State Attorney General Liz Murrill is filing a brief against the lawsuit filed against the state’s Ten Commandments law requiring a poster of the biblical text to be posted in all public-school classrooms. Murrill says the high-profile case is being handled internally through her solicitor general.

Cut 5 (05)  “…outside counsel.”

Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says it’s a political move by the Governor and the State Attorney General for the Ten Commandments law to go before the now extremely conservative US Supreme Court.

Cut 6 (09) “…possibility.”

After the law was signed in June, lawsuits were filed, and a federal judge ruled classrooms could not display the Ten Commandments until at least November 15th.

A public affairs research official says he just doesn’t understand some of the reasons why Governor Jeff Landry’s office withholds certain records from the public. Mel Bridges has the story.

Cut 2 (29)  “…I’m Mel Bridges.” 

And here’s a look at todays commodities…

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New weekly polling averages show former President Trump’s lead over Vice President Kamala Harris continues to decrease. Mel Bridges has the numbers.

Cut 2 (29)  “…I’m Mel Bridges.” 

Among the new laws going into effect today is House Bill 64 which prohibits the sale of Nitrous oxide, also knows as “laughing gas” or “whippets,” or any amyl nitrite also known as “poppers.”

These substances may be sold for automotive purposes, or as part of a manufacturing process.

The law also increases the penalty to a fine of no more than $2,500, and the prison time to a maximum of one year. The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco is now required to promote and enforce the new law, and they are to conduct investigations to regulate these laws as necessary.

LSU Eunice Baseball has officially kicked off the construction of a new stadium with a groundbreaking celebration. LSUE Chancellor Dr. Nancee Sorenson says the stadium represents exciting new things for the Baseball Bengals and the school.

Cut 3 (11) “…building the future.”

School is about to be starting back and with that comes challenges for educators and administrators. Louisiana Association of School Superintendents Executive Director Mike Faulk says there are many challenges that schools are facing and one is looking at school performance scores from last year and how to address the issues for the upcoming year…

Cut 12 (08) “…individual schools.”

School is about to be starting back and with that comes challenges for educators and administrators. Louisiana Association of School Superintendents Executive Director Mike Faulk says preparation for the new school year has already started for teachers and administrators…

Cut 11 (12) ” …going on right now.”

According to the National Education Association, 80% of teachers report having to take on extra tasks to make up for staffing shortages.

LSU Eunice Baseball has officially kicked off the construction of a new stadium with a groundbreaking celebration. LSUE Chancellor Dr. Nancee Sorenson says the new stadium will be a state-of-the-art facility that the 8-time National Champion team deserves. However, it’s also designed to be a multi-purpose facility that Sorenson says will help draw events to Acadiana.

Cut 5 (12)  “…sporting tournaments.”

New weekly polling averages show Trump’s lead over Harris decreasing by at least one point for a third straight week. John Couvillon of JMC Analytics says the shift in campaign momentum could be due to the Harris campaign rolling out smoothly compared to a number of recent blunders from the Trump campaign. While Trump is still technically up in the polls, Couvillon says his campaign should be careful to avoid any further slides.

Cut 9 (12) “…Democratic convention.”

The search for twin 8-year-old girls who were reported missing by Louisiana State Police has come to an end after they were found safe in St. Tammany Parish and their mother was arrested.

Alessandra Bruno and her sister Sofia were last seen at the Rock-N-Sake Sushi Bar off Fulton Street in New Orleans. Their non-custodial biological mother, 36-year-old Alejandra Gutierrez, was suspected of taking them on Wednesday around 7:00 p.m. and was arrested today.

Authorities say Gutierrez has abducted Bruno before. Bruno suffers from a medical condition and needs medication, which the mother does not have

She was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Facility.

Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley urges school system leaders to quote “recommit to assertive discipline action,” for the new school year. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

EBRSO responded to a 6-month-old found dead in the backseat his parent’s car on Tuesday around 5:46pm.  Detectives learned the parent went to pick the child up from daycare after work and realized that they forgot to drop him off that morning. The National Safety Council says this is the 17^th time this has happened this year. The investigation is ongoing.

The oil spill from the Crescent Midstream pumping station in Bayou Lafourche on Saturday has been successfully contained. Booms and skimmers were deployed to prevent the spread of the more than 34-thousand gallons of oil and vacuum trucks have been used to remove oil that contaminated the water.  Environmental monitoring teams have been dispatched to asses the impact on local wildlife and vegetation.  Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says preliminary reports suggest minimal long-term damage…

Cut 4 (05) “…coming months.”

Tonight’s wake for Senior Corporal Segus Jolivette is a private event reserved for family and members of the Lafayette and Opelousas Police Departments.  Interim Lafayette Police Chief Paul Truard says community outreach has been awe inspiring.

Cut 10 (06) “…here.”

Funeral Services for the public being tomorrow morning at Our Saviors Church in Opelousas and a large procession to Lafayette will follow where Jolivette will be laid to rest.

