the pandemic slowed down the chemical industry and the oil and gas industry is reeling from the President’s executive order that prohibits new oil and gas exploration

Cut 9 (07) “…rebounded since.”

Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata was hit with a six game suspension for allegedly violating the NFL’s banned substance policy. On Instagram Onyemata said he’s surprised and disappointed with this news, but he’s responsible for what he puts in his body. He says he never knowingly took anything to cause a positive test. No word on what the substance was.

Saints safety Marcus Williams will play the 2021 season on the franchise tag after failing to reach a long-term contract with New Orleans by yesterday’s 3 PM deadline. Williams will make about 13-million dollars this season.

Louisiana Tech has signed men’s basketball coach Eric Konkol to a contract extension that would keep him in Ruston through the 2025-26 season. In six seasons at Tech, Konkol has a 129-and-65 record. The Bulldogs have won 20-plus games in five of those seasons.

The NBA finals continues Saturday with the Bucks and Suns tied at two games apiece.

Louisianans in 47 parishes can now play online fantasy sports through Draft Kings after the Gaming Control Board approved a license for them. State Police Gaming Division Audit Director Jeff Traylor says an audit of DraftKings finances shows they’ve been losing money for years but that’s not a real problem for the state given their online-only presence.

Cut 15 (10)“..years.”

DraftKings launched the first mobile fantasy gaming app in 2013 and is available in 43 states.

Devin Fontenot returns to the Tigers under new head coach Jay Johnson with the goal of being a starting pitcher next year…

cut 18 (18) “…better”

For the first time since the state constitution was adopted in the early 70s lawmakers will hold a veto override session.  Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says expect this media circus to center on bills involving transgender athletes and concealed carry, who pieces of legislation that had supermajority support in the regular session. That means the Governor has an uphill fight ahead of him…

Cut 8 (09) “…for this”

The session kicks off July 20^th.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards will lie in state at the Capitol Saturday. Edwards biographer Leo Honeycutt says the ceremony is set to begin at 10 AM.

Cut 3 (7) “…of Memorial Hall” 

The four-term Governor passed away Monday at 93 after entering hospice care a week earlier.

Hospitalizations for COVID-related symptoms are up 59 from yesterday as the Delta variant tears through the unvaccinated population. Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s not considering implementing COVID restrictions to stop the surge, instead the state is going to focus on improving its abysmal 50 percent vaccination rate for adults…

Cut 14 (12) “…has been increasing” 

1,600 new COVID positive tests were reported today.

AARP’s latest dashboard shows less than 6-percent of Louisiana nursing homes have 75 percent of their staff vaccinated. AARP State Director Denise Botcher says Botcher says if you have a family member residing at an assisted living facility, you should remain vigilant as the Delta variant becomes more prevalent.

Cut  11 (11) “…nursing homes.” 

Lawmakers are heading back to Baton Rouge next week for the first veto session since the new constitution was adopted in the early 70s. 28 bills were vetoed by Governor Edwards but political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says energy for the session is really being generated by one bill, legislation that would bar transgender athletes from girls and women’s sports teams. Pinsonat says that bill will start in the Upper Chamber…

Cut 7 (09) “…social issues.”

The veto session will begin Tuesday.

Recently departed Governor Edwin Edwards will lie in state at the Capitol Saturday before having a private funeral service Sunday. Edwards biographer Leo Honeycutt says he hopes Louisianans will use this time to reflect on everything Edwards accomplished…

Cut 5 (11) “…for the state”

Governor John Bel Edwards says half of all Louisiana adults have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is good, but not good enough. Erik Piccoli has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Erik Piccoli”.  

A 30-year New Orleans Police veteran and a 17-year-old Hammond High student were the first two winners in the state’s vaccine incentive lottery program. 82-year-old New Orleanian Clement Dasalla won a $100,000 and Skyla Degrasse scored $100,000 in scholarship money that will be paid into a START account. 

Lawmakers will return to the Capitol Tuesday for a historic veto override session. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards says half of all Louisiana adults have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is good, but not good enough. Erik Piccoli has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Erik Piccoli”.  

