A pedestrian who was struck by a hit-and-run driver on Interstate 10 in St. Tammany Parish was found Thursday, after lying on the roadside injured for hours. A highway crew found the victim. Authorities say an 18-wheeler hit the man, then sped on. The man is now in the hospital in serious condition. State Police are investigating.

A major cold front will enter the state Saturday bringing rain, wind, and near-freezing temps. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Thorington.”

The State Fire Marshal’s office says a Lacombe man died after going back into a burning home to rescue his pets. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the home caught fire early Tuesday morning. Two people in their 60’s made it safely outside, but the man went back inside to save the family dogs…:

CUT 15(07)      “…died a day later.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reports thousands of fish – and and over a hundred birds, snakes and other animals – were killed as a result of a pipeline spill in St. Bernard Parish. LDWF Oil Response Coordinator Laura Carver says 75 alligators have also been captured for rehabilitation…:

CUT 06(06)      “…for rehab.”

The spill was caused by a severely corroded pipeline. Cleanup work continues.

Deputies in Lafourche Parish are investigating a reported helicopter crash near Larose this morning. A citizen called to report the chopper going down just west of the South Lafourche Levee. An air & water search is underway. More as it develops.

Governor Edwards says he’s alarmed at hearing of people intentionally getting the COVID virus. Intentionally? Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”
The governor’s office announces Louisiana is receiving about a billion dollars that can be used to repair bridges in poor condition. The federal money is coming from Infrastructure Law passed last year. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the Federal Highway Administration allocated the dollars to states based on need, and Louisiana is getting a BIG slice…:

CUT 12(08)      “…our condition.”

Nearly 800 state-owned bridges need to be rebuilt or repaired.

Fans of Betty White are giving the beloved actress a true Mardi Gras send-off on what would have been the day before her 100^th birthday Sunday. Retired New Orleans realtor, Santa T Claus says it began as a passing thought the day after her death and has now grown into a full-blown parade and fundraiser…:

CUT 03(04)      “…I think now.”

The parade begins at 4 o’clock at the corner of Bourbon and Canal.

The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked President Biden’s vaccine mandate on private businesses. The mandate would have required employees with over 100 workers to mandate the COVID vaccine or weekly testing. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says today’s ruling rejects federal government overreach…:

CUT 15(06)      “…this decision.”

Louisiana was among states leading resistance to the Biden COVID mandates. Senator Cassidy says he’s all for getting the vaccine, but doesn’t think government should demand it.

A new report from personal finance website WalletHub ranks Louisiana among the worst states in which to raise a family. WalletHub data analyst Jill Gonzales says the study compared all 50 states across 51 key socio-economic indicators of family-friendliness, and Louisiana’s performance in these areas are why it ranks Third-Worst…:

CUT 04(12)      “…to zone in on.”

The report is online at “WalletHub.com/edu”

The Omicron COVID variant has yet to peak in Louisiana, and Governor Edwards says the virus is now having a greater impact on our kids. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

A Slidell man fears the dismembered female corpse found this week in a New Orleans 9^th Ward home IS that of his estranged wife. Micah Dardar says his wife Julia has been missing since mid-December, and had recently become addicted to meth. The remains found have not been identified, but Dardar says he fears the worst. 34-year-old Ben Beale is in jail for the crime.

A Lake Charles man and woman are arrested after detectives discovered a million dollars’ worth of illegal narcotics on them. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the combined anti-drug task force arrested 43-year-old Caleb Barfield and 30-year-old Kimberly Breaux last week…:

CUT 12  (11)        “…that also.”

The pair face a laundry list of drug charges, including intent to sell, possession of illegal firearms, and possession with a juvenile present. Barfield’s bond was set at $803-thousand and Breaux’s at $59-thousand.

The Governor’s Office announces a deal to create a new customer call center in the Shreveport area; meaning about 600 new jobs. The Advanced Call Center Technologies facility will also result in over 300 indirect jobs. The Pennsylvania-based company does call-in customer service for financial institutions. The new center should open in March.

Central Louisiana authorities have arrested two people in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 27-year-old Deven Brooks. Ball Police Chief Marshall Deen says Brooks was shot in the head and his body dumped along the Red River. Under arrest for the crime are Terrance Lavalais and Jamaria Randle; both 21-years-old and both from Alexandria. Deen says they believe Brooks knew one of his alleged killers, but they are not sure of an exact motive…:

CUT 10  (12)        “…the murder.”

