Charges have been upgraded for a Baton Rouge man after preliminary autopsy results showed his two-year son died as a result of injuries sustained in a beating. BRPD’s Lt. Don Coppola says 25-year-old-Anderson King Jr. was initially facing 2nd-degree cruelty to a juvenile, but now it’s first-degree murder. The child died in a local hospital Sunday. King was arrested Monday. Coppola says the investigation is ongoing…:

CUT 11(08)      “…much more difficult.”

King reportedly first told cops the boy fell down stairs, but later admitted he beat the child.

A new survey of small business owners shows they’re not optimistic about business conditions right now. More than a third say inflation is their biggest concern. National Federation of Independent Business state director Dawn McVea says small business owners are reluctant to spend money unless they have to…:

CUT 05(06)      “…on right now.”

A New Orleans mom, who stabbed her two kids Sunday – killing one of them – was embroiled in a bitter custody battle with the children’s father. NOPD says 31-year-old Janee Pedesclaux then posted about the violence on social media while covered in blood. She’s charged with murder and attempted murder.

August is National Breastfeeding Month, and the Louisiana Department of Health says more mothers are learning the practice through their WIC program…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

A north Louisiana Appeals Court rules Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is still disqualified from running for re-election. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments last Friday and released its decision this afternoon. Perkins used an incorrect address when filing qualifying papers; an infraction of state election law. He says he’ll appeal it to the state Supreme Court.

To help the ongoing nursing shortage the LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing is expanding to North Louisiana…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested a teacher for sending explicit text messages to a 15-year-old student for sexual purposes. CPSO spokesperson Brandy Spears says 26-year-old Bradly Dyer of Colfax discussed dating the minor in the text messages…:

CUT 12(09)      “…a secret.”

Dyer is charged with Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, but more charges may be coming.

Rest In Peace, former congressman and state legislator Claude “Buddy” Leach, who passed away Saturday at age 88. Leesville Senator Mike Reese says his innate business sense, and knack for connecting with people, helped him build a business fortune and succeed in politics…:

CUT 03(04)      “…astonished me.”

Leach ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 2003. His funeral is Friday at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Charles.

Baton Rouge Police arrest a man, after his 2-year-old son died in a local hospital. Anderson King initially told BRPD the boy had fallen down stairs, but later admitted he’d beaten the child. The coroner lists multiple blunt force injury as the cause of death, and considers the case a homicide. For now, King is charged with cruelty to a juvenile, but more charges may be coming.

A somewhat related story…the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual child well-being ranking puts Louisiana very near the bottom among states. 49^th, to be exact. Casey’s president, Lisa Hamilton, says our state ranks very low when it comes to the physical health of kids…:

CUT 11(06)      “…low birth rates.”

According to the report, 26-percent of Louisiana children live in poverty as of 2020. Only New Mexico ranked lower for kids’ well-being.

A Shreveport area Appeals Court upholds a lower court ruling that Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is disqualified from running for re-election. That came after a local resident sued;, pointing out that Perkins used the wrong address on his qualifying papers. The Appeals judges all concurred. Last week Perkins said he’d keep appealing all the way to the state Supreme Court if necessary. Meanwhile 8 candidates are vying to replace Perkins at City Hall.

Former Congressman and Louisiana legislator Claude “Buddy” Leach died Saturday of congestive heart failure. Leesville Senator Mike Reese says one of Leach’s main goals in life was to make Louisiana better….:

CUT 05(10)      “…his community.”

Leach died of heart failure Saturday at 88. His funeral is Friday at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Charles.

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested a teacher for sending text messages to a 15-year-old student for sexual purposes. CPSO spokesperson Brandy Spears says 26-year-old Bradly Dyer of Colfax discussed dating the minor in the text messages. Spears says Dyer was arrested by Grant Parish deputies, and has been charged…:

CUT 14(08)      “…with juveniles.”

