AGP Executive Report

Local Justice & Safety: A Ponchatoula man was arrested after three thefts (ATV, truck, and trail camera) were tied to him within hours, with items found in the truck he was allegedly driving. Public Safety Watch: Baton Rouge-area crash data shows more fatal or severe pedestrian/bicyclist/motorcycle hits than last year, including a recent death on Old Hammond Highway. DA Race: East Baton Rouge’s Hillar Moore will face challenger Ryan Thompson for the first time in nearly two decades. Sports Injuries: The Saints’ Dillon Radunz tore an ACL in practice, while Cam Jordan missed time with a hamstring issue. Health & Food: Target, Walmart and Whole Foods joined recalls tied to a Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños. Crime Court: Jury selection begins Monday in New Orleans for two men accused in the staged-wrecks case of killing a federal witness. Community & Culture: The Ogden Museum opened Louisiana Contemporary, spotlighting “Ekeko in Custody” and other works from across the state. Statewide Crime: Louisiana State Police reported finding more than 1,200 pounds of suspected marijuana during three traffic stops.

Public Health Alert: Louisiana health officials are warning Gulf Coast beachgoers after a surge in Vibrio vulnificus infections, with 9 cases confirmed in 2026 and 5 deaths; infections are linked to warm coastal waters and can happen when wounds are exposed to brackish or saltwater or from raw/undercooked seafood. Local Sports: Saints training camp took another hit as offensive lineman Dillon Radunz tore an ACL in practice, likely ending his season and forcing the team to lean more on rookie depth. State Politics: U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said his vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general wasn’t “black or white,” describing it as nearly a “vote no” after concerns about IRS protections tied to Trump. Baton Rouge Business & Community: Prominent Baton Rouge civic leader and auto dealer Matt McKay died Saturday after a years-long Alzheimer’s battle. Louisiana Flood Memory: Ten years after the 2016 Louisiana flood, recovery spending has moved forward, but fear and lingering impacts remain for many families. Local Health Tech: A Baton Rouge company partnered with LDH to ship free at-home immune system testing kits to Louisiana residents. NFL Update: Lions backup QB Teddy Bridgewater is stepping away again, with retirement “likely,” leaving Detroit searching for depth behind Jared Goff.

Louisiana Sports Business: Louisiana Tech is open to a naming-rights deal for the Thomas Assembly Center, but says it’s not in talks yet and would only move with the right partner and plan. Local Safety: Kenner police say an alligator attacked a leashed dog near the lakefront by the Gabriel Pumping Station; Animal Control was contacted. New Orleans Crime: NOPD arrested Allen Harris in connection with two attempted murders, including a Seventh Ward man allegedly set on fire. Community & Culture: Dirty Linen Night kept Royal Street buzzing with open galleries and local shops, with the Red Dress Run crowd adding a splash of color. State Politics: Kamala Harris told Louisiana Democrats they need “ruthlessness” against corruption as she keeps 2028 talk alive. Public Health: Albertsons recalled jalapeño-linked products in Louisiana over possible salmonella contamination. Sports Spotlight: Drew Brees’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement drew Saints fans to Canton, with “Who Dat” celebrations and Brees’ emotional speech.

Attorney General Fight in Washington: The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a razor-thin 50-49 vote early Saturday, with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy casting the deciding “yes” while Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted no—prompting immediate backlash from Democrats and a sharp Trump attack on Murkowski. Heat Safety in Louisiana: State health officials confirmed eight heat-related deaths this summer, warning older residents to take precautions and noting risks beyond heat, including Vibrio and Cyclospora. Local Crash Update: Louisiana State Police said a 44-year-old Marrero woman, Joleen Walls, died Friday night in a single-vehicle crash after her SUV left the roadway and overturned; impaired driving and speed are suspected. Gas Prices Watch: The national regular gas average fell to $4.06, while Louisiana reports show some parish-level lows around the high $3s to low $4s. New Orleans Charity Concern: The Red Dress Run drew thousands in the French Quarter, but organizers say unregistered participants reduce funding for local nonprofits.

