The state has received up to $603 million dollars in Department of Energy grant funding to build an underground air capture hub in Calcasieu Parish. Former New Orleans Mayor and Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu, a Senior Advisor to the President, says the funding will come from the 2021 Infrastructure Act…:
Cut 4 (10) “bottom-up”
The facility will attempt to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and bury it deep underground.

I-10 along the Louisiana – Mississippi state line reopened this morning after being shut down in both directions Friday afternoon due to a huge brush fire in the median. The dense smoke obscured visibility in the area and crews needed the roads cleared to get the blaze under control. The closure was in effect for nearly 11 hours.

The Louisiana DA’s Association is not happy about the Pardon Board’s decision to schedule clemency cases for death row inmates. The call was made a day after Governor John Bel Edwards request, and East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore says prosecutors were completely blindsided by this…:
CUT 6 (08) “organized”
20 cases are scheduled to be heard between October 13 and November 27.

State Wildlife will receive approximately $58 million in federal disaster assistance for resiliency projects stemming from the historic 2019 Mississippi and Atchafalaya flood. Jason Froeba in the Office of Fisheries with LDWF says this is extremely important for Louisiana’s commercial fishing industry…:
Cut 9 (07) “to recover”

With election season right around the corner, are you ready for an onslaught of text messages from the candidates? Jeff Palermo has more:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana U-S Senator Bill Cassidy has endorsed fellow Republican as the next governor of Louisiana. Cassidy says out of the large field of candidates, Landry is connecting with the most people from all parts of the state. Louisiana’s Senior U-S Senator likes that Landry is committed to making flood insurance more affordable, in support of new energy company and improving mental health access.

Some lawmakers are calling for an oversight hearing into the OMV’s data breach that exposed anyone with a Louisiana driver’s license, ID or car registration. Leesville Representative Chuck Owen…:
Cut 6 (11) “the future”
The OMV is offering a free year of Life Lock credit monitoring. Learn more online at nextsteps.la.gov.

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) expands the 2023 Blue Tarp Fund Roofing Repair Program waitlist for those with roof damage who did not apply in February. LHC Executive Director Joshua Hollins hopes this is the beginning of a commitment to further help communities recover and rebuild after disasters…:
Cut 9 (12) “…storm damage”
Homeowners can apply at lhc.la.gov/bluetarp.

Louisiana’s gubernatorial candidates are using text messaging as another way to reach out to voters. You may have already received one from those including Sharon Hewitt, Richard Nelson, and Stephen Waguespack. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan…:
Cut 14 (08) “less costly”
The FCC says political text messages can be sent without permission as long as the sender does not use autodialing technology.

Since the massive hack of the OMV computer system exposed data of anyone with a state issued driver’s license or ID, lawmakers are calling for more answers. Leesville Representative Chuck Owen says he’d like to know the types of data that were stolen…:
Cut 5 (09) “to expect”
The state is offering one year of free credit monitoring which you can sign up for through the website nextsteps.la.gov.

The Blue Tarp Roofing Fund Program has been expanded. Teiko Foxx reports..:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Teiko Foxx”

Second Harvest Food Bank will begin construction on a new warehouse in August. President Natalie Jayroe…:
Cut 10 (10) “in operation”
Second Harvest currently operates out of three warehouses and serves the southern portion of the state, from Mississippi to Texas.

Several lawmakers are calling for a legislative oversight hearing into the OMV data breach that exposed six million records to hackers. The state is offering a free year of credit monitoring, but Representative Chuck Owen of Leesville says they want more details…:
Cut 4 (09) “the administration”
You can sign up for the free credit monitoring at nextsteps.la.gov.

The Louisiana Housing Corporation has expanded the Blue Tarp Fund Roofing Repair program to increase the number of homeowners who need assistance. It currently applies to eligible homeowners mostly in the Greater Baton Rouge area, according to LHC Executive Director Joshua Hollins…:
CUT 7 (12) “last few years”
You can apply at lhc.la.gov/bluetarp.

Second Harvest Food Bank will open a new warehouse in the Houma-Thibodeaux area, expanding its operations across coastal regions by 2024. President and CEO Natalie Jayroe says Second Harvest currently has facilities in Harahan and Lafayette, and the new warehouse will allow them to better serve high need areas in times of disaster..:
CUT 19 (10) “in the neighborhood”
She says the warehouse will contain a 3,400 square-foot community kitchen capable of producing up to 3,000 meals a day.

