Governor Landry says the state is embarking on the largest broadband expansion program in the state’s history with the launch of Gumbo 2.0. This program will distribute one-point-three billion dollars in federal money to expand broadband. Director of the Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity Veneeth Iyengar predicts the digital divide will be eliminated in the next couple of years…
cut 6 (11) “…first to do it”

We are in the middle of August and there are no tropical storm and hurricane threats to the Gulf of Mexico in what is expected to be a very active season. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says dusty air from the Sahara Dessert that’s over the Atlantic Ocean is helping to suppress storm activity…
cut 4 (06) “…whole season”
This is season has produced five named storms and the Colorado State Hurricane Forecast team is predicting 23 named storms this year.

Louisiana’s 57 delegates to the Democratic National Convention are in Chicago where they’ll formally nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says there is an electricity in Chicago as every walk of life is attending the D-N-C…
cut 9 (10) “…windy city”
President Joe Biden will speak tonight.

Marketwatch-dot-com has ranked Louisiana number one for the highest auto insurance rates in the country. Louisiana House Speaker Phillip DeVillier says…
cut 11 (08) “…we have”
Devillier expects several meetings will take place this year to come up with an auto insurance reform agenda that can be voted on during a possible special session early next year.

New Orleans Representative Mandi Landry is in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.Landry says Harris and running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are normal people and they call Walz “Dad” because of his humor and principles…Cut 15 (12)  “…a teacher.”

The DNC runs through Thursday, August 22nd.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is experiencing a lull this week due to the presence of dry, dusty air from the Sahara Desert, known as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL). This phenomenon, which occurs regularly during summer months, has drastically suppressed storm development in the tropical Atlantic. LSU Public Health Climatologist  Barry Keim says that good news for Louisiana…

Cut 3 (09) relatively quiet.”

The National Hurricane Center monitors the situation closely and Keim urges people to stay informed about potential developments in the coming weeks.

State lawmakers are looking for ways to reduce auto rates after Marketwatch.com crowned Louisiana the state with the highest full-coverage car insurance rates last week. House Speaker Phillip DeVillier says legislators are trying to figure out why Louisiana is an outlier in auto insurance rates…

Cut 10 (12) “…as well.”

Five legislative committees are meeting monthly about the insurance crisis and to prepare for a possible special session.

The Council for A Better Louisiana (CABL, pronounced cable) says the state is making progress on less than half of the 35 indicators for wellbeing, and trending slightly downwards from last year. CABL president Barry Erwin says one problem area is health and wellness…

Cut 7 (09) “…those things.”

The Jennings Police Department is charging the mother of a ten-month old child that was left in a hot car for an hour and a half last week with second-degree murder and one count of cruelty to juveniles. Thirty-two-year-old Hannah Faith Cormier was arrested yesterday. Details on what led to the charges are expected to be discussed during a press conference today held by Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes.

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry and many other Democrats from Louisiana and across the country are in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. Landry says she supported President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, but says she’s more hopeful about the current nominee Vice President Kamala Harris…
Cut 13 (10) “…polar opposite.”
During a campaign rally this past weekend in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump accused the vice president of being a communist and fascist.

Governor Jeff Landry is holding a press conference in the next hour to announce the launch of Gumbo 2.0 which will use one-point-three billion dollars in federal money to bring high-speed internet to areas still lacking it. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel has been a big proponent of such an effort…
cut 6 (05) “…close the digital divide”
Senator Bill Cassidy says GUMBO 2.0 will create 8,000 to 10,000 new jobs, increase the state’s GDP by $1.3 billion, and generate $2 to 3 billion in new revenue for Louisiana companies.

Marketwatch-dot-com has ranked Louisiana number one for the highest auto insurance rates in the country. Louisiana House Speaker Phillip DeVillier says…
cut 11 (08) “…we have”
Devillier expects several meetings will take place this year to come up with an auto insurance reform agenda.

Governor Jeff Landry will hold a press conference at 11 AM today to announce the launch of Gumbo 2.0 which will put into action 1.3 million dollars in federal money to expand broadband access to 100-thousand homes, most of those in rural parishes. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel says Gumbo 2.0 expands on what’s already been done with Gumbo 1.0…
cut 5 (06) “….we’re ahead”
Gumbo 2.0 is also expected to create between eight to ten thousand jobs.

