Saints running back Alvin Kamara has become one of the more popular players in the NFL after a sensational rookie season. Kamara has also had a busy offseason, with an appearance at the ESPY awards, he’s in the August edition of G-Q magazine and Kamara also appears in a recently released music video for Drake. Kamara says he’s done a lot of fun things and had great opportunities, but now he’s concentrating on the upcoming season…
cut 29 (11) “…my team”
Kamara and the Saints players are off from practice today. The first preseason game is Thursday at Jacksonville.

The Pelicans have released their five game preseason schedule. The first four games will be on the road, starting with the Chicago Bulls on September 30th. New Orleans will host Toronto on October 11th and the regular season should be released later this month.

The state’s top gambling regulator confirms three riverboat casinos are interested in expanding their operations on land, which is now legal as a result of legislation approved during the regular session. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones spoke at the Baton Rouge Press Club…
Cut 3 (09) “for them.”
Jones cautioned that just because the laws have been relaxed, not every riverboat casino will look to move onto land.

Governor Edwards will be one of a handful of governors who will meet with President Donald Trump in New Jersey on Thursday to discuss criminal justice reforms. Republican Senator John Kennedy and Attorney General Jeff Landry say the governor’s reforms are soft on crime. Deputy Chief of Staff, Richard Carbo, says Kennedy and Landry are playing politics with a critical issue…
cut 15 (08) “…Kennedy have”

Edwin Edwards turns 91 today. The former four-term governor says he’s in good spirits and good health, and looking forward to many more years with his 39-year-old wife, Trina Edwards, and five-year-old son Eli. Edwards says he couldn’t have asked for a better way to start today.
Cut 6 (12) “be happier”.

Louisiana has collected 250-thousand dollars in fines from private companies that manage care for most of the state’s Medicaid patients. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says the companies had incorrect records for health providers, making it difficult for patients to make appointments or determining if a doctor is able to take new patients. Steele says the inaccurate data has been corrected.

Sports betting is off to the races in dozens of states across the nation, but so far Louisiana has sat on the sidelines while neighboring states like Mississippi have elected to receive the expansion. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says after seeing how other states have started using the new cash, he’s concerned the Bayou State may be losing on crucial revenue.

Cut 7 (10) “in disadvantaged neighborhoods.”

The Louisiana Department of Health has fined five private companies 50-thousand dollars each for failing to provide accurate information for where Medicaid recipients can access their care. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says the error rates topped 10-percent, which triggered the fines…
Cut 10 (09) “…be correct”

The Coast Guard has resumed their search for 32-year-old Sadie Thibodeaux.  She is believed to be a passenger on a sailboat that found unmanned in Lake Pontchartrain Sunday night.  Crews spent the entire day Monday searching for her, but had to cease chopper flights at dark.  Crews are expected to continue to the search again today through nightfall.  The coast guard already rescued a 43 year old man who also on the 34-foot sailing vessel.

The Louisiana Department of Education is releasing back-to-school resource guides for parents for the new school year.  The free resources are available via LouisianaBelieves.com’s family support toolbox.  Director of Family and Educator Communication, Annie Morrison, says the resources will help guide families as students enter new classrooms and some into new schools.

Cut 4 (11) “…learning at home.”

Governor Edwards will be in New Jersey on Thursday for a meeting with President Donald Trump and a handful of other governors to discuss criminal justice reform. Edwards was successful in getting the legislature to support proposals to lower the incarceration rate and programs designed to reduce the recidivism rate. Edwards’ Deputy Chief of Staff, Richard Carbo, says the president is reaching out to a leader who knows how to craft bipartisan legislation…
cut 14 (11) “…broad spectrum”

Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says he’s heard from Louisiana casino operators that they want to provide their players with a chance to offer sports betting. Jones says it will take legislative action…
cut 8 (08) “….in Louisiana” (2x)
Some legislators raised concerns about expanding gambling in Louisiana as a reason why sports betting was not approved in the last regular session

The state health department has fined five private companies that manage Medicaid health care plans a total of 250-thousand dollars for failing to provide accurate records of doctors, so that patients can make appointments and determine if a doctor is accepting new patients. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says as part of their new agreements with Managed care organizations, the state is able to fine these companies if the error rates exceed 10-percent…
cut 12 (07) “…additional penalty”
Steele says failure to meet these minimum standards will result in continued monetary penalties.

