Governor Jeff Landry has announced the extension of Operation Lone Star and will deploy more Louisiana National Guard engineers to the southern border on July 15th. LANG spokesperson Lt. Col. Noel Collins says this reflects the state’s commitment to collaborating with Texas in addressing border security issues and highlights the growing scope of the operation.

cut 5 (08) “…respond to that.”

Hurricane Beryl remains a Category 4 as it barrels towards Jamaica and Central America. Newly appointed state climatologist Jay Grymes says Beryl is expected to turn towards the Gulf early next week, but tells Louisianans not to worry.

cut 12 (11) “…(x2) Louisiana.”

Beryl is expected to hit the Texas-Mexico border as a tropical storm on Monday.

Angola has been ordered to improve conditions for inmates required to work on the farm line. Federal Judge Brian Jackson told the prison to quickly correct what he called quote “glaring deficiencies of their heat-related policies.” Promise of Justice Initiative Legal Director Colin Reingold…

cut 9 (10) “…the farm line.”

The State Department of Corrections says the work conducted on the farm line falls under constitutional and industrial standards, and they plan to appeal the ruling.

 
Fourth of July means BBQs and fireworks but it’s not always a great time for pets. LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Communications Manager Ginger Gutner says if you know your pet will be anxious because of fireworks, contact your vet to discuss what you can do to help alleviate that…

cut 7 (09) “…muffled.”

Thursday night’s presidential debate was a memorable one. Mel Bridges has the details from Tulane Associate Professor of Political Science Brian Brox.

Cut 1 (31) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

______________________________________

To safeguard the public from imported seafood that’s contaminated and help the state’s seafood industry, Congressman Troy Carter introduces a bill with Congressman Clay Higgins. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (27)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

______________________________________

The first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign season was last night, leaving Americans with a wide array of feelings about the two likely presidential nominees. Tulane Associate Professor of Political Science Brian Brox says former President Trump delivered about what was expected from him…

Cut 3 (09) “…rallies.”

However, Brox says President Biden, who was looking to dispel rumors about his poor mental abilities, had much worse stage presence than Trump.

Cut 4 (11) “…campaign.”

Ultimately, Brox thinks this debate is only likely to swing undecided voters, and he stresses there’s plenty of time between now and the election for Biden’s campaign to recover. Plus, he says, this debate was more style than substance.

Cut 5 (07)  “…the future.”

The next presidential debate will be in September.

_________________________________________________________

Congressman Troy Carter introduces bipartisan legislation with Congressman Clay Higgins to protect Americans from contaminated seafood. He says far too often foreign products that fail inspections are not destroyed and make it back into the food chain. The bill empowers the FDA to close the loophole and destroy imports that are…

Cut 6 (12) “…seafood does.”

He says the bill protects consumers and the state’s seafood industry. Carter says the cheaper imports cut into the profits of Louisiana Seafood farmers who are following the safety guidelines.

Cut 7 (08) “… the right thing.”  

Carter says this bipartisan bill demonstrates while he and Higgins might not agree philosophically on everything…

Cut 8 (10)  “…get things done.”

Carter says the bill would better protect consumers from contamination and Louisiana’s seafood industry.

__________________________________________________________

New Orleans Democrat Representative Mandie Landry posted her thoughts about the presidential debate on social media. She says said even though she couldn’t watch it on TV and get the full impact she did watch it on her cellphone.

Cut 9 (12) “…just unfortunate.”

Because of the extreme differences in the personalities of President Biden and former President Trump, Landry says she wasn’t surprised how they came across. She believes Biden…

Cut 10 (16) “…of himself.”

Amid talk that the Democratic Party could opt to choose another nominee instead of Biden, Landry still believes the current administration is the better option.

Cut 11 (10) ” …post-COVID world.”

____________________________________________________________________

Hometown hero Alyson Habetz was introduced today as U-L Lafayette’s new head softball coach. Habetz had a Hall of Fame playing career as a Cajuns softball player and after a 25-year run as an assistant coach at Alabama, she’s back home at her alma mater

Cut 12 (11) “… wow.” 

Habetz helped lead the Cajuns to the Women’s College World Series in 1993 and won a national championship in 2012 as Alabama’s associate head coach. She takes over a program that’s dominated the Sun Belt Conference but has not been to the W-C-W-S since 2014…

cut  13 (11) “…(applause).” 

Former head coach Gerry Glasco’s decision to leave the program for Texas Tech led to several players entering the transfer portal, including Sun Belt Player of the Year Mihyia Davis, Sun Belt newcomer of the year Brooke Ellestad, Lauren Allred and catcher Victoria Valdez. Habetz says she spoke to those players about staying at U-L

Cut  14 (12) “..stay together.” 