The Council for a Better Louisiana says 16 of the 35 indicators they use to measure well-being in Louisiana are trending downward. CABL President Barry Erwin says several of those indicators deal with the economy and healthcare…
cut 9 (12) “….help us make progress”
Population loss and outmigration are a continuing problem, but the state’s violent crime rate and prison recidivism showed improvement.

57 delegates from Louisiana are in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry is one of those delegates and she says she’s proud to support Democratic presidential presumptive nominee Kamala Harris and her campaign promises…
cut 14 (12) “…get that done”

A top initiative for lawmakers heading into 2025 is figuring out a way to lower auto insurance rates. Several Louisiana legislators were upset Governor Landry vetoed a bill in the last regular session that could have lowered judgements awarded to plaintiffs in a car crash. Landry says he was looking out for the consumer. House Speaker Phillip Devillier says the vetoing of that bill brought awareness to the insurance crisis…
cut 12 (08) “…insurance reform”

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry is among the 57 delegates from Louisiana in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. Jeanne Burns has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Severe weather last night has resulted in power outages across the ArkLaMiss and into central Louisiana. Entergy Louisiana is reporting 43-hundred customers without power. Neville High School in Monroe and Northwood High School in Rapides Parish are closed today because of the power outage.

The Council for A Better Louisiana (CABL, pronounced cable) says the state is making progress on less than half of the 35 indicators for wellbeing. CABL president Barry Erwin says one problem area is health and wellness…
Cut 7 (09) “…those things.”
Erwin says the economy is also struggling. Quality of Louisiana roads and air quality are other indicators trending downward in CABL’s Louisiana Fact Book.

State lawmakers are looking for ways to reduce auto insurance rates after Marketwatch.com crowned Louisiana with the highest full-coverage car insurance rates in the country. House Speaker Phillip DeVillier says legislators are trying to figure out why Louisiana is an outlier in auto insurance rates…
Cut 10 (12) “…as well.”
Devillier says several different legislative committees will hold monthly hearings for the rest of the year and a special session on insurance is possible early next year.

Governor Jeff Landry is holding a press conference today to launch GUMBO 2.0, bringing high-speed broadband internet access to the entire state.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Marketwatch-dot-com has ranked Louisiana number one for the highest auto insurance rates in the country. Louisiana House Speaker Phillip DeVillier says…
cut 11 (08) “…we have”
Devillier expects several meetings will take place this year to come up with an auto insurance reform agenda.

The Council for a Better Louisiana believes the Bayou State is making strides in public education…
cut 8 (12) “…right direction”
But CABL president Barry Erwin says kindergarten readiness and high school graduation rates are two areas in education showing a downward trend.

The Democratic National Convention gets underway today in Chicago and there are five-thousand Democratic delegates there to approve the nominees for president and vice president, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry is a delegate and says Walz is relatable to Americans…
cut 15 (08) “…a teacher”
Walz is scheduled to give his acceptance speech on Wednesday night.

Governor Jeff Landy is holding a press conference today to announce the launch of Gumbo 2.0. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel, who has been instrumental in improving broadband access around the state, says the program will allow for the distribution of $1.35 billion to bring high speed internet to rural areas.
Cut 4 (05) “…good positive way.”
Funding for GUMBO 2.0 came from the federal Infrastructure Act approved in 2021.

A top initiative for lawmakers heading into 2025 is figuring out a way to lower auto insurance rates. Several Louisiana legislators were upset Governor Landry vetoed a bill in the last regular session that could have lowered judgements awarded to plaintiffs in car crash. Landry says he was looking out for the consumer. House Speaker Phillip Devillier says the vetoing of that bill brought awareness to the insurance crisis…
cut 12 (08) “…insurance reform”

The good government group, the Council for A Better Louisiana says several indicators they keep track of show Louisiana’s wellbeing is trending downwards. Colleen Crain has more…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

State Police says 40-year-old Joshua Nicholas of Lake Charles was killed in an offshore pipeline explosion on Saturday night that occurred in a marsh area near Venice in Plaquemines Parish. Nicholas was operating on a mud boat near the pipeline when it exploded. A cause of the explosion is not known.

