Potential federal cuts in Medicaid could have devastating effects here in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Law enforcement has announced the arrest of 15 people in Lincoln and Union Parishes as part of Operation Safe Streets. Authorities say the initiative was designed to enhance community safety through proactive policing strategies targeting violent crime, drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed a law that allows law enforcement to intercept and disable threatening drones. The legislation comes amid rising national concern over unauthorized drone activity near sensitive locations. Thomas Mule with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says there are more than two-thousand critical infrastructure facilities in the state, including two nuclear power plants.

Cut 10 (06) “…those facilities.”

Landry says recently law enforcement arrested several people for using drones to drop drugs and cell phones into a federal prison in Grant Parish.

Earlier this month, SeaD consulting went around to two dozen restaurants in Alexandria and found that about 50-percent of the restaurants advertising Gulf shrimp, were serving foreign shrimp. It’s illegal in Louisiana to mislabel the origin of seafood. Violators could be forced to pay significant penalties. Sea-D Founder Dave Williams says even with Louisiana’s strict mislabeling laws there still needs to be more enforcement.

Cut 8 (08) “…what we do.”

A stark warning from Senate President Cameron Henry on federal Medicaid funding. During a webinar hosted by the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, the Republican from Metairie says Louisiana could be in for a huge loss.

Cut 12 (09) “…to the state.”

Speaker Henry says if that happens, lawmakers would certainly be forced back into a special session to find ways to make up for the shortfall.

Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill into law that authorizes state and local law enforcement to actively intercept and disable drones that pose credible threats to public safety. GOHSEP Executive Officer of Security and Interoperability Thomas Mule (MUE-lay) says this is a public safety and homeland security issue.

Cut 9 (12)  …nefarious drones.”

Federal and state authorities arrested 84 undocumented immigrants yesterday at Delta Downs Racetrack in Calcasieu Parish during a worksite enforcement operation. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (00) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

LSU has two chances to win its way into the best-of-three national championship series at the College World Series. The Tigers face Arkansas at six this evening. If they win, they move on to the championship series. If they lose, same two teams tomorrow, with the winner advancing. LSU is looking to win its second national baseball championship in three years.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed a bill criminalizing grooming, the act of building trust with minors to enable sexual abuse. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says his legislation was inspired by his daughter, Sarah Gioe (Jee-Oy), and her husband, Tim Gioe, who was abused by a priest as a child.

Cut 10 (12) “…this bill passed.”

The law takes effect August 1.

A recent study shows that if you want Gulf Shrimp in Alexandria it’s about a 50/50 chance that’s where it actually came from. SeaD (seed) Consulting Co-Founder Erin Williams says 24 restaurants were tested that advertised Authentic Gulf Coast Shrimp and 13 of those were serving imported shrimp.

Cut 6 (11) “…Gulf Shrimp.”

An invasive fish species thought to be eradicated has been discovered in Port Sulphur. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

And now, a look at today’s commodities…

The addition of State Senator Blake Miguez in the U.S. Senate race is bad news for Senator Bill Cassidy. That’s the opinion of LSU-Shreveport Assistant Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow, who says Republican primary voters now have another alternative to Cassidy and State Treasurer John Fleming.

Cut 13 (10)  “…have another choice.”

The primary election is in April.

The Louisiana Motor Transport Association says progress on legal reform was made in the legislative session, but more work needs to be done. Executive Director Renee Amar (AY-mar) says she hopes in future sessions lawmakers address outstanding issues, including transparency in medical billing.

Cut 3 (11) “…the insurance market.”

Amar says legislation is also needed to eliminate phantom damages and pervasive fraud that distorts claims and inflates costs.

Come August 1st, kratom will be illegal in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The former police chief of Jeanerette has been arrested on cockfighting charges. The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s office says they have charged 39-year-old Dusty Vallot of Lafayette with cock fighting and aggravated cruelty. Valot resigned as Jeanerette’s police chief last December.

Governor Jeff Landry has signed Senate Bill 154 into law, making the possession, sale and distribution of kratom illegal in the state. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain was on hand when Landry signed the bill. He witnessed first-hand the impact of kratom in his community.

Cut 7 (10) “…and were hallucinating.”

Landry has signed a bill criminalizing grooming, the act of building trust with minors to enable sexual abuse. The new law allows authorities to intervene even if abuse hasn’t yet occurred, targeting manipulative behaviors by adults at least four years older than the child. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick introduced the legislation saying it’s an important tool in protecting children.
Cut 12 (07) “…to be involved.”

The law takes effect August 1^st.

LSU plays Arkansas tonight in the semifinal round of the College World Series after beating UCLA, nine-to-five. Freshman right-hander Casan Evans was the winning pitcher. He took the mound in the fourth inning after the game was halted on Monday night because of severe weather. Evans pitched four and one-third innings and held the Bruins to two runs on four hits, no walks and five strikeouts. Coach Jay Johnson knew he would get a great performance from Evans.

Cut 16 (15) “…has it.”

Tilapia, a hardy invasive fish, has reemerged in canals near Port Sulphur in Plaqeumines Parish, two decades after escaping a pond during Hurricane Katrina. LDWF Deputy Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Chris Schieble says they thought Tilapia was eradicated in 2009 through a costly rotenone treatment, and recent findings of juvenile tilapia suggest some survived.

Cut 4 (12) “…many are there.”

