On again, off again – as of this morning, the execution of Jessie Hoffman is off. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Hoffman’s attorneys are making the case that because he is Buddhist, execution by nitrogen gas would impact his abilities to do his Buddhist breathing exercises. Meanwhile, the state is expecting to be successful in court today and they are expecting to carry out the execution tonight.

A poll paid for by Unite America has found most Louisiana residents do not support the moving of Louisiana’s elections to a closed primary system. Starting with next year’s Congressional elections, candidates will need to win a party primary to advance to the November general election. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon says only 34-percent of the voters surveyed are aware of this change…

Cut 6 (12) “…candidates”

In a closed primary, only registered voters of the Democratic or Republican Party can vote for candidates of their party.

As part of the deal to avoid a government shutdown last week, Congress approved another short-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program. Senator Bill Cassidy says while he appreciates that, that’s not enough. He’s introduced a bill that would reauthorize the program for two years.

Cut 13 (08)  “…asking too much.”

A hearing will begin in a Baton Rouge courtroom next hour as the lawyers for Jesse Hoffman try to halt his execution that’s scheduled for tonight. Loyola of New Orleans University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Hoffman’s attorneys are trying to make the case that using nitrogen gas to kill Hoffman, would interfere with his Buddhist breathing exercises…

Cut 11 (09) “….Religious Freedom Act”

The state is seeking to execute Hoffman for the 1996 murder of Molly Elliot in St. Tammany Parish.

In Morgan City, 71-year-old Sheri Hite is facing animal cruelty charges after 22 cats were found dead in her home, 14 of them in a freezer. Morgan City Police Captain John Schaff says they can’t speak to Hite’s mental state, but that will come out during her trial…

Cut 9 (08) “….the judicial process”

A new poll commissioned by Unite America shows a majority of Louisiana voters prefer an open primary system over a closed primary system. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed an executive order that requires all state agencies and state boards and officers to refer to the body of water south of Louisiana as Gulf of America instead of Gulf of Mexico. On President Trump’s first day in office, he signed an executive order that directs the U-S Secretary of the Interior to rename the Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America

It’s off again — for now. The execution of Jessie Hoffman is once again put on hold. This time, it’s 19th Judicial District Court Judge Chip Moore who issued a temporary restraining order halting Jessie Hoffman’s execution pending a hearing at 9:30 this morning. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law professor Dane Ciolino says such last-minute legal maneuvering by the defense is not unusual.

Cut 10 (09) “…halt an execution.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill believes Hoffman will be executed tonight by nitrogen hypoxia as he has exhausted all of his state and federal post conviction remedies.

A new statewide poll conducted by JMC Analytics and paid for by Unite America has found Louisiana voters overwhelmingly approve of an open primary voting system and only 34-percent are aware that next year’s Congressional elections will be a closed party primary. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says that means the primary will take place in the spring, instead of the fall…

Cut 5 (08) “….last 50 years”

A Morgan City woman was arrested for animal cruelty after police found several dead cats inside her home. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a deer harvested by a hunter in Catahoula Parish had chronic wasting disease. This is the first CWD confirmed positive in a wild deer outside of Tensas Parish. CWD was first detected in Louisiana in 2022 and there have been 34 detections in Louisiana since that time. LDWF will release a CWD response plan for this area soon.

On again, off again – as of this morning, the execution of Jessie Hoffman is off. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Hoffman is a practicing Buddhist and his lawyers say killing him with nitrogen gas would interfere with Buddhist breathing exercises, which would be a violation of religious freedoms. Hoffman agrees he deserves to die for killing Molly Elliot in St. Tammany Parish in 1996, but he would prefer a different form of execution, including firing squad.

Morgan City Police arrest a 71-year-old woman on animal cruelty charges after finding several dead cats inside her home. Captain John Schaff says officers came across the scene while conducting a welfare check on Sheri Hite. Schaff says officers saw a dead cat through a window and smelled a strong odor. Upon entering, they discovered many more dead cats

Cut 7 (11) “…in the freezer.”

Schaff says Hite told officers she picked up the cats from Baton Rouge to take care of them and planned to dispose of the cats found in the freezer.

When Congress approved a continuing resolution to keep the government open late last week, it also kept the flood insurance program going for the next few months. Senator Bill Cassidy says it’s time to stop with the short-term extensions and approve a bill to keep the NFIP going for at least the next two years…

Cut 14 (15) “….would be unsettling”

The execution of Jessie Hoffman is off again. This afternoon, 19th Judicial District Court Judge Chip Moore issued a temporary restraining order halting Hoffman’s execution pending a hearing tomorrow morning. At issue is whether using nitrogen hypoxia violates Hoffman’s rights to religious freedom.

The National Weather Service in Slidell confirmed two tornadoes touched down in Tangipahoa this past weekend damaging over 20 homes in the area.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe has passed away. The New Iberia native died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 62. Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says Duhe worked tirelessly to bring justice to victims and their families…

Cut 11 (11) “…seek justice.”

Duhe attended law school at Tulane and in 1993 he began working in the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s office. He became the D-A in 2015.

A massive fire over the weekend at the Port of Caddo/Bossier. About 95-hundred tons of baled paper spread across two and a half acres at Pratt Industries caught fire late Saturday afternoon. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese says this was a very difficult fire for firefighters to battle, not just because of the high winds.

Cut 8 (12) “…at 950 degrees.”

