A fatal shootout at a Gretna gun store over the weekend has shocked Jefferson Parish. The shooting spree by 27-year-old Jamal Williams began after Williams was asked to take his loaded gun out of the gun store and clear it, a common gun shop protocol. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says contrary to some reports there was no heated argument that preceded Williams beginning his spree and witnesses report he was not confrontational prior to the incident.

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The only people involved in the shootout were seven store employees and Williams. No other bystanders fired a weapon.

It appears the brutal winter storm we just endured killed about a third of the state’s strawberry crop. Owner of Harris Farmers in Springfield, Trey Harris says it’s worse than the great December freeze back in 2017…

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If you sustained winter storm damage the state would like you to fill out a form on damage-dot-la-dot-gov. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Spokesperson Mike Steele says that reporting the damage will also help state officials determine where the most damage occurred.

Cut 4 (10) “…assistance may be available.” 

A Bienville Parish man was fatally shot Sunday morning by a truck driver after allegedly attempting to break into his 18-wheeler. Bienville Sheriff John Ballance says 35-year-old Jonathan Raney of Ringgold kicked in the front door of a liquor store, then targeted a nearby semi…

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Drug use is suspected but not confirmed as a possible motive.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says video evidence and witness reports show 27-year-old Jamal Williams was not confrontational while in a Gretna gun store over the weekend. Video shows Williams exiting and entering the store and moving through the building exchanging fire with store employees before being shot in the parking lot. Lopinto says it could’ve been worse…

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Williams was killed along with a store employee and a customer.

A Bienville Parish man was fatally shot Sunday morning by a truck driver after allegedly attempting to break into his 18-wheeler. Bienville Sheriff John Ballance says 35-year-old Jonathan Raney of Ringgold kicked in the front door of a liquor store, then targeted a nearby semi…

Cut 9 (12) “…window out”

Louisiana officials are asking residents who suffered damage during last week’s winter weather to report it, as the state plans to submit that information to the federal government. Taylor Sharp has more

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp.”  

Strawberry farmers are surveying crops after last week’s winter storms and it appears 30 to 35 percent of the crop is lost. Owner of Harris Farms Livingston Parish, Trey Harris says despite covering the berries, the length of the storm impacted the crops.

Cut 6 (09) “…stems.”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says video evidence and witness reports show 27-year-old Jamal Williams was not confrontational while in a Gretna gun store over the weekend. Lopinto says Williams held a concealed carry permit, had no major criminal history and was in the store for seven minutes before he began shooting. Lopinto says contrary to their initial impressions…

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Three people were killed in the shootout.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is seeking information via survey on damage.la.gov from anyone who sustained damage from the winter weather, which could potentially lead to federal assistance.  GOHSEP Spokesperson Mike Steele says filling out a survey will help speed up the recovery process.

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A Bienville Parish man was fatally shot this morning after allegedly attempting to break into an 18-wheeler and being confronted by the trailer’s driver.   Beinville Sheriff John Ballance says 35-year-old Jonathan Raney allegedly kicked in the front door of a liquor store, then targeted a nearby 18-wheeler… Ballance says the driver fired four shots and they believe the shooting was justified.  

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Ballance speculates Raney’s erratic behavior was the result of drug use but says they are awaiting toxicology reports.

It looks like Strawberry farmers have lost 30 to 35 percent of their crop is lost after last week’s storm. Owner of Harris Farmers in Springfield, Trey Harris says strawberries prices should be up for a while because of lack of volume, and it’s not just Louisiana that’s having issues…

Cut 8 (09) “…volume.”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has released new details about a fatal shootout over the weekend at a Gretna gun store. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says 27-year-old Joshua Williams was asked by store employees to leave the store to unload a loaded gun he had brought. Video shows moments later, as Williams was standing in the store’s doorway seemingly about to leave he fires a shot out across the street, then fatally shoots his first victim.

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Contrary to previous reports no customers were involved in the shootout.

If you suffered winter storm damage then the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness wants to hear from you. GOHSEP Spokesperson Mike Steele says filling out out a survey at damage.la.gov could help us win federal aid…

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Louisiana Strawberry farmers are pulling up tarps and surveying damage from last week’s winter storms. Brooke Thorington has more.

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The state’s winter-storm related low COVID reporting totals continued today with only 468 new reported cases. But the state’s daily death totals continue to remain low with only 11 new COVID related fatalities today, down from daily averages in the 40s last month. COVID hospitalizations also continue to decline, now down to 740.

A Bienville Parish man was fatally shot this morning after allegedly attempting to break into an 18-wheeler and being confronted by the trailer’s driver.   Beinville Sheriff John Ballance says 35-year-old Jonathan Raney allegedly kicked in the front door of a liquor store, then targeted a nearby 18-wheeler… Balance says the truck driver woke up and warned Raney to leave… 

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Balance speculates Raney’s erratic behavior was from the use of drugs, but they are awaiting toxicology results.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto will old press conference this afternoon to discuss Saturday’s fatal shootings at a gun range that resulted in three deaths and two others injured. Investigators say the shooting started when 27-year-old Joshua Williams of New Orleans started an argument with staff at the gun store. Williams was killed, so was a store clerk and a customer. The press conference will be at 2 o’clock.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is seeking information via survey on damage.la.gov from anyone who sustained damage from the winter weather, which could potentially lead to federal assistance.  GOHSEP Spokesperson Mike Steele says that reporting the damage will also help state officials determine where the most damage happened.

Cut 4 (10) “…assistance may be available.” 

Steele explains that this doesn’t guarantee federal assistance, but it could certainly help.

