A natural gas pipeline explosion this morning near the DeSoto Parish town of Catuna has triggered evacuations to assure residents safety. The evacuations include areas along Highway 171 and Norwood Road. Firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and EMS are all on the scene, and traffic is being detoured away from the affected area. So far, we have no reported injuries.

Three people died Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Lafourche Parish on Louisiana Highway 308 in Lockport. State Police Trooper Ross Brennan says one of victims is from southwest Louisiana…:

CUT 03(10)      “…head-on.”

In that Chrysler, 44-year-old Ramiro Pineda-Perez of Berwick and 38-year-old Alexander Vigil of Morgan City…who were also killed instantly.

Gas prices are retreating somewhat. The statewide average price of regular is now $4.45; down 7-cents from a week ago.

Police in Natchitoches are investigating a Saturday night gunfight that left two men dead and one wounded. Natchitoches Police spokesman Cpl. John Greely says the dead are identified as 21-year-old Marquis Evans and 23-year-old Daniel Williams. Greely says a beef between the two erupted at a gas pump…:

CUT 11(11)      “..on the scene.”

The National Hurricane Center website is now tracking three tropical waves; one in the Gulf and two in the western Atlantic. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the system in the Gulf is stalled not far off the Louisiana coast, but has a small chance of developing into a tropical storm…:

CUT 08  (09)        Brownsville, Texas area

Two other systems are out there, with good chances of developing, but they should remain well to our south.