The first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign season was last night. Tulane Associate Professor of Political Science Brian Brox says while former President Trump delivered about what was expected from him, President Biden, who was looking to dispel rumors about his poor mental abilities, had much worse stage presence.

cut 4 (11) “…campaign.”

Congressman Troy Carter introduces bipartisan legislation with Congressman Clay Higgins to protect Americans from contaminated seafood. He says far too often foreign products that fail inspections are not destroyed and make it back into the food chain. The bill empowers the FDA to close the loophole and destroy imports that are…

cut 6 (12) “…seafood does.”

 
Former New Orleans Saints Safety Steve Gleason who founded Team Gleason after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2011 is being honored with the 2024 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS. Colleen Crain has more.

cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

LSU fans who donated to the College World Series Jell-o Shot Challenge helped the Tigers place third in the overall competition money-wise this year even though they weren’t in Omaha. Mike Manning with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank says Because Louisiana is number one in childhood and senior food insecurity…

cut 15 (06) “…situation.”

Tonight is the first presidential debate for the 2024 presidential election season, but the candidates are the same from 2020. Brooke Thorington has more from political strategist James Carville.

cut 2 (26) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor Jeff Landry appoints Dr. Ralph Abraham as the state’s first Surgeon General, who says he intends to focus on mental health.

cut 5 (12) “…deal with.”

Ultimately, Abraham says he wants to change policies that have been holding the state back from providing better healthcare.

 
LSU fans who donated to the College World Series Jell-o Shot Challenge helped the Tigers place third in the overall competition money-wise this year even though they weren’t in Omaha. Mike Manning with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank says LSU fans donated almost 93-hundred dollars.

cut 13 (10) “…everyone else.”

Ascension Parish deputies are investigating the murder of a Gonzales woman and have arrested her husband, 50-year-old Sean Morris. Morris is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 44-year-old Brenda Morris. Col. Donald Cappello says Ascension Parish is blessed with a low crime rate, but sadly this is the second domestic homicide they’ve investigated in the last few weeks.

cut 8 (11) “…call 9-1-1.”

You can also call the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence hotline for help at 1-888-411-1333.

Governor Jeff Landry appoints Dr. Ralph Abraham as the state’s first Surgeon General. Abraham says Louisiana spends on average the same per patient as other states do per county…

cut 3 (12) “…person’s health.”

 
Ascension Parish deputies have arrested 50-year-old Sean Morris in the investigation into his wife’s murder. Col. Donald Capello with the APSO says they received multiple 9-1-1 calls of shots being fired last night and when they arrived, they found 44-year-old Brenda Morris dead. Sean has been charged with second-degree murder and Capello says he’s no stranger to law enforcement.

cut 7 (11) “…some time.”

Tonight is the first debate for the 2024 presidential election season and political strategist James Carville believes President Biden and former President Trump need to tell the audience three things about themselves — including two new things —, two new things about their opponent and, above all, stay focused.

cut 11 (05) “…that debate.”

The debate airs on CNN at 8 PM.

 
Former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason will receive the 2024 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at this year’s ESPYs. Gleason, who played for the Saints from 2000 to 2008, was diagnosed with ALS, a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that eventually robs a person of breathing, talking or moving, in 2011. Gleason and his wife Michel founded the nonprofit Team Gleason following his diagnosis to improve life for others living with ALS. This year’s ESPYS will air live on Thursday, July 11 at 7 PM.

Former President Donald Trump will be in New Orleans today for a fundraiser hosted by two of Louisiana’s biggest Republican donors, Boysie Bollinger and Joe Canizaro. Bollinger says Trump is confident he will win Louisiana like he did in 2020, so he’s stopping by to raise campaign funds, not to campaign.
cut 13 (08) “…doing that.”

 
Beginning January 1st, teachers must undergo a criminal background check with the state to receive certification. If a certified teacher is convicted of a crime, like violence or harm against children, after they are employed, Arthur Joffrion (Joe-free-on) with the Louisiana Department of Education says the Louisiana State Police, who conduct the background checks, would notify the department and the teacher’s employer, which would automatically keep a certified teacher out of the classroom.
cut 4 (09) “…agency.”
The new policy is a result of legislation passed in 2023.

 
Cleco customers will see a rate increase next month of around five dollars, which will jump to 13 dollars in October. Spokesperson Fran Phoenix says the rise is necessary to curb inflation and increased operating and maintenance costs. However, PSC Davante Lewis, who voted against the increase, says Cleco recently lost a contract selling power to another Louisiana power company…
cut 8 (07) “…ratepayers.”

