23-year-old Holden Matthews was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison on state charges for the arson of three historically black churches in St. Landry Parish over a ten-day span in 2019. Matthews was already sentenced to 25 years on federal charges and the two sentences will be served simultaneously. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning…
Cut 7 (12) “…was served.”

Extreme southeast Louisiana is in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Eta which is meandering off the coast of western Cuba…
cut 5 (07) “….days”
State Climatologist Barry Keim says Eta will drift north over the week and the National Hurricane Center forecast has the storm making landfall in the Florida panhandle this weekend as a depression.

A “furious” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell blasts organizers of a Christian concert held in the French Quarter, involving one of Lafayette’s favorite daughters…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Holden Matthews was sentenced to 25 years on state charges in connection with burning three black churched St. Landry Parishes in addition to 25 years of Federal charges. State Fire Marsal Butch Browning on how the case changed the community.

Cut 1 (30) “   I’m Brooke Thorington”

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A “furious” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell blasts organizers of a Christian concert held in the French Quarter, involving one of Lafayette’s favorite daughters…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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The 256th Infantry Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard is deploying to the Middle East for about the next year. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Tropical Storm Eta is in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico but does not pose a threat to Louisiana.

Currently, the cone of uncertainly only extends as far west as the Mississippi-Alabama line. State Climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 4 (10) “…Gulf”

Zeta has taken a bizarre path into the Gulf of Mexico, after slamming into Nicaragua last Tuesday as a Category Four before zig-zagging back into the Caribbean and over Cuba, and into the Gulf…

Cut 5 (08) “…days”

Keim says it’s late in the season, but still not too late for hurricanes, singling out Hurricane Kate, which hit Florida as a category two on November 22^nd in 1985.

Cut 6 (10) “…1st”

Another Tropical Storm, the bizarre “Groundhog Day Storm” hit Florida in 1952 in February.

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23-year old Holden Matthews was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison on state charges for the arson of three historically black churches in St. Landry Parish.  Matthews was already sentenced to twenty-five years on federal charges and the two sentences will be served simultaneously. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning feels justice has been served the best it can be.

Cut 7 (13)  “…was served”

Browning says his office worked closely with the St Landry Sheriff’s Office, ATF, FBI, and State Police on the case and credits church members and their assistance with solving this case so quickly.

Cut 8 (09) “…protect the public”

Browning says he speaks with church leaders on a regular basis and plans to visit the churches when they have completed construction. Browning says a silver lining of the church burnings is that it unified the community and…

Cut 9 (07) “…have met”

Browning says Louisiana has one of the best arson clearance rates at 30-percent, the national average is 10-percent, because of that Browning says if you’re going to commit arson in the state you’re more likely to get caught.

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An unpermitted Christian music concert held in the French Quarter featuring Lafayette star Lauren Daigle provokes a “furious” response from New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell.

An estimated 400 people packed shoulder to shoulder on the steps across from Lafayette Square Saturday. Cantrell says the organizers were told the event would not be allowed beforehand…

Cut 10 (08) “…right.”

After the concert was initially denied by the city the organizers reportedly continued planning it out “underground.”

Christian rock artist Sean Feucht organized the event, one in a series of other concerts he’s hosted recently, and he was joined by the Grammy winner Daigle.

Cut 11 (10) “.worked”

Pictures and video from the event show little social distancing or mask-wearing.

New Orleans Police and Cantrell have come under fire from local musicians who decried the double standard of barring them from playing but allowing the concert. Cantrell says they did what they could under the law…

Cut 12 (10) “accountable”.

Reports show NOPD closed off traffic to the area but did not intervene in the gathering.

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The 256^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Louisiana National Guard is shipping out for a nearly year-long deployment to the Middle East over the next eight days.

Col. Scott Desormeaux says because of the pandemic the departure ceremonies will be closed to soldiers only. Friends and family are encouraged to either watch online or…

Cut 13 (10) “.do it”

The events will be staggered across the next eight days depending on when a regiment is scheduled to fly out.

