Like something from a movie, a trio of men were rescued from the Gulf of Mexico Monday, after their boat sank and they fought off sharks as they awaited help. Louisiana Oyster Task Force chairman Mitch Jurisich says sharks have been aggressive this year, and plenty of fishermen like him say they are going after their catch…:

CUT 05(11)      “…feed the sharks.”

By the way, the boaters are all OK, save for some bite wounds to their hands and fingers.

Baton Rouge cops say a hit & run driver who killed a pedestrian last weekend near LSU is in custody. Spokesman Lt. Don Coppola says an eyewitness was a lot of help to them…:

CUT 14(05)      “…suspect vehicle.”

The driver is identified as 21-year-old Water Brister IV from Mandeville. He is the son of former ULM and Pittsburgh QB Bubbie Brister.

BESE approves a new policy for summer remedial literacy instruction for 3^rd and 4^th graders who read below level. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the program is only temporary and intended to offset ill-effects on kids from the pandemic…:

CUT 11(08)      “…few years.”

Brumley says there will be other options for kids who don’t want to do summer school.

Small business owners say inflation is their Number One problem, and National Federation of Independent Business state director Dawn McVea says that’s not good, going into holiday shopping time. She says the feds said the price run-ups would be only temporary, but that was nearly a year ago…:

CUT 06(09)      “…my business.”

Shop owners also say they’re having a tough time getting people to fill job openings, and they’re still having supply chain issues.

Three boaters were rescued Monday from a shark-infested ordeal in the Gulf of Mexico, after their boat sunk. Now professional anglers are saying the sharks are hurting their industry…:

CUT 01  (32)        “…Thorington.”

Shreveport Police are investigating four separate shooting incidents that left three people dead; all happening within the space of a single hour. The deaths take the Caddo Parish homicide rate to 42 for the year; 41 of those occurred IN Shreveport proper.

Baton Rouge Police arrest the son a former NFL star for a fatal hit & run last Saturday. BRPD’s Lt. Don Coppola says the 44-year-old victim was trying to cross a street near LSU, when he was hit by a black Range Rover…:

CUT 13  (06)        “…at the scene.”

21-year-old Walter Brister IV came forward and admitted he was the driver. Brister is the son of former ULM and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Bubbie Brister. If convicted, he could face ten years in prison.

30-percent of small business owners surveyed say inflation is their single most important problem and they worry the holiday shopping surge won’t help much. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says tax reforms could help with their fiscal difficulties and she’s hopeful some tax changes can occur in next year’s legislative session..:

CUT 08(08)      “…business friendly.”

The price of a gallon of gas has risen 5-cents in just one day. The statewide average cost of regular is now at $3.36; up from $3.31 yesterday…and it’s up 26-cents from a week ago. Louisiana AAA’s Don Redman says the Russia-Ukraine War plus OPEC cutting daily production is putting the bite on motorists…and yet we are still driving more…:

CUT 07(05)      “…this time of year.”

He advises you try to budget spending at least $3.50 a gallon for the foreseeable future.

Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley told the Senate Education Committee the number of teacher vacancies in the classroom statewide has been cut in half in one year from 25-hundred to 12-hundred. Brumley says legislation approved by lawmakers this year has helped…:

CUT 12(15)      “…the classroom.”

Tangipahoa Parish deputies arrest seven in connection with the fatal shooting a 16-year-old last weekend. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Palermo.”

A Deridder man is under arrest; accused of 5-thousand of counts of possessing child pornography. Deputies in Vernon Parish say 47-year-old Bruce Legassie had images and videos of the illegal content on his computer and devices. His bond has not been set.

Tangipahoa Parish deputies arrest seven people in connection with the shooting death of 16-year-old Leonard “LJ” Williams last weekend. TPSO Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis says a teen party erupted into gunfire after an argument, and victim was caught in a crossfire and killed. Travis says over 30 shell casings were recovered, and it’s troubling that teens were so well-armed…:

CUT 11(09)      “…tactical rifle round.”

He says more arrests are likely.

