A federal grand jury has indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, on seven counts of wire fraud and one count of false statement. The U-S Attorney’s office says Vappie lied to cover up a romantic relationship with Cantrell. So why is Cantrell not facing an indictment? Political analyst Clancy Dubos says federal prosecutors take their time before indicting a public official

Cut  13 (14) “…politician.” 

Political newcomer, Quentin Anderson from Baton Rouge has entered the race to run for the 6^th Congressional District and he says he wants to address infrastructure and revitalization.

Cut 8 (12)  “…steps backward.”

A former art teacher at Golden Meadow Middle School in Lafourche Parish has been sentenced to 40-years in prison for sexually abusing one of his  former students in 2009. Prosecutor Jason Chatagnier (shot-en-ya) says during the trial they presented evidence on how Ralph Cheramie (cher-a-me) Junior would groom his victims…

Cut 3 (08) “…in the classroom.”

Chatagnier says Cheramie’s sentences are to be served concurrently

There’s a good chances for more scattered thunderstorms through the weekend as this wet weather pattern plans to stick around into next week. National Weather Service Meteorologist Marti Calhoun says an upper level trough will remain in place for several days, which will bring the southern half of the state daily showers and thunderstorms…

Cut 10 (10) “…rain weather.”

Former New Orleans police officer and member of Mayor Cantrell’s security team Jeffrey Vappie was indicted today, by a federal grand jury. Details of the charges he faces have not yet been disclosed. Vappie’s attorney Harry Rosenberg, a former U.S. Attorney, says he is waiting to see a copy of the indictment before commenting.

35-year-old Quentin Anderson is the youngest candidate running for the 6^th Congressional District. Brooke Thorington has more.

Ralph Cheramie (cher-a-me) Junior, a former art teacher at Golden Meadow Middle School in Lafourche Parish has been sentenced to 40-years in prison for sexually abusing one of his former students in 2009. Prosecutor Jason Chatagnier (shot-en-ya) says during the trial they presented evidence on how would groom his victims…

Cut 3 (08) “…in the classroom.”

There’s a good chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. Afternoon temperatures will warm into the upper 80s and lower 90s daily. National Weather Service Meteorologist Marti Calhoun…

Cut 9 (10) “…few days.”

The best chances for at least two inches of rainfall through Sunday will occur over lower Acadiana.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

A former art teacher at Golden Meadow Middle School in Lafourche Parish has been sentenced to 40-years in prison for sexually abusing one of his former students in 2009. Ralph Cheramie (cher-a-me) Junior was convicted on sexual battery, molestation, and indecent behavior charges. Prosecutor Jason Chatagnier (shot-en-ya) says Cheramie’s sentences are to be served concurrently…

Cut 5 (11)  “…ever again.”

Political newcomer, Democrat Quentin Anderson from Baton Rouge has entered the race to run for the 6^th Congressional District and says he wants to bring integrity and honor back to public service as well as address infrastructure and revitalization.

Cut 8 (12)  “…steps backward.”

Anderson will be running against state Senator Cleo Fields and former legislator Elbert Guillory.

In private remarks, Former President Barack Obama and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said President Joe Biden should consider dropping out of the presidential race. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

And here is a look at today’s commodities…

Three Black men have qualified to represent the newly drawn sixth Congressional district that now favors an African-American to win. They are Republican Elbert Guillory and Democrats Cleo Fields and Quentin Anderson.

Fields, a state senator from Baton Rouge, believes in the Voting Rights Act and that the state should have a second majority-minority district because a third of Louisiana’s population is Black.
Cut 13 (10) “… included.”
Guillory is a former state lawmaker from Opelousas. The 80-year-old says he’s running to improve education and lower crime….
cut 14 (06) “….law enforcement”

Louisiana Radio Network will contact the Anderson campaign today to get his thoughts.

The Republican National Convention will culminate this evening with their Presidential nominee Donald Trump’s speech. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Congresswoman Julia Letlow officially qualified to run for re-election this morning. The Republican’s 5^th Congressional District was altered when the lines for District 6 were redrawn. Letlow says she’s looking forward to meeting and listening to the new individuals she could potentially represent in her third term.

Cut 3 (10) “…for results.”

In addition to North Louisiana the 5th District also stretches to Baton Rouge.

A 9-year-old boy was attacked by an alligator while swimming in Lake Pontchartrain on Sunday. The boy was with his family near the mouth of Bayou St. John around dusk when the alligator bit him on the leg. His father quickly intervened, managing to free the boy from the alligator’s grip. LSU Ag Center Alligator Specialist Mark Shirley…

Cut 10 (06) “…find an alligator.”

Two candidates with the most name recognition officially qualified for the newly drawn 6^th congressional district. Democrat Cleo Fields and Republican Elbert Guillory.

Cut 2 (00)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

A new state law makes it easier to appeal traffic citations from speeding cameras. The law allows drivers to appeal tickets from traffic cameras by proving there were outside issues involved, like if someone else was driving their car or if there were hazardous conditions. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey says now if you get a ticket from a traffic camera….

Cut 4 (12) “…if you don’t pay.”

Cathey says anyone who needs help appealing a ticket can reach out to him on Facebook.

At last night’s Republican National Convention, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise from Jefferson Parish discussed what a Trump administration and a Republican controlled House will mean for education. He says they want to give parents more options in helping their children get a quality education…

Cut 10 (13) “…and where.”

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention tonight after being picked as former president Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential race.  Vance is the first millennial to be on a major party ticket, which Speaker of the House Mike Johnson thinks Vance should boost the campaign’s appeal in middle America because…

Cut 7 (10) “…this election cycle.”

