Louisiana’s law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public-school classroom violates the U. S. Constitution says a federal appeals court Friday. The 3-Judge Panel on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an earlier lower court’s November ruling barring the state from enforcing the law. The Panel called the law “plainly unconstitutional”. Appeals would next go to the Full Fifth Circuit Court. The case is expected to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Today marks the official start of summer, and LSU public health climatologist Barry Keim says get ready for a lot of heat and humidity. Keim says the climate prediction center is forecasting a warmer and wetter summer than normal for Louisiana.

Cut 12 (09) “…for the summer.”

Keim says so far the tropics have been quiet thanks to the Saharan Air acting as a protective layer but that’s not expected to last.

At the College World Series, a 30-foot tiger sculpture is taking the City of Omaha by storm. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU is two more wins away from another national championship in baseball. The Tigers will begin a best out of three series on Saturday night against Coastal Carolina. Right fielder Jake Brown from Sulphur says they’ve been preparing for this moment since August…

Cut 14 (12) “…number eight”

Last weekend’s shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses have shaken the nation, including the legislative community. Louisiana House Speaker Phillip DeVillier while the debate at the statehouse may get heated at times, he always has great respect for all of his colleagues, including those on the other side of the aisle and he spoke about lawmakers moderating their message.

Cut 3 (11) “…that is unnecessary.”

Louisiana gas prices are up from last week’s average of $2.74 to $2.83 per gallon for regular gasoline. AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says when you combine the conflict in the Middle East with an expected above-average hurricane season, you won’t feel relief at the pump for a while.

Cut 11 (11) “…climbing even higher.”

The last two teams left standing in the College World Series, LSU and Coastal Carolina, begin their championship series on Saturday night. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Joining the team is a 30-foot tiger sculpture affectionately named Mardi Gras Mike created by Kern Studios.  CEO, Barry Kern on Mardi Gras Mike’s future.

Cut 8 (15) “…could be used.”

Louisiana gas prices have climbed to $2.83 per gallon for a regular gallon of gasoline, up nearly ten-cents from last week, according to AAA. Spokesperson Don Redman says the increase is driven by rising crude oil prices and uncertainty fueled by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Cut 9 (09)  “…of this war.”

Redman says crude oil prices are around 75 dollars a barrel, and oil accounts for 50 to 60-percenet of gas prices.

It was nearly a week ago when a gunman attacked two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses at their homes, killing one couple and leaving the other couple severely injured. Louisiana House Speaker Phillip Devillier says the shootings have no place in American politics. He says he’s grateful to serve in the Louisiana legislature where civil discourse and true love for one another remain at the heart of how they do their work…

Cut 4 (14) “…represent our constituents”

As LSU gets ready to take on Coastal Carolina for the national championship at the College World Series, their fans are blowing out the competition in the Jello Shot Challenge across the street. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

There are disappointed Luke Bryan fans. The country music star was scheduled to perform at the Cajundome in Lafayette on Saturday night, but Bryan has been forced to reschedule the show to September 11^th because of an illness.

It’s going to be a scorcher as summer officially gets underway this weekend. LSU public health climatologist Barry Keim says so far the tropics have been quiet thanks to the Saharan Air acting as a protective layer for the last few weeks, but don’t expect that to last long.

Cut 13 (07)  “…above normal.”

It was nearly a year ago that Hurricane Beryl formed in the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall in Texas in early July.

The issue of lawmaker safety is now at the forefront following the shootings last weekend of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses. Louisiana House Speaker Phillip DeVillier says with the legislative session over, there are currently no plans to beef up security for lawmakers.

Cut 5 (04) “…in other areas.”

DeVillier says the shootings should serve as a reminder that public officials – elected or otherwise – should moderate their messaging.

During LSU’s run through the College World Series, Mardi Gras Mike has been taking the City of Omaha by storm. Mardi Gras Mike is a 30-foot-long tiger sculpture created by Kern Studios of New Orleans. Barry Kern, the CEO of Kern Studios, says he got the inspiration to create the sculpture when he saw how much fun LSU fans were having during the Tiger Walk before their home football game against Ole Miss last season.

Cut 7 (11) “…just built it.”

Kern says Mardi Gras Mike will be a part of the greater LSU community – not just athletics – for many years to come.

And now, a look at today’s commodities.

It was nearly a week ago when a gunman attacked two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses at their homes, killing one couple and leaving the other couple severely injured. Louisiana House Speaker Phillip Devillier says the tragic events in Minnesota have no place in American politics. He says he’s grateful to serve in the Louisiana legislature where civil discourse and true love for one another remain at the heart of how they do their work…

Cut 4 (14) “…represent our constituents”

Steven Milam, Jared Jones and Kade Anderson aren’t the only LSU stars taking Omaha by storm this week. A 30-foot tiger sculpture on a flatbed trailer affectionately named Mardi Gras Mike has been the talk of the town. Barry Kern, the president and CEO of Kern Studios, which created Mardi Gras Mike, says they’ve been taking him all over the city all week long.

Cut 6 (09) “…the Omaha Hilton.”

As he’s being wheeled throughout the city, speakers on the flatbed play a very special playlist that include LSU staples “Louisiana Saturday Night,” “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” and the LSU fight song.

