The 6,952 square mile “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico is not as big as NOAA predicted this year due to Hurricane Barry. LSU marine scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais says it’s a bit surprising.
Cut 10 (12) “…period.”
The nearly 7,000 square mile Dead Zone is the 8th largest on record.

Students will see the motto In God We Trust displayed somewhere in a public school this year. It’s now a requirement based on a 2018 law. Critics say the law imposes religion on public schools and they point out the motto was only added to currency in 1957. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow disagrees with those arguments.
Cut 9 (12) “…country”

LSU hits the practice field today for the start of preseason camp. Coach Ed Orgeron plans to be heavily involved in the development of the defensive line, especially with D-Line coach Dennis Johnson in a wheelchair after severely injuring both of his knees while playing basketball. Orgeron wants an aggressive defensive line
Cut 13 (10) “…that staff ”

Eight individuals will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend and three of them have strong ties to Louisiana. Former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed went to Destrehan High School. His defensive coordinator at Destrehan and current Wildcats head coach Stephen Robicheaux says it’s a well-deserved honor…
cut 6 (9) “..another level”
Also going into the Hall, former LSU standouts Kevin Mawae and Johnny Robinson.

The 2019 summertime dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast is the eighth largest in history, but smaller than what scientists predicted when the summer began. LSU marine scientist Nancy Rabalais says Hurricane Barry helped bring oxygen to areas of the Gulf that were deprived…
cut 11 (07) “….waters”
The Dead Zone is a huge patch of low oxygen water that is devoid of life because of the large amount of sewage and fertilizer coming down the Mississippi River.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says Louisiana is falling short on cancer-fighting public policies. Louisiaiana Government relations director Lance Barbour says the findings in their report indicate that Louisiana could combat smoking by raising the state’s cigarette tax…
cut 6 (06) “….the national average”
Barbour says they are also disappointed the state didn’t increase the minimum age to smoke cigarettes.

“In God We Trust” must be displayed in all Louisiana public schools when classes start later this month. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30 ) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Junior center Lloyd Cushenberry and sophomore linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson will wear the number 18 jersey this season for LSU. Since Cushenberry is an offensive lineman, he’ll have a number 18 patch on his jersey. The number 18 is synonymous with success-both on and off the field– as well as a selfless attitude.

The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone off the Louisiana coast is smaller than expected this summer due to Hurricane Barry. Matt Doyle has more….
voicer 3 (30) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Medical marijuana will finally be available to Louisiana patients on Tuesday. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the first batch of medicinal pot produced by G-B Sciences with the help of LSU has passed all testing. Nine licensed medical marijuana pharmacies around the state will sell the product at the cost of 90 to 200 dollars.

Can’t Guard Mike is back in Black and Gold after a short training camp holdout led to him becoming the highest-paid receiver in NFL history. The 26-year-old grabbed a five year, 100-million-dollar contract to set the new record and he’s confident he’s worth every penny.
Cut 15 (11) “…competing.”
Thomas caught 321 passes during his first three years in the league, an NFL record.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says Louisiana is falling short when it comes to tobacco prevention programs and cessation program funding. Louisiana government relations director Lance Barbour says their report also finds the state should increase its cigarette tax rates and strengthen smoke-free laws. Barbour says there are some areas where the state is doing well…
cut 5 (12) “…of their choosing”

This school year, all Louisiana public schools will have to display “In God We Trust” and educate students about the origin of the national motto. The law was written by Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow, who says the motto must at minimum be displayed on paper.
Cut 7 (09) “jurisdiction”
The Democratic Senator adds the legislation also allows teachers to freely choose to display the motto in their classroom.

The American Cancer Society Action Network says the state is falling short when it comes to protecting all workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Louisiana Government relations director Lance Barbour…
cut 4 (08) “…for our youth”
Barbour says the state can also do better when it comes to its cigarette tax rates, smoke-free laws and Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation.

