Multiple wildfires are taking place throughout the state. State officials are urging the public to follow the statewide burn ban. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says violators could face jail time, fines and could be forced to pay restitution for loss of property…
cut 28 (13) “…property and life

An arrest has been made in connection to one of the wildfires that erupted near Rosepine in Vernon Parish yesterday. Sheriff Sam Craft says Paul Nash faces two felony arson charges for violating the state’s burn ban. Craft says Nash lit a brush pile in his backyard on fire and it quickly spread…
Cut 6 (08) “…massively.”

In Beauregard Parish, the town of Merryville is under a mandatory evacuation, a shift in the winds last night has spared the town of one-thousand people.

A jury needed only six hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 39-year-old Joey Clement of Thibodaux for killing three teenagers in a fatal crash in 2021. Assistant District Attorney Shaun George says Clement was speeding and driving under the influence…
Cut 3 (09) “…whole night”
Clement crashed his Ford F-150 into their SUV head-on on Highway 20 north of Thibodaux.

At the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery in Slidell today, New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest. Thompson worked as a cook on the USS Oklahoma when it was destroyed during the attack on Pearl Harbor…
cut 11 (06) “…in coming”
That’s Thompson’s cousin Denise Bennett. Thompson’s return home is part of the Navy’s Project Oklahoma which has identified the remains of 355 sailors since 2015 through DNA.

Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Temple says he’s not wasting any time since he became the lone candidate and he’s already getting a head start on the job. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Fire crews are working to contain a blaze at the Marathon Oil refinery on Airline Highway in Garyville. Officials say that the release and the fire are contained within the refinery’s property. No injuries are reported. It is unknown what led to the chemical release and fire.

State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says anyone who starts a fire will be held liable. Under the state burn ban, the public should not throw cigarettes out of a car window, use barbecue grills to cook outside, or burn debris. Strain says burning small debris fires could be extremely dangerous.

Cut 8 (11) “…of life.”

Violators could face a fine or jail time.

Extremely dry conditions have placed 50 percent of the state is currently in extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. In extreme drought, trees are stressed, saltwater intrudes into rivers and water pressure is low. State climatologist Barry Keim says southwestern Louisiana is the driest part of the state.

Cut 14 (10) “…drought class.” 

The southern parts of the state were abnormally dry but were not in a drought this same week last year.

Fire crews are working to control wildfires across Louisiana. How they started is unknown but State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain promises to hold people who intentionally or unintentionally start fires responsible. Strain says these wildfires are destroying acres of land and property…

Cut 7 (11) “…full restitution.”

Violators with civil citations could pay up to $250 in fines. If it is criminal, Strain says the perpetrator could face a $500 fine and up to six months in jail.

Triple-digit heat and excessively dry conditions have placed 90 percent of Louisiana in “extreme” or “severe” drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. State climatologist Barry Keim ….

Cut 13 (12) “…July first.”

50 percent of the state is currently in extreme drought.

Tim Temple got the job he wanted as the state’s next Insurance commissioner after his only opponent withdrew from the race. Commissioner-elect Temple says he’s ready to get things started

Cut 4 (08) “…implement those.”

Temple also vows to work with the next governor and lawmakers to implement methods to attract new insurers and retain current providers.

Pearl Harbor Sailor and New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be buried in Slidell this morning, more than 80 years after the December 7^th attack on the USS Oklahoma. His cousin Denise Bennett says they are extremely grateful for the lengths the military went to in identifying his remains.

Cut 10 (08) “…his family.”

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. and is open to the public.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Beauregard and Vernon Parishes as a result of multiple wildfires. The Tiger Island Fire is threatening the one-thousand person town of Merryville. A wildfire in the Evans area of Vernon Parish has reportedly jumped containment.

