A Sulphur man is accused of burglarizing a home dressed as a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputy. Teiko Foxx has more…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Foxx.”

A flood watch is in effect until 7 tonight for parishes in the Toledo Bend area of western Louisiana and most all of northwest Louisiana. Forecasters predict up to 5 inches of rain between now and Saturday evening. Some thunderstorms could be heavy or severe. Stay tuned for further watches and/or warnings.

A 33-year-old man from Terrebonne Parish has been charged in the death of a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Nick Pepper, who died last Sunday when a vehicle rammed into his patrol unit during a police chase in Thibodaux. State Trooper Thomas Gossen says the suspect, 33-year-old Anthony Savoie, of Bourg, now faces a list of serious charges …:

CUT 13(05)      “…police officer.”

Pepper leaves behind a wife and 3 kids.

Support for coastal restoration is growing in Louisiana according to a Global Strategy Group survey on behalf of Restore the Mississippi River Delta. Campaign director Simone Maloz says the survey indicates 73 percent of respondents support their efforts, that’s up from 68 percent in 2021…:

CUT 09(12)      “…the future.”

For almost the last century, Louisiana has lost nearly 2,000 square miles of coastal wetlands, and 4,000 more square miles are predicted in the next 50 years if nothing is done.

Four Louisiana parishes – St. John, St. Charles, Terrebonne and Plaquemines – rank highest for population lost in the months since Hurricane Ida in 2021. New Orleans demographer Greg Rigamer says the losses were more or less expected. He says often people leave storm-ravaged areas because they fear poor protection from future disasters…:

Cut 14  (10)      “…that environment.”

WalletHub ranks Louisiana next to last among state for its residents’ financial literacy. Basically how smart we are with our money. WalletHub’s Jill Gonzales says we show poorly in many categories; especially what she calls “unbanked households”…:

CUT 03(12)      “…as well.”

Louisiana ranked #50 among 50 states plus DC.

The trial for three of four teens accused of carjacking an elderly New Orleans woman and dragging her to death has been delayed until May of next year. The state Supreme Court issued a stay order on the case, based on a procedural technicality. The trial was supposed to have started Monday. Family members of the victim, 74-year-old Linda Frickey are outraged.

The State Fire Marshal has helped make nine arson arrests in Tangipahoa Parish in recent weeks. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

The state Fire Marshal’s office has been racking up arson arrests; especially in Tangipahoa Parish. In recent weeks, seven arrests – many of them in re-opened closed cases – have been made. Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says one case involved three suspects and at least two Hammond house fires…:

CUT 06(08)      “…partners involved.”

She say if you have an arson tip, call the Fire Marshal’s tip line.

Four Louisiana Parishes lead the state in population lost following Hurricane Ida in 2021; they’re Terrebonne, St. John, St. Charles and Plaquemines. New Orleans area demographer Greg Rigamer says richer parishes recover pretty quickly from such disasters…:

CUT 13(11)      “…reinvesting.”

A recent study by WalletHub, ranking states by so-called financial literacy, rates Louisiana pretty poorly. Teiko Foxx has more…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Foxx.”

Louisiana “American Idol” winner Laine Hardy, who was accused of putting an audio bug in his ex-girlfriend’s LSU dorm room, will avoid jail time after completing an alternative program for nonviolent offenders. Hardy can also file an appeal to have his record cleared on all charges. No word on IF he will do that.

Four Louisiana parishes rank in the top ten for the largest percentage of population lost between 2021 and 2022. Those four parishes were impacted by Hurricane Ida, which hit southeast Louisiana in August of 2021. Demographer Greg Rigamer says population loss was expected following the Category Four storm…:

CUT 12(14)      “…south Louisiana.”

Those four parishes are St. John, Terrebonne, Plaquemines and St. Charles.

Shipbuilding giant Edison Chouest is constructing a 260-foot-long vessel at its shipyard in Houma, which will be used to support offshore wind turbines. It’s being built for a Danish firm called Orsted, who builds and operates wind farms around the globe. Orsted V.P. Mikeel Maehlisen says it will be used to maintain wind farms in the Northeast…:

CUT 10(12)      “…walk to work.”

After the State Fire Marshal prompted the reopening of closed arson cases, they’ve made nine arrests in Tangipahoa Parish. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

Baton Rouge native Stephanie Clifford – better known by her stage name, Stormy Daniels – has been ordered by a Los Angeles court to pay Donald Trump $122-thousand to cover his legal fees in her failed defamation lawsuit against him. Trump was arraigned Tuesday in New York on charges he misreported campaign money used to buy Daniels’ silence about an alleged affair.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon unveils his legislative agenda, which he calls an ambitious plan to stabilize rates for homeowners. Kace Keischnick has that…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Keischnick.”

Speaking of the legislative session, a bill has been filed that would forbid anyone under 21 from entering a bar. Period. St. Tammany state Senator Beth Mizell brings the measure and says it’s the best way to assure persons under 21 aren’t served; accidentally or otherwise. Violations could get bar owners fines of up to $15-thousand.

For the past seven months investigations from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Hammond Fire Department have resulted in nine arrests in seven arson cases. Several cases had been closed and recently re-opened. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says one case – involving three suspects – is allegedly linked to two Hammond house fires and more…:

CUT 06(08)      “…partners involved.”

