Oil is back over 70 dollars a barrel but industry experts are not optimistic this will result in increased investment in the state’s oil and gas sector. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Another highly effective COVID-19 vaccine is getting closer to FDA authorization but there’s a chance it won’t be made available to Americans. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Carjackings in Louisiana are on the rise and in New Orleans, they are up 120-percent so far this year compared to 2020. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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It’s Tax Day for most the state, and that includes both state and federal taxes that are due for 2020. But Senior Tax Manager at Hannis T. Bourgeois in Baton Rouge, Brad Tate says there are a few parishes that received yet another extension.

Cut 4 (09) “…August 16th.”

The entire state, along with Texas and Oklahoma, already received an extension from May 17^th until June 15^th due to winter storms in February.

For taxpayers who do have to file today, Tate says be sure you have accurately recorded what you received from your employer, investments, etc., and if your salary decreased in 2020 compared to 2019…

Cut 5  (09) “…last year.”

Tate says stimulus funds that taxpayers did receive in 2020 is not counted as income for the year so you don’t have to claim it.

Cut 6 (08) “…in 2020.”

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The price of a barrel of oil is up over 70 dollars a barrel with experts saying that price is likely to continue to rise due to a number of factors.

LSU Center for Energy Studies Director David Dismukes says excess supply is getting burned off while demand has begun to rise as the economy reopens making experts bullish on the price…

Cut 7 (11) “…tighter.”

Last year during the pandemic’s trough futures prices hit negative numbers as demand cratered amid oversupply from OPEC and Russia.

But Dismukes says don’t expect this surge in prices to result in some new influx of investment or jobs for the Louisiana oil economy due to climate policies like net neutrality by 2050.

Cut 8 (08) “…were at.”

Dismukes says as we move through the summer he expects we will be seeing higher and higher prices at the pump as a result.

Cut 9 (07) “…with them.”

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A study of Maryland-based Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine shows the two-dose offering is 90 percent effective, clearing the way for it to potentially be approved by late summer, early fall.

Tulane School of Medicine Professor Susan Hassig says it is possible this vaccine won’t be available to Americans but instead shipped out to the rest of the world through the COVAX program…

Cut 10 (11) “…doses.”

Hassig says there’s already a glut of vaccines available for Americans from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson, making this offering potentially superfluous.

Hassig says this vaccine could be particularly useful in developing nations that need to get vaccinated in order to prevent even more dangerous variants from mutating…

Cut 11 (07) “…Moderna do.”

In trials, the vaccine was reported to be 100 percent effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19.

The vaccine appears to have fewer side effects than those from Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson but Hassig says in general none of those shots have side effects that really stand out.

Cut 12 (10) “…consequernces.”

Given the release schedule of past vaccines, it is likely Novavax won’t get FDA emergency use authorization until at least late August.

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Carjackings on the rise in Louisiana at an alarming rate and they are happening at all hours of the day. State Attorney General Deputy Press Secretary Emmie Fuson says New Orleans has seen the largest increase in carjackings, up 120-percent in the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2020.

Cut 13 (11) “…families safe.”

As for why there’s been a staggering increase in carjackings Fuson says it’s safe to assume it’s happening because more people are back on the road and returning to normal life, but most of all carjacking is a crime of opportunity.

Cut 14 (11) “…looking around.”

Fuson urges drivers to pay attention to their surroundings, have their keys and phone in hand when approaching their vehicle, park in a well-lit area, and trust their instincts. Fuson says if you find yourself a victim of carjacking remember a car can be replaced you however cannot.

Cut 15 (10)“…trunk.”

Also, familiarize yourself with the truck of your vehicle and the escape latch in case you do find yourself trapped and always report the crime to authorities as soon as possible.

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Now that the LSU baseball season is officially over, LSU can now begin the search for a new baseball coach with the retirement of Paul Mainieri.  There’s has been a lot of names mentioned for the job but college baseball analyst Ronnie Rantz believes athletic director Scott Woodward will try to make a big splash with this hire.

Cut 16 (14) “…ask anyway.”

Corbin would certainly be a great hire but Rantz says convincing him to come to Baton Rouge won’t be easy.

Cut 17 (14) …in the country.” 

When it comes to former LSU coach Skip Bertman, Rantz says the hall of famer has a preference of who he’d like to see lead the purple and gold.

Cut  18 (15)”…Mainieri era.”