The on again off again execution of death row inmate Jessie Hoffman is off again. 19th Judicial District Court Judge Richard “Chip” Moore signed a temporary restraining order blocking the execution by nitrogen hypoxia pending a hearing Tuesday morning. Hoffman’s attorneys will argue nitrogen hypoxia, violates Hoffman’s right to practice his religion saying the method would interfere with the practice of “meditative breathing” as he is put to death. Hoffman was sentenced to death by lethal injection in 1998 for the 1996 murder of Mary “Molly” Elliot in St. Tammany Parish.

More than 100 firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze at a paper facility at the Port of Caddo/Bossier Saturday afternoon. The high winds were making the battle very difficult, but crews were able to prevent it from spreading to any buildings. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese says the entire inventory at Pratt Industries is a total loss.

Cut 7 (11) “…damage to it.”

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe has passed away. The New Iberia native died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 62. For the last ten years, he had been the top prosecutor for Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin parishes. Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says Duhe’s legacy of justice and service will never be forgotten and he’ll be greatly missed…

Cut 10 (07) “…hard to fill”

The Saints sent a 2026 seventh round draft pick to New England to acquire Former Plaquemine High School and LSU star Davon Godchaux. He was a four-star prospect coming out of Plaquemine High School then a starter at LSU from 2014 to 2016. Godchaux says it was a full circle moment when he learned of the trade to the Saints…

Cut 14 (12) “..of it.”

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe has passed away. The New Iberia native died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 62. He’s been the top prosecutor for Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin Parishes since 2015. Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says he had an outstanding working relationship with Duhe…

Cut 9 (11)  “…investigation.”

Visitation begins tomorrow night at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia. His funeral is Wednesday morning at 11 AM at St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

More than 100 firefighters were called to the Port of Caddo/Bossier to put out a huge paper fire. About 95-hundred tons of baled paper spread across two and a half acres at Pratt Industries caught fire late Saturday afternoon, and the high winds made the battle difficult. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese says job number one for fire crews was preventing the fire from spreading to buildings, and they succeeded.

Cut 6 (06) “…the main goal.”

Chief Reese says Pratt’s entire inventory is a total loss.

It will be a late night in the PMAC on Saturday night as the LSU Lady Tigers hosts San Diego State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Former Plaquemine High School and LSU star Davon Godchaux met with the media today for the first time since the trade that sent the defensive tackle to the New Orleans Saints from the New England Patriots. Godchaux says he’s glad to be back in his home state…

Cut 12 (08) “…you got.”

About 95-hundred tons of baled paper at Pratt Industries at the Port of Caddo/Bossier caught fire late Saturday afternoon, and the high winds made the fire difficult to battle requiring more than 100 firefighters.

Cut 8 (12) “…at 950 degrees.”

Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese says job number one for fire crews was preventing the fire from spreading to buildings. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe has passed away Saturday surrounded by his family. Duhe became the D-A in 2015. Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says Duhe worked tirelessly to bring justice to victims and their families…

Cut 11 (11) “…seek justice.”

The National Weather Service in Slidell confirmed two tornadoes touched down in Tangipahoa this past weekend damaging over 20 homes in the area.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Former Plaquemine High School and LSU star Davon Godchaux enters his ninth season in the NFL as a New Orleans Saint after being traded from the New England Patriots.

Cut 12 (08) “…you got.”

The tornadoes that tore through Tangipahoa Parish Saturday are rated EF-2 and EF-3. That’s out of five on the Fujita scale. The tornadoes cut through nearly identical paths; and so far there are reports of more than 20 homes being damaged. National Weather Service Senior Forecaster Rob Frye says it’s not uncommon for storms like this to follow similar paths, and that leads to more destruction when that’s the case.

Cut 5 (11) “…in this case.”

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe has passed away. The New Iberia native died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 62. For the last ten years, he had been the top prosecutor for Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin parishes. Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says Duhe’s legacy of justice and service will never be forgotten and he’ll be greatly missed…

Cut 10 (07) “…hard to fill”

It will be a late night in the PMAC on Saturday night as the LSU Lady Tigers host San Diego State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

More than 100 firefighters were called to the Port of Caddo/Bossier to put out a huge paper fire. About 95-hundred tons of baled paper spread across two and a half acres at Pratt Industries caught fire late Saturday afternoon, and the high winds were making the battle very difficult. One firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The tornado that tore through Tangipahoa Parish Saturday was a doozy. The National Weather Service has rated it an EF-3 out of five on the Fujita scale. Senior Forecaster Rob Frye says due to how close it was to an EF-2 that followed almost the same track, it’s difficult to determine each storm’s effects.

Cut 4 (06) “…tornado did what.”

More than 100 firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze at a paper facility at the Port of Caddo/Bossier Saturday afternoon. The high winds were making the battle very difficult, but crews were able to prevent it from spreading to any buildings. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese says the entire inventory at Pratt Industries is a total loss.

Cut 7 (11) “…damage to it.”

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe has passed away. The New Iberia native died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 62. He’d been the top prosecutor for Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin parishes since 2015. Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says he had an outstanding working relationship with Duhe…

Cut 9 (11)  “…investigation.”

March Madness is here. In the men’s tournament, The Midwest regional’s 12th seed, McNeese, takes on Clemson Thursday afternoon in Providence, Rhode Island. In the women’s tournament, LSU is a three seed and hosts San Diego State Saturday night.