It’s not what you wanted to hear today but Colorado State University is predicting yet another above average hurricane seasons this year. Ph.D. candidate Alex DesRosiers (Dee-rose-ee-ay) says in addition to La Nina conditions, the water is also warm in the Caribbean and subtropical Atlantic right now which typically leads to warmer main development region in the peak of the season…:
CUT 6 (08) “for you”
Hurricane season begins June 1st.

The man wanted for questioning in connection to the case of the missing woman from Lafayette Parish is now in custody in Rapides Parish. Ella Goodie has been missing since March 9th and Brandon Francisco is believed to be the last person to see her. Francisco was extradited from Missouri to Rapides on unrelated attempted murder charges and is only a person of interest right now in the Goodie case.

Researchers at Baton Rouge’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center identify a chemical compound that COULD be an anti-aging breakthrough. Pennington Center’s Christopher Axelrod says the research continues, but the possibilities for improving the quality of life for seniors are significant…:
Cut 9 (09) “healthier, longer lives”
Axelrod says, in human applications, BAM15 could prevent age-related obesity and/or age-related muscle loss and even reduce inflammation in older persons.

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival gets underway today and organizers say this could be the most well attended year in the 50-year history of the event. spokesperson Donald Lanier says they are expecting anywhere from 200,000 to 500,000 people so come one, come all…:
Cut 12 (04) “out here”
Visit LAstrawberryfestival.com to learn more.

Another above-average hurricane season is in the forecast for 2022. Colorado State University Ph.D. candidate Alex DesRosiers (Dee-rose-ee-ay) says they predict at least 19 named storms and nine hurricanes – four of which could be major…:
Cut 4 (10) “likes to see”
Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th.

The LHSAA says it will allow student-athletes to receive NIL benefits. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they’ve also entered a partnership with Eccker sports to provide educational NIL services, so everyone understands the name, image, likeness process…
CUT 14 (07) “see the money”
He says NIL deals are already happening in the state and the partnership with Eccker is just about explaining how it all works.

A truck driver from out of state was arrested after his big rig slammed into the back of another vehicle on I-12 Thursday morning, leaving an 18-month-old dead. The wreck happened near the Livingston/Tangipahoa parish line. State Police say 60-year-old Predrag Bisevac of Illinois failed to stop as he approached standstill traffic. He was booked on charges of negligent homicide and reckless operation.

Researchers in Baton Rouge discover a natural substance that COULD be an anti-aging breakthrough. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Colorado State University releases its predictions for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season with 19 named storms. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The legislative committee looking into the death of motorist Ronald Greene was told Thursday to expect charges will be handed down soon to State Troopers involved in the deadly 2019 arrest of Greene. Union Parish District Attorney John Belton also hinted that federal indictments will also be forthcoming.

Researchers at Baton Rouge’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center identify a chemical compound that COULD be an anti-aging breakthrough. Pennington Center’s Christopher Axelrod says it cannot reverse aging, but their research on geriatric mice indicates it could be useful in helping us live better lives as we grow old…:
Cut 8 (08) “made them age healthier”

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival kicks off today and organizers predict 2022 will see a record-breaking crowd head to Tangipahoa Parish this weekend. 32-year festival board member Donald Lanier says they haven’t been able to have the berry big festival for two years, so they are elated to be back…:
Cut 10 (09) “everything going on”
Visit LAstrawberryfestival.com to learn more.

Researchers at Colorado State University are predicting another active Atlantic hurricane season for 2022, with 19 named storms. CSU Ph.D. candidate Alex DesRosiers (Dee-rose-ee-ay) says we are still currently in a weak La Nina pattern:
Cut 5 (06) “and intensify”
This is the third year in a row forecasters have called for an “above average” season.

The LHSAA executive committee approved a positioning statement to allow high school student-athletes to profit from name, image, and likeness deals. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the association has also entered a partnership with Eccker sports to provide educational NIL services…:
Cut 13 (10) “learning tool”
He says these NIL deals are already happening this approval is all about making sure folks are educated on the process.

After a two-year absence organizers are chomping at the berry for things to get underway at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Police in Slidell have arrested a headmaster at a local Christian School for allegedly taping three students’ mouths shut last month. 60 year old Pastor John Raymond is charged with three counts of child cruelty.

Most of the state is under a red flag warning which means weather conditions are ripe for small fires to be easily spread so it’s a good idea to avoid outdoor burning today.

