Meta announced the launch of the America’s Workforce Academy with a facility in Baton Rouge. Louisiana joins Texas, Indiana and Ohio as the four states to host pilot locations for the AI infrastructure jobs training program. Meta has already begun construction on a 27-billion-dollar data center in Richland Parish. Meta Director of U.S. Policy Diana Doukas says Meta’s partnership with the Associated Builders and Contractors Baton Rouge training facility and its investment in Louisiana make it a perfect location.

Cut 5 (11) “…down the road.”

Network outages have forced some OMV offices around the state to close, and some online services are affected as well. Thomas Mule’ with the Office of Technology Services says it’s unclear when everything will be back up and running.

Cut 14 (08) “…tomorrow at eight.”

Pollock Representative Gabe Firment could have his eyes set on something bigger after more than six years in the Louisiana House. He says he’s fielded numerous calls about running for the open fifth district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and he believes he would be very effective.

Cut 7 (12) “…philosophy to Congress.”

There will be a free Fourth of July concert in Baton Rouge as part of the festivities put on by the Louisiana America 250 Commission. There will be live music starting at 2 p.m. through the evening ending with fireworks on the Mississippi River. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says don’t worry if you can’t make it to the Capitol City, there will likely be a celebration near you

Cut 11 (09) “…over Louisiana.”

A full list of celebrations across the state can be found at america250la.org

If you’re trying to get things done at the OMV, either in person or online, you may have a little difficulty right now. That’s because the office is experiencing network outages. Thomas Mule’ (myoo-LAY) with the Office of Technology Services says they started replacing a legacy piece of hardware Sunday….

Cut 12 (08) “…started going out.”

Mule’ says it’s part of switching the network from what he says is the equivalent of a 1992 Honda Civic to a 2026 McLaren 750. He says during the migration, some are experiencing connectivity issues.

State Representative and Chairman of the House Insurance Committee is considering a run for Congress. Gabe Firment from Grant Parish would run for the seat that fellow Republican Julia Letlow is leaving….

Cut 8 (10) “…sense to me.”

Monroe Representative Michael Echols is planning on running in the fifth district. Qualifying is in the first week of August.

A Meta AI infrastructure training facility is coming to Baton Rouge. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Faith Technologies Incorporated has announced it will build an 80-million-dollar manufacturing facility in Ouachita Parish that will create at least 200 new jobs. This is the company’s first location in Louisiana, and it will help them expand production capacity of electrical components and solutions for large-scale infrastructure projects. Construction is already underway.

Meta announced the launch of America’s Workforce Academy, a nationwide AI infrastructure jobs training program with a pilot academy in Baton Rouge. Meta Director of U.S. Policy Diana Doukas says the program will pay participants to train in a variety of jobs..

Cut 3 (09) “…next decade.”

The academy requires no prior experience and provides tuition, airfare and lodging. For more information go to meta-dot-com.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the state needs to address rising auto insurance rates for commercial drivers. Temple says there were several bills in the recently completed legislative session that could have helped. Including a measure that said expert witnesses brought in to testify in a trial can only receive a fee for payment.

Cut 12 (11) “…have to say.”

The House approved that bill, but it was never heard in the Senate,

Gabe Firment has been in the Louisiana House of Representatives for more than six years now. Could he have his sights set on something bigger, like the U.S. House of Representatives? The Republican from Grant Parish says several people have reached out to him asking him if he’d be interested in running for the open seat in the fifth district.

Cut 6 (12) “…an intriguing opportunity.”

Monroe Representative Michael Echols is expected to run for the 5^th district congressional seat.

The Louisiana America 250 commission is hosting a free Fourth of July concert in downtown Baton Rouge. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says there will be live music in Repentance Park starting at 2 p.m. and culminating with a big fireworks show over the Mississippi River…

Cut 9 (09)  “…to America.”

The concert will feature performances from local stars Amanda Shaw, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., John Schneider and Wayne Toups

An East Baton Rouge Parish woman is suing the parents of a 13-year-old boy who allegedly vandalized her property with racist graffiti. Ryan Thompson says what happened last month was actually the culmination of a pattern of racially-motivated acts of vandalism towards Carolyn Morrison-Howard, including puncturing the tires of her caregiver’s vehicle and etching a swastika into the caregiver’s vehicle.

Cut 15 (10) “…community is safe.”

