Gunshots rang out in a Shreveport neighborhood on Independence Day, killing one man and leaving another in the hospital with injuries. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

================

A Gonzales man is behind bars today after cops say he allegedly shot his ex girlfriend in the face on the side of the interstate. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

===================

One man is dead and another is in the hospital following a shooting in Shreveport on Independence Day. Cpl. Marcus Hines says 33-year-old Antonio Collins and 32-year-old Exzavious Thomas were next door neighbors who got into a dispute over fireworks that turned violent.

CUT 3 (11)  “gunshot wounds”

Hines says Collins suffered a fatal shot to the chest, and Thomas was also injured but is expected to recover. Hines says the two neighbors were arguing over shooting fireworks.

CUT 4 (12)  “both men”

Hines says Thomas has only been charged with a single count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm, after interviews with witnesses indicate the shooting may have been self-defense.

CUT 5 (08)  “wounding Collins”

===============================================

A man is dead after an officer involved shooting early this morning outside of a convenience store in Baton Rouge. Cpl. L’ Jean McKneely says officers responded to an anonymous tip that someone had a gun in the area and it needed to be checked out by authorities. He says that’s when a scuffle occurred and 37-year-old Alton Sterling was shot and killed by an officer.

CUT 6 (08) “witnesses”

Sterling was pronounced dead and McKneely says only one officer fired his weapon. He says they’ll learn more about the shooting after reviewing video tape from body cameras, in car cameras and surveillance video from the convenience store.

CUT 7 (07) “it all”

The convenience store clerk told a Baton Rouge TV station he saw Sterling carrying a gun but did not have it out at the time of the shooting. McKneely says one officer is on administrative leave and the investigation is ongoing.

CUT 8 (05) “officers there”

==================================================

State Police is increasing its efforts to enforce the “Move Over” law, in light of several officers who have been hit while on the side of the road. State Police Sgt. Jared Sandifer says the law applies to all emergency vehicles, including police, firefighters, EMS, and tow trucks. He says people need to watch out for these vehicles when they are on the side of the road.

CUT 9 (10) “their speed”

In the past week, officers in both Sterlington and St. John the Baptist Parish have been hit by vehicles while on the side of the road, and one of the Sterlington officers was killed. Sandifer says if you cannot get over the other lane, it’s important to at least slow down. He says you can not only get a ticket for not moving over, but you can seriously hurt or kill someone.

cut 10 (05)  “emergency vehicles”

According to the “Move Over America” campaign, over 70% of Americans have not heard of “move over” laws. Sandifer says it’s about safety for these people and also just treating others as you would want to be treated.

Cut 11 (11) “they can”

===================================================

Hundreds of Louisiana workers will be out of work as a result of GE Oil and Gas in Pineville closing its doors. Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields says the company is closing its Pineville facility to move its operation to their other location in Jacksonville, Florida. He says he is disappointed to see this company move to another state.

cut 12 (10) “different here”

The plant closing will result in 269 of the company’s 289 employees encountering permanent layoffs. Fields says they have known this was coming since December and they are looking into repurposing the GE plant.

Cut 13 (08)  “that facility”

Fields says the city will do as much as possible to help the employees who are laid off. He says they have also been trying to prepare for the impact this will have on the economy in central Louisiana.

cut 14 (08)  “immediate impact”

Blue Sky Innovations in Lafayette has announced they will lay off all hourly employees by the end of the month and all salaried positions by the end of the year. The company has already issued a notice ending an existing contract and resulting in 55 layoffs.