A system of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche now has a high chance of turning into at least a tropical depression and appears set to impact Louisiana late this week or early next week with many tracks having it headed straight for Lake Charles. Until those rains arrive we are expecting to see some brutal heat indexes due to the humidity. State Climatologist Barry Keim says expect heat indexes near 110 degrees…

Cut 5  (09) “…system”’

A 44-year-old cold case murder may have been solved by Lafourche Parish Sheriffs following the arrest of 78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off. Vegas is accused to shooting his wife, Dianne Vegas, in the back while in a restaurant in October of 1977. LPSD spokesperson Brennan Matherne says it’s good to get some closure…

Cut 8 (12) “..have” 

Slidell Police Officer Theresa Simon died while on duty Sunday from what authorities believe was likely a massive heart attack. SPD spokesperson Daniel Suzeneau says Simon was a decorated veteran of the force and leaves behind her husband, a Slidell Police Lt., and two children.

Cut 9 (12) “…loss”

Simon was a Southeastern Louisiana University alumni with a degree in criminal justice.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is calling for safety barriers to be installed along the Lake Bistineau Spillway after the tragic death of a 15-year-old teenager on June 1^st. Campbell says Hayden Mangum of Elm Grove might still be alive if safety barriers had been installed…

Cut 12 (11) “..protected”

Mangum was out fishing with his friend when their vessel got pulled towards the Spillway and capsized.

The tropics and the air temperature are heating up. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Lafourche Parish Sheriffs believe they’ve solved a 44-year-old cold case murder. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Forecasters are giving a broad area of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche a high chance of developing into at least a tropical depression over the next five days. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the disturbance is expected to stay in the southern Gulf of Mexico for the next couple of days before heading north…

Cut 3 (06) “…Sunday morning.”

Keim says a lot could still happen with this developing storm, but it would be wise for everyone to keep an eye on this system. He says at this point, he’s not expecting this disturbance to develop into our first hurricane of the season

Cut 4 (12) “…In Louisiana.”

Keim says the public also needs to pay attention to the heat. Heat advisories have been posted for today across north Louisiana and southeast Louisiana as heat index values will approach 110-degrees. Keim says it’s our first taste this year of hot temperatures

Cut 5  (09) “…system”

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The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Department has made an arrest in the 1977 cold-case murder of a Golden Meadow woman who was found shot in the back in a restaurant.

LPSD spokesperson Brennan Matherne says on October 10^th 1977 Deputies found 32-year-old Dianne Vegas on the floor of the Chicken House restaurant. They now believe her husband murdered her.

Cut 6 (09) “…went cold”

78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off is charged with 2^nd Degree Murder and left the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex Friday night after posting bail.

Matherne says despite this being one of the coldest cases on file detectives never gave up.

Cut 7 (11) “…warrant”

Matherne says it’s good to get some closure on this murder, even if it meant waiting more than four decades.

Cut 8 (12) “..have” 

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Slidell Police Officer Theresa Simon died while on duty Sunday from what authorities believe was likely a massive heart attack.

SPD spokesperson Daniel Suzeneau says Simon was a decorated veteran of the force and leaves behind her husband, a Slidell Police Lt., and two children.

Cut 9 (12) “…loss”

Simon was a Southeastern Louisiana University alumni with a degree in criminal justice.

Suzeneau says Simon wore a lot of hats with SPD and was even featured on the former reality show Live PD.

Cut 10 (11) “…middle schools.”

Just last week Simon had passed her promotional exam to become a sergeant.

Suzeneau says she was highly respected and loved by all in the department.

Cut  11 (10) “…level” 

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A tragic drowning on June 1st in Bossier Parish that claimed the life of a 15-year-old, highlights the need for more safety measures on state-operated waterways. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says Hayden Mangum of Elm Grove might still be alive if safety barriers had been installed at the spillway on Lake Bistineau.

Cut 12 (11) “..protected”

Hayden Lane Mangum drown while fishing with a friend when the boat they were in capsized at the Lake Bistineau spillway.

Campbell says currents along impoundments that retain water on manmade lakes can be swift and unpredictable and safety barriers are already installed at Red River and Toledo Bend.

Cut 13 (12) “…in Louisiana.”

To address the issue, Campbell sent a letter Friday to the Secretary of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries to have the safety barriers installed at spillways on all state-operated waterways.

Cut 14 (11) “….from him.” 

Campbell says he expects that the cost would be minimal to install the safety barriers.

A broad area of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche may bring heavy rain to Louisiana late this week, and has a high chance of becoming at least a tropical depression over the next five days, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says it is unlikely to develop into the first hurricane of the season…

Cut 4 (12) “…In Louisiana.”

