The weather on Easter Sunday is expected to be much better than the rainy conditions we’re experiencing today. But in the meantime, State Climatologist Barry Keim says the rain and clouds will hang around until Saturday night.
Cut 9 (11) “…already occurred.”
A large portion of north Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until tonight and all of south Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until tomorrow morning.

The biggest crawfish weekend of the season is upon us. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King…
Cut 13 (10) “…last Easter.”
You can find boiled crawfish this weekend for an average of $4.75 a pound and live will run you $2.59 a pound.

A bill to require insurance companies to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients has been filed for the upcoming session. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Ucore Rare Metals is investing 75-million dollars to build North America’s first technology rare earth element separation and purification facility. And the facility will be located at England Airpark in Alexandria. U-Core V-P and Chief Operating Officer Mike Schrider says they are upgrading an 80-thousand square foot complex….
cut 11 (10) “…particular building”
The rare earth oxides produced in this building will go towards the manufacturing of electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators.

Ponchatoula-based Elmer Chocolate was able to produce Heavenly Hash candy this Easter after only a small quantity the last two years because of a shortage of cornstarch. Elmer Chocolate CEO Rob Nelson says his family purchased the recipe for Heavenly Hash in 1923…
cut 27 (07) “…hard to believe”

Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis has filed legislation to require health insurance to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients whose treatment could render them sterile. Davis says she was surprised to learn it wasn’t always covered by some health insurance plans.
Cut 6 (09) “…bill does.”
The proposed law would be known as “The Medically Necessary Fertility Preservation Act.”

The Humane Society of Louisiana is advising against giving a baby chick or bunny to a child for Easter. H-S-L director Jeff Dorson says unfortunately animal shelters are overrun by chicks and bunnies a few weeks after Easter, because the owner no longer wants to take care of the animal. Instead of a live animal for Easter, Dorson says get a stuffed animal instead….
Cut 5 (05) “…with that.”

In light of recent mass school shootings across the country, BESE is calling on the state legislature to appropriate funding for trained school resource officers in all public schools to increase security. District 4 Member Michael Melerine says the Board is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all students and educators is a priority.

Cut 9 (08)  “…school system.”

The Board also requested that school systems annually report the total number of school resource officers to the Louisiana Department of Education.

It’s Easter weekend and while we’ll admit they are awfully cute, getting a baby chick and or bunny isn’t the best idea. Humane Society of Louisiana director Jeff Dorson says shelters and veterinarians see an influx of rabbits and chicks after the holiday that is surrendered and in poor health.

Cut 3 (12) “…your money.”

In many cases, Dorson says state wildlife has to retrieve them because owners abandon them in the wild and they are unable to fend for themselves.

Rare metals giant UCore will invest $ 75 million to build North America’s first rare earth metals separation and purification facility in Rapides Parish. UCore V.P. and Chief Operating Officer Mike Schrider says the plant will extract elements used in making electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and numerous consumer goods. He says the raw ores will arrive via the port of New Orleans…:

Cut 10 (11) “…other elements eventually.” 

Schrider expects the plant to be fully operational by 2027.

The LSU football team is just over halfway through their spring practice schedule and Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock says he hopes to build on the progress his offense made last year and become one of the best in the SEC.

Cut  16 (19)  “..really elite.” 

With nearly all of its starting core returning, the Tiger’s offense should be a strength for the team ahead of the 2023 season.

A rare metals extraction plant is headed to Alexandria in the next few years. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

State police have arrested a Chalmette Pastor – who had been previously accused of sex crimes with minors – with new charges of sex-related offenses. 56-year-old Milton Martin III was charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile. Martin had been investigated in 2022 and booked with charges of sexual battery and carnal knowledge of a juvenile last month. State police said another victim came forward saying Martin had sexual relations with them in 1991 when they were 14 years old. An additional arrest warrant was issued for Martin, and he turned himself in on Wednesday. He was booked into the St. Bernard Parish Correctional Center for indecent behavior with juveniles.

