A Cut-Off man faces life in prison after a jury convicted him of raping a teenager while the mother was restrained. Lafourche Parish district attorney’s office spokesperson David Melancon says the victim testified during the trial and delivered powerful testimony, describing the sexual abuse and fear she lives with at the hands of 55-year-old Morgan Ratley…
Cut 4 (09) “…strength”
Ratley will be sentenced next month, the incident occurred in July of 2019.

Six years ago the state’s lone female only prison flooded and construction is finally underway on a new women’s prison in Iberville Parish. State Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says the 149-million dollar facility will have 938-beds and it’s designed to rehabilitate prisoners…
cut 10 (09) “…go home”
The new facility will have courses on cosmetology, horticulture, welding, and computer programming.

Football has finally returned to Louisiana. You have high school games tonight, college football tomorrow and Sunday night it’s the season opener for the LSU Tigers who face Florida State in the Superdome in New Orleans. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says there will be a big party outside of the Dome prior to kick-off at Champions Square…
cut 28 (10) “…makes Louisiana special”

After a two-year break due to COVID, the Original Southwest Louisiana Music Festival returns to Opelousas Saturday. Festival executive director Lena Charles says Zydeco gained popularity with poor farm workers as a way to boost their spirits after a long day in the fields. She says it has the same effect today.
Cut 6 (10) “…away from that.”
The festival starts at noon at the Yambilee Festival Building. There’s seven bands, including Grammy winner Chubby Carrier.