Just in time for a new school year, the department of education has posted on its website back-to-school resources for parents and educators. Director of Family and Educator Communication, Annie Morrison…
cut 5 (11) “…our high school students”

Governor John Bel Edwards will fly to New Jersey Thursday to talk criminal justice reform with President Donald Trump. Kevin Barnhart spoke with the governor’s deputy chief of staff.
Voicer 3 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Coast Guard continues to search Lake Pontchartrain for 32-year-old Sadie Thibodeaux, who has been missing since Sunday night. Thibodeaux was a passenger on a sailboat found unmanned. The Baton Rouge woman was on the boat with 43-year-old Michael Lee Farley, who was found in the water Monday morning. He’s been questioned by police and released.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones predicts the state legislature will once again look at passing legislation to give voters an opportunity to decide if sports betting should be legal at Louisiana casinos. Jones says some lawmakers will look at it as a way to generate more revenue for the state, but how much is hard to say…
cut 9 (07) “…the state”
Jones says there’s a big concern about players going to Mississippi, because sports betting is available there.

A new school year begins for many this week and the Department of Education has provided parents and teachers with back-to-school resources that align with the state’s academic goals. Director of Family and Educator Communication, Annie Morrison, says the guidance can be found at Lousiaina-Believes-dot-com and they are available in different languages…
cut 6 (09) “…can be intimidating”

Mississippi has sports betting, but Louisiana may not be out of the game for long. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (31) ”I’m Matt Doyle”

A 62-year-old man was fatally shot yesterday afternoon at a skate park in Shreveport and at this time the gunman is not facing any charges. Investigators say the shooting victim armed himself with a blunt object as a well as a handgun and that’s when the gunman fired his weapon.

Louisiana has collected 250-thousand dollars in fines from private companies that manage care for most of the state’s Medicaid patients. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says the companies had incorrect records for health providers, making it difficult for patients to make appointments or determing if a doctor is able to take new patients. Steele says the inaccurate data has been corrected…
cut 11 (07) “…their system”
Steele says additional fines could be coming if managed care companies fail to maintain accurate provider information.

Governor Edwards will be one of a handful of governors who will meet with President Donald Trump in New Jersey on Thursday to discuss criminal justice reforms. Republican Senator John Kennedy and Attorney General Jeff Landry say the governor’s reforms are soft on crime. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Richard Carbo, says Kennedy and Landry are playing politics with a critical issue…
cut 15 (08) “…Kennedy have”

Governor John Bel Edwards will travel to New Jersey on Thursday to discuss criminal justice reform with President Donald Trump. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carbo says the invite comes a year after statewide reforms led to a promising reduction in prison population.
Cut 13 (11) “did it”
Carbo says the reforms enacted last year have lowered the incarceration rate, improved public safety and is reducing the recidivism rate.

The Louisiana Department of Health has fined five private companies 50-thousand dollars each for failing to provide accurate information for where Medicaid recipients can access their care. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says the error rates topped 10-percent, which triggered the fines…
Cut 10 (09) “…be correct”
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee meets this morning to discuss a state audit that was critical of the how L-D-H’s supervises their managed-care companies.

The Louisiana Department of Education has released back-to-school resource guides for parents….
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Many local school superintendents are cautioning parents that upcoming school letter grades could be lower this year, because of a tougher rating system. There have been changes in the calculation of school performance scores, which look at testing, academic growth and graduation rates.

The Louisiana Department of Education is releasing back-to-school resource guides for parents for the new school year.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30)  “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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Mississippi has teed up sports betting, but Louisiana may not be out of the game for long. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (31) ”I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards is flying to DC to talk criminal justice reform with the president. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The Louisiana Department of Education is releasing back-to-school resource guides for parents for the new school year.  The free resources are available via LouisianaBelieves.com’s family support toolbox.  Director of Family and Educator Communication, Annie Morrison, says the resources will help guide families as students enter new classrooms and some into new schools.

Cut 4 (11) “…learning at home.”

Morrison says the parent guides first arrived last year and are expanding this year to be tailored toward a student’s specific needs.

Cut 5 (11) “…our high school student.”

Morrison adds these resources will be available in a variety of languages as well.

Cut 6 (10) “…school can be intimidating.”

The department will be putting out a guide for pre-k through 2^nd grade guide sometime next week.

