For the second consecutive month, the state’s unemployment rate hit a record low, with a seasonally adjusted rate of 3-point-six-percent in July. And the number of people employed is the second highest in recorded history. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says they hope to add even more jobs with the state’s new Tech Ready Program, which offers thousands of courses to help people gain new skills and increase their readiness..
cut 6 (13) “…..and top level”

The state Department of Children and Family Services is hiring additional case workers after failing to respond adequately to reports of potential substance abuse involving a two-year-old child who ended up dying from a fentanyl overdose. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they are searching for people who want to help children…
cut 9 (12) “….looking for”

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch until Tuesday night as a big rain producing system is moving in from Texas. Six to eight inches of rain is possible through the middle of the week for north-central Louisiana. Four to six inches is possible for Shreveport. Monroe, Natchitoches and Jena.

Two years since Hurricane Laura slammed southwest Louisiana, Calcasieu Parish schools are still in need of repairs. Marsanne Golsby has more…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

Louisiana’s unemployment rate fell for a second straight month in July, to its lowest level ever. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

According to a report in the Advocate newspaper, homicides in rural Louisiana are surging. Based on data from the CDC and the FBI, the homicide rate for rural Louisiana in 2020 was just under 17 per 100-thousand people. That’s nearly three times higher than the national rural homicide rate. The biggest increase has occurred in Washington Parish.

The state Department of Children and Family Services announces policy changes as a result of an overdose death of a two-year-old child. D-C-F-S admits they were contacted three times by hospital staff about substance abuse involving the child, but because of a variety of reasons they failed to have a case worker inspect the home. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says that will never happen again…
cut 8 (08) “….response”
The supervisor overseeing Mitchell Robinson’s case has resigned, while the worker assigned to the case has been suspended.

The two-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura making landfall in southwest Louisiana is Saturday and many schools in the Calcasieu Parish School System still have temporary roofs as they await for FEMA money to make the repairs. But school superintendent Stephen LaFargue says despite the physical condition of their schools, LEAP scores are up…
cut 15 (08) “…the classroom”

The Department of Children and Family Services admits they were contacted three times by hospital staff about the well-being of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson before he died from a fentanyl overdose on June 26th. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says a case worker assigned to Mitchell’s case was on sick leave when he died and a supervisor failed to follow up on the third report…
Cut 7 (08) “…in time”
The supervisor has resigned and the case worker who was on sick leave has been suspended.

For a second straight month, Louisiana set a record-low unemployment rate in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment is 3.6-percent. She says, coincidentally, the EMPLOYMENT rate is looking very good…:
Cut 4 (11) “…is high as well.”
July 2022 figures estimate slightly over 2-million people in Louisiana are currently employed.

Several Calcasieu Parish School buildings are still under repair from Hurricane Laura—which struck southwest Louisiana as a category four storm two years ago. One of the strongest storms to ever make landfall in Louisiana did at least 400 million dollars’ worth of damage to the schools alone. But Schools superintendent Shannon LaFargue says they’ve made a lot of progress.
Cut 13 (08) “…sense of normalcy.”
LaFargue says many schools still have temporary roofs as FEMA money continues to be tied up by red tape.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is now ranked among the nation’s top 100 public research universities. Last year the school invested over 181-million dollars in research and development, a 193-percent increase in funding over eight years. V.P. for Research & Innovation at ULL Dr. Ramesh Kolluru (ko-LOO-roo) says part of that research was pandemic related…
cut 11 (10) “…emergency authorization”

The state Department of Children and Family Services announces policy changes as a result of an overdose death of a two-year-old child. D-C-F-S admits they were contacted three times by hospital staff about substance abuse involving the child, but because of a variety of reasons they failed to have a case worker inspect the home. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says that will never happen again…
cut 8 (08) “….response”
The supervisor overseeing Mitchell Robinson’s case has resigned, while the worker assigned to the case has been suspended.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is now ranked among the nation’s top 100 public research universities. Last year the school invested over 181-million dollars in research and development, a 193-percent increase in funding over eight years. V.P. for Research & Innovation at ULL Dr. Ramesh Kolluru (ko-LOO-roo) says part of that research was pandemic related…
cut 11 (10) “…emergency authorization”

The state Supreme Court rules incumbent Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins CAN run for re-election this fall. More from Kevin Gallagher…:.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

State Police say a 45-year-old woman fired a handgun at Lake Charles Police officers yesterday before she was shot in the lower torso from return fire. Sheri Carlson of Lake Charles suffered non-life threatening injuries and no officers were injured. Police were dispatched to a home on Hodges Street in reference to suspicious circumstances.

