With the start of July, a new state budget is in effect. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says this fiscal year the state has allocated millions of dollars more towards public education and there are also new funds for school safety…
cut 6 (07) “….the state”
State Police says they’ll have more information about the fusion center in the near future.

U-S Senator John Kennedy says this year’s governor’s race is wide open. Polls show Democratic governor John Bel Edwards leading his two Republican challengers, Ralph Abraham, and Eddie Rispone. Last year, the thought was Kennedy would get in the race as well, but he has not reconsidered…
cut 12 (07) “…get into the race”
The sign-up period to put your name on the October ballot is August 6th to the 8th.

222 US mayors, including the leaders of Shreveport, Monroe, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge are returning home from five days of the United States Conference of Mayors in Hawaii. Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says they got an opportunity to learn how to generate federal dollars for much needed economic development and infrastructure needs back home…
Cut 13 (09) “…locally”
And with the 2020 Census right around the corner, Mayo says they studied best practices for obtaining the most accurate count of residents in their cities.

During the overnight hours, Baton Rouge Police responded to the I-10 bridge where they found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound walking on the interstate. Investigators believe she was shot by a man who she gave a ride to. No other details are known.

Teacher pay raises and K-12 funding increases headlined this year’s budget debate, but a few other areas are seeing funding increases, mostly thanks to the budget surplus. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Next year,  alligator snapping turtles could be declared as endangered or threatened, but biologists with the LDWF are working to reduce the need for that classification. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

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Senator John Kennedy says he’s keeping a finger of the pulse of the upcoming Governor’s race.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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Yesterday marked the beginning of the new fiscal year, and while the budget battle was focused on K-12 funding increases and teacher pay raises, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne pointed out a few other areas that got some love.

The decade has been defined by higher ed funding decreases, but Dardenne says the state has turned a corner…

Cut 4 (11) “…TOPS.”

Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed noted that’s now two years in a row for higher ed funding increases.

Dardenne says this year’s budget surplus will allow the government to invest more in the state’s oldest, and youngest citizens…

Cut 5    (12) “…start” 

Early childhood education received 18.8 million in new funding this year.

School shootings are at the front of many parent’s minds and Dardenne says they’ve allocated new funds to school safety.

Cut 6 (07) “…the state”

Dardenne says it does not appear likely that the state will face any mid-year budget cuts.

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Fourteen alligator snapping turtles that have been raised with the care of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are now swimming in the wild as part of a program to replenish the species.  LDWF biologist Charles Battaglia says while the numbers in Louisiana are doing okay, elsewhere the population is showing red flags.

Cut 7 (07) “…declining as well.”

The federal government is scheduled to decide next year whether to declare the turtles as endangered or threatened.  Battaglia says since 2012, the program has raised and released several hundred turtles in an effort to protect the younger turtles from predators such as raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and some fish.

Cut 8 (08) “…problem with them.”

Battaglia says while it may not seem like the turtles serve a huge role in the ecosystem, fishermen may see the value in them.

Cut 9 (09) “…when you’re fishing.”

The turtles were released in the Boeuf Wildlife Management Area in Caldwell Parish.

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Senator John Kennedy spoke at the Baton Rouge Press Club and during the address, he gave his thoughts on the current state of the Governor’s race.  Kennedy says he’s spoken with President Trump about the election but did not disclose many more details.

Cut 10 (08) “…things his way.”

Kennedy believes the race will be a close one but adds that Governor Edwards has the advantage of having plenty of money and mainstream media connections.

Cut 11 (10) “…know that’s true.”

Kennedy stopped short of endorsing one candidate and says although he likes all three candidates, either of the two Republican candidates, Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone or Congressman Ralph Abraham would do a better job than Governor Edwards.

Kennedy was at one time considered a favorite to run as a Republican against Edwards before deciding against entering the race late last year.  The Senator says the current candidates have not made him reconsider that decision.

Cut 12 (07) “…get into the race.”

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222 US mayors, including the leaders of Shreveport, Monroe, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge are returning home from five days of the United States Conference of Mayors in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says they got an opportunity to learn how to generate federal dollars for much needed economic development and infrastructure needs back home…

Cut 13 (09) “…locally”

And with the 2020 Census right around the corner, Mayo says they studied best practices for obtaining the most accurate count of residents in their cities…

Cut 14 (11) “…federal dollars.”