A slew of new laws will go into effect August 1st. Among them is one that makes kratom illegal. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain was with Governor Landry when he signed the bill into law last week; he recalled when he testified in favor of the bill, he came face-to-face with powerful lobbyists within the kratom industry.

Cut 8 (12) “…it in Louisiana.”

Another law going into effect that day is one that criminalizes grooming – the act of building trust with minors to enable sexual abuse. What’s different here is the new law allows authorities to intervene even if abuse hasn’t happened yet. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says in the case of his son in law, authorities had to wait until a priest molested him before taking action.

Cut 11 (09) “…then and stopped.”

While you might be able to order tilapia at your favorite seafood restaurant, you might not know that it is actually an invasive species, and it is reemerging in canals near Port Sulphur. LDWF Deputy Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Chris Schieble says if you catch tilapia, do not release it back into the water.

Cut 6 (09) “…you got it.”

The addition of State Senator Blake Miguez in the U.S. Senate race is bad news for Senator Bill Cassidy. That’s the opinion of LSU-Shreveport Assistant Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow, who says Miguez’s entry in the U.S. Senate race greatly increases Cassidy’s vulnerability.

Cut 14 (08) “…chances of re-election.”

Miguez joins State Treasurer John Fleming in challenging Cassidy for the G-O-P nomination in the newly-closed primary.

Now that State Senator Blake Miguez has thrown his name into the rase for US Senate, there will be THREE candidates in next April’s Republican primary, including incumbent Bill Cassidy and State Treasurer John Fleming.  LSU-Shreveport Assistant Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow says it’s not good news for the sitting Senator because Miguezs the most conservative candidate for the Republican nomination, but points out Miquez does start this race at a disadvantage.

Cut 15 (14) “…in national government.”

Speaking of challenges, Tilapia has reemerged in canals near Port Sulphur, two decades after escaping a pond during Hurricane Katrina. LDWF Deputy Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Chris Schieble says they thought the invasive fish was eradicated in but recent findings suggest otherwise.

Cut 4 (12) “…many are there.”

——————-

Louisiana lawmakers unanimously passed a new law criminalizing the grooming of minors to enable sexual abuse. Here’s Colleen Crain.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Come August 1st, Kratom will be illegal in Louisiana. Last week, Governor Landry signed Senate Bill 154.  As of now, the drug  is available at places like smoke shops and gas stations.  Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says he’s seen firsthand the kind of tragic results that could create.

Cut 9 (13)  “…of our community.”

Beginning August 1st, kratom will be illegal in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Tilapia has reemerged in canals near Port Sulphur, two decades after escaping a pond during Hurricane Katrina. LDWF Deputy Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Chris Schieble says Tilapia pose a major ecological threat if they spread into nearby estuaries, where they could displace native species.

Cut 5 (10) “…habitat competition.”

—————————

State Senator Blake Miguez in now in the U.S. Senate race and according to some political experts, that’s bad news for Senator Bill Cassidy’s reelection bid.  LSU-Shreveport Assistant Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow says Miquez’ entry in the race gives Republican primary a third choice next April making Cassidy more vulnerable.

Cut 14 (08) “…chances of re-election.”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed a bill criminalizing grooming, the act of building trust with minors to enable sexual abuse. The new law allows authorities to intervene even if abuse hasn’t yet occurred, targeting manipulative behaviors by adults at least four years older than the child. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick introduced the legislation saying it’s an important tool in protecting children.
Cut 12 (07) “…to be involved.”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed a bill criminalizing grooming, the act of building trust with minors to enable sexual abuse. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says his legislation was inspired by his daughter, Sarah Gioe, and her husband, Tim Gioe, who was abused by a priest as a child.

Cut 10 (12) “…this bill passed.”

The law takes effect August 1.

On that same day, Kratom will official become illegal in Louisiana. Last week, Governor Landry signed Senate Bill 154 into law, making the possession, sale and distribution of kratom illegal in the state. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain was on hand when Landry signed the bill. He witnessed first-hand the impact of kratom in his community.

Cut 7 (10) “…and were hallucinating.”

—————————-

An invasive fish species thought to be eradicated has been discovered in Port Sulphur. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The addition of State Senator Blake Miguez in the U.S. Senate race is bad news for Senator Bill Cassidy. LSU-Shreveport Assistant Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow says that’s because Republican primary voters will now have another alternative to Cassidy and State Treasurer John Fleming.

Cut 13 (10)  “…have another choice.”

The primary election is next April.

Cleco has begun the process of finding a new owner, notifying the Louisiana Public Service Commission as required. This move was expected, as Cleco’s 2016 private equity buyout included plans for a future sale.  Pineville Representative Mike Johnson says the announcement didn’t come as a surprise.

Cut 6 (09) “…was an investment.”

The legislature passed several bills this session aimed at strengthening elections in Louisiana. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says among them is one that calls for a procedural election audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor every four years.

Cut 4 (14) “…in the state.”

State Senator Blake Miguez has announced that he, too, is launching a primary challenge against Senator Bill Cassidy. Pearson Cross, who teaches political science at ULM, says while State Treasurer John Fleming is more conservative than Cassidy, that’s nothing compared to Miguez – and that could come into play in the newly-closed U.S. Senate primary.

Cut 13 (14)  “…very interesting primary.”

LSU now has two chances to advance to the best-of-three national championship series at the College World Series after beating UCLA, 9-5. Before play was suspended yesterday, LSU came back from an early 3-0 hole with a four-run first inning, capped by a three-run home run by Jared Jones.

Cut 15 (07) “…on the board.”