Five Amite residents are facing federal charges for allegedly torturing a 22-year-old autistic woman, forcing her to eat dog feces and drink her mother’s ashes. LSU Health Science Center New Orleans Forensic Psychiatrist Graham Spruiell says it’s a clear case of torture and manipulation, but says the sadistic nature of the actions could indicate something quite dark about the family.

Cut 13 (08) “sadistic behaviors” 

For the last decade, more than one million Entergy customers throughout the state have been paying charges to cover the cost of repairs to damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says he’s got good news for those feeling the pinch on the power bill.

Cut 3 (07) “…rate reduction in September.”

Former Entergy Louisiana customers will see an average monthly reduction of $5.44. Former Entergy Gulf States will see an average reduction of $3.14 to their bill.  The two companies merged in 2015.

A Morning Consult poll shows Governor Edward’s approval rating slipped just under 50 percent. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Alexandria is playing host to all nine divisions of the Dixie Girls Softball World Series, which is estimated to bring in over five thousand visitors.  CVB Executive Director, Sherry Ellington says the event comes at a great time of the year for the area.

Cut 11 (09) “restaurants and shopping.”

Entergy customers throughout Louisiana have been paying fees to cover repairs from hurricanes for a decade.

Campbell says the fees have stopped but some in the northern portion of the state, who are not typically affected by hurricanes, didn’t understand why they were being hit with the storm fees over the years.

Cut 5 (09) “…for our ice storms.”

A Morning Consult poll shows Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating slipped under 50 percent during the brutal legislative sessions between April and June.

But with the legislative session in the rearview mirror and the government fully funded for the year, ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says don’t be surprised to see those numbers rebound in the coming months.

Cut 8 (10) “were averted”

Five Amite residents are facing federal charges for allegedly torturing a 22-year-old autistic woman. LSU Health Science Center New Orleans Forensic Psychiatrist Graham Spruiell says he understands the public is having trouble coming to terms with the depravity of the alleged crime but says there are some people on earth who are relatively mentally stable, and just don’t hold human life in high regard.

Cut 14 (11) “disorder”

Alexandria is playing host to all nine divisions of the Dixie Girls Softball World Series. Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Sherry Ellington says the community has a history of hosting the event but this will be a new experience.

Cut 10 (05) “largest one so far”

Five Amite residents are facing federal charges for allegedly torturing a 22-year-old autistic woman, forcing her to eat dog feces and drink her mother’s ashes. But LSU Health Science Center New Orleans Forensic Psychiatrist Graham Spruiell wants to caution the public against assuming the defendants are suffering from mental illness.
Cut 12 (12) “psychopathic”
Prosecutors say the woman was also locked in a six-foot-eight chicken cage.

Morning Consult conducted a poll of Louisiana residents from April to June and found that 49-percent approve of Governor John Bel Edwards performance. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says previous polls had Edwards rating higher. He blames the three special sessions…
cut 7 (07) “…decline”

Entergy customers can look to forward to lower bills in the near future…
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Alexandria is playing host to all nine divisions of the Dixie Girls Softball World Series, which is estimated to bring in over five thousand visitors. The Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates the week-long event will have quite the economic impact to the area. CVB Executive Director, Sherry Ellington…
Cut 9 (08) “so that’s huge.”

A Morning Consult poll shows Governor Edward’s approval rating slipped just under 50 percent. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

For the last decade, over one million Entergy customers throughout the state have been paying charges to cover the cost of repairs from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says those charges are falling off and its welcomed savings right now.

Cut 4 (06) “…rates go down.”

Fifty years ago, there wasn’t a single brown pelican to be found in the pelican state. The demise of the population can be traced back to the use of the pesticide DDT.  But the population of the bird has since rebounded with more than 100,000 throughout Louisiana. LDWF Nongame Bird Biologist Michael Seymour credits the successful repopulation of the species in major part to the Endangered Species Act.

Cut 15 (10) “…it is pretty spectacular.”

A 46 year old record has been broken with the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo as Guy Cenac of Houma reeled in a 208-pound tarpon. The fish put up a nearly three hour fight.

Here’s your commodities…

A Morning Consult poll shows Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating slipped under 50 percent during the brutal legislative sessions between April and June. Edwards’ has maintained one of the highest approval ratings for a Democratic governor, but ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says it appears the threats to public services during the sessions took their toll.
Cut 6 (10) “at that.”
Despite the slip in total approval rating, the Governor’s unfavorable rating is still 15 points lower at 35 percent.