_____________________________________________

Sports betting is off to the races in dozens of states across the nation, but so far Louisiana has sat on the sidelines while neighboring states like Mississippi have elected to receive the expansion. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says after seeing how other states have started using the new cash, he’s concerned the Bayou State may be losing on crucial revenue.

Cut 7 (10) “in disadvantaged playgrounds.”

Jones says a bill legalizing sports gaming in Louisiana lost in the final seconds during the regular session after a risky play to allow the activity in video poker halls lead to a fourth quarter collapse. Jones says he believes a more conservative approach to allowing sports betting may succeed as early as next year.

Cut 8 (08)  “don’t know when.”

Jones says industry leaders have warned that barring sports betting could make it more difficult for the market to attract big money players and gamblers looking for more amenities, but cautioned that even if sports books were allowed into the state, it may not lead to a big score.

Cut 9 (12)  “will be here.”

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A recent review of the Medicaid program shows the private companies known as Managed care organizations that work with the program have not been providing accurate enough information for where recipients can access their care. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says they’ve addressed the issue, which can be a pain for Medicaid recipients…

Cut 10 (09)   “…be correct”

Steele says they’ve fixed the problem, which boils down to better communication between LDH and the MCO’s…

Cut 11 (07) “…their system” 

In December the legislature extended Medicare contracts with MCO’s. Steele says the extension includes an amendment that allows LDH to fine the MCO’s 50,000 dollars if their directories aren’t at least 90 percent accurate, which in this case, they weren’t…

Cut 12 (09) “…penalty”

______________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards is taking another trip to Washington to discuss criminal justice reform with President Donald Trump. Edwards is one of the few prominent democrats to maintain a working relationship with Mr. Trump. Edwards’ Communications Director Richard Carbo says the invite comes a year after statewide reforms led to a promising reduction in prison population.

Cut 13 (11) “did it” 

The reforms resulted from a bipartisan legislative effort that included major lawmakers from both sides of the isle adopting legislation similar to other southern states. With a federal criminal justice push potentially on the way, Carbo says the president is reaching out to a leader who knows how to craft bipartisan efforts.

Cut 14 (11) “broad spectrum”

Two potential challengers for Edwards’ seat in 2019, Senator John Kennedy and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, have slammed the reforms as being soft on crime and leading to the release of dangerous criminals. Carbo says they’re playing politics with a vitally critical issue.

Cut 15 (08) “Kennedy have”

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LSU’s Devin White and Greedy Williams are on ESPN’s list of Top 50 college football players. White is coming off a 133 tackle performance last season, while Williams led the SEC with six interceptions and second in the league with 17 passes defensed. Williams on how he plans on remaining one of the top cornerbacks in college football…

Cut 16 (14) “the day”

If you’re looking for a break out star on defense, it could be sophomore safety Grant Delpit. As a freshman, Delpit showed he can help out against the run and in pass coverage he intercepted one pass and had eight passes defensed. But the Houston native says for the Tigers to get to the SEC championship game, the secondary as a whole has to play better…

Cut 17 (13)  “the game”

Colorado State University hurricane researchers continue to predict a below average season.  Researcher Phil Klotzbach says a major contributing factor is the cold temperature of the tropical Atlantic Ocean waters.  With the bulk of hurricane activity traditionally happening in August and beyond, Klotzbach breaks down the numbers of the remaining season.

Cut 4 (10) “…one major hurricane.”

The governor’s office says John Bel Edwards will be one of a handful of governors who will meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss criminal justice reform. Louisiana’s justice reforms have lowered the state’s prison population, but Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and Senator John Kennedy say its put dangerous criminals back on the streets.

A Kenner mom is under arrest after allegedly assaulting the citizens who rescued her 11 month and 3 year-old children from a hot car. Kenner Police Lt. Michael Cunningham says cameras showed the citizens helping the children exit the vehicle and after the mother discovered this, Cunningham says the mother ran out, and started punching the good Samaritans.

Cut 6 (10) “called 911”.

The mother, 22-year-old Shawnise Sherman, was arrested and booked with Simple battery and Child Desertion.

The Harvest Center Church in Lafayette says they will not press charges against a man who stole donations from their school supply drive. Pastor Daniel Kelly says they confronted the culprit, who claimed he needed the supplies for his family.  Kelly says they found the culprit and he has been confronted.  But the pastor explains why they will not be seeking legal ramifications for him.

Cut 14 (10) “…in his life.”