5:30 LRN Newscast July 22

Congresswoman Julia Letlow qualified Friday to run for re-election. The first Republican female to represent the state in Congress touted her accomplishments in her first term and also spoke of the importance of her appointment to the House Appropriations Committee and what it means to the 5th Congressional District.

Cut 12 (12) “…next year.”   

Hunter Pullen who served in the Marines is Letlow’s challenger. The West Monroe Republican says after having to wait months for medical care from the VA, he was inspired to continue his service to the country.

Cut 13 (11) “…concerns are.”

They will face three other candidates on the November ballot.

There are concerns that the decision to move youth inmates from Bridge City in Jefferson Parish to Angola might violate federal law. Governor John Bel Edwards and the state Department of Corrections say the juvenile inmates will be segregated from the adult population at Angola. Loyola University professor of law Hector Linares says federal law dictates under those circumstances juveniles and adults must not see or hear each other…:
Cut 4 (09) “…also be illegal.”

The Terrebonne Basin Barrier Islands have been restored and according to the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority it’s the state’s largest barrier island restoration project at one-thousand acres. Project manager April Newman says nearly nine million cubic yards of dredged sediment were used…
cut 8 (12) “….persevered”

4:30 LRN Newscast July 22

Governor John Bel Edwards’ plan to send the most violent inmates from the troubled Bridge City Center for Youth to Angola state prison comes under fire. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Two officials from Amite will be sentenced in November after pleading guilty in a federal court in a vote-buying case. Former police chief Jerry Trabona and current City Council member Kristian Hart pleaded guilty to charges that they offered to pay people to vote for them.

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has finished its largest barrier island restoration project, with the completion of the Terrebonne Basin Barrier Islands. The project restored one-thousand acres of barrier island habitat. Project manager April Newman.

CUT 06(10)      “…barrier islands.”

The $166-million project used funds from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The media picks LSU football to finish in fifth place in the highly competitive SEC West. As expected, Alabama is the preseason favorite. The projected order following the Crimson Tide is Texas A-and-M, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and LSU. Tiger Rag Editor Tim Buckley says the media that covers the SEC looks at LSU as being a year or two away from really competing in college football’s toughest division.

Cut 11 (06)  “…get it done”

3:30 LRN Newscast

This week Governor John Bel Edwards announced a plan to move juvenille inmates from the Bridge City Center for the Youth in Jefferson Parish to the Angola state prison in West Feliciana Parish. The plan is receiving criticism. Loyola University professor of law Hector Linares suggests moving the least violent detainees to lower-security facilities…
cut 5 (10) “…higher needs youth”
The Bridge City Center for Youth has been hampered by jail breaks and fights involving inmates.

The media pick LSU to finish fifth in the SEC West, considered the toughest division in all of college football. Tiger Rag Editor Tim Buckley says LSU’s ranking is the result of not having an established starter at quarterback, the offensive line is inexperienced, unproven running backs and only one established player at wide receiver…..
Cut 10 (08) “…preseason teams”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow will face opposition in November as she seeks re-election to her second term in the 5th Congressional District. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana ranks number one for highest sales taxes in the country. The average combined state and local sales tax rate is 9.55-percent. The Tax Foundation’s Janelle Fritts says when sales taxes are high, they are burdensome…:
CUT 29 (06) “…state lines.”

2:30 LRN Newscast July 22

Governor John Bel Edwards’ plan to send the most violent inmates from the troubled Bridge City Center for Youth to Angola state prison is coming under fire. The juvenile jail has had four violent escapes so far this year. Among critics of the plan is Loyola University professor of law Hector Linares (lih-NAR es)he  says it seems like a bad decision, and a possible violation of federal law…:

Cut 3 (12) “…with adult prisons.” 

