A Lafourche Parish jury of 12 took only 90-minutes to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 55-year-old Morgan Ratley of Cutoff, for raping a teen girl while her mother was tied up. Ratley was the mom’s live-in boyfriend and had been assaulting the girl for some time when the July 2019 attack happened. David Melancon, with the Lafourche DA’s office, says evidence on the victim’s cell phone helped to nail Ratley…:

CUT 05  (11)        “…able to collect.”

State Police in Troop B ask the public’s help solving a hit & run early this morning in Marrero, in Jefferson Parish, that left two people dead. Trooper First Class Kate Stegall says it happened on the elevated Westbank Expressway at about 3:30 am…:

CUT 09(12)      “…on the scooter.”

The driver of the 2004 white Ford F150 extended cab fled the scene. If you can help all LSP: 504-471-2775

After a two-year break due to COVID, the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival returns to Opelousas Saturday. Festival executive director Lena Charles says Zydeco gained popularity with poor farm workers as a way to boost their spirits after a long day in the fields. Live music this year includes Grammy winner Chubby Carrier, and a tribute to the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. Charles said they had virtual events during the COVID break, but there’s nothing like being able to share the best of Southwest Louisiana in person…:

CUT 08(12)      “…you know that.”

…and now today’s markets…

Paper products company WestRock breaks ground on a $97-million expansion of its paper mill in Hodge, in Jackson Parish. The governor’s office says the company is expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program, and the initial start-up of the new portion is scheduled for a year from now. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland thanks WestRock for securing jobs and supporting contractors who rely on the mill..:

CUT 05(11)      “…as well.”

WestRock has been in Hodge for around 90 years.

Lafayette Police say a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed last night in a drug deal gone bad. LPD’s Sgt. Robin Green says concerned citizens are helping them…:

CUT 13(07)      “…right now.”

This just in: LPD has arrested a 17-year-old suspect for that crime.

Morgan City’s Shrimp and Petroleum Festival begins today, and organizers are excited it’s back after a two-year absence…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

Just before the NFL regular season begins, New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Maye has been arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at a car full of young girls in a road rage incident. He face several counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. Maye’s lawyer says Maye denies it all, and looks forward to clearing his name. Maye was booked and released on $30-thousand bond.

Police in Lafayette say drug-related violence led to the shooting death of a juvenile last night. Lafayette PD’s Sgt. Robin Green says the victim was only 15…:

CUT 12(08)      “…drug transaction.”

Green says the suspect fled the scene in an unknown vehicle prior to the officers’ arrival. She says they hope to make an arrest soon, as citizens are helping police in the investigation.

Officials broke ground on a $97-million expansion of the WestRock paper mill in the Jackson parish town of Hodge today. Jonesboro state Representative Jack McFarland says the dollars will increase the footprint and modernize the containers plant…:

CUT 04(05)      “…decade or two.”

The mill has been in operation since 1928.

Baton Rouge Police arrested two of their own today, after an investigation turned up evidence they were sharing sensitive information with a drug dealer. Officers Richard Barrow and Wade Hill were taken into custody this morning. Barrow had recently quit his job because of the allegations.

The first week of the college football season kicks off tonight and two new sports betting parlors open today in Louisiana. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says there’s the Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans and last night he toured the DraftKings sportsbook at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles…:

CUT 09(10)      “…it’s huge.”

Johns says the L’Auberge Casino in Baton Rouge is expected to open its Barstool sportsbook soon and the Caesars Sportsbook opened at Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City last night. In all, 17 sportbook license have been granted in Louisiana. Three of those have yet to open or announce an opening date.

WestRock has broken ground on a 97-million dollar expansion at its paper mill in Hodge. The paper mill has been a major employer in Jackson Parish for 90 years as it’s responsible for 450 direct jobs. State Representative Jack McFarland says the facility is also a driver of economic activity for surrounding parishes…:

CUT 03(11)      “…wood chip community.”

Construction is expected to continue into 2024.

With the NFL regular season starting just over a week from now, New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Maye has been arrested; accused of a road rage incident in which he allegedly brandished a pistol at a carload of young girls. He faces multiple counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. Maye’s attorney says Maye (quote) “vehemently denies the allegation” and “looks forward to defending himself when all the facts come out.”

Morgan City’s Shrimp and Petroleum Festival begins today, and organizers are excited it’s back after a two-year absence…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

We have this year’s “D Storm”, but it poses no threat to the Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Danielle is in the mid-Atlantic; several hundred miles off the East Coast. Our weekend looks to be rainy, but hurricane-free.

The month of August ends with nary a named tropical storm or hurricane for the first time since 1997. In fact, there’s been no named storm since early July…and that hasn’t happened since 1941. State Climatologist Barry Keim says that’s nice, but we cannot let our collective guard down yet…:

CUT 11(08)      “…pretty low.”

Keim says huge amounts of dust from the Sahara desert borne aloft have contributed to the slow storm season thus far.

Deputies in Ouachita Parish hope the public can help them solve a 33-year-old missing persons case. In 1989, Robert Browning walked out of his house after an argument and was never seen again. OPSO spokesman Glenn Springfield says, even after 3 decades, they still hope to find Browning…:

CUT 04(05)      “…with him.”

Browning would be about 85 today.

An East Carrol Parish group called Delta Interfaith is trying to keep some internet providers from derailing broadband expansion…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Thorington.”

A St. John Parish private school employee is accused of planting a hidden camera in a girls’ bathroom stall. 35-year-old Blake Krueger was taken into custody after two students spotted the camera and let school officials know. He’s now charged with video voyeurism.

