AGP Executive Report

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.

New Louisiana murder law: Louisiana has expanded its first-degree murder definition to cover killings tied to gang-related violence or shootings in public places, a move aimed at tougher penalties after the Mall of Louisiana shooting. Anti-hazing crackdown: The Caleb Wilson Anti-Hazing Act took effect Saturday, requiring anti-hazing training for administrators, a public database of reported hazing at state-funded schools, and permanent campus bans for groups found liable in a hazing death. Baton Rouge area health: Local doctors say families should start shifting kids’ sleep schedules now—about 15 to 30 minutes earlier each day—so students aren’t scrambling the night before school. Local public safety: A man was shot and killed on Freret Street in Central City, and a Houma man died in a head-on crash on Bayou Gardens Boulevard Extension; investigations are ongoing. Sports in the region: LSU baseball landed left-hander Logan Schmidt for the 2027 class, and Southern football begins fall camp with a quarterback competition narrowing to a few names. Community arts: White Linen Night drew thousands to New Orleans’ Warehouse District for the annual art party.

Traffic Safety: Louisiana State Police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash on La. 16 near Ben Fugler Road in Livingston Parish. A 39-year-old Slidell man, David Davies, died after his 2020 Toyota Tundra left the roadway and hit a tree; investigators say he wasn’t properly restrained and toxicology is pending. Local Crime: Baton Rouge police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run on Scenic Highway from July 11, when a dark SUV struck a man stopped due to a flat tire and then fled. Public Safety Leadership: Gov. Jeff Landry appointed Chief Chad P. Sonnier as Louisiana state fire marshal and promoted Chief Bryan J. Adams to principal assistant to the deputy secretary, effective Aug. 3. New State Consumer Law: A new Louisiana law taking effect Saturday bans debit card surcharges, letting consumers seek damages and expanding the attorney general’s enforcement power. Health & Immigration: A Johns Hopkins researcher detained by ICE after an alleged visa overstay was released, but advocates say the case raises serious concerns about access to care and due process. Sports (Louisiana ties): Saints-related NFL coverage includes updates from training camp, including C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s injury scare with the Bills.

Saints Contract News: The Saints have signed WR Chris Olave to a four-year extension worth up to $132 million, including $90 million guaranteed, keeping him under contract through 2030. Local Courts: New Orleans criminal court judges warn that justice could slow after the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld a law cutting three Orleans judgeships, shrinking the bench from 12 to 9 starting Jan. 1. New Orleans Law Changes: New laws taking effect Aug. 1 include an AI child sexual abuse material ban and other consumer and public-safety rules. Public Safety Incident: Lafayette Parish courthouse operations were disrupted by a bomb threat Friday, with an evacuation of about 400 people before an all-clear. Health & Safety Policy: A Fifth Circuit ruling vacated OSHA’s mental-illness recordkeeping requirement, affecting how employers track work-related conditions like PTSD. Economy & Jobs: Faith Technologies (FTI) broke ground on an $80 million manufacturing facility in Ouachita Parish, expected to create 200+ jobs. Community Spotlight: Southern University’s Give Day campaign is helping students stay enrolled through scholarship support. Crime Update: A man was shot to death in Lafayette; no arrests were reported. Sports/Local Culture: Louisiana Comic Con in Lafayette will not return in 2027 after the organizer announced retirement.

LSU Football Women’s Clinic: Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron drew 333 women to LSU’s “The Huddle” clinic at the football operations center, mixing shopping, drills, and a Q&A with new QB Sam Leavitt. Local Crime & Drugs: St. Landry Parish deputies arrested a corrections deputy and her husband, accusing them of crack-cocaine manufacturing after a home search turned up pills and equipment. Housing & Growth: Donaldsonville City Council introduced an ordinance for a 130-home subdivision on Thibaut Drive, with homes projected around $250,000–$280,000 and natural gas planned throughout. Business Expansion: Textron Systems finalized its $3.4 million purchase of the Slidell Business Campus, ending the city’s annual maintenance costs and securing a long-term base for jobs. New Louisiana Consumer Law: Starting Aug. 1, businesses can’t add debit-card surcharges in Louisiana, with $500 fines for violations. Weather & Weekend Risk: Heat advisories continue while a storm threat builds, with stronger chances early Sunday as a front stalls near the coast. State Politics/Legal: Louisiana’s ethics law change erases a $1,000 ethics fine for one lawmaker, raising questions about who benefits. Sports (New Orleans): Saints training camp continues with open practices drawing fans, plus updates on Chris Olave’s $132 million extension.

Saints contract news: New Orleans WR Chris Olave agreed to a four-year extension worth up to $132 million, including $90 million guaranteed, a major investment as the team tries to keep Tyler Shough’s early success going. Saints injury update: Coach Kellen Moore says defensive lineman Bryan Bresee is feared to have a torn ACL, with a second opinion underway to confirm details. Saints camp storylines: New Orleans kicker Charlie Smyth is dealing with a broken thumb after a slip at camp, while the team continues building depth at wide receiver with new additions. Hall of Fame moment: Sean Payton will present Drew Brees at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction Aug. 8, after Brees asked him directly. Immigration rights: A Guatemalan asylum-seeking nursing mother detained by ICE in Louisiana is challenging her detention, with advocates alleging ICE policy violations. Health policy: A Senate panel advanced Erica Schwartz as CDC director, setting up a full vote after sharp debate over how she’d handle federal health guidance. Local public safety: Kenner firefighters rescued six people after a boat caught fire while being towed to shore. ACA coverage: Louisiana saw a notable drop in Affordable Care Act Marketplace enrollment after enhanced subsidies expired. Education politics: A Senate committee advanced a bill to reverse efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, with Sen. Bill Cassidy opposing parts tied to special education oversight.

Louisiana Politics & Courts: The Louisiana Supreme Court ordered its chief justice to recuse himself from a pending case after he refused to step aside voluntarily, following a bitter dispute with a former associate justice. Public Health & Policy: A Senate panel advanced Trump’s CDC nominee, Dr. Erica Schwartz, to the full Senate after a tense confirmation hearing, with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy backing her. Local Crime Trends: A new federal report says U.S. homicides and major crimes kept dropping in the first half of 2026, with New Orleans murders down more than 32% so far this year. Education & Growth: Charter Schools USA closed on land in Broussard for a new K-8 school, part of a Lafayette-area charter expansion. Business Watch: Opelousas-based Catalyst Bank reported slightly lower Q2 net income and said credit quality remains sound after its Lakeside Bancshares acquisition. Sports & Community: Saints legend Drew Brees will be presented by Sean Payton at the Hall of Fame enshrinement, with Payton emotional after Brees’ call. Tech & Energy: Meta’s stock slid after a disappointing revenue forecast tied to heavy AI spending, while Zuckerberg doubled down on the idea of personal AI agents within five years. Nuclear Waste Push: Five Republican-led states, including Louisiana, agreed to accept nuclear waste in exchange for federal help developing nuclear energy.