Public Safety: Louisiana health officials say a flesh-eating Vibrio bacteria surge has killed 5 this year, warning beachgoers and seafood lovers to protect open wounds. Local Politics: New Orleans’ judicial races are set after qualifying closed, following state seat eliminations that reshuffled several Orleans Parish judgeships. Law Enforcement: A New Orleans Police officer faces 350 charges over alleged overtime payroll fraud and was placed on unpaid administrative leave. Health & Courts: A Texas brain-death dispute tied to a hotel pool drowning ended with the 2-year-old dying after being taken off life support. Community & Education: Kamala Harris wrapped up a Louisiana Democrats tour in New Orleans, speaking to students and pushing voting rights as qualifying ends. Infrastructure & Housing: Residents along Baton Rouge’s South Boulevard say I-10 widening construction is pushing noise and traffic into their yards and are asking for buyouts. Church & Justice: New Orleans clergy abuse claimants say archdiocese settlement payments are still dragging on amid bankruptcy proceedings. Sports: Drew Brees’ Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend is set, with Saints tryouts continuing as the team looks for defensive depth.

Attorney General Confirmation: Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy says he’ll vote to confirm Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general, clearing a key hurdle after GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she’ll oppose—setting up a final Senate decision. Voting Rights Protections: Gov. Meyer signed the John Lewis Voting Rights Act in Delaware, part of a growing push for state-level safeguards after the Supreme Court’s Callais v. Louisiana decision. Food Insecurity: Louisiana SNAP participation dropped sharply year over year, with the state now seeing one of the steepest declines in the country amid higher costs and worsening economic signals. Local Politics & Campaigning: Louisiana Democrats wrapped an 18-city tour with stops in New Orleans and a Kamala Harris sneaker ball, aiming to boost turnout for fall midterms. Public Safety & Policy: New Orleans is using AI to help answer 911 calls, especially for accident-related calls that can overwhelm dispatchers. Sports: Saints rookie Brock Rechsteiner was suspended for six regular-season games for violating the NFL-NFLPA performance-enhancing substances policy, though he can still play in preseason.

EBR Schools Corruption Case: East Baton Rouge Superintendent Lamont Cole turned himself in to jail after being indicted, facing charges tied to alleged bribery and money laundering connected to Metro Council-era contracts. Public Safety Funding: New Orleans DA Jason Williams warned violent crime could rise as resources and funding shrink, even as recent data showed major drops since 2022. Sewerage & Water Board Control: New Orleans City Council approved measures to increase city oversight of the Sewerage & Water Board, including budget and contract controls and requests for audits. Drone Transparency: A New Orleans council committee advanced an ordinance requiring monthly NOPD drone reporting and a public database. Housing/STR Legal Win: The 5th Circuit upheld New Orleans’ short-term rental rules requiring platforms to verify listings are legal. Food Safety Alerts: Health officials warned of salmonella linked to recalled jalapeños and eggs, urging shoppers to check products and dates. Offshore Wind Exit: RWE agreed to relinquish U.S. offshore wind leases off New York, California and Louisiana in a $1.22B settlement with the Interior Department.

Fraud Case in Baton Rouge: Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s LBI arrested Houston man Mansa Dwayne Dyer, 48, charging him with government benefits fraud and theft after investigators say he kept collecting LASERS retirement payments worth more than $43,000 after his mother died in January 2023, allegedly using her bank accounts to transfer deposits into his own. Public Safety & Courts: A Livingston Parish couple, Johnny Wolinski and Sammie Sparks of Denham Springs, face felony charges tied to alleged sexual abuse of an animal, with investigators citing search warrants and forensic review of seized phones. Health Leadership: The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as the new CDC director, handing the Trump administration a rare win as the agency faces major public health challenges. Weather Watch: NOAA updated its Atlantic outlook to 7–13 named storms, with 2–6 hurricanes and 0–2 major hurricanes, leaning toward below-normal activity. Local Culture: Centenary College French professor Dr. Dana Kress received the James William Rivers Prize for Excellence in Louisiana Studies for her work with Les Éditions Tintamarre. Sports Spotlight: Drew Brees is set for his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement in Canton Saturday, with Saints camp coverage continuing to track injuries and roster decisions.

