The Amber Alert sent out across the state last night ended up potentially saving the life of a 10-year-old from New Iberia who was allegedly kidnapped by a registered sex offender. A few hours after the alert went out a St. Martin Parish sanitation worker doing his morning garbage route saw a vehicle matching the description, blocked the car from leaving where it was, and called police. Dion Merrick spoke about his eventful morning on Facebook…

Cut 10 (11) “. …little girl” 

State Police are seeking information in the now-ruled homicide of Erica Hunt of Opelousas. Hunt has been missing since 2016 but Trooper Thomas Gossen says remains found in December of 2018 have been found to be hers.

Cut 6 (10) “…Erica Hunt”

Three former LSU Tigers won their first NFL championship rings last night playing for Tampa Bay. Devin White, Leonard Fournette, and Kevin Minter all played a part in Tampa’s 31-9 win over Kansas City. It’s linebacker Devin White’s first ever championship in his football career.

Cut 3 (12)  “…best in the world” 

White had 12 total tackles on the night and reeled in an interception late in the fourth quarter to seal the win for the Bucs.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles announced that a 2019 LSU National Championship specialty license plate is available for purchase. For fans looking to purchase the plate, it will cost around 100 dollars and OMV Spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says the easiest way is to buy it online.

Cut 14 (10) “.on our website” 

The plate can also be purchased at the OMV specialized vehicle unit and select OMV field offices.

An overnight amber alert leads to two sanitation workers saving a 10-year-old New Iberia girl who authorities say had been kidnapped. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle”

W-B-R-Z-TV in Baton Rouge is reporting that four troopers with Louisiana State Police are facing criminal charges for using excessive force during arrests. The troopers are from Troop F, which covers the Monroe area. State Police from Troop F was involved in the death of Ronald Greene, who died during an encounter with Troopers in 2019.

Webster Parish native Devin White is a Super Bowl champion today as he helped lead the Buccaneers to a 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. White had a team-high 12 tackles and picked off a pass in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Afterward, White broke down the play with the media…
cut 4 (10) “…run the clock out”
Fellow former LSU Tigers Leonard Fournette and Kevin Minter are also Super Bowl champs.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles began selling specialty license plates commemorating LSU’s 2019 national championship season. O-M-V spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says the purple license plate actually mentions all four of the Tigers national titles in football…
cut 13 (08) “….college football world”
He says you can order one at express-lane-dot-org.

A sanitation worker while on his route in St. Martin Parish helped rescue a 10-year-old girl from New Iberia who was allegedly kidnapped. State Police issued an Amber Alert in the overnight hours for help in finding Jalisa Lassalle. In a Facebook Live post, Dion Merrick saw the vehicle described in the Amber Alert and contacted authorities…
cut 11 (06) “…right now”
In the video, it appears police are taking a suspect into custody.

State Police is looking to arrest a suspect in the death of Erica Nicole Hunt, who disappeared during the Fourth of July in 2016 and her skeletal remains were found in December 2018. Trooper Thomas Gossen says Hunt was identified through genetic genealogy…
Cut 8 (11) “…past Friday.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact St. Landry Crime Stoppers.

LSU fans can purchase a specialty license plate that commemorates the Tigers 2019 national championship in football. Taylor Sharp has more…
cut 2 (30) …I’m Taylor Sharp”

The Saints are reportedly facing another penalty from the NFL for not following COVID-19 protocols. The league is looking into how Alvin Kamara got COVID. He reportedly got it from an interaction at the Saints facility with a person not employed by the team, who ended up testing positive for the virus as well.

An overnight Amber Alert helps rescue a 10-year-old New Iberia girl who had allegedly been abducted by a registered sex offender. The alert went out for a gray Nissan sedan late last night and earlier this morning sanitation worker Dion Merrick was out on his garbage route, recognized the vehicle, and blocked it in…

Cut 10 (11) “. …little girl” 

The Amber Alert mentioned 33-year-old Michael Sereal and a suspect was taken into custody at the scene by police.

A trio of former Tigers helps Buccaneers QB Tom Brady win his 7^th Super Bowl Ring beating Kansas City 31-9. Leonard Fournette, Kevin Minter and Devin White now have their own rings and Fournette thanks Brady for helping them get it…

Cut 5  (10) “…ran with it.” 

______________________

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles announced that a 2019 LSU National Championship specialty license plate is available for purchase, meaning Tiger fans can celebrate the historic season wherever they go.  OMV Spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux explains what the unique plate looks like.

Cut 12 (12) “   to the left” 

The plate can also be purchased at the OMV specialized vehicle unit and select OMV field offices.

The Louisiana Department of Health reports another 1,184 new COVID cases, a low number on the usually slow Monday reports.

Increased Moderna production means the state will see a five percent increase in its vaccine allocation this week. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The governor’s office says nearly one-point-two million Louisianans are eligible to get the COVID vaccine. As of last week, the state reported over 400-thousand Louisiananans received at least one shot. The governor will get his first shot tomorrow alongside some members of the Unified Command Group.

A missing 10-year-old New Iberia girl has been found safe. Two sanitation workers ID the kidnapper’s car thanks to an amber alert that went out overnight. A Facebook video of 33-year-old Michael Sereal being taken into custody was captured by Dion Merrick, who says after IDing the vehicle in a field they blocked it in and called 9-1-1…
Cut 9 (11) “…thing”
The kidnapping was rescued in St. Martin Parish. Seral is a registered sex offender, first convicted in 2006 of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

The 2016 disappearance of 20-year-old Erica Nicole Hunt of Opelousas is now a homicide investigation after investigators were able to identify her skeletal remains, which were located in Evangeline Parish in December 2018. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says State Police hopes the public can provide clues on what happened to Hunt and how she ended up in Evangeline Parish
Cut 7 (06) “…Louisiana State Police.”
Gossen says Hunt was identified through genetic genealogy.

