Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge announced Friday that he wouldn’t seek reelection in the Sixth District saying he doesn’t think any representative will be able to fairly represent the needs of all the different areas in the new district 6. He spoke today and says he plans to take a break from politics altogether.

Cut 5 (07)  “…level set.”

A federal case brought on behalf of a group of prisoners at Angola is being heard in Baton Rouge today. A New Orleans-based advocacy group along with a group of incarcerated men at Angola asking Judge Brian Jackson to grant an injunction barring the Louisiana State Penitentiary from outdoor farm operations performed by prisoners when the heat index reaches 88 degrees or higher. Angola is among several prisons whose inmates provide products used in many popular American food items.

The PSC will vote tomorrow on a proposal to refund SWEPCO customers $23 million. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s temporary restraining order against a woman who photographed her and her then-bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie (rhymes with happy) eating and drinking wine while on duty has been thrown out. The judge dismissed Cantrell’s temporary restraining order against Anne Breaud (Brohd). Justin Schmidt, who represented Breaud…

Cut 8 (03)  “…morning.” 

Republican Congressman Garret Graves of Baton Rouge publicly spoke for the first time today since announcing he will not run again because the new Congressional map dramatically changes the district he represents….
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

A federal judge has ruled that details will remain sealed in the federal criminal case against Dnaiel Callihan, a man who has confessed to killing Callie Brunett and her three-year-old daughter. Callihan is also facing state charges in Mississippi and Louisiana in Tangipahoa Parish.

North Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell will ask the P-S-C tomorrow to approve a plan to refund SWEPCO customers 23-million dollars because they were overcharged last year. Campbell says the average customer would receive a credit 62-dollars during July, August and September and the refunds will be substantial for businesses who use a lot of energy,,,
cut 11 (11) “….thousands of dollars”
Campbell says SWEPCO has admitted to billing error.

Louisiana Tech student Olivia Grace George has been crowned Miss Louisiana 2024. George plans to pursue a career as an educator and during her time as Miss Louisiana she wants to help students grow their love for learning…
Cut 13 (08) “…take care of us.”
Her community service initiative is “Knowledge Empowers Youth to Do More – Education is KEY.”

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s temporary restraining order against a woman who photographed Cantrell and her then-bodyguard sharing dinner on a balcony of a French Quarter restaurant has been thrown out. Justin Schmidt, who represented Anne Breaud in court, says the case sparks a bigger question concerning Breaud’s privacy.

Cut 7 (07) “…information.”  

The information included Breaud’s social security number, date of birth and photograph, all of which appeared on Cantrell’s petition.

SWEPCO overcharged customers $23 million and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says he is proposing a plan for credits to be issued on customers July, August and September bills. Once SWEPCO discovered the error they contacted him.

Cut 10 (08) “…(x2) the people.”

If approved by the PSC The average customer will see around a $60 credit, to be divided over three bills.

Former LSU football coach Les Miles is suing the university over vacating 37 of the coach’s wins preventing him from eligibility for College Football Hall of Fame Consideration.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.” 

Jackson, Mississippi police chief Joseph Wade says there are many more questions than answers into the investigation of the abduction of four-year-old Erin Brunett and her six year-old sister Jalia Brunett from their home in Loranger. Authorities say Erin was killed in Jackson and their mother was brutally murdered at their home in Loranger. Daniel Callihan and Victoria Cox are facing multiple charges. Wade says they are still investigating the home where they were arrested and where the children were found…
cut 6 (13) “….or transpire”

Because SWEPCO overcharged customers $23 million, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says he is proposing a plan for the utility provider to issue refunds. He says the average customer would receive a credit of $62, to be divided over three billing periods July, August, and September.
Cut 9 (07) “…to do.”
Campbell says the PSC will vote on the refund proposal at Wednesday’s meeting.

Republican Congressman Garret Graves made the rounds this morning speaking with TV and radio stations in Baton Rouge. Graves is not running for re-election after his district was dramatically changed. He says he can not represent the Baton Rouge area effectively when his district will stretch from B-R to Caddo Parish in 2025…
cut 4 (10) “…thrown out”
Black Democratic Senator Cleo Fields has said he’s running to represent the newly drawn sixth district.

Louisiana Tech student Olivia Grace George has been crowned as Miss Louisiana 2024. George beat out 32 other women to win the award
Cut 12 (09) “…is key.”
George plans to pursue a career as an educator and during her time as Miss Louisiana she wants to help students grow their love for learning.

The police chief in Jackson, Mississippi, Joseph Wade says 36-year-old Daniel Callihan and 32-year-old Victoria Cox, are facing capital murder and sexual battery charges for the alleged kidnapping of six-year-old Jalie Brunett and her four-year sister Erin Brunett from Loranger….
cut 24 (05) “…matter”
Authorities believe Erin Brunnett was killed in Jackson, Mississippi, while the children’s mother was brutally murdered in the bedroom of her Loranger home.

Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves publicly spoke for the first time today since announcing he will not seek a sixth term in Congress after a new map dramatically changed the sixth district that he currently represents. Graves says he was thinking about running for either district six or district two, but ultimately…

Cut 3 (12) “…try that.” 

Even with federal efforts to close the digital divide, many in Winn Parish remain without affordable high-speed internet. Winn Parish School Superintendent Al Simmons says, residents will have to continue to do school assignments, telehealth, and remote work from hotspots and public buildings.

Cut 15 (11)  “…public utility.”

Simmons is hopeful the second round of broadband programs will resolve the issue.

Louisiana Tech student Olivia Grace George has been crowned Miss Louisiana 2024. George was a first runner-up in the 2023 Miss Louisiana Competition. She plans to pursue a career as an educator and during her time as Miss Louisiana she wants to help students grow their love for learning…

Cut 13 (08) “…take care of us.” 

Her community service initiative is “Knowledge Empowers Youth to Do More – Education is KEY.”

Jackson, Mississippi police chief Joseph Wade says there is still many more questions than answers into the investigation of the abduction of four-year-old Erin Brunett and hear six year-old sister Jalia Brunett from their home in Loranger. Erin was killed in Jackson and their mother was brutally murdered at their home in Loranger. Daniel Callihan and Victoria Cox are facing multiple charges and they are still investigating the home where they were arrested and where the children were found…
cut 6 (13) “….or transpire”

Les Miles has filed a lawsuit against LSU in an effort to get back the 37 victories vacated from the fourth program between 2012 to 2015. Miles attorney Peter Ginsburg says LSU made the decision to vacate the wins to protect itself from severe penalties as a result of recruiting violations conducted by former basketball coach Will Wade…
cut 8 (12) “…basketball program”
The victories were vacated because a former football player received improper benefits from a booster. The 37 wins taken away means Miles is not eligible for the college football hall of fame.
Despite state and federal efforts, 1 in 3 people in Winn Parish don’t have access to affordable, high-speed internet. Though schools, libraries, and most buildings in towns have high-speed internet, many individuals in the parish do not. Parish School Superintendent Al Simmons…
Cut 13 (12) “…a lot of folks.”

Crestworth Elementary math teacher Derrick Winn of Baton Rouge is one of four teachers in Louisiana to receive the Milken Educators Award .The award comes with a cash prize of $25,000 and a trip to LA to attend the “Oscars for Teachers”.
Cut 11 (09) “…that we are.”
The Milken Educator Awards targets early-to-mid career education professionals for their already impressive achievements and, more significantly, for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future.

The woman charged in the death of four-year-old Erin Brunett of Loranger said in a Mississippi courtroom the last time she saw her and her six-year-old sister Jalie, they were both alive. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A federal judge in Baton Rouge will hear arguments today on whether the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola should force inmates to perform outdoor work on the farm when the heat index reaches 88 degrees or above. A New Orleans based advocacy group and a several inmates filed the lawsuit.

Les Miles has filed a lawsuit against LSU over the school’s decision to vacate 37 victories from the football program because a former player’s family received payments from a booster. LSU made the decision to vacate the victories as part of an NCAA investigation. The lawsuit alleges LSU said it would fight to get the victories restored. The loss of the 37 victories, drops Miles’ all-time winning percentage below the 60-percent winning percentage needed in order to be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame. Miles’ attorney Peter Ginsburg….
cut 9 (10) “…those victories’
LSU says it does not comment on pending litigation.

Louisiana Tech student Olivia Grace George has been crowned as Miss Louisiana 2024. George beat out 32 other women to win the award…
cut 12 (09) “…education is key”

The police chief in Jackson, Mississippi, Joseph Wade says 36-year-old Daniel Callihan and 32-year-old Victoria Cox, are facing capital murder and sexual battery charges for the alleged kidnaping of six-year-old Jalie Brunett and her four-year sister Erin Brunett from Loranger….
cut 4 (05) “…matter”
Authorities believe Erin Brunnett was killed in Jackson, Mississippi, while the children’s mother was brutally murdered in the bedroom of her Loranger home.

A recent state audit shows Louisiana still has a long ways to go in bringing affordable, high-speed internet to rural areas of Louisiana. Winn Parish School Superintendent Al Simmons says an estimated one and three people in their parish lack high-speed internet…
cut 14 (05) “….shortly”
Simmons says the parish is waiting on federal dollars for broadband programs to bring Winn into the 21st century.

Former LSU football coach Les Miles is suing the university over vacating 37 of the coach’s wins preventing him from eligibility for College Football Hall of Fame Consideration. Kace Kieschnick has the story…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A hearing takes place today in a New Orleans courtroom over New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s attempt to get a restraining order against a citizen who took photos of her enjoying a dining experience with her bodyguard on a French Quarter balcony. In a court filing, Cantrell says the photo was used to attack and dehumanize her character.