The fate of a Constitutional Convention this fall is in the hands of the Senate as it awaits a hearing in Governmental Affairs after clearing the lower chamber. La Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says there are many questions over Governor Jeff Landry’s appointment of delegates there’s already been opposition from Senate leadership over the governor’s appointment of 27 delegates to the convention.

Cut 7 (11) “…that up.”  

Assumption parish Authorities say a Belle Rose man collected significant amounts of money from friends and told them he was investing their money, but Assumption Parish sheriff’s deputies say 44-year-old John Michael Thibodeaux was running a Ponzi scheme. Thibodeaux was arrested Friday after a 5-month investigation prompted by complaints filed by his victims. Thibodeaux faces charges of: Theft – $5,000 to $25,000 and Promoting Pyramid Promotional Scheme Unlawful.

Target says it’s cutting prices on five-thousand items in its store. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus is coming back to LSU to join the staff as an assistant coach. Patrick Wright, voice of the Lady Tigers, says, besides coming in with an impressive resume, both at LSU and in the WNBA, Augustus also has a hometown advantage.

Cut 4 (10) “…great player.” 

The fate of a Constitutional Convention this fall is in the hands of the Senate as it awaits a hearing in Governmental Affairs after clearing the lower chamber. La Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says there are many questions over Governor Jeff Landry’s appointment of delegates and how they could sway constitutional changes.

Cut 6  (11) “…they want. ” 

LSU women’s basketball announces Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus is joining the staff as an assistant coach. According to Patrick Wright, voice of the Lady Tigers, though Augustus is replacing Johnny Derrick due to his retirement, she is set to fill a much different role.

Cut 3 (08) “…that stuff.” 

This is Augustus’ second assistant coaching job after one season with the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

Target announces its lowering prices on about five-thousand items in its store. UNO Business Professor Mark Rosa says they’ve already cut prices to 15-hundred items and plan to slash prices on hundreds of household basic items like food, drinks, diapers, and pet foods, which he says is the logical way to go.

Cut 10 (13) “…routinely.” 

Congressman Graves says he plans to run for re-election, but he hasn’t decided if it will be the sixth District, his current seat that was reapportioned as the state’s second majority-Black district. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says Graves could run against fellow Republican Julia Letlow in the fifth district…

Cut 24 (10) “…Republican district.”

US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has endorsed Graves for the 6^th district and other GOP Louisiana congressional members.

President Biden has signed the FAA Reauthorization Bill. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves had a major part in crafting the legislation. He says it’s good news for Louisiana travelers. The bill focuses on improving the overall experience for airline customers, he says that means everything from baggage claim to air traffic control.

Cut 24 (11) “..experience for the family.”
Two weeks are left in the legislative session and one of the biggest unknowns is will lawmakers will pass a bill to hold a Constitutional Convention in August. Details of the convention have yet to be made public.  Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the bill is awaiting a vote in Senate Governmental Affairs…

Cut 13 (08)  “…politics.”
Lawmakers are looking for specifics on what the exact proposed changes to the constitution will be

LSU women’s basketball has a new assistant coach with a familiar face. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1(35)  “…I’m Mel Bridges”

Congressman Garret Graves says he plans to run for re-election, but he hasn’t decided if it will be sixth District, his current seat that was reapportioned as the state’s second majority-Black district. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says if Graves chooses to run against state Senator Cleo Fields, who’s announced his candidacy, versus another Republican in another congressional district, Hogan believes the GOP will be more likely to support him.

Cut 12 (07) “…the chamber.” 

And speaking of Republican endorsements, US Speaker Mike Johnson has endorsed all of Louisiana’s GOP members of Congress for re-election, including Garret Graves. Johnson issued a press release supporting Graves in District 6, along with Majority Leader Steve Scalise in the state’s first congressional district. Clay Higgins in District Three and Julia Letlow in District Five. Qualifying for the November 5^th election is July 17-19.

There are two weeks left in the legislative session and one of the major bills that has yet to be decided is the measure that calls for a Constitutional Convention. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the bill is still awaiting a discussion in the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee…
cut 14 (06) “….will happen”
Republican megadonor Lane Grigsby has recommended the governor should scrap the idea of having Jeff Landry picking 27 delegates for the proposed convention.

Target announces its lowering prices on about five-thousand items in its store. UNO Business Professor Mark Rosa says Target is hoping the lower prices will result in more customers who end up buying more items….

Cut 9 (11) “…first in line.” 

