If it seems like summers here in Louisiana are getting hotter and hotter – well, you’re right. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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Over 72-million Americans are expected to travel this Fourth of July weekend. Kace Kieschnick has more.

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Attorney General Liz Murrill announces scores of arrests in connection with a nationwide Medicaid fraud crackdown. Jeff Palermo reports.

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If it seems that summers here in Louisiana and across the country are getting hotter and hotter – well, you’re right. Shel Winkley, the chief meteorologist at Climate Central, says Louisiana’s average summer temperatures – accounting for both the daytime highs and overnight lows in June, July and August – have been steadily rising ever since records have been kept.

Cut 4 (13) “…of about 82.4.”

Winkley says nationally, since 1970, the average summer temperature has risen two and a half degrees; and while that might not seem like a significant difference, it really is.

Cut 5 (06) “…wouldn’t feel well.”

Winkley says humans have only themselves to blame for this, with all the coal, oil and methane gas that we burn.

Cut 6 (07) “…heat in more.”

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Triple-A projects more than 72-million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the Fourth of July weekend, a slight increase over last year’s record. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says many are taking advantage of the holiday falling on a Saturday and extending vacations through next week.

Cut 7 (12) “…who are cruising.”

More than 61-million travelers are projected to hit the road, while nearly six-million are expected to board planes. Gas prices are at a four-year high for this time of year, but Redman says that won’t deter travelers.

Cut 8 (09) “…it’s still high.”

Triple-A says if you’re hitting the road today or tomorrow, it’s best to try to leave before noon. The most congestion on the roads is expected in the afternoon and early evening.

Before you leave, check battery conditions, tire pressure and oil status. Triple-A responded to more than 687-thousand roadside assistance calls last year. Redman says if you are driving a long distance, it’s best to take breaks every two hours.

Cut 9 (11)  “…you are impaired.”

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Attorney General Liz Murrill announces that 21 people have been arrested as part of a nationwide crackdown on Medicaid fraud. During a news conference at the Capitol, Murrill said some of those charged are accused of stealing huge amounts of money from the program.

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Murrill says Medicaid fraud is by no means a victimless crime.

Cut 11 (10) “…services and support.”

Murrill says she has made fighting Medicaid fraud a top priority ever since she was elected.

Cut 12 (13) “…residential care facilities.”

Murrill says her office has also secured 105 convictions and 73-million dollars in restitution orders.

Murrill also announced that the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has been elevated to a standalone division within the Louisiana Department of Justice, and that Matt Stafford has been promoted to lead the newly-created division.

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State Representative Gabe Firment of Pollock is running for Congress. Firment joins at least two fellow Republicans — Monroe Representative Michael Echols and State Board of Regents chair Misti Cordell — in the race for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Senate nominee Julia Letlow. Firment says voters can trust him.

Cut 13 (10)  “…get to Congress.”

Republican State Senator Stewart Cathey is also expected to join the race.

The Grant Parish representative has served in the House since 2019. He describes himself as a true conservative who can represent the rural district well. His opponents have a head start after beginning their campaigns months ago, but Firment believes he has an advantage as the southernmost candidate.

Cut 14 (08) “…of this district.”

The reshaped district covers all or parts of 24 parishes, stretching from Monroe south to Avoyelles and Rapides parishes and into southeast Louisiana. The November 3rd party primary will be an open ballot due to the late redistricting caused by the Supreme Court’s ruling on the state’s previous congressional map. Firment says voters will be able to hear from all candidates.

Cut 15 (12) “…really well there.”

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After a red-hot June for LSU recruiting, Lane Kiffin’s staff will look to keep the momentum going. Ruston High School four-star safety Jayden Anding was scheduled to announce his commitment between LSU and Ole Miss yesterday, but he pushed it back at the last minute. Geaux247’s Andre Champagne says he can do it all in the secondary.

Cut 16 (11) “…pretty much anywhere.”

Anding is the brother of current Tigers corner Aiden Anding.

Brother Martin five-star wideout Easton Royal is still committed to Texas, but he hasn’t shut the door on his recruitment. LSU is trying hard to flip the nation’s top receiver. Champagne says his final decision will go down to the wire and will consider more than just who offers the most money.

