The NRA and National Association for Gun Rights are wading into the battle over Governor Edwards’ veto of constitutional carry legislation. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle” 

____________________________________

COVID cases topped 1,500 today and now just over 500 people are hospitalized. Health officials say we’re in the midst of another surge. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington”.  

______________________________________

The State Fire Marshal is investigating a tragic fire that claimed the life of a child and left a woman badly burned in the Franklin community of Centerville. Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue describes what responders found when they arrived at the mobile home Tuesday night.

Cut 3 (11)  “…condition.”

49-year old Derwin Hamilton has been booked into the St. Mary Parish Jail for second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

Rodrigue says the female victim was able to tell responders that she and Hamilton were involved in an argument.

Cut 4 (05) “…on fire.” 

The child is reportedly the suspect’s great-nephew. Rodrigue says the incident has shaken the small community.

Cut 5  (10) “…condition.” 

___________________________

National gun rights organizations are hoping a last-minute campaign to sway lawmakers into heading back to Baton Rouge to override the Governor’s veto of constitutional carry legislation will pay off.

The NRA and National Association for Gun Rights have peppered the state with ads and mailers. NAGR spokesperson Chris Stone says if the veto stands Louisiana will be a regional outlier…

Cut 6 (07) “..this year”

Stone says currently there are 21 states that allow the concealed carry of a firearm without needing a permit.

Opponents of the bill are concerned that overturning that veto will lead to more shootings, but Stone says there’s no data from states with similar laws that back up that claim.

Cut 7 (09) “…crumble.”

Some Louisiana Sheriffs and the Louisiana Chiefs of Police Association oppose the bill, saying it will make life hard on law enforcement. Stone says that is not the case…

Cut 8 (09) “…money”

Lawmakers have until midnight tonight to submit their ballots requesting the upcoming veto override session be canceled.

_____________________________

As COVID cases continue to surge across the state and nation, health officials say the highly transmissible Delta variant is a driving factor along with low vaccination rates. LSU Health Shreveport Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John Vanchiere…

Cut 9 (12) “…variant.”

The state has gone from an average of a hundred cases a day to over 1,200 daily. Vanchiere says the vaccine is still your best protection against the virus, but even fully vaccinated, it is possible to catch the highly contagious Delta variant.

Cut 10 (09) “…zero.”

While many think the pandemic is coming to an end with eased health restrictions, Vanchiere says we are only at the halfway mark. He says we are beginning to see more cases among those 40 and under as opposed to previous surges among those 60 and older.

Vanchiere says vaccination hesitancy is a major factor for the increase in COVID cases and only one out of three are fully vaccinated.

Cut  11 (10) “…emerging.” 

Today the state reported 1,500 new cases along with 504 hospitalizations and 13 fatalities.

________________________________________________

In northwest Louisiana, the Jimmie Davis Bridge along Highway 511 that crossed the Red River in Bossier and Caddo Parishes will be closed over the weekend for scheduled repairs. DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchannan says work will begin on Friday at 8 pm.

Cut 12 (12) “…approaches.”

They expect work will be completed by 6 am on Monday.

The two-lane Jimmie Davis Bridge was completed in 1968 and an average of 26,000 vehicles use the bridge daily.

As for an alternate route, Buchannan says two are available.

Cut 13 (09) “…Barksdale bridge”

Buchannan says they chose this weekend because there aren’t any large events scheduled in the area and they wanted to disrupt traffic as little as possible. Weather permitting, they will complete repairs by Monday.

Cut 14 (10) “…coming in” 

Buchannan says this is not replacing any upcoming rehabilitation projects on the bridge and this weekend’s closure is for planned repairs.

___________________________

Over 500 people are hospitalized in Louisiana with COVID for the first time since March 10^th. LSU Health Shreveport Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John Vanchiere this new surge is driven by the more transmissible and virulent Delta variant, and while available vaccines do offer a lot of protection against the variant, they aren’t perfect…

Cut 10 (09) “…zero.”

1,500 new positive COVID tests were also reported today.

National gun rights organizations are hoping a last-minute campaign to sway lawmakers into heading back to Baton Rouge to override the Governor’s veto of constitutional carry legislation will pay off. National Association for Gun Rights spokesperson Chris Stone says if the veto stands Louisiana will be a regional outlier…

Cut 6 (07) “..this year”

A 49-year-old Franklin man is under arrest for allegedly severely burning a woman and killing a small child. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the female victim was able to tell responders that she and Derwin Hamilton were involved in an argument before Hamilton attacked them…

Cut 4 (05) “…on fire.” 

The child is reportedly Hamilton’s grand-nephew.

In northwest Louisiana, the Jimmie Davis Bridge along Highway 511 that crossed the Red River in Bossier and Caddo Parishes will be closed over the weekend for scheduled repairs. DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchannan says work will begin on Friday at 8 pm.

Cut 12 (12) “…approaches.”

They expect work will be completed by 6 am on Monday.

1,500 new COVID cases were reported today and the state now has over 500 COVID-related hospitalizations, lending further evidence to the idea that we are in the midst of a new surge propelled by the more virulent and transmissible Delta variant. LSU Health Shreveport Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John Vanchiere says vaccination hesitancy is a major factor for the increase.

Cut  11 (10) “…emerging.” 

49-year old Derwin Hamilton of Franklin is under arrest for allegedly setting a fire in his hometown that killed his great-nephew and left a woman he was in a relationship with badly burned.  State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the incident has shaken the small community.

Cut 5  (10) “…condition.” 