Desormeaux says the mission will be the continued fight against ISIS as well as the transfer of obligations for the fight against ISIS in Iraq.

Cut 14 (10) “…occur” 

The roughly 4,000 soldier Brigade has been active in Louisiana’s COVID response, but Desormeaux says their deployment has been planned for a while will not impact the state pandemic capabilities.

Cut 15 (11) “… deploy”

It’s the 256^th’s third overseas deployment since 9/11

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After picking up two more sacks in the blow out win over the Buccaneers, Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson has 7.5 sacks on the year, which ranks third in the NFL behind Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald. Hendrickson says the season is only halfway through…

Cut 16 (13) “..eight games”

After the Saints week one win over the Bucs, Tampa Bay Coach Brucia Arians said Hendrickson was the easiest guy to block on the New Orleans defensive line. Hendrickson says he didn’t use that statement as bulletin board material for his big game on Sunday night

cut 17 (11)    wrong”  

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LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says several players are in quarantine as the Tigers are a few days away from taking on top-ranked Alabama on Saturday in Baton Rouge. Orgeron would not identify which players have tested positive for COVID-19 or are in quarantine, but the Tigers are reportedly down to one quarterback, freshman TJ Finley. Orgeron says this latest COVID outbreak is another challenge for his team

cut 18 (25) ” ready to go”   

Even if LSU was at full strength, they would go into the game as huge underdogs. Orgeron says his players have no plans on backing down…

cut 19 (07) after them”    

The other major story involving LSU football is freshman wide receiver Koy Moore, who claims he was violated by a Baton Rouge officers who thought he was in possession of a gun and drugs. Three B-R-P-D cops have been placed on administrative leave. Athletics Director Scott Woodward calls it a troubling encounter, while Orgeron says there’s no place for racism or social injustice

cut 20 (20) to happen”    

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says he has several players in quarantine as a result of positive COVID-19 cases within the football program.
Cut 13 (11) “…Saturday night”

Orgeron also announced that starting Q-B Myles Brennan might miss the remainder of the season with the injury he suffered in the third game of the season.

There’s good news in the battle against COVID-19 as Pfizer says the vaccine, they are studying is showing its 90-percent effective. Assistant Dean for Translational Research at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Doctor Lucio Miele, says it’s among ten possible vaccine candidates in late testing around the world…

Cut 10 (09) “…another one “

Miele says residents in nursing homes would be among the first to get a vaccine once it’s approved by the F-D-A.

Governor Edwards has signed a bill to allow clergy members into hosptials and nursing homes to visit patients during public health emergencies. Minden Senator Robert Mills says healthcare facilities will also be given immunity from most civil lawsuits for injury or death for the exposure of clergy members. Mills says most clergy members do not have issues with immunity…

Cut 4 (10)   ” ..in the patient”  

The Climate Initiatives Task Force held its first meeting today, with the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Chip Kline says oil and gas industry representatives are on the task force but acknowledged it will be a challenge to get everyone on board…

Cut 8 (11) “..intensive”

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says he met with freshman wide receiver Koy Moore and his family after Moore stated he was violated by Baton Rouge Police Officers Saturday night. Moore, who is black, said that officers pulled guns on him and tried to unzip his pants as they suspected he had a gun and drugs in his possession. Orgeron says there is no place in America for racism or social injustice.

Cut 12 (09) “ .administrative leave” 

On a day the state eclipses 188-thousand reported COVID-19 cases, Pfizer says the early results from its coronavirus vaccine show the shot is 90-percent effective. Assistant Dean for Translational Research at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Dr. Lucio Miele, says 90-percent effectiveness is impressive

Cut 9 (09) “good news”

A bill to allow clergy members into healthcare facilities to visit patients during public health emergencies unanimously passed during the special session and was signed into law. Bill sponsor, freshman Minden Senator Robert Mills is hoping to meet with public health officials and have rules in place in the next several months, Mills says it’s important that the intent of the bill be known.