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Former Governor Edwin Edwards will lie in state at the State Capitol  Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. He will be the 5th governor to lie in state, a distinction that Edwards biographer Leo Honeycutt says is decided by the speaker of the house and president of the senate…

Cut 3 (7) “…of Memorial Hall” 

Edwards passed away Monday at 93 after entering hospice care a week earlier.

Due to the Delta variant fueled the surge in COVID cases Sunday’s funeral service will be closed to the public but streamed live by Louisiana Public Broadcasting. Honeycutt says that Edwards would have preferred an open service…

Cut 4 (11) “…about such things”

On Sunday Edwards will be escorted to the Old State Capitol by horse-drawn carriage, law enforcement motorcade, and the Southern University Marching Band. Honeycutt hopes that Louisianians will remember all the good Edwards did…

Cut 5 (11) “…for the state”

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Louisiana lawmakers will hold a veto session for the first time since the current state Constitution was enacted in 1974. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says capitol observers have expected an override session ever since the governor vetoed a bill that would prohibit transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports…

Cut 6 (09) “..override”

The veto session will begin Tuesday and cannot exceed five calendar days. Only 12 members of the Senate and 35 House members voted against holding the session and a majority vote in either chamber would have canceled it.

Pinsonat says all eyes are on the Senate.

Cut 7 (09) “…social issues.”

Pinsonat says the bipartisan legislation involving transgender athletes cleared the Legislature with enough support to override a veto if that support holds. That means the Governor has an uphill fight ahead of him…

Cut 8 (09) “…for this”

Pinsonat says the chances of the veto involving concealed carry legislation being overturned are much lower due to the lack of public support for the bill.

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AARP’s latest dashboard shows less than 6-percent of Louisiana nursing homes meet the industry benchmark for staff vaccinations. AARP State Director Denise Botcher says the benchmark is having 75-percent of staff fully vaccinated.

Cut 9 (09) “…that level.”

In Louisiana, only 41-percent of nursing home staff are fully vaccinated compared to 79-percent of residents.

Botcher says thirty-five percent of nursing homes in Louisiana also report a staffing shortage, which she says can only be exacerbated if unvaccinated workers become ill.

Cut 10 (09) “…care for.”

On a positive note, there has been a significant drop in cases and deaths among nursing homes residents, but Botcher says if you have a family member residing at an assisted living facility, you should remain vigilant as the Delta variant becomes more prevalent.

Cut  11 (11) “…nursing homes.” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards announced the first batch of winners of the “Shot at a Million” lottery. Edwards said the $100,000 cash winner was 82-year-old New Orleanian Clement Dasalla who was a 30 year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department…

Cut 12 (6) “…to be vaccinated

Edwards also announced Skyla Degrasse was the winner of a $100,000 scholarship. Edwards said the 17-year-old from Hammond high school intends to go to Southeastern University…

Cut 13 (11) “…account for Sandra”

Those who received at least one vaccine shot can sign up at shotatmillion.com and register for next week’s drawing. Drawings will be held every Friday this month with a million-dollar grand prize drawing in August.

Edwards also says half of all Louisianians have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. Edwards said that number just isn’t high enough to stop the new surge in cases we are seeing.

Cut 14 (12) “…has been increasing” 

1,600 new COVID positive tests were reported today. There was also a dramatic 59 person increase in COVID-related hospitalizations today putting us at 563 across the state, the highest level since the start of March.

The first two winners of the state’s vaccine lottery incentive program were announced: an 82-year-old man New Orleanian and a 17-year-old girl from Hammond. Governor Edwards says he spoke with Clement Dasalla, a 30 veteran of the NOPD about his 100,000 dollar win…

Cut 12 (6) “…to be vaccinated

Those who received at least one vaccine shot can sign up at shotatmillion.com.

Lawmakers will return to Baton Rouge Tuesday for a historic veto override session. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says bills involving transgender athletes and concealed carry will take center stage, and both bills received two thirds support in the regular session…

Cut 8 (09) “…for this”

The Bayou State ranks at the top when it comes to something few like to pay. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”