Target says they’ve already cut prices to 15-hundred items and plan to slash prices on hundreds household basic items like food, drinks, diapers and pet food.

There are two weeks left in the regular legislative session. It appears lawmakers will approve a bill that will in the future expand the state’s voucher program so parents of all income levels can use public dollars to pay for private school tuition. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry’s legislative agenda has done well for his first regular session…
cut 15 (10) “….he wanted”
A bill that will result in a constitutional convention in August is still awaiting a hearing in Senate Governmental Affairs.

The LSU baseball team ended the regular season by sweeping Ole Miss to finish 13-and-17 in the SEC. Coach Jay Johnson says there’s no doubt in his mind LSU is worthy of an NCAA Regional bid…
Cut 16 (12) “….no brainer.”
LSU will play in the SEC Tournament this week. They take on Georgia tomorrow morning.

President Biden has signed legislation designed to improve air travel. Sean Richardson spoke with Congressman Garret Graves who helped write the bill….
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The Louisiana House will convene this afternoon and vote on a Senate approved bill that would ban individuals from possessing two drugs that can be used to induce an abortion. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly authored legislation after his sister’s ex husband secretly gave her the drugs when she was pregnant. But doctors says these drugs are needed for reproductive care.

President Biden has signed the F-A-A Reauthorization Bill into law. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation and he says the legislation is designed to improve the flying experience and treat customers fairly, especially when there are flight cancellations and long delays…
cut 8 (10) “….delays or inconvenience”

Governor Jeff Landry appoints Dustin Yates Interim Mayor for the City of Saint George. It’s now the fifth largest city in Louisiana, located in East Baton Rouge Parish. Yates says getting the call came as a surprise.
Cut 4 (05) “….things like this.”
The governor also appointed Todd Morris as police chief, but still needs to appoint a city council. The city was created as part of a desire by Baton Rouge area residents to have their own school district.

It’s conference tournament time in college baseball. Jeff Palermo looks at how Louisiana teams stand a week before the NCAA Regional pairings are announced…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

LSU softball has advanced to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers defeated Southern Illinois nine to nothing in five innings to win the Baton Rouge Regional. LSU will face Stanford in the Super Regionals. Baylor eliminated U-L Lafayette and Alabama eliminated Southeastern Louisiana.

Two weeks are left in the legislative session and one of the biggest issues undecided is whether lawmakers will pass a bill that will result in a Constitutional Convention in August. Details on how the convention will be held have yet to be decided. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the bill is awaiting a vote in Senate Governmental Affairs…
Cut 13 (08) “…politics.”
Lawmakers are looking for more specifics on how the convention will run and what are the exact proposed changes to the constitution.

Governor Landry has appointed Dustin Yates as the interim mayor of St. George, which will be the fifth largest city in Louisiana and located in East Baton Rouge Parish. Yates says he has plenty of work in front of him…
cut 5 (13) “….in this transition”
The effort to create a new city in East Baton Rouge started because of a desire to start a new school district and Yates that’s still the eventual goal.

President Biden has signed legislation designed to improve air travel. Sean Richardson spoke with Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves who helped write the bill that is designed to improve the flying experience.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

KTBS-TV is reporting an 18-year-old woman is dead and another is in serious condition after they were shot during the overnight hours behind a Whataburger in south Shreveport. No word on if Shreveport police have any suspects.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he is running for re-election this year, but is looking at possibly representing another district. His district has been changed substantially and is now a majority minority district and if he seeks to continue to represent the sixth district, he’ll face a challenge from Democratic Black state Senator Cleo Fields. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan…
cut 11 (12) “…national contributors
Graves could look to challenge fellow Republicans Julia Letlow in the 5th district or Clay Higgins in the third district.

President Biden has signed the F-A-A Reauthorization Bill. Graves played a major role in crafting this legislation that will look to add thousands of new air traffic controllers in an effort to reduce travel delays…
cut 9 (18) “….mass retirements”
The bill also has $25-million dollars for funding to update runways and terminals in an effort to improve the customer experience.

Governor Jeff Landry has appointed Dustin Yates, as the Interim Mayor of the state’s newest City of St. George, in East Baton Rouge Parish. Jeanne Burns has more.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

There was a welcome home celebration in Ruston for the Louisiana Tech baseball team as they returned from Virginia after sweeping Liberty as Conference USA regular season champions. They will play Middle Tennessee on Wednesday in the Conference USA Tournament, which will be held in Ruston.