Drug dealers caught with fentanyl will now face stiffer penalties thanks to a new law that went into effect on August first. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

People in Ville Platte are mourning the death of Deputy Marshal Barry Giglio. He’s the law enforcement officer killed Monday night while serving a search warrant on a known drug house. Giglio is described as a good servant who was always willing to help out. One person inside the home was also fatally shot. State Police is investigating.

The state department of education says LEAP scores for third through 12th graders improved for a second straight year as 75-percent of Louisiana school systems improved. State Department of Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says for a state that struggles with literacy, he’s pleased to see the mastery rate for third graders in English Language Arts improved five points over last year to 43….
Cut 4 (07) “…2017-2018”
Brumley says it’s also encouraging to see last year’s third graders showed strong improvement in English Language Arts as fourth graders.

Bass pro Jake Ormond of Sterlington has set a state record for catching the largest longnose gar from a Louisiana waterway. He snagged the big fish in Bayou Bartholomew. Ormond says a quick google search told him the state record was just over 30 pounds, so he knew he was close…
cut 7 (08) “…his thirty-one
Ormond says the official weight at a certified scale in Farmerville was just over 31 pounds and 65.5 inches long.

State education officials say LEAP scores have improved for a second consecutive year. The latest results show a two-point jump from last year in the percentage of students considered proficient. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says that means 33-percent of students are scoring at the mastery rate or above…
Cut 3 (12) “…work to do.”
Brumley says for a state that struggles with literacy, he’s pleased to see the mastery rate for third graders in English Language Arts improve five points over last year.

It’s reporting day for the LSU football team. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says one of the biggest question marks is with the defensive secondary, which returns just two starters, Major Burns and Greg Brooks…
cut 14 (09) “…..in camp”

We are seeing triple digit temperatures across north and central Louisiana once again today. South Louisiana has temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. State Climatologist Barry Keim says when you look at New Orleans weather data for the first six months of 2023, it’s the warmest of any year on record.
Cut 12 (10) “…yesterday.”

Sad story out of Assumption Parish as a three-vehicle crash killed a pregnant woman from Houma and her unborn child. Trooper Ross Brennan says 23-year-old Tia Gorrell was hit head on by a Jeep Wrangler after it sideswiped a pick-up truck pulling a camper trailer. Brennan says 38-year-old Kendall Dollar was the driver of the Jeep….
cut 10 (09) “…this time”
There have been 15 fatal crashes in the Troop C area resulting in 17 fatalities.

A three-vehicle crash in Assumption Parish claims the life of a Houma woman and her unborn child. Trooper Ross Brennan says 23-year-old Tia Gorrell was traveling north on Highway 308 when she was hit by a 2014 Jeep Wrangler…

Cut 9 (09)  “…the Toyota.”

The investigation revealed that 38-year-old Kendall Dollar was the driver of the Jeep Wrangler. Toxicology results for Gorrell and Dollar are pending.

It’s another day of oppressive heat in the Bayou State. We asked State Climatologist Barry Keim what is causing it and if there is any relief in sight. He says a ridge of high pressure continues to hover over the southeast, it moves in and hangs around for a week baking the area with triple-digit temperatures.

Cut 11 (09)  “…things down.”

Keim says the ridge of high pressure eventually moves out but unfortunately, it’s replaced with another one right behind it.

Pro bass angler Jake Ormond of Sterlington set a new state record for the largest longnose gar ever caught. Kace Kieschnick has the story…

Cut 2 (34)  “….I’m Kace Kieschnick.”  

Bill Cassidy’s endorsement of Jeff Landry for Governor could help Louisiana’s senior U-S Senator score political points with the Republican Party. LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow says Cassidy has fallen out of favor with some Republicans and the state G-O-P strongly supports Landry…
Cut 10 (10) “…left behind”
The state GOP censured Cassidy after he voted to certify President Joe Biden’s electoral college victory and then the Baton Rouge Republican voted against former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial.

Anyone caught creating and distributing pornographic deepfake images that show false events could face up to twenty years in prison now. The new law went into effect Tuesday. Lake Charles Senator Jeremy Stine says this type of material causes harm to individuals.
Cut 7 (09) “…picture of.”

Bass pro Jake Ormond set a state record for the largest longnose gar which he caught on Bayou Bartholomew. The Sterlington native was giving a young student a lesson when he spotted the big gar on the surface of the water. After switching rods, it took Ormond three casts to hook the big fish…
Cut 6 (09) “…too long.”
The Longnose gar weighed 31 points a new state record certified by LDWF.

LSU football players report for preseason camp today with the goal of winning a national championship. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says coach Brian Kelly has tried to tap down on expectations after Kim Mulkey and Jay Johnson won national titles in their second year…
cut 15 (13) “….this year”

Anyone caught dealing fentanyl in Louisiana could face up to life in prison under a new law that took effect Tuesday. The law’s author, Crowley Representative John Stefanski believes it sends a strong message to drug dealers.

Cut 4 (11)  “…fentanyl distribution.”

Individuals with less than 28 grams of detectable fentanyl face five to 40 years in prison. More than 28 grams for a first offense, seven to 40 years.

A new Louisiana law that makes it illegal to create and distribute pornographic deepfake images that use someone’s likeness onto another person’s body especially minors went into effect this week. Perpetrators could face up to twenty years in prison and also fined no less than ten thousand dollars. Lake Charles Senator Jeremy Stine says this is a safeguard against potential abuse of technology…

Cut 9 (09)  “…in Louisiana.

