US Senator Bill Cassidy officially endorses Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor. University of Louisiana Monroe political science professor Pearson Cross believes it’s only the beginning and other Republicans will follow suit and begin to announce their support of Landry.

Cut 4 (12)  “…unchecked.” 

Qualifying for the October 14^th primary is from August 10^th through the 12^th.

The National Weather Service issues an excessive heat warning for most of north and southeast Louisiana. The warning is in effect until 7:00 PM in southeast Louisiana until 8 o’clock tonight for north Louisiana. Meteorologist Aaron Davis says residents within the warning area will experience downright oppressive temperatures…

Cut 10 (10)  “…some areas.”

Gas prices are on the rise again with the average price for a gallon of regular gas statewide at $3.36 up by fifteen cents compared to last week.

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”  

US Senator Bill Cassidy officially endorses Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor. Landry is the perceived front-runner in the race and is one of five Republicans who’ve declared their intent to run. Cassidy issued his support this morning.

Cut 3 (09) “…of the state.” 

Cassidy says Landry also supports coastal restoration, green energy, and better access to mental health services.

And speaking of elections, 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 auto-dialing technology.

Despite a decrease in demand, the cost of gasoline in the Bayou State jumped up fifteen cents since last week. Today’s statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.36 according to AAA. Fuel analyst Don Redman says supply is pushing prices higher.

Cut 7 (11)  “…weakening supply.” 

Redman says prices for crude were at 67 dollars a barrel last month.

Construction for a new warehouse for Second Harvest Food Bank in Houma will get underway in August. President of the food bank Natalie Jayroe says after Katrina they opened a facility in Lafayette, and they hope to have a total of four after the expansion.

Cut 11 (09)  “…resilient hubs.”

Second Harvest serves the southern half of the state.

The state is offering twelve months of free LifeLock credit monitoring to millions of Louisianans who had their personal information leaked in a cyber data breach last month. But Leesville Republican Representative Chuck Owen is calling for more transparency…

Cut 4 (09)  “…the administration.”

For more information about the data breach, you can visit nextsteps.la.gov.

Louisiana Housing Corporation is expanding the 2023 Blue Tarp Fund Roofing Repair Program waitlist to additional applicants who have roof damage that may qualify to receive a new roof. LHC Executive Director Joshua Hollins says certain applicants will be placed at the top of the list…

Cut 8 (06) “…the home.”

Homeowners can apply at lhc.la.gov/bluetarp.

If you’ve been receiving text messages from gubernatorial candidates, you’re not alone. Sharon Hewitt, Stephen Waguespack, and other gubernatorial candidates are using text messages to reach out to supporters. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says that could make some voters angry and possibly backfire…

Cut 15 (11)  “…from campaigns.”

The FCC says political text messages can be sent without permission as long as the sender does not use auto-dialing technology.

Second Harvest Food Bank will begin building a new 17,000-square-foot warehouse in Houma in August. The new facility will allow the agency to better service Terrebonne, Lafourche, and St. Mary parishes, as well as Grand Isle. Second Harvest President Natali Jayroe the hubs, they’ll be outfitted for local farmers and also house emergency workers…

Cut 12 (08)   “…neighbors” 

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.

With a big election season coming up in Louisiana, get ready to start receiving political text messages. A few of the gubernatorial candidates have already started doing this as they try to build their name recognition ahead of the October 14th primary. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says this new way of campaigning helps those candidates that do not have a lot of money…
cut 14 (08) “…less costly”
And the FCC says text messages from political candidates are legal as long as the sender does not use autodialing technology.

The Rapides Parish coroner has positively identified Robert Owens. He’s the geocacher from New Jersey who was reported missing on July 17th in the Kisatchie National Forest. Detectives say there are no signs of foul play. Investigators say its likely Owens died from heat stroke on the first day he went into the National Forest.

It’s been a hot summer and it will only get hotter next week. High temperatures are expected to run between 102-104 degrees for Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria next week. South Louisiana will see highs between 100 and 101-degrees. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the state will see also oppressive heat indices…
cut 7 (05) “….at times”
Rain chances are also 20-percent or lower next week.

If you have a blue roof on your home because of previous storm damage, you might want to listen up. The Louisiana Housing Corporation has funding available to fix your roof through the Blue Tarp Fund Roofing Repair Program. L-H-C Executive Director Joshua Hollins says to be eligible, the homeowner must be 80-percent of the area median income or less and certain groups of applicants will be placed a the top of a waiting list…
cut 8 (06) “…living in the home
For more information go to lhc.la.gov.

After the data breach involving a third party vendor used by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles last month, the OMV is offering a free year of Life Lock credit monitoring to those impacted. But Leesville Representative Chuck Owen believes the incident warrants legislative oversite.
Cut 4 (09) “…the administration.”
Owen says decision on whether to call for an oversite committee is left to House Speaker Clay Schexnayder.

WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge is reporting the family of deceased LSU student Madison Brooks wanted law enforcement to look into the possibility of her being sexually assaulted before her death. Brooks was killed by a passing car after a heavy night of drinking in January. Four people have been charged for their involvement in an alleged rape of Brooks prior to her death. But WBRZ is reporting no DNA from the suspects was found in Brooks.

Louisiana’s gubernatorial candidates are using text messaging as another way to reach out to voters. You may have received a text message from Sharon Hewitt, Richard Nelson, Stephen Waguespack or one of the other candidates. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan…
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.

Construction for a new warehouse in Houma for Second Harvest Food Bank will get underway in August. The 17,000-square-foot facility will allow the agency to better serve Grand Isle along with Terrebonne, Lafourche, and St. Mary parishes. Second Harvest President Natalie Jayroe…
Cut 10 (10) “…in operation.”
The new warehouse will also contain a 3,400-square-foot community kitchen in the future that will be able to serve up to 3,000 meals daily.

State Farm customers who have auto insurance will see a rate increase. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the on average 17-percent rate increase is being driven by inflation, the cost of labor for auto repairs, and spiraling increases in the cost of parts and equipment for damaged vehicles. 29-percent of Louisiana drivers are insured by State Farm.

Students who received reduced price meals at school are now able to have them for free. Brooke Thorington explains…
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A brutally hot week is coming up for Louisiana as triple-digit highs are predicted across the state for the entire week. State Climatologist Barry Keim urges everyone not to spend a lot of time outdoors when the heat index is 110 and above…
cut 8 (110 “…..of yourself”

Some great coaches and athletes will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches tonight. The 2023 class includes Eli Manning, Paul Mainieri, Wendell Davis and Matt Forte. Women’s basketball great Alana Beard is also part of the class. She had a great career in the WNBA and at Duke. But Beard says it all started at Southwood High School in Shreveport and playing for legendary coach Steve McDowell…
cut 14 (12) “….my life”
Louisiana Public Broadcasting will livestream Saturday night’s induction ceremonies.