Cut 17 (17) “…the entire class.”

Five-star defensive lineman Jalen Brewster is the top-rated prospect in the class, and he’s been committed to Texas Tech since October. The 6-3, 300-pound athletic freak can have an immediate impact wherever he ends up. Champagne says LSU is all-in on trying to flip him, and it may even be a higher priority than landing Royal.

Cut 18 (13) “…or no one.”

An Orleans Parish Grand Jury is reportedly investigating whether Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill made illegal threats to New Orleans officials. During a news conference this morning, Murrill said she knew nothing beyond what had been reported by the media.

Cut 12 (09) “…I said, ‘No.’”

Earlier this year, Murrill sent letters to Mayor Helena Moreno, five city council members and Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, threatening to remove them from their offices over their opposition to a new state law that merged clerk of criminal and civil courts.

Murrill spoke with reporters today, because she also announced that 21 people have been arrested as part of a nationwide crackdown on Medicaid fraud. Murrill said some of those charged are accused of stealing huge amounts of money.

Cut 10 (11) “…from the program (2x).”

Murrill says the Louisiana Fraud Control unit made the arrests. That unit has been elevated to a standalone division.

Pollock Representative Gabe Firment announced his campaign for Congress today. Firment joins Monroe Representative Michael Echols and State Board of Regents chair Misti Cordell in the race for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by Julia Letlow. Firment says he was born and raised in the district and knows its communities.

Cut 13 (11)  “…get to Congress.”

Republican State Senator Stewart Cathey is also expected to join the race.

Starting tomorrow, the red snapper bag limit will be increased to five fish per person for the Fourth of July weekend. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says he hopes it will encourage families to get out on the water and enjoy America’s 250th birthday.

Cut 6 (12) “…that we have.”

The usual bag limit for red snapper is four, and the season lasts until November.

An Orleans Parish Grand Jury is reportedly hearing evidence over whether Attorney General Liz Murrill violated state law by threatening to remove New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams and five New Orleans Council members from office if they didn’t follow a new state law that combined the civil and criminal clerks of court in Orleans Parish. Murrill says she’s heard nothing about a grand jury and doesn’t believe she did anything wrong…

Cut 14 (02) “…I sent”

When the letters were sent on May 13^th, Moreno said in a social media post that it is against the law to intimidate or threaten public officials in an effort to try to influence their decision or change their position.

For the first time in the state’s modern history, there are more registered Republican voters than Democratic voters. John Couvillon of JMC Analytics and Polling says Democrats were once the dominant party in Louisiana…

Cut 9 (08) “…to fall”

Legendary former Southern University Baseball coach Roger Cador has passed away at the age of 74 after a bout with brain cancer. Cador, who was also an outstanding baseball player for the Jaguars, was the head coach of the Baton Rouge school for 33 years, winning 14 SWAC titles and two HBCU national titles. Chair of the Southern Board of Supervisors Tony Clayton says Coach Cador won a lot of games and changed a lot lives….

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Cador won 913 games from 1984 to 2017.

Louisiana Tech officially joined the Sun Belt Conference today, a move that will reduce travel costs and renews historical rivalries. Athletics Director Ryan Ivey says they are already seeing the impacts…

Cut 19 (12) “…of the schedule”

Attorney General Liz Murrill is under investigation by an Orleans Parish grand jury. Earlier this year, Murrill sent letters to Mayor Helena Moreno, five city council members and Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, threatening to remove them from their offices over a special election for a newly-merged clerk of criminal and civil courts. Murrill said she stands by the letters she wrote.

Cut 13 (12) “…think is appropriate.”

The number of Republican voters in the state has surpassed the number of registered Democrats for the first time in Louisiana’s modern history, according to a monthly report from the Secretary of State’s office. John Couvillon of JMC Analytics and polling says the number of registered no-party voters is 820-thousand and growing.

Cut 10 (08) “…Independents.”

