Shots rang out in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans in a gun fire exchange between four city police officers and a shooter on Friday after 10 pm leaving the suspected shooter dead.

Officers were responding to a report of a suicide attempt when they were fired upon. One the officers was struck two times by shots in the chest of his protective vest.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spoke to the media to say, “Having worn that vest, it saved his life.”

The N-O-P-D says they are reviewing body camera footage and Mayor Cantrell told the media the incident is under a full investigation.

The truck driver at the center of the multi-vehicle wreck near Gainsville, Florida that killed five Louisiana minors had multiple traffic tickets in at least five different states.

59 year old Steve Holland had violations including speeding, driving an overloaded vehicle, failing to carry proof of insurance and driving and unsafe vehicle.

The tragic Louisiana connection is that five Louisiana children from the Marksville area died in the wreck on Interstate 75 on Thursday.

The reported child fatalities were: 14-year-old Joel Cloud, 14-year-old Jeremiah Warren, 9 year old Cierra Boredelan, 10-year-old Brieanna Bordelan, and 13-year-old Cara Descant.

The two big rig truckers involved in the wreck also died.

The Lafayette Public Library has agreed to lift a ban on groups hoping to organize Drag Queen Story Time events after a lawsuit from the ACLU.

After legal action from an anti-Story Time group, visitors hoping to hold events had to sign a form promising not to do a Drag event at the library.

ACLU Louisiana Legal Director Katie Schwartzmann says the form was unconstitutional.
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The New Orleans live music club known as Tipitina’s opened the new year under new ownership.

Members of the New Orleans funk jam band called Galactic purchased the venue at the end of November.

Located near the Mississippi river, Tipitina’s got its name in 1977 from a song written by the legendary New Orleans piano player, Professor Longhair.

For over four decades, the Tipitina’s club featured great live shows along with some financial woes for previous owners.

Galactic marked the start of 2019 by taking the club’s stage to perform the New Year’s Eve show as the new owners of Tipitina’s.