Bond has been set at 400-thousand dollars for each.

An investigative report for WBRZ TV in Baton Rouge says Louisiana State Police second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel Doug Cain, is implicated in the cover-up of the death of Ronald Greene, on a roadside in northwest Louisiana in May of 2019. Documents leaked to Channel 2 indicate Cain knew something wrong had happened, but he did nothing about it and even blocked prosecution of one trooper.

The state health department reports 2,081 COVID hospitalizations today; an increase of 82 from Wednesday. Governor John Bel Edwards says hospitalizations among kids from the Omicron variant are also on the rise, and he wants to dispel any rumors that COVID is not impacting children…:

CUT 06(11)      “…than Delta surge.”

Edwards also encourages indoor masking to decrease COVID transmission, and he does not rule out returning to a mask mandate, if necessary.

Central Louisiana authorities arrest two people in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 27-year-old Deven Brooks. Ball Police Chief Marshall Deen says Brooks was taken from his home earlier this week in Ball. His body was discovered two days later along the Red River…:

CUT 09(09)      “…kidnapping.”

Terrance Lavalais and Jamaria Randle – both 21 and both from Alexandria are in custody.

A study by personal finance website WalletHub ranks our state among the worst in which to raise a family. Jeff Palermo has that…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

A Hammond man is dead from being crushed in the back of a garbage truck. Police believe 42-year-old Jermaine Watts wanted to escape the overnight cold, so he climbed inside a dumpster to catch some sleep. He died when the dumpster was emptied into the truck and the compactor was activated.

The Omicron variant has yet to peak in Louisiana, and Governor Edwards says COVID is having a greater impact on children now. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

A Baton Rouge area pastor’s suit against the Governor over COVID lockdowns has been tossed out of court. A federal district judge ruled Pastor Tony Spell’s request for injunction mostly because the lockdown is over. He also denied any claim to damages from the state.

A Slidell man says the dismembered woman’s body, found in a home in the New Orleans 9^th Ward Is that of his missing wife. Those remains have not been positively ID’ed as 36-year-old Julia Dardar, who’s been missing since last month. Micah Dardar says she left home after becoming addicted to meth, and he fears this was her fate. 34-year-old Ben Beale was arrested after the headless body was found. The investigation is ongoing.

A new report from the personal finance website “WalletHub” ranks Louisiana among the worst states in which to raise a family. WalletHub data analyst Jill Gonzales says factors like health & safety, education, cost of child care, poverty and child mortality were all considered…:

CUT 03  (07)        raising a family

The report is online at “WalletHub.com/edu”

And now today’s markets …..

Louisiana is experiencing a serious shortage of blood. Ochsner Health pathologist Dr. Aimee Goodier (GOO-dyay) says blood donations have been on the decline for some time now, even before the pandemic. She says donation sites are aware of the fear donors might have about COVID and they are taking extra precautions…:

CUT 08(09)      “…loved ones.”

All blood types are needed and you can donate once every 8 weeks. Give it some thought.

Two people are under arrest in the Rapides Parish town of Ball, in connection with the weekend murder of 27-year-old Deven Brooks. Ball Police say Terrence Lavalais and Jamaria Randle – both 21 and both from Alexandria – are charged with 2^nd degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. Brooks was shot in the head and dumped near the Red River in Alexandria. His body was found Tuesday.

A teacher in the St. James Parish school system is arrested on charges of indecent behavior with juveniles. St. James Sheriff Willy Martin says the victim contacted the state’s child abuse hotline, which led to 50-year-old Lori Samuels’ arrest. Martin says there are potentially more victims…:

CUT 13(12)      “…this investigation.”

Samuels has taught art in St. James schools since 2009.

State lawmakers call a Special Session on Redistricting Louisiana to begin February 1^st. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Governor Edwards’ ask for a second majority-minority congressional district will likely be a source of controversy…:

CUT 10(14)      “…he MAY veto it.”

