Police Baton Rouge arrest a 20-year-old Houma man for the alleged rape of an underage girl. BRPD spokesman Sgt. L’Jean (EL-gene) McKneely says 20-year-old Kwan Allen made contact with the 16-year-old girl via social media; representing himself being much younger. McKneely says he courted the girl for weeks before enticing her to a meeting at the Mall of Louisiana…:

CUT 09  (09)        “…upon her”

McKneely says the victim’s 8-year-old sister was waiting in the teen girls’ car, while the assault was occurring in Allen’s vehicle. Allen’s been charged with sexual battery and 2^nd degree rape.

New Orleans hosts the annual Great American Seafood Cookoff Saturday. Winning chefs from across the USA will compete for top honors, and one of them is Chef Amanda Cusey. The executive chef at The Villa Harlequin in Lake Charles, Cusey took top state honors back in June at the Louisiana Seafood Cookoff.

Louisiana has dropped from the top of one of those ”bad lists.” More from Marsanne Golsby…:

CUT 02  (30)        “…Golsby.”

FEMA has announced an additional $11 million in federal grant funding for disaster aid related to Hurricane Laura relief efforts, according to Sen. John Kennedy. The funds are part of a $69 million relief package intended for communities affected by Hurricane Laura and Ida. A large portion of the funds is to assist in the repairing of schools that were damaged during the storms.

High utility bills continue to plague residents and PSC Commissioner Craig Greene says they are looking at ways to help lower rates. He says the commission wants utility providers to become customer service-focused, more energy efficient, and look at long-term resiliency…:

CUT 10(08)      “…we’ve had.”

He says you can ask your local PSC office to review your bill for possible errors.

Baton Rouge Police arrest a Houma man for the alleged rape of an underage girl. The crime took place in late May, and the victim says 20-year-old Kwan Allen told her he was much younger; chatting with her online for some time before asking to meet her at the Mall of Louisiana. It was then the assault occurred. Allen is charged with sexual battery and 2^nd-degree rape.

It’s National Oyster Day but how is the state’s industry fairing? Brooke Thorington has more…

CUT 01(31)      “…Thorington.”

…and now today’s markets, with Louisiana Farm Bureau’s Neil Melancon…

It’s national oyster day and the Bayou State is very familiar with the well-loved seafood, but the local industry has been in serious recovery mode thanks to the last two hurricane seasons. Oyster Task Force Chairman Mitch Jurisich says they are starting to see oyster spawns.
Cut 3 (12) “…market time.”
He says Ida wiped out the Houma area, and in Plaquemines Parish, they lost about 30 percent of their crop, other areas lost as much as 80 percent.

Governor John Bel Edwards is off to Europe today to swap flood control challenges with the Netherlands.
Cut 7 (07) “….water levels increase.”
The governor will see firsthand one of the Netherlands’ ambitious and innovative flood control infrastructure.

Entergy says the doubling of natural gas prices from June of last year to June of this year has resulted in the higher than normal electric bills this summer. But Public Service Commissioner Craig Greene says there should be incentives for utility providers who lock in prices early and pass those savings to ratepayers…
cut 12 (10) “…their profit”

During the regular session, lawmakers approved four cancer care bills that advocates say provide cutting edge cancer testing and treatments that will be covered by your insurance. Cancer survivor and former state representative Julie Stokes says cancer testing will be enhanced by a biomarker testing legislation and another new law expands access to precision medicine…
cut 30 (09) “…are for you”

New laws signed by the governor aim to make cutting-edge cancer detection and new treatments more readily available…and covered by your insurance. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Governor Edwards says policy and procedure changes are on the way at DCFS after a two-year-old Baton Rouge child died in June but before his death, he was taken to the emergency room on two separate occasions for a suspected drug overdose. Doctors reportedly alerted DCFS twice that they found fentanyl in the young boy’s system.

Governor Edwards leaves for the Netherlands today where he’ll get a first-hand look at some of their flood control projects. He says his trip which also includes a stop in France will also look at how the state can improve the Port of New Orleans….

Cut 8 (11)  “…port system.”
PSC Commissioner Craig Greene says even though companies like Entergy spent $4.5 billion to restore power after the hurricanes, they have to be reimbursed for that cost which falls on the ratepayer. Greene says he’s often asked if the company is going to send their shareholders a billion dollars why can’t they chip in on repairs?