Former Southern baseball coach and player Roger Cador passed away yesterday. The New Roads native led the Jaguars baseball program for 33 years and transformed Southern baseball into an HBCU powerhouse. Southern Board of Supervisors Chair Tony Clayton says he asked Cador one day how he could recruit the nation’s top prospects like Golden Spikes winner Rickie Weeks.

Cut 4 (11) “…still is.”

LDWF announced a special increase of the red snapper bag limit to five per person for the Fourth of July weekend. The declaration of emergency will be in effect tomorrow through this Sunday before reverting back to the normal four-fish limit. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says he hopes fishing is on the agenda for your Independence Day weekend.

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Attorney General Liz Murrill’s threats to New Orleans officials is now the subject of an investigation by an Orleans Parish grand jury. During a news conference this morning, Murrill said she knew nothing beyond what had been reported by the media.

Cut 12 (09) “…I said, ‘No.’” 

Murrill had threatened to remove Mayor Helena Moreno and others from their offices over a special election for a newly-merged clerk of criminal and civil courts.

Starting tomorrow, the red snapper bag limit will be increased to five fish per person for the Fourth of July weekend. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says he hopes it will encourage families to get out on the water and enjoy America’s 250th birthday.

Cut 6 (12) “…that we have.”

The Secretary of State’s voter registration report for July shows that for the first time in Louisiana’s modern history there are more registered Republican voters than Democratic voters. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

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The fourth and final Central Louisiana law enforcement officer charged in connection with an immigration fraud case pleads guilty. Former Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. It was part of a years-long scheme in which the officers prepared bogus violent crime reports for immigrants to help them obtain U-visas.

A report on registered voters in the state shows that for the first time in modern history, there are more registered Republican voters than Democratic voters. Registered Republican voters out number Democratic voters by 23-hundred and John Couvillon of JMC Analytics and Polling says it is becoming harder for a Democrat to win a statewide office…

Cut 11 (11) “…conservative voters”

To help celebrate the Fourth of July and America’s 250^th Birthday, the red snapper bag limit has been increased to five fish per angler starting tomorrow and running through Sunday. The usual bag limit for red snapper is four, and LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says the red snapper population can support extra harvesting.

Cut 7 (12) “..bag numbers.”

Former Southern baseball coach Roger Cador has passed away at the age of 74.

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State Representative Gabe Firment has announced he will run for Congress as he will look to replace Julia Letlow as Louisiana’s representative in the 5^th Congressional District. State Representative Michael Echols is also running and so is Misti Cordell of Monroe, who is the chair of the Louisiana Board of Regents. All three of them are Republicans and GOP state senator Stewart Cathey is also expected to join the race. The open primary is in November.

For the first time in the state’s modern history, there are more registered Republican voters than Democratic voters. That’s based on a report the Secretary of State’s office puts out at the beginning of every month. John Couvillon of JMC Analytics and Polling says Democrats were once the dominant party in Louisiana, but over time, they’ve been steadily losing party registrants…

Cut 9 (08) “…to fall”

Each party has just over one-million registered voters, with registered Republican voters outnumbering registered Democratic voters by 23-hundred.

It’s been nearly two weeks since a historic rain event in Avoyelles Parish flooded 14-thousand homes. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says storm victims should report any damage they sustained by visiting the website damage-dot-la-dot-gov…

Cut 19 (13) “…local dollars”

President Trump says Louisiana has approved to receive eight-point-six million dollars in federal disaster relief, but who is eligible for this money and how it will be distributed is unknown at this time.

Southern University is mourning the death of its most successful coach in the history of  Jaguars athletics. Roger Cador has died at the age of 74 after a bout with brain cancer. In his 33 seasons as head coach, Cador won 14 SWAC Championships and coached 10 All-Americans and 62 MLB draft picks. Chair of the Southern Board of Supervisors Tony Clayton says Southern will open the mini-dome on Monday to honor him…

Cut 5 (11) “…our children”

Starting tomorrow, the red snapper bag limit will be increased to five fish per person for the Fourth of July weekend. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth hopes fishing is on your agenda this holiday weekend….

