LRN AM Newscall July 31

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, Andrew Greenstein has a suggestion for those of you who are interested in the paranormal.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Starting tomorrow, it will be against state law for retailers and businesses to charge you a fee when you pay with a debit card. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The Saints agreed to a contract extension with their top offensive playmaker. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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If you’re looking for something to do this weekend and you’re into the paranormal, may we suggest ParaCon in New Orleans’ French Quarter? Event Producer Jennifer Talley says it takes place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel today through Sunday.

Cut 4 (10) “…come and learn.”

Talley says the three-day event invites paranormal enthusiasts, investigators and history lovers to explore the unexplained.

Cut 5 (09) “…developing psychic abilities.”

Talley says there are free educational workshops and paid classes, and it’s not too late for you to get in on all the fun.

Cut 6 (12) “…16-ish and up.”

You can find out more information on the event’s website, New Orleans ParaCon-dot-com.

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A bunch of new state laws go into effect Saturday, and one of them will make consumers happy. Act 751 from the 2026 legislative session prohibits businesses from adding a surcharge to your bill if you pay with a debit card. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is the author of the measure.

Cut 7 (07) “…our own money.”

Businesses can still charge a fee when you use a credit card, but no surcharge can be added when you pay with a debit card. Mizell says it’s already against federal law to charge a debit card fee, but her legislation gives Louisiana consumers more protection.

Cut 8 (07) “…hear from people.”

Businesses that violate the law face a 500-dollar fine. The law also allows debit card users to take legal action if a business doesn’t refund the fee within 30 days.

Mizell says consumers can also contact the Attorney General’s consumer protection hotline if a business charges them a fee for using a debit card.

Cut 9 (08)  “…fine that business.”

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A grim milestone in Louisiana’s cyclosporiasis outbreak as the state has now confirmed 100 cases of people infected with the parasite that causes explosive diarrhea. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says that’s considerably more than the state usually sees in the first seven months of the year.

Cut 10 (11) “…we typically see.”

Of those 100 patients, six have been hospitalized. Sokol says while cyclosporiasis is not considered to be a deadly disease, one of the characteristics is that it can be prolonged.

Cut 11 (07) “…they may return.”

Sokol says if you typically like to start your dinner each night with a salad, you shouldn’t be afraid to continue doing so. She says it’s simply important to take the precautions you should be taking anyways with fresh produce, including thoroughly washing it ahead of time – and perhaps taking one or two extra steps for the time being.

Cut 12 (11) “…of the parasites.”

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The Saints agreed to terms with All-Pro wide receiver Chris Olave on a four-year, 132-million-dollar contract extension. Olave held in for the first two practices of training camp while he negotiated the deal, and Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says he’s surprised by how quickly the two sides got it done.

Cut 13 (12)  “…to everybody’s benefit.”

The deal will make him the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid receiver behind the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and ahead of the Steelers’ D.K. Metcalf. Olave ranked in the top eight of the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdowns last season. With a quarterback and two offensive tackles on rookie contracts, Jackson says these are the types of deals the Saints can afford.

Cut 14 (08) “…keep him around.”

There have been injury concerns for Olave, who has suffered four concussions since being drafted 11th overall in 2022. After playing just eight games in 2024, he had a career year and missed only the final game of last season. Jackson says this is a fair deal for both sides, but the Saints will need to protect themselves.

Cut 15 (08) “…the bigger question.”

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Tight end Juwan Johnson is entering his seventh season with the Saints, but the veteran pass catcher was actually college teammates with second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. The pair played together at Oregon in 2019 during Johnson’s graduate season. He says they’ve built great chemistry in their time together.

Cut 16 (16) “…the biggest thing (2x).”

Linebacker Kaden Elliss returned to New Orleans this offseason after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2019 draft by the Saints. He spent three seasons in Atlanta, where he became one of the league’s best linebackers. He says Saints GM Mickey Loomis has maintained the culture of the playoff teams he was a part of.

Cut 17 (19) “…a hundred percent.”