The state Legislature will convene a Special Session to redistrict Louisiana on February 1^st. After a U.S. Census is conducted, lawmakers must meet to draw up new districts for the U.S. House, plus the state House & Senate, Public Service Commission and the court system. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Louisiana didn’t gain or lose a large number of people, so the overall job for legislators shouldn’t be difficult…:

CUT 09(11)      “…the whole state.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has publicly stated he feels Louisiana should have a second majority-minority congressional district. Pinsonat says creating that U.S. House district without gerrymandering will be a big chore.

New Orleans cops carrying out a search warrant at a 9^th Ward home found the mutilated remains of a female in a freezer. The resident, 34-year-old Benjamin Beale, was arrested and charged with a list of offenses. Officers found a headless torso and a power saw with bits of flesh on the blade. Police were searching the home for clues to the disappearance of a woman who’s been missing for a month.

A Donaldsonville school teacher is arrested for alleged sexual contact with a minor. St. James Sheriff Willy Martin says they started investigating 50-year-old Lisa Samuels after the victim called the state’s child abuse hotline…:

CUT 12(08)      “…the victim.”

A social media account belonging to Samuels says she’s an art teacher for St. James Parish schools and has been since 2009.

There are now three declared candidates for the 2022 U.S. Senate race in Louisiana this fall. They are incumbent Republican John Kennedy, Democrat challenger Luke Mixon and Gary Chambers, also a Democrat. U.L.-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says the pair have been hammering on Kennedy’s “no” vote on the recently passed Infrastructure Bill, but they’ll need to do better defeat Kennedy…:

CUT 05(13)      “…push back on that.”

The state health department says Louisiana has set another one-day record for COVID infections. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

Cut 02  (30)      “…Palermo”

Meanwhile, schools in Lincoln Parish will be closed starting tomorrow due to the Omicron surge. They’ll remain closed until after the MLK Day holiday next Monday. A number of school systems statewide are going to virtual learning – at least temporarily – as the number of positive cases keeps growing.

As reported yesterday, U.S. Senator John Kennedy now has two Democrat challengers for the fall election. They are Bunkie resident Luke Mixon, a Navy vet and airline pilot, and Gary Chambers, a Baton Rouge businessman and advocate. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says anyone challenging Kennedy has an uphill climb…:

CUT 04(12)      “…to be very safe.”

Have you donated blood recently? Apparently neither have a lot of people. There’s a shortage of blood both here in Louisiana and across the USA. Ochsner Pathologist Dr. Aimee Goodier (GOOD-yay) says that’s very bad. She says, in addition to accident victims and trauma patients, there are also cancer patients who could need transfusions … and other scenarios…:

CUT 07(11)      “…little bit more volume.”

She urges us all to consider donating blood at any nearby blood center.

There are now three declared candidates for the 2022 U.S. Senate race in Louisiana this fall. They are incumbent Republican John Kennedy, Democrat challenger Luke Mixon and Gary Chambers, also a Democrat. U.L.-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says he thinks Kennedy has a clear advantage. He has millions in his campaign fund and can easily raise millions more…:

CUT 03(12)      “…a factor in the race.”

Cross says if a challenger can raise enough campaign money, there is a chance Kennedy could be sent home.

Police in New Orleans discovered a headless human female torso while serving a search warrant on a 9^th Ward home. The body was found in a cooler in an old school bus parked next to the house. 34-year-old Ben Beale has been booked on a list of charges. Police had a warrant to look for clues to a woman’s disappearance. It’s unknown if the body IS that woman, or someone else.

There’s a global shortage of blood and Louisiana is not the exception. Ochsner Pathologist Dr. Aimee Goodier says it’s a dire situation and when a trauma patient could require anywhere from six to twelve units of blood if there are multiple accidents the supply could easily be depleted…:

CUT 06(10)      “…same time.”

Blood donations have been on the decline for some time now, even before the pandemic.

A teacher in St. James Parish is under arrest for alleged indecent behavior with a juvenile and molestation. St. James deputies arrested 50-year-old Lisa Samuels, of Donaldsonville, after a tip led them to investigate a suspected improper relationship with an underage person. No word on bond, or if Samuels has legal counsel.

Look for a bit of warming as the weekend approaches and some rain on Saturday. Then temperatures will drop again Sunday; reaching the lower 30’s by Monday morning.