AGP Executive Report

NCAA Eligibility Fight: Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. is suing the NCAA for an extra year of Division I eligibility, seeking damages and an injunction; KU coach Bill Self says the school is aware of the legal effort. Racial Discrimination Lawsuit: Revier Technologies says Tulane and Louisiana economic development officials rejected its funding application because its owner is white, alleging violations of Title VI and Section 1981. Teacher Pay Guidance: Louisiana education officials issued instructions on Landry’s $168M teacher pay shift, requiring at least $2,000 for teachers and $1,000 for support staff in 2026-27. Federal Money for Roads: Speaker Mike Johnson announced nearly $26M in BUILD grants for a Bossier Parish corridor project and a truck parking study tied to I-10/I-12. Workforce Training Boost: Nunez Community College received a $1M Lowe’s Foundation donation to expand HVAC, electrical, construction and related programs. Public Safety: Calcasieu Sheriff’s Office warned residents about a new phone scam claiming the jail is overcrowded and pushing GPS-monitor payments. Search Update: Baton Rouge-area landfill search for Ja’Derrius Minnieweather entered its third week, with heat forcing shorter shifts and slowing progress. Courts & Crime: A Bogalusa teen was sentenced to life without parole for a 2024 high school parking lot shooting. Gov Transparency Concern: A report says more than 100 Landry staffers signed NDAs tied to what they learn in the governor’s office.

Iberville Election Setup: Qualifying for the Nov. 3 races starts Aug. 5, with voters choosing a new district judge and at least five school board seats, plus a U.S. Senate matchup between Julia Letlow and Jamie Davis. Caddo Data Center “Man Camp” Limits: A proposed Caddo plan to regulate temporary worker housing hit a legal wall because the parish lacks the comprehensive master plan required for zoning-style rules. Iberville Battery Storage Pause: The Iberville Parish Council approved a two-year moratorium on industrial battery storage after residents raised fire-safety concerns and questioned developer reliability. East Baton Rouge Courts on the Ballot: New state law reshapes the 19th Judicial District judge races, creating different subdistricts and an at-large seat, meaning voters will see a new kind of ballot this fall. School Board Campaign Season: Incumbents and education reformers are lining up for Baton Rouge school board elections, with new district maps and term limits driving a crowded field. Hurricane Risk Reality Check: Even with El Niño promising a quieter Atlantic season, insurers are recalculating risk as coastal growth and higher property values make losses worse when storms do hit. Louisiana Turkey Case Crosses State Lines: Three North Louisiana hunters face charges tied to alleged turkey limit violations in Nebraska and transporting the birds back to Louisiana. New Orleans Federal Probe: Agents are unraveling a New Orleans-based online network tied to monkey-torture videos, according to federal court reporting. Bocuse d’Or in New Orleans: Top chefs competed at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, with Team USA sweeping gold medals in both categories. Energy, AI, and the Money Trail: A new look at AI data center financing argues sustainability impacts are set earlier than most environmental reviews, with Louisiana’s Hyperion campus cited as part of the buildout. Stock Disclosure Scrutiny: Sen. Alan Armstrong is accused of violating the STOCK Act after hundreds of delayed stock disclosures. El Niño + Insurance: Separate coverage reiterates the same point: fewer storms doesn’t automatically mean lower payouts anymore.

Saudi Nuclear Deal Rift: Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy says he’s “not comfortable” with Trump’s civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, arguing the timing is “not good” while the U.S. is bombing Iran and the region is on a “hair trigger.” Iran War Diplomacy: U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz says a pause in strikes is “giving diplomacy some space,” while warning more military assets are moving into the region. AG Nomination Roadblock: Trump’s “anti-weaponization” fund is stalling attorney general nominee Todd Blanche, with GOP senators demanding the deal be renegotiated or nullified. Louisiana Courts & Utilities: A judge recommends denying SLECA’s bid to abandon power service on remaining “Lake Lines,” sending the dispute back to the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Public Safety: Shreveport police arrested two suspects in a downtown hotel homicide, charging them with second-degree murder and attempted armed robbery. Child Exploitation Case: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill’s LBI says it arrested a Bossier City man tied to hundreds of child sex abuse material counts and an alleged illegal child sex doll. Campus Hunger Relief: SLU received a $5,000 Hunger-Free Campus grant to expand Roomie’s Pride Pantry.

