12:30 LRN Newscast

A new study from Bankrate finds Louisiana has a cool housing market, and New Orleans and Shreveport are among the coldest for their market size in the country. Data analyst Alex Gailey says high homeowners’ insurance rates is one reason why it’s tough to sell a home in Louisiana…

Cut 9 (08)  “…housing costs.”

Gailey says on the flip side, a cool housing market is good for buyers as it means more options, you can negotiate more and get concessions from the seller.

Researchers determined the 2025 Gulf of Mexico dead zone is about the size of Connecticut. The zone represents an area of low to no oxygen, unable to support marine life. LSU Oceanography Professor Nancy Rabalais says the zone is caused by high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in waterways.

Cut 6 (10) “…the oxygen.”

We’re now hearing from the representative who helped get a ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving across the finish line in the legislature and into law. Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso says it was a long time coming.

Cut 3 (09) “…matters and issues.”

The new law makes handling a cell phone while driving a secondary offense. That means an officer will not pull you over just for handling your cell phone while driving; but if the officer observed you doing so while committing another moving violation, that would add an additional fine to your citation. There is a grace period; officers will issue warnings instead of additional fines until the end of the year.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Still plenty of controversy over Speaker Mike Johnson sending the House home for summer recess instead of holding a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Jeanne Burns reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

According to the state department of education, 42-percent of Louisiana’s nearly 45-thousand public school teachers were evaluated as highly effective for the 2023-24 school year.

 

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announces deeply discounted combo hunting and fishing licenses for honorably discharged military veteran residents. Senator Brach Myers authored the legislation that resulted in the discounts and says it was a result of collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and The Boot, an organization that encourages military veterans to make Louisiana their home once their service has ended.

Cut 11 (14) “…the outdoors.”

Good news for Central Louisiana. According to a study from the CENLA Economic Dashboard, Consumer spending is on the rise. LSUA Professor Randall Dupont…

Cut 8 (11) “…over year.”

Alexandria and Pineville each recorded quarterly growth of four to five percent, and Natchitoches posted an eight percent quarterly gain.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick had some choice words for House Speaker Mike Johnson for sending the House home early for summer recess to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files. McCormick says Johnson was wrong for calling out fellow Republican Thomas Massie, who’s sponsoring a bipartisan resolution calling for the files’ release.

Cut 15 (07) “…singled him out.”

Honorably discharged military veteran residents can now purchase a Sportsman’s Paradise license – a recreational hunting and fishing combination license – for just $20, an 80-percent discount. Lafayette Republican Senator Brach Myers, who authored the bill that paved the way for the steep discount, says it’s a small token of our appreciation for their selfless service to our country.

Cut 10 (09) “…the right heroes”

The Department of Children and Family Services needs second shift Child Protective Services investigators. DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris says they need workers in the second shift because child maltreatment does not happen just between the hours of 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday.

Cut 4 (08) “…to respond timely.”

Harris says they’re looking to hire 53 people to work four, 10-hour shifts per week.

Central Louisiana is showing steady economic growth, according to a study from the Cenla Economic Dashboard. The Alexandria metropolitan area has gained 707 jobs since May, and the dashboard’s author, LSUA Professor Randall Dupont, says Natchitoches is recovering from the April closure of its International Paper plant.

Cut 7 (08) “…of this year.”

9:30 AM LRN Newscast

Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send the House home early for its summer recess rather than hold a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files didn’t sit well with everyone including fellow

Republican, Oil City Representative Danny McCormick, who went as far as issuing a statement condemning the move. McCormick says in his statement, he was defending fellow Republican Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored a resolution to force the release of those files.

Cut 14 (05) “…them get released”

Johnson says he wants to release the files but after they are completely pored over and all names of victims are redacted.

The Department of Children and Family Services needs second shift Child Protective Services investigators because child maltreatment does not happen just between the hours of 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday says DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris. She says they need 53 people to work four, 10-hour shifts per week including every other weekend. But she says working second shift has  advantages like additional pay.

