The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office reports the state department of health spent 112-million dollars on Medicaid coverage for nearly 14-thousand adults who did not live in Louisiana. The payments were made from September 2016 to February of this year. State Health Secretary Stephen Russo says it was hard for L-D-H to remove people from the Medicaid rolls during the COVID pandemic, because the feds changed the rules to ensure continued coverage for low-income residents.

To bring attention to his state treasurer campaign and raise funds, Republican Scott McKnight is raffling Taylor Swift concert tickets…
Cut 1 (29) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Gretna Representative Joe Marino officially resigned Monday from his legislative post to begin his appointment as an Ad Hoc Judge in Jefferson Parish. The Independent, who was elected to the legislature in 2016 admits he was under the misconception that it was a part-time gig but quickly found out it’s a full-time job.
Cut 10 (08) “…up with.”
Earlier this year, Marino authored a bill to give lawmakers a pay raise, but the bill failed to make it to the House floor.

We are entering peak hurricane season as the National Hurricane Center is monitoring three named storms. Don Redman with AAA says if you don’t have flood insurance now is the time to get it, also review your current homeowner and flood insurance policies and take inventory of what’s in your home…
cut 8 (10) “…everything”

To bring attention to his state treasurer campaign and raise funds, Republican Scott McKnight is raffling Taylor Swift concert tickets. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (29)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Gretna Representative Joe Marino begins his next chapter serving as an Ad Hoc Judge for the 24^th Judicial District. Brooke Thorington has more as he looks back on his legislative career.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Estimates from LSU AG professionals show a loss of $135 million to $290 million dollars for Louisiana cattle and crop producers due to excessive heat and drought. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

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If you missed out on getting Taylor Swift tickets, Republican Scott McKnight is raffling off tickets if you donate to his campaign for treasurer. McKnight says after all the hoopla over the concert he opted to use it as a way to drive Swift fans to his campaign.

Cut 4 (09) “…the concert.”

For each $3 donation, your name is entered into the raffle and McKnight says these aren’t just any tickets…

Cut 5 (07) “… sitting in.”

You can find more information about the raffle at mcknightforla.com or on his social media.  McKnight hopes it will bring more attention to the race and why he’s running for office.

Cut 6 (08) “…in before.”

The winner will be announced on September 30^th which is also the first day of early voting for the October 14^th primary. The tickets are for the Friday, October 25th show at the Superdome.

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As we enter the peak of hurricane season, AAA encourages Louisianans to review home and auto insurance policies before a storm hits. Spokesperson Don Redman says now is the time for policyholders to update and review the type of coverage they purchased.

Cut 7 (09) “…carried separately.”

The average U-S flood insurance policy runs around $707 per year, but your annual premium will depend on where you live and the level of coverage you choose. Because homeowners policies in Louisiana do not provide coverage for damage due to floods, Redman says it is important to look into getting a separate flood insurance policy. He urges Louisianans to take photos or video inventory of all items in each room.

Cut 8 (10) “…verify everything.”

When dealing with flood insurance for your vehicle, Redman says the type of coverage is important when it comes to the right protection. He says liability coverage will not be enough to cover flood damage.

Cut 9 (13)  “…the storm”

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Gretna Representative Joe Marino officially resigned Monday from his legislative post to begin his appointment as an Ad Hoc Judge for the 24 Judicial District. The Independent, who was elected to the legislature in 2016 admits he was under the misconception that it was a part-time gig but quickly found out it’s a full-time job.

Cut 10 (08) “…up with.”

He says there were approximately 900 bills filed in the last session, which was a fiscal session and typically smaller than other sessions.

Marino says his first term in office was the same year Governor John Bel Edwards submitted his criminal justice reform legislation.

Cut 11 (10) “…my term.”

Marino also ended his legislative career as Chair of the House Criminal Justice Committee.

Looking back on his public service as a lawmaker, Marino says he’s most proud of his work with Criminal Justice Reform to add more rehabilitative services to the program and also his work with Dr. Laura Cassidy on how dyslexia is diagnosed, and accommodations are made for students.

Cut 12 (07) “…team effort.”

Marino also authored legislation to raise the pay for lawmakers that hasn’t been changed in more than four decades. That bill failed to receive passage.

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Recent estimates by LSU AG Center experts find record-breaking temperatures and drought conditions are likely to lead to $135 million to $290 million in economic loss of cattle and crops. LSU AG Center Economist Kurt Guidry says beef cattle is getting hit on several fronts with only two and a half to three acres to feed cattle…

Cut 13 (12) “…affords availability.”

Reduced hay production caused by lack of rain is expected to cost cattle raisers $62 million to $108 million dollars. Guidry says this leads to future losses in revenue in coming years. He says producers have faced a 10 percent to 30 percent reduction in permanent herds due to available forage…

Cut 14 (12) “…as well” 

Guidry says it remains to be seen if this will impact consumers at the supermarket…

Cut 15 (12) “…lower prices.”