LSU Athletics Funding Plan: LSU wrapped up two meetings with top donors at the governor’s mansion to lay out a proposed “first of its kind” athletics revenue plan, including an LSU-controlled limited liability corporation aimed at stabilizing sports costs as athlete pay rules evolve. Local Elections: Qualifying for Louisiana’s Nov. 3 election is underway, with candidates filing for U.S. House seats in six redrawn districts and for a wide range of local races across the Capital Region and Northwest Louisiana. Juvenile Justice Lawsuits: In Baton Rouge, 52 lawsuits accuse staff at the former East Baton Rouge juvenile correctional facility of abuse of children from the 1970s through the mid-2000s. Baton Rouge Schools: Baton Rouge Schools Superintendent LaMont Cole faces corruption charges, with district leaders responding to the indictment. Road Safety: A crash on I-81 in Tennessee left a driver trapped and injured, with another accident shortly after due to traffic backup. Sports Camps: LSU opened fall camp under Lane Kiffin, while Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns began fall practice with a clear starting quarterback. Consumer Watch: A Baton Rouge-area family says they’re stuck paying for a car repair that’s been stalled for months, and a separate consumer dispute highlights Airbnb refund fights. Public Safety: Authorities continue searching for a missing Baton Rouge-area mother and her 10-year-old daughter in St. Martin Parish.

New Orleans courts and records fight: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill is pushing for public records tied to the Orleans Parish grand jury that led to her now-dropped federal indictment, asking a judge to order the DA and special prosecutor to release communications and address claimed exemptions. Public safety and justice: Federal prosecutors say they have witness-tampering concerns in the Rozier gambling case and are seeking bond revocation for co-defendant Deniro Laster, while the trial is set for next year. Louisiana law takes effect: A new state ban on debit card surcharges starts Aug. 1, giving consumers a path to recover damages and expanding the AG’s enforcement power. Statehouse-to-streets: Louisiana is also rolling out required personal finance classes for high school students starting with the class of 2028. Local community: Natchitoches Parish Library wrapped up its annual Summer Reading Program with a packed “Big End Bash,” plus year-round tutoring and online help. Weather: Daily heat and afternoon storms return, with a tropical wave boosting rain chances by Sunday into Monday.

Nuclear & Data Centers: Tennessee is pushing ahead with U.S. Department of Energy plans for “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses,” and reports say some could also host advanced reactors and even data centers—raising fresh alarm about radioactive waste and power-hungry tech. Consumer Protection in Louisiana: A new state law banning debit card surcharges took effect Aug. 1, with local merchants like Drago’s saying they’ll now have to absorb debit fees. Housing Crisis: A Baton Rouge-area family says their mold-infested home became uninhabitable after repeated landlord delays, forcing them into a costly hotel stay. Attorney General on Pornhub: AG Liz Murrill rejected Pornhub’s request to reconsider Louisiana’s age-verification law, saying the state will pursue more accountability. Public Safety Staffing: New Orleans firefighters’ union blames staffing and overtime cuts for station outages after multiple companies went out of service. Health & Research: LSU Health Shreveport and Louisiana Tech signed a research collaboration aimed at boosting biomedical and engineering work in North Louisiana.

Local Leadership Under Scrutiny: East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Superintendent LaMont Cole broke his silence Tuesday about a Louisiana Attorney General investigation tied to his Metro Council years, calling it “one of the most challenging times” while offering no details. Hemp Policy Fight: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill and other attorneys general are urging Congress to keep 2025 federal hemp reforms in place and reject moves that could reopen loopholes for intoxicating hemp products. New Consumer Protection Law: A new Louisiana law lets stalking and cyberstalking victims break leases without penalty to escape abuse or threats. Adult Content Age Checks: Pornhub is pushing back on Louisiana’s age-verification requirement, but state leaders say they won’t back down. Baton Rouge Economy: The Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership has launched a national search for a new president and CEO to lead the next strategy for the nine-parish region. Public Safety: Shreveport police arrested a woman accused of aggravated arson and cruelty after an alleged gasoline-fueled kitchen fire with children inside.