Cut 6 (12) “…per hour worked.”

Those hired would start their new jobs as early as September 15th.

LSU is less than a month away from its season opener against Clemson. The Tigers are looking for their first win in week one since 2019. Defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory has been at LSU in 2020 and wants to start 1-0….

Cut 20 (16) “…the place.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announces honorably discharged military veteran residents can purchase a recreational hunting and fishing combination license for $20, a reduction of $80 for the Sportsman’s Paradise license. Republican Lafayette Senator Brach Myers authored the legislation that resulted in a big discount for military veterans.

Cut 9 (09)  “…outdoors in Louisiana.”

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send the House home early for its summer recess rather than hold a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files raised controversy but  Johnson says he’s committed to releasing the files and bringing Epstein and others to justice but only after all files are completely pored over and all names of victims are redacted.

Cut 13 (07)  “…be permanently destroyed.”

The Department of Children and Family Services needs help. DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris says child maltreatment does not just happen between the hours of 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday and they need second shift Child Protective Services investigators. They want to hire 53 people to work four, 10-hour shifts per week. And she says you do not need a college degree or any special licenses.

Cut 5 (10) “…first response world.”

A study from the Cenla economic dashboard reports steady growth for the Central Louisiana economy. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announces deeply discounted combo hunting and fishing licenses for honorably discharged military veteran residents Senator Brach Myers authored the legislation that resulted in the discounts and says it was a result of collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and The Boot, an organization that encourages military veterans to make Louisiana their home once their service has ended.

Cut 11 (14) “…the outdoors.”

7:30 AM LRN Newscast

The Department of Children and Family Services needs second shift Child Protective Services investigators. DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris says they need workers in the second shift because child maltreatment does not happen just between the hours of 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday.

Cut 4 (08) “…to respond timely.”

Honorably discharged military veterans can now get deeply discounted Louisiana Purchase combination hunting an fishing licenses. Author of the bill that made it possible Senator Brach Myers says, LDWF operates mostly on license fees, but giving our veterans the ability to hunt and fish in Louisiana at a reduced cost is a small token of our appreciation.

Cut 10 (09) “…the right heroes”

Still plenty of controversy over Speaker Mike Johnson sending the House home for summer recess instead of holding a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Jeanne Burns reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Good news for Central Louisiana. According to a study from the CENLA Economic Dashboard, Consumer spending has is on the rise. LSUA Professor Randall Dupont, says the dashboard measures sales tax revenue to track spending rates and he says a successful job market led to a fruitful local economy.

Cut 8 (11) “…over year.”

Alexandria and Pineville each recorded quarterly growth of four to five percent, and Natchitoches posted an eight percent quarterly gain.

6:30 AM LRN Newscast

Still plenty of controversy – even among Republicans – over Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send the House home early for its summer recess rather than hold a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Johnson says he’s committed to getting to the bottom of who was responsible for the sexual abuse of the women and teenage girls at the hands of Epstein and his associates.

Cut 12 (11) “…is the President.”

He says, after the victims’ names have been redacted from the files.

Central Louisiana is showing steady economic growth, according to a study from the Cenla Economic Dashboard. The Alexandria metropolitan area has gained 707 jobs since May, and the dashboard’s author, LSUA Professor Randall Dupont, says Natchitoches is recovering from the April closure of its International Paper plant.

Cut 7 (08) “…of this year.”

Alexandria and Pineville each recorded quarterly growth of four to five percent, and Natchitoches posted an eight percent quarterly gain.

If you’re interested in a career investigating child abuse cases, the Department of Children and Families wants to hear from you. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announces honorably discharged military veteran residents can purchase a recreational hunting and fishing combination license for $20, a reduction of $80 for the Sportsman’s Paradise license. Republican Lafayette Senator Brach Myers authored the legislation that resulted in a big discount for military veterans.

Cut 9 (09)  “…outdoors in Louisiana.”