The Department of Children and Family Services acknowledges they were contacted three times about the well-being of two-year-old Mitchell Robinson before he died from a fentanly overdose on June 26th. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says a case worker assigned to Mitchell’s case was on sick leave when he died and a supervisor failed to make sure another case worker was sent to the home…
cut 7 (08) “….in time”
The supervisor has resigned and the case worker who was on sick leave has been suspended.

For a second straight month, Louisiana set a record-low unemployment rate in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment is 3.6-percent. She says, coincidentally, the EMPLOYMENT rate is looking very good…:
Cut 4 (11) “…is high as well.”
July 2022 figures estimate slightly over 2-million people in Louisiana are currently employed.

While speaking at a town hall meeting, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell threatened to cancel Mardi Gras Parades in the Big Easy next year, because of a decline in NOPD officers. And on Friday afternoon, Cantrell released a statement that said they are not canceling Mardi Gras. She hopes stepped-up recruitment efforts and retention bonuses can stop the decline in police manpower.

By a 4-3 decision, the state Supreme Court has ruled that Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins CAN run for re-election in November. Perkins’s was disqualified by a local judge because he listed the wrong address on election qualification papers. LSU-Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow says 4 of the 7 justices felt a simple clerical error – with no evidence of intent to deceive – didn’t constitute “wrong-doing”…:
CUT 13(12) “…disqualify a candidate.”
Perkins faces nine challengers on the November eighth ballot.

Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell for a second straight month in July, to its lowest level ever. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A federal lawsuit has been filed to prevent the transfer of two dozen youth inmates at the Bridge Center for Youth to the Louisiana State Pentitentary. Governor Edwards announced the move last month as a way to reduce the violence and escapes from the juvenile facility in Jefferson Parish. But civil rights attorneys say the state does not have a solid plan to keep adult and youth prisoners separate.

By a 4-3 decision, the state Supreme Court has ruled that Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins CAN run for re-election in November.Perkins’s candidacy was challenged by a resident whose main complaint was he listed the wrong address on election qualification papers. LSU-Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow says he and many others thought the High Court would go the opposite way…:
CUT 12 (12) “…bit of a surprise.”
Perkins says he’s estatic over the ruling now he has to fend off nine other challengers in the November eighth race.

Two people at Cypress Arrow Kennel and K9 Academy in Lena face animal cruelty charges, after viral videos surfaced showing them hitting the dogs. Rapides Sheriff’s Office Chief of staff Tommy Carnline says the case has drawn a lot of public scrutiny…:
CUT 04(07) “…of the arrest.”
Business owner Tina Frey and her daughter Victoria Brimer were booked and released on bond.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell has hinted that the shortage of cops in New Orleans could mean cancelling Mardi Gras…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby”

An UPDATE to that story: late Friday afternoon, Cantrell issued a statement saying (quote) ”We ARE NOT canceling Mardi Gras”. She also noted steps underway to attract and retain police officers between now and Carnival Season. Classic walk-back.

A viral video of a trainer hitting a dog in the head has resulted in two arrests in Rapides Parish. Chief of Staff of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Tommy Carnline says 52-year-old Tina Frey and her daughter, 21-year-old Victoria Brimer turned themselves in on Thursday. Carnline says their investigation began last week, after they saw video of a trainer hitting a dog in the head with a riding crop…:

CUT 05(10)      “…aggravated cruelty.”

Both women are released on bond.

Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Walters says a supervisor has resigned as a result of the agency failing to react in a timely manner before a 2-year-old child died from a fentanyl overdose. A report issued by DCFS says their agency was contacted three times before the child’s death and Walters says they failed to get back to the house in time.