Starting today 275-thousand more Louisianans will have access to the COVID-19 vaccine because the minimum age for eligibility has been lowered from 70 to 65 years old. Senate Education Chairman Cleo Fields is urging Governor Edwards to include K-through-12 educators. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter agrees…
cut 14 (11) “….reopening”

Construction is underway in Cameron Parish to turn open water into 308 acres of marsh. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Project Manager Jessica Diez says the added marshland will help protect southwest Louisiana from future storms and the area is part of the Mississippi Flyway which supplies stopover habitats for migratory birds…
cut 12 (06) “…as well”
Diez says they expect to have the project completed by the end of the year.

State Police is seeking information from the public about the July 4th, 2016 disappearance of Erica Nicole Hunt of Opelousas. Trooper Thomas Gossen says it’s a homicide investigation now that investigators have confirmed that skeletal remains found in December of 2018 were Hunt’s …
cut 6 (10) “…Erica Hunt”
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact St. Landry Crime Stoppers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 to win Super Bowl 55. A Trio of former LSU Tigers are now world champions including linebacker Devin White says who says this is the first major championship he’s won during his football career.
Cut 3 (12) “…best in the world”
On the losing end, former Tiger Clyde Edwards-Helairie. The Chiefs rookie running back hoped to win championships in back to back years.

Senate Education Chairman Cleo Fields is urging Governor John Bel Edwards to add teachers to the list of groups that are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter supports the effort by Fields…
cut 15 (08) “….learning”
Carter says the uncertainty of students being either in or out of the classroom has forced many parents to change or leave their jobs to ensure someone is home to care for their child. Fields says over half of American states have made some or all of their teachers eligible to receive the vaccine.

The state has lowered vaccine eligibility from those 70 years and older to 65 years and older. Governor Edwards says the state’s hands are tied by just how much vaccine is allocated…
cut 5 (07) “….vaccinate them”

A 32-million dollar coastal restoration project is underway to rebuild more than 300 acres of marsh in Cameron Parish. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Project Manager Jessica Diez says the marsh creation project not only increases protection for coastal parishes but also adds acreage between the land and the sea…
cut 11 (11) “…area north”
A few Louisiana food brands are hoping to inspire a new generation to restart the old Louisiana tradition of making red beans and rice on Monday. Hayward and Company CEO Vince Hayward says the tradition dates back to the early 1800s. He says one reason is that it allowed families to do household chores on Monday while a pot simmered, the other…
Cut 7 (09) “…Monday”
But Hayward says families are finding they don’t have time to make red beans and rice on Mondays. He suggests a crockpot.

Teacher unions are calling on Governor Edwards to allow educators to be included for vaccine eligibility…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Walmart is now set to join the list of vaccine providers. This week 57 Walmart pharmacies will receive 5,700 doses. Governor John Bel Edwards says after that…
Cut 6 (08) “..about that”
The 57-hundred doses sent to Walmart this week are being diverted from the long-term care facility allocation.

Construction is underway on a 32-million dollar project along the coast of Cameron Parish that will turn open water back intio marsh. Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Project Manager Jessica Diez says it will restore 308 acres of coastal marsh habitat and eleven acres of earthen terraces.
Cut 10 (10) “…Calcasieu Parish.”
The area being restored is northwest of Holly Beach.

Red Beans and Rice has been a traditional dish in many south Louisiana homes on Mondays, but there is a concern the tradition is going away because househoulds are finding it harder to babysit a pot of beans on Monday. Hayward and Company packages Camellia beans and CEO Vince Hayward says keeping old culinary traditions alive is important…
cut 8 (08) “..life”
Hayward says a crock pot is the best way to cook beans on busy Mondays.

Increased Moderna production means the state will see a five percent increase in its COVID vaccine allocation this week. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

State Police issued an Amber Alert overnight for 10-year-old Jalisa Lasalle of New Iberia who is believed to be in imminent danger after she was abducted. L-S-P says the suspected abductor is 33-year-old Michael Sereal of New Iberia, a black man who was last seen driving a 2002 Nissan Altima bearing a license plate of N472845.

Beginning today those 65 and older are now eligible to be vaccinated for COVID in Louisiana, however, some feel K-12 educators and school employees should also be prioritized. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says we owe it to teachers to keep them safe.
Cut 13 (11) “…else.”
Carter says as the state begins to receive an increase in weekly doses, the 166-thousand school teachers and employees should be given priority.

Cajun Country Rice, Camellia Brand and Savoie’s Foods would like to see red beans and rice Mondays become a major tradition again. The tradition has waned as folks find it harder to babysit a pot of beans while the entire household has to go to work. But Hayward and Company CEO Vince Hayward says these days your best bet is a crock pot.
Cut 9 (09) “done.”

The state has received a five percent bump in the number of COVID vaccines that it can administer this week as a result of an increase in Moderna production. Governor John Bel Edwards says 408 providers in all 64 parishes will administer 86-thousand first COVID vaccine doses this week to those 65 and older…
Cut 4 (11)“…program.
Starting today 275-thousand more Louisianans will have access to the COVID-19 vaccine because the minimum age has been lowered from 70 to 65 years old for those who are eligible.

Senate Education Chairman Cleo Fields has written a letter urging Governor Edwards to include K-through-12 educators. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter has also written the governor…
cut 14 (11) “….reopening”

Camelia, Savoie’s, and Cajun Country Rice want to reestablish the old tradition of red beans and rice Mondays. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”