A Baton Rouge judge has ruled in favor of insurance companies who refused to pay expenses for those homeowners who evacuated during Hurricane Ida from parishes that did not issue mandatory evacuation orders. Ida hit quick and there wasn’t enough time for many parishes to issue orders in time. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the Legislature has changed the law, so next hurricane season a mandatory evacuation will not be required for insurers to cover expenses…:
Cut 14 (10) “evacuation order”

The Pontchartrain Beach Foundation announced its submitted a proposal they’ll present today to obtain a lease for the site to redevelop it. Co-founder of the Pontchartrain Beach Foundation Guy Williams says the project will include restrooms, an area for food trucks, a site for boaters and more…:
Cut 8 (07) “the beach”

The drawing for the $530-million Megamillions Jackpot is tonight. Kim Chopin with the Louisiana Lottery says it’s the 8th largest jackpot in Megamillion’s history and it has a cash value of almost $305-million…:
Cut 4 (12) “lump sum payment”

It wasn’t all just football talk when Brian Kelly spoke with reporters at SEC Media Days. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

19th JDC Judge Don Johnson has asked both sides in the debate over Louisiana’s trigger laws on abortion to submit their proposed findings this morning on fact and conclusions of law in the case before he rules. He left a June 11th restraining order in place in the meantime meaning abortion clinics could remain open.

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected today to provide an update on the future of the troubled Bridge City Center for Youth in Jefferson Parish, after yet another 6 juvenile inmates escaped from the facility over the weekend.

A Baton Rouge judge could decide today that trigger laws banning abortions in Louisiana should go into effect. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (29) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Heat Advisory is in effect for most of the state today beginning at noon, with the exception of coastal parishes. High temperatures are slated to reach the mid 90s, with heat index values likely climbing to above 105 in many areas. And don’t expect rain to bring much relief today as forecasters have reduced the chance for showers to 20%.

A Baton Rouge judge has ruled in favor of insurance companies who refused to pay expenses for those homeowners who evacuated during Hurricane Ida from parishes that did not issue mandatory evacuation orders. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon issued a directive following Ida that insurers should cover evacuation costs, but Judge Patrick Moore ruled Donelon overstepped his authority…:
Cut 13 (10) “my authority”
That’s Mr. Donelon who says the Legislature has changed the law, so for next hurricane season a mandatory evacuation will not be required for insurers to cover evacuation expenses.

Louisianans are seeing lots of relief at the pump certainly compared to a month ago. The current statewide average stands at $4.06, down 46 cents this time in June.

Scientists at LSU Health New Orleans have found two new variants of the COVID-19 virus. Head of Genetics Dr. Lucio Miele (ME-lay) says the subvariants have not been reported in the U.S. until now. He says they were detected in tests performed last week…:
Cut 4 (12) “the next few weeks”
He stresses the importance of getting vaccinated and boosted.

Pharmacists can now prescribe the leading COVID pill to patients under a new U.S. policy announced Wednesday. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says if you do contract COVID you are still primarily advised to seek care from your doctor..:
Cut 14 (11) “immediately”
Wednesday’s action will also allow state-licensed pharmacists at retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens to provide the medication.

Louisiana’s Supreme Court has rejected a request by Attorney General Jeff Landry to allow enforcement of state laws banning abortions. They ruled to not get involved at this stage. A temporary restraining order is in place to block the trigger laws arguing they are unclear and a New Orleans judge is going to hear that case tomorrow.

Renovations will officially get underway this afternoon at the famed New Orleans Dew Drop Inn. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says his people are scrambling to help homeowners jilted by their property insurers to find new coverage ASAP. Kevin Gallagher reports:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says 12 boaters across Louisiana were arrested on DWI charges over the 4th of July weekend, including the driver in the boating fatality on Blind River that left a 17-year-old dead. The arrests were a part of LDWF’s Operation Dry Water campaign which emphasizes awareness and enforcement of laws against boating and drinking.

