The chance that lawmakers will return to Baton Rouge for a veto override session went up Friday as Governor John Bel Edwards nixed anti-LGBTQ legislation. The Governor promised he would veto any measures similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill” that seeks to ban talk about gender and sexual identity in K-12 classrooms. The governor called such proposals an attack on some of the state’s most vulnerable children.

On a hot 4th of July weekend like this one where Excessive Heat Warnings remain in place, going out on the water is a great way to keep cool – but state officials urge you to have a sober boat operator. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has put Operation Dry Water in place this weekend where boating Education Coordinator Lt. Garret Kimble says to expect heightened enforcement…:
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A Drive Sober or Get Pulled over campaign is also in place for the Holiday weekend.

After close to 50 years in law enforcement, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator announces he will not seek re-election. Prator says he wanted to make public his decision as there are only six weeks left to qualify for the office…:
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But he says he’s not resigning and that he will continue to serve as sheriff for the next 12 months.

Cops in East Baton Rouge Parish are looking for a driver who ran over a Central Police Officer’s leg during an incident Friday evening. They say when the officer learned there were narcotics in the vehicle the driver sped off causing the officer to be dragged before his leg was run over. The officer is expected to be okay, and now authorities are searching for the person involved.

Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed anti-LGBTQ legislation Friday, including the state’s version of what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. GOP lawmakers have said if this happened as the governor promised, they would call for the legislature to return to Baton Rouge for a veto override session.

Most of the state is under yet another excessive heat warning today where the heat index could reach between 110-115 degrees. On Friday it got so hot in Ascension Parish that a section of I-10 buckled causing a brief shutdown near the Sorrento exit.

The 4th of July Holiday weekend is one of the deadliest on the roadways so expect to see lots of cops on the road as a Drive Sober or Get Pulled over campaign is underway.
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That’s Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

Congressman Steve Scalise met with LSU Coach Brian Kelly and other SEC officials to discuss potential legislation regarding collegiate Name-Image-Likeness deals. Kace Kieschnick has more…:
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LSU is set to hire Nate Yeskie from Texas A&M as its next pitching coach according to head coach Jay Johnson. Johnson confirmed a report that his former assistant coach would be reuniting with him in Baton Rouge. LSU is in need of a new pitching coach since former coach Wes Johnson was announced as the next head coach of the Georgia Bulldog program.

More than 50 million people are expected to travel over the long 4th of July Holiday weekend. AAA Spokesman Don Redman says most folks will be driving as gas prices are down $1.10 over last year. It costs almost 50% more to fly this year, but Redman says that’s not a factor..:
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He says the earlier you leave in the day, the better.

The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down college affirmative action programs will have little impact in Louisiana. That’s according to Higher Education Commissioner Dr. Kim Hunter Reed who says it’ll be business as usual here…:
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She says she knows of no public institution in Louisiana that uses race as a factor in admissions.

Extra hours of play in scorching temperatures for kids can mean dehydration. Teiko Foxx spoke with the Chief Medical Officer of UnitedHealthcare – Louisiana…:
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An Excessive Heat Warning is once again posted for most of the state today, with no significant changes expected in our weather, according to forecasters. Afternoon highs will range from the upper 90s to near 100 degrees, with heat index values climbing to 110-115.

Traveling over the 4th of July weekend? So is everyone else. Brooke Thorington reports…:
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A motorcyclist from Texas was killed in a head on crash in Iberville Parish Thursday afternoon. State Police report 66-year-old Ronald Harter of Galveston made a right turn and crossed the center line, colliding head-on with an oncoming Land Rover. Harter died on the scene.

Governor John Bel Edwards used his veto pen on a senate approved measure to phase out Louisiana’s corporate franchise tax. The bill was sponsored by Franklin Republican Senator Bret Allain II (pronounced “L-N”) who says it would have been beneficial to Louisiana’s business environment:
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Allain is term-limited, so he cannot bring the bill back next year.

