A major indictment announced in Lafayette this morning against five people, including several Louisiana law enforcement officers. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (45) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Heavy rains are heading for the Louisiana coast this week. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office announces a 62-count indictment against five people, including four law enforcement officers, in connection with a visa fraud scheme. Alex (“Alec”) Van Hook, the acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, told a news conference this morning that the five are charged with fraudulently obtaining non-immigrant U-visas.

Cut 3 (12) “…witnesses to crime.”

Van Hook says the five indicted are – Oakdale Police Chief Chad Boyle; Michael Slaney, the marshal of the Ward 5 Marshal’s Office in Oakdale; Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, Former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea, and businessman Chandrakant Patel.

Cut 4 (12) “…several Louisiana parishes.”

Van Hook says the people listed on the fraudulent U-Visa applications were never victims of or witnesses to crime, which are requirements in order to obtain a U-Visa.

Cut 5 (12) “…United States Government.”

The indictment says Patel paid the officers five-thousand dollars for each foreign national placed on the report, in an effort to keep them and their family members in the United States.

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Forecasters are now urging those of you near the Gulf Coast to be weather aware for the next few days. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a disturbance brewing in the gulf; however, it will not rise to the level of a major storm.

Cut 6 (07) “…have to watch.”

Keim says there’s less than a 50-50 chance of a tropical cyclone forming.

Cut 7 (09) “…a tropical depression.”

Keim says while wind will not be a factor, heavy rainfall will be.

Cut 8 (13) “…rain on us.”

Governor Landry will be holding a news conference at GOHSEP tomorrow morning to give an update on the state’s emergency response, should it be necessary.

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The Ouachita River is set for designation as a U.S. Marine Highway. Congresswoman Julia Letlow says the designation will increase opportunities for infrastructure upgrades.

Cut 9 (07)  “…infrastructure grants.”

Grants can be applied for through the Department of Transportation and Development.

Letlow says the increased traffic through the Ouachita River will lead to economic development and job creation in northeast Louisiana.

Cut 10 (13) “…Ouachita River.”

Letlow says numerous industries will benefit, but it will have a particularly positive impact on a region dominated by commodities.

Cut 11 (11) “…Arkansas as well.”

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Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke at SEC Football Kickoff Media Days today. With quarterback Jalen Milroe off to the NFL, the Crimson Tide have a three-way QB battle among redshirt junior Ty Simpson, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and freshman Keelon Russell. DeBoer says if the season started today, Simpson would be the starter.

Cut 12 (12) “…another level.”

Alabama went 9-and-4 in the first season under DeBoer and missed the College Football Playoffs. Deboer says his team fell short of the Alabama standard.

Cut 13 (09)  “…because of it.”

LSU will travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide November 8.

LSU will open SEC play hosting Florida September 13. The Gators will face one of the toughest schedules in the country again this year, but head coach Billy Napier is leaning on sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway to lead his team.

Cut 14 (14) “…really special.”

Lagway went 6-and-1 as a starter after taking over midseason, including a 27-16 victory over LSU in Gainesville.

Five people, including Police Chiefs from Oakdale and Forest Hill, Former Police Chief of Glenmora Tebo Onishea, and businessman Chandrakant Patel face charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining non-immigrant U-visas. Acting Western District U.S. attorney Alex (“Alec”) Van Hook says the people listed on the U-Visa applications were never victims of or witnesses to crime, which is required to obtain the special Visa.

Cut 5 (12) “…United States Government.”

The indictment says Patel paid the officers five-thousand dollars for each foreign national placed on the report, to keep them in the United States.

The Ouachita River is set for designation as a U.S. Marine Highway. Congresswoman Julia Letlow says the designation will increase opportunities for infrastructure upgrades.

Cut 9 (07)  “…infrastructure grants.”

A tropical rainstorm is heading for the Louisiana coast this week. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

In Football news, LSU will open SEC play on September 13 hosting Florida. The Gators face one of the toughest schedules in the country again this year, but head coach Billy Napier is leaning on sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway to lead his team.

Cut 14 (14) “…really special.”

A major indictment announced in Lafayette this morning against five people, including several Louisiana law enforcement officers. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (45) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Forecasters are now urging those who live near the Gulf Coast to be weather aware for the next few days. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a disturbance brewing in the gulf, but it’s not expected to rise to the level of a major storm.

Cut 7 (09) “…a tropical depression.”

He says while wind will not be a factor, heavy rainfall will be. Governor Landry will be holding a news conference at GOHSEP Thursday morning to give an update on the state’s emergency response, should it be necessary.

Police Chiefs from Oakdale, Forest Hill, and a former chief from Glenmora were arrested, at least one while attending a conference in Baton Rouge. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announces a 62-count indictment against five people, including four law enforcement officers, in connection with a visa fraud scheme. Alex (“Alec”) Van Hook, the acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, told a news conference this morning that the five are charged with fraudulently obtaining non-immigrant U-visas.

Cut 3 (12) “…witnesses to crime.”