As LSU gets ready to take on Coastal Carolina for the national championship at the College World Series, their fans are blowing out the competition in the Jello Shot Challenge across the street. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Coastal Carolina goes into the championship series with a 26-game winning streak, while LSU is the betting favorites to win. Chanticleers Catcher Caden Bodine sizes up the matchup…

Cut 15 (14) “…to win”

First pitch tomorrow is at 6 PM.

Last weekend’s shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses have shaken the nation, including the legislative community. Louisiana House Speaker Phillip DeVillier says the shootings should serve as a reminder that public officials – elected or otherwise – should moderate their messaging.

Cut 3 (11) “…that is unnecessary.”

DeVillier says while the debate at the statehouse may get heated at times, he always has great respect for all his colleagues, including those on the other side of the aisle.

Today marks the official start of summer and LSU public health climatologist Barry Keim says get ready for a lot of heat and humidity. Keim says the climate prediction center is forecasting a warmer and wetter summer than normal for Louisiana…

Cut 12 (09) “…for the summer”

Tomorrow night is game one of the championship series of the College World Series between LSU and Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers have won 26 in a row. Coach Jay Johnson says Coastal doesn’t make many mistakes…

Cut 16 (14) “…program traits”

First pitch tomorrow night is at 6 PM.

ULM has ended its women’s tennis program due to increased operating and infrastructure costs. The Warhawks now sponsor the NCAA minimum 16 sports as required for an FBS program. Athletics Director John Hartwell says this was an unfortunate fiscal necessity.

Cut 13 (09)  “…and expenditues.”

Louisiana ranks second for the percentage of its residents delinquent on debt payments. Sean Richardson has more…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The summer driving season is in full swing and there’s been an uptick in gas prices. According to Triple-A, the statewide average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.83. That’s up nearly ten cents from a week ago. Analysts say the price at the pump is increasing because crude oil prices are up and demand is also up.

A milestone for East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, as it has successfully completed its first heart transplant. It was performed on a woman in her early 60s by Dr. Jamil Borgi (BORE-jee) and Dr. Sasha Vukelic (voo-KELL-itch). Dr. Vukelic says the patient is recovering well at home.

Cut 10 (13) “…it becomes stable.”

The heart transplant at East Jefferson Hospital is a major milestone in expanding live-saving heart care for the Gulf South.

The LSU baseball team enjoyed last night off in Omaha after beating Arkansas in heart stopping fashion on Wednesday night. Because LSU did not play last night, it allows them to use their top two starters in games one and two of their championship series against Coastal Carolina. Coach Jay Johnson….

Cut 18 (10) “….got me now”

The Tigers championship series against Coastal Carolina gets underway tomorrow night at 6 PM.

Louisiana ranks second for most delinquent on debt payments with residents delinquent on 13-percent of all their individual loans and lines of credit and Louisiana residents are delinquent on 12-percent of their entire debt. Wallethub analyst Chip Lupo…

Cut 5 (08) “….cases”

Lupo says if you are behind on paying back a loan, many lenders offer hardship programs.

History has been made at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie as the medical facility has performed its first heart transplant. Doctor Sasha Vukelic (voo-KELL-itch) says the procedure took two hours, but the recovery time is considerably longer…

Cut 11 (11) “….around two months”

Vukelic says the heart transplant is a major milestone in expanding live-saving health care for the Gulf South.

As LSU gets set to battle with Coastal Carolina for the national championship at the College World Series, there’s no doubt who will win the Jello Shot Challenge at Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina across the street from the stadium. Of the eight teams represented, Rocco’s has sold more than three times the number of LSU Jello Shots than the second-place team. Manager Pat McAvoy says LSU has been bolstered by a few heavy hitters, including Raising Cane’s CEO Todd Graves.

Cut 7 (10) “…we did that.”

Another wave of LSU fans arrive in Omaha today ahead of the start of the championship series tomorrow night against Coastal Carolina.

To balance its athletics budget, ULM announced this week that it’s ending its women’s tennis program. The program consisted of eight scholarship athletes and ULM will honor their scholarships if the tennis student athletes decide to stay at the school. Athletics Director John Hartwell says as the students graduate or transfer, he says the scholarships will be reallocated to other women’s sports.

Cut 14 (09) “…ratio is.”

Louisiana ranks second among the states where people are most delinquent on debt according to a study by the personal finance website Wallethub. Delinquency can trigger fees, higher interest rates, and credit damage; but hardship programs and a 30-day grace period may offer relief. Wallethub analyst Chip Lupo says the best course of action is to reach out to your lender and make a payment to become current on your account…

Cut 6 (10) “…several years”

Hopefully people are not going into debt buying Jello shots at Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina in Omaha. LSU is the run away winner of this year’s Jello Shot challenge as more than 25-thousand purple and gold jello shots have been purchased. Rocco’s manager Pat McAvoy says some heavy hitters have stepped up, like Todd Graves and Gordon McKernan…

Cut 8 (14) “….Todd did it”

One dollar from every LSU purple and gold Jello shot gets redirected to the Baton Rouge Food Bank.

ULM discontinued its women’s tennis program as it works to balance its athletic budget. Kace Kieschnick has the story.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported this week that Louisiana Tech could replace Texas State in the Sun Belt if Texas State leaves for the PAC-12. But Dave Schultz, host of the Locked on Sun Belt Podcast, says Sun Belt schools outside of Louisiana do not want Tech in the Sun Belt, because it would make the league to Louisiana centric with three schools.