St. Tammany Parish sheriff deputies have charged a Hammond man with second-degree murder for allegedly leaving his 21-month-old daughter inside a hot car outside a Madisonville-area home for more than nine hours.

Cut 8 (09) “…there around noon”

That’s Lt Suzanne Carboni who says deputies say 35-year-old Joseph Boatman consumed multiple alcoholic beverages before leaving the little girl strapped in her car seat.

A Leesville man has been charged with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile after a shooting incident involving young children. The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office received a report of a 3-year-old being shot at 35-year-old Fernando Mejia’s home. Chief Detective Rhonda Jordan says once investigators arrived at the residence they processed the scene.

Cut 3 (12) “…children were playing.”

Investigators determined that the gun was accidentally discharged, striking one of the children in the shoulder-chest area. The injured child is improving at a hospital.

The legislature is expected to withdraw about 1.2-billion dollars from the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to pay for various projects. House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says that includes about 709-million dollars for shovel-ready road projects that will be completed within one year.

Cut 6 (11) “…falling in line.”

McFarland says millions of dollars are also going to colleges, local water systems and OMV for a new computer system.

The Louisiana Senate has approved its version of the budget for next fiscal year. It contains 30 million dollars in high-dosage tutoring and 199-million for teacher stipends. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there is a 45-million-dollar difference in spending for the L-A GATOR scholarship program.

Cut 13 (08)  “…cutting it back.”

Congressman Clay Higgins is making another effort to mandate random drug testing for members of Congress. He has reintroduced the Exposing Congressional Drug Abuse Act, which calls for at least one random drug test per term, with positive results referred to the Committee on Ethics. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan calls this a political stunt.

Cut 4 (09) “…voting against it.”

Higgins first proposed this back in 2018.

A Hammond man is charged with second-degree murder after his 21-month-old daughter dies in a hot vehicle. St. Tammany Parish deputies say 35-year-old Joseph Boatman placed the girl in a car seat in his pickup truck and left her there for more than nine hours. Lieutenant Suzanne (soo-ZAHN) Carboni says alcohol likely played a role in Boatman’s lack of sound judgment.

Cut 9 (08)  “…multiple alcoholic beverages.”

With LSU and their rabid fans headed to Omaha for the College World Series, one restaurant across from the ballpark is getting ready. Every year, Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina sells Jell-O shots in the colors of the eight participating teams. Owner Kevin Culjat (KULL-jit) says when LSU went two years ago, they really cleaned up.

Cut 10 (09) “…happens this year.”

One dollar for every shot sold goes to the school’s local food bank.

The Louisiana Senate has approved its version of the budget for next fiscal year, albeit clearing only half the money for the L-A GATOR program as what Governor Landry had asked for. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry wants to expand the program so more families can receive state assistance to pay for private school or homeschool expenses.

Cut 14 (12) “…play out.”

If Congressman Clay Higgins has his way, all members of Congress would take a random drug test at least once per term. The Southwest Louisiana Republican has reintroduced the Exposing Congressional Drug Abuse Act. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it allows Higgins to promote clean living and law and order.

Cut 5 (06) “…would oppose it.”

A Hammond man is arrested after his 21-month-old daughter dies in a hot vehicle in Madisonville over the weekend. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Lieutenant Suzanne (soo-ZAHN) Carboni says 35-year-old Joseph Boatman picked up his daughter after getting off work early Sunday morning.

Cut 7 (14) “…inside the car.”

Lieutenant Carboni says the girl was buckled into that car seat for more than nine hours in scorching hot conditions.

It appears that Anne Kirkpatrick’s leadership of the New Orleans Police Department is paying dividends. The latest survey by the New Orleans Crime Coalition shows public satisfaction with the New Orleans Police Department is now at 47-percent – that’s up from 40-percent a year ago and just 31-percent when Fitzpatrick took over as NOPD superintendent in 2023.

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins is reintroducing a bill that would mandate random drug testing for members of Congress.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The girlfriend of one of the two inmates who remain at-large following the Orleans Parish jailbreak has been arrested. Twenty-eight-year-old Darriana Burton has been charged with conspiracy to commit simple escape. Attorney General Liz Murrill says Burton has had an on-again, off-again relationship with Derrick Groves for three years. She’s also a former employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s correctional office.

