The investigation continues into Saturday’s mass shooting in Webster Parish that injured six people, two of them critically. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A student at Livonia High School in Pointe Coupee Parish is under arrest for allegedly stabbing a classmate. The alleged stabber was taken into custody immediately after the incident at eight this morning. The student is hospitalized in stable condition. All students were dismissed for the day shortly after the stabbing.

There will be no Federal charges against the white police officers involved in the 2019 deadly arrest of Black driver Ronald Greene near Monroe. The Justice Department informed Greene’s family of its decision today. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says prosecutors reached their conclusion after a very exhaustive investigation.

Cut 14 (11) “…by the FBI.”

A Louisiana grand jury indicted five officers on state charges. One of them, Chris Hollingsworth, died in a car crash in 2020. A civil suit against the officers is still pending.

With Truancy rates reaching 41% in Louisiana last school year, BESE, the Louisiana Department of Education and the state Legislature are working to address the issue.  BESE Vice President Stacey Melerine (mel-uh-REEN) says a 2024 report by the Success Through Attendance Recovery task force proposes several solutions, including requiring schools to monitor attendance data, creating a discretionary referral process for truancy cases, and formally defining chronic absenteeism

Cut 8 (10) “…address those.”

Student attendance has become a key focus in Louisiana’s education system. BESE, the Louisiana Department of Education and the state Legislature are working to address rising truancy and chronic absenteeism. BESE Vice President Stacey Melerine (mel-uh-REEN) says in the 2023-24 school year, the truancy rate reached 41-percent, and students were absent an average of 11 days.

Cut 6 (09) “…grow as students.”

Webster Parish Sheriff deputies are continuing to investigate a shooting that injured six people, including two critically at an unpermitted bonfire event in Dubberly on Saturday night. Sheriff Jason Parker says they are still interviewing attendees, and no arrests have been made but he says the organizers are facing fines….

Cut 5 (12) “…situation happen.”

Parker says the people shot are in their 20s and 30s.

A Baton Rouge fixture is moving to Terrebonne Parish. The Belle of Baton Rouge riverboat is being towed to Gibson, as part of a downtown revitalization effort there. The riverboat will be completely gutted and rebuilt on the inside, and it is slated to reopen this fall.

It’s going to warm up this weekend, but by no means should you be putting that winter jacket away just yet. Some parts of South Louisiana will see temperatures in the 70s this weekend.  LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says then comes a big change.

Cut 9 (07)  “…really cold air.”

And Keim says that brutal cold could be accompanied by a wintery mix.

The investigation into a shooting that injured six people, including two critically at an unpermitted bonfire event in Dubberly on Saturday night continues. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker says events in Webster Parish involving more than 250 attendees are required to have a permit and he says at least 350 people were at this bonfire…

Cut 4 (11) “…for everybody.”

The sheriff says the organizers are facing fines.

Federal prosecutors closing the book on their investigation into the 2019 deadly arrest of Ronald Greene near Monroe without bringing any charges. While federal charges appeared imminent when the FBI launched its probe in 2022, Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says prosecutors ultimately decided that a conviction was no sure thing.

Cut 13 (10)  “…very close one.”

He says prosecutors reached their conclusion only after a very exhaustive investigation.

With Truancy rates reaching 41% in Louisiana last school year, BESE, the Louisiana Department of Education and the state Legislature are working to address the issue. The LDOE’s Success Through Attendance Recovery, or STAR Task Force studied the issue and provided recommendations to BESE in December 2024.  BESE Vice President Stacey Melerine (mel-uh-REEN) says the Task Force will address chronic absenteeism.

Cut 7 (05) “…to the statute.”

Look for warmer weather this weekend but don’t put your winter jacket away just yet. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front moves in Saturday night and the colder temperatures could bring frozen precipitation to some parts of the state.

Cut 11 (06) “…of next week.”

Webster Parish Sheriff deputies are continuing to investigate a shooting that injured six people, including two critically at an unpermitted bonfire event in Dubberly on Saturday night. Sheriff Jason Parker says they are still interviewing attendees, and no arrests have been made…

Cut 3 (13) “…those statements.”

Parker says at least 350 people were at the bonfire.