Strawberry farmers in the state are looking at a preliminary 30 to 35 percent loss in crops after the winter storms. Trey Harris of Harris Farms in Livingston Parish says the last time he saw damage this bad was the snow of December 2017, but it gave them enough time to recover because it takes 21 days for a bloom to produce a strawberry.

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Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto has called a 2 PM press conference to discuss Saturday’s shooting at a gun range that resulted in three deaths and two others injured. Investigators say the shooting started when 27-year-old Joshua Williams of New Orleans started an argument with store staff. Williams was killed, so was a store clerk and a customer.

A Bienville Parish man was fatally shot Sunday morning by a truck driver after allegedly attempting to break into his 18-wheeler. Bienville Sheriff John Ballance says 35-year-old Jonathan Raney of Ringgold kicked in the front door of a liquor store, then targeted a nearby semi…
Cut 9 (12) “…window out”
Ballance the driver fired four shots and Raney was taken to Ochsner LSU Health where he died. No charges have been filed against the driver.

Louisiana officials are asking residents who suffered damage during last week’s winter weather to report it, as the state plans to submit that information to the federal government. Taylor Sharp has more
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp.”

A strawberry farmer in Livingston Parish says the winter weather cost him between 30 to 35-percent of his crop. Trey Harris says consumers could see higher prices for strawberries, but he says Louisiana is not the only one having issues…
cut 8 (09) “…volume”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is seeking information via survey on damage.la.gov from anyone who sustained damage from the winter weather, which could potentially lead to federal assistance.  GOHSEP Spokesperson Mike Steele says filling out a survey will help speed up the recovery process.

Cut 3 (11)  “…recovery process” 

Strawberry farmers are surveying crops after last week’s winter storm and it appears 30 to 35 percent of the crop is lost according to one farmer. Owner of Harris Farmers in Springfield, Trey Harris says despite covering the berries, the length of the storm impacted the crops.

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Harris says the peak of the season is mid-April giving farmers time to salvage their season.

Teacher unions are celebrating as K-12 educators can receive a COVID vaccine starting today. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Pregnant women are also eligible to be vaccinated today, there’s been some public concern the vaccine can affect fertility, but West Jefferson Medical Center OBGYN Doctor Jennifer Bigelow says there’s no evidence that it does…

cut 6 (08) “….future.”
Bigelow says the COVID vaccine is also safe for pregnant mothers.

Nearly half a million additional Louisianans are eligible for the COVID vaccine starting today and that includes over 50,000 K-through- 12 teachers. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says even with vaccinating teachers’ education won’t return to normal until the pandemic ends, but this does help facilitate more in-person teaching.

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Pregnant women are also eligible to be vaccinated for COVID in Louisiana today. West Jefferson Medical Center OB/GYN Dr. Jennifer Bigelow says being pregnant puts you in a higher risk group if you contract COVID.

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Bigelow is recommending pregnant women be vaccinated along with the CDC and ACOG.

Louisiana suffered the nation’s largest spike in drug overdose deaths in the period between July 2019 and July 2020. That’s according to data from the C-D-C. Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich (Sah-tan-oh-vitch) says it was a 53 percent increase in overdose deaths, 1,720 in total. Cvitanovich says it was largely driven by increased use of opiates like Fentanil.

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One lawmaker is hoping to change the state motto in the next legislative session. St. Tammany Parish Representative Richard Nelson wants “We Live and Die for Those We Love,” to be the new state proverb.

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Nelson says the current state motto of “Union, Justice and Confidence” is not very well known even though it appears on the state flag.

Starting today, teachers can receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter…
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Pregnant women are also eligible to be vaccinated, but some wonder is it safe to do so?
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Louisianans aged 55 to 64 years old can also get the vaccine if they have certain health conditions.

Louisiana has experienced the largest spike in drug overdose deaths in the country. That’s according to data from the C-D-C. Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich says drug overdose deaths have been rising the last seven years, despite optimism it would slow.
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Instead, the state saw a 53-percent increase in overdose deaths between July 2019 and July 2020, 17-hundred Louisiana residents O-D during that period.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson has filed a bill for the regular session that begins in April that would change the state’s motto from Union, Justice and Confidence to We Live and Die for Those We Love. Nelson thinks that’s a more appropriate motto, but is not pushing to remove the current motto entirely…
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Nelson says it’s only appropriate when new state buildings are constructed that the motto be used, and current structures are not altered.

Jefferson Parish authorities continue to investigate Saturday’s shooting at a gun range that resulted in three deaths and two others injured. The three people who died are 27-year-old Joshua Williams of New Orleans, 47-year-old Noah Fiscbach, a store clerk, and 59-year-old Veronica Billiot who was at the store to pick up a gun she previously purchased. Investigators say the shootout started when Williams got into an argument with the store staff.

The C-D-C says Louisiana had a 53 percent increase in drug overdose deaths between July of 2019 and 2020 compared to the previous year.
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K-through-12 teachers, daycare staff, some people with health conditions, and pregnant women are among the 475-thousand people who are now eligible to receive the COVID-vaccine. There’s some public concern the vaccine can affect fertility, but West Jefferson Medical Center OBGYN Doctor Jennifer Bigelow says there’s no evidence that it does…
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Bigelow says the COVID vaccine is also safe for pregnant mothers.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson has filed a bill for the upcoming session to change the state’s motto from Union Justice and Confidence to We Live and Die for Those We Love. Nelson says he was first intrigued by the slogan when it appeared on his law degree and he’s also seen it on state landmarks…
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The legislative session begins April 12th.