The National Weather Service says the Red River crested this morning at 36.82 feet in Shreveport. Hydrologist C.S. Ross says the rising waters have caused major backwater flooding along tributaries in Caddo/Bossier. He says unfortunately this is a sign of whats to come..:
CUT 4 (11) “through next weekend”
Governor Bobby Jindal has activated National Guard soldiers to assist in flood response efforts. Ross says at least 80 homes have already taken on water in the area.

The State Fire Marshall’s office says three adults died in a house fire Sunday morning in Monroe. They say two others were able to escape the blaze. Details of the fire are not yet complete but investigators were told that burglar bars were installed on the home and that may have prevented the three victims from escaping the blaze. The investigation is ongoing into how the fire started in the small, wood framed home.

The state Senate voted to increase the cigarette tax by 72 cents which would bring it up to $1.08 and match the Southern regional average. Lawmakers are trying to raise revenue to plug the budget hole and prevent massive cuts to higher ed and health care. The Senate is currently debating the next year’s $24.5 bilion dollar budget.

The LSU Tiger Baseball team is headed to Omaha to play in the College World Series for the 17th time and the first since 2013. The Tigers defeated UL-Lafayette on Sunday 6-3. After the game, Coach Paul Mainieri told the media that he got an email from the best friend of Lance Bergeron, one of the National Guardsmen who lost his life in the Blackhawk helicopter crash…:
CUT 7 (13) “perspective for me”
He says their team deserves to go to Omaha and he couldn’t be more proud of the players.