Federal prosecutors will not be pressing charges against the white police officers involved in the 2019 deadly arrest of Black driver Ronald Greene near Monroe. The Justice Department informed Greene’s family of its decision today. While federal charges appeared imminent when the FBI launched its probe in 2022, Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says prosecutors ultimately decided that a conviction was no sure thing.

Cut 12 (11) “…of Mr. Greene.”

A civil suit against the officers is still pending.

BESE, the Louisiana Department of Education and the state Legislature are working to address rising truancy and chronic absenteeism in K-12 classrooms. Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Warmer weather is coming and some parts of South Louisiana will see temperatures in the 70s this weekend. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says it won’t last long as a cold front moves in Saturday night.

Cut 10 (06) “…in the 30s.”

The investigation continues into Saturday’s mass shooting in Webster Parish that injured six people, two of them critically. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

___________________________________________________

BESE, the Louisiana Department of Education and the state Legislature are working to address rising truancy and chronic absenteeism in K-12 classrooms. Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

___________________________________________________

Webster Parish Sheriff deputies are continuing to investigate a shooting that injured six people, including two critically at an unpermitted bonfire event in Dubberly on Saturday night. Sheriff Jason Parker says they are still interviewing attendees, and no arrests have been made…

Cut 3 (13) “…those statements.”

Parker says at least 350 people were at the bonfire, which also had a DJ, free food and drinks. The sheriff says events in Webster Parish are required to have a permit if there are more than 250 attendees…

Cut 4 (11) “…for everybody.”

Parker says the bonfire was on a person’s property along Louisiana Highway 531, about 40 miles east of Shreveport. The sheriff says the organizers are facing fines….

Cut 5 (12) “…situation happen.”

Parker says the people shot are in there 20s and 30s.

______________________________________________________________

Student attendance has become a key focus in Louisiana’s education system. BESE, the Louisiana Department of Education and the state Legislature are working to address rising truancy and chronic absenteeism. BESE Vice President Stacey Melerine (mel-uh-REEN) says in the 2023-24 school year, the truancy rate reached 41-percent, and students were absent an average of 11 days.

Cut 6 (09) “…grow as students.”

The LDOE’s Success Through Attendance Recovery, or STAR, Task Force, a multi-agency group, studied the issue and provided recommendations to BESE in December 2024.  Melerine says the Task Force will address chronic absenteeism.

Cut 7 (05) “…to the statute.”

Melerine noted that while schools implement interventions, inconsistencies in data collection hinder statewide progress. The STAR Task Force’s 2024 report proposes several solutions, including requiring schools to monitor attendance data, creating a discretionary referral process for truancy cases, and formally defining chronic absenteeism

Cut 8 (13) “…the Governor’s office.”

______________________________________________________________

It’s going to warm up this weekend, but by no means should you be putting that winter jacket away just yet. Some parts of South Louisiana will see temperatures in the 70s this weekend. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says then comes a big change.

Cut 9 (07)  “…really cold air.”

How cold? Keim says it would cure any transplanted New Englander of homesickness.

Cut 10 (06) “…in the 30s.”

And Keim says that brutal cold could be accompanied by some flaky white stuff.

Cut 11 (06) “…of next week.”

__________________________________________________________

Federal prosecutors will not be pressing charges against the white police officers involved in the 2019 deadly arrest of Black driver Ronald Greene near Monroe. The Justice Department informed Greene’s family of its decision today. While federal charges appeared imminent when the FBI launched its probe in 2022, Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says prosecutors ultimately decided that a conviction was no sure thing.

Cut 12 (11) “…of Mr. Greene.”

Ciolino says as a result, federal prosecutors closed the book on their investigation without bringing any charges.

Cut 13 (10)  “…very close one.”

Ciolino says prosecutors reached their conclusion only after a very exhaustive investigation.

Cut 14 (11) “…by the FBI.”

A Louisiana grand jury indicted five officers on state charges. One of them, Chris Hollingsworth, died in a car crash in 2020, hours after he was told he would be fired due to his role in Greene’s death. Most of those charges have been dropped; and now, only two officers are facing lesser charges. One pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery, and the other is expected to enter a similar plea soon. A civil suit against the officers is still pending.

