A consumer advocacy group once again observes an anniversary by sending a business lobby a tiki torch. What’s that about? Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 01(35)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Deputies in Lafourche Parish arrest a suspected heroin dealer, after one of his customers dies from a drug overdose. 39-year-old Christopher Seely, of Bayou Blue, reportedly admitted selling the man the heroin. He’s charged – for now – with narcotics distribution.

More trouble at the Bridge City Center for Youth, a juvenile detention facility near New Orleans. Five young men escaped overnight Thursday. Four have been captured. Last night, a riot broke out as about 20 inmates got out of their cells and seized control of parts of the place. SWAT teams got everything under control within a few hours. This is the fourth big incident there this year.

This Father’s Day you may want to forget about getting Dad a tie or a wallet and instead maybe hand him a copy of the classifieds. A new survey by Wallethub.com says that Louisiana is the worst state in the country for working dads. Communications director Jill Gonzalez says the rankings speak for themselves…:

CUT 06(14)      “…struggled the most.”

All the states at the bottom of the rankings are in the Deep South. Read into that what you will.

Legislators have until Monday to submit a court-ordered congressional map that has two Black-majority districts instead of one that was pushed through by the Republican majority in February. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says a request for more time was denied by the federal judge that ordered the new district map. He says there are several maps that contain the two districts requested…:

CUT 13(12)      “…compare them.”

The speaker says this is only the beginning of the judicial process, because the map that passed in February has yet to be ruled on in the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals.

If you’re headed for the fishing hole this weekend, don’t be surprised to find the sight and stench of dead fish greeting you. State Wildlife & Fisheries says recent sweltering temperatures, combined with heavy thundershowers, has created states of hypoxia (or lack of oxygen) in waterways; leading to big fish kills.

A consumer advocacy group is reminding the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry’s leader that promises he made of lower auto insurance thanks to tort reforms passed in 2020 have NOT come true. Eric Holl, with Real Reform Louisiana says rates have, instead, increased…substantially..:

CUT 04(12)      “…for them.”

Our calls to LABI’s Stephen Waguespack for comment have not been returned.

St. Tammany Parish sheriff’s deputies say a 29-year-old firefighter, who was suffering from a mental health crisis, shot a Mandeville man, then turned his gun on himself. Alec Mulvihill was pronounced dead at the scene. The man he shot is alive, but his condition is unknown. Also unknown is his relationship with Mulvihill. The matter is under investigation.

In an effort to hold the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry accountable for a promise he made two years ago, Eric Holl with Real Reform Louisiana sent Stephen Waguespack another tiki torch. Holl says in a radio interview that Waguespack said tort reform would lower auto insurance rates…:

CUT 03(12)      “…gonna go down.”

Holl says since House Bill 57 passed two years ago, auto insurance rates have actually increased. LRN tried to reach Waguespack, but so far…no reply.

Police in Lafayette warn residents that – once again – someone is calling home, SAYING they’re with Lafayette Police and soliciting donations for…whatever; missed court dates, arrest warrants, the benevolent fund…whatever. Residents report these callers can often get pretty aggressive and adamant about it too. LPD says they do NOT make such calls and if you get one, DON’T give them anything. Just hang up the phone.

Choosing a major in college can be very stressful.  UL-Monroe VP of Enrollment Management Lisa Miller says the university is making that process easier by utilizing a new tool called MyMajors, which aligns students with degree programs based on their strengths, talents, and interests…:

CUT 09(12)      “…versions of themselves.”

Incoming students take the MyMajors online assessment during their orientation and before exploring UL-M’s degree programs during breakout sessions. Miller says the response so far is great.

After basically wasting a whole day bickering over congressional district maps, the Senate Governmental affairs Committee will take another crack at passing one out this afternoon. A House counterpart committee is also working on bills…with similar discord. Lawmakers have until Monday afternoon to get a district map, with two majority-Black congressional districts, passed and submitted.

Legislators have until Monday to submit a court-ordered congressional map that has two Black-majority districts instead of one that was passed by the Republican majority legislation in February. On Thursday House Speaker Clay Schexnayder asked Federal Judge Shelly Dick for a deadline extension…:

CUT 12(09)      “…with what we have.”