For the last decade, more than one million Entergy customers throughout the state have been paying charges to cover the cost of repairs to damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says he’s got good news for those feeling the pinch on the power bill.
Cut 3 (07) “…rate reduction in September.”
Former Entergy Louisiana customers will see an average monthly reduction of $5.44. Former Entergy Gulf States will see an average reduction of $3.14 to their bill.

Fifty years ago, there wasn’t a single brown pelican to be found in the pelican state. The demise of the population can be traced back to the use of the pesticide DDT. But the population of the bird has since rebounded to about 100,000 throughout Louisiana. LDWF Nongame Bird Biologist Michael Seymour says the rejuvenation effort began in the late 1960s.
Cut 13 (12) “…north of Grand Isle.”
Seymour says there’s now over eight-thousand adult pelicans on Queen Bess island.

A chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy has appealed a federal judge’s decision that allows for the removal of a confederate monument from the courthouse grounds in Caddo Parish. The United Daughters of the Confederacy says the Caddo Parish Commission does not have the authority to remove the monument, because it’s on private land.

High school sports officials from around Louisiana are getting ready to meet up in the Big Easy, in what is estimated to be the largest event of its type in the state’s history.  LHSAA Director of Officials Lee Sanders says Officiate Louisiana is part of the build up to a larger, national event.

Cut 10 (13)   “…clinic for 2 or 3 days.”

One of Beyonce’s eight 25,000 dollar national scholarships has found it’s way to Grambling. Communications graduate student Cletus Emokpae received the substantial award from Queen B. The New York native cleared the 3.5 GPA and philanthropic requirements. The Grambling student says he founded the scholarship program, because he feels the media and general public have neglected stories about problems effecting African American communities.

Cut 8 (12)  “doesn’t matter”

Louisiana has hit a rough patch for weather this summer, but the state’s had a much needed heat reprieve these last few days after a brutal weekend, but forecasts say that’s about to change. State Climatologist Barry Keim says humidity levels are set to spike coming up soon.

Cut 4 (11) “next week”

Five people from Amite will be taking a trip to federal court, facing charges for allegedly keeping an austic family member of one of the defendants locked in a six by eight chicken cage, beating the woman, taking her SSI payments, and even forcing her to eat dog feces. Raylaine Knope and Terry Knope, and their adult children Birdget lambert, Jody Lambert, and Terry Knope are all facing charges stemming from the abuse that allegedly began in 2015 when the victim’s mother passed away and her care was transferred over to the Knopes.

Louisiana has hit a rough patch for weather this summer, and the nasty temperatures might be at the front of everyone’s mind, but the state is suffering as less known, but just as hazardous malady: Drought. North West Louisiana has seen only 1 and a third inches of rain over the last month, down from the four inch average expected, State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s been a statewide problem this summer.

Cut 5 (11) “extreme drought.”

Fifty years ago, there wasn’t a single brown pelican to be found in the pelican state. The demise of the population can be traced back to the use of the pesticide DDT.  But the population of the bird has since rebounded with more than 100,000 throughout Louisiana. LDWF Nongame Bird Biologist Michael Seymour credits the successful repopulation of the species in major part the Endangered Species Act.

Cut 15 (10) “…it is pretty spectacular.”

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is on the lookout to recruit more sports officials. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (28) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

Two people were shot in the early morning hours on Bourbon Street in New Orleans today. The shooting occurred at 5AM, with one person being shot in the leg, and the other being hit twice by bullets, but authorities do not believe the injuries sustained are life threatening. Two men have been arrested in connection with the shooting. One of them, 26-year-old Aa-ron Hill has been ID by authorities as the gunman.

Five Amite residents are now facing federal charges for allegedly beating and forcing an autistic woman to eat dog feces. The victim was held captive for a year in mobile home after her mother died. According to court documents, when authorities found the woman, she was malnourished, covered in insect bites and living oustide in a six-by-eight foot chicken cage. The five people facing federal charges range in age from 20 to 45-years-old.

The state’s brown pelican population went from zero in the 1960s to now 100-thousand as a result of the state’s repopulation program, which started when seven-hundred young birds were brought from Florida to Queen Bess Island, northeast of Grand Isle. LDWF nongame bird biologist Michael Seymour says efforts are underway to restore that island, which has been eroding away and the BP spill didn’t help either…
cut 14 (08) “…several thousand birds”

A Grambling State Communications graduate student is getting a boost from Queen B, in the form of a 25,000 dollar scholarship award. Becca Dill has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Becca Dill”

With a new high school sports season set to begin, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association is once again looking for officials for the sports they oversee. Lee Sanders is the new director of officials at the LHSAA…
cut 12 (06) “…love being around it”
Go to LHSOA.com for more information.