Incumbent Shreveport mayor Adrian Perkins CAN continue his run for another term in office. That was the decision of the state Supreme Court released today. By a 4-to-3 vote, justices ruled that errors made on qualifying papers weren’t evidently made deceptively…so his campaign continues. LSU – Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow says even the three dissenting justices agreed that state election law is missing some specific language clarifying that incorrect information given at qualifying IS a cause to disqualify…:

CUT 14(05)      “…to do so.”

Two people at a Rapides Parish dog training school are arrested for animal cruelty, after viral videos surfaced showing them hitting the dogs. Rapides Sheriff’s Office Chief of staff Tommy Carnline says the case has drawn a lot of public scrutiny…:

CUT 04(07)      “…of the arrest.”

Business owner Tina Frey and her daughter Victoria Brimer were booked and released on bond.

Make it five now. Five property insurance companies ending business in Louisiana due to fiscal impacts of hurricanes in 2021 and 2020. The latest is Florida-based Weston Property & Casualty. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Weston customers who have to go the state-run last-resort insurer, Louisiana Citizens, will have an extra 60 days to do so…:

CUT 07(10)      “…private sector.”

In addition to Weston…United Property & Casualty, Southern Fidelity, Lighthouse and Maison have ceased writing policies, affecting tens of thousands of policyholders.

A corrections officer with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office is under arrest for malfeasance. 33-year-old Eddie Taylor, of Opelousas, allegedly traded prohibited food items to female parish jail inmates in exchange for sex. In one case, he told an inmate he would put up the money for her bail if she would give him sex. His bond is set at $1500.

By a 4-3 decision, the state Supreme Court has ruled that Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins CAN run for re-election in November. Justices heard arguments Tuesday, and their decision came down this morning. Perkins’s was disqualified by a local judge because he listed the wrong address on election qualification papers. LSU-Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow says 4 of the 7 justices felt a simple clerical error – with no evidence of intent to deceive – didn’t constitute “wrong-doing”…:

CUT 13(12)      “…disqualify a candidate.”

Perkins may now continue his campaign for another term.

A supervisor with the Department of Children and Family Services has resigned after the agency failed to prevent the overdose death of a 2-year-old despite getting three reports that the child nearly died twice before in a similar manner. DCFS got its first report of the child taking his mother’s drugs in April.

Yet another property insurer is ending coverage in Louisiana, meaning over ten-thousand customers will have to seek new coverage pretty quickly. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Florida-based Weston Property & Casualty is the latest to “fold up its tents”…:

CUT 06(12)      “…on September 7^th”

Donelon says those who have to go to the state-run insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens, will get an extra 60 days to do so.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell drops a hint that Mardi Gras MAY not happen next year, because of the shortage of cops. New Orleans Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy says he’s dumbfounded…:

CUT 09(08)      “…by her comments.”

Hardy says he understands the cop shortage but that’s not enough of a reason to call off the biggest tourism event of the year.

A viral video of a trainer hitting a dog in the head has resulted in two arrests in Rapides Parish. Chief of Staff of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Tommy Carnline says 52-year-old Tina Frey and her daughter, 21-year-old Victoria Brimer turned themselves in on Thursday…:

Cut 03  (10)      “…by any trainers.”

Citizen complaints led the investigation.

Yet another property insurer is ending coverage in Louisiana, meaning over ten-thousand customers will have to seek new coverage pretty quickly. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Florida-based Weston is closing shop. He says customer should seek new coverage with another private company or the state-run insurer Louisiana Citizens, but whatever you do…:

CUT 08(14)      “…of those policies.”

Over 90-thousand have lost their coverage so far this year.

The state Supreme Court returns a 4-to-3 decision in favor of incumbent Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, who was disqualified from running due to providing wrong address info on qualification papers. With the ruling, Perkins can continue his campaign.

At a town hall meeting, New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell hinted there’s no guarantee Mardi Gras will happen in 2023. Why? The severe cop shortage…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby.”