When it comes to the scorching hot temperatures, today will be a near repeat of Thursday with a heat index potentially reaching 115 degrees. With kids out enjoying their summer break, heath experts are reminding parents to make sure children are drinking plenty of water. Dr. Kevin Stephens is the Chief Medical Officer of UnitedHealthcare – Louisiana:
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He says if you think your child may be suffering from heat illness, hydrate them and consult a physician.

With another Excessive Heat Warning in effect, health officials are reminding parents to keep kids enjoying the summer break properly hydrated. Dr. Kevin Stephens, Chief Medical Officer of UnitedHealthcare – Louisiana, says there are ways to tell if your child isn’t drinking enough water…:
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He says children have higher water requirements than adults but they may not recognize the signs of thirst.

With the 4th of July falling on a Tuesday this year, that allows for a nice long weekend getaway — and plenty of people are taking advantage. For the period that begins today through Tuesday, more than 50 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more, according to AAA:
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That’s AAA spokesman Don Redman.

The Governor vetoes a bill intended to phase out Louisiana’s corporate franchise tax; seen as detrimental to business. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
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The National Champion LSU Tiger Baseball team delighted hundreds of fans behind the counter of the original Raising Cane’s near campus Thursday, serving patrons some of their favorite chicken fingers for lunch. Dylan Crews, Paul Skenes, Tommy White, Tre’ Morgan, Ty Floyd, and head coach Jay Johnson all took part.

Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed a senate bill that would have gradually eliminated Louisiana’s corporate franchise tax. The measure was sponsored by Franklin Republican Senator Bret Allain II (pronounced “L-N”) who isn’t happy about the veto saying the state’s franchise tax system is cited as a big reason companies choose not to do business here:
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The governor says the timing is bad for big tax cuts.

If you’re heading out of town for the long Fourth of July weekend, you won’t be the only one. AAA is out with its annual report and spokesman Don Redman says travel volume predictions are massive…:
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AAA counts the holiday weekend as stretching from Friday to Tuesday, July 4th.

It might be the big headline you see today, but the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down college affirmative action programs will have little impact in Louisiana. That’s according to Higher Education Commissioner Dr. Kim Hunter Reed who says the ruling was specific to the use of race as a factor in admissions…:
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The cases heard before SCOTUS pertained to admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.

An Excessive Heat Warning is once again posted for most of the state today, with no significant changes expected in our weather, according to forecasters. Afternoon highs will range from the upper 90s to near 100 degrees, with heat index values climbing to 110-115.

Governor Edwards has vetoed legislation some call the “Stay Back” bill; aimed at heading off bad encounters between police and citizens..:
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Heat index values could reach 115 today or higher. Dr. Jim Aiken is with the LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans…:
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Governor John Bel Edwards on his monthly call-in radio show discussed how he plans to restore last minute cuts made to the Department of Health. He also talked about the possibility of a veto override session…:
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To date, the governor has not vetoed any legislation pertaining to the transgender population.

If you still haven’t submitted a survey on damage from the 2020-2021 hurricanes, Restore Louisiana is holding outreach events to help out before the August 1st deadline. Representatives are on-site in Kenner today at the Martin Luther King Center. Community Development Director Pat Forbes many homeowners have still have not finished the first step.
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Homeowners can complete the survey at restore.la.gov.

Governor John Bel Edwards said on his monthly radio show he intends to restore last-minute budget reductions made by the legislature…
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The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning through 8pm tonight and from 10am-8pm Friday. Dr. Jim Aiken with the LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans says you’ve got to protect yourself…:
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Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed a bill that would have given police officers the ability to command you to “stay back” while they do their job. Bill author and Pineville Republican Representative Mike Johnson says his bill was about heading off possible interference…:
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The governor said he objected to the bill for reasons including its potential chilling effect on exercising one’s First Amendments rights.

LSU fans packed the stands Wednesday evening in Alex Box Stadium to celebrate the 2023 national champion Tigers. Star pitcher Paul Skenes, who was at Air Force the last two seasons, said he made the decision to transfer LSU so he can improve as a pitcher and win a natty…:
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