Some great coaches and athletes were inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night during a ceremony in Natchitoches. The 2023 class includes Eli Manning, Paul Mainieri, Wendell Davis and women’s basketball great Alana Beard.

Have you received a text message from a candidate running for office this fall? This is becoming more and more common and LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s an easy way to get your name out there:
Cut 13 (11) “name recognition”
The FCC says political text messages can be sent without permission as long as the sender does not use autodialing technology.

The Louisiana Housing Corporation has expanded the Blue Tarp Fund Roofing Repair Program for homeowners who were unable to previously apply. LHC Executive Director Joshua Hollins says the home must be a primary residence and applicants must meet low-income requirements. he says certain groups will be placed at the top of the list…:
CUT 8 (06) “the home”
Homeowners can apply at lhc.la.gov/bluetarp.

One legislator is calling for more transparency and oversite into the third-party vendor OMV data breach. Brooke Thorington has more..:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The entire state is under heat advisories and warnings today as Louisiana braces for another week of likely record-breaking temperatures. Highs are expected to be above 100 degrees all week with heat index values nearing 115.

State Senator Mike Fesi responds to the expletive filled voicemail left by a now former LSU professor over the lawmaker’s vote to ban gender affirming care. The Republican from Houma says he decided to involve law enforcement when the message became threatening…:
CUT 11 (07) “if anything”
Fesi says it’s a shame someone would go to such lengths instead of simply agreeing to disagree on the matter. LSU says Venable will no longer teach at the school.

If you’ve applied for or received a state-issued driver’s license or ID then your personal information has been compromised, so the OMV is offering free credit monitoring as a result of the recent nationwide hack. To activate one free year of LifeLock identity theft protection, visit NextStepsLa.Gov.

It’s been one year since the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline changed its number to 9-8-8 and the Louisiana Department of Health says call volume has increased by 11 percent. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

And once again the Mega Millions jackpot was not won last night, and the prize soars to an estimated $820 million dollars. That’s the 5th largest in the history of the game. The winner has the option to receive an up-front, $422 million lump sum. The next drawing is Tuesday.

State Senator Michael Fesi (Fay-Zee) responds to being cussed out on a threatening voicemail left by an LSU professor enraged the Republican from Houma voted to bring back a ban on gender altering procedures for minors. Fesi says it’s a shame some people would go to such lengths.
CUT 17 (09) “for sure”
Police were quickly able to track the call back to Marcus Venable who has now been banned from teaching at LSU.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is offering residents free credit monitoring and identity theft protection due to the hack that potentially compromised data for anyone with a state-issued driver’s license or ID. To activate your membership online at no cost, visit nextstepsla.gov. That’s next steps la dot gov.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has received 5 million calls in the first year of being available for people seeking mental support. Louisiana Department of Health’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator Dr. Robyn Thomas says the three-digit number made a big difference…:
CUT 7 (11) “for them”
If you need support during a crisis, you can simply call or text 988.

LSU football has been picked to finish 2nd behind Alabama in the SEC West in a preseason poll released by the media Friday. The Tigers travel to face the Crimson Tide on November 4th, and Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne believes Coach Brian Kelly’s team has the upper hand..:
Cut 13 (09) “in Tiger Stadium”
LSU is predicted to be the third-best team in the conference with Georgia the favorite to win the SEC Championship.

A state senator receives a profanity laced voicemail after voting to override the governor’s veto on a bill to ban sex altering medical procedures on minors. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 1 (36) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

And once again the Mega Millions jackpot was not won last night, and the prize soars to an estimated $820 million dollars. That’s the 5th largest in the history of the game. By the way, the odds of winning are 1 in 302.6 million. The next drawing is Tuesday.

Gas prices are climbing once again as the statewide average for a gallon of regular rose another 2 cents overnight to $3.19 cents. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says though we’re seeing an increase at the pump, demand for has hardly budged from last week…:
CUT 16 (13) “week or so”
He says Louisiana is one of just 10 states that have seen the largest increases over the past month.

Reporters came away from SEC Media Days last week choosing Alabama to win the West in a preseason poll, with LSU a close second. But Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne believes the Tigers should be in the top spot…:
Cut 12 (08) “none of that”
Alabama picked up 165 first place votes to LSU’s 117.