NATIONAL

“Debate day has arrived, and the candidates who spent days studying factoids and polishing zingers are at last putting away the books and clearing their heads. Some are going to Mass. One is attending a state fair. Others are simply resting. ” – Fox News

“With the final lineup set for the first Republican presidential debate, the lowest polling candidates are reacting, some angrily to being left out of the main event.” – Townhall

“Malaysia said on Thursday paint color and maintenance-record matches proved that a piece of wing found on the shore of an Indian Ocean island was part of the wreckage of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, which vanished without trace last year.” – One America News

“The Obama administration has issued more than 7.4 million work permits to foreign nationals from 2009 – 2014, beyond the approximately one million lawful permanent residents and 700,000 foreign guest workers admitted to the U.S. each year.” – Breitbart

“Three of the 16 Planned Parenthood facilities inspected in Florida last week were performing procedures beyond their licensing authority, and one facility was not keeping proper logs relating to fetal remains, officials announced Wednesday.” – Twitchy

“The IRS severely mismanaged the applications of Tea Party groups seeking tax-exempt status, a long-awaited and bipartisan Senate report said Wednesday.” – The Hill

“Former President Bill Clinton apparently called Donald Trump shortly before the New York real estate billionaire jumped into the GOP presidential race.” – Washington Times

“Yesterday, I wrote that McConnell’s pre-emptive surrender on the Planned Parenthood defunding fight in order to maintain peace with the Democrats made him equivalent to a modern day Neville Chamberlain. With the news that McConnell is actively engaging Democrats in a joint effort to defeat the defunding fight and avoid the showdown, it is apparent that the more apt historical parallel is actually Philippe Pétain, leader of Vichy France in World War II. It’s helpful to understand why Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 58% is the way he is and why he must be replaced as leader of the Republicans.” – Red State

“Your remote car key isn’t a key. It’s billions of them.” – Fox News

“The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department is conducting an internal investigation after a video surfaced that shows a woman riding on top of a police cruiser.” – The Blaze

LOUISIANA

“Louisiana oyster, shrimp and crab catch in 2014 was valued at $371 million, higher than almost any other time in the fisheries’ history, bringing large returns at the dock, according to recently-released state numbers.” – NOLA.com

“A Shreveport police officer answering a Wednesday night call was gunned down.” – Shreveport Times

“End-of-course tests could count for up to 30 percent of a high school student’s final grade, beginning this year.” – The Advertiser

“Lamar Advertising Co., a Baton Rouge-based outdoor advertising power, reported a double-digit increase in its second-quarter results, as adjusted funds from operations grew to $118 million, or $1.22 per share.” – The Baton Rouge Advocate

“House Majority Whip Steve Scalise directed a tweet at President Barack Obama over the Iran deal on Wednesday — and he received a response back.” – The Blaze

“Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration is privatizing management of some state worker benefits, hiring a Chicago-based company to oversee family and medical leave programs across nine agencies.” – WBRZ.com

“Could gas prices drop to about two dollars a gallon by Labor Day?” – KALB.com

“The SnoWizard Snoball Shoppe at 4001 Magazine St. was robbed at gunpoint, New Orleans police said Thursday (Aug. 6). The holdup happened Wednesday at 6 p.m. – NOLA.com

“It found people who ate spicy foods six or seven times a week had a 14-percent lower risk of death compared to people who only ate spicy food less than once a week.” – KSLA.com

“Defensive end Arden Key strolled into the West Campus Apartments at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, the first LSU player to officially report for preseason camp.” – The Baton Rouge Advocate