 
Former LSU sprinter Sha’Carri Richarson is heading to the Paris Olympics as a favorite to win a Gold Medal after a 10.71 second sprint in the 100-meters at the U.S. track trials in Oregon. Richardson is one of the biggest track stars in the world, and her one-month suspension for testing positive for cannabis was a huge story in 2021. Richardson says she never stopped believing in herself.
cut 11 (11) “…your last.”

As Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law is making national headlines it also faces litigation. Brooke Thorington has more.
cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

 
The Louisiana National Guard wrapped up its third rotation to support Operation Lone Star. Louisiana provided three rotations of roughly 50 National Guard Soldiers who spent 90 days straight assisting Texas in reducing illegal border crossings along sections of the Texas-Mexico border.

Baton Rouge Representative Dixon McMakin is calling for an overhaul of Louisiana’s AMBER Alert system after Police records showed it took 3 hours to issue an alert after Erin and Jalie Brunett were reported missing last week. McMakin says part of the rework would make sure alert requests always go through to a real person.

cut 4 (12) “…hour or two.”

Six-year-old Jalie was found alive in Mississippi but four-year-old Erin was killed by their kidnapper.

 
Governor Landry has signed legislation giving the Louisiana Workforce Commission the responsibility of spearheading state workforce changes and solutions. LWC Secretary Susana Schowen (sh-ow as in ouch-en) says Senate Bill 293…
cut 9 (12) “…employers.”

The new law requiring public classrooms to display the Ten Commandments is already facing a legal challenge. Loyola University Law professor Dane Ciolino says the law may violate the First Amendment, despite being written to display the Ten Commandments for historical, not religious, purposes.

cut 3 (12) “…establishment clause.”

Three organizations say they plan to file a joint lawsuit against the law.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission has ordered SWEPCO to issue 23-million dollars in refunds to its 240-thousand customers in 12 northwest Louisiana parishes. Commissioner Foster Campbell says SWEPCO customers deserve that refund because of an accounting error.
cut 12 (08) “…to be.”
Ragin’ Cajun’s Softball head coach Gary Glasco took the head coaching position at Texas Tech. Sean Richardson has more.

cut 2 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A 1-million dollar gift from the family of Clifford Smith to Nicholls State University will create the William Clifford Smith School of Engineering, which is set to start in August. Dean of the College of Science and Technology Dr. John Doucet…

cut 7 (09) “…in the region.”

Governor Jeff Landry vetoed House Bill 423 which sought to limit damages a jury can award to victims in auto accidents. Jeff Palermo reports  Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says this is a bad move.

cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

 
A Slidell man is charged with 11 counts of video voyeurism for putting at least one hidden camera in his guest bathroom. In addition, police found evidence that 31-year-old Jonathan Bethancourt had posted similar cameras at his condo in Orange Beach, Alabama.

 
Starting tomorrow, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will enforce several new limits on catching red drum in an attempt to curb overfishing. LDWF Director of Marine Fisheries Chris Schieble (sheeble) says the new regulations aren’t anything too crazy.
cut 4 (06) “…of four.”
Additionally, caught red drum now must be between 18 and 27 inches.

 
Governor Jeff Landry signed the LA GATOR Scholarship Program into law earlier today, which will provide vouchers for more parents to send their kids to better schools. Bill author Senator Rick Edmonds of Baton Rouge says GATOR will look similar to the current voucher program for low-income students and students in low-rated schools.
cut 7 (07) “…funded.”
The plan is to eventually expand GATOR to cover students of all incomes and schools. Phase one of GATOR is set to start for the 2025-26 school year.

A tragic ending to an Amber Alert that was issued earlier today, the man who kidnapped two young girls this morning from Loranger has been arrested in Jackson, Mississippi. The Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office says Daniel Callahan is believed to have killed the girls’ mother, 35-year-old Callie Brunett, with whom he was in a relationship and her four-year-old daughter, Erin Brunette. Authorities say Callahan led officers to his car, where 6-year-old Jalie Brunnett was found alive, and then to the body of 4-year-old.

The Community Lighthouse Project is set to open more facilities across Louisiana just in time for hurricane season. Representative Troy Carter of New Orleans, who donated almost 4 million dollars to the project last year, says the lighthouses will be more than just a place to charge phones, as they will also provide air conditioning and fresh food and water in the event of a community power outage.

cut 4 (09) “…lives.”

To see a full map of the pilot proposal, visit togethernola.org/clhproject.

BESE approves a new performance plan for schools and students called the “Grow. Achieve.Thrive” plan, set to start in the 2025-26 school year.

cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Even though the LSU Baseball team lost their shot at the College World Series this year, Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina Manager Pat McAvoy says they know the fanbase will still rise to the occasion in the CWS Jell-O Shot Challenge to support the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank…

cut 10 (07) “…already.”