A disturbance brewing in the gulf is not expected to rise to the level of a major storm but

LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says while wind will not be a factor, heavy rainfall will be.

Cut 8 (13) “…rain on us.”

Governor Landry will be holding a news conference at GOHSEP Thursday morning to give an update on the state’s emergency response, should it be necessary.

After 21 years, Louisiana Tech is headed back to the Sun Belt. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

If you hold a library card at the state library or at the library systems in Iberville, Livingston, Tangipahoa or Rapides parishes, you can now use that card to get into a museum! State Librarian Meg Placke (PLACK-ee) says it’s an expansion of the State Library’s “Check Out Louisiana” program, which was originally developed to allow cardholders to obtain passes to state parks.

Cut 8 (08) “…with our museums.”

Breaking news, as the U.S. Attorney’s Office announces five arrests, including those of three Louisiana police chiefs, in connection with a visa fraud scheme. Alex Van Hook, the acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, made the announcement in a news conference this morning.

Cut 21 (13) “…for U visas”

We’ll have plenty more on this developing story throughout the day today.

Forecasters are now urging those of you near the Gulf Coast to be weather aware for the next few days. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a disturbance brewing in the gulf; however, it will not rise to the level of a major storm. 

Cut 6 (07) “…have to watch.”

Keim says while wind will not be a factor, heavy rainfall will be.

Congresswoman Julia Letlow is co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment to ban the burning of the American flag. Letlow says while she defends the right to peaceful protest, burning the American flag does not qualify as such.

Cut 14 (09) “…Americans are.”

Making this the 28th Amendment, however, will be a tall task. It will require a two-thirds majority from both houses of Congress and ratification of three-fourths of the states – in this case, 38.

If you hold a library card at the state library or at the library systems in Iberville, Livingston, Tangipahoa or Rapides parishes, you can now use your card to get into a state museum. State librarian Meg Placke says just like with the state parks, the goal is to get people to visit the state museums, and similar programs have been very successful in other states.

Cut 9 (09)  “…to our museums.”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow announced last week she’s co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment to ban the burning of the U.S. flag.  She says it’s about protecting the flag and what it represents.  In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled in a landmark cast that flag burning is a form of symbolic speech protected under the First Amendment.  Letlow says…

Cut 15 (13) “…is just wrong.”

A proposed amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both the House and Senate and then ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Louisiana Tech has officially accepted the invitation to join the Sun Belt and will discuss the decision today at a 3 p-m press conference. KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich says it will be a big step towards saving money and selling tickets for both Louisiana Tech and ULM.

Cut 4 (09) “…fired up.”

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If you hold a library card at the state library or at the library systems in Iberville, Livingston, Tangipahoa or Rapides parishes, you can now use your card to get into a museum! It’s an expansion of the State Library’s “Check Out Louisiana” program, which was originally developed to allow cardholders to obtain passes to state parks. State Librarian Meg Placke (PLACK-ee)

Cut 8 (08) “…with our museums.”

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center has launched the Pennington Generation research study to study childhood obesity. Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, an associate executive director for population and public health science at Pennington Biomedical, says the study just got underway, with about 90 kids having participated so far. In all, he says about 15-hundred will participate over 10-20 years..

Cut 12 (08) “…of getting pregnant.”

Certain library cardholders can use their library cards to obtain free admission to state museums. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A Flood Watch has been issued for all of Southeast Louisiana through Saturday due to the threat of tropical rain.  Experts say whether or not a tropical depression or storm develops, Louisiana should still be prepared for multiple days of rain. Latest forecasts show some areas of Southeast Louisiana could get see more than five inches of rain.

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The Pennington Biomedical Research Center has launched the Pennington Generation research study to study childhood obesity. Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, an associate executive director for population and public health science at Pennington says Louisiana has several characteristics that may contribute to childhood obesity.

Cut 11 (06) “…related to food.”

Katsmarzyk says so far about 90 kids have participated in the study.

Louisiana Tech has officially accepted the invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference and will discuss the decision today at a 3 p-m press conference. The bulldogs can depart for the Sun Belt as soon as 2026 and were invited to join no later than July of 2027. . KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich hopes things will move quickly.

Cut 6 (13) “…would generate?”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow announced last week she’d be co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment to ban the burning of the U.S. flag with Arkansas Republican Steve Womack. Letlow says this amendment is about protecting the flag and what it represents.

Cut 13 (11)  “…from desecration.”

A proposed amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both the House and Senate and then ratified by three-fourths of the states.

The leader of a local rap label has been arrested as part of a drug bust in East Baton Rouge Parish, along with several others.   Authorities say the rap leader is 31 year old Jornell Keelen, who’s facing several charges.  East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says more than 2,200 lethal doses of fentanyl, along with other drugs and items, were seized during the drug bust.

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After 21 years, Louisiana Tech is headed back to the Sun Belt. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center has launched the Pennington Generation research study to study childhood obesity. Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, an associate executive director for population and public health science at Pennington says the study looks at lifestyle factors.

Cut 10 (08) “…treat childhood obesity.”