The dead zone off the Louisiana and Texas coast is smaller than what scientists predicted before the summer, because of Hurricane Barry. LSU marine scientist Nancy Rabalais says Barry kicked up enough waves that it brought oxygen to low-oxygen areas of the Gulf. NOAA Center for Coastal Ocean Science director Steve Thur says his agency is also spending research money to address the harmful algae blooms in Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi Sound caused by river water going through the Bonnet Carre Spillway…
cut 12 (08) “….spillway”
The blooms of blue-green algae shuttered Mississippi beaches during peak tourist season.

The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network reviews Louisiana’s legislative efforts to fight the disease. Kevin Barnhart has the details.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

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“In God We Trust” must be displayed in all Louisiana public schools by the start of fall classes. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30 ) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone at the mouth of the Missispi River appears to be smaller this year than expected due to the impact of Hurricane Barry. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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A new report from the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network evaluates Louisiana’s effort to fight the disease.  In 2007, a law was put into place requiring all indoor workplaces to be smoke-free, with the exception of bars and casinos.  ACS-CAN spokesperson Lance Barbour says the state has fallen short to combat second-hand smoke.

Cut 4 (08) “…for our youth.” 

Among the areas of concern, access to care, quality of life, and prevention. Barbour says state legislation has helped for the highlights in the reports.

Cut 5  (12) “…of their choosing.” 

Barbour says the findings in the report indicate that Louisiana could combat smoking by raising the state’s cigarette tax.

Cut 6 (06) “…the national average.”
________________

Beginning in fall all Louisiana public schools will have to display “In God We Trust” and educate students about the origin of the national motto.

The law was written by Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow, who says the motto must at minimum be displayed on a paper sheet.

Cut 7 (09) “jurisdiction”

The Democratic Senator adds the legislation also allows teachers to freely choose to display the motto in their classroom.

The law requires that the history of the motto be added to the mandatory curriculum in public schools. Barrow says it’s meant to teach students about the “patriotic history” of the USA.

Cut 8 (10) “principle.”

The information will be taught alongside instruction on proper flag etiquette.

Opponents say the law imposes religious education on public school students and point out that the motto was only added to currency in 1957. Barrow disagrees with those arguments.

Cut 9 (12) “…country”

The law cleared the Legislature in 2018 without a single dissenting vote.

_______________________

The 6,952 square mile “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico near the mouth of the Mississippi isn’t quite as big as NOAA predicted this year due to the disturbance of Hurricane Barry.

Hypoxia research crew chief scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais says with record-high Mississippi River levels, the end result is a bit surprising.

Cut 10 (12) “…period.”

The nearly 7,000 square mile Zone was still good for the 8th largest on record.

Some forecasts predicted a record size for the Dead Zone this year due to the amount of water exiting the Mississippi, but Rabalais says after Hurricane Barry passed right over the area…

Cut 11 (07) “…waters.”

The Dead Zone is a huge patch of low oxygen water that is devoid of life because of the large amount of sewage and fert8ilizer coming down the Mississippi River.

The same fertilizers that cause the Zone are believed to be responsible for the toxic algae blooms that broke out after the Bonnet Carre Spillway opened. NOAA Center for Coastal Ocean Science director Steve Thur says that incident has caught their attention.

Cut 12 (08) “ spillway.”

Leaving the Spillway open so late into the season resulted in toxic blooms that shuttered Mississippi beaches during peak tourist season.

_____________________________

LSU hits the practice field today for the start of preseason camp. Coach Ed Orgeron plans to be heavily involved in the development of the defensive line, especially with D-Line coach Dennis Johnson in a wheelchair after severely injuring both of his knees while playing basketball. Orgeron wants an aggressive defensive line

Cut 13 (10) “…that staff ”

Orgeron says for LSU to accomplish its goals this season, they have to play better on the offensive and defensive lines. Orgeron says a big battle at camp will be nose tackle between Tyler Shelvin and Apu Ika

Cut 14 (11) “…going to be a battle.”

Orgeron says it’s wide open on who will be the starting left guard and it remains to be seen who will be the Tigers top tailback and field goal kicker.

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Can’t Guard Mike is back in Black and Gold after a short holdout led to him becoming the highest paid receiver in NFL history.