Louisiana once again performs poorly in the Annie E Casey Foundation’s child well-being ranking. The state ranks 49th, finishing ahead of only New Mexico. Annie E Casey Foundation president Lisa Hamilton says the state has only made a slight improvement in the percentage of kids living in poverty, and federal assistance may have played a role…:

CUT 09(10)      “…as well.”

To help the ongoing nursing shortage the LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing is expanding to North Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

Now that school has restarted for most of Louisiana, State Police are reminding us all to be extra careful, especially in and around schools and school zones. Troopers say be vigilant for kids walking or riding bikes to and from school, and remember to never use your cell phone while in a school zone.

Based on data collected by the Public Affairs Research Council, Louisiana has the second highest incarceration rate in the country. PAR President Steven Procopio says Mississippi was number one. He says a major issue in Louisiana and the rest of the country is the number of inmates who return to prison within five years after being released. He says the three-year recidivism rate for those convicted of crimes in Louisiana is 34-percent..:

CUT 08(06)      “…violent crime.”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins’ appeal of a local judge’s decision he was disqualified from running for re-election is now in the hands of the 2^nd Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges heard arguments from Perkins’ lawyers and plaintiffs today. Their decision is not yet known. Perkins says he is a victim of political chicanery, and he’ll take his appeal all the way to the state Supreme Court if needs be.

The Great American Seafood Cookoff is Saturday in New Orleans and Amanda Cusey of Lake Charles will try to beat out 13 other chefs from around the country to be named the Queen of American Seafood. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Cusey is the executive chef at Lake Charles’s “The Villa Harlequin”…:

CUT 12(09)      “…and uhh and cheated.”

Opening ceremonies are at 11:15 tomorrow at the New Orleans Convention Center

Speaking of seafood, it’s National Oyster Day…so go get you some tonight. State Oyster task Force Chair Mitch Jurisich says Hurricane Ida last fall set oyster beds back, but there ARE plenty of oysters available…:

CUT 05(08)      “…biggest and the best.”

Louisiana drops from the top of a so-called “bad list”; no longer having the nation’s highest rate of incarceration. Data compiled by the Public Affairs Research Council shows Mississippi now holds that dubious honor. PAR head Steven Procopio says Mississippi then Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Alabama make up the top five, and once you get past them, the state-by-state rates drop off considerably..:

CUT 07(08)      “…of our 570.”

Cops in Baton Rouge bust a Houma man for the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl; one he enticed to a meeting via SnapChat. BRPD’s Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says 20-year-old Kwan Allen attacked the girl in a mall parking lot and now faces rape and sexual battery charges. He urges parents to be aware of what your kids do online..:

CUT 11(09)      “…has happened.”

We’re still waiting for a decision from the 2^nd Circuit Court of Appeals on Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins’ disqualification from his re-election bid. Perkins reportedly used the wrong home address on qualifying papers, but his attorneys say it was just a clerical error. His fate as mayor now rests with three Appeals Court judges.

It’s National Oyster Day but how is the state’s oyster industry fairing…?

CUT 01(31)      “…Thorington.”

A Houma man is under arrest; accused of luring an underage Baton Rouge girl to a personal meetup at which he raped her. Baton Rouge Police spokesman Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says 20-year-old Kwan Allen assaulted the victim inside his car in a shopping mall parking lot. After the attack, the girl went to a hospital, where a sexual assault kit was performed…:

CUT 10  (07)        “…to a hospital.”

Allen is charged with sexual battery and 2^nd degree rape. McKneely advises parents to be more aware of your kids’ online relationships.

It’s National Oyster Day and we all LOVE real Louisiana oysters, but the local industry has been in serious recovery mode thanks to the last two hurricane seasons. Oyster Task Force Chairman Mitch Jurisich says Ida did a lot of damage to oyster beds…:

CUT 04(09)      “…by a thread.”

A dozen char-grilled would be realty good right now.

In Shreveport today, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in Mayor Adrian Perkins’ appeal of his disqualification from the fall election. Plaintiffs argued he gave an incorrect address when qualifying to run. Perkins’ lawyers say it was a clerical error that shouldn’t kick him from the race. His ability to run again now rests with three judges. Neither Perkins nor the plaintiffs had any comment when leaving court today.