To help with a statewide shortage of nurses, LSU Health New Orleans will use federal grant money to train nurses to teach people how to be nurses. LSU’s Leanne Fowler says the problem is worse in Louisiana’s rural areas…:

CUT 05(10)      “…underserved.”

Gasoline prices are rising again. The cost of a gallon of regular gasoline is up 26 cents from a week ago to a statewide average of $3.36…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby.”

Three men from Jefferson Parish are happy to be alive after their boat sank in the Gulf and they endured long hours floating in the water and fighting off sharks! The Coast Guard was able to find the men and rescue them. They sustained bites to their hands and arms, but are expected to be OK. An ordeal they will never forget.

Gasoline prices continue to rise; up another nickel a gallon since just yesterday. Today’s statewide average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.36; up from $3.31 Monday, and up 26-cents from a week ago. Louisiana AAA’s Don Redman…:

CUT 06(05)      “…demand for gasoline.”

He advises you budget at least $3.50-a-gallon for fuel at least through the Holidays.

Louisiana’s made some progress in filling its shortage of classroom teachers, going from a deficit of 2500 to about 1200. Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says they’ve brought in some part-time help to reduce the backlog, but another major issue is that laws concerning teacher certification are complex…:

CUT 14(09)      “…applications a year.”

Brumley was speaking to the Senate Education Committee.

Tangipahoa Parish deputies arrest seven people in connection with the shooting death of 16-year-old Leonard “LJ” Williams last weekend. TPSO Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis says a fight over a girl led to two carloads of youths shooting at one another, with the victim getting caught in the crossfire.  Travis says it wasn’t just a shooting incident; it was a gun battle…:

CUT 10(06)      “…in front of the house.”

Most of those arrested are 18 or younger, except for one: 64-year-old Ella Bickham – charged with obstructing justice and evidence tampering. She allegedly withheld key evidence from deputies for over 16 hours. Travis says more arrests are likely.

The state Department of Insurance approves a 63-percent rate hike for customers of the state’s last-resort property insurer, Louisiana Citizens, so that it will be able to afford to pay claims should another disaster strike. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it’s “extremely painful but required by law.” He’s working to attract new insurers to the state, so people can leave Citizens’ expensive coverage.

Tangipahoa Parish deputies arrest seven in connection with the fatal shooting a 16-year-old last weekend. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 02 (30)      “…Palermo.”

More trouble at Louisiana schools, which have plagued with bomb and school violence threats in recent weeks. Today, Paul Breaux Middle School in Lafayette Parish received a bomb threat. Acadiana High was put on lockdown due to an active shooter threat. Both proved to be hoaxes and the all-clear has been given.

The state has made in-roads in filling a huge shortage of qualified school teachers. Speaking to the state Senate Education Committee, Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says new legislation has helped lower the number from over 2500 to about 1200. But Brumley says a backlog of teacher certification applications has grown past seven-thousand because there’s not enough state workers to process them…:

CUT 13 (09)      “…as an agency.”

Brumley says they’ve brought in some part-time help to reduce the backlog.

From teacher shortages to nursing shortages. LSU Health New Orleans says they’ll use a $3-million federal grant to help with that by teaching nurses how to teach nurses. LSU’s Leanne Fowler says the shortages are worst in the state’s rural areas…:

CUT 04 (07)      “…underserved areas.”

Nurses entering the program will get 40 hours of training before they start teaching.

Deputies in Tangipahoa Parish have arrested seven people in connection with the shooting death of 16-year-old Leonard “LJ” Williams last weekend. TPSO Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis says a teen party erupted into gunfire after a jealous boyfriend saw his girlfriend dancing at the party on Facebook Live…:

CUT 09  (09)        “body-slammed her.”

That led to an argument, which led to a gunfight between two groups of teens in two cars in front of the house. The victim was caught in a crossfire and killed. Travis says an autopsy will determine which gun fired the fatal shot, but for now all are charged with obstruction of justice, 2^nd-degree murder or both.