There are three more days left in the legislative session as lawmakers must conclude their work by 6 PM Thursday. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the insurance reform legislation was completed a couple of weeks ago. He says it was a top priority for the Landry administration and lawmakers…

Cut 15 (08) “…concentration.”

A bill that received final legislative passage on Monday creates an individual income tax credit for residents who pay for a fortified roof that can help reduce storm damage during a high wind weather event. Supporters say a fortified roof can also help lower a homeowner’s insurance premium.

Later this week LSU fans will arrive in Omaha for the College World Series. Two years ago when the Tigers won the national championship, Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina sold more than 68-thousand purple and gold jell-o shots and owner Kevin Culjat says a portion of the proceeds go to food banks in the Omaha area and to the team’s local food bank…

Cut 12 (09) “…that pretty easy”

St. Tammany Parish sheriff deputies have charged a Hammond man with second-degree murder for allegedly leaving his 21-month-old daughter inside a hot car outside a Madisonville-area home for more than nine hours.

Cut 8 (09) “…there around noon”

That’s Lt Suzanne Carboni who says deputies say 35-year-old Joseph Boatman consumed multiple alcoholic beverages before leaving the little girl strapped in her car seat.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has re-introduced legislation that would require each member of Congress to be randomly drug tested once per term. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says there’s a good chance this bill will not come up for a vote in the House, but if it did, it would be a tough no vote…

Cut 6 (10) “…I don’t know”

Game time has been set for LSU’s first game in the College World Series. The Tigers will take on Arkansas at 6 PM on Saturday night in Omaha.

One restaurant across from the site of the College World Series is gearing up for the onslaught of LSU fans. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A new audit from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office finds that there are 129 vacant child welfare positions statewide and workers’ caseloads jumped from nine to almost 16 cases a month. DCFS says it remains committed to strengthening its frontline workforce.

The Louisiana Senate has approved its version of the budget for next fiscal year. It contains 30 million dollars in high-dosage tutoring for students as well as 199-million for teacher stipends. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there is a 45-million-dollar difference between the Senate and House in spending for the L-A GATOR scholarship program, which is the state’s new voucher program.

Cut 13 (08)  “…cutting it back.”

Henry says 43-million dollars is about the same amount of money the state is spending on its current voucher program.

A whole bunch of money will be spent on Jell-o shots at Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina in Omaha. The last time LSU was in the College World Series, LSU fans bought nearly 69-thousand Jell-O shots at Rocco’s. Owner Kevin Culjat (KULL-jit) says it’s a fun tradition and it’s also for a worthy cause…

Cut 11 (08) “….shot sold locally”

A Hammond man is charged with second-degree murder after his 21-month-old daughter dies in a hot vehicle. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested a 35-year-old father after a three-year-old shoots another three-year-old. Deputies say the children were playing in a bedroom, when one of the children found a handgun beneath a pillow on the bed. One of the kids accidentally fired the weapon, striking the other child in the shoulder and chest area. The injured child is in serious condition at a Baton Rouge hospital, while Fernando Mejia is facing one count of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile.

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins is reintroducing a bill that would mandate random drug testing for members of Congress. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A Hammond man is charged with second-degree murder after his 21-month-old daughter dies in a hot vehicle. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

One restaurant across from the site of the College World Series is gearing up for the onslaught of LSU fans. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Southwest Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins has reintroduced the Exposing Congressional Drug Abuse Act, a bill that would mandate random drug testing for members of Congress. Originally introduced in 2018, the legislation calls for at least one drug test per term, with positive results referred to the Committee on Ethics. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan.

Cut 4 (09) “…voting against it.”

Higgins, who first proposed the idea after taking a drug test himself as a law enforcement officer, insists the measure is serious. Hogan says this allows Higgins to promote clean living and law and order.

Cut 5 (06) “…would oppose it.”

Higgins says he has seen “behavior that would cause one to wonder,” reinforcing his motivation for reintroducing the bill. Though Hogan says the Congressman didn’t provide any specific examples in his statement.

Cut 6 (10) “…I don’t know.”

