Louisiana’s first through third graders showed improvement on a literacy test this fall, but Whitney Thomas reports the state’s public school education leader is concerned the percentage of kindergartners reading below grade level has declined….
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Whitney Thomas.”
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The state department of transportation has an interactive map that allows the public to provide input on proposed highway projects. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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The coroner in St. Tammany Parish confirms charred remains found Monday in a double murder case as those of a missing local priest. More from Brooke Thorington…:
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The state Department of Education released its fall 2022 Reading Report and it shows an improvement in reading skills for students in 1st-through-3rd grade, but kindergarten scores declined two-percent. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says kindergartners faced a learning delay because of the pandemic.
Cut 4 (13) “…language acquisition.”
The Reading Report is based on a literacy screener given to students during the first 30 days of the school year and analyzes the child’s reading ability. Louisiana’s overall score improved for a second consecutive year, second-graders, in particular, scored two-percent higher than last year’s second-graders. Brumley says it’s good to see reading progress.
Brumley says overall the Reading Report shows just under 50% of K-through-third graders scoring on or above benchmark, which means more work is needed to get young people reading at grade level
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If you want to give input on highway projects the state is considering, the Louisiana Department of Transportation is making it easier. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says there’s a new interactive map on the DOTD website.
Mallett says you can comment on any project that was presented during the annual legislative public hearings that are held across the state during October and November. Now you can click on the map instead of going to a meeting or sending an email.
Cut 8 (09) “…to make comments.”
He says the public input from the meetings and emails has often been helpful.
You can find the map on the Department of Transportation’s website.
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The St. Tammany Parish town of Covington mourns the death of retired local priest, Father Otis Young, from a grisly double murder. Badly burned remains found Monday behind a local business have been confirmed by the parish coroner to be those of Father Young. Covington Police Sgt. Edwin Masters…:
Cut 10 (09) “…double homicide.”
Father Young and a church assistant, Ruth Prats, were reported missing Sunday. Two charred bodies were found Monday behind a local business. Sgt. Masters says they cannot yet confirm the other remains are those of Ms. Prats…:
Cut 11 (05) “…the second victim.”
The coroner says both victims died from blunt force trauma, then were set on fire. Sgt. Masters says Covington Police are holding a suspect…:
The suspect is 49-year-old Antonio Tyson, who was just released from prison in August, after serving over 30 years for rape and burglary. Masters says Tyson is being held without bond.
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A month-long narcotic investigation in Caddo Parish leads to the arrest of 53-year-old Emanual Barrett of Shreveport. Head of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Drug Task Force Lt. Darin Marshall says when they searched Barrett’s home, they found a significant amount of illegal substances.
Cut 13 (06) “…methamphetamines.”
Marshall says the street value of those substances was over $7,000.
Earlier this month, a wastewater study indicated the city of Shreveport has twice the national average of meth giving the area a notorious distinction. Marshall says the arrest of Barrett will make a difference.
Marshall says in his 20 years in law enforcement he’s seen the meth problem grow increasingly alarming and they are doing all they can to contain it.
Barrett was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center, charges include possession of schedule II narcotics with intent to distribute, resisting an officer, and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile.
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After allowing 274 rushing yards in the loss to Texas A&M, the Tigers defense looks to bounce back this Saturday in the SEC Championship game against Georgia. LSU cornerback Mekhi Garner admits they came out flat against the Aggies…
Georgia leads the nation for the fewest points allowed, allowing just eleven a game and they ranked fourth in total defense. Tigers freshman tight end Mason Taylor on the Dawgs defense…
Georgia’s quarterback Stetson Bennett is second in the SEC in passing yards. His top receiver is Brock Bowers. Garner says they are really good at the tight end position…
Cut 18 (18) “…stop that offense”
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Southern will play Jackson State in the SWAC Championship game on Saturday. The Tigers trounced the Jaguars in the regular season matchup, winning 35-0. Southern Coach Eric Dooley says they need to execute better…
The game will be played at Jackson State’s home field. Dooley says that doesn’t bother him…
Kickoff is at 3:00.