State Police say a three-year-old child who was not properly restrained was killed in a wreck last night involving an 18-wheeler in Calcasieu Parish. Trooper Derek Senegal says the child was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 41-year-old Blaine Keith Lecompte. Senegal says they suspect Lecompte was impaired.

Cut 12 (10) “vehicular homicide” 

Senegal says toxicology samples were obtained from the driver.

The two bodies recovered from the wreckage of a plane that went down near Hackberry Tuesday are believed to be that of flight instructor Rock Palermo and his student Don Clements. Palermo, an attorney, was also the pilot for the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. Calcasieu Parish District Attorney Stephen Dwight says Palermo was well thought of.

Cut 7 (12) “…missed.”

The investigation is being handled by the FAA and the NTSB.

Senator Bill Cassidy recounted the story of how he got COVID, calling it a warning that transmission in tight spaces is still possible even if everyone is masked up. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

It’s Super Bowl Week but in New Orleans Saints fans are eagerly awaiting a decision from Quarterback Drew Brees. Head Coach Sean Payton says he expects a decision in the next week or two on if Brees is retiring on coming back for year 21 in the pros.

The two bodies recovered from the wreckage of a plane that went down near Hackberry Tuesday are believed to be that of flight instructor Rock Palermo and his student Don Clements. Palermo, an attorney, was also the pilot for the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Tony Mancuso was visibly emotional about the loss of Palermo.

Cut 6 (09) “…office”

The investigation is being handled by the FAA and the NTSB.

The LSU Ag Center says the state is looking at a record sugar cane harvest this year. Sugar cane specialist Kenneth Gravois says sugar was planted on 496-thousand acres in 2020 and the harvest which started in September produced about 83-hundred pounds per acre…

Cut 3 (09)  “…for Louisiana”

Gravois says even a rough hurricane season could not slow down a record-breaking sugar cane harvest.

The CDC is now mandating that all public transit systems require riders to mask up. Senator Bill Cassidy says this is a requirement most transit systems already have, and there’s a real question as to whether the CDC has the power to levy penalties against systems that refuse.

Cut 9 (07) “… enforce.”

Cassidy says masking up while on public transit is a good plan and data shows the virus spreads much easier in confined indoor spaces.

The state reports 2,046 new COVID-19 cases and 53 fatalities today. And 1,386 are hospitalized in the state with COVID. And close to 488-thousand vaccine doses have been administered an increase of 90 thousand since last Thursday.

Republican Senators introduce legislation aimed at overturning President Biden’s executive orders revoking the Keystone Pipeline permit and oil and gas drilling permit moratorium on federal lands. Senator Bill Cassidy says the legislation is necessary because he doubts Biden can be talked into reversing these orders…

Cut 4 (04)“…do it.”

Louisiana ranks 14th in the country according to the CDC for the percentage of COVID vaccines administered. Louisiana Health Secretary Doctor Courtney Phillips told a Congressional committee the ranking would be higher, but they are holding second doses back so recipients can receive the maximum protection from the virus…

Cut 14 (10) “…deserve it.” 
Starting February 11^th, 56 Walmart stores around the state will start administering doses.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is investigating a largescale oyster die-off in Plaquemines Parish waters. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

The three men from Acadiana involved in the murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the murders of two women in Montegut last month are facing additional charges. In addition to first-degree murder, jail records indicate Beaux Cormier, Andrew Eskine and Dalvin Wilson are each facing one count of criminal conspiracy to commit murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Cormier is also facing a solicitation for murder hire charge.

Republicans file long-shot legislation to overturn President Biden’s executive orders restricting oil and gas leasing and ending the Keystone Pipeline. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

According to the latest numbers from the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the state added 37-hundred jobs from November to December. One-point-nine million people were employed in December, but that’s down 83-thousand jobs from December 2019. The unemployment rate in December was just below seven percent.

The Biden’s administration announced Tuesday a 5% increase in the number of vaccine doses to be distributed to states. Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health Dr. Courtney Philips testified Tuesday before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on COVID Vaccines, she thanked them for the three-week advance notice of their scheduled allotments because it…

Cut 15 (09)“…in advance.”

Officials are investigating a mysterious oyster die-off in Plaquemines Parish waters that farmers say has claimed millions of pounds of oysters. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Oyster Program Manager Carolina Bourque (Caro-leena Bork) says this was a tough pill to swallow for fishermen who were already dealing with losses stemming from the Mississippi River Flood in 2019.

Cut 12 (08) “…pandemic.”

Harvesters believe the worst of the die-offs are over now, but smaller die-offs have been detected in recent days.

Louisiana’s Health Secretary discussed the state’s COVID-19 rollout during a Congressional hearing…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The state health department is taking back 15,600 COVID-19 vaccine doses that were headed to nursing homes, instead, they will use those doses at pharmacies and other providers. 56 Walmart locations around the state will begin administering vaccines on February 11th.

Louisiana Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy still have not received a meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss his energy policy. The president has issued executive orders that cancel the Keystone Pipeline and prevent any new lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico. Cassidy says these orders are job killers at a time when the country can’t afford to lose jobs…
cut 5 (12) “….pipeline”

Based on figures released by LSU, the state saw a 20-percent decline in the number of motorcycle fatalities in 2020. Motorcycle Awareness Campaign spokesperson Scotty Drake says the pandemic led to fewer cars and trucks on the road last year, but there might have been more motorcyclists…
cut 8 (09) “…safer”

The Biden administration has announced a 5% increase in the number of vaccine doses to be distributed to states, which is a 22% increase since Biden took office. Louisiana Health Secretary Dr. Courtney Philips testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and says Louisiana is prepared.
Cut 13 (06) “…allocation.”
The C-D-C says Louisiana can expect to receive 70-thousand more doses next week after the increase.

Louisiana U-S Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy support legislation that authorizes the continued construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. President Biden issued an executive order that revokes the pipeline’s presidential permit. Cassidy says canceling the pipeline eliminates 11-thousand jobs and it doesn’t help the environment…
cut 6 (12) “…oil”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is investigating a largescale oyster die-off in Plaquemines Parish waters. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The three men from Acadiana involved in the murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the murders of two women in Montegut last month are facing additional charges. In addition to first-degree murder, jail records indicate Beaux Cormier, Andrew Eskine and Dalvin Wilson are each facing one count of criminal conspiracy to commit murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Cormier is also facing a solicitation for murder hire charge.

Louisiana ranks 14th in the country according to the CDC for the percentage of COVID vaccines administered. Louisiana Health Secretary Doctor Courtney Phillips told a Congressional committee the ranking would be higher, but they are holding second doses back so recipients can receive the maximum protection from the virus…
cut 14 (10) “…deserve it”
Starting tomorrow, 56 Walmart stores around the state will start administering doses.

Biologists are trying to determine why millions of pounds of oysters died in the Plaquemines Parish area. L-D-W-F’s Oyster Program Manager Caroline Bourque (Caro-leena Bork) says die-offs are more common in the summer…
cut 11 (11) “…summer”
This is just the latest blow for oyster producers who saw losses in 2019 as a result of fresh water that flowed into their production areas because of a high Mississippi River.

Republicans file long-shot legislation to overturn President Biden’s executive orders restricting oil and gas leasing and ending the Keystone Pipeline. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

According to the latest numbers from the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the state added 37-hundred jobs from November to December. One-point-nine million people were employed in December, but that’s down 83-thousand jobs from December 2019. The unemployment rate in December was just below seven percent.