Republican candidate, Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt qualified for the governor’s race today. After qualifying, reporters asked about her stance on abortion. The state lawmaker says she’s pro-life, but seemed open to allowing for more exceptions in the state’s near-total abortion ban….

Cut 11 (11)  “….issues” 

Hewitt is the fourth main candidate to qualify for governor. Landry qualifies this afternoon and tomorrow Republicans Stephen Waguespack and Richard Nelson will qualify.

A bite from a Lone Star tick can cause people to have a red meat allergy. Dr. James Diaz with LSU Health New Orleans says the tick can transmit chemicals from animals they feed on and one of those chemicals is Alpha-gal.

Cut 6 (11) “…and lamb.” 

He says in the US it’s spread by a Lone Star tick, which has a white spot on its back, that feeds predominately on White Tail Deer.

Louisiana Department of Health has released the first round of bonus payments to over 15 thousand direct support workers for serving waiver patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. LDH Assistant Secretary Julie Foster Hagen says they will check for additional eligible workers after running reports for June and July. She says these bonuses are to retain workers for their dedication and services to vulnerable residents in the state during the pandemic

Cut 5 (08) “ to live”

DSW workers payments will be disbursed directly from the provider agency. And self-direct workers will get paid through a fiscal agent.

Governor John Bel Edwards has asked the Pardon Board to hear the 56 cases from death row inmates seeking clemency. The Board refused to hear the cases, stating rules the cases had to be filed within a year of their last appeal ruling. The cases were filed after Governor Edwards stated he opposes the death penalty.

The Saints are continuing fall training camp sessions, but the schedule has slightly changed for tomorrow’s portion. The last open portion of fall camp was scheduled for Thursday August 10^th but it has been cancelled due to the extreme heat. Coach Dennis Allen says this about practicing in the heat and if they will continue to in the future.

Cut 26 (17) “…it is right now.”

The Saints drafted defensive tackle Bryan Bressee in the first round of the 2023 draft and Isiah Foskey out of Notre Dame and the second round to beef up the defensive line. Allen says that he has seen production from the group as a whole in the practices so far.

Cut 27 (10)

LSU football had an off day today, but will practice on Thursday through Saturday. The team has plenty of running backs on the roster for the new season and Coach Brian Kelly says how he thinks the group will work itself out for the season.

Cut 18 (08)

Kelly also gave an update on defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey’s health condition and says that he plans on being out of the hospital this week. For more information on the running back room go to TigerRag.com and check out the podcast for more topics on LSU sports, including interviews from Coach Kelly and more.

Louisiana Tech is tweaking their mascot name for their women’s sports. All sports besides women’s basketball will now be referred to as the Bulldogs. The women’s basketball team will continue to be called the Lady Techsters. Athletic director and vice president Eric A Wood said that “The Lady Techseters nickname and script logo is a national brand synonymous with our women’s basketball program. Lady Techsters will now only belong to them.”

Republican State Senator Sharon Hewitt officially joined the race for governor today. She’s not getting much support in the polls and Hewitt criticizes the state Republican Party for endorsing Landry well before qualifying.

Cut 10 (09)  “…this election”

Hewitt is the fourth main candidate to qualify for governor. Landry qualifies this afternoon and tomorrow Republicans Stephen Waguespack and Richard Nelson will qualify.

The Louisiana Department of Health is set to give bonus payments to more than 14 thousand eligible direct support workers who served waiver participants during the pandemic. LDH Assistant Secretary Julie Foster Hagen says workers have to be currently employed with an agency and meet certain requirements….

Cut 3 (12) “… a month.”

Workers will receive payments within two to four weeks.  A second round of payments will go out in August and September.

Cases of Alpha-gal syndrome are on the uptick, and persons infected are allergic to red meat. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (34)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards calls for the state’s Board of Pardons to hear the clemency applications from 56 death row inmates seeking to have their sentences commuted. Edwards’s announcement comes after the Pardon Board returned the applications citing they would violate their own rules to hear them within a year of their final approval. Earlier this year inmates on death row flooded the Pardon Board with requests. Prosecutors statewide have come out against clearing the state’s death row. Only two clemency requests have been granted since the death penalty was instated in the 1970s.

