Thanks to a new law that goes into effect next year more Louisianans will be able to have weight loss surgery covered by their insurance. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Denka plant in Reserve, Louisiana, has received an extension from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to meet the EPA’s new emissions standards. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

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Two adults and an 8-year-old child were found dead in a home near Albany Monday morning in what appears to be a murder/suicide. Colleen Crain has the story

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.” 

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Beginning next year more Louisianans will be eligible for insurance coverage for bariatric surgery. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow has been pushing for the change so more people can qualify for coverage for what she calls life-changing.

Cut 4 (08) “…Louisiana’s life.”

Barrow says obesity costs the state $32 billion annually in health-related costs and work productivity losses. Out-of-pocket costs for the surgery range between $15,000 and $,25,000.

Former New Orleans Senator Diana Bajoie began the initiative two decades ago for insurance coverage and Barrow has since led the charge.

Barrow says a pilot test was conducted among 300 state employees who are medically qualified to show the benefits of the surgery and how it reduced other obesity medical related issues. She says the pilot’s success helped justify the legislation.

Cut 5 (09) “…to everyone.”

For state employees, the law does not change, and the state cap of 300 patients annually for the surgery.

Barrow says Louisiana is among the last states in the country to receive insurance coverage for the surgery.

A patient who was part of the pilot program Barrow says approached her in the grocery store and shared with her how dramatically her life has improved because of the surgery.

Cut 6 (12) “…all of that.”

Barrow says in the future she plans to introduce legislation for more health insurance providers in the state to cover medications that have been proven to help with weight loss.

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Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds’ new DWI bill, approved during a special session, aims to significantly reform Louisiana’s approach to driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses. The law lowers the blood alcohol content from 0.20 to 0.15, which aligns Louisiana with most other states.

Cut 7 (10) “…other states.”

The aim is to reduce the state’s high rate of repeat DWI offenders.

Key requirements include the immediate reinstatement of driving privileges for DWI offenders who install electronic monitoring devices in their vehicles, eliminating the previous 30-45 day waiting period.

Cut 8 (08) “…driver’s license.”

The bill also introduces compliance-based removal for electronic monitoring devices, requiring offenders to demonstrate consistent sober driving before the devices can be removed.

The legislation has garnered broad support from various organizations, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Edmonds says the changes are expected to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Louisiana

Cut 9 (06)  “…take you home.”

In 2021, the Louisiana Driving Commission reported that 40% of vehicle crashes were alcohol-related.

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The Denka plant in Reserve has received an extension from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to meet the EPA’s new emissions standards for chloroprene, a carcinogenic chemical used in neoprene production. Denka claims the initial 90-day compliance period is too short to achieve the necessary reductions without risking a shutdown of the facility, which employs around 250 people. DEQ Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto…

Cut 10 (07) “…90-days.”

The EPA filed a complaint against Denka, citing the plant’s emissions as a substantial public health risk, particularly due to the increased cancer risk. Giacometto says…

Cut 11 (10) “…China.”

While activists view the EPA’s strict deadlines as a victory for public health, Denka has criticized the new regulations as politically motivated and based on flawed science, warning of economic repercussions if the plant is forced to shut down.

Cut 12 (11) “…monitoring.” 

The extension from the DEQ will provide Denka additional time to comply with the new standards without an immediate shutdown of operations.

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Two adults and an 8-year-old child were found dead in a home near Albany Monday morning. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says 49-year-old Ginny Williamson, 49-year-old Steven Williamson, and the child in their custody died in what appears to be a murder/suicide.

Cut 13 (09)  “…shot herself.”

Investigators believe the shooting occurred late Friday or early Saturday. Ard says the bodies were discovered Monday morning by a family member who then called authorities around 8:00 a.m.

Cut 14 (11)  “…crime scene.”

Ard says, LPSO had previously responded to calls at the West Bates residence for alarms and things of that nature but there was no history of calls related to violence.

Cut 15 (11)  “…to that.”

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Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics Director Jay Artigues (Ar-teegs) will serve as the chair of the 2025 NCAA Division 1 Baseball Committee. The former Lions head baseball coach has been a member on the committee for the last three years…

Cut 16 (14) “…I’m really honored.” 

Artigues can be a voice for the mid-major conferences. He says several conferences are represented on the selection committee

Cut 17 (12) “…everyone involved.”

The committee is responsible for selecting, seeding, and bracketing the entire 64-team NCAA Tournament field, as well as recommending rule changes. Artigues says it’s not an easy job, but rewarding…

Cut 18 (11)  “…and as the host.”

Two adults and an 8-year-old child were found dead in a home near Albany Monday morning. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says 49-year-old Ginny Williamson, 49-year-old Steven Williamson and the child in their custody died in what appears to be a murder/suicide. Ard says the bodies were discovered by a family member this morning who then called authorities around 8:00 a.m.

Cut 14 (11)  “…crime scene.”

Hurricane Beryl is a Category 4 storm as it moves into the Caribbean. LSU climatologist Barry Keim says Beryl is likely to miss Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center’s official forecast has Beryl hitting the Yucatan peninsula later this week, but Keim says there are a couple of models showing a turn toward the Gulf Coast.

Cut 5 (06)  “…(x2) problem.”