A St. Charles Parish man tries to run from police by jumping into a swamp and ends up getting attacked by an alligator. State Trooper Kyle Wagner says that alligator attack, along with drone technology, helped police capture 40-year-old Victor Rivas. Before being hauled off to jail, Rivas had to be treated for his bout with the alligator.

Cut 6 (06) “…both his arms.” 

Private drivers are seeing relief when it comes to insurance rates, but that’s not the case for commercial drivers. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

For the second time in less than two months, a detainee at a North Louisiana ICE detention facility has died. The latest is a detainee from the former Soviet republic of Georgia. The man had been detained there for four months before he was found unresponsive last Thursday. A recent inspection of the facility uncovered insanitary conditions and substandard medical care.

A St. Charles Parish man suspected of driving drunk ended up having to fight off alligators as he jumped into a swamp to evade authorities who were trying to arrest him. State Police Trooper Kyle Wagner says the incident happened Sunday morning along U-S Highway 61…

Cut 4 (09) “…an alligator”

40-year-old Victor Rivas of Montz was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later charged with DWI and Resisting an Officer.

Louisiana is making strides in seeing rates come down when it comes to private auto insurance and homeowners’ insurance rates. But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says commercial auto rates continue to rise. Temple says one legislative proposal that could help bring down commercial auto rates is a General Damage Cap bill. He says a person’s medical bills and the cost to repair a damaged vehicle would still be covered, but a person involved in a car wreck could not recover damages that are not quantifiable.

Cut 11 (07) “…cap on that.”

Temple says it’s a bill that needs to be seriously discussed during next year’s legislative session.

The Assumption Parish School System is now offering its students a chance to take 100-percent of their classes online. Superintendent John Barthelemy says students will still be allowed to participate in school clubs, sports and events. Barthelemy says providing traditional social and athletic experiences to students was a priority.

Cut 9 (11)  “…for my kid.”

One of the state’s top high school football players has given his verbal pledge to the LSU Tigers. Markez Davis from Northwest High School in St. Landry Parish has committed to the Tigers. The Opelousas native is ranked by 247 Sports as the 15th-best player in Louisiana and is listed as an athlete, but is expected to play cornerback at LSU….

Cut 19 (18) “…off from there”

Private drivers are seeing relief when it comes to insurance rates, but that’s not the case for commercial drivers. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Students in Assumption Parish will now have the option to take classes online only. Superintendent John Barthelemy says some families prefer a non-traditional education…:
Cut 7 (09) “their voices heard”
Students will still be allowed to participate in clubs and sports.

A St. Charles Parish man pulled over for suspected DWI attempted to flee officers and was then attacked by an alligator. State Police Trooper Kyle Wagner says once cops stopped 40-year-old Victor Rivas, he jumped into a swamp when the gator attacked. Wagner says Rivas was hospitalized before being booked..:
Cut 6 (06) “both his arms”
Rivas is charged with DWI and resisting an officer.

An East Baton Rouge Parish woman is taking legal action after her home was allegedly targeted in a hate-motivated vandalism case by a 13-year-old boy. Ryan Thompson, the attorney who’s representing Carolyn Morrison-Howard, who’s black, says the boy is accused of doing several things to racially intimate his client:
Cut 13 (15) “as other individuals”
The lawsuit seeks damages from the juvenile’s parents and other parties the family believes may be responsible.

State Police say a St. Charles Parish man who ran from cops during a DWI stop was attacked by an alligator…:
Cut 1 (35) “I’m Andrew Greenstein”

Meta is launching a national workforce training program to prepare workers for jobs supporting AI infrastructure, and Baton Rouge was selected as one of four pilot cities. The program will train fiber technicians, welders, plumbers, electricians, and other skilled trades. Participants are paid while training, with tuition, travel, and lodging covered.

The Assumption Parish School System has launched an option for students to take classes entirely online. Superintendent John Barthelemy says this program is an alternative for students who thrive with more flexibility…:
Cut 8 (07) “on their needs”
Virtual academy students will still have the chance to take part in sports, clubs and other events.

After losing five-star edge rusher commit Jaiden Bryant to Miami last week, LSU added a flurry of talent to its 2027 class. The Tigers replaced Bryant with five-star pass rusher K.J. Green. The Georgia native is the second-ranked edge rusher in the class. Andre Champagne of 247Sports says Green is solid..:
Cut 16 (10) “…edges to do.”
Three-star cornerback Markez Davis of Northwest High School in St. Landry Parish announced his commitment to LSU Monday.