Louisiana Department of Health has released the first round of bonus payments to over 15 thousand direct support workers statewide who served waiver participants during the pandemic. LDH Assistant Secretary Julie Foster Hagen points out workers must be currently employed and meet certain guidelines to qualify….

Cut 3 (12) “… a month.”

The payments are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which included one trillion dollars in federal funding to support working families during the pandemic.

Did you know that a tick bite could cause you to be allergic to red meat? Dr. James Diaz with LSU Health New Orleans says when a Lone Star tick bites a human it can transmit chemicals from animals they feed on and one of those chemicals is Alpha-gal.

Cut 6 (12) “…and lamb.” 

He says in the US it’s spread by a Lone Star tick, which has a white spot on its back, that feeds predominately on White Tail Deer.

Governor John Bel Edwards calls for the state’s Board of Pardons to hear the clemency applications from 56 death row inmates seeking to have their sentences commuted. Edwards’s announcement comes after the Pardon Board returned the applications citing they would violate their own rules to hear them within a year of their final approval. Earlier this year inmates on death row flooded the Pardon Board with requests. Prosecutors statewide have come out against clearing the state’s death row. Only two clemency requests have been granted since the death penalty was instated in the 1970s.

Despite reports that the New Orleans Saints were expected to sign running back Kareem Hunt and linebacker Anthony Barr after visiting, both players are meeting with other teams.

The Saints’ practice on Thursday is now closed to the public due to the extreme heat. The practice will be moved to the team’s indoor practice facility and will not be public because of space limitations.

Former LSU and Lutcher High School wide receiver Jontre Kirklin signed with the Saints recently and says why he likes Pete Carmichael’s offense.

Cut 20 (12) “…need to do.”

He actually tried out with the Saints last year as a defensive back, and played with the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in the Spring, but his season ended early after tearing his pectoral muscle. He lost his stepfather back in April and says what coming back to his hometown team means to his friends and family.

Cut 19 (14) “…here to play ball man.”

LSU football is only a few weeks away from their season opener against Florida State in Orlando. The starting cornerback position has been up for grabs, but coach Brian Kelly his encouraged by Syracuse transfer, Duce Chesnut’s, performance in practice.

Cut 16 (20) “…making progress.”

LSU basketball continues their exhibition tour in the Bahamas by beating the Raw Talent Elite team 120-59 and improve to 2-0 in the country. LSU shot for 61% from the field and 7 of 21 from the three point line. Their next and final game of the tour will be today at 1 pm against Argentina’s Obras Sanitarias.

The Ascension Parish U12 Little League season ended Tuesday after losing in the final game of the Southwest regional.

Three of the seven candidates running for governor are promising voters a better Bayou State if elected. Shortly after qualifying for the October 14th ballot, Republican State Treasurer John Schroder shared his priorities …

Cut 13 (15) “…cronyism.”

The only Democrat in the race, former state transportation secretary Shawn Wilson believes he is the right candidate to serve the people of Louisiana.

Cut 14 (14)  “…and girl.” 

Republicans Jeff Landry and Sharon Hewitt are set to qualify today, while Richard Nelson and Stephen Waguespack will qualify Thursday.

Republican Tim Temple and Democrat rich weaver have registered to run for Insurance Commissioner.  This is Temple’s second run for the seat. He says changes must be made to the regulatory, statutory, and legal environments in Louisiana and questions the success of the current Insure Louisiana Incentive Program.

Cut 9 (07)  “…legislation.”

Longtime Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, who’s served 17 years at the helm announced earlier this year that he’s not seeking reelection.

Parents are recommended to get their infants under 8 months a new vaccine to protect against the respiratory virus RSV, according to CDC. LSU Health Science Center Assistant Professor, Doctor Cory Hebert says infants and older babies are at higher risk…

Cut 4 (11)  “… then five.”

The vaccine is expected to be available this fall.

The frontrunner in the governor’s race, Jeff Landry, is expected to qualify for the October 14th primary today. Three of his main opponents signed up for the race yesterday. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (40)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Sharon Hewitt and Jeff Landry are expected to qualify today. Stephen Waguespack and Richard Nelson are expected to get qualify tomorrow.

For the first time, many babies in the U.S. will be eligible to get a shot to ward off the respiratory virus RSV. LSU Health Science Center Assistant Professor, Doctor Cory Hebert says the virus is transmissible and in worst cases, it can be fatal.