The full effect of the drought on cotton, soybeans, and sugarcane will not be known until after harvest.

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Only two months after LSU baseball won the national championship, the team is hard at work to build another winning roster. They are losing out on some of their staff from the championship year, but Coach Jay Johnson thinks that it will improve the team’s future success.

Cut 16 (12) “…doing here.”

One of the best recruits that is joining the Tigers is left-handed pitcher Cameron Johnson. He was ranked by the perfect game as the No. 2 left-handed pitcher and No. 11 overall prospect. New pitching coach Nate Yeskie says that Johnson has already put in the work off the field.

Cut 17 (17) “…in the work.”

The new members joining the team are going to fill in for the players that graduated or left for the draft, and Johnson says where those players came from.

Cut 18 (19) “… left-handed pitchers.”

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Cut 19 (20) “…cleaned up”

Cut 20 (19) “…plays today.”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says that former President Donald trump should drop out of the upcoming presidential election in 2024. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

On Aug. 20 at around 8 p.m., Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a threat of a shooting at LaGrange High School. After some research they pinpointed the social media threat came from a 15 year old LaGrange High School student. He was booked into the Juvenile Detention Center and charged with 7 counts of terrorizing.

An ATV ride in St. Tamany Parish near Bush turned deadly when two female juveniles were driving the vehicle and ran into a tree. Police responded on Saturday night and both victims were sent to the hospital. Sargent Suzanne Carboni gives an update on the pair’s medical status.

Cut 9 (11) “…Sunday morning.

The Saints were able to get the win despite tropical storm Hilary making landfall during the game and the team being penalized 14 times for 141 yards. Coach Dennis Allen says a win is a win, but there is work to do.

Cut 19 (19) “…to do.”

The LSU baseball team is coming off their seventh national championship in school history and much of their team left for the draft, but Jay Johnson says that they are putting behind their past success for the new year.

Cut 26 (24) “…with that.”

The team is added new coaches, Nate Yeskie and Terry Rooney to the staff, and Johnson thinks the high turnover means the team is doing well.

Cut 27 (13) “…at LSU.”

The top two picks in the MLB draft, Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews, both have been promoted to their Double-A affiliates with their respective teams. The pair helped LSU baseball win their 7th national titles before being drafted number one and number two overall and signing the two largest rookie deals in MLB history.
The Rajun Cajun are closing in on their week one matchup against Northwestern State on Sept. 2. The team is two weeks away from their matchup, and Rajun Cajun head coach says the team has greatly improved.
Cut 18 (22) “..win games.”
The LHSAA and the Nine Schools suing them had their day in court today. The schools are suing the LHSAA because they allege that the LHSAA unfairly changed the playoff format for certain schools.

As the state struggles with drought and excessive heat, a tropical depression headed towards Texas in the Gulf has most of the Bayou State under a red flag warning. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (28)  “…Teiko Foxx”  

Entergy customers will not be disconnected for lack of payment while Louisiana remains under a State of Emergency until September 9^th. During last week’s PSC Commission meeting, Commissioner Davante Lewis asked providers not to disconnect anyone’s power due to the ongoing excessive heat advisories. The Louisiana Department of Health says there have been a number of heat-related deaths.

During an appearance on C-N-N’s State of the Union, Senator Bill Cassidy said former President Donald Trump should end his 2024 presidential campaign. Cassidy says the polls indicate Trump can’t beat President Joe Biden in a general election and the former president could also be convicted of a federal crime by the 2024 election. Cassidy says he’ll vote for a Republican candidate that plans to address the future of Social Security…

cut 5 (05) “….do nothing”

Cassidy says if nothing is done, Social Security will start to run out of money in about a decade, resulting in a 24-percent benefit cut.

In the governor’s race, State Treasurer John Schroder takes a shot at fellow Republicans Jeff Landry and Stephen Waguespack in his latest TV ad, calling them political insiders who will not address the issues affecting Louisiana…

cut 12 (11) “….demand change”
 

Louisiana U-S Senator Bill Cassidy believes former President Donald Trump should drop out of the 2024 Presidential race. During an appearance on C-N-N’s State of the Union, Cassidy says current polling shows Trump can not beat President Joe Biden in a general election…
Cut 3 (09) “…high inflation”
Trump is also facing nearly 100 criminal charges from four different federal indictments.

Sad story out of St. Tammany Parish as a 12-year-old girl lost her life in an ATV accident on Saturday night near the town of Bush. Her 13-year-old passenger was also injured. Sergeant Suzanne Carboni with the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office says children should not be the ones operating ATVs…
cut 11 (08) “….very dangerous’
The deceased 12-year-old has been identified as Payton Strain.

