The Fortified Grant Program, which provides grants to homeowners to reinforce their roofs has received $30 million in funding and could begin the application process as early as October. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx” 

Governor Edwards will leave tomorrow an economic development mission in France and Belgium. He’ll also attend the Paris Air Show on the trip and meet with aerospace industries. In Belgium the topics will be expanding Louisiana’s health sciences industry.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved an appeals process for high school seniors who are unable to graduate because they do not meet the LEAP test scoring requirement. BESE President Doctor Holly Boffy (Bow-fee) says this new policy will prevent teens from dropping out of school…

Cut 12 (11 “…high school diploma.” 

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is a co-sponsor of a Republican plan that seeks to lower college costs and student debt. It’s a package of five bills that Cassidy says addresses the root causes of the student debt crisis…

Cut 6 (10)  “…financially succeed” 

Cassidy says the legislative package includes a bill he’s introduced before, the College Transparency Act.

Help to make your house more storm resistant. $30-million in state money has been budgeted for the Fortified Homes Program, to offer grants of up to $10-thousand to reinforce home roofs and structures against hurricane impacts. House Insurance Committee Chairman Mike Huval, of Breaux Bridge, says the recently passed program is an important step to make homes safer…:

CUT 05(13)      “…this session.”

Applications could start within a few months.

High school seniors who fail the LEAP test will have a graduation appeal process set up, under a plan approved by the Board of Elementary & Secondary Education. BESE president Dr. Holly Boffy says some kids just choke on tests, and that shouldn’t necessarily bar them getting their diploma…:

CUT 14(12)      “…standardized test.”

51 of Louisiana’s 57 death row inmates have filed for clemency from the Governor; asking that death be commuted to life behind bars. Governor John Bel Edwards was asked recently if he would commute all of them…:

CUT 09(12)      “…happens.”

Since 1999, nine persons on death row have been proven to be not guilty and released.

A related story: one of those persons was 68-year-old Larry Moses, of New Orleans; wrongly convicted of murder in 1995 and sentenced to life. Moses was released from prison Tuesday, after new evidence cleared him of that crime.

Baton Rouge rapper Boosie Badazz – real name Torrence Hatch – is under arrest again on a federal weapons charge. He was arrested in a San Diego court Wednesday, right after having another illegal weapons charge dismissed.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is a co-sponsor of a Republican plan that seeks to lower college costs and student loan debt. The bills are filed as U-S Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. Cassidy says the president’s plan does nothing to address the causes of the debt crisis…:

Cut 08  (11)      “…for the Left.”

He says this package of bills WILL address the problem.

The Fortified Homes grant program recently received $30 million in funding and could begin taking applications by October for Louisiana homeowners to strengthen the quality their roofs. House Insurance Chairman Mike Huval says a companion law requires insurers to change existing policies…:

CUT 04(13)      “…replacement.”

A state appeals court has upheld the conviction for former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain on multiple sex crimes. The 1^st Circuit Appeals Court ruled Strain’s appeals lacked merit and unanimously upheld the original jury verdict. Strain was convicted in 2021 of molesting juveniles and given four life sentences with no parole.

Fifty-one death row inmates have filed to have their sentences commuted to life in prison. It was just this year that two-term Governor Edwards made his views on the death penalty known…:

CUT 02(24)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Concerned about the hurricane season? The Fortified Grant Program, which provides grants to homeowners to reinforce their roofs against bad storms, has received $30-million in funding…and could start taking applications soon…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Teiko Foxx.”

Governor Edwards will leave tomorrow an economic development mission in France and Belgium. He’ll also attend the Paris Air Show on the trip and meet with aerospace industries. In Belgium the topics will be expanding Louisiana’s health sciences industry.

High school seniors who fail the LEAP tests will now have a graduation appeals process; recently approved the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. BESE President Dr. Holly Boffy says appeals will be administered at the local school level…:

CUT 13(11)      “…employability.”

She says about 4-percent of seniors score too low on the LEAP, and this process could reduce dropouts and increase the number getting a diploma.

Clemency requests have been filed for fifty-one of the state’s fifty-seven death row inmates; asking Governor Edwards to commute their death sentences to life in prison. Mr. Edwards says he will consider each one, after they’ve passed muster with the Board of Pardons…:

CUT 11(12)      “…judgment.”

Edwards has said before he favors ending death penalties in Louisiana.

It was just this year that Governor Edwards expressed his feelings that he’s against the death penalty. And in April, he even mentioned it in the State of the State address.

Cut 10 (06) “…exonerations.”

When asked if he will grant clemency to the 51 inmates who’ve filed, he said he can only do so after the review and approval of the Board of Pardons.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved an appeals process for high school seniors who are unable to graduate because they do not meet the LEAP test scoring requirement. BESE President Doctor Holly Boffy (Bow-fee) says this new policy will prevent teens from dropping out of school…

Cut 12 (11 “…high school diploma.” 

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is a co-sponsor of a Republican plan that seeks to lower college costs and student debt. He says it would help students decide whether to take on debt to attend programs that do not translate into high-paying jobs…

Cut 7 (15)  “…that program” 

The bills are filed as U-S Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program.