===================================================

A Gonzales man is behind bars today after the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says he allegedly shot his ex girlfriend in the face while she was trying to get away from him in her vehicle. Chief Deputy Bobby Webre says 26-year-old Jarvis McNair followed the victim at a high rate of speed before stopping in Sorrento…:

cut 15 (08) “at the hospital”

Webre says the victim, 36-year-old Shondrica Dejoie, died from a gunshot wound to the mouth. He says McNair is facing several charges…:

cut 16 (08) “jail now”

===================================================

Governor John Bel Edwards approved legislation that would front load the TOPS program in the new budget. Halen Doughty has more on how students feel about this change…

CUT 1 (25) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The Colorado State University forecast team has upped the number of anticipated named storms in 2016 by one. Don Molino reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

The pharmaceutical company, Sanofi, agrees to develop cancer immunotherapy drugs that were discovered by an LSU Health Shreveport professor and scientists at a university in Poland. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The budget for this fiscal year front-loads state spending on the TOPS scholarship program. This means students on TOPS will have their tuition funded for the fall semester but only have 42-percent covered in the spring. LSU student Ally Balthazar has been on the scholarship program for the last three years and her parents pay out of pocket for the expenses left over

cut 4  (09)  “I graduate”

LSU President F. King Alexander doesn’t support the front-loading of the program, because he believes it will be difficult for students to get financial aid for the spring semester. Balthazar says she still plans on applying for federal student aid for the spring semester…

Cut 5  (10)  “I graduate”

Balthazar says the TOPS program not being fully funded puts a financial struggle on her family and there’s also extra pressure to do better in school…

Cut 6 (09) “TOPS anymore”

___________________________________________________

The Colorado State University forecast team has upped the number of anticipated named storms in 2016 by one. In June they called for 14 named storms, now they predict 15. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the change is due to the fact that there are already 4 named storms on the books this year. He says that’s the most ever for this early in the season…:

CUT 7 (11)  “telling us somethin”

The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November. The updated forecast calls for 6 storms to become hurricanes, and two of those major systems with winds of 111 per hour or more. Keim says the forecast for the season is still made up of counter-balancing forces, as a La Nina is expected to take effect at the heart of the hurricane season…:

Cut 8  (09)  “fewer storms”

Historically, the most active part of the hurricane season is August and September. Keim says the peak is around September 10th…:

Cut 9 (12)  “considerably”

_______________________________________________

The town of Welsh, located in in Jefferson Davis Parish, is now the official The Home of the Cajun Dictionary.” Mayor Carolyn Louviere says the town’s long time former late pastor, Father Jules Daigle, wasn’t pleased with the way Cajun French was spoken and wrote two books on the language. She credits Welsh’s city council for taking steps to get this official designation…

Cut 10 (07) “was passed”

Louviere says copies of “A Dictionary of Cajun Language” and “Cajun Self Taught” by Father Daigle can be purchased in Welsh and on Amazon. She says the town will hold a special celebration on their new designation…

cut 11 (10) “Daigle’s work”

Louviere says everyone in the town is proud to call Welsh “The Home of the Cajun Dictionary.” She says Father Daigle would be happy with the accomplishment.

cut 12 (08) “honor him”

___________________________________________________________

A deal has been struck to develop cancer immunotherapy drugs first discovered by LSU Health Shreveport professor Doctor Robert Rhoads and scientists at the University of Warsaw in Poland. Immunotherapy is already used in treatment of melanoma and prostate cancer. Rhoads says pharmaceutical company Sanofi has paid a licensing fee to see if immunotherapy could work with other types of cancer

Cut 13 (06)  “own cancer”

Rhoads says immunotherapy would not have the toxic side effects of current chemotherapy drugs and it would direct a person’s immune system to attack cancer cells until the last one is gone.

cut 14 (06)  “traditional method”

Rhoads, who lost both of his parents to cancer, is excited Sanofi will seek to develop this treatment to other cancers. He says it takes hundreds of millions of dollars for biotechnology companies to bring a new drug to the market and hopefully Sanofi will have success

Cut 15 (11) “make it”

#####Stations, we’ve replaced some news stories on our original newscall. So use this one instead. Only one newscall on Monday, unless something major breaks. Happy 4th of July.####

It’s Independence Day and many people will be shooting off fireworks. Emelie Gunn has some safety tips to take into mind while enjoying the holiday.

