State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Louisiana’s insurance market is much stronger and more competitive today than it was before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He says this resurgence is the result of many people working together to rebuild a market devastated ten years ago. Donelon says one indicator is the number of insurance companies active in Louisiana…:
CUT 3 (09) “in 2005”

State Police say they are looking for a driver they believe is at fault in a fatal hit and run crash in St. Mary Parish Tuesday evening in Bayou Vista. Trooper Dustin Dwight says the preliminary investigation revealed 31-year-old Mark Montie Jr. of Pineville was pulling out of the Wal-Mart on US 90 and failed to yield to an oncoming motorcycle…:
CUT 6 (06) “the crash”
Dwight says after the crash, Montie stopped on scene and then fled on foot and is being sought by law enforcement throughout the state at this time.

State Police say a suspect who was shot by Union Parish Sheriff’s Deputy and a trooper Tuesday night is in serious condition. Troop F spokesman Michael Reichardt says the Union Parish Sheriff’s office was called out to a disturbance around 10:30pm in Downsville regarding a man who was apparently threatening family members with a firearm…:
CUT 8 (11) “all their commands”
He says the man the pointed his weapon at cops which is when they fired and struck him. The suspect will be charged upon release from the hospital.

A 54-year-old man from East Feliciana Parish charged with a hate crime, now faces a felony cruelty charge for allegedly pulling at the pants of a 12-year-old boy and using a racial slur. The incident was caught on video inside a gas station last month. A grand jury in East Felicana Parish handed down the cruelty indictment against Ronnie Barnes of Clinton.

A state panel is meeting at this hour to discuss the cost of the death penalty in Louisiana. Eric Gill reports..:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

The Department of Health and Hospitals says the chlorine levels in the Ascension Parish water system where a deadly amoeba was discovered last month are still not high enough. Parish officials claimed the burn had reached the proper level and that the aomeba had been killed off but special testing by DHH indicated that’s not the case according to state health officials. They say this means the chlorine burn continues but maintain the water remains safe to drink.

The United Way of Acadiana says about $250,000 has been raised for the 11 victims of last month’s tragic Lafayette theater shooting which killed 2 women and injured 9 others. President and CEO Margaret Trahan says this money is used to help defray the costs and expenses for the victims and their families such as income loss, medical bills and funeral costs. She says the donations have been pouring in..:
CUT 12 (10) “this tragedy”
She says most of the money raised is by businesses and retailers selling t-shirts, yard signs and jewelry.

State Police is investigating the case of a suspect who was shot by both a Union Parish Sheriff’s Deputy and Louisiana State Trooper last night during a domestic disturbance in Downsville. Authorities believe the man pointed his gun at the cops before he was fired upon. The unidentified suspect is in serious condition and charges are pending.

A state panel continues to look at the cost of the death penalty in Louisiana. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says the ultimate goal of the Capital Punishment Fiscal Impact Commission is to present these figures to the public and let them decide if it is worth having the death penalty in Louisiana…

cut 6 (09) “higher education”

He says they’re working to determine exactly what costs should be included in the overall figure.

54-year-old Ronnie Barnes of Clinton, charged with a hate crime, now faces a felony cruelty charge for allegedly pulling at the pants of a 12-year-old boy and using a racial slur. District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says they believe a factor into why the incident started is because the 12-year-old is black…

cut 15 (10) “may have”

The incident was caught on video inside an East Feliciana Parish gas station last month.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office says a house fire in Beauregard Parish has claimed the life of a Deridder man. They say 52-year-old Paul Ashworth was found dead in the bedroom of his home. Authorities say the fire started on the bed before spreading further into the house. They believe unsafe smoking practices played a role in the blaze. The investigation is ongoing.

Those who love spicy foods are in luck, a study finds spicy foods can add more years to your life. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

According to United Way of Acadiana, nearly $250,000 collected for the victims of the tragic Lafayette Theater shooting last month…

cut 3 (31) “I’m Scott Carwile”

Authorities say a man is hospitalized after being shot by a Union Parish Sheriff’s Deputy and a Louisiana State Trooper. They say the officers responded to a call of an armed man threatening family members in Downsville. The officers reportedly opened fire when the man pointed his gun in their direction. The suspect was airlifted to an area hospital where he is listed in serious condition. No names have been released at this time. Charges are pending. The investigation is in its early stages

A new study by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Chinese Academy of Medical Science claims eating spicy foods can add more time to your life. Dr. Herbert Muncie, with the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, says this could make those who eat spicy foods frequently feel a little better about their diet and advises patients to go ahead and add more spice to their meals…

cut 9 (06) “like that”

He says it’s helpful for people to know this information but more research needs to be done on the topic.