New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board Overhaul: A new Aug. 1 law shifts oversight of the Sewerage and Water Board from state legislators to the New Orleans City Council, with council leaders already signaling they want changes at the top after recent flooding, pump failures, and lingering billing/customer-service complaints. Midterms Countdown: With 100 days to the 2026 midterms, new polling and approval tracking show Trump underwater in major battleground states, while Democrats hold a narrow edge in the generic ballot—setting up a tight, geography-driven fight. FEMA Nomination: A Senate committee advanced Trump’s FEMA nominee Cameron Hamilton, a potential win for disaster readiness in Louisiana after earlier controversy over whether FEMA should exist. Eviction Help Funding Gap: New Orleans’ “right to counsel” eviction defense program will get far less than promised this year, leaving tenants’ legal support in limbo amid the city’s budget crunch. Immigration Detention Fight: Across the country, ICE detention capacity is again a flashpoint, with advocates pushing to shut down or limit facilities tied to Trump’s enforcement push. Energy & Prices Watch: U.S. refineries are running near full capacity, raising concerns about equipment failure risk and tighter fuel supplies. Social Media Child Safety Ruling: A divided 5th Circuit panel blocked Texas from enforcing parts of its child online safety law, citing federal limits on liability for third-party content.

Election Integrity Fight: A Biden-appointed majority on the First Circuit kept in place an injunction blocking parts of President Trump’s election-integrity order in 23 states and D.C., including limits on DHS citizenship lists and new USPS mail-ballot requirements. Louisiana Politics: Gov. Jeff Landry and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu traded barbs on social media, escalating a feud over the state’s fight with the city. Consumer Protection: Louisiana’s new debit-card surcharge law takes effect Aug. 1, with officials threatening up to $500 fines and a private right of action after written notice. Courts & Public Officials: In New Orleans, the “it’s not over” fight continues after a special prosecutor dropped felony charges against AG Liz Murrill, keeping the political heat on city-state relations. AI Data Centers: Across the country, communities are pushing back on AI data centers over power, water, noise, and farmland impacts, while Louisiana leaders weigh ratepayer protection pledges. Food Assistance: A new report says more than 1 million children nationwide lost SNAP access after Congress tightened eligibility rules. Local Justice: In Monroe, Quinton Tellis was acquitted of murder but indicted for intimidating a witness tied to the same case.

AI Data Center Ratepayer Fight: President Trump expanded his Ratepayer Protection Pledge at the White House, with Gov. Jeff Landry and Entergy attending, as utilities and tech backers argue data centers shouldn’t spike household power bills—while watchdogs warn pledges may not deliver. Local Housing Policy: A new federal housing law is already drawing attention in Louisiana, with local realtors and builders pointing to incentives and deregulation as a way to speed more affordable homes. Louisiana Justice & Public Safety: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill’s LBI arrested Herald Francisco Huete Vivas in Bossier City on hundreds of child sexual abuse material counts and a child sex doll charge. Courts & Elections: Tennessee’s revised congressional map cleared the courts, keeping a majority-Black Memphis district split in place for the Aug. 6 primary. Crime: Shreveport police seek two armed suspects tied to a downtown hotel shooting and attempted robbery. Federal Funding Deadline: Congress is racing toward a Sept. 30 shutdown deadline as Iran war spending deadlocks Senate Democrats and Republicans.

AI Ratepayer Pledge: The White House expanded President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, adding 200-plus utilities and other partners to push the idea that AI data centers—not households—should pay for power and grid upgrades. Local Governance: Baton Rouge’s mayor and parish council are still sparring over the St. George lawsuit, with a new proposed process aimed at improving how the city-parish, council, and parish attorney coordinate. Courts & Labor: A federal judge in New Orleans certified two classes in a collective wage claim against a Gretna-area restaurant, alleging overtime and tip-pool violations. Education Policy: Senate Bill 14 lets some retired Louisiana teachers return to classrooms while keeping part of their retirement benefits. Public Safety: LDWF cited three hunters in a turkey-hunting case tied to alleged illegal bag limits and interstate transport. Crime: Shreveport police seek two suspects in a downtown hotel homicide and attempted armed robbery. Justice System: Louisiana’s AG Liz Murrill-backed case includes a major child sexual abuse material arrest in Bossier City, with hundreds of counts filed. Immigration & Protest: Alexandria-area authorities plan a crackdown on anti-ICE protests tied to preparations for a new migrant detention camp. Business & Growth: Youngsville’s Mustang World Series brings international youth teams and a local economic boost.

AI Data Center Cost Fight: President Trump expanded a “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” saying big tech and power providers will cover the electricity build-out so households don’t pay more—while critics call it non-binding. Statehouse Contract Scrutiny: Louisiana lawmakers questioned a $54 million, no-bid Motorola deal for police tech, including bodycams and dashcams, pushing for more public review. New Orleans Courts & Funding: A community forum heard questions about Gov. Jeff Landry’s vetoes and his threat of a special session tied to New Orleans courts. Murrill Fallout: AG Liz Murrill defended her actions after a special prosecutor dropped her indictment, while lawmakers and city officials trade blame over the grand jury dispute. Public Safety Tech & Policy: New Orleans is moving on blight and adjudicated property, but heirs’ property rules remain a major barrier to returning land to families. Storm Watch: Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in Louisiana and triggered ongoing preparations and monitoring across the Gulf Coast. Justice System: Prosecutors filed a habitual offender bid that could dramatically increase a sentence in a case tied to a deadly Jefferson Parish police chase.

