New Orleans Realtors are asking the insurance commissioner to put the brakes on a 64 percent rate hike for 100 thousand Louisiana homeowners that have insurance with Citizens Insurance. Realtor Cody Caudill is part of a coalition trying to stabilize the housing market…:

CUT 06(09)      “…the market.”

They’re asking for 18 months of cushion before the rate hike kicks in, which will give more time for those covered by Citizens to find cheaper, private market insurance.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport says pay attention to the tropical wave off the coast of Venezuela, as it makes it way west and northwest overt the next week. The system has potential to reach named storm status and enter the Gulf, and thus potential to threaten Louisiana.

Because New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell refuses to reimburse the city for her travel expenses to France, Councilman J.P. Morrell and other council members are working on a plan to recoup the more than $43 thousand in expenses…:

CUT 03(09)      “…at the budget.”

Morrell says while the travel to France was in some semi-official capacity for the city, he believes Cantrell could have used a portion of her more than $1 million in campaign funds to finance the trip. A voter effort to recall the mayor is underway.

A West Baton Rouge Parish State Trooper is now on administrative leave after being arrested in connection with a sex crime investigation in South Dakota. 44-year-old LSP Lt. Kirk Thibodeaux is accused of soliciting a prostitute, while in the state on work-related business. His case on South Dakota is pending.

The restaurant where Allie Rice worked is helping collect reward money for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who gunned the LSU student down last Friday. One of the owners of The Shed, Chez Ciccone says the reward is up to $30,000 and he thinks it will make a difference.

Cut 4 (08)  “…people know.”

A federal judge rules the government may NOT require masks and/or COVID shots for teachers, staff, and volunteers with Project Head Start.  Liberty Justice Center and the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, whose general counsel Sarah Harbison who litigated the suit says now that President Biden says the pandemic “over”  why would the feds persist on mandates?

Cut 9 (07)  “…and medical decisions.”

Because New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell refuses to reimburse the city for her travel expenses to France, councilman JP Morrell and other council members are working on a plan to recoup the more than $43 thousand in expenses.

Cut 3 (10) “…at the budget.” 

New Orleans has experienced astronomical crime rates this year with over 200 people murdered. On Governor Edwards monthly call-in radio program he was asked if the crime rate is impacting tourism. Edwards says hotel and sales tax revenues indicate that tourism is actually up in Crescent City and getting more police officers will make a difference.

Cut 15 (08) “… retain them.”

The restaurant where Allie Rice worked is helping collect reward money for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who shot and killed her last Friday. Co-Owner of The Shed, Chez Ciccone, says there has been an overwhelming outpouring of support from the community who wants to help. He says it will take a village to end the rise in crime in Baton Rouge….:
CUT 6 (06) “off the street”
Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact Crimestoppers.

A federal judge rules that the U.S. Government may NOT require masks and/or COVID shots for teachers, staff and volunteers with Project Head Start. The suit was brought by a school teacher and represented by the Liberty Justice Center and the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, whose general counsel Sarah Harbison says the case against the government wasn’t just about compliance…:
Cut 8 (06) “to do so”

New Orleans experienced a major uptick in crimes this year with over 200 homicides, now locals are wondering if it will affect tourism. Whitney Thomas has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Whitney Thomas”

The NCAA Committee on infractions is set to announce its ruling on the LSU investigation today at noon. In March, the school was accused of violations by the NCAA including lack of institutional control and failure to monitor the conduct of its men’s basketball and football programs over an 8 year period.

A Baton Rouge restaurant has collected more than $30,000 in reward money for information that leads to a conviction for the murder of 21 year old LSU Senior Allie Rice. Rice was gunned down in Baton Rouge early last Friday while she was stopped for a train. One of the owners of The Shed BBQ, Chez Ciccone (chuh-coney) says they hope the reward is up to 50k by tomorrow…:
CUT 5 (07) “did this”
If you know anything please contact Crimestoppers.

Crime in New Orleans has also been off the charts and on his monthly call in radio show when asked how it’s been impacting tourism, Governor John Bel Edwards says travel to the Crescent City is up…:
Cut 14 (09) “that either”
He says getting more cops on the streets is the focus on fixing the problem.

