“After a quick one-day trip home to Louisiana for Father’s Day, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise was back in town Monday, pressing for support from his fellow House Republicans in his race for majority whip. It’s a three-way fight, with Scalise, of Jefferson, considered the favorite.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“Helis Oil & Gas Co. is taking the next step in an effort to begin fracking in St. Tammany Parish. At a hearing in Baton Rouge Tuesday, the company asked the state Department of Natural Resources to approve a 960-acre tract where it hopes to drill for oil. The company has targeted a location north of Mandeville and Interstate 12 near Highway 1088.” – Fox 8 Live

“A congressional watchdog group is asking for a criminal probe into a published statement from Rep. Vance McAllister, R-Swartz, that an unnamed colleague had told him he would receive a $1,200 contribution for voting against a measure dealing with the Bureau of Land management.” – NOLA.com

“Riser, who was beaten in a runoff by McAllister in last fall’s special election, won’t run for Congress this fall, but left the door open for future races.” – Monroe News-Star

“The Cheesecake Factory®, which has 170 locations nationwide, is opening its newest location — and the first in Louisiana — at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“The long-awaited grievance hearing between the New Orleans Saints and Jimmy Graham gets underway Tuesday.” – Fox 8 Live

“Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, speaking in an interview with POLITICO, went as far as publicly predicting he will win the three-way contest against Reps. Peter Roskam of Illinois and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, returning a red-state lawmaker to a leadership table currently filled with blue-state Republicans.” – POLITICO

“New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu this week slammed Gov. Bobby Jindal for failing to hold oil and gas companies accountable for damage to the state’s wetlands, arguing that the state should bring energy companies to the table to pay for coastal restoration or else sue to recover the money needed for that effort.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“An audit finds a shrinking customer base is the main reason why a waterworks district in Calcasieu Parish has experienced $164,000 in net losses over the last five fiscal years.” – KATC

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