Cut 5  (07) “…the case.” 

The Climate Initiatives Task Force met today to begin discussing how Louisiana could meet the Governor’s goals of reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chair Chip Kline says the task force will work to plot out a feasible path towards reducing emissions and provide education on how it can be done.

Cut 6 (09) “…prosperity”

Edwards has a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Saturday’s LSU football game versus number one ranked Alabama is in jeopardy, because of a COVID-19 outbreak involving the Tigers. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

And ULM suspends all football-related activities due to a COVID outbreak among athletic department staff members. ULM has scheduled a new round of COVID-19 tests for football players, coaches, and some support personnel today results and will determine if football activities can resume this week

The Climate Initiatives Task Force met today, discussing how Louisiana could meet the Governor’s goals of reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Edwards is aiming for a 26 percent reduction in emissions by 2025, 50 percent by 2030, with the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chair Chip Kline says either we make substantial changes, or the climate will.

Cut 7 (09) “..every day”

Governor Edwards has signed a bill to allow clergy members into healthcare facilities to visit patients during public health emergencies. Freshman Minden Senator Robert Mills says his measure requires the state health department to craft rules and regulations for patient access.

Cut 3 (12)  “…these people”  

Pfizer announces they’ve got a vaccine developed that’s 90 percent effective in testing so far as cases continue to balloon in the US with new daily records being set throughout the month. Assistant Dean for Translational Research at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Dr. Lucio Miele, says that’s good news but there’s a lot of different vaccines in development and we still don’t know how long your immunity would last if dosed.

Cut 11 (09) “…how quickly”

A number of LSU football players are in quarantine, reportedly after a Halloween party exposed them to COVID. Head coach Ed Orgeron says starters are among the group of players who are in quarantine. The coach would not say how many and he was asked if it was enough to appeal to the SEC to postpone the game.

Cut 14 (09) “..right now” 

Governor Edwards is pushing to get the state to reduce its carbon emissions by 26 percent within five years, 50 percent within 10, and ultimately to carbon neutral by 2050 to combat climate change. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chair Chip Kline says the Climate Initiatives Task Force is tasked with figuring out how to make that happen and met today to chart a path forward…

Cut 6 (09) “…prosperity”

The framework for emissions reductions follows the Paris Climate Accord agreement that states the world can only afford another 1.5 degrees of average global temperature increases or we risk catastrophic worldwide ecological collapse. President Trump exited the US from the agreement this month but President-Elect Biden has vowed to rejoin.

LSU and Baton Rouge police say they are investigating claims made by freshman LSU wide receiver Koy Moore, who says he was violated numerous times by police officers on Saturday night. Moore, who is black, says cops pulled guns on him claiming he had guns and drugs in his possession and unzipped his pants. 

There’s good news in the battle against COVID-19 as Pfizer says the vaccine they are studying is showing its 90-percent effective. Assistant Dean for Translational Research at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Doctor Lucio Miele, says it’s among ten possible vaccine candidates in late testing around the world…
cut 10 (09) “…another one”
Miele says residents in nursing homes would be among the first to get a vaccine once it’s approved by the F-D-A.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says he has several players in quarantine as a result of positive COVID-19 cases within the football program.
cut 13 (11) “…Saturday night”
Orgeron also announced that starting Q-B Myles Brennan might miss the remainder of the season with the injury he suffered in the third game of the season.

Governor Edwards has signed a bill to allow clergy members into short and long-term healthcare facilities to visit patients during public health emergencies. Minden Senator Robert Mills says healthcare facilities will also immunity from most civil lawsuits for injury or death for the exposure of clergy members to COVID or other infectious diseases. Mills says most clergy members do not have issue with immunity…
cut 4 (10) “…in the patient”

The Climate Initiatives Task Force held its first meeting today, with the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Chip Kline oil and gas industry representatives are on the task force but acknowledged it will be a challenge to get everyone on board…
cut 8 (11) “…intensive”