The diverse cast of mayors from every corner of the US each shared their experiences with climate change, from wildfires in California, to tornadoes and floods in Louisiana…

Cut 15 (08) “…to help”

The Pelicans made a splash at the start of the NBA free agency last night by using their cap space on two widely respected veterans at positions of need. The team nabbed, free agent 3 point specialist, shooting guard JJ Reddick. Locked on Pelicans Publisher Jake Madison says Reddick is exactly what the young team needed.

Cut 6 (10) “…Washington.”

The Pels also traded for Utah for Center Derrick Favors.

Two men are dead following a break-in at a Shreveport home early Sunday morning. A female witness who lived there told investigators that her ex-boyfriend, broke into the home and shot her current boyfriend, a Barksdale airman. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says there were five children in the home…

Cut 5 (08) “…get to safety.”

The children were aged 6 to 17.

A new LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center study finds eating more will keep those who exercise regularly from losing more weight. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 2 (32) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A new fiscal year budget for Louisiana goes into effect today. The spending plan contains funding increases for K-through-12 education, public colleges and early childhood education, which will allow more low-income families to receive assistance so their children can attend pre-K education. TOPS also received a 15 million dollar bump in funding, and state leaders do not expect any midyear cuts will be needed.

Senator John Kennedy spoke at the Baton Rouge Press Club and during the address, he gave his thoughts on the current state of the Governor’s race. Kennedy says he’s spoken with President Trump about the election, but did not disclose many more details.

Cut 10 (08) “…things his way.”

Kennedy believes the race will be a close one, but adds that Governor Edwards has the advantage of having plenty of money and mainstream media connections.

Cut 11 (10) “…know that’s true.”

Kennedy stopped short of endorsing one candidate, and says although he likes all three candidates, either of the two Republican candidates, Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone or Congressman Ralph Abraham would do a better job than Governor Edwards.

Kennedy was at one time considered a favorite to run as a Republican against Edwards before deciding against entering the race late last year. The Senator says the current candidates have not made him reconsider that decision.

Cut 12 (07) “…get into the race.”

The Pelicans made a splash at the start of NBA free agency last night by using their cap space on two widely respected veterans at positions of need. The team started the night by securing New Orleans’ best shooter since Peja Stojakovic, by signing free agent guard JJ Reddick. Reddick joins New Orleans on a two-year contract and Locked on Pelicans Podcast Publisher Jake Madison says he’s exactly what the young team needed.
Cut 6 (10) “…Washington.”
The 35-year-old averaged 18 points a game last year and is a career 41 percent 3-point shooter. The Pels also traded two second-round picks to Utah for Center Derrick Favors. Favors is known as a tough interior defender, rebounder and great locker room guy.

Leaving the Big Easy are Julius Randle and Elfird Payton. Both players have reportedly signed free-agent deals with the New York Knicks.

LSU has announced the hiring of College Football Hall of Famer and longtime USC Coach John Robinson as a senior consultant. Robinson had two stints as the head coach of the Trojans and won a national championship. LSU says Robinson will assist head coach Ed Orgeron as a consultant of daily planning of practice, personnel and game planning.

Former Capitol High star Seimone Augustus was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame this past weekend. Augustus scored 36-hundred points at the Baton Rouge high school and had 1,728 rebounds. She was a two-time Miss Basketball Award and finished her prep career by winning back to back LHSAA Four-a titles.

Many are praying for UL-Lafayette head baseball coach Tony Robichaux who is in I-C-U in New Orleans. The school says Robichaux is in critical condition after undergoing a second surgery following a heart attack.

Former LSU standout D-J LeMahieu has been named as the American League Player of the Week. LeMaheiu had seven hits and drove in seven runs as the Yankees swept their game series over the Red Sox in London. LeMahieu is now hitting .345 on the season, which leads the American League.

Two men are dead following a break-in at a Shreveport home early Sunday morning. A female witness who lived there told investigators that her ex-boyfriend, broke into the home through a master bedroom window. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick…

Cut 3 (11) “…at that time.”

The victim, 36-year-old Perry Bailey, was a Barksdale airman.