 

The media picks LSU football to finish in fifth place in the highly competitive SEC West. As expected, Alabama is the preseason favorite. The projected order following the Crimson Tide is Texas A-and-M, Arkansas, Ole Miss and LSU. Tiger Rag Editor Tim Buckley says there are a lot of question marks with this group of Tigers…

Cut 9 (10) “…question marks.”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow qualified this morning to run for re-election for the 5th congressional district. She touted of her Parent’s Bill of Rights legislation which gives parents the ability to be more informed of their child’s curriculum and notification of violent activity at school. Letlow was asked about her feelings on gun reform efforts after recent school shootings.

Cut 14 (07)  “…to bear arms.” 

West Monroe Republican Hunter Pullen is running against Letlow. He says it was his poor medical experiences with the VA that inspired him to continue his service to the country. Pullen says vets are forced to depend on the government for medical care and he experienced a significant delay for his cancer treatments.

Cut 15 (09) “…operation.” 

The two will face off on the November ballot.

1:30 LRN Newscast

Congresswoman Julia Letlow qualified Friday to run for re-election. The first Republican female to represent the state in Congress touted her accomplishments in her first term and also spoke of the importance of her appointment to the House Appropriations Committee and what it means to the 5th Congressional District.
Cut 12 (12) “…next year.”
Hunter Pullen who served in the Marines is Letlow’s lone challenger. The West Monroe resident says after having to wait months for medical care from the VA, he was inspired to continue his service to the country.
Cut 13 (11) “…concerns are.”

There are concerns that the decision to move youth inmates from Bridge City in Jefferson Parish to Angola might violate federal law. Governor John Bel Edwards and the state Department of Corrections say the juvenile inmates will be segregated from the adult population at Angola. Loyola University professor of law Hector Linares says federal law dictates under those circumstances juveniles and adults must not see or hear each other…:
Cut 4 (09) “…also be illegal.”

The Terrebonne Basin Barrier Islands have been restored and according to the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority it’s the state’s largest barrier island restoration project at one-thousand acres. Project manager April Newman says nearly nine million cubic yards of dredged sediment were used…
cut 8 (12) “….persevered”
The Terrebonne Basin Barrier Islands should help reduce storm surge for Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

12:30 LRN Newscast July 22

Abortions remain legal in Louisiana due to a temporary injunction issued by state district judge Donald Johnson; acting on a lawsuit challenging the state’s trigger abortion ban laws. Loyola University Law Professor Dan Ciolino says Attorney General Jeff Landry, who’s defending the state’s abortion ban, most likely will file an appeal…:
CUT 14(09) “…be illegal.”
Ciolino says eventually the matter will go to the state Supreme Court.

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority announces they’ve completed resoration on the Terrebonne Basin Barrier Islands. The restored one-thousand acre barrier island habitat is the largest restoration project completed by CPRA. Project manager April Newman says the barrier islands will reduce storm surge and flooding for the mainland…
cut 7 (10) “….the communities”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ plan to send the most violent inmates from the troubled Bridge City Center for Youth to Angola state prison comes under fire. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
ut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

11:30 LRN Newscast July 22

The Governors’ plan to send the most violent inmates from the troubled Bridge City Center for Youth to Angola state prison comes under fire. The juvenile jail has had four violent escapes so far this year. Among critics of the plan is Loyola University professor of law Hector Linares (lih-NAR es) who says it seems like a bad decision, and a possible violation of federal law…:

CUT 03(12)      “…with adult prisons.”

He says better to send Bridge City’s LEAST violent detainees somewhere else.

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has finished its largest barrier island restoration project, with the completion of the Terrebonne Basin Barrier Islands. The project restored one-thousand acres of barrier island habitat. Project manager April …:

CUT 06(10)      “…barrier islands.”

The $166-million project used funds from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

 

Our state tops another one of those “bad lists”; taking the top spot for highest sales taxes in the country. The current statewide sales tax is 9.55-percent. The Tax Foundation’s Janelle Fritts says when sales taxes get so high, they become burdensome…:

CUT 09  (08)        “…state lines.”
The actual state sales tax is actually among the lowest in the U.S., but when you add parish and local taxes, it gets to that highest spot.