Cut 8 (12) “…out there”

Legendary former Southern University Baseball coach Roger Cador passed away of brain cancer at the age of 74 yesterday. Cador led the Jaguars baseball team for 33 years after taking over in 1984. Chair of the Southern Board of Supervisors Tony Clayton says he was an ambassador for the school and the first line of defense between kids and the real world.

Cut 3 (09) “…young men.”

A year after its invitation, Louisiana Tech officially joined the Sun Belt. The Bulldogs join in-state rivals ULM and UL-Lafayette in the conference. Both schools advocated for Tech to join the conference due to decreased travel costs and the renewal of historic rivalries. Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Ryan Ivey says they’re already seeing the impacts.

Cut 11 (12) “…of the schedule.”

A West Monroe man who spent 27 years on death row for the convicted murder of his ex-girlfriend’s toddler in 1993 has been released. Jimmie Duncan’s conviction was reversed by the Louisiana Supreme Court, and now prosecutors must decide to retry or dismiss the case. Duncan’s attorney Ann Ferebee says prosecutors are now on the clock.

Cut 14 (10) “…they tell us.”

Justices upheld a lower court’s decision to toss out Duncan’s 1998 conviction citing flawed forensic practices used to convict him.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office has released body cam footage that shows Reverend Tony Spell calling his neighbor’s son a slur, days after the pastor was arrested in the beating of the 20 year old man. Two days following that widely publicized incident deputies say they were called out on a noise complaint by the neighbor because Spell was mowing his lawn at 4am. That’s when words were exchanged and caught on tape.

Louisiana Tech is officially a member of the Sun Belt Conference…

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Also on this day, UNO officially becomes LSU New Orleans as the school moves from the U-L System to the LSU System. UNO interim chancellor Jeanette Weiland says she’s ready to get the word out about LSU New Orleans as part of an effort to boost enrollment…

Cut 6 (10) “…learning as well”

A West Monroe man who spent 27 years on death row for the death of his ex-girlfriend’s 23-month old daughter is a free man after the Louisiana Supreme Court agreed with a lower court decision that prosecutors used flawed evidence to convict Jimmie Duncan in 1998. When Duncan was convicted, prosecutors convinced a jury that Duncan sexually assaulted Haley Oliveaux before she died in a bath tub. But newer evidence suggests Haley likely died from a seizure while in the tub.

The Ouachita District Attorney’s Office could try to prosecute Haley Duncan, but one of his attorneys, Ann Ferebee, says it will be up to the prosecution to decide how to proceed…

Cut 15 (10) “…other facts”

Ferebee says if prosecutors seek to try him for negligent homicide, they’d be wasting their time, since Duncan has already served three times the maximum prison sentence for that charge.

A West Monroe man who spent 27 years on Angola’s Death Row is officially a free man after a ruling by the Louisiana Supreme Court this week. The state’s highest court agreed with a lower court’s decision that the forensic evidence used to convict Jimmie Chris Duncan of sexually assaulting and killing his former girlfriend’s toddler was flawed.

Duncan was convicted in 1998, and he’s now 57-years-old. One of his attorneys, Ann Ferebee, says the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s office could prosecute him again…

Cut 13 (11) “…those would be”

Based on the evidence that has been presented in the case after his conviction, it’s believed the girl that Duncan was accused of killing died from a seizure while taking a bath.

A Louisiana Sports legend has passed away. Former Southern baseball coach Roger Cador has died at the age of 74 after a bout with brain cancer.  He led the Jags to 14 SWAC titles.

Most of the people who sustained damage from Tropical Storm Arthur had flood damage. But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says there were some who suffered property damage from tornadoes and high winds. Temple says these storm victims will have to pay a named storm deductible, and in these cases, he encourages storm victims to file a claim, even if the damage is less than your deductible…

Cut 9 (08) “….every 12 months”

It was a year ago that Louisiana Tech accepted an invite to the Sun Belt Conference and today the Bulldogs officially join the league.  Louisiana Tech agreed to an over eight-million-dollar exit fee with Conference USA. Athletics Director Ryan Ivey says it’s a short-term financial hit.

Cut 12 (11) “…here early on.”

The school will save millions in travel costs by playing more regional opponents.