The state legislature has selected NOT to convene a veto override session that would have begun on the 16^th. 25 of 39 Senators voted “no”; nixing the session. Many House & Senate members feel that bills vetoed this year by Governor Edwards can be reintroduced next year, which will be his last year in office.

Louisiana-based meal delivery service WAITR will change its name AND business model. Brooke Thorington reports that’s coming very soon…:

CUT 01  (33)        “…Brooke Thorington.”

With qualifying for fall federal mid-term elections starting next week, incumbent Senator John Kennedy easily leads in fundraising. Kennedy reports raising another $5.6-million ion the 2^nd Quarter, and has almost $15-million cash on hand for his campaign. His declared challengers have raised only slightly more than $2-million combined. U.L.-Monroe political science professor Joshua Stockley says this comes as no surprise…:

CUT 09  (14)        “…seeing that expectation.”

Stockley says a lot can happen between now and November, but he says Kennedy has a distinct advantage.

The U.L.-Monroe College of Pharmacy will begin testing and researching hemp and cannabis for quality, purity and further health applications. West Monroe state Representative Mike Echols says the estimated $1-million-plus in revenue from that would be just for testing existing product…:

CUT 15(09)      “…unlimited potential.”

Forecasters continue to watch an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the northern Gulf of Mexico. LRN meteorologist John Weatherbee has an update on the system…
Cut 2 (26) “….Danielle.”

There will not an override veto session as a majority of state senators voted to cancel the session, which was scheduled to begin on Saturday. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland pushed for a veto session. He says many of the 27 bills that the governor vetoed received super majority support by the Legislature…
cut 12 (12) “…try it again’

Construction of a $110 million lumber production facility in Bossier Parish is now underway. LED Secretary Don Pierson says the Canadian-based Teal Jones Group chose the Plain Dealing site in December. He says their investment ripples through the economy because you have to harvest timber…
Cut 10 (10) “…like this.”
The project is expected to create 125 new direct jobs with an annual average salary of $47-thousand dollars plus benefits.

Legislation approved in the last regular legislative session urges the Public Service Commission to set a clear rate for the sale of electricity for Electric vehicle charging. Charge Ahead Partnership director Jay Smith says the legislation opens the door for grocery stores and gas stations to get involved. Smith says that’s important because the 73-million dollars in federal money for electric vehicle infrastructure is not enough…
cut 9 (09) “….on the road”

Lafayette-based Waitr has begun the transition from just a food-delivery service to a company that will deliver many other products, including alcohol, clothing, sporting goods, and auto parts. Waitr is also changing its name to ASAP, but company spokesperson Dean Turcol says customers who count on Waitr for food deliveries will not have to do anything different…
cut 6 (08) “….transition”

Louisiana has emerged as a nationwide leader in encouraging private investment in electric vehicle charging stations as a result of legislation approved in the regular session. That’s according to a group called Charge Ahead Partnership. Executive Director Jay Smith says the measure allows grocery stores and even gas stations to invest in a electric vehicle charging network…
Cut 7 (09) “….the driver.”

The University of Louisiana at Monroe will soon begin research and testing of legal medical cannabis and hemp grown in Louisiana. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Senator John Kennedy’s re-election campaign announces the Republican from Madisonville has raised more than 29-million dollars, including five-point-six million dollars in the second quarter of 2022. His three Democratic challengers have only raised a combined two-point-two million dollars.

Waitr has been in the food delivery service since 2013 when it started operations in Lake Charles and now the Louisiana-based company will begin to deliver other products as well…
cut 5 (09) “….like that”
Waitr spokesperson Dean Turcol says they are also changing the company’s name to ASAP with the vision to deliver anything to consumers, same day, from any type of business.