House Governmental Affairs is meeting now to consider four maps that have been filed and Senate Governmental Affairs meets this afternoon to continue discussions on a bill that was debated for hours yesterday with no resolution.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre says a contractor wanted for video voyeurism has turned himself in. 37-year-old Chase Cheramie reportedly was working in a woman’s home, and secretly installed a camera in her bathroom ceiling vent. On the camera’s memory card, deputies found images on Cheramie putting the device in place and compromising images of the residents. His bond is set at $75-thousand.

State offices are closed today for the first official observance of Juneteenth. David Grubb has more on the meaning of the day…:

CUT 03(34)      “…David Grubb.”

A body found dumped in a remote Florida waterway was announced to be that of a man killed in Lacombe earlier this week. St. Tammany deputies say the victim was beaten to death, his body taken out of state and dumped. Three suspects have already been arrested.

Lawmakers are debating over Congressional Maps in Senate Governmental Affairs after a court-imposed deadline of June 20^th remains in effect for a map with two majority-Black districts. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01 (36)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

State Police say a Bossier Parish man died early this morning, when his car left the roadway and smashed into some trees – ejecting him. 37-year-old Geoffrey Davis was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers say they don’t know if he was wearing a seatbelt or not. A blood tox test will reveal whether impairment played a role in the crash.

There is now a hefty reward for information to solve the one-year-old murder of 17-year-old Shamia Little in Shreveport. Special Agent Doug Williams says she was found dead from a single gunshot in a public park, and they now hope a $50-thousand reward may prompt someone to come forward…:

CUT 11 (11)      “.,.leads for us.”

Those with tips should call 800-CALL-FBI

A crime watchdog group says someone needs to take another look at a Tangipahoa Parish case wherein a rape victim, who was impregnated by her alleged attacker was ordered to pay him child support. Metropolitan Crime Commission head Rafael Goyeneche says the girl did lodge a complaint, albeit years after the crime occurred…:

CUT 14 (12)      “…hasn’t been investigated.”

He’s referred the case to another agency to see if investigating the man is merited.

Shreveport Police and the FBI are asking for help in the search for the killers of Shamia Little. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(37)      “…David Grubb.”

Lafourche Parish deputies arrest a contractor in the town of Larose for allegedly planting a hidden camera in a customer’s bathroom. 37-year-old Chase Cheramie was charged under the state’s video voyeurism law. His bond is set at $75-thousand.

Five juvenile offenders escaped early this morning from the Bridge City Center for Youth in Jefferson Parish. Office of Juvenile Justice spokesperson Nicolette Gordon says four of them have been apprehended, but one remains at large. How they escaped is yet unknown. She says these facilities have escape mitigation measure in place, however…:

CUT 09(10)      “…chance that we get.”

With a major widening of Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge getting underway soon, some are concerned about what will happen during rush hour traffic, and – even worse – what about a hurricane evacuation? DOTD says lane reductions aren’t due to start until early next year, but nevertheless recommends you plan a hurricane escape route that doesn’t involve using a busy major highway.

Lawmakers are debating Congressional Maps in Senate Governmental Affairs after a court-imposed deadline of June 20^th remains in effect for a map with two majority-Black districts. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(36)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Meanwhile, the federal judge who tossed the congressional map passed by lawmakers in February has denied an extension of the June 20^th deadline to submit a new map to her. Lawmakers now have four days to complete their work.

New Orleans Police say two people were wounded in separate shootings as they drove on Interstate 10 in the Crescent City yesterday. One in Eastern New Orleans and another near the Gentilly area. They ask residents who may know anything about who’s pulling the trigger to please come forward.

A crime & corruption watchdog group calls for review of a Tangipahoa Parish case wherein a rape victim was ordered to pay child support to her alleged attacker. Metropolitan Crime Commission director Rafael Goyeneche says the victim was just 16 when the attack occurred, and the man she accuses found out she’d had a child five years later…:

CUT 13(11)      “…his paternity.”