Louisiana’s historically dry summer is causing many of these wildfires. The U-S Drought Monitor reports that nearly half of the state is in extreme or eceptional drought…..
cut 3 (32) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

Tim Temple will be the state’s next Insurance Commissioner after his only opponent withdrew from the race. And even though he’s not having to hit the campaign trail, Commissioner-elect Temple says he’s simply getting a head start on the job.
Cut 4 (08) “…implement those.”
Temple says he’ll push for a special session early next year that will look at legislation to make insurance more affordable and available.

At the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery in Slidell today, New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest. Thompson worked as a cook on the USS Oklahoma when it was destroyed during the attack on Pearl Harbor…
cut 11 (06) “…and coming”
That’s Thompson’s cousin Denise Bennett. Thompson’s return home is part of the Navy’s Project Oklahoma which has identified the remains of 355 sailors since 2015 through DNA.

Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Beauregard Parish later today to get a first hand look at the response efforts as a massive wildfire has resulted in the mandatory evacuation of the town of Merryville and other areas of Beauregard Parish. The Tiger Island Fire has burned more than 13-thousand acres.

How it started is unknown. State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain promises to hold people who start those fires responsible…
cut 7 (11) “…full restitution”
Southwest Louisiana is suffering from extreme drought conditions according to the U-S Drought monitor. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will take a lot of rain to make up for the dryness…
cut 15 (12) “…the news”

Tim Temple is gearing up to be Louisiana’s next insurance commissioner. His lone opponent dropped out of the race last week so Temple is insurance commissioner-elect. Temple says setting up a regulatory environment that invites insurance companies to do business in Louisiana will be the key…
cut 6 (12) “….Louisiana” (2x)

Navy Ship’s Cook First Class Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest today in Slidell, more than 80 years after his life ended in the attack on Pearl Harbor. His cousin Denise Bennett says the Navy is paying for Thompsons burial and the family chose to have him buried at the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery. Bennett says it’s just another example of how the military leaves no man behind…
cut 12 (07) “…to family”

In Beauregard Parish, residents in Merryville and the surrounding area were told to leave immediately late yesterday afternoon as the Tiger Island Fire was within two miles of the town. Evacuations have also been ordered in Vernon Parish in the Evans area and B Johnson road.

People who are responsible for starting wildfires will be held liable according to State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Scorching temperatures and dry conditions have placed 90 percent of Louisiana in some type of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is updated every Thursday. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 13 (12) “…July first”
The drought monitor shows 44-percent of the state in extreme drought. That most of south Louisiana and the Alexandria area and western parishes like Sabine and Vernon.

We are 50 days until the October 14th primary and Tim Temple is already the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner-elect as his lone opponent dropped out of the race last week. Temple says he’s been meeting with stakeholders to find solutions to the insurance crisis and he doesn’t want to rush to failure with a half-baked plan…
cut 5 (08) “…..change nothing” (2x)
Temple says he wants to make Louisiana attractive for insurance companies to do business in the state, but the regulatory environment also needs to be consumer friendly.

Things have taken a turn for the worse in Beauregard Parish and residents in the town of Merryville are being asked to evacuate immediately as the Tiger Island Fire is within two miles of the town. A storm with 30-mile-per-hour winds only helped the fire spread. Authorities say the fire has grown more intense and is moving quickly.

People who are responsible for starting fires will be held liable according to State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

While firefighters continue to battle wildfires in Beauregard Parish, crews are rushing to the scene of another large blaze in Tangipahoa Parish near the city of Amite. Crews have responded to 357 wildfires this month alone. Governor Edwards is imploring residents to abide by the burn ban and asking citizens to even refrain from cooking outdoors and lighting fire pits at this time because fire crews are stretched thin, and the extreme drought is causing outbreaks to quickly get out of control.

Pearl Harbor Sailor and New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be buried in Slidell Friday morning, more than 80 years after the December 7^th attack on the USS Oklahoma. His cousin Denise Bennett says they are extremely grateful for the lengths the military went to in identifying his remains.

Cut 10 (08) “…his family.”