Student attendance has become a key focus in Louisiana’s education system, with the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), the Louisiana Department of Education, and the state Legislature working to address rising truancy and chronic absenteeism. BESE Vice President Stacey Melerine (mel-uh-REEN) says in the 2023-24 school year, the truancy rate reached 41-percent, and students were absent an average of 11 days.

Cut 6 (09) “…grow as students.”

It’s going to warm up this weekend, but by no means should you be putting that winter jacket away just yet. Some parts of South Louisiana will see temperatures in the 70s this weekend. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says then comes a big change.

Cut 9 (07)  “…really cold air.”

The investigation continues into Saturday’s mass shooting in Webster Parish that injured six people, two of them critically. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

In advance of the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, the state announces plans to clear homeless encampments in New Orleans. GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodaux says the office will collaborate with the Louisiana Housing Commission to open a Transitional Center on France Road.

Cut 4 (11) “…not completely safe.”

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Amelia Jernigan with LSU Health New Orleans says while cervical cancer is not as big of an issue as it used to be, it still affects way too many people, especially given that there are treatments available. 

Cut 13 (08) “…really too many.”

Jernigan recently wrote a paper, which says in part that cervical cancer tends to be more prevalent in food deserts – locations where there are no grocery stores that sell fresh produce nearby.

The sheriff of St. Landry Parish calls it the most bizarre incident he’s ever had to deal with in his 50-year law enforcement career. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

It’s going to warm up this weekend, but by no means should you be putting that winter jacket away just yet. Some parts of South Louisiana will see temperatures in the 70s this weekend. Then comes a cold front that will cure any transplanted New Englander of homesickness. On a couple days early next week, temperatures as far south as Baton Rouge might not get out of the 30s.

The sheriff of St. Landry Parish says it’s the most bizarre case he’s ever encountered in his 50-year law enforcement career. Three women are arrested for allegedly opening an occupied casket at a memorial park in Opelousas. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says as a funeral worker turned his back, 34-year-old Quina Clay of Church Point opened the casket and started taking pictures.

Cut 9 (05)  “…desecration of grave.”

It’s unclear whether the women had any connection with the deceased individual, and it’s also unknown whether any of those photos have been shared on the internet.

Officials in West Feliciana Parish are keeping an eye on drones that have been spotted flying over Entergy’s River Bend nuclear power plant. Parish President Kenny Havard says the reports started coming in at around Christmas time.

Cut 10 (06) “…the sheriff’s department.”

Havard says given federal law, dealing with them is not as simple as shooting them down; the FAA treats that the same as shooting down a jetliner.

Louisiana announces plans to clear homeless shelters in New Orleans ahead of the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The battle over budget cuts and book bans at the public library reaches a head in Livingston Parish. Last week, the parish council removed all eight members of the library board. The controversies have led to contentious library board meetings. The council has reappointed two of the ousted members and will be appointing the rest. The library board meets again a week from today.

Three women are arrested for allegedly opening an occupied casket at a memorial park in Opelousas. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the women went to the gravesite and waited for their opportunity to do something disturbing.

Cut 8 (07) “…of the deceased.”

Guidroz says it’s unclear whether any of the four women had anything to do with the deceased person inside the casket, and it’s also unknown whether any of those photos have made their way onto the internet.

Officials in West Feliciana Parish are keeping an eye on drones that have been spotted flying over Entergy’s River Bend nuclear power plant. Parish President Kenny Havard says while it’s possible that the drones could be harmless, governments at all levels need to examine laws governing their operation.

Cut 12 (06) “…having a barbecue?”

Havard says Governor Landry is aware of the drones, and the two have been cooperating as to what course of action to take.

The state is clearing out homeless encampments in New Orleans ahead of the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. GOHSEP is teaming up with the Louisiana Housing Commission to open a transitional center. GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodaux says humane and safe shelter is essential as the city prepares to welcome visitors from around the world.

Cut 6 (18) “…in their lives.”

A man dies while in the custody of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were responding to a man who appeared to be experiencing a medical episode in Metairie. But when deputies tried walking the man to an ambulance, he ran away from them. Deputies caught up to him and handcuffed him. As they were walking back to the ambulance, he collapsed. He died at a hospital. The sheriff’s office is investigating.