The search continues for a mother and daughter missing since April. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

An alligator attacked and killed a six-year-old pitbull as a Kenner woman was walking her dog along the Lake Pontchartrain lakefront on Saturday. The woman, Jessica Reynolds, told WWL-TV that the gator snatched her dog so fast, she never had a chance to save him.

Drivers in Louisiana are starting to pay less for auto insurance, as Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says 46 companies have lowered premiums recently. Temple says one auto insurer, Lemonade, even rewards drivers for enabling autonomous driving. Temple says their data shows that self-driving vehicles get into fewer accidents than human drivers.

Cut 8 (11) “… on driving.”

Tropical activity is starting to brew in the Atlantic as the National Hurricane Center is monitoring three different tropical waves, two of them moving towards the Caribbean. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says even though forecasters are calling for a below average season, we should not let our guard down…

Cut 11 (10) “…big bad storm”

Colorado State’s hurricane forecast team is predicting at least one major storm this season.

In an interview with KEEL Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says 46 auto insurance providers have lowered premiums recently, saving drivers 400-million dollars. He says the decrease in accidents is part of a nationwide trend largely due to safety features in new vehicles.

Cut 7 (12) “…fewer accidents.”

That leads to fewer injury claims and litigation for insurance companies.

The tropics are starting to heat up as the National Hurricane Center is monitoring three different tropical systems, two of them are moving towards the Caribbean. And LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the areas of low pressure could develop into a tropical depression later this week…

Cut 9 (06)  “…over the next week.”

President Donald Trump’s approval rating in the state has now fallen below 50 percent. That’s according to The World Population Review, which has Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana at 49 percent — down nine points from five months ago. U-L-M political science professor Pearson Cross says presidential approval ratings typically fall when the economy struggles…

Cut 13 (09)  “…in Iran.”

A search is on for a mother and her daughter who have NOT been seen since late April. Jordan Lippincott with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says 39-year-old Danielle Lea and her ten-year-old daughter, Alayna, were reported missing three months later on July 28th.

Cut 3 (11) “…of Baton Rouge.”

They were last seen with 42-year-old James Nona, who was arrested in Montgomery County, Texas – just north of Houston – on unrelated charges.

Earlier this year, Louisiana saw its first decrease in auto insurance rates in five years, and insurance commissioner Tim Temple says they may not be done dropping. Temple says fewer accidents have resulted in fewer claims and less money paid out by insurance companies.

Cut 6 (08) “…less in premiums.”

Temple says the decrease in accidents is part of a nationwide trend largely due to safety features in new vehicles.

We are 87 days away from the midterm elections and President Trump’s approval rating is between 32 and 38 percent. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that could be a warning sign for Republicans…

Cut 14 (10) “….mid-term elections”

Republican State Senator Blake Miguez who represents the New Iberia area in the Louisiana Legislature, is seeking to represent the Baton Rouge area in the U-S House of Representatives. Andrew Greenstein has more on his entrance into the sixth district Congressional race…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Cary Brown has been elected as the new district attorney for the third judicial district that covers Lincoln and Union Parishes. Brown is a veteran prosecutor and he’ll replace John Belton, who didn’t seek re-election after two terms. No one else qualified to challenge Brown in the November 3^rd election.

Blake Miguez lives in the third district, originally qualified in the fifth and is now running in the sixth. Miguez’s announcement came two days after his Republican state senate colleague, Rick Edmonds, qualified and took aim at Miguez for not living in the district. In a statement, Edmonds said he’s glad Miguez finally decided on the district to run in and that, in his words, he and his out-of-state supporters have been panicked since losing President Trump’s endorsement. Miguez addressed that after qualifying Friday.

Cut 5 (11) “…this new race.”

Miguez is one of four candidates who moved from the fifth to the sixth district after the lines were redrawn in the wake of the Supreme Court decision. In all, the reopening of qualifying got 15 new candidates to qualify, while seven – including sixth district incumbent Cleo Fields – opted not to requalify.

The number of cyclosporiasis cases in Louisiana is up to 125. Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein says with cyclospora causing severe dehydration, it’s important to take extra precautions these days when handling not only lettuce, but any fresh produce.

Cut 9 (13)  “…and market withdrawals.”

You can now officially call him Hall of Famer Drew Brees. The quarterback who led the Saints to their one and only Super Bowl title was enshrined on Saturday. Brees gave a blanket thank you to the hundreds of players he played with during his 20-year career, saying it was them that kept him going and carried him to Canton.

Cut 12 (13) “…of my teammates.”

Blake Miguez ended the speculation with just hours to go in qualifying – he’s running in the sixth congressional district. His primary residence is in New Iberia, which is not in the sixth district. While it’s perfectly legal to run in a district where one does not live, Miguez’s primary opponent, Rick Edmonds, took him to task on that. Miguez responded by accusing Edmonds of being absent from the district he aims to represent.

Cut 6 (07) “…to do that.”

Louisiana now has 125 cases of cyclosporiasis. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says the most recent cases involve two clusters of six cases, and investigators determined that romaine lettuce was the culprit.

Cut 8 (11) “…was romaine lettuce.”

Hospitalizations remain steady at six, and there are still no deaths.

President Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana is now at 49-percent. That’s according to The World Population Review, which has his approval rating down nine points from just five months ago. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says while it’s not unusual for a president’s popularity to decline while in office, it could be difficult for Trump to reverse the trend.

Cut 15 (16) “…he can do.”

Drew Brees is now officially a Hall of Famer. He was inducted Saturday. Brees arrived in New Orleans in 2006 and led the Saints to new heights, including a Super Bowl title in his fourth season. Brees gave an emotional thank you to New Orleans.

Cut 11 (11) “…that calling.”  (cheering)

Louisiana’s cyclosporiasis cases continue to climb. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Authorities are still searching for an East Feliciana Parish mother and her 10 year old daughter reported missing  late last month and believed to be in St. Martin Parish. Officials say 39-year-old Danielle Escue Lea and her daughter Alayna Lee were reportedly with 42-year-old James Michael Nona of Mongomery County, Texas before his arrest in Texas on unrelated charges.  Anyone with information is urged to call St. Martin Crime Stoppers at 337-441-3030.
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Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees delivered a deeply emotional, humble and grateful speech as he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.  He thanked his family, the late Tom Benson, current Saints owner Gayle Benson, and GM Mickey Loomis, along with the many black and gold teammates he played with over the years.
Cut 12 (13) “…of my teammates.”

ULM is renaming Malone Stadium to FMOL Health St. Francis Stadium as part of an expanded partnership with the healthcare ministry. Warhawks Athletics Director SJ Tuohy says it’s great to partner with a local organization committed to building the Northeast Louisiana community.

Cut 17 (19) “…need to improve.”

A new report shows Presidents Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana has fallen below 50 percent. Joe Gallinaro has the story…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

With just hours left to qualify, Republican Blake Miguez ended the speculation entering the race for the Baton Rouge-area sixth district…

Cut 4 (12) “…freshman at LSU.”

———————–

The number of cyclosporiasis cases continues to go up across the country, including here in Louisiana. Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) says while Louisiana’s number pales in comparison to the hardest-hit state, Michigan, the cases here continue to rise.

Cut 7 (10) “…happily no deaths.”

Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame over the weekend.  Brees, who arrived in New Orleans as a free agent months after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city and took the Saints to new heights, including a Super Bowl Championship in 2009 after that, had an emotional thank you for the city.

Cut 11 (11) “…that calling.”  (cheering)

Blake Miguez ends the speculation with just hours to go until the end of qualifying – he’s running in the sixth district. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A new report shows President Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana has fallen to just 49%.  ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says it’s not unusual for presidential approval ratings to fall when the economy struggles…

Cut 13 (09)  “…in Iran.”

————–
Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees delivered a deeply emotional, humble and grateful speech as he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. His former head coach in New Orleans, Sean Payton, was his presenter, and Brees spoke about how Payton pushed him to his full potential…

Cut 10 (14) “…be great.”

ULM is renaming Malone Stadium to FMOL Health St. Francis Stadium as part of an expanded partnership with the healthcare ministry. Warhawks Athletics Director SJ Tuohy

Cut 16 (16) “…future with them.”

With just hours left to qualify, Republican Blake Miguez ended the speculation Friday, entering the race for the Baton Rouge-area Sixth Congressional District. Miguez represents New Iberia in the state Senate, but that area is not in the Sixth District…
Cut 4 (12) “…freshman at LSU.”

Miguez’s toughest challenger is expected to be Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds, who is already criticizing Miguez for running in a district where he doesn’t live.

Ten candidates qualified in the Sixth District, while nine are running in the Fifth. Four are state lawmakers — Republicans Stewart Cathey, Gabe Firment and Michael Echols, and Monroe Democrat Pat Moore. Board of Regents Chairwoman Misti Cordell is also running as a Republican.

A state lawmaker is proposing a ban on AI-powered Flock security cameras in Louisiana. Kace Kieschnick has more…
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

And many Saints fans will be watching this afternoon as Drew Brees is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Former Saints coach Sean Payton will present Brees, who is expected to deliver his speech at around one P-M.

We’ve been wondering for weeks if New Iberia Republican State Senator Blake Miguez would run for Congress. On the final day to qualify, Miguez jumped into the Sixth District race — but he does not have President Trump’s endorsement at this point…
Cut 5 (11) “…new race”

Miguez had Trump’s endorsement when he ran for the Fifth District before the congressional map was changed. His biggest Republican challenger in the Sixth is expected to be Baton Rouge State Senator Rick Edmonds, who is already attacking Miguez for living outside the district.

In the Fifth District, a Republican is expected to replace Julia Letlow, who is running for U-S Senate. But Monroe Democratic State Representative Pat Moore entered the race just before qualifying ended, joining three Republican lawmakers and Board of Regents Chairwoman Misti Cordell.

State health officials are urging Louisianans to stay cool during the dog days of summer…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

And it will be a big day for Who Dat Nation. Saints great Drew Brees takes his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame today in Canton, Ohio. Brees is expected to deliver his acceptance speech early this afternoon. Inductees are asked to keep their remarks to 12 minutes, but NOLA-dot-com’s Jeff Duncan says Brees will likely go a little longer, with plenty of people to thank.