Heavenly Hash Eggs are back and celebrating 100 years after offering limited products last year due to supply chain issues. Elmer Chocolate CEO Rob Nelson says last year they received hundreds of phone calls daily wanting to know why all three versions of Heavenly Hash were not in stores.

Cut 5 (06) “…selling out.”

Elmer Chocolate began making the Strawberry version when the company relocated to Ponchatoula in 1970, the Strawberry capital of the world.

Easter weekend is one of the biggest crawfish-selling weekends of the season and will be in high demand.  Crawfish App co-founder Laney King says prices on average are the same as last weekend.

Cut 14 (10)  “…this week.”

King says you can find boiled crawfish this weekend for an average of $4.75 a pound and live will run you $2.59 a pound.

BESE is calling on the state legislature to appropriate funding so there are trained school resource officers in all public schools. District 4 Member Michael Melerine says he raised the issue last year following the Uvalde-Texas school shooting and is revisiting it after the Nashville school mass shooting hit close to home.
Cut 7 (12) “…by it.”
A recent survey found that 67-percent of 73-percent of schools responding have a school resource officer.

Crawfish prices are 25-percent lower for this Easter compared to last Easter. Co-Founder of the Crawfish App, Laney King, says expect to pay 60 to 75-dollars a sack for medium to large size crawfish…
cut 15 (09) “….a sack”

Some of Louisiana’s favorite Easter treats are back on the shelves this year after supply chain disruptions….
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU spokesperson Michael Bonnette told the Associated Press the Lady Tigers basketball team will accept an invite to the White House to celebrate their national championship. Star forward Angel Reese said on a podcast they would rather celebrate with the Obamas. Reese and her teammates are upset First Lady Jill Biden suggested Iowa should also be invited to the White House.

BESE is requesting the state legislature to provide additional dollars to make sure every school has a school resource officer….
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Law enforcement officers involved in two separate shootings that took place in Rapides Parish last November have been cleared of any wrong doing. One of the shootings took the life of Derrick Kittling, who was killed during a traffic stop that became physical. D-A Phillip Terrell says in both cases the shootings were legally justified.

Canadian based, Ucore North America, announces plans to build a 75-million dollar rare earth metals manufacturing facility at England Airpark in Alexandria. Ucore V-P and Chief Operating Officer Mike Schrider says it will be the first rare element separation and purification facility in the U-S and the rare earth oxides are needed for electric vehicle motors ..
cut 12 (12) “….make those vehicles”
Schrider expects operations to start in early 2025 and they expect to create 100 new jobs.

The biggest crawfish weekend of the season is upon. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King…
Cut 13 (10) “…last Easter.”
You can find boiled crawfish this weekend for an average of $4.75 a pound and live will run you $2.59 a pound.

In response to an increasing nationwide trend of school shootings, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is calling on public school systems to partner with local law enforcement to provide a school resource officer in every school and for the Louisiana legislature to provide the necessary funding to make sure it happens….
cut 8 (11) “…on it really’
That’s BESE member Michael Melerine.

After limited supplies the last couple of years, Heavenly Hash Eggs are back, and Ponchatoula-based Elmer Chocolate CEO Rob Nelson says it’s just in time to mark the beloved treat’s 100th anniversary. Nelson says a cornstarch shortage kept them from making all three versions of the angelic candy.
Cut 4 (10) “…dark is back.”
He hopes the strawberry-filled Heavenly Hash Egg will be back next year.

Big news for Central Louisiana: a huge rare metals extraction plant is coming to Alexandria. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Some of Louisiana’s favorite Easter treats are back on the shelves this year after supply chain disruptions limited the beloved confectionaries. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________________________

BESE is requesting the state legislature to provide additional dollars to fund security on school campuses. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

_______________________________________________

Big news for Central Louisiana: a huge rare metals extraction plant coming to Alexandria in the next few years. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

_____________________________________________

After limited supplies last year, Heavenly Hash Eggs are back, and Elmer Chocolate CEO Rob Nelson says it’s just in time to mark the beloved treat’s 100^th anniversary. Corn starch supply chain disruptions last year kept them from making all three versions of the angelic candy.