If you have any tips or information about any fire, call the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Louisiana is 2023′s second least financially-literate state, according to a recent WalletHub study. Louisiana ranked 50 of 50 plus Puerto Rico as one of the least moneywise states. WalletHub Analyst, Jill Gonzales says Louisiana ranks poorly in several categories including “unbanked households”…:

CUT 03(12)      “…as well.”

A 13-year-old Prairieville student is facing charges after a camera disguised as an ink pen, was found in the girl’s locker room. Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Donovan Jackson says the pen cam was found by a student, who alerted school officials. Jackson says it is important for children to understand the consequences of something like this, because the boy not only faces criminal charges, but expulsion from school…:

CUT 11(08)      “…their actions.”

Where and how the teen got the spy device is also under investigation.

A Bossier Parish lawmaker files a bill to forbid classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says the bill codifies adherence to traditional learning…:

CUT 08(09)      “…that’s it.”

The same bill failed to pass last year.

A celebratory parade for the NCAA Champion LSU Lady Tigers will take place tomorrow evening; snaking through the LSU campus and ending at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The university says the parade will be at 6:30 p.m., and a celebration at the PMAC will get underway at 7.

Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at Northwood High in Lena have earned state championship title rings this year, but they need help to cover the cost of getting them. Teiko Foxx has more…:

CUT 03(33)        “…Foxx.”

A 13-year-old Prairieville student is facing charges after a camera disguised as an ink pen, was found in the girl’s locker room. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Thorington.”

A four-day school week? LaSalle Parish School Board members have unanimously voted to move to a Tuesday through Friday school week. Under the plan each of the four days will be slightly longer for kids. In LaSalle, schools would start at 7:50 am and end at 3:35 pm.

A Bossier Parish lawmaker has, again this year, filed a bill to forbid classroom discussion of sexual preference or gender identity. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton’s HB 466 would also prohibit teachers and school employees from discussing their own orientation with kids. She says she knows of an educator in Shreveport who does this…:

CUT 07(12)      “…elementary students.”

Horton says a child’s time in school should be spent learning; not being indoctrinated.

Rapides Parish high school basketball teams won the state championship but were unable to clinch the rings due to a lack of funding. Northwood-Lena is the first school to win a title on both girls’ and boys’ teams in the same season. Coach Alan Tinsley says after paying for other team essentials during the year – there are no funds available to commemorate the achievement…:

CUT 13(10)      “…championship rings.”

All donations can be made by contacting Northwood-Lena High School.

Some will call it a “Don’t Say Gay” bill, but Bossier Parish Representative Dodie Horton has filed legislation to ban classroom discussion of sexual preference or gender identity. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 01(29)      “…Palermo.”

Deputies in St. John Parish arrest an alleged drug dealer for selling to a woman who overdosed on his wares. 31-year-old Shelbi Ori died on New Year’s Eve. An investigation led to 55-year-old Clyde Madere, who admitted selling her the drugs – laced with fentanyl. Madere has drug related arrests dating back to 1986; 50 of them. His latest arrest is for 2^nd degree murder.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and distracted drivers in Louisiana are involved in at least 5,000 crashes a year.  Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesman Mark Lambert says driving is an activity that requires your full attention…:

CUT 04(11)      “…cell phone.”

On average, drivers in Louisiana use their cell phones 2.4 times each time they drive.

In Prairieville, a 13-year-old Galvez Middle School student is facing video voyeurism charges after a camera, disguised as an ink pen, was located in the girl’s locker room last week.  Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Donovan Jackson says they’ve contacted the parents of all of the students who were involved…:

CUT 10(08)      “…locker room.”

Where and how the 13-year-old student obtained the camera is also being investigated.

A Lafourche Parish sheriff’s deputy was killed Sunday, during a pursuit of a suspect. State Police Trooper Tom Gossen says it started early Sunday morning in Houma with a man running from a routine traffic stop. LPSO Sgt. Nick Pepper got involved when the chase crossed into Lafourche…:

CUT 06  (07)        “…the suspect.”

The unnamed suspect made a second getaway attempt; ramming into Pepper’s patrol unit and killing him. Once that man is out of the hospital, he faces serious charges.

Up once again go the prices of gas and diesel fuel. Regular gas is up over a dime in just one week. Louisiana AAA’s Don Redman says plan on gas going up about 30 more cents over the next month…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…a month ago”

Why? Redman says OPEC cutting production drastically is the cause; forcing crude oil prices upward.

LSU forward Angel Reese is making headlines not for her playing but for taunting Iowa star player Caitlin Clark in the final moments of the game. Reese waved her hand and pointed to her finger where her championship ring would go, a gesture that Clark herself has done on the basketball court. Reese called out the hypocrites…:

CUT 03(07)      “…say nothing.”

LSU Chancellor William Tate has chimed in on the Angel Reese flap. Defending his champion player, he said today, “If you have a problem with it, beat her. That’s all I have to say. If you can’t beat her, sit down.”

By the way, a celebratory parade for the NCAA Champion Lady Tigers will take place Wednesday in Baton Rouge. The university says the parade will be at 6:30 p.m., and a celebration at the PMAC will get underway at 7 p.m. Additional details about the parade route have not yet been released. The Lady Tigers took down the Iowa Hawkeyes Sunday, April 2, 102-85, which was a championship game scoring record.