11:30 AM Newscast

The Superdome is celebrating its 50th anniversary tomorrow.  The venue has brought legends and fans from all over the world over the years. The Superdome houses two million square feet of space, twice the size of the Astrodome when it was built in 1975. Vice President of ASM Global, the company that manages the stadium, Doug Thornton, says it was an engineering marvel ahead of its time, and its massive footprint has allowed it to be reinvented over the years.

Cut 11 (12) “…couldn’t survive.”

Congressmen Cleo Fields and Clay Higgins are teaming up on the Fisheries Modernization Act. Fields says it would expand fishery disaster relief programs.

Cut 3 (05) “…and other crawfish.”

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Dozens of new state laws went into effect yesterday including a measure that could result in a motorist receiving a ticket for traveling below the speed limit in the left lane on a highway. The previous stipulated that travelling ten miles per hour below the speed limit could earn you a ticket. But Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau’s legislation changes the law so that a ticket can be issued if a motorist is not going at least the speed limit….

Cut 8 (07) “…get ticketed.”

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy officially launched his re-election campaign during a press event in Metairie yesterday.  Despite having nine million dollars in cash on hand, political analysts say Cassidy faces a tough re-election bid, because of his vote to impeach President Trump in 2021. But Cassidy maintains he has a productive working relationship with President Trump…

Cut 14 (09) “…all of us.”

10:30 AM Newscast

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy launched his re-election campaign during yesterday in Metairie. The 67-year-old Republican is seeking a third term in the Senate where he’s already drawn three well-known challengers from his own party, who claim Cassidy is not a true conservative.  Cassidy says that’s not true.

Cut 13 (15)  “…gender ideology.”

A couple of Louisiana Congressmen are teaming up on an Act that would expand fishery disaster relief programs…to include those who catch crawfish in the wild.  Congressmen Clay Higgins and Cleo Fields say the USDA has helped other industries affected by droughts and Fields says including those who fish crawfish is long overdue.

Cut 5 (06) “…the same light.”

—————————

If you’re in the habit of driving too slow on state highways, there’ s a new state law in effect that could mean a 150 ticket if you’re caught doing it.  Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau’s legislation, which  is designed to reduce road rage and accidents,  received overwhelming support from lawmakers who passed it.  And Luneau says the public also strongly supports the move.

Cut 7 (09) “…move over.”

Tomorrow a big day in New Orleans as the Superdome celebrates its 50th anniversary. When it opened August 3, 1975, the Superdome’s convention and meeting rooms, turned club lounges, and enormous unobstructed space were unheard of in its time. Doug Thornton who’s Vice President of ASM Global, the company that manages the stadium,  says the founding fathers of the Superdome knew what it could mean to the city.

Cut 10 (11) “…that billing.”

9:30 AM Newscast

The cost of a ticket for driving slower than the speed limit in the left lane of a highway just went up, thanks to a new law that went into effect yesterday.  Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Congressmen Cleo Fields and Clay Higgins are teaming up on the Fisheries Modernization Act. Fields says it would expand fishery disaster relief programs to wild-caught crawfishermen.

Cut 4 (10) “…frankly years ago.”

Fields says this legislation became a necessity following the historic drought of 2023, which resulted in significantly fewer crawfish in 2024.

————————
U-S Senator Bill Cassidy launched his re-election campaign during a press event in Metairie in front of a room full of supporters. The 67-year-old Republican is seeking a third term in the Senate…

Cut 12 (16) “…all of us.”

Cassidy has drawn three well-known challengers from his own party, state treasurer John Fleming, state senator Blake Miguez and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta.

The Superdome is celebrating its 50th anniversary tomorrow. From the Rolling Stones to Muhammad Ali, the venue has brought legends and fans from all over the world to the Crescent City. Vice President of ASM Global, the company that manages the stadium, Doug Thornton, says its impact on downtown New Orleans has been immeasurable.

Cut 9 (12)  “…those days.”