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Two Louisiana police officers have died while on duty during this holiday weekend. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

It’s Independence Day and the State Fire Marshal urges caution when using fireworks. Butch Browning says  if you’re buying fireworks make sure you use them in legal areas. He reminds consumers to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when lighting fireworks and always have a bucket of water nearby.

Cut 3 (10) “devices”

Browning says children or those under the influence of alcohol should never be allowed to use fireworks. He say the most common injuries associated with pyrotechnical devices is on the hands and then the eyes.

cut 4  (07)  “something occurs”

Laura Adams with InsuranceQuotes says if you’re shooting off fireworks in an area that is illegal and you damage your home or vehicle, you are not covered by insurance. She says it’s a smart idea to call your insurance agent if someone is hurt as a result of fireworks.

Cut 5  (09)  “medical damages”

Adams says homeowners insurance doesn’t always cover homes with pools. She says some insurance agencies require pools to have gates and other potentially dangerous items may not be covered.

Cut 6 (11) “or trampoline”

___________________________________________________

Tons of events are taking place around the state today in honor of the 240^th anniversary of America’s independence. New Orleans’ 26^th annual ‘Go 4^th on the River’ event is ranked the third best Fourth of July celebration in the US, with a red, white and blue water show and a fireworks show to follow on the river. Angie Manning with the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau says there are a lot of events going on tonight in Lake Charles as well.

CUT 7 (12)  “to behold”

Manning says Crying Eagle Brewing Company will have a VIP soft opening today between 2pm and 6pm. She says this is a local brewery that’s opening its doors for the first time today.

Cut 8  (09)  “weekend”

Manning says people can get more information about the events at VisitLakeCharles.org. In north Louisiana, Chris Jay with the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau says there will be an enormous Independence Day festival in Festival Plaza.

Cut 9 (12)  “9:20 pm”

Jay says there are over a dozen events listed at Shreveport-dash-Bossier-dot-com.

Cut 10 (09) “SciPort”

The USS KIDD’s Freedom Festival will take place today in downtown Baton Rouge from 11am to 4pm. This event is free and open to the public and honors men and women in the Armed Forces, with fireworks to follow tonight on the river.

_______________________________________________

It’s been a difficult holiday weekend for law enforcement as two Louisiana police officers died while on duty in separate incidents. New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison says 43-year-old officer Bryan Bordes was working on Bourbon Street when he became ill early Sunday morning…

cut 11 (10) “to the hospital”

The Orleans Parish coroner will conduct an autopsy, though it appears the officer’s death was of natural causes. Bordes was an officer with the NOPD for 18 years and his wife lives in Church Point. Harrison says Bordes loved his job and was a great guy…

cut 12 (08) “the other officers”

State Police say an impaired driver struck and killed a police officer and injured two others in Ouachita Parish. Trooper Michael Reichardt says Sterlington police officer David Elahi was conducting a traffic  stop on the shoulder of US Highway 165 early Sunday morning, when a pickup truck driven by 44-year-old Tracy Govan of Monroe plowed into Elahi. Reichardt says Govan faces multiple charges

Cut 13 (09)  “emergency vehicles”

Officer Elahi was pronounced dead at the scene. The other two officers involved were taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Reichardt says this tragedy is a reminder that motorists need to obey the “Move Over” law…

cut 14 (09)  “reasonable speed”

________________________________________________________

It will be hot as a firecracker on this Fourth of July. Much of north Louisiana is under a heat advisory until seven o’ clock tonight. Michael Berry is with the National Weather Service in Shreveport….

Cut 15 (09) “heat advisory”

Berry says if you have outdoor activities today, make sure you take some breaks from that hot sun…

Cut 16  (12)  “as well” 

Berry says there is the chance for a cooling thunderstorm…

Cut 17 (07)  “5-7 days”

_____________________________________________________