Cut 5 (12)   “…of age.”

The new vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of both hospitalizations and healthcare visits for RSV in infants by 80 percent and will be available by the fall.

Democrat Dustin Granger and Republican Scott McKnight officially registered to run for State Treasurer. Granger says the state treasurer is a fiduciary of the state and is constitutionally required to be honest. He questions why his opponents and other politicians play political games.

Cut 10 (10) “…move forward.”

Incumbent Treasurer John Schroder is running for governor.

Qualifying began today for the governor’s race and we heard from three of the candidates seeking to replace Governor John Bel Edwards. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Also, Billy Nungessor picked up a couple of challengers in his race for Lt. Governor. Real estate investor, Tami Hotard of Madisonville is running as a Republican. And retired chief criminal deputy of the St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s Office, Chester Pritchett of Roseland is running as an independent.

Qualifying began today and State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain registered to run for re-election as he’s seeking a fifth term. Strain says farmers help feed the world and food production has increased fourfold statewide. He says it must be streamlined and protect the environment at the same time.

Cut 10 (11)  “…same time.”

Hospitalizations have doubled since June 22nd and COVID-positive rates have climbed to 19 percent, according to The state Department of Health. Director of Infectious Diseases at LSU Health New Orleans, Doctor Julio Figueroa says Omicron is still in the community and highly transmissible.

Cut 13 (12) “…large gatherings.”

Over 19-thousand people have died from the virus.

The New Orleans Saints are expected to sign free agent running back Kareem Hunt and linebacker Anthony Barr for the 2023 season. The Saint’s running back room took a hit last week when the NFL announced the suspension of Alvin Kamara for the first three games, and Hunt could fill that need. Barr would add linebacker depth after the departure of Kaden Ellis in the offseason.

LSU’s head football coach Brian Kelly spoke with the media after today’s practice and gave an update on defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey’s medical situation.

Cut 26 (10) “…for him.”

During Monday’s practice there was a fight that broke out among players, but Kelly thinks of it more as a learning experience than anything else.

Cut 27 (12) “…21 year olds.”

LSU men’s basketball is over in the Bahamas right now in an exhibition tour. They recently beat the Puerto Rican national team 86-82 backed behind Tyrell Ward’s 19 points. The Tiger are set to play two more games in the Bahamas before heading back to Baton Rouge.

Louisiana Tech baseball will be playing in the inaugural Battle at the Ballpark in Sugarland, Texas from  March 1^st to the 3^rd next year. The four team tournament will include LA Tech along with Army, Air Force, and Creighton in a round robin style tournament with two games being played every day.

Former Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater signed a contract to play with the Detroit Lions. He will most likely be backing up Jared Goff at the position. Bridgewater is reuniting with former Saints assistant head coach Dan Campbell.

The Saints will play their first preseason game of the year on Sunday August 13^th at noon against the Kansas City Chiefs and Head Coach Dennis Allen plans to play his starters.

The college football preseason coach’s poll was recently unveiled and LSU comes in ranked at #5. LSU 2023 opponents that also got ranked in the poll were Alabama at #3, Ole Miss at #22, Texas A&M at #25, and their week one matchup, Florida State, at #8.

The coach’s poll reflects the high expectations for this year’s LSU team, and defensive end Sai’vion Jones says that the entire defensive line shares that similar idea.

Cut 16 (14) “…for all of us.”

LSU has been in the college football spotlight all offseason as a title contender, and Jones says they can play with anyone in the country.

Cut 18 (18) “…passionate we is.”

The New Orleans Saints have a day off today and will resume practice on Wednesday, and they have their first preseason game scheduled for noon on Sunday the 13^th against the Kansas City Chiefs.

What group of players competing in the each preseason game varies for each team, but Allen cleared up who he expects to play on Sunday.

Cut 26 (7) “…and the third.”

Tight end Juwan Johnson has been in the rotation for first team reps in the past mostly as a pass catcher, but this year he expects to play as a blocker as well. He says that tight end Jimmy Graham joining the team helped him learn that roll.

Cut 20 (16) “…I can be”

The Saints unofficial depth chart is expected to be released soon, and their first regular season game in Sunday Sept. 10 against Tennessee.