The state Department of Transportation announced today that construction will likely begin this year on a new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. That’s because DOTD and the contractor, Calcasieu Bridge Partners have reached a financial close which allows work on the project to begin. Tolls will help pay for construction.

Joe Petraro is taking online classes at LSU as a sports leadership major. He’s also an 11-year-old with Tourette Syndrome. Mel Bridges has this incredible story.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

The Hammond Police Department is charging 26-year-old Trystan McMillon with second-degree murder in the fentanyl overdose death of 27-year-old Nicholas Platt. Platt’s father, Jay Platt, says he hopes this will lead to more fentanyl-related arrests and spare other families from losing a child or other loved ones.
Cut 5 (11) “…Thank You .”
McMillon was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail.

Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, donated $100,000 to fund the creation of a 3D-printed artificial reef off the coast of Grand Isle. The reef will replace an old, decommissioned oil platform, contributing to marine conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.
Cut 6 (08) “…for the community.”
Graves says he plans to donate more dollars to build four other artificial reefs off the coast of Louisiana.