Based on data collected by the Public Affairs Research Council conducted, they determined Louisiana has the second highest incarceration rate in the country. PAR President Steven Procopio says Mississippi was number one…:

CUT 06(06)      “…570.”

Following Mississippi and Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Alabama rank in the top five for the highest incarceration rates.

Police Baton Rouge arrest a 20-year-old Houma man for the alleged rape of an underage girl. BRPD spokesman Sgt. L’Jean (EL-gene) McKneely says 20-year-old Kwan Allen made contact with the 16-year-old girl via social media; representing himself being much younger. McKneely says he courted the girl for weeks before enticing her to a meeting at the Mall of Louisiana…:

CUT 09  (09)        “…upon her”

McKneely says the victim’s 8-year-old sister was waiting in the teen girls’ car, while the assault was occurring in Allen’s vehicle. Allen’s been charged with sexual battery and 2^nd degree rape.

New Orleans hosts the annual Great American Seafood Cookoff Saturday. Winning chefs from across the USA will compete for top honors, and one of them is Chef Amanda Cusey. The executive chef at The Villa Harlequin in Lake Charles, Cusey took top state honors back in June at the Louisiana Seafood Cookoff.

Louisiana has dropped from the top of one of those ”bad lists.” More from Marsanne Golsby…:

CUT 02  (30)        “…Golsby.”

FEMA has announced an additional $11 million in federal grant funding for disaster aid related to Hurricane Laura relief efforts, according to Sen. John Kennedy. The funds are part of a $69 million relief package intended for communities affected by Hurricane Laura and Ida. A large portion of the funds is to assist in the repairing of schools that were damaged during the storms.

High utility bills continue to plague residents and PSC Commissioner Craig Greene says they are looking at ways to help lower rates. He says the commission wants utility providers to become customer service-focused, more energy efficient, and look at long-term resiliency…:

CUT 10(08)      “…we’ve had.”

He says you can ask your local PSC office to review your bill for possible errors.

Baton Rouge Police arrest a Houma man for the alleged rape of an underage girl. The crime took place in late May, and the victim says 20-year-old Kwan Allen told her he was much younger; chatting with her online for some time before asking to meet her at the Mall of Louisiana. It was then the assault occurred. Allen is charged with sexual battery and 2^nd-degree rape.

It’s National Oyster Day but how is the state’s industry fairing? Brooke Thorington has more…

CUT 01(31)      “…Thorington.”

…and now today’s markets, with Louisiana Farm Bureau’s Neil Melancon…

With the height of hurricane season just a couple weeks away, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration revises its forecast number of storms downward…slightly. NOAA forecaster Mark Rosencrans says conditions still favor an above-average season…:

CUT 09(09)      “…become hurricanes.”

The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fatal fire in Pineville Tuesday that took the life of an elderly man. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the victim was found in his bathtub, and the fire apparently started in the carport; perhaps caused by faulty wiring. Her advice…?

CUT 14(08)      “…in the home.”

Rodrigue says the home had no working smoke detectors. The 71-year-old victims’ name has not yet been released.

Democrat Luke Mixon of Bunkie, who is challenging Senator John Kennedy’s re-election bid, says – if elected – he would vote to codify Roe vs Wade abortion rights in federal law. Mixon says the abortion bans that some states have put in place are too radical…:

CUT 03(05)      “…their assailant’s child.”

Louisiana’s abortion ban does not allow for exceptions for rape or incest.

State Wildlife & Fisheries agents, doing a routine life preserver compliance check on Oyster Bayou in Terrebonne Parish, wound up arresting the boat skipper for taking sharks over the limit, AND for possessing narcotics. Agents said they saw 44-year-old Anouda Lirette tossing a shark overboard as they pulled up. In addition to the sharks, they found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Lirette was booked into the Terrebonne Parish jail.

The state Department of Health reports 2085 new cases of COVID-19, with 677 currently in the hospital with symptoms. They also report 5 new COVID-related deaths.