Colorado State University releases its predictions for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season with 19 named storms. Jeff Palermo has more,

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Researchers in Baton Rouge discover a natural substance that COULD be an anti-aging breakthrough. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

_____________________________________

After a two-year absence organizers are chomping at the berry for things to get underway at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

____________________________________

Researchers at Colorado State University are predicting another active Atlantic hurricane season for 2022, with 19 named storms. CSU Ph.D. candidate Alex DesRosiers (Dee-rose-ee-ay) says they are forecasting that nine of those named storms will develop into hurricanes of which four could be major.

Cut 4 (10)  “…likes to see.”

DesRosiers says one reason they are predicting another above-average season is that we are still currently in a weak La Nina pattern which plays a factor with wind shear.

Cut 5 (06) “…an intensify.”

And DesRosiers says the chances that things will change to an El Nino pattern by hurricane season are exceedingly low.

Another similarity to last season, DeRosiers says is warm water temperatures in the Caribbean and also in the subtropical Atlantic. He says typically when you see warm waters in the subtropical Atlantic in April that leads to a warmer main development region in the peak season.

Cut 6 (08)  “…for you.”

Hurricane season runs from June 1^st to November 30th.

_______________________________________

Researchers at Baton Rouge’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center identify a chemical compound that COULD be an anti-aging breakthrough. Pennington Center’s Christopher Axelrod says the recently discovered compound – called BAM15 – prevented age-related muscle loss in older lab mice, by actually making mitochondria in their bodies less efficient…:

Cut 7 (11) “…the mitochondria healthier.”

Axelrod says BAM15 – which he calls a “mitochondrial uncoupler” – cannot actually reverse aging, but their research on geriatric mice indicates it could be useful in helping humans live better lives as they grow old…:

Cut 8 (08)  “…made them age healthier.”

Axelrod says, in human applications, BAM15 could prevent age-related obesity and/or age-related muscle loss and even reduce inflammation in older persons. He says the research continues, but the possibilities for improving the quality of life for seniors are significant…:

Cut 9 (09)  “…healthier, longer lives.”

________________________________________

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival kicks off at noon today, and after a two-year absence due to the pandemic organizers are chomping at the berry to get things underway. For the 50^th Anniversary, this year spokesperson Donald Lanier says everyone is excited to see this Louisiana staple return.

Cut 10 (09) “…everything going on.”

The festival returns as the state is also experiencing a bountiful strawberry crop this season.

Lanier says the last two years have been difficult without the strawberry festival not only for the nonprofits that depend on revenue from the festival but for local businesses as well.

Cut  11 (06)  “…the year.”  

The festival at Memorial Park runs from noon until 10:30 Friday night and then things get underway on Saturday at 9 am with a parade at 9:30 and continue until 11 pm. Sunday things kick off with a church service at 9 am and the festival wraps at 6 pm. Lanier says they’ll have plenty of all types of music, food, rides, games, and crafts.

The Ponchatoula festival is one of the state’s largest free events, second only to Mardi Gras. In the past with festival would compete with French Quarter Festival in New Orleans but not this year. And after a two year-absence, Lanier says they are expecting record-breaking crowds this weekend, anywhere from 200,000 to 500,000 people.

Cut 12 (04) “…out here.”

For more information visit LAstrawberryfestival.com.

___________________________________________________

The LHSAA executive committee approved a positioning statement to allow high school student-athletes to profit from name, image, and likeness deals. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the association has also entered a partnership with Eccker sports to provide educational NIL services…

Cut 13 (10) “…learning tool”

Bonine says the LHSAA will not stand in the way of a student receiving endorsement money, but Eccker can help a student-athlete if they decide to negotiate an N-I-L deal

Cut 14 (07)  “…see the money.”

Bonine says NIL deals are already happening in Louisiana. He says one of the top girls’ basketball players in the country, Parkway’s Mikalah Williams is endorsing a local attorney…

Cut 15 (10)  “…that’s all it is.”

_____________________________________________

The 19th ranked LSU baseball team is in Starkville this weekend taking on the defending national champion Mississippi State Bulldogs. Both teams are 4-and-5 in SEC play, but the Dawgs are not ranked. Tigers Coach Jay Johnson still considers State one of the top teams in the country…

Cut 16 (22)  “…to be successful.”