Parents should see the first of six-monthly advanced child tax credits in their account today. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

As COVID cases continue to surge across the state and nation, health officials say the highly transmissible delta variant is a driving factor along with low vaccination rates. LSU Health Shreveport Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John Vanchiere…

Cut 9 (12) “…variant.”

A tragic fire claimed the life of a child and left a woman badly burned in the Franklin community of Centerville Tuesday night. State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the female victim told responders that she and  49-year-old Derwin Hamilton were having an argument.

Cut 4 (05) “…on fire.” 

Hamilton has been charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

A preliminary CDC report shows the US suffered a 29 percent increase in overdose deaths in 2020. In Louisiana, that number is even higher at an estimated 48 percent increase. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Community Medicine Dr. Ben Springgate on one reason behind the tragic surge…

Cut 13 (11) “…pandemic.”

A predicted 1,900 Louisianans died of an overdose last year.

The Manning Passing Academy returns to the Nicholls State campus today after being canceled last year because of the pandemic.  The annual camp is put on by the Manning family and Nicholls State athletic director Jonathan Terrell says in addition to COVID protocols that’s not the only change you’ll notice on the Thibodeaux campus.

Cut 12 (11) “…ways”

The State Fire Marshal is investigating a tragic fire that claimed the life of a child and left a woman badly burned in the Franklin community of Centerville. Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue describes what responders found when they arrived at the mobile home Tuesday night.

Cut 3 (11)  “…condition.”

49-year-old Derwin Hamilton has been booked into the St. Mary Parish Jail for second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

Parents see an extra deposit in their account today it is the first of a six-monthly child tax credit Partner with Metairie accounting firm Malcolm M. Dienes, Johnathan Stoltz says income limits changed for the child tax credit so be sure to check on the amount you receive.

Cut 7 (11) “…potentially.”

The federal government says drug overdose deaths in the United States hit an all-time high of 93-thousand last year and in Louisiana, there was a 48-percent increase in 2020. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Community Medicine Doctor Ben Springgate…

cut 15 (11) “…dramatic rise”

A predicted 1,925 Louisianans died of an overdose in 2020.

The Manning Passing Academy returns to Nicholls State today after being canceled last year because of the pandemic.  The annual camp is put on by the Manning and Nicholls State athletic director Jonathan Terrell says hosting the passing academy on the Nicholls campus has a positive impact on the entire region.

Cut 11 (12) “…through us.”

Parents should begin seeing the first of six-monthly child tax credit payments today. Partner with Metairie accounting firm Malcolm M. Dienes, Johnathan Stoltz says if you typically owe taxes versus receiving a refund, you might want to visit the child tax credit portal at IRS.gov and opt-out of receiving payments.

Cut 8 (10) “…early 2022.”

Visitation services will be held this evening at the First Bossier Church in Bossier City for Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy William Earl Collins Jr. who was killed in the line of duty on July 9th while responding to a disturbance.  Doyline Police Chief Robert Hayden said this was the first time that he’s lost an officer and he’s both sad and angry…

Cut 5  (11) “…we’re devastated.”

A preliminary report from the CDC estimates Louisiana saw a 47 percent increase in overdose deaths in 2020.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

In an effort to recruit Jacob Hood to play 2022 offensive line at Auburn the university sent a social media post that included a photo of a Heisman Trophy. But instead of using a photo of one of the school’s three winners they used a photo of Joe Burrow’s Heisman Trophy. Yes, Auburn posted a photo of rival LSU’s star quarterback Burrow from the school’s national championship season in 2019.

Parents should begin seeing the first of six-monthly child tax credit payments in their accounts or mailboxes today. Partner with Metairie accounting firm Malcolm M. Dienes (Dee-nez) Johnathan Stoltz says you’ll receive your payment typically the same way you got your stimulus check last year.

Cut 9 (10) “…your account.”

A preliminary CDC report shows the nation suffered a 29 percent increase in overdose deaths last year and in Louisiana, it’s an estimated 48 percent increase. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Community Medicine Dr. Ben Springgate says the state and nation have never before seen a year-to-year increase in overdose deaths this dramatic.

Cut 15 (11)“…dramatic rise.”

A road rage shooting incident in Slidell Wednesday night results in the suspect being taken into custody. Slidell Police say it began on Highway 11 near Brownswitch Road. The suspect then followed the victim into a neighborhood and began shooting at the victim’s car. No one was hurt and police later took the suspect into custody. The investigation is ongoing.

Visitation services for the Doyline Police Officer who was killed last Friday will be held this evening at the first Bossier Church. Erik Piccoli has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli.”

Many parents will see the first of six-monthly enhanced child tax credits in their bank account today, 36-hundred dollars for parents with children under the age of six and 3-thousand dollars for ages six to 17…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A Franklin man has been arrested after allegedly setting a fire to a mobile home in Centerville that killed his five-year-old nephew and also caused critical injuries to his girlfriend. 49-year-old Derwin Hamilton has been charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

Visitation is today for Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputy William “Billy” Earl Collins Junior, who was fatally shot on Friday night responding to a disturbance call. He was working as a part-time Doyline Police Officer when he was shot and Doyline Police Chief Robert Hayden calls Collins a family man and an overall good person…
cut 4 (07) “…he could”
The man who shot Collins is in custody. Visitation is tonight from 5 to 8 PM at First Bossier Church in Bossier City.

The federal government says drug overdose deaths in the United States hit an all-time high of 93-thousand last year and in Louisiana, there was a 48-percent increase in 2020. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Community Medicine Doctor Ben Springgate…
cut 15 (11) “…dramatic rise”