The Pelicans made a splash at the start of the NBA free agency last night signing highly regarded veteran shooting guard JJ Reddick and trading for Utah center Derrick Favors. Those moves mark the likely end of the Pels’ roster remake, and Locked on Pelicans Publisher Jake Madison says New Orleans is ready to push for a playoff spot…

Cut 8 (09) “…the bench.”

The team also signed Italian forward Nico Melli.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center has found that people who exercise regularly, but do not lose as much weight as expected are eating too much. Doctor Tim Church says they looked at people who were overweight or had obesity over a six-month period and came away with those results…

Cut 9 (11) “…what they eat.”

Church says an additional 100 calories a day can add up.

In Lafayette, police are investigating a shooting that resulted in the death of a two-year-old. The incident happened around eight o’clock Sunday night and three adults at the home have been arrested in what is being ruled an accidental shooting. Lafayette Police spokesperson Corporal Bridgette Dugas says death investigations are always traumatic for everyone involved, especially when a child’s life is cut short.

Cut 14 (04) “…infant involved.” 

The child’s mother 22-year old MaKayla Cormier is among the three arrested

Jury selection is underway in Lafayette for the man accused of killing a State Trooper in 2015. Kevin Daigle was indicted in the 14th Judicial District in Lake Charles, but the court granted him a change of venue and jury selection was moved to Lafayette. Daigle is accused of killing Trooper Steven Vincent after he stopped to help Daigle, whose truck was stuck in a ditch. The state is seeking the death penalty and trial is expected to last two to three weeks.

Also in Lafayette Police are investigating a shooting that resulted in the death of a two year old last night.  Three adults at the home have been arrested and charged with negligent homicide. Police spokesperson Corporal Bridgette Dugas says the child’s mother is among the three arrested and they are searching for a fourth suspect.

Cut 13 (08) “…after the fact.”  

When police arrived they found the two-year-old boy with a gunshot wound, he later died at a local hospital.

A new LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center study finds eating more will keep those who exercise regularly from losing more weight.

cut 2 (32) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

In NBA free agency the Pelicans traded two second-round picks to Utah for Center Derrick Favors, who is on the last year of his contract. Locked on Pelicans Publisher Jake Madison says Favors is a tough interior defender and rebounder, but best of all…

Cut 7 (10) “…have this.”

The Pelicans made a splash at the start of the NBA free agency last night by using their cap space on two widely respected veterans at positions of need.The team started the night by securing New Orleans’ best shooter since Peja Stojakovic, guard JJ Reddick. Reddick joins New Orleans on a two year contract and Locked on Pelicans Publisher Jake Madison says he’s exactly what the young team needed.

Cut 6 (10) “…Washington.”

The team also traded for Utah center Derrick Favors, who’s likely to start for the team next year.

Two men are dead, a Barksdale Airman, and an alleged gunman following a break-in at a Shreveport home early Sunday morning. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says there were five children in the home at the time of the break-in, ages 6 to 17.

Cut 5 (08) “…get to safety.”

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LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center has found that people who exercise regularly, but do not lose as much weight as expected are eating too much. Doctor Tim Church says 25-percent of the people in their study didn’t gain weight or put on extra pounds and he says it all comes down to how much you are eating…

Cut 11 (06) “…in take.”

In Lafayette, police are investigating a shooting that resulted in the death of a toddler. The incident happened around eight o’clock Sunday night and three adults at the home have been arrested at what this time is being ruled an accidental shooting. Lafayette Police spokesperson Corporal Bridgette Dugas says the three people have been charged with negligent homicide.

Cut 12 (14)   “…negligent homicide.”

Two men are dead following a break-in at a Shreveport home early Sunday morning. A female witness who lived there told investigators that her ex-boyfriend, 39-year-old Brandon Brown, broke into the home through a bedroom window. Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says the victim, 36-year-old Perry Bailey, a Barksdale Air Force airman, was transported to a hospital and later died. Chadwick says as the female and her family were fleeing the home, there was another gunshot.

Cut 4 (08) “…inside the residence.”

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center has found that people who exercise regularly, but do not lose as much weight as expected are eating too much. Doctor Tim Church says an additional 100 to 150 calories a day can diminish the effect of a calorie-burning exercise…

Cut 10 (08) “…sabotaging them”

An LSU study says catching and treating Conduct Disorder, a severe form of anti-social behavior in children can create substantial savings down the road.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”