The Tigers are coming off a 16-3 midweek win over Grambling. The Bayou Bengals had a season-high 18 hits and Johnson hopes the bats stay hot this weekend…

Cut 17 (18) “ …needed to do” 

LSU continues to struggle in the field with errors and leaving runners on base. Johnson says his team is constantly working to get better

Cut 18 (24) “ …improving.” 

 ###

Cut 19 (20) _“…how it goes.” 

Cut 20 (16) “ …those plays.” 

District Attorney John Belton told a special House Committee he’ll assemble a grand jury in Union Parish to see if criminal charges should be handed down against the state troopers involved in the fatal arrest of Ronald Greene. Belton says he believes state and federal crimes were committed…
cut 7 (07) “…above the law”
Belton held off on pursuing charges at the request of the U-S Attorney’s office which has given him permission to move forward.

Adults recruiting juveniles to commit carjackings would be illegal under legislation approved unanimously by the Louisiana House. The bill’s author, New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says he wants to hold adults accountable for a crime that’s creating fear in the city he loves…
Cut 3 (12) “..our parish”
The measure heads to the Senate.

The Senate Education Committee advances a bill that would ban persons born male from competing in women’s sports. Franklinton Republican Senator Beth Mizell brought the bill again after it was vetoed by Governor Edwards last year. Monroe Democrat Senator Katrina Jackson says she understands the bill’s intent to head off potential problems with unfairness for female athletes…:
Cut 12 (14) “…out of their ranking.”
Last month, the world saw transgender swimmer Lia Thomas win an NCAA title. Forum for Equality executive director Sarah Jane Guidry called the bill too far-reaching…
Cut 13 (12) “…to play sports.”
The measure heads to the Senate for more discussion.

A proposed law making it a crime to recruit a minor to commit a carjacking wins passage in the state House. More from Michelle Southern…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Michelle Southern.”

Despite “nay” votes from Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, the U.S. Senate has confirmed federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the next Supreme Court Justice. The vote was 53 for and 47 against. Jackson will take her seat when Justice Stephen Breyer retires this summer. She is the first woman of color to ever be on the High Court.

Third judicial District Attorney John Belton tells state lawmakers he’s moving forward with convening a special grand jury in Union Parish to prosecute those involved in the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene. Belton says he delayed prosecution at the request of the U-S Attorney, but he received clearance from federal prosecutors last week to pursue charges..:

CUT 06(07)      “…appropriate charges.”

State Police body camera video showed several troopers beating and tasing Greene after a lengthy police chase. Greene died a short time later. His family was originally told he died in a car crash.

Make that TWELVE people arrested in Lake Charles in connection with a gang dispute with gunfire that led to the death of a 6-year-old girl; innocently watching TV inside her home. LC Police Chief Shawn Caldwell says detectives found evidence of a gang-related ongoing beef via social media posts that started the shooting outside little Draya Guillory’s house…:

CUT 10(03)      “…at that residence.”

Lake Charlese Mayor Nic Hunter calls the girl’s death senseless and tragic.

Police in Lake Charles arrest 11 people they say are connected to wild gunfire on March 20^th that led to the shooting death of a little girl – inside her home, as she watched TV.  Police Chief Shawn Caldwell hopes these arrests give the family of little 6-year-old Draya Guillory a sense of closure….:

CUT 09(12)      “…Northside Babies.”

Investigators found evidence of an ongoing argument via social media posts that led to the shooting. They say more arrests are coming.

Adults recruiting juveniles to commit carjackings would be illegal under legislation approved unanimously by the Louisiana House. Some members opposed the bill; saying there are already laws to punish those who lead kids into crime, but New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman supports the measure, calling it a serious problem for her city…:

CUT 05(11)      “grandchild in the car.”

The bill now heads over to the Senate.

The Senate Education Committee advances a bill that would ban persons born male from competing in women’s sports. The measure would define in statutes that boys’ teams are made of biological males, girls’ teams are made of biological females and prohibits person born one gender from competing with the other. Dubbed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act”, sponsor Beth Mizell says the bill is to protect that for which women have worked for generations…:

CUT 14(10)      “…with biological females.”

Opposing the bill SarahJane Guidry, with the Forum for Equality, who says the bill is (as Governor Edwards called it last year at his veto) a solution looking for a problem…:

CUT 15(11)      “…providing lip service.”

The committee passed the bill without objection, and it goes to the Senate floor for debate. Last year, lawmakers sought to override the governor’s veto of the same bill, but the override fell short of votes in the House.