Pharmacists can now prescribe the leading COVID pill to patients under a new U.S. policy announced Wednesday. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter speaks highly of Pfizer’s Paxlovid (pax-low-vid) which is an oral medication…:
Cut 13 (08) “…as well”
The FDA made the move saying pharmacists have played a crucial role in combatting the pandemic.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in New Orleans this afternoon to mark the restoration of the famed Dew Drop Inn. Legendary musicians such as Ray Charles, Little Richard and Tina Turner performed there in the late 30s to 1960s. Developer Curtis Doucette Jr. says once renovated the property will have 17 boutique hotel rooms, a retail space, resort-style pool, and a music venue. He says they plan to host a concert with local legends who once performed at the inn…:
Cut 11 (09) “continue the legacy”
He says they hope to have it open by this time next year.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says they are working to help find new property insurance coverage for homeowners whose policies were dumped by companies who quit the state. He’s optimistic other companies will take on all the new business and in most cases will write policies that are retroactive to the canceled date of the prior coverage…:
CUT 9 (14) “retroactive basis”

Scientists at LSU Health New Orleans have found two new variants of the COVID-19 virus. Head of Genetics Dr. Lucio Miele (ME-lay) says the subvariants have not been reported in the U.S. until now. He says three cases of one and a single case of the other have been detected….:
Cut 5 (07) “keep track of them”
He says they don’t know much about the variants at this time, but stresses the importance of getting vaccinated and boosted.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson was all smiles Wednesday as the 22 year old officially signed his multi year contract extension on his birthday. The former number one pick expressed his gratitude to the organization during the news conference…:
CUT 16 (12) “multiple championships”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but he was eligible to sign a five-year deal worth 181 million dollars.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in New Orleans this afternoon to mark the restoration of the famed, long abandoned Dew Drop Inn. Developer Curtis Doucette Jr. says the inn played host to music icons like Ray Charles and Little Richard…:
Cut 10 (07) “Drop Inn”
The legislature allocated $1 million dollars to restore the historic property.

The state Supreme Court has denied a request by Attorney General Jeff Landry to block the restraining order placed on Louisiana’s trigger laws banning abortions. The majority ruling stated the court did not want to get involved in the matter quote “at this preliminary stage.” A state judge blocked enforcement of the triggers until he could hear a lawsuit claiming the law is unclear. That hearing is tomorrow.

Scientists at LSU Health New Orleans have found two new variants of the COVID-19 virus. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says his department is doing all it can to find new property insurance coverage for tens of thousands of Louisianans who’ve been dumped by their current coverage. Six companies have quit the state; leaving their customers scrambling to find new plans in a relatively short amount of time. With hurricane season already upon us, Donelon says a Florida-based company has offered to take on a great number of those…:
Cut 7 (09) “called Safepoint”
Donelon says, all-in-all, about 80 thousand will need to arrange new coverage and they’ll have only another 6 to 8 weeks to do it.

AAA says the statewide average for a gallon of regular gas has once again fallen another 2 cents overnight to $4.31. Down over 11 cents from last week.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is petitioning the state supreme court to remove the temporary restraining order that was issued against the state’s trigger abortion laws. Loyola University Law Professor Dan Ciolino says this is most unusual because a hearing is scheduled for Friday in a civil court on the restraining order…:
Cut 10 (10) “appellate court”
The TRO was filed by The Center for Reproductive Rights claiming the trigger laws were vague and unconstitutional.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says almost a quarter of a million Louisiana workers quit their jobs in the first four months this year. But Economist Loren Scott says most of those workers went out and got new jobs which they know because the state’s unemployment rate is 4%…:
CUT 5 (05) “by sixty give hundred”
Scott says if all these people were leaving the workforce, sales tax collections and retail sales would be tanking which they aren’t.

New laws signed by the Governor seek to improve Louisiana’s property insurance environment for homeowners…:
Cut 3 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says a high school janitor in Ponchatoula is under arrest for allegedly groping a student attending summer school. They say 40 year old Levon Harris is accused of offering the victim cash for help moving furniture but when she refused he allegedly slid his hand under her shirt. He is booked on a count of sexual battery and fired by the school.