Speaking of records, gasoline has retreated from the record-high $4.55 statewide; now at $4-a-gallon for regular. Louisiana AAA’s Don Redman says lowered demand is behind the price drop…:

CUT 10  (07)        “…demand erode.”

Redman says a storm in the Gulf could quickly send gas prices upward again.

10:30 LRN Newscast July 22

U.S. Senator and fundraising juggernaut John Kennedy has raised over $29-million for his re-election bid, but says he wants to hit the $40-million mark before Election Day. His on-hand funds far outstrip any of his announced challengers, so why would he want to raise even more? U.L.-Monroe political science professor Pearson Cross says having abundant cash to fight off a well-funded Political Action Committee seeking to un-seat him is one answer and there’s no reason to slow down on fundraising. The excess can be used in a future Senate re-election, but NOT if he decides to run for Governor next year…:

CUT 05(04)      “…in the Senate.”

Cross says that’s a good way to curry favor and support with Senate colleagues.

Governor Edwards will have to appoint an interim mayor for Minden, in Webster Parish, after the death of Mayor Terry Gardner last month. This after Minden council members failed to reach that decision this week. For the time being, the mayor pro tem is handling city business.

 

The Bayou State ranks at the top of a list, but it’s not necessarily the first place ranking consumers are pleased about. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

New Orleanian Ryan Thibodaux is, apparently, a man of iron. Thibodaux, a local dentist & musician, survived being gored by a bull during the annual Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain recently. Before that, Thibodaux survived a rough bout of COVID-19 Alpha and beat back cancer. Thibodaux says he has no regrets.

9:30 LRN Newscast July 22

Let’s start with gasoline prices. After hitting a record high $4.55-a-gallon in mid-June, the statewide average cost of regular gas is now at $4. Louisiana AAA’s Don Redman says high prices have caused demand to drop, meaning crude oil prices – and prices at the pump – drop as well…:

CUT 12(09)      “…in demand.”

Redman says a storm in the Gulf will almost certainly cause another surge in pump prices.

Our state has the nation’s highest sales taxes; 9.55-percent combined state and local. The Tax Foundation’s Janelle Fritts…:

CUT 08(11)      “…high for states.”

In July 2025, the state tax will drop by .45-percent, to 4 cents on the dollar, but local sales taxes remain high.

 

Due to a temporary order by 19th JDC Judge Don Johnson, abortions remain legal in the state. A pro-choice group is suing to block the law; claiming it’s vague and unenforceable. Loyola Law professor Dane Ciolino believes the case will move rather quickly all the way to the state Supreme Court…:

CUT 15(12)      “months rather than years.”

The law has gone into effect twice since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade, and it’s been blocked twice.

Local sheriffs’ offices warn you to be wary of scammers who call you saying you’ve won the Publishers Clearing House giveaway, but – in order to get your cash or prizes – you must first pay taxes on them…using gift cards. They’ll use pressure to get you to act fast, but do not be fooled. Just hang up the phone.

8:30 LRN Newscast July 22

This may come as no surprise, but Louisiana ranks top of the lost for the highest sales taxes in America; at a rate of 9.55 percent. That’s according to Tax Foundation’s state and average local sales tax rates for July 2022. Tax Foundation’s Janelle Fritts says it’s a distinction that most people do not find flattering…:

CUT 07(12)      “…to that position.”

In July of 2025, the state sales tax will drop from 4.45 percent to four percent.

Abortions remain legal in Louisiana due to a temporary injunction issued by state district judge Donald Johnson; acting on a lawsuit challenging the state’s trigger abortion ban laws. Loyola University Law Professor Dan Ciolino says Attorney General Jeff Landry, who’s defending the state’s abortion ban, most likely will file an appeal…:

CUT 14(09)      “…be illegal.”

Ciolino says eventually the matter will go to the state Supreme Court.

 

If you are paying more than four-dollars a gallon for regular gasoline, you are paying more than the statewide average. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 03(30)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Rain and thunderstorms are moving through Louisiana at this hour, and are expected to continue – off and on – until about dinner time. The rain does give a cooling break from near-record heat, and we can expect more scattered rain through Sunday.