US Senator Bill Cassidy’s endorsement of Jeff Landry for governor may help him get back in the good graces of the Republican Party. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Sulphur tight end J-D LaFleur, who is the son of former LSU All-American tight end David LaFleur, has committed to LSU. He’s rated as a three-star prospect for the Class of 2025. The six-foot-six, 220-pounder also received interest from Florida and Texas A-and-M. His father was an All-SEC selection as a senior in 1996.

A new law in Louisiana that increases harsher penalties of up to life in prison for fentanyl possession took effect this week. Bill author Crowley Representative John Stefanski hopes tougher sentencing will help curb the war on drugs…

Cut 5 (10)   “…twenty-five years.”

A second offense is 30 to 40 years.

Anyone caught creating and distributing pornographic deepfake images that show false events could face up to twenty years in prison now. The new law went into effect Tuesday. Senator Jeremy Stine says this type of material causes harm to individuals.

Cut 7 (09) “…picture of.”

A pregnant woman died in a three-vehicle crash in Assumption Parish Tuesday. 23-year-old Tia Gorell of Houma was killed when her 2016 Toyota Corolla was hit by a RAM pulling a camper that was sideswiped by a Jeep. The accident occurred on Highway 308 just south of highway 1011. The other two occupants driving the RAM and Jeep were not seriously injured. The investigation is ongoing.

Bill Cassidy’s endorsement of Jeff Landry for Governor could help Louisiana’s senior U-S Senator score political points with the Republican Party. LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow says Cassidy does not want a Republican governor who may oppose his re-election efforts……

Cut 12 (12)   “…same team” 

Legislation that prohibits the creation of explicit content using an individual’s likeness without their knowledge or approval went into effect this week.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.

Another new law that went into effect this week, increases the penalties for dealing fentanyl. Crowley Representative John Stefanski authored the legislation…
cut 6 (10) “…stop doing it”

The U-S Justice Department is concerned about the living conditions for youth inmates who are housed at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. A recent lawsuit alleges the teen offenders are suffering in hot conditions and spending time in isolation. But the Office of Juvenile Justice says the West Feliciana Center for Youth is air conditioned and the youth at the center are receiving targeted treatment they need.

LSU football players report for preseason camp today with the goal of winning a national championship. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says coach Brian Kelly has tried to tap down on expectations after Kim Mulkey and Jay Johnson won national titles in their second year…
cut 15 (13) “….this year”

If you’re caught dealing fentanyl in Louisiana, you could face up to life in prison. The stiffer penalties went into effect this week and the author of the legislation, Crowley Representative John Stefanski, believes it sends a strong message to drug dealers.
Cut 4 (11) “…fentanyl distribution.”
Individuals convicted of dealing fentanyl face at least seven years for a first offense, ten years for second offense and life in prison for a third offense. If you are caught with over 250 grams of fentanyl that could also lead to life in prison.

Another law that went into effect this week makes it illegal to create and distribute deep fakes. Lake Charles Senator Jeremy Stine says many of these visual deep fakes have children performing sexual acts…
cut 8 (10) “…..in Louisiana”

Bill Cassidy’s endorsement of Jeff Landry for Governor could help Louisiana’s senior U-S Senator score political points with the Republican Party. LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow says Cassidy has fallen out of favor with some Republicans and the state G-O-P strongly supports Landry…
Cut 10 (10) “…left behind”
The state GOP censured Cassidy after he voted to certify President Joe Biden’s electoral college victory and then the Baton Rouge Republican voted against former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial.

The LSU football team reports for fall camp today with high expectations. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says the ceiling should be high, considering the playmakers LSU has on offense…
Cut 13 (12) “…in the country.”

Drug dealers caught with fentanyl will now face stiffer penalties thanks to a new law that went into effect on August first. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

People in Ville Platte are mourning the death of Deputy Marshal Barry Giglio. He’s the law enforcement officer killed Monday night while serving a search warrant on a known drug house. Giglio is described as a good servant who was always willing to help out. One person inside the home was also fatally shot. State Police is investigating.

The big political news this week is Senator Bill Cassidy’s endorsement of Jeff Landry for governor. Cassidy irked many Conservatives a couple of years ago when he voted to certify President Biden’s electoral college victory and also voted against former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial. LSU-Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow says Cassidy is up for re-election in 2026 and knows he needs the state GOP on his side…
cut 11 (08) “….for re-election”

It’s reporting day for the LSU football team. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says one of the biggest question marks is with the defensive secondary, which returns just two starters, Major Burns and Greg Brooks…
cut 14 (09) “…..in camp”

A Ville Platte Deputy City Marshal was fatally shot last night while attempting to execute a search warrant. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

In Cameron Parish, the new Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge Headquarters is scheduled to open in 2024 in Cameron Parish. The coastal facility of 11,000 square feet will cost nine million dollars. The refuge will provide wildlife and fish species along the Gulf of Mexico.

Today is the last day for homeowners who received damage from the 20 and 21 hurricanes to complete a survey for assistance. Director of the Office of Community Development Pat Forbes says more than 33 thousand have completed the survey, but he believes there are other residents who qualify for assistance…

Cut 4 (07)  “…survey yet.” 

Go to restore-dot-la-gov to complete the survey.

Tonight’s Mega Millions Jackpot is more than one-billion dollars. It’s currently the fourth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. Kim Chopin with the Louisiana Lottery says this year multi-state lottery jackpots have set records.

Cut 6 (11)  “…a billion dollars.” 

Tickets must be purchased by 9 pm for the drawing at 10 o’clock.