New State Law on Workplace Violence: Louisiana’s “Behind the Counter Protection Act” took effect Aug. 1, boosting penalties when assaults or batteries target customer-facing workers, after a Baton Rouge restaurant shooting left the owner injured. Public Safety / Gun Law: A new Louisiana law upgrades certain killings and public shootings to first-degree murder, aimed at the April 2026 Mall of Louisiana attack. Local Government Watch: BREC in Baton Rouge has a new superintendent, Brooks Williams, with questions raised about his $275,000 salary after prior audit delays and theft findings. Economic Development: Shreveport won international recognition for its Block by Block neighborhood revitalization and permitting reforms. Space & Industry: SpaceX is reportedly in the “final stages” of securing about 130,000 acres on Pecan Island for a major Louisiana spaceport tied to a coastal settlement. Education & Workforce: SOWELA opened a new $225,000 ExxonMobil-funded training space in Oakdale. Sports / Community: Baton Rouge-area alumni teams will compete in the “Who Run It” basketball tournament Aug. 8 to settle bragging rights and raise money for youth programs.

Louisiana Politics & Courts: Baton Rouge Metro Council member Jen Racca says she’ll run for justice of the peace in November, aiming to handle landlord-tenant disputes and smaller civil cases after her council service. Elections & Legal Challenges: As Baton Rouge judge races move toward qualifying, a federal lawsuit over newly drawn sub-districts is still pending, raising questions about what happens if the maps are later ruled illegal. Public Safety: Authorities are searching for two handcuffed, barefoot suspects near Ponchatoula after a federal transport through Tangipahoa Parish. Healthcare & Families: Louisiana’s new Act 190 will require insurers to cover home visiting for new parents starting Jan. 1, 2027, targeting the risky gap after hospital discharge. Energy & Data Centers: Entergy says Meta will pay for Richland Parish power infrastructure, with the utility estimating more than $2.65 billion in statewide ratepayer savings over 20 years. Space & Coastal Resilience: Louisiana is reportedly nearing a SpaceX spaceport deal at Pecan Island, and officials are also planning a multi-million-dollar Raccoon Island restoration to protect coastal homes and bird habitat. Crime & Justice: The Justice Department announced major fraud enforcement actions across the Southeast, including cases involving SNAP and housing benefits, with Louisiana among the states involved. Sports: Saints WR Ja’Lynn Polk, 24, has retired and been placed on the reserve/retired list, shocking fans during training camp.

Saints Roster Shock: New Orleans placed WR Ja’Lynn Polk, 24, on the reserve/retired list after an abrupt retirement during training camp, with the team citing “personal reasons” for his recent absences and saying he was healthy and “happy with his role.” Local Sports Fallout: The move reshapes the Saints’ receiving depth chart as camp continues, with roster spots now opening up. Heat Safety Push: National athletic trainers and high school sports officials are urging coaches to change preseason practices to prevent heatstroke, pointing to recent heat-related hospitalizations involving linemen, including one in Louisiana. Energy & Trade: QatarEnergy is buying Louisiana natural gas to meet Asian contracts after disruptions tied to the Middle East conflict, using U.S. LNG as a buffer for stressed global markets. Community & Civic Life: Jefferson Parish West Bank lawmakers are holding a town hall in Marrero to discuss redistricting and new state laws ahead of midterms. Public Safety: A Destrehan woman is accused of hitting a St. Tammany sheriff’s deputy with her car while fleeing, facing attempted murder and other charges.

Fauci Probe: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill says the state will investigate former NIAID chief Anthony Fauci after he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times at a Senate hearing, joining Alabama and Florida and arguing Fauci “lied” and that Louisiana and Missouri deposed him. Local Water Alert: Gramercy declared a boil water advisory after a broken main dropped water pressure to unsafe levels, with samples needed before the advisory can be lifted. Saints Training Camp: New Orleans is 42 days from its Sept. 13 opener, and the team’s camp roster is taking shape around new faces like cornerback Mike Reid wearing No. 42. Sports Health Update: Reports say Saints-related NFL news includes C.J. Gardner-Johnson dealing with a lower calf injury during practice. Community & Youth: The Greater Baton Rouge Children’s Choir opened fall enrollment for ages 1st-12th, with no audition required and rehearsals starting Aug. 18. Baton Rouge Area Weather: Forecasts call for morning storms and brief heavy downpours, then lower humidity moving in behind the front.