Slidell Police Officer Theresa Simon died while on duty Sunday from what authorities believe was likely a massive heart attack.

SPD spokesperson Daniel Suzeneau says Simon was a decorated veteran of the force was highly respected and loved by all in the department.

Cut  11 (10) “…level” 

Simon was 46 years old.

Lafourche Parish Sheriffs believe they’ve solved a 44-year-old cold case murder. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

New Orleans Representative Gary Carter Jr. has won the Senate seat recently vacated by his uncle Troy Carter who was elected to replace Congressman Cedric Richmond. Gary Carter’s victory means another special election will be to fill his seat that represents Algiers and New Orleans’ westbank sections.

The tropics and the air temperature are heating up. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Today Orleans Parish became the first parish in the state with over 60 percent of all adults having received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. In total 1.7 million Louisianans have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, still one of the lowest rates in the country.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Department has made an arrest in the 1977 cold-case murder of a Golden Meadow woman who was found shot in the back in a restaurant. LPSD spokesperson Brennan Matherne says on October 10^th 1977 Deputies found 32-year-old Dianne Vegas on the floor of the Chicken House restaurant. They now believe her husband murdered her.

Cut 6 (09) “…went cold”

78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off is charged with 2^nd Degree Murder.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is calling for safety barriers to be installed along the Lake Bistineau Spillway after the tragic death of a 15-year-old teenager on June 1^st. Campbell says currents along impoundments that retain water on manmade lakes can be swift and unpredictable.

Cut 13 (12) “…in Louisiana.”

A broad low-pressure system in the Bay of Campeche now has a high chance of developing at least into a tropical depression over the next five days. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the system will hang around to the south of us before trekking northward into the upper Gulf later this week…

Cut 3 (06) “…Sunday morning.”

Keim is not expecting this system to develop into a hurricane.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Brennan Matherne says the arrest of 78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off for the alleged murder of his wife 44 years ago is probably the oldest cold case the department has solved before. Then 32-year-old Dianne Vegas was found shot in the back in 1977 and while Chester Vegas was always a suspect…

Cut 7 (11) “…warrant”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is calling for safety barriers to be installed along the Lake Bistineau Spillway after the tragic death of a 15-year-old teenager on June 1^st. Campbell sent a letter Friday to the Secretary of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries to have the safety barriers installed at spillways on all state-operated waterways.

Cut 14 (11) “….from him.” 

Hayden Lane Mangum drown while fishing with a friend when the boat they were in capsized at the Lake Bistineau spillway.

Slidell Police Officer Theresa Simon died while on duty Sunday from what authorities believe was likely a massive heart attack. SPD spokesperson Daniel Suzeneau says Simon was a decorated veteran who wore a lot of hats…

Cut 10 (11) “…middle schools.”

Lafourche Parish Sheriffs believe they’ve solved a 44-year-old cold case murder. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

Lafayette Police says 22-year old Artella Andrus was arrested after a shooting by an unidentified suspect struck his vehicle on I-10 in West Baton Rouge Parish Friday night. Andrus is a suspect in shooting at the Lafayette Police Department parking lot that injured three, shots were fired at six individuals. Andrus faces six counts of attempted first degree murder.

Forecasters say an area of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche has medium chance of developing into at least a tropical depression over the next five days. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the public also needs to pay attention to the heat with advisories posted for today across north Louisiana and southeast Louisiana as heat index values will approach 110-degrees.

Cut 5  (09) “…system”

Slidell Police Officer Theresa Simon died while on duty Sunday from what authorities believe was likely a massive heart attack. SPD spokesperson Daniel Suzeneau says Simon was a decorated veteran of the force and leaves behind her husband, a Slidell Police Lt., and two children.

Cut 9 (12) “…loss”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is calling for safety barriers to be installed along the Lake Bistineau Spillway after the tragic death of a 15-year-old teenager on June 1^st. Campbell says Hayden Mangum of Elm Grove might still be alive if safety barriers had been installed…

Cut 12 (11) “..protected”

Mangum was out fishing with his friend when their vessel got pulled towards the Spillway and capsized.

A 44-year-old cold case murder may have been solved by Lafourche Parish Sheriffs following the arrest of 78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off. Vegas is accused to shooting his wife, Dianne Vegas, in the back while in a restaurant in October of 1977. LPSD spokesperson Brennan Matherne says it’s good to get some closure…

Cut 8 (12) “..have” 

The tropics and the air temperature are heating up. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Slidell Police are mourning the death of Officer Theresa Simon who is believed to have suffered a major heart attack while on duty leading to her death.