A new state law makes it easier to appeal traffic citations from automated enforcement, like speeding cameras. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (32) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention tonight after being picked as former president Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential race. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says Vance was a great V-P pick and has a lot of things going for him.

Cut 6 (08) “…in Congress.”

Vance is the first millennial to be on a major party ticket.

Two of the candidates that qualified for the newly drawn 6^th congressional district today are no strangers to politics. Democrat Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields, who served two terms in Congress in the 90s, and Republican Elbert Guillory who represented Opelousas in the state legislature.

Fields says there are parts of the district that haven’t used infrastructure funds to expand things like broadband. He says local governments don’t know how to access those dollars and he can help.

Cut  14 (11) “…to them.” 

Guillory says in two years a lot of damage could be done in Congress. He referenced a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to vote in federal elections.

Cut 15 (10) “…stop it.”

Congressman Garret Graves who currently represents the 6th district opted not to run for re-election because the district was redrawn at a disadvantage to him another term.

Two candidates with the most name recognition officially qualified for the newly drawn 6^th congressional district. Democrat Cleo Fields and Republican Elbert Guillory.

Cut 2 (00)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

A new state law makes it easier to appeal traffic citations from speeding cameras. Those in favor of automated enforcement say traffic cameras keep the roads safer, but Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey points out that police are still able to pull drivers over for speeding. Cathey says, automated enforcement can’t stop human and drug trafficking.

Cut 5 (06)  “…45 days later.”

Cathey says anyone who needs help appealing a ticket can reach out to him on Facebook.

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention tonight after being picked as former president Donald Trump’s running mate. Once a critic of Trump, Vance has since become a champion of the former president’s policies. Additionally, Vance’s rise from a poor family in Ohio to a veteran, lawyer and senator puts him in touch with working-class Americans, which Speaker of the House Mike Johnson sees as a help to the Trump campaign.

Cut 8 (09)  “…and they do.”

At last night’s Republican National Convention, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise from Jefferson Parish spoke…

Cut 9 (11) “…once for all.”

Scalise also discussed what a Trump administration and a Republican controlled House will mean for education. He says they want to give parents more options in helping their children get a quality education.

A new state law makes it easier to appeal traffic citations from speeding cameras. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey said he wrote the law after complaints from his constituents, including a call from local sheriffs in north Louisiana…

Cut 3 (12) “…the things gone.”

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention tonight after being picked as former president Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential race. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says Vance should boost the campaign’s appeal in middle America because…

Cut 7 (10) “…this election cycle.”

At last night’s Republican National Convention, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise from Jefferson Parish says spoke on the need for tighter immigration laws and policies are a main push for Republicans. Scalise says keeping illegal immigrants out of the country is a main priority…

Cut 11 (14) ” ..(cheering).”

Republican Elbert Guillory who represented Opelousas in the state legislature, qualified for the newly drawn 6^th congressional district today. 80-year-old Guillory says the 6^th District congressional lines were severely gerrymandered and he believes the district will be modified but in the meantime, it deserves to be properly represented.

Cut  13 (10) “…we have.” 

Voting has begun for the 2024 American Association of State Troopers Best-Looking Cruiser Contest. Sgt. Ross Brennan with LSP says they considered locations such as the Superdome to represent Louisiana in the contest but ultimately settled on Acadian Village for its beautiful location and storied history. He says when you think of our state, chances are…

Cut 7 (11) “…different cultures.”

A new report from Bankrate found more than one-third of U.S. workers say they’re living paycheck to paycheck on their current salary. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster believes people have less spending money now than in the past. Workers in the southern United States were most likely to report living paycheck to paycheck, which Foster says isn’t surprising.

Cut 4 (12) “…any other region.”

The Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association (LADA) recently released its 2023 Economic Impact Report. President and CEO of LADA Coulter McMahen says the independent dealer model is especially important to local communities, which is illustrated in the over 18 million dollars in charitable donations given in 2023.

Cut 10 (10) “…they’re involved.”

Gambling charges against former LSU player Kayshon Boutte have been dropped. He was arrested in January for illegal online gaming. The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s office says Boutte has completed a gambling awareness program and executed a self-ban. Legal Analyst Tim Meche believes the investigation of Boutte’s case will be a lesson learned for LSU and the NCAA, as well as how they need to monitor college athletes going forward when it comes to sports wagering.

Cut 14 (09)  “…said and done.”

The legal gambling age in Louisiana is 21 and Boutte was underage when the bets were placed.

In the wake of an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, Republican delegates are gathering at the Republican National Convention this week to formally nominate him for president. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (29) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

Daniel Callihan has been indicted federally and separately in two states in connection with the murder of a Loranger mother and her child entered a plea in court Monday. Callihan pleaded not guilty to charges of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of second-degree kidnapping. The state also announced in court Monday that they will be seeking the death penalty in the case.

During the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump Saturday, 50-year-old Tony Hemker of Virginia was in the crowd.  When he heard the shots, Hemker turned to the right and saw a bullet go through a speaker and fall to the ground. Hemker said it wasn’t until after the Secret Service yelled clear that he got back and up and saw Trump raise his fist into the air.

Cut 7 (14) “…else happens.”

LSU football coach Brian Kelly spoke at SEC Media Days in Dallas this morning. Kelly emphasized the importance of a complete team after an underperforming defense held back the Tigers’ top-ranked offense last year. LSU brought in new coordinator Blake Baker, d-line coach Bo Davis, and secondary coach Corey Raymond to revitalize the storied LSU defense. Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. will be central to the Tigers’ success, and Kelly says he’s not just a pass rusher…

Cut 11 (14) ” …developmental process.”