Planned Parenthood Funding: Planned Parenthood is set to regain access to more than $800 million in federal Medicaid funds after a Trump-signed one-year defunding ban expired, reigniting pro-life pressure on GOP leaders to make the cutoff permanent. New Orleans Courts Fight: Gov. Jeff Landry is floating a special session to reshape New Orleans’ court system after felony charges against AG Liz Murrill were dismissed, escalating the state’s feud with city Democrats. Data Center Ratepayer Pledge: Landry joined Trump’s expanded “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” aimed at pushing data-center energy upgrade costs onto tech companies and utilities rather than households. Transportation Safety: Louisiana DOTD won a $640,000 federal grant to study truck parking demand on I-10 and I-12 after crashes involving parked commercial vehicles, including fatal ones. Local Governance: Baton Rouge is seeking to intervene in a lawsuit over St. George’s incorporation date, while the mayor-president says the parish attorney overstepped. Public Safety: LSP Troop A is investigating a fatal early-morning East Baton Rouge crash that killed a 19-year-old. School Pay Update: BESE tweaked guidance so districts can use local teacher pay increases to offset state stipend cuts. SNAP Pressure: A new report says SNAP enrollment is dropping sharply in multiple states, with Louisiana among the hardest hit.

Open Meetings Ruling: A Louisiana appeals court says BESE’s attempted takeover of two low-performing Baker schools violated the state open meetings law, potentially forcing more detailed public agendas. Courts & Public Safety: The son of Baton Rouge Judge Gail Horne Ray returned to court seeking to vacate 1997 forcible rape convictions, arguing a prior motion wasn’t ruled on. Storm Watch: Tropical Storm Bertha continues to churn across the Gulf and Louisiana, with officials urging residents to stay alert as impacts roll into Acadiana and the New Orleans area. State Government & Infrastructure: Jefferson Parish secured a $20M loan for sewer upgrades after losing its bond rating, using a state-backed path that avoids needing a credit rating. Elections & Voting Rights: Sen. Raphael Warnock is pushing Congress to investigate whether post–Louisiana v. Callais redistricting illegally discriminated against Black voters. Veterans: LDVA praised Sen. Bill Cassidy’s bill to support spouses of veterans lost to suicide with career services. Federal Policy: The U.S. House passed a bill letting the FDA destroy hazardous food and other imports that pose public health risks.

AG vs. New Orleans Courts: Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s special prosecutor dismissed all 16 counts against her, but Murrill and Gov. Jeff Landry say the fight isn’t over and are pressing for further state and federal scrutiny of how the case was built. Redistricting & Elections: From the Politics Desk reports redistricting is pushing incumbents toward the exits, with Louisiana Rep. Cleo Fields among those stepping aside after GOP map changes. Iran War Funding: House Republicans advanced a GOP-only $95 billion package to fund the Iran war, farm aid, and voting-related priorities, teeing up a Senate fight. Public Safety: Hammond police made 30 arrests during weekend enforcement; West Baton Rouge jail warden Trevor McDonald resigned after 10 months. Storm Watch: Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in St. Bernard as a weakened system; officials warn localized heavy rain and flooding are still possible. Health & Crime: Whooping crane reintroduction hit a record 10 chicks fledged; a Lafayette sex offender was arrested for unlawful use of social media accounts. Policy & Food: SNAP cost-sharing changes are drawing calls to delay implementation, with advocates warning about impacts on low-income families.

Iran War Funding Fight: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate panel the U.S. war with Iran has cost about $37.5 billion so far, as Republicans move toward a $95 billion military funding package and Democrats warn it’s turning into another “forever war.” Louisiana Congressional Politics: Rep. Cleo Fields says he won’t seek re-election after redistricting and a Supreme Court ruling reshaped his district; he plans to run for a state Senate seat instead. Campaign Cash Watch: In the Louisiana Senate race, Democrat Jamie Davis says he raised about $1.6 million in Q2 and has nearly $2 million total raised, while GOP Sen. Julia Letlow still leads overall fundraising. New Orleans Mardi Gras Enforcement: New Orleans City Council proposals would raise fines for parade-route rule violations, including $1,000 criminal misdemeanor penalties for repeat ladder-related problems, plus changes aimed at reducing congestion and overtime. Public Safety & Oversight: The New Orleans Ethics Review Board reappointed Independent Police Monitor Stella Cziment for another term amid complaints about a lack of public transparency. Disaster Aid: FEMA approved more than $76.3 million in post-disaster funding for projects across Louisiana and neighboring states. Local Government: Bossier City ended its probe into a $280,000 parking lot project, saying legal reviews found officials acted within authority.