On Thursday, Federal Judge Brian Jackson reinforced orders for officials at Angola, to implement measures to protect prisoners working on the “farm line” from extreme heat.

Louisiana  Corrections officials told the court it follows a “constitutionally appropriate” policy protecting workers. But Lydia Wright with Promise of Justice Initiative says

Cut 8 (05)  “…end the farm line.”

With a trial date set for November, Wright says they have a strong case showing a violation of the inmate’s Eighth Amendment rights

The Louisiana Department of Health has issued a “do not use” water advisory for Madison Parish due to potential contamination. Until the advisory is lifted, Louisiana Surgeon General, Dr. Ralph Abraham, says residents are urged to use bottled water or other safe sources.

Cut 5 (10)  “…and clean up with.”

————————–

Louisiana’s unemployment rate for July has dropped below four-percent. That’s according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The New Orleans Metro area added five-hundred jobs from June, Lafayette added three-hundred job. Shreveport and Monroe each added one-hundred jobs over the month and Director of Research and Economic Analysis, Emily Dipalma, says that’s particularly good news for Monroe.

Cut 11 (10) ” ..be happy.”

Prepseason game number two is set for tomorrow night as the Saints will face the 49ers in San Francisco. New Orleans held its final training camp practice in Irvine California on Friday and Coach Dennis Allen says holding camp on the West Coast was a good experience

Cut 12 (11) “…football team.”

There’s a good chance we’ll see rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler play. Kick-off tomorrow night is set for seven.

LDH issues a “do not use” water advisory for residents of Madison Perish after the water supply was contaminated with paraquat, a toxic herbicide. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (35) …I’m Sean Richardson.”

The broadcast world is mourning the death of ong-time WGNO Sports Director Ed Daniels who died yesterday, three weeks after suffering a heart attack while covering Saints training camp in Irvine, California. Daniels was legendary covering Louisiana sports, twice named Louisiana Sportscaster of the year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Ed Daniels was 67.

———————————————

Federal Judge Brian Jackson reinforced orders this week for officials at Angola, to implement measures to protect prisoners working on the “farm line” from extreme heat. Jackson’s latest order says 50 inmates reported illnesses from July 2 to August 5 related to working the “farm line.” Lydia Wright with Promise of Justice Initiative says because the “farm line” is cruel and replicates slavery……
Cut 7 (05) “…break their spirit.”

The Saints will face the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday night in preseason game number two. And Coach Dennis Allen is not saying how long the starters will play on Sunday night. There’s a good chance we’ll see rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler play. Rattler will look to improve on his performance from the preseason opener…

Cut 13 (12) “…little areas.” 

On Thursday, Federal Judge Brian Jackson reinforced orders for officials at Angola, to implement measures to protect prisoners working on the “farm line” from extreme heat. Lydia Wright with Promise of Justice Initiative says she is thrilled with the attention the courts are giving to this case…

Cut 6 (13) “…take those steps.”

The Louisiana Department of Health has issued a “do not use” water advisory for residents in Madison Parish. The advisory warns residents not to consume or bathe in the water due to potential contamination. LDH officials are working with the Walnut Bayou Water district to conduct tests to ensure the water’s safety. Louisiana Surgeon General, Dr. Ralph Abraham

Cut 4 (07) “…Chemicals in it.”

————————————————-

Louisiana’s unemployment rate for July dropped below four-percent to three-point-nine percent. That’s according to The Louisiana Workforce Commission. The state added 24-hundred jobs from June to July. The private education and health services sector added three-thousand jobs from June and Director of Research and Economic Analysis, Emily Dipalma, says the construction sector added 96-hundred jobs over the last year…

Cut 10 (08) “…year gains.”

The Saints will face the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday night in preseason game number two. New Orleans held its final training camp practice in Irvine California on Friday and Coach Dennis Allen says holding camp on the West Coast was a good experience

Cut 12 (11) “…football team.”

Kick-off Sunday is at 7 PM.