Cut 4 (10)  “…dark is back.”

He says they are hoping Strawberry Heavenly Hash will return next year. They began making the Strawberry version when the company relocated to Ponchatoula in 1970, the Strawberry capital of the world.

Nelson says last year they received hundreds of phone calls daily wanting to know why all three versions of Heavenly Hash were not in stores.

Cut 5 (06) “…selling out.”

It was a New Orleans Canal Street confectionary that invented Heavenly Hash in the early 1900s. And in 1923, Nelson says the Elmer family purchased the recipe and trademark.

Cut 6 (07)  “…hard to believe.”

Nelson says they begin preparing to create Heavenly Hash, the Gold Brick and Pecan eggs as early as January for Easter.

_____________________________________________

BESE is calling on the state legislature to appropriate funding for trained school resource officers in all public schools to increase security. District 4 Member Michael Melerine says he raised the issue last year following the Uvalde-Texas school shooting and is revisiting it after the Nashville school mass shooting hit close to home.

Cut 7 (12) “…by it.”

Melerine says officers should be certified by a nationally accredited school resource officer program or a state training program. He says providing a safe and secure environment for all students and educators is a priority.

Cut 8 (11) “…it really.”

A survey of Louisiana schools following the 2022 Louisiana School Safety Summit – a conference for system leaders, law enforcement, and other agencies to discuss school safety and emergency preparedness – indicated approximately 67 percent (of 73 percent of schools responding) currently have a school resource officer. Melerine says the Board is committed to protecting our schools.

Cut 9 (08)  “…school system.”

The Board also requested that school systems annually report the total number of school resource officers to the Louisiana Department of Education.

_______________________________________________

Rare metals giant UCore will invest $ 75 million to make North America’s first rare earth metals separation and purification facility, and it will be in Rapides Parish. UCore V.P. and Chief Operating Officer Mike Schrider says the plant will extract the key elements used in making electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and numerous consumer goods. He says the raw ores will arrive via the port of New Orleans…:

Cut 10 (11) “…other elements eventually.” 

When up and running the project should mean about 100 new direct jobs, with pay of $50-k or more annually. Nearly 300 indirect jobs will also result from the project. Schrider says UCore will make use of an existing 81-thousand-square-foot structure, located at England Airpark. He says the facility can be easily modified for optimal production capability…:

Cut 11 (10)  “…particular building.”

The UCore commitment is a major economic development for Louisiana, but especially for Central Louisiana. Schrider credit the cooperation of Louisiana Economic Development’s Fast Start program and local officials for helping make the plan a reality. He says it’s a big step in moving away from internal combustion cars & trucks…:

Cut 12 (12)  “…make those vehicles.”

Schrider expects operations to start in early 2025, and the plant to be fully operational by 2027.

____________________________________________________

The biggest crawfish weekend of the season is upon us and there’s plenty to rejoice about when it comes to mudbugs this year and Easter weekend. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King says today, and Sunday are two of the busiest days of the year for crawfish sales.

Cut 13 (10) “…last Easter.” 

You can find boiled crawfish this weekend for an average of $4.75 a pound and live will run you $2.59 a pound. And you might even be able to beat those prices by using the Crawfish App for the lowest price nearby.

And for the Super Bowl weekend of crawfish, King says prices on average are the same as last weekend.

Cut 14 (10)  “…this week.”

So, if crawfish boil is on your agenda this weekend, King says to expect to pay between $60 to $75 a sack for medium to large size crawfish.

Cut 15 (09)  “…a sack.”

____________________________________________________

The LSU football team is just over halfway through their spring practice schedule and Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock says his group is making strides towards becoming one of the best in the SEC. With nearly all of its starting core returning, the Tigers offense should be a strength for the team ahead of the 2023 season. In his second season in Baton Rouge, Denbrock says he’ll hope to build on the progress his offense made last year

Cut  16 (19)  “..really elite.” 