Three boaters have been rescued from the Gulf, after their boat capsized over the weekend. The men were pulled from the water by the Coast Guard Sunday evening; all with wounds to their arms and hands from fighting off sharks. They’re all expected to recover.

Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley told the Senate Education Committee the number of teacher vacancies in the classroom statewide has been cut in half in one year from 2500 to 1200. Brumley says legislation approved by lawmakers this year helped…:

CUT 12(15)      “…the classroom.”

But Brumley says a backlog of teacher certification applications has grown past seven-thousand because there’s not enough state workers to process them.

…and now today’s markets…

A number of old, broken down local bridges are getting some much-needed TLC, thanks to $270-million in federal Infrastructure law money coming Louisiana’s way. The state closed 25 dilapidated bridges last year, and shut down 31 so far this year. The detouring has been a nightmare for many. DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett says the money will be sent to parishes to address their most urgent needs…:

CUT 08 (07)     “…as well.”

Nearly 750 Louisiana bridges are in need of repair or outright replacement.

After the President issued pardons for federal marijuana possession convictions, many ask will Louisiana Governor John Bell Edwards follow suit? He says he will consider any such pardons that reach his desk, but it’s up to lawmakers to permanently address weed convictions…:

CUT 12(12)      “…this direction.”

A man wielding a machete attacked and injured two people Sunday in New Orleans’ French Quarter. A woman was cut on her hand and a man who tried to intervene was cut on the face and arm. The suspect got away. Two weeks ago, a different man stabbed two people on Bourbon Street.

Tennessee was the much better football team on Saturday as they trounced LSU 40-13. Jeff Palermo has a recap…:

CUT 3   (30)      “…Palermo.”

President Biden pardoned thousands of persons convicted of federal marijuana possession last week, and challenged state governors to follow suit. Governor John Bel Edwards was asked last Friday if he would follow the President’s lead. Edwards says many states are reforming marijuana laws; decriminalizing and even making it legal altogether. However, he says he does not have sole authority to write pardons. Louisiana has a process to follow…:

CUT 11(12)      “…and so forth.”

Edwards says marijuana convictions shouldn’t impede one’s access to employment, housing or education. He says he will consider any such pardons that reach his desk.

Lafayette Parish deputies report they confiscated a “potential explosive device” during a Sunday traffic stop near the Evangeline Thruway. Deputies stopped the vehicle for a suspected swapped license plate and found the device. The driver, 44-year-old Jade Merantel was arrested for multiple narcotics charges, traffic offenses, and manufacturing in possession of an explosive device.

There’s a new Louisiana Lottery $20 scratch-off ticket but a high price tag also brings about bigger prizes. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

Louisiana has received $270 million in federal cash to repair local bridges. The money comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  The Department of Transportation closed 25 of them last year and 31 so far this year. The money will go a long way toward getting routes closed – due to bridges out – reopened.

Will Governor Edwards take the President’s suggestion and pardon those convicted of simple possession of marijuana? Jeff Palermo has more…:

CUT 02(27)      “…Palermo.”

The low waters of the Mississippi River have revealed a more-than-100-year-old shipwreck on the Baton Rouge riverfront. The remains of the Brookhill, a freighter built in 1896 and sunk during a bad storm in 1915, are clearly evident…right where they have sat underwater for 107 years. Scientists will study the wreckage while they can.

Would you pay $20 for a scratch-off lottery ticket, if it carried a 100x multiplier of any cash you uncovered? The Louisiana Lottery hopes you will. It’s their first $20 scratcher in their 31 year history. Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison says other states have had big success with the multiplier tickets…:

CUT 05(10)      “…of games.”

You can buy 5x, 10x, 20x, 50x and 100x tickets starting today at any Lottery retailer.

Despite a 40-13 beating at the hands of Tennessee Saturday, LSU head coach Brian Kelly isn’t discouraged. The Volunteers held the Tigers to just 55 yards rushing and sacked QB Jayden Daniels five times. Kelly says his staff need to coach the plays up better…:

CUT 13(13)      “…going to have.”

LSU is at Florida this Saturday. Kickoff 6pm.