Responding to a hostage situation Thursday, a Lafayette SWAT negotiator was killed in the line of duty.  Brooke Thorington

Cut 1 (27) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

33-year-old Rusty Gautreaux was arrested for six counts of Attempted 1^st Degree Murder and one count of Aggravated Arson. Evangeline Parish Ward 4 Fire Department responded and rescued a woman, teenager, and four children from the fire. Gautreaux was taken into custody and booked into the Evangeline Parish Jail on Thursday.

New rules for New Orleans Mardi Gras on what you can’t bring to parade routes. Many revelers are used to bringing many of the banned items for decades. Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy says the new rules will be hard to enforce.

Cut 5 (06)  “…buy in.”

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan…

Cut 9 (12) “…this process.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is preparing to defend the state’s Ten Commandments Law, which faces a legal challenge. The Ten Commandments are to be displayed in every public-school classroom starting January first. Murrill says the Ten Commandments represent the foundation of our laws and that’s the argument she’ll make to a federal judge…
Cut 12 (12) “…historical context.”
The ACLU says displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms is an unconstitutional religious coercion of students.

Talk of a special session next month so that lawmakers can then vote to hold a constitutional convention…is dead. Lapolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says changes to the constitution could be needed to respond to this potential budget deficit, but legislative leaders still might not want to take the dramatic step of holding a constitutional convention…

Cut 8 (06)  “…could see that.”

The US Senate Health Committee has voted 16-4 to subpoena the CEO of Steward Health, Dr. Richard de la Torra. Committee Co-Chair Senator Bill Cassidy says Steward’s financial mismanagement has had deadly consequences.

Cut 4 (06) “…to treat.”

Glenwood in West Monroe is one of 31 Steward hospitals across the country.

Phase 2 of the state’s SUN Bucks program begins this week. It’s a program that provides a one-time payment of 120-dollars to low-income families who can use the money to help pay for groceries when children are out of school for the summer months. DCFS Economic Stability Director Timothy Jenkins says EBT cards will be sent in waves over the next few weeks…

Cut 9 (07) students.”

The state department of education released LEAP scores from the last school year and the results show progress has stalled after a couple of years of improvement. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”

LDWF cited 26-year-old Hunter Herrington, 35-year-old Damien Corville, 34-year-old Skylar Robichaux, 25-year-old Jessie Reece, and a juvenile for theft of crawfish. Agents obtained video showing the men checking and keeping crawfish from traps, which didn’t belong to them four times between July 5-10. Penalties for crawfish theft are up to a $2000 fine and two years in jail.

A survey of 700 childcare workers by the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children says the majority make around $15 an hour or less, about $28,000 annually. Executive Director Libbie Sonnier says retaining credentialed workers is hard because of the low pay. Still, it’s so important for building a solid foundation for children.

Cut 6 (12) “…to benefits.”

The survey indicated public school pre-K teachers average $20 an hour in Louisiana. And according to the institute, a living household wage with two adults and two children is $23 an hour for each adult.

The Saints held their first training camp practice today in Irvine, California, and running back Alvin Kamara participated, even though he’s looking for a new contract. Kamara is hopeful he’ll sign a new contract before the regular season starts in September….

Cut  13 (05) “…I do.” 

Kamara rushed for a career 694 yards last season.

State education officials say LEAP scores from the last school year show third through eighth graders improved their overall mastery rate by one percent in English. But Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says in an effort to increase outcomes, the state make high-dosage tutoring more available…

Cut 4 (10) “…relatively quickly.”

Brumley says he is pleased to see the overall mastery rate for students with disabilities improved in third through eighth graders for a third consecutive year.

A survey of 700 childcare workers by the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children says the majority make around $15 an hour or less, about $28,000 annually. Executive Director Libbie Sonnie (son-ye) says retaining credentialed workers is hard because of the low pay. Still, it’s so important for building a solid foundation for children.

Cut 6 (12) “…to benefits.”

Tulane University has received a grant to continue a study to see if estrogen use can protect women’s brain health later in life. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 28 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

And here’s a look at commodities

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned and Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced a bipartisan task force to investigate the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The goals of the task force are to understand what went wrong, to ensure accountability and to prevent such agency failure from ever happening again. The task force will consist of seven Republicans and 6 Democrats

New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman who was diagnosed with breast cancer last month, says it was a self-exam that detected malignancy. Brooke Thorington has more.

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

Two adults and two children were killed in a two-car crash Monday morning on U-S 61 near I-310 in St. Charles Parish. 33-year-old Mathieu Christophe of Laplace was struck head-on by 38-year-old Benjamin Alexis of Chalmette driving in the wrong direction. Trooper Jacob Pucheu (pee-shoo)…

Cut 4 (10) “…head -on.”

Pucheu says the children in the car were wearing seatbelts but were not properly restrained in a child car seat or booster seat.

Every Louisiana State Police Troop is a nationally recognized Child Seat Fitting Station. Contact your local office if you have any questions or would like to ensure your seat is installed correctly.

While many Louisiana Democrats have thrown their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Presidential nominee, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell isn’t immediately convinced she’s the best candidate.

Cut 13 (12)  “…to win.”