NATIONAL

“The U.S. Senate will vote today on a bill to defund Planned Parenthood and to stop forcing taxpayers to fund abortions and the barbaric sale of baby organs.” – John Drogin/Red State

“The Seattle CEO who reaped a publicity bonanza when he boosted the salaries of his employees to a minimum of $70,000 a year says he has fallen on hard times.” – Hot Air

“President Obama argues that his policies will result in cleaner air and will mitigate the effects of climate change, but unintended consequences of the administration’s environmental agenda seem all but certain — possibly even including higher mortality rates across the country, according to at least one scholar.”                  – Washington Times

“Wall Street was set to open slightly lower on Monday as U.S. consumer spending in June recorded its smallest gain in four months, suggesting the economy lost some momentum at the end of the second quarter.” – One America News

“A Navy sailor assigned to a nuclear-powered submarine has been accused of using his cellphone to snap revealing photos of the sub’s top-secret inner spaces.” – Fox News

“Five Republican presidential candidates wooed donors at a weekend retreat where billionaire industrialist Charles Koch warned America is ‘done for’ if conservatives don’t rally others to their cause by demanding a smaller, less-intrusive government.” – Townhall

“Andy Slavitt — President Obama’s choice to manage Obamacare, Medicare and Medicaid — was linked seven years ago to a massive medical data fraud scheme that resulted in what was then the largest settlement ever by an insurance company.” – The Daily Caller

“With U.S. intelligence officials scrambling to contain damage from potentially hundreds of spy agency secrets in Hillary Rodham Clinton’s private emails, questions are mounting over why the Justice Department has not yet opened a criminal investigation against the Democratic presidential front-runner for mishandling a mountain of classified information.” – The Washington Times

“Leading U.S. Democrat Nancy Pelosi on Monday called the pope’s climate encyclical “an important new effective asset” in pushing forward policy to slow global warming by bringing aboard a new audience.” – Townhall

“A hen owned by a Massachusetts woman who specializes in chicken rehabilitation and rescue is getting fitted with a prosthetic leg Wednesday at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.” – telegram.com

LOUISIANA

“It’s hard to imagine Gov. Bobby Jindal starting from a weaker position than he’s in as he officially enters the race to become the Republican nominee for president.” – NOLA.com

“A controversy over possible discrimination is cooking up in Houma after a same-sex couple says a bakery refused to make their wedding cake.” – WAFB.com

“In the predictions that always come with a heated election cycle, Louisiana’s political prognosticators regularly suggest Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter appears poised to easily walk away with a victory in the fall governor’s race.” – The Town Talk

“In the dark of morning, ambulances began lining up outside the old hospital, prepared for the day’s mission: Move 132 patients, some of them critically ill, from one hospital to a newly constructed facility more than three times its size two blocks away.” – NOLA.com

“At least four people, including an 8-month-old child, have been killed in a crash Saturday evening on Lewis Street at Connie Rue Street in New Iberia.” – The Advertiser

“The start of August marks day 1 for hundreds of new laws passed in the most recent legislative session.” – KSLA.com

“The day after a brain-eating amoeba was discovered in a rural water district in Ascension Parish, the state rejected a previous request by the parish to proactively boost the level of disinfectant in the system.” – The Baton Rouge Advocate

“When Gov. John McKeithen stepped to the podium at the Louisiana Superdome dedication ceremony 40 years ago today, you could tell even he was impressed.” – The Advertiser

“A Houston man has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Shreveport and police officers alleging false arrest, excessive force, assault, negligent hiring, battery and false imprisonment.” – The Shreveport Times

“The annual Jazz Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church, where musician Sidney Bechet was baptized, took place before congregants poured into the street for the Satchmo Salute second-line parade Sunday (Aug. 2). – NOLA.com

“LSU’s quarterback battle between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris was so close last year that even players didn’t know who should be the starter.” – The Baton Rouge Advocate