New ownership of the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete has discontinued the roadside zoo attