The Secretary of State’s early voting report on the US Senate runoffs, covering ballots cast through June 20, shows Republicans well ahead of Democrats in raw totals. Overall, more than 151-thousand people cast early ballots – a decline of almost 40-percent from the May primaries. John Couvillon of JMC Analytics and Polling says the timing of the election had a lot to do with the lower turnout:
Cut 8 (12) “are used to”
Polls open statewide Saturday at 7am and close at 8pm.

If you need to file a claim for damage caused by Tropical Storm Arthur, the Louisiana Department of Insurance has issued some important reminders. Commissioner Tim Temple says one of the most important things you can do is take pictures of everything…:
Cut 15 (07) “dollars potentially damaged”
He says you can submit through damage.la.gov.

After nearly three years of construction, the I-20 rehabilitation project through Bossier and Caddo parishes is now complete. The $128 million project included a full rebuild of every lane and ramp at five interchanges. DOTD spokeswoman Erin Buchanan says those who drive that stretch regularly know how badly it was needed
Cut 4 (08) “long time coming”
She says the work marks the largest investment in the corridor in years.

A Flood Watch remains in effect today until 3pm for portions of north Louisiana as rounds of heavy rain move through the region. The National Weather Service in Shreveport says localized flash flooding is possible, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Drivers are urged to use caution and never attempt to cross flooded roadways.

State lawmakers have until 5pm today to make a decision on Governor Landry’s plan to provide public school teachers with a two-thousand-dollar stipend. Patrick Wall with The Advocate says districts have warned that reducing their budgets to fund the bonuses would negatively impact operations…:
Cut 11 (07) “the public schools”
It will take a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate for the Governor’s plan to move forward.

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has released new guidance for flood, auto and homeowners policyholders affected by Tropical Storm Arthur. Commissioner Tim Temple says different policies will respond to different types of claims..:
Cut 13 (10) “rising flood waters”
He says the most important thing you can do is document all damage through the website damage.la.gov.

The National Weather Service has now confirmed 11 tornadoes touched down across Louisiana and Mississippi as the remnants of Arthur moved through the region last week. The latest was an EF-1 tornado in Lacombe with winds up to 95 miles per hour. Forecasters say the storms spawned multiple tornadoes across St. Tammany Parish before tracking into coastal Mississippi on the morning of June 18th.

An analyst looks at what early voting numbers tell us about the US Senate runoff election Saturday. Jeff Palermo reports..:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The tropical disturbance moving up the Texas coast and into Louisiana is expected to dump massive amounts of rain across the state. Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued along the central Gulf Coast, extending from the east Texas coastline to St. Mary Parish…:
Cut 8 (11) “moisture with it”
That’s LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim.

DOTD’s Rodney Mallet says with so much rain, we need to be extra careful on the roads. He says the reason they always push “turn around, don’t drown” is because flash floods are always unpredictable even if you think you’re familiar with a particular road…:
Cut 5 (09) “a regular puddle”
He says if it’s raining hard the best thing to do is just stay put.

School officials expressed concerns Tuesday about funding Governor Landry’s proposed $2,000 stipend for teachers…:
Cut 2 (34) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Cameron Jordan is returning for a 16th and final season as a New Orleans Saint. The one year deal was inked Tuesday and Jordan said pretty much everyone told him to stay…:
Cut 17 (10) “in my corner”
Jordan’s 132 sacks are the most by a player in Saints history and rank 17th in the NFL all-time.

We’ve got quite an active weather pattern headed this way as a tropical disturbance moves inland later tonight. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the biggest threat is lots of rain…:
Cut 9 (09) “inches or more”

DOTD says we need to be extra careful on the roads. Andrew Greenstein reports:
Cut 1 (35) “I’m Andrew Greenstein”

State lawmakers heard from school districts Tuesday who are concerned about Governor Landry’s plan for a two-thousand-dollar pay bump for teachers. The executive order calls for the state to reduce public school funding by nearly $170 million dollars to cover the cost. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau said most districts have the money and the legislature would have to help those who don’t:
Cut 11 (06) “folks some money”
Lawmakers have until next Tuesday to vote on the order.

A sting operation results in the arrests of ten people, including a St. Mary Parish corrections deputy. Sheriff Gary Driskell says investigators launched “Operation Bear Trap” after getting information that 49-year-old Earnest Ladday (luh-DAY) was bringing contraband into the jail and giving it to certain inmates, allegedly:
Cut 13 (09) “on several people”
No bail has been set for Ladday or his alleged co-conspirators at this time.

Much of Louisiana’s coast is now under a tropical storm warning extending from St. Mary Parish to the Louisiana/Texas line. LSU Environmental Health Climatologist Barry Keim says Potential Tropical Cyclone One is moving directly up the Texas Coast…:
CUT 7 (12) “a tropical storm”
Most models show the system becoming a tropical storm today.

Heavy rainfall and flooding remain the biggest threat, and DOTD is urging you to be careful when venturing out on the roadways. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says it’s called “flash flood” for a reason – it happens so fast, before crews have time to respond…:
Cut 4 (10) “they’re going safely”
He says if you encounter an area of the road covered with water, turn around, don’t drown.

Lawmakers heard from school districts Tuesday with concern over where the money is coming from in Governor Landry’s plan to give teachers a $2,000 stipend. Districts would need to take funds originally allocated for operations to pay for the bonuses, but Caldwell Parish School Board president Gary Cassels told legislators they can’t swing that…:
Cut 10 (10) “to do it”
Lawmakers need a two-thirds vote to approve the governor’s plan by close of business next Tuesday.