A cyber attack at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport last week is impacting the airport’s internal and administrative system but not the airlines. Officials say the airport is operating normally and it’s only an internal issue impacting their email and system for employees to clock in for work. Which is welcome news for those traveling to the College World Series.

The Fortified Homes grant program recently received $30 million in funding and could begin taking applications by October for Louisiana homeowners to strengthen the quality of their roof construction. House Insurance Chairman Mike Huval says offering these grants will motivate homeowners to upgrade.

Cut 3 (13) “…fortified standard.”

Anyone interested in staying updated on programs and details visit ldi.la.gov.

Clemency has been filed for fifty-one of the state’s fifty-seven death row inmates, asking Governor John Bel Edwards to commute their death sentences to life in prison. Edwards has made several comments recently that he opposes the death penalty, and when asked if he plans to commute the sentences…

Cut 9 (12) “…happens.”

Edwards even addressed his feelings on the death penalty at his State of the State address in April…

A 28-year-old woman who posed as a 17-year-old student at Hahnville High has been arrested along with her 46-year-old mother in St. Charles Parish. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is a co-sponsor of a Republican plan that seeks to lower college costs and student debt. It’s a package of five bills that Cassidy says addresses the root causes of the student debt crisis…

Cut 6 (10)  “…financially succeed” 

Cassidy says the legislative package includes a bill he’s introduced before, the College Transparency Act.

We now know why a 28-year-old woman from Honduras used a fake birth certificate and passport in order to attend Hahnville High School as a 17-year-old student. St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne…

Cut 10 (11) “…proficient at English.”

The 28-year-old and her 46-year-old mother have been charged with injuring public records.

Another casualty of the budget fighting and confusion in the last minutes of the legislative session: funding for an important expansion of the Port of New Orleans is cut. Kevin Gallagher reports the Governor is not happy about it…:

Cut 1 (36)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Governor Edwards will be overseas tomorrow along with Louisiana Economic Development officials, business and health leaders on an economic growth and diversification mission in France and Belgium. He’ll also attend the Paris Air Show on the trip. It’s the governor’s fourth trade mission since 2022.

St. Charles Sheriff Greg Champagne held a press conference to explain the arrest of a 28-year-old woman from Honduras who used fraudulent paperwork to pose as a 17-year-old to attend Hahnville High School to learn English. Champagne is not putting the blame on school officials…

Cut 11 (12)  “…certificate said.”
The 28-year-old and her 46-year-old mother have been charged with injuring public records.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed legislation to allow victims of sexual assault to track their rape kit as it moves from the hospital to law enforcement agencies. Bill author Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says the system is expected to be in place by July. Mizell says State Police are also taking steps to reduce a huge backlog…

Cut 14 (13)  “…tolerate that.”
Among the chaos in the final hours of the state legislature last week was a big cut in funding for a new terminal at the Port of New Orleans. Because lawmakers differed on raising the spending cap, it was cut as political payback. Governor John Bel Edwards says he is not happy about it, but he does have a plan to salvage funding to keep the project on track…:

Cut 9 (08)  “…Port of New Orleans.”

The Louisiana Department of Education hosts its second annual school safety summit at the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge today. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the event brings together school system leaders, law enforcement, government agencies and mental health providers to discuss best practices around school safety….

Cut 5 (09)   “…and employees.”
More than 1000 law enforcement officers, state responders, fire professionals, and mental health professionals are scheduled to attend.

Governor Edwards is upset the state legislature cut funding for a huge container terminal planned for the Port of New Orleans. Edwards says the funding was removed because a lawmaker didn’t vote yes for raising the spending cap…
cut 8 (10) “…the worst way”
Edwards says his staff has reassured private financiers that Louisiana still remains committed to the project.

The governor has signed legislation that would create a system that would allow sexual assault victims track their rape kits. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says as a result of her legislation, victims will receive a code after they undergo a sexual assault forensic exam…
cut 15 (10) “…or not”
The new system should be in place by July of next year.

A 28-year-old woman who posed as a 17-year-old student at Hahnville High has been arrested along with her 46-year-old mother in St. Charles Parish. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

In Baton Rouge today, the state department of education is holding its second annual school system summit. State Superintendent Doctor Cade Brumley says school leaders and law enforcement will discuss best practices around school safety…
cut 6 (05) “…speak up’

We now know why a 28-year-old woman from Honduras subimitted a fake birth certificate and passport in order to attend Hahnville High School as a 17-year-old student. St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne…
cut 10 (11) “…proficient in English”
The 28-year-old and her 46-year-old mother have been charged with injuring public records.

The Louisiana Department of Education hosts its second annual school safety summit at the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge today. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the even brings together school system leaders, law enforcement, government agencies and mental health providers to discuss best practices around school safety….
cut 5 (09) “…and employees”

Governor Edwards has signed into law legislation that would establish a system to track rape kits of victims taken at a hospital…
Cut 3 (33) “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Louisiana ranks 49th out of 50 states for overall child well-being, according to the Annie E Casey Foundation. Some of the key findings…35-percent of children in Louisiana have parents who lack secure employment and the percentage of children living in poverty is 27-percent, while the national average is 17-percent. Some positives, fourth grade reading scores are up and the percentage of high school graduates graduating on time has improved.