State lawmakers have approved ULM to research hemp and marijuana. Currently, LSU and Southern University Ag Centers grow medical marijuana and West Monroe Representative Mike Echols says getting ULM involved in the cannabis industry should be good for patients who use medical marijuana…
cut 14 (07) “….places in the state”
KNOE TV in Monroe reports the research could mean additional jobs at ULM, plus over a million dollars in revenue.

Forecasters continue to watch an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the northern Gulf of Mexico. LRN meteorologist John Weatherbee has an update on the system…
Cut 2 (26) “….Danielle.”

The Teal Jones Group has broken ground on a 110-million dollar sawmill in Bossier Parish. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the project in Plain Dealing is expected to create 125 new jobs and once the facility is completed in 2023, the mill we cut timber efficiently….
cut 12 (10) “…our economy”

A Louisiana-based company known for its food delivery service is expanding their business model and they hope that transition happens “as soon as possible.” Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

New Orleans Police say a 13-month-old boy died after he was bitten by a dog last night in the Gentilly Woods. NOPD has released very few details, so it’s unknown if the dog belonged to the boy’s family and we do not know the breed of the dog. No arrests have been announced.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy will begin testing and researching hemp and cannabis for quality, purity and further health applications. West Monroe State Representative Mike Echols says he worked to amend current medical marijuana law to allow ULM to get involved…
cut 13 (12) “…in that space”

Hundreds of new jobs could be coming to northwest Louisiana as the Teal Jones Group has broken ground on the construction of a 110-million dollar sawmill in Bossier Parish. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says construction on the 235-acre facility in Plain Dealing is expected to be completed next year and the facility will produce a wide range of dimensional and specialty lumber products…
cut 11 (09) “….or whatever”

Lafayette-based Waitr announces its transitioning to a new name… A-SAP. Spokesperson Dean Turcol says it’s reflective of their new business model – same day delivery of any type of goods, not just food, and you ‘ll receive it “as soon as possible.”
Cut 4 (09) “…products.”
Turcol says those products will include alcohol, clothing, sporting goods and auto parts.

Legislation signed by the governor urges the Louisiana Public Service Commission to create a compeitive market for electric vehicle stations…
cut 8 (09) “…E-V charging business”
Jay Smith, executive director of Charge Ahead Partnership, says instead of just relying on power companies to build E-V stations around the state, grocery stores and fuel stations can also enter the market.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe will soon begin research and testing of legal medical cannabis and hemp grown in Louisiana. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Lawyers for a now Shreveport abortion clinic have filed a request for a Baton Rouge judge to block the state’s abortion ban. A New Orleans judge punted the matter to a Baton Rouge court. Judge Don Johnson will hear the case and he has scheduled a hearing for Monday.

To help reduce travel costs for women seeking abortion services in the southeast a California OB/GYN is proposing a floating clinic in the Gulf of Mexico. So far Dr. Meg Autry says she’s received positive feedback and fundraising efforts have increased significantly since her idea was announced.

Cut 5  (06) “…amazing.”

For more information or to donate visit P-R-R-O-W-E-S-S-dot.org

The deadline for lawmakers to vote on having – or NOT having – a special veto override session is midnight tonight. As of now it seems unlikely to happen. Houma Representative and House Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee says having a veto session that fails risks incurring the wrath of constituents…like they did last year, when that very thing happened…:

Cut 8 (09) “…you look at it.”

State Police is investigating two separate car crashes that killed five people on Sunday on the Northshore. A head-on crash killed two people in Lacombe yesterday morning and three people died in a single-vehicle crash in Franklinton. L-S-P Sergeant Dustin Dwight says speed and impairment were factors in both wrecks…

Cut 9 (09) “..we investigate.”

We are starting to see gas prices below four-dollars a gallon again. Gas-buddy-com’s Patrick De Haan says the statewide average has fallen 33-cents in the last month to $4.19 a gallon that is the fourth lowest statewide average in the country…

Cut 12 (11) “…$3.92.”  

De Haan says after setting record high prices in mid-June, we are now seeing one of the steepest declines in gas prices ever