Hurricane forecasters are celebrating two milestones today. August is ending without a named storm since 1997. But that’s not all…:

CUT 02(29)      “…Golsby.”

Deputies in St. Landry Parish say a man was attacked and injured by a pack of five pit bull dogs in the town of Sunset this morning. The dogs got out of the owners’ yard and swarmed on the un-named 59-year-old, who sustained severe bites to his head and arm. The dogs have been confiscated. So far, no charges for the owner, but the investigation is still underway.

A group from East Carroll Parish is in Baton Rouge today hoping to keep the broadband expansion project on track. Nathanael Wills with Delta Interfaith says it’s on hold due to Sparklight, a subsidiary of Cable One, protesting the grant awards that they didn’t even apply for to stop competition in providing service…:

CUT 06(08)      “…intended to do.”

He accuses Sparklight of trying to sidetrack potential competition in 26 communities.

American Cruise Lines says its newest river cruise ship, the American Symphony, will call Natchez, Mississippi its port of origin by 2025. Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft says ACL intends to add more river cruise ships and his city could a home port in the future…:

CUT 14(11)      “…that ship.”

August is ending with no named tropical storm or hurricane for the first time since 1997. As a matter of fact there hasn’t been a named storm since early July, and that hasn’t happened since 1941. State Climatologist Barry Keim says dust from the Sahara desert in Africa has contributed to the quiet storm season so far…:

CUT 10  (09)        “…air layer.”

The peak of the season comes in about two weeks, and Keim says that’s abundant time for a big one to develop.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find a man who disappeared nearly 33 years ago. Investigators say Robert Fulton Browning was last seen walking away from his home on November 27^th 1989 after an argument. Deputy Glenn Springfield says they are hoping to find new information to lead them to Browning…:

CUT 03(06)      “…in the case.”

A woman was killed Tuesday at Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, when her hair got tangled in a baggage conveyor. 26-year-old Jermani Thompson was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died. She worked for GAT Airline Ground support, and was off-loading an airliner.

An East Carrol Parish group called Delta Interfaith is trying to keep some internet providers from derailing broadband expansion…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Thorington.”

A youth justice advocacy group called Families and Friends of Louisiana gathered at the state capitol today demanding that Louisiana not transfer violent juvenile offenders to Angola. Executive Director Gina Womack says the state should instead invest more dollars into education, therapy, and healing of the offenders and not…:

CUT 11(06)      “…incarcerating kids.”

The state is looking to remove some of the juveniles from the Bridge City Center for Youth in Jefferson Parish because of continuous problems at the center; like four escapes and a violent riot so far this year.

Watch out for those West Nile mosquitos, warns the state Health Department, after a confirmed case of the potentially fatal West Nile disease turns up in a person in Acadiana. LDH’s Dr. Glennis Gray says two people have died so far this year, and 14 have the Neuroinvasive form of West Nile…:

CUT 08(05)      “…resurrects itself.”

Get rid if any standing water on your property, where skeeters can breed.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana today is $3.40, down nine cents from a week ago. But the big question is “will prices keep going down?”

CUT 01(33)      “…Thorington.”

The Coast Guard reports two boaters were rescued from a disabled vessel off the coast near Morgan City this morning. The boaters sent a one word message: “help.” A helicopter searched and spotted the men’s signal flare, and hoisted them to safety. They were checked out a New Orleans hospital and are OK.

State health officials say we are in peak transmission time for West Nile Virus, and they urge you to take precautions…:

CUT 02(31)      “….Golsby.”

Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s investigators ask for public help in solving a missing persons case from 1989. That’s when then-53-year-old Robert Browning left his home after a spat and was never seen again. They ask anyone who may know anything about Browning’s whereabouts to call them at 318-329-1200.

As gas prices slowly go down, Nick Chabarria with AAA says one reason is the decrease in demand and the end of the summer vacation season now that kids are back in school. He says the higher prices also brought on driver fatigue…:

CUT 03(07)      “…gas prices.”

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana today is $3.40, down nine cents from a week ago. Gas can be found for as little as $2.90 is some places.

Excessive recent rains have taken their toll of Louisiana row crops; meaning big losses for farmers. State Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says soybeans, rice, corn, grains and especially cotton have taken a soggy beating, so he’s urging the Governor to seek a disaster declaration…:

CUT 13(10)      “…as a weapon.”

Some portions of the state have received up to 18 inches of rain in less than two weeks.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana today is $3.40, down nine cents from a week ago. But the big question is “will it continue to decrease?”

CUT 01(33)      “…Thorington.”

The police chief in the town of Plaquemine is accused of soliciting sexual favors from a woman to help get her boyfriend out of trouble. The woman alleges Chief Kenny Payne asked her for oral sex and said he needed to see her topless. For his part, Payne denies the allegations entirely and says he’ll defend himself vigorously.

State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, along with the Louisiana Cotton and Grain Association and Farm Bureau are urging Governor John Bel Edwards to seek a disaster declaration because of excessive rainfall. Strain says some of the state’s row crops received 18 inches of rain in just a few days…:

CUT 12(10)      “…for some.”

A youth justice advocacy group called Families and Friends of Louisiana gathered at the state capitol today demanding that Louisiana not transfer youth violent offenders to Angola. Executive Director Gina Womack led the protest…:

CUT 10(10)      “…scare yet.”

The state is looking to remove some of the juveniles from the Bridge City Center for Youth in Jefferson Parish because of continuous problems at the center. There have been at least four escapes this year, plus a riot.