________________________________________________________

A Hammond man is arrested after his 21-month-old daughter dies in a hot vehicle in Madisonville over the weekend. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Lieutenant Suzanne (soo-ZAHN) Carboni says 35-year-old Joseph Boatman picked up his daughter from work.

Cut 7 (14) “…inside the car.”

Lieutenant Carboni says the girl was buckled into that car seat for more than nine hours.

Cut 8 (09) “…there around noon.”

Carboni says alcohol likely played a role in Boatman’s lack of sound judgment.

Cut 9 (08)  “…multiple alcoholic beverages.”

When the girl was finally discovered unresponsive Sunday afternoon, the temperature was in the 90s, with a heat index of more than 100 degrees. Boatman is booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on a charge of second-degree murder.

________________________________________________________

With LSU and their rabid fans headed to Omaha for the College World Series, one restaurant across the street from Charles Schwab Field is getting ready. Every year, Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina sells Jell-O shots in the colors of the eight participating teams for five dollars apiece. Owner Kevin Culjat (KULL-jit) says when LSU went two years ago, they really cleaned up.

Cut 10 (09) “…happens this year.”

Culjat says to get ready for LSU’s arrival, they’re stocking 120-thousand Jell-O shots. He says the Jell-O shot tradition took off a couple years ago when social media got wind of it, so he decided to keep it going for a worthy cause.

Cut 11 (08) “…shot sold locally.” ($1 for every Jell-O shot is donated to the team’s local food bank)

Culjat says with another good year this year, they will hit a milestone.

Cut 12 (09) “…that pretty easy.”

________________________________________________________

The Louisiana Senate has approved its version of the budget for next fiscal year. It contains 30 million dollars in high-dosage tutoring for students as well as 199-million for teacher stipends. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there is a 45-million-dollar difference in spending for the L-A GATOR scholarship program, which is the state’s new voucher program.

Cut 13 (08)  “…cutting it back.”

The LA Gator funding debate has Governor Landry at odds with Senate President Cameron Henry. Pinsonat says Henry wants to keep funding for LA Gator at the same level as the state’s current voucher program, but Landry wants to expand the program so more families can receive state assistance to pay for private school or homeschool expenses.

Cut 14 (12) “…play out.”

The Louisiana Legislature has until 6 p-m Thursday to approve a budget, because that’s when the legislative session must come to an end. Pinsonat says the insurance reform legislation was completed a couple of weeks ago. He says it was a top priority for the Landry administration and lawmakers…

Cut 15 (08) “…concentration.”

A bill that received final legislative passage on Monday creates an individual income tax credit for residents who pay for a fortified roof that can help reduce storm damage during a high wind weather event. Supporters say a fortified roof can also help lower a homeowner’s insurance premium.

_____________________________________________________________

LSU baseball has completed the road to Omaha. They are one of eight teams that are in the College World Series. Right fielder Jake Brown says the team’s resiliency has been positive characteristic this season.

Cut 16 (15) “…toughness.”

Brown was an LSU recruit when the Tigers won the national championship in 2023 and he’s thrilled to be part of Jay Johnson’s second LSU team that he’s brought to the C-W-S.

Cut 17 (11)  “…go play.”

LSU left fielder Derek Curiel says the team is playing its best baseball at the right time.

Cut 18 (12)  “…some fun.”

The Louisiana Senate has approved its version of the budget for next fiscal year. It contains 30 million dollars in high-dosage tutoring for students, as well as 199-million for teacher stipends. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there is a 45-million-dollar difference in spending for the L-A GATOR program.

Cut 13 (09)  “…cutting it back.”

Online sports gambling companies will soon be paying more tax to the state on all wagers originating from Louisiana. The Senate has approved House Bill 639 by Columbia Republican Neil Riser, who says the amount of the tax that the legislature zeroed in on was a little lower than what he had originally proposed.

Cut 9 (11)  “…we agreed to.”

That 21 and a half percent is an increase from the current 15-percent.

Louisiana voters might have the opportunity to decide in April whether the retirement age of judges should be raised from 70 to 75 years old. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The race is on to get bills passed before the session ends Thursday evening. Monday, lawmakers approved transferring U-N-O from the U-L system to the LSU system, and they also sent a bill to the governor’s desk allowing ivermectin to be sold in pharmacies without a prescription.