54-year-old Ronnie Barnes of Clinton now faces a felony cruelty charge for allegedly pulling at the pants of a 12-year-old boy and using a racial slur. The new charge has been added to the simple battery and hate crime charges the East Feliciana Sheriff’s office issued at the time of the incident. District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says he plans on prosecuting Barnes on all three charges…

cut 14 (06) “2015″

A grand jury handed down the cruelty indictment Tuesday.

New Orleans Senator JP Morrell leads a state panel trying to determine the cost of enforcing the death penalty in Louisiana and whether or not it is worth the cost. He says a big problem they are having is figuring out what costs should be included in the overall figure…

cut 5 (09) “near there, yet”

He says the Capital Punishment Fiscal Impact Commission report is due during the next legislative session.

About a quarter of a million dollars has been raised for the 11 victims of last month’s Lafayette theater shooting, according to the United Way of Acadiana. President and CEO Margaret Trahan says after those injured are taken care of, they want to raise funds for those in the theater who suffered mental and emotional trauma from witnessing the massacre…

cut 11 (09) “for that”

She says most of the money was raised by businesses and retailers who have sold t-shirts, yard signs and jewelry.

A 54-year-old man from East Feliciana Parish charged with a hate crime, now faces a felony cruelty charge for allegedly pulling at the pants of a 12-year-old boy and using a racial slur. The incident was caught on video inside a gas station last month. District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says the victim was not physically injured, but…

cut 13 (09) “pain and suffering”

A grand jury handed down the cruelty indictment against Ronnie Barnes of Clinton.

Southerners are in luck, a new study claims eating spicy foods can add more time to your life. Dr. Herbert Muncie, with the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, says it’s helpful for people to know this information but more research needs to be done on the topic…

cut 8 (06) “this point”

The study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Chinese Academy of Medical Science found people consuming spicy foods six to seven times a week lived longer than those eating spicy foods just once a week.

A state panel continues to look at the cost of the death penalty in Louisiana. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says the purpose of the Capital Punishment Fiscal Impact Commission is to determine whether the public believes that enforcing the death penalty is worth the cost. Morrell says the legislature has noticed that it takes several years to implement capital punishment…

cut 4 (07) “a single person”

He says the commission report is due to the legislature during the next legislative session.

A new study by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Chinese Academy of Medical Science found people who consume spicy foods six to seven times a week live longer than those eating spicy foods just once a week. Dr. Herbert Muncie, Professor of Family Medicine at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans says these benefits could be due to a couple reasons…

cut 7 (05) “fewer calories”

Muncie says capsaicin, an ingredient in chili peppers, has been associated with health benefits and is an anti-inflammatory often used with arthritis.

According to the United Way of Acadiana, about $250,000 has been raised for the 11 victims of last month’s Lafayette theater shooting. President and CEO Margaret Trahan says most of the money was raised by businesses and retailers who have sold t-shirts, yard signs, and jewelry…

cut 10 (12) “or injured”

Pixus Printing raised the most significant amount of money, about $215,000, to be donated to the victims. Trahan says she’s extremely proud of the donations, which were mostly raised locally.

The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control issue over 800 citations to Louisiana establishments for selling alcohol and tobacco to minors during the summer. Eric Gill reports…
cut 2 (29) “…I’m Eric Gill”

A family in Covington says their pet cat was found sliced in half on a golf course. Jeff Dorson, director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, says these cases need to be fully investigated to ensure it doesn’t become a gateway to bigger crimes…
cut 5 (06) “…other violence”

State Police say a 1-year-old, who was riding in the lap of a front seat passenger, was ejected from the vehicle and died from her injuries in a crash that took place in Morehouse Parish on Monday afternoon. Trooper Michael Reichardt says 23-year-old Shatora Hall of Bastrop was driving and there were five other people in the car at the time:
CUT 7 (09) “in that car”
He says Hall has been charged with reckless operation and a no child restraint violation.

Slidell Police are calling it a miracle that a 50-year-old motorcyclist survived a crash with an 18-wheeler. Sergeant Daniel Seuzenua says they believe the driver of the semi was intoxicated and literally ran over the motorcycle which stopped, waiting to make a turn. Seuzeneau says the bike was dragged underneath the truck and the victim tossed off his motorcycle…
cut 14 (10) “…full recovery”
The truck driver was arrested and faces several charges.