The 11am funeral at Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery is open to the public.

The Tiger Island wildfire in Beauregard Parish is 85-percent contained. The only structures that have been destroyed in the blaze are camps and deer stands. And while the increase in containment is welcome news, Shannon Burgess with the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s office says the slightest spark could change things in an instant and he’s imploring residents to abide by the statewide burn ban.
Cut 11 (07) “…message out.”
A change in wind direction last night caused the fire to jump across Highway 27 but that has since been contained and Highway 27 has reopened.

There’s smoke in the air from the wildfires. DEQ spokesperson Greg Langley says the public can keep track of air quality by going to D-E-Q’s website and looking at the air quality index which is color coded. He says for today, the entire state is in yellow for moderate smoky conditions…
Cut 4 (07) “…avoid exposure”

A poll of 800 likely voters finds that crime, education and rising insurance rates are the top three concerns of Louisiana residents. 51-percent of the respondents said they wanted state leaders to get tough on crime. PAR President Steven Procopio says voters should step up and demand that the gubernatorial candidates provide solutions to the state’s problems…
Cut 8 (10) “…as well.”
Procopio says so far we’ve mostly heard rhetoric from the candidates.

LSU will not have one of its top players for the season opener against Florida State. The NCAA has suspended defensive tackle Maason Smith for receiving an improper benefit. The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander says Smith’s absence will be a factor as he was expected to provide pressure up the middle against FSU QB Jordan Travis…
Cut 13 (11) “…Bradyn Swinson”
The Tigers will play the Seminoles on September 3rd.

The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Department reports the Tiger Island Fire which has destroyed more than 13-thousand acres in southwest Louisiana is now 85-percent contained. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Shannon Burgess says the fire crossed over Highway 27 last night…
cut 10 (11) “…could happen”
Burgess says Highways 27 and 110 have reopened.

The wildfires across the state have produced some smokey air. Because of the Tiger Island Fire, southwest Louisiana is impacted the most. Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Greg Langley says these conditions could last for awhile…
cut 5 (09) “….some time”
For today, the air index quality is moderate for what is known as particulate matter released by smoke.

In a new poll by Faucheux Strategies, crime, education and rising insurance rates are the three biggest concerns among Louisiana voters….
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

The National Hurricane Center is keeping its eye on a broad area of low pressure in the Pacific Ocean that’s expected to cross over central America and into the Caribbean Sea. The disturbance is expected to keep heading north and there’s a medium chance it will develop into a tropical depression or storm in the Gulf of Mexico within the next week.

LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith has been suspended for the first game of the year against Florida State for taking improper benifts. The violation happened before players could take full advantage of name image and likeness. The advocate’s Wilson Alexander broke the story and says Smith will be very hard to replace.

Cut 13 (10) “…Brayden Swinson.”

The Saints are practicing for the preseason finale against the Texans, and the team is hoping to see their star wide receiver, Michael Thomas, return to form. He has been battling injuries after his 2019 season that earned him the title as the NFL’s offensive player of the year, and Coach Dennis Allen says they are seeing the Michael Thomas of old.

Cut 26 (14) “…it’s been good.”

Cornerback Alontae Taylor has been competing with Paulson Adebo all off-season for the second press corner spot. Taylor says that one way he can improve is by getting reps against young wide receiver Chris Olave.

Cut 17 (15) “…same thing.”

La Tech head football coach Sonny Cumbie is entering his second year with the team, and he says he seen the roster grow with many of the players being with the Bulldogs for more than just this season ahead of their game against FIU.

Cut 27 (12) “…have here, so.”

Ragin Cajun basketball head coach Bob Marlin has agreed to a three year extension with the team. He lead last year’s team to a Sun Belt conference championship, and the contract will keep him in Lafayette through the 2026-27 season.

Ragin Cajun softball coach Gerry Glasco has been extended through the 2028 season after winning his fourth consecutive Sun Belt conference regular season and tournament title.