Today in a Baton Rouge courtroom, arguments were heard in a case against the LHSAA. Nine schools from Rapides Parish and the Monroe area are seeking an injunction that would prevent the Association from implementing the football playoff format they used last year. Attorney Brian Blackwell represents the schools and says high schools never had a chance to vote on the new definition for select schools…
cut 30 (12) “….playoff structure”
An attorney for the LHSAA says the definition for select schools was on the executive committee’s agenda for months.

A tropical depression is moving across the Gulf of Mexico from east to west. It’s staying well south of Louisiana as it moves towards Texas. National Weather Service Lake Charles Meteorologist Stacey Denson says the depression is causing breezy conditions across the state…
cut 67 (08) “…southern Louisiana”
Those breezy conditions is what it’s a red flag day, which means wildfire risks are elevated.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says former President Donald Trump should drop out of the 2024 Presidential race.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The tropics are very active. Stacey Denson is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles…
cut 8 (08) “…in Louisiana”
Denson says a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to become a tropical storm before it reaches Texas tomorrow.

A family in southeast Louisiana is mourning the death of a 12-year-old, killed in an ATV accident over the weekend in St. Tammany Parish. Sergeant Suzanne Carboni with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, says based on their investigation, the 12-year-old was the driver…
cut 10 (08) “…as such”
Carboni says the four-wheel ATV left the roadway and struck a tree. A 13-year-old passenger was also injured.

Multiple candidates in the governor’s race are claiming they are the political outsider needed to improve Louisiana. Here’s a snippet from Stephen Waguespack’s latest TV ad…
cut 13 (10) “…job done”
But State Treasurer John Schorder’s new TV ad criticizes both Waguespack and attorney general Jeff Landry as political insiders.

There is a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico moving south of Louisiana towards Texas and it’s resulted in a Red Flag Warning, which means wildfires and grass fires can spread quickly. National Weather Service Lake Charles Meteorologist Stacey Denson.
Cut 6 (10) “…dry conditions”
According to the governor’s office, there have been more than 260 wildfires during this hot and dry summer that have damaged and destroyed more than 3,500 acres.

Sad story out of St. Tammany Parish as a 12-year-old girl lost her life in an ATV accident on Saturday night near the town of Bush. Her 13-year-old passenger was also injured. Sergeant Suzanne Carboni with the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office says children should not be the ones operating ATVs…
cut 11 (08) “….very dangerous’
The deceased 12-year-old has been identified as Payton Strain.

During an appearance on C-N-N’s State of the Union, Senator Bill Cassidy said former President Donald Trump should end his 2024 presidential campaign. Cassidy says the polls indicate Trump can’t beat President Joe Biden in a general election and the former president could also be convicted of a federal crime by November 2024. Cassidy says he’ll vote for a Republican candidate that plans to address the future of Social Security….
cut 5 (05) “….do nothing”
Cassidy says if nothing is done, Social Security will start to run out of money in about a decade, resulting in a 24-percent benefit cut.

In the Louisiana governor’s race, State Treasurer John Schroder takes a shot at fellow Republicans Jeff Landry and Stephen Waguespack in his latest TV ad, calling them political insiders who will not address the issues affecting Louisiana…
cut 12 (11) “….demand change”
But Waguespack, who is the former president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says, he’s the political outsider who can get the job done.

Despite the looming threat of tropical storm Hilary and a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hitting southern California an hour and a half before kickoff, the Saints and Chargers played their week 2 preseason game, and the Saints won 22-17. Jameis Winston threw for 169 yards on 13 of 21 passing, and Jake Haener threw for 118 yards on 11 of 17 passing. The Saints got the win, but not without racking up 14 penalties for 141 yards. Coach Dennis Allen is happy about the win, but says there are plenty of things to work on.

Cut 19 (20) “…cleaned up.”

The Saints are scheduled to play the Texans on Sunday, Aug. 27 to wrap up their preseason, despite having joint practices lined up, they agreed it was in their best interests to hold their own practices separately.

It’s officially game week for Louisiana Tech. Head coach Sonny Cumbie and the Bulldogs will be playing Florida International on Saturday in Ruston for their Week Zero matchup. Cumbie says his team has a high skill level, but there are still a few unknowns.

Cut 16 (13) “…tempering that.”

LSU completed their inter squad scrimmage on Saturday and had great performances from both sides of the ball. Both quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier looked game ready and cornerback Zy Alexander forced a fumble and recovered it. Running back Kaleb Jackson filled in and had the performance of the day. Jackson scored two touchdowns including one from a 75 yard break away run.

The LHSAA and the nine schools are facing off in court today over the restructured playoff format. The schools are seeking a preliminary injunction over the change of the select non select playoff school shuffling. Representing the schools is attorney Brian Blackwell.

Cut 4 (06) “…to vote.”