Two airmen connected to Barksdale Air Force Base are among the eight people who died in Monday’s B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Family members, friends and fellow service members identified Lt. Col. Greg Watson of Haughton and Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella as being on board the bomber when it went down during a test flight, according to social media posts.

We’re continuing to monitor that disturbance over in the western Gulf that the National Hurricane Center now says has a 60% chance of tropical development before moving inland Thursday. Whether Arthur officially forms or not, multiple rounds of heavy rainfall are expected to continue over the next several days. Most of the state is under a Flash Flood Watch through Friday.

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and Louisiana Elderly Protective Services Program Manager Ebony Thomas-Phillips is reminding us to check up on our elders:
Cut 2 (35) “I’m Kace Kieschnick”

The state has officially launched an initiative called Love Our Waterways, an effort to clean up litter from rivers, lakes and bayous. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says dirty waterways are a nationwide problem:
Cut 10 (16) “in our waterways”
More information can be found at LoveLaWaterways-dot-org.

SNAP recipients can now earn bonus benefits when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables with their EBT cards at Walmart locations throughout the state. Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) says it’s part of the Louisiana Carrot Initiative…:
Cut 4 (08) “more healthy foods”
The program gives SNAP recipients an extra 30 cents for every dollar spent on fruits and veggies at participating stores, which now includes Walmart.

The National Hurricane Center has increased the odds of tropical development for that disturbance in the western Gulf to 60% over the next 48 hours. If that happens the first name of the season is Arthur and would mean tropical storm notices could be required later today for parts of Texas and Louisiana. Regardless of development, a significant amount of rain and flash flood risk remain the primary threat.

The state has launched a new cleanup initiative. Andrew Greenstein reports:
Cut 3 (35) “I’m Andrew Greenstein”

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and Louisiana Elderly Protective Services is encouraging residents to learn the warning signs and speak up when they see them. Program Manager Ebony Thomas-Phillips says mistreatment of older adults includes physical harm, sexual misconduct, financial exploitation, and medical neglect:
Cut 7 (10) “types of things”
To report abuse call 833-577-6532.

Governor Landry has signed the Louisiana Energy Protection Act, limiting lawsuits against the oil and gas industry over climate change. Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association President Tommy Faucheux says these lawsuits are frivolous:
Cut 13 (14) “the changing climate”
He says the new law is specific to climate change.

A disturbance over northeastern Mexico is expected to move into the northwestern Gulf later today or Wednesday, with a 50 percent chance of tropical development before coming ashore Thursday. Regardless of development, forecasters say heavy rain and flash flooding are possible across the state which is almost entirely under a flash flood watch through Friday.

Louisiana has expanded its SNAP fruit and veggie bonus to Walmarts statewide. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Education leaders have scheduled a public hearing today hoping to seek clarity from lawmakers on what funds the Governor is asking school districts to use in order to give teachers a $2,000 stipend this year. The fear is that tightening budgets for schools to fund the bonuses may have a negative impact on gains public education in Louisiana has seen in recent years. Lawmakers have until June 23rd to vote on the governor’s plan.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announced the official launch of Love Our Waterways – a statewide initiative that focuses on cleaning up litter and debris from rivers, lakes, bayous, beaches, and shorelines. Colonel Stephen Clark, with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, says this is vital to Louisiana:
Cut 11 (12) “State of Louisiana”
More information can be found at LoveLaWaterways-dot-org.

Outrage in Beauregard Parish as a judge goes easy on a former mayor. Andrew Greenstein reports…:
Cut 2 (35) “I’m Andrew Greenstein”

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson received a prestigious national award Tuesday in Washington, D.C., recognizing her philanthropy, community service, and humanitarian efforts. Benson was named the 2026 recipient of the Celebration of Service to America Leadership Award, presented by the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation.

Louisiana is launching a statewide Youth ATV-UTV Safety Task Force. Jay Cripple with the New Orleans Regional Safety Commission says hundreds of children and teens are hospitalized from ATV/UTV wrecks. He says parents often buy their kids a vehicle they can grow into…:
Cut 6 (09) “operating the vehicle”
Cripple says common causes of youth injury include reckless speeds and lack of proper safety equipment.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced a new experimental black-bellied whistling duck season starting this year. LDWF Waterfowl Program Manager Jason Olszak says the season will run from October 3rd to the 11th and will offer hunters the opportunity to exclusively target the species…:
Cut 13 (06) “next four years”
Shooting hours for the special season will be sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit is four ducks with a possession limit of 12.

Citizens in Beauregard Parish are expressing disappointment in the 90 day sentence of former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts who had sex with a 16 year old while in office. Pamela Sleezer, who’s been covering the trial for the American Press, says the prosecution sought 17 years…:
Cut 10 (11) “for these crimes”
Roberts also must pay a $5,000 fine, attend therapy and is ordered to stay away from the victim and his family.

4 years after killing a Covington priest and parishioner, Antonio Tyson pleaded guilty and was formally sentenced to spend the rest of his life on death row. St. Tammany Parish District Attorney Collin Sims says they originally sought the death penalty but then medical records were disclosed showing Tyson had intellectual disabilities..:
Cut 7 (10) “resolve the case”
Tyson was charged in connection with the murders of Rev. Otis Young and his friend Ruth Prats.

The Louisiana Youth ATV/UTV Safety Task Force is uniting law enforcement, education and healthcare professionals to protect young people across the state. Kace Kieschnick reports…:
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kace Kieschnick”

North Carolina State is reportedly investigating whether LSU violated state unfair trade practices laws during its hiring of men’s basketball coach Will Wade. School officials reportedly believe LSU may have helped Wade avoid a larger buyout payment. Wade paid a $4 million buyout to leave NC State, though his contract called for a $5 million buyout if he departed before April 1, and LSU announced his hiring on March 26.