After a unanimous vote, Dr. Wade Rousse (rhymes with moose) will serve as the next president of McNeese State University. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Ville Platte Farmer Richard Fontenot has been elected the 13^th president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau. Among the biggest issues Fontenot says the industry is facing is the lack of a current Farm Bill.

Cut 10 (07) “…next spring.”

He says farmers need that safety net to receive the financial lending they need to put their crops in

Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane in what is expected to be a very busy season, is Category 4 storm. LSU climatologist Barry Keim says Beryl has already set a record for the earliest Category 4 to form in a season. Most hurricanes of this strength occur in August.

Cut 4 (06) “…rest of season.”

Two adults and an 8-year-old child were found dead in a home near Albany this  morning. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says 49-year-old Ginny Williamson, 49-year-old Steven Williamson and the child in their custody died in what appears to be a murder/suicide.

Cut 13 (09)  “…shot herself.”

Investigators believe the shooting happened over the weekend and they were found by a relative this morning.

After a unanimous vote by the University of Louisiana System, Dr. Wade Rousse (rhymes with moose) will serve as the next president of McNeese State University. Rousse says he wants to make sure every student knows how their time at the school will help them in the workforce. He thinks this should help curb declining enrollment.

Cut 7 (10) “…(x2) enrollment.”  

Ville Platte Farmer Richard Fontenot has been elected the 13^th president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau. Fontenot, a rice, soybean, and crawfish farmer was elected Sunday at the organization’s 102nd convention. He says the honor is humbling.

Cut 9 (11) “…of words.”

Beginning next month treatments for menopause and perimenopause will be covered by insurance in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 26 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Hurricane Beryl is a Category 4 storm as it moves into the Caribbean. Beryl is the first hurricane in what is expected to be a very busy season. LSU climatologist Barry Keim says this early start is due to factors such as abnormally warm sea surface temperatures.

Cut 3 (07) “…August.”

McNeese State University has a new president. After a unanimous vote by the University of Louisiana System named Dr. Wade Rousse (rhymes with moose) as the next president of McNeese and Rousse says he could hardly sleep the night prior, as he was so excited to get to work as university president.

Cut 6 (12) “…forward.”

And the Louisiana Farm Bureau has a new president. Ville Platte Farmer, Richard Fontenot has been elected the 13^th president of LFB. Fontenot praised the staff and acknowledged the new generation of delegates who were also elected, and vowed to work together to engage and motivate members in new ways.

Cut 11 (12) ” …behind us.”

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating what appears to be a murder-suicide and one of the victims is a juvenile. Sheriff Jason Ard says an adult male and female are also dead. They were found dead this morning at home on West Bates Road in Livingston Parish.

Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane in what is expected to be a very busy season, is moving into the Caribbean as a Category 4 storm. LSU climatologist Barry Keim says Beryl has already set a record for the earliest Category 4 hurricane to form in a season. Most storms of this strength hurricane occur in August.

Cut 4 (06) “…rest of season.”

Keim says Beryl is likely to miss Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center expects it to make landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula sometime later this week.

After a unanimous vote, Dr. Wade Rousse (rhymes with moose) will serve as the next president of McNeese State University. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Ville Platte Farmer Richard Fontenot has been elected the 13^th president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau. Among the biggest issues Fontenot says the industry is facing is the lack of a current Farm Bill. He says farmers need that safety net to receive the financial lending they need to put their crops in.

Cut 10 (07) “…next spring.”

It is a scorcher outside as heat index values could go up to 115 degrees today. And then there is Hurricane Beryl a life threatening Category Four star that’s enter the Caribbean. Mel Bridges has more…
Cut 1 (28) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating what appears to be a murder-suicide and one of the victims is a juvenile. Sheriff Jason Ard says an adult male and female are also dead. They were found dead this morning at home in Hammond that’s located in Livingston Parish.

Ville Platte Farmer Richard Fontenot has been elected the 13th president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau. Fontenot, a rice, soybean, and crawfish farmer was elected Sunday at the organization’s 102nd convention. He says the honor is humbling.
Cut 9 (11) “…of words.”
Fontenot says pushing Congress to approve a new Farm Bill and workforce issues on the farm are some of the main issues he plans to address.

Today is the first day on the job for new McNeese State president Doctor Wade Rousse. The Lake Charles school is still rebuilding after Hurricane Laura in 2020
cut 8 (12) “…student experiences”
Rousse says reversing a 21-percent decline in enrollment over the last few years is another one of his goals.

Hurricane Beryl is a Category 4 storm as it moves into the Caribbean. LSU climatologist Barry Keim says Beryl is likely to miss Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center’s official forecast has Beryl hitting the Yucatan peninsula later this week, but Keim says there are a couple of models showing a turn towards the Gulf Coast.

Cut 5 (06)  “…(x2) problem.”

Whether Beryl threatens Louisiana or not, Keim encourages residents to start hurricane prepping if they haven’t already.

The personal finance website WalletHub has found Louisiana residents are least diligent with their credit. WalletHub’s Cassandra Happe says there is a large percentage of Louisiana adults who have collection agencies going after them for money that is past due…

Cut 8 (09) “…payment.”
The SEC officially welcomes Texas and Oklahoma to the Southeastern Conference today, making it sixteen schools starting the 2024 season. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.”