A federal judge rules the US government may no longer require COVID shots or masks of teachers, staff or volunteers with Project Head Start. Kevin Gallagher has the story…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

We may see record high temperatures here on this first day of fall with highs expected to be in the mid to upper 90s or even higher north of I-10. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it won’t be this bad Saturday and Sunday…:
CUT 12 (06) “incredibly hot”

A federal judge has struck down the US Government mandate that required teachers and children in public preschools to wear masks and be vaccinated. The suit was brought by a school teacher and represented by the Liberty Justice Center and the Pelican Institute for Public Policy. General counsel Sarah Harbison says the plaintiff is vindicated…:
Cut 7 (08) aren’t having it”
U.S. Circuit Court Judge Terry Doughty issued a permanent injunction preventing the feds from enforcing their mask and shot mandates on Head Start in Louisiana and 23 other states.

It certainly will not feel like the first day of Fall today as temperatures across the state are slated to be in the upper 90s and even triple digits north of I-10. State Climatologist Barry Keim..:
Cut 11 (06) “still here”
He says next week highs should be back into the 80s.

A reward of $30,000 is being offered to help find those responsible for the shooting death of LSU student Allie Rice. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Crime in New Orleans has been awful also and Governor John Bel Edwards says more cops are needed…
Cut 15 (08) “retain them”

There is now a $30,000 reward being offered up for information on the deadly shooting of an LSU Senior in Baton Rouge last Friday. Allie Rice worked at The Shed BBQ, and Chez Ciccone (chuh-coney) is one of the owners there…:
CUT 4 (08) “people know”
If you have any tips about the case call Crimestoppers or Baton Rouge Police.

Today is the first day of fall, but its unseasonably hot. Temperatures will get into the upper 90s today, and triple digits north of I-10. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the hot weather will stick around through the weekend…:
Cut 10 (09) “some locations”
A front is expected to come in next week dropping high temperatures back into the 80s.

New Orleans has experienced astronomical crime rates this year with over 200 people murdered. Asked on his monthly call-in radio show if this was impacting tourism, Governor John Bel Edwards says travel to the Crescent City is actually up…
Cut 13 (13) “our economy”
He says they are focusing on getting more law enforcement officers on the streets.

State Police have placed a lieutenant on leave following a sex crime investigation in South Dakota. LSP says 44-year-old Kirk Thibodeaux is charged with Hiring for Sexual Activity.

On his monthly radio program, Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the uptick of crime in Baton Rouge and the murder of 21-year- old LSU Senior Alli Rice.

CUT 12(10)      “…just horrendous.”

Edwards says hiring and training more officers will help with the crime surge.

State Police have placed a lieutenant on leave following a sex crime investigation by the Pennington Country Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota. LSP issued a release stating that 44-year-old Kirk Thibodeaux has been charged with Hiring for Sexual Activity. Thibodeaux who’s worked with state police for twenty years and was assigned to the Transportation Safety Services and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement section. Authorities say the incident happened on Wednesday at a Rapid City Hotel.

Southeastern Louisiana University is using a $5-million federal grant to develop a mentoring program to assist education graduates as they enter the classroom. Dean of Education Paula Summers Calderon says new teachers tend to leave the profession in their first few years due to burnout and not meeting their own expectations.

Cut 3 (10) “…or 20 years.” 

Social Catfish, an online investigation service that monitors scams, says in Louisiana last year more than 4,000 people lost $43 million to con-artists, that’s up from $27 million in 2020. Social Catfish CEO David McClellan…

Cut 9 (08) “…staggering.”
During the pandemic, there was an increase in identity theft due to stimulus checks and enhanced unemployment.

On his monthly radio show, “Ask the Governor”, Governor John Bel Edwards was asked about the spiking rate of violent crime in Baton Rouge, and the recent murder of 21-year-old LSU Senior Allie Rice last week. He calls her killing senseless and careless and says hiring more trained cops will likely help curb murders and robberies…:

CUT 13(13)      “…too high.”
The reward money for catching Allie’s killer is now up to $30-thousand. Baton Rouge cops believe the crime was totally random.

Gasoline prices have seemingly ended their 100-plus day run of price declines; now at a statewide average of $3.13 and holding. Louisiana AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says, if a hurricane threatens our coast those prices will spike again…:

CUT 08(08)      “…in the Gulf.”

Two men who pulled off an armed robbery this morning in West Monroe have been captured. Ouachita Parish deputies say Donald Bouwell and James Stephenson held up a bingo hall, but were nabbed after a foot chase by both Ouachita and Union parish officers.

Southeastern Louisiana University is using a $5-million federal grant to create a program to keep teachers in the classroom. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Thorington.”