The 26-year-old grabbed a five year, 100-million-dollar contract to set the new record. After breaking the record for most receptions through a player’s first three years, he’s confident he’s worth every penny.

Cut 15 (11) “…competing.”

Thomas caught 83 percent of the passes sent his way over his first three years, for 321 total.

It may have been a relatively brief holdout, but Thomas says he sure got antsy being restricted to just studying film on his Ipad…

Cut 16  (13) “…championship”   

The top cop in Baton Rouge apologizes for the hiring of Blane Salamoni, the former officer accused in the shooting death of Alton Sterling. Kevin Barnhart has more on the settlement they reached with Salamoni

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Beginning this month Cleco customers will see an average savings of $14 a month on their power bill over the next year. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill explains why customers are now seeing a reduction.

Cut 13 (09) “…to customers”

Congressman Ralph Abraham picks up another endorsement from a Republican lawmaker in his bid to defeat Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards this fall with Winnfield Representative Jack McFarland. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says for now the endorsements help to offset Eddie Rispone’s large advantage in campaign dollars

Cut 5 (08) “…spend money”

Governor Edwards is in the front-runner in the polls heading into the October 12th primary.

A suite of new laws took effect today, including an effort to prevent the harassment of refs in amateur and high school sports. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry’s law would allow officers to remove, and possibly arrest people who threaten physical violence against those amateur refs. Henry says he brought the legislation on request from his local playground, which was tired of dealing with raging parents…

Cut 10 (10) “…flag football”  (2x)

Baton Rouge police announce that Blane Salamoni, the officer who fired six shots into the body of Alton Sterling, will never work as a B-R-P-D officer as part of a settlement reached. The department has learned that Salamoni had an arrest record that he did not disclose to police when he applied to be an officer. That should have prevented him from being hired. The shooting of Sterling led to days of protest and civil unrest. Police Chief Murphy Paul says the healing process continues…
Cut 7 (11) “…our officers experience.”
Salamoni will be allowed to voluntarily resign retroactive to March 2018, instead of being fired.

Beginning this month Cleco customers will see an average savings of $14 a month on their power bill over the next year.The savings benefit that Cleco customers are now receiving stems from the 2017 Congressional Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill explains

Cut 15 (10) “…required to pay.”

Congressman Ralph Abraham picks up another endorsement from a Republican lawmaker in his bid to defeat Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards this fall with Winnfield Representative Jack McFarland. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the recent endorsements for Abraham help the U-S Representative

Cut 4 (09) “…where he is”

Fellow GOP contender Eddie Rispone has a television ad running that touts his support for President Trump, while Abraham has yet to get on statewide TV.

A suite of new laws took effect today, including an expansion of judge’s abilities to order chemical castrations. Marrero Representative Patrick Connick’s bill would allow judges to sentence those who commit sexual battery to chemical castration. He says previously that wasn’t an option.

Cut 11 (09) “…in there.”

Baton Rouge police announce that Blane Salamoni, the officer who fired six shots into the body of Alton Sterling, will never work as a B-R-P-D officer as part of a settlement reached. Police Chief Murphy Paul says the Sterling shooting followed a pattern of unprofessional behavior shown by Salamoni…

Cut 8 (11) “…change the future.”

Salamoni will be allowed to voluntarily resign retroactive to March 2018, instead of being fired.

Beginning this month Cleco customers will see an average savings of $14 a month on their power bill over the next year.President Trump’s federal tax law lowered corporate tax rates for utility companies. The Louisiana Public Service Commission had to approve Cleco’s plan to distribute the savings. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill explains how customers will see the credit on their bill.

Cut 14 (10) “…bill credit”

A series of new laws take effect today. Brooke Thorington spoke with the lawmakers who authored two of the new additions…

cut  2 (31) I’m Brooke Thorington”  

The investigation continues into the LaSalle Parish crash that killed three on Monday, including a toddler. The driver of the 18-wheeler that rear ended a Ford Fiesta in the incident has now been arrested. 33 year old Joseph Pardue of Georgetown is charged with three counts of negligent homicide as well as negligent injury, reckless operation, and unsafe vehicle.