Early this year, a judge ordered the mother to pay child support. Goyeneche says one Tangipahoa Parish law enforcement agency has failed to investigate the woman’s complaint…so he’s referred the case to another for review. He says the father of the now 16-year-old daughter could still be investigated for rape or at least carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

Another escape from a juvenile jail in Louisiana; one of several so far this year. This time, an overnight breakout at the Bridge City Center for Youth in Jefferson Parish. Office of Juvenile Justice spokesperson Nicolette Gordon says law enforcement was able to catch some of the youths shortly after the escape…:

CUT 07(08)      “…remain at large.”

Parents of the escapees have been notified, as the search for them continues.

US 5^th Circuit Court Judge Shelly Dick denies a request from Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder for a deadline extension to redraw the current congressional map. The deadline of June 20th remains in effect. Meanwhile law makers at the Capitol continue debate of proposed district map legislation. Judge Dick tossed the map because it doesn’t reflect the states’ one-third Black voting population, by making one-third of its six districts majority-minority districts.

With a major widening of Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge getting underway, some are concerned about what will happen during rush hour traffic, and – even worse – what about a hurricane evacuation? DOTD recommends you plan a hurricane escape route that doesn’t involve using a busy major highway.

Another day of Saints minicamp is in the books. Quarterback Jameis Winston has been setting the tone as one of the first in the building and the last to leave practice. Yesterday he told reporters that it’s been hard to keep himself from going all out as he continues to recover from ACL surgery, though he is staying on the program the team has for him…:

CUT 17(15)      “…trust them.”

Lawmakers are discussing two Congressional maps in Senate Governmental Affairs this morning, in an effort to meet the June 20^th court-imposed deadline. In discussions over Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields’ map, Slidell Senator, and committee chair Sharon Hewitt, who also has a map up for discussion, criticized Fields’ map with two Black-majority districts because it spilt a community in her own district…:

CUT 03(15)      “…your plan.”

But Jared Evans, with the Legal Defense Fund, endorsed Fields’ Congressional map….:

CUT 04(10)      “…called for.”

A federal judge has denied lawmakers request for more time to submit that new district map. The June 20^th deadline looms.

Iberville Parish deputies exercised search warrants for St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau’s home and office yesterday, after it was noticed a large sum of cash disappeared from the evidence room. That discovery was made as the DA prepared to take the case to trial. Sheriff Brett Stassi says the FBI is also in on the case. What was found – in anything – has not been revealed.

The US House of Representatives passes the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which will invest $1.4-billion annually to prevent wildlife extinction. Louisiana Wildlife Federation executive director Rebecca Triche says they are enthused that the bill should get its U.S. Senate vote soon…:

CUT 26(12)      “…additional funding”

Triche says three-fourths of voters in Louisiana agree that more needs to be done to conserve land and wildlife in the state.

Iberville Parish deputies exercised search warrants for St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau’s home and office yesterday, after it was noticed a large sum of cash disappeared from the evidence room. That discovery was made as the DA prepared to take the case to trial. Sheriff Brett Stassi says the FBI is also in on the case. What was found – in anything – has not been revealed.

State lawmakers began a special session today called to redraw a Congressional map with two Black majority districts. The House and Governmental Affairs Committee could hear New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis’ Congressional map proposal with two majority-Black districts on Friday. Crowley Representative John Stefanski, who’s on that committee, doesn’t think there’s enough time to pass Duplessis’ proposal..:

CUT 14(11)      “…unattainable.”

He feels a federal appeals court could still rule in favor of the congressional map passed in February with only one Black-majority district…but Duplessis says, for now, the courts order is “draw a new map”…:

CUT 15(06)      “…right thing.”

A June 20^th deadline looms for the new map. House & Senate leaders will ask that federal judge tomorrow to push that back to at least June 30^th.

A virus that usually causes winter colds for kids is surging in Louisiana’s summer heat. Brooke Thorington looks at why…:

CUT 01(34)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

New Orleans Police arrest two more people in the shooting early this month at a high school graduation ceremony on the Xavier University campus. A 50-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were charged Tuesday. Another suspect was arrested last week. A 15-year-old juvenile is also still at large.