Southeastern Louisiana University is using a $5-million federal grant to create a program to keep teachers in the classroom. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________

Triple A says gasoline prices have stopped falling. Today the statewide average for a gallon of gas is $3.13–the same as yesterday. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Marsanne Golsby.”  

______________________________________

Southeastern Louisiana University is using a $5-million federal grant to develop a mentoring program to assist education graduates as they enter the classroom. Dean of Education Paula Summers Calderon says new teachers tend to leave the profession in their first few years due to burnout and not meeting their own expectations.

Cut 3 (10) “…or 20 years.” 

The Program is called BRIDGE Building Rigorous Induction and Development for Growing all Educators. Calderon says they are partnering with the Tangipahoa School System for the first year and will focus on ways to prepare teachers to meet the needs of the district also. She says it’s a win-win.

Cut 4 (11) “…those new teachers.” 

And then for the third year of the five-year program, the St. Charles Parish school system will be added.

The project will prepare 375 more highly effective and trained teachers over a five-year period and increase the leadership skills and knowledge of 150 teachers who support them. Calderon says other states have similar programs, but this is a first for Louisiana.

Cut 5 (07) “…entire state.” 

The program will also work closely with school districts to recruit teacher candidates from underrepresented populations.

_________________________________________________

The drop from record high gasoline prices appears to be ending. For nearly 100 days the price at pump has fallen, but today the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.13, the same as yesterday. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman says a lot of factors went into the stabilization of prices…

Cut 6 (08)  “…production” 

Redman says now that gasoline price have stabilized its hard to predict where they go from here….

Cut 7 (08) “…right now.”

But Redman says if a major hurricane appears in the Gulf, prices will spike.

Cut 8 (08)  “…in the Gulf.”

Forecasters are keeping an eye on a tropical wave in the western Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center says it has a 70 percent chance of forming into a depression in the next 48 hours.

___________________________________________

Social Catfish, an online investigation service that monitors scams, says in Louisiana last year more than 4,000 people lost $43 million to con-artists, that’s up from $27 million in 2020. Social Catfish CEO David McClellan…

Cut 9 (08)  “…staggering number.”

During the pandemic, there was an increase in identity theft due to stimulus checks and enhanced unemployment. McClellan says there are immediate scams also, that steal your personal information when you check on a link and others that play out for months.

Cut 10 (04) “…really staggering” 

McClellan says three out of four victims of Romance Scams are college educated and online cryptocurrency scams have skyrocketed seven-fold to $1.6 million in the US.

To avoid falling victim, McClennan says never give money to someone you’ve never met, do not give out personal information, use different passwords for different accounts, and when it comes to Romance Scams utilize a reverse image search to see if the person you are communicating with is who they say they are. And most of all, he says trust your gut.

Cut 11 (10)  “…your gut.”

_______________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the uptick in crime in Baton Rouge by discussing the Death of  21 years old Allison Rice.

Edwards says the incident is insensitive and careless…

Cut 12 (10) “.. .just horrendous.”  

Edwards says having more officers will deescalate crime.

Cut 13 (13) “…is too high.” 

Would it surprise you to know that online scammers raked in over $40-million from Louisiana residents in 2021? That’s a lot, and much more than the estimated $27-million conned out of Bayou state citizens during 2020. Social Catfish is an agency that tracks online scams, and CEO Dave McClellan says simple steps like changing passwords frequently and never agreeing to anything asked for online are two ways to avoid being taken. He says trust your instincts…:

CUT 11(10)      “…your gut.”

As the4 state-run property insurer of last-resort, Louisiana Citizens, asks for a 63-percednt rate increase…realtors are asking the Insurance Commissioner to delay approving that hike. They say, if buyers cannot afford coverage, they will not buy the home…and slowing the housing market any further will badly hurt the state’s economy.

On his monthly radio program, Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the uptick in crime in Baton Rouge and the murder of 21-year- old LSU Senior Allison Rice. The governor says the killing is insensitive and careless…:

CUT 12(10)      “…just horrendous.”

Edwards says hiring and training more cops will help with the crime surge.

Southeastern Louisiana University is using a $5-million federal grant to develop a mentoring program to assist education graduates as they enter the classroom. Dean of Education Paula Summers Calderon says other states have similar programs, but this is a first for Louisiana…:

CUT 05(07)      “…entire state.”

The Program is called BRIDGE, for Building Rigorous Induction and Development for Growing all Educators.