Headlining the Tigers offense is returning quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 17 touchdowns last season and was 4th in the nation with only three interceptions, but the coaching staff has urged him to take more chances down the field. Denbrock says they’ve focused on creating a more explosive offense this spring…

Cut 17 (18) “…quarterback position” 

Freshman Tight End Mason Taylor will hope to improve on an impressive first year in Baton Rouge next year. Taylor led the team’s tight ends with 38 catches for over 400 yards and three touchdowns and solidified himself as a top receiving option. Denbrock says another season with the program, especially in the weight room, will help to expand his role in the offense…

Cut 18 (19) “…run game”

_______________________________________________________

The Pelicans host the Knicks in their last home game of the season tonight. After starting 2023 at the top of the Western Conference, the Pels have struggled without Zion Williamson but made a late-season push to fight for a spot in the postseason. Things seem to be clicking again as forward Brandon Ingram is playing some of the best basketball of his career averaging nearly 30 points a game over that span. Locked on Pelicans Podcast Host Jake Madison says B.I.’s playmaking has helped to elevate the entire team…

Cut 19 (19) “…good results.”

CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones all scored over thirty while Ingram tallied 13 assists in New Orleans’ last win over the Grizzlies.

With Just two games left in the season, the Pelicans are tied for 7th in the West with the Lakers and a game behind the Warriors and Clippers and an automatic playoff bid. Madison says it would take some luck to make it to the six-seed but can still improve from last year…

Cut 20 (19)  “…very high.”  

The worst the Pels can finish is ninth. Tip-off against New York is at 7:00

A Sulphur man is accused of burglarizing a home dressed as a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputy. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a woman accused her of beating up her 85-year-old grandmother. 20-year-old Cecile Anne Lee allegedly struck the victim multiple times with a heavy-duty wooden back scratcher and a picture frame, then vandalized the residence and damaged the victim’s phone in order to keep her from contacting first responders. Lee faces charges of battery, cruelty to the infirm, and more.

A 33-year-old man from Terrebonne Parish has been charged in the death of a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Nick Pepper, who died Sunday when a vehicle rammed into his patrol unit during a police chase in Thibodaux. State Trooper Thomas Gossen says the suspect, Anthony Savoie, of Bourg, now faces a list of serious charges …:

CUT 13(05)      “…police officer.”

Pepper leaves behind a wife and 3 kids.

The rain will stick around for a few days as we head into Easter weekend, a stationary front is keeping showers from moving OUT of the area. A flash flood watch is now in effect until 7 Friday night for western and northwestern Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the chance for severe weather for us has lessened…:

Cut 4 (11)  “…south Louisiana.” 

Fingers crossed the rain that the rain will exit in time for Easter.

You’ll want to keep your water-resistant garments handy – the entire state will most likely have rain, today, tomorrow, and Saturday. State climatologist Barry Keim says any outside activities planned should be postponed.

Cut 3 (10) “…clearly rain.”

Keim says by Sunday the front should be exiting the state – just in time for Easter.

Acadia Parish Deputies have arrested a Sulphur man impersonating a Calcasieu Parish Deputy after a home invasion. 33-year-old Adam Creel forcibly entered a home, handcuffed the homeowner, and stole several items before fleeing. Acadia Sheriff KP Gibson says help from local residents led to the swift arrest in this case.

Cut 6 (11)  “..these farmers.” 

Deputies are working to identify if other persons were possibly involved.

A survey by Global Strategy Group on behalf of Restore the Mississippi River Deltas shows support for coastal restoration is growing. Campaign director Simone Maloz says the state has lost nearly 2,000 square miles of coastal wetlands And 80 percent of respondents are in favor of sediment diversions.

Cut 10 (09) “…of that.” 

The state will be expected to lose 4,000 more square miles in the next 50 years without restoration projects.

A 33-year-old man from Terrebonne Parish has been charged in the death of a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Deputy. Detective Sergeant Nicholas Pepper died last Sunday when a vehicle rammed into his during a police chase in Thibodaux. State Trooper Thomas Gossen says the suspect, 33-year-old Anthony Savoie of Bourg, was in the hospital recovering from his injuries.

Cut 12 (09) “…on the charges” 

The Terrebonne Parish District Attorney’s Office will handle the criminal proceedings.