Storm Readiness: GOHSEP began 24-hour operations at the State Emergency Operations Center as Tropical Storm Bertha moves west, with Louisiana under Tropical Storm Warning/Watch conditions and officials urging residents to check supplies and watch for surge flooding, heavy rain, and possible power outages. Congressional Shuffle: Rep. Cleo Fields (D-La.) announced he will not seek re-election to Louisiana’s 6th District after GOP-favored redistricting; he’ll run instead for the unexpired state Senate term left by the late Sen. Larry Selders. National Security/Foreign Policy: Sen. John Kennedy clashed with Defense leaders during a Senate hearing over Iran and the Strait of Hormuz as the administration seeks more war funding. Public Safety: Shreveport arrested a former Water Works Irrigation manager accused of diverting customer payments through a lookalike business. Health & Consumer Impact: AG Liz Murrill announced Louisiana’s settlement share in the 23andMe genetic data breach bankruptcy, while Sen. Bill Cassidy questioned whether the cyclosporiasis outbreak is truly “under control.” Local Politics: Aaron Moak says he’ll run for mayor of Central, and Shreveport’s youngest mayoral candidate withdrew, endorsing John-Paul Young.

Justice & Elections: Iberville’s longtime Justice of the Peace Justin Mendoza has resigned after 18 years, with the Louisiana Supreme Court set to appoint an interim replacement until a special election fills the remainder of the term. Education Policy: Gov. Jeff Landry says not every Louisiana school district must fund the new $2,000 teacher stipends from state formula money, but superintendents are still waiting on clear criteria from the state Department of Education. Public Safety & Storm Prep: Tropical Storm Bertha is forming and Louisiana parishes are ramping up—St. Bernard is running 24/7 sandbag sites, while New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board crews are clearing pumps and catch basins ahead of possible flooding. Courts & Immigration: A federal case in Honolulu charges a Jamaican DJ with illegal reentry after deportation, while separate reporting highlights ICE actions targeting relatives who come forward to take custody of migrant children. State Government Oversight: An audit of the City of Mansfield found recurring internal control problems and budget-law compliance issues. Local Schools: Bossier Parish Schools is opening public review for its 2026-2027 pupil progression plan, including third-grade literacy retention rules and high-dosage tutoring. Consumer/Everyday Life: Louisiana begins banning debit card surcharge fees starting Aug. 1, and scam reports in Acadiana warn residents about spoofed local numbers.

Federal Court Fight: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill moved a civil-rights lawsuit involving state community colleges from state court to federal court, arguing the claims arise under federal law. Historic Preservation: Trump officials proposed weakening federal historic-site review rules, a change critics say could let major projects proceed with less public input. Public Safety & Justice: The search for missing Baton Rouge teen Ja’Derrius Minnieweather has entered its second week at the North Landfill, with investigators sifting through tons of material. Social Security Push: Senators Bill Cassidy and others introduced a plan that would require the Social Security Advisory Board to draft a “base bill” to extend solvency, aiming to avoid a looming benefit cut after 2032. Student Debt Pressure: A new AP analysis finds record student-loan defaults nationwide, with Louisiana among states seeing high concentrations of borrowers falling behind. Storm Readiness: Sewerage & Water Board officials said they’re preparing for Tropical Depression 2/Tropical Storm Bertha, while St. Bernard floodgates are set to close Tuesday ahead of the system. Local Law Enforcement: Baton Rouge is exploring a Police Support Specialist Program to bring retired officers back for civilian support roles.

Housing & Homeownership: A bipartisan push for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is framed as a first step, not a finish line, with affordability and wealth-building still the big gaps. K-12 Funding Crunch: Louisiana districts are preparing for a state funding cut averaging about 5%, with some weighing fewer raises, paused projects, or hiring freezes to cover teacher stipends. Education Accountability: Cameron Parish touts strong LEAP results, including top Mastery+ rates, while also navigating stipend and reimbursement policy changes. Student Debt Fallout: Student loan defaults are surging nationwide as pandemic-era protections lapse, raising the risk of wage and Social Security garnishment. Local Politics & Campaigns: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Davis stops in Lake Charles, pitching “Louisiana first” and tying his message to health insurance premium spikes. Courts & Elections: A federal appeals court temporarily blocks a mail-in ballot rule tied to citizenship verification, keeping the fight alive. Public Safety & Weather: Tropical Depression Two is strengthening toward Tropical Storm Bertha, with heavy rain and flooding risk for the Gulf Coast, including Louisiana. Business & Community: A Lafayette neighborhood’s Cameron Street growth is highlighted through immigrant-owned businesses energizing the area.