Cut  11 (09)  “…taking the risk.” 

Greene says the commission is looking at ways to lower your power bill.

High utility bills continue to plague residents and PSC Commissioner Craig Greene says they are looking at ways to help lower rates. He says the commission wants utility providers to become customer service-focused, more energy efficient, and look at long-term resiliency.

Cut 10 (08) “…we’ve had.”

He says you can ask your local PSC office to review your bill for possible errors.

Governor Edwards flies to the Netherlands today to share our flood control challenges in Europe. And he says that innovations to fight climate change actually bring about economic development opportunities involving new environmentally friendly projects.

Cut 9 (06)  “…and the transition.”

The governor will also visit France to promote the World War II museum in New Orleans.

Monkeypox has been declared a health emergency in the US, and LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine is hosting an event today to give healthcare professionals the most up-to-date information. Infectious Disease Professor Dr. Michael Hangensee (Hagen-see) says they’ll look at the recent spread of the virus…

Cut 13 (07) “…prevent infection.”

The governor hosted a ceremonial bill signing Thursday at the Capitol, to herald in a package of new bills providing for improved, cutting-edge cancer care. Former state representative and cancer survivor Julie Stokes says one bill expands access and insurance coverage of precision medicine, a more focused method than chemotherapy…:

Cut 4 (08)  “…of chemotherapy.”

Stokes is the founder of SCAN, the Survivors Cancer Action Network.

As residents continue to experience high utility bills, the Public Service Commission says they are trying to help…
cut 3 (29) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

Governor Edwards leaves for the Netherlands today where he’ll get a first-hand look at some of their flood control projects. He says his trip which also includes a stop in France will also look at how the state can improve the Port of New Orleans….
cut 8 (11) “….Port system”

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed legislation that will ensure biomarker testing is covered by more insurance plans, including Medicaid. Former state representative and founder of the Survivors Cancer Action Network Julie Stokes says biomarker testing could lead to fewer cancer patients needing chemotherapy.
cut 6 (09) “….is so exciting”
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says biomarker testing effectively guides a cancer patient’s treatment.

Monkeypox has been declared a health emergency in the US, and LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine is hosting an event today to give healthcare professionals the most up-to-date information. Infectious Disease Professor Dr. Michael Hangensee (Hagen-see)…
cut 15 (10) “…of others”
The state is reporting 69 monkeypox cases in Louisiana, an increase of eleven from Wednesday.

Governor John Bel Edwards is off to Europe today to swap flood control challenges with the Netherlands. Marsanne Golsby has more:
Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby.”

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles says residents should be thinking about getting their REAL ID card. OMV spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says beginning May 3rd, citizens 18 years and older will need a REAL ID driver’s license or passport to fly domestically or enter a federal building
cut 28 (03) “…ready now”
Go to express-lane-dot org to book an appointment at your local OMV office.

During the regular session, lawmakers approved four cancer care bills that advocates say provide cutting edge cancer testing and treatments that will be covered by your insurance. Cancer survivor and former state representative Julie Stokes says cancer testing will be enhanced a biomarker testing legislation and another new law expands access to precision medicine…
cut 5 (09) “…are for you”

The federal government has declared a public health emergency over monkeypox. The number of known infections in Louisiana is 69 with most of those in the New Orleans area. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Professor Doctor Hangensee says treatment includes the medicine T-pox, which can be given by pill or through an I-V for severe cases…
cut 14 (08) “…new Orleans area”
The monkeypox virus spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact.

Governor John Bel Edwards is off to Europe today to swap flood control challenges with the Netherlands.
Cut 7 (07) “….water levels increase.”
The governor will see firsthand one of the Netherlands’ most ambitious and innovative flood control infrastructure innovations and a water research campus in Delft. Edwards will also make a stop in France to raise awareness about a 400-million dollar capital campaign for the World War Two Museum in New Orleans.

Entergy says the doubling of natural gas prices from June of last year to June of this year has resulted in the higher than normal electric bills this summer. But Public Service Commissioner Craig Greene says there should be incentives for utility providers who lock in prices early and pass those savings to ratepayers…
cut 12 (10) “…their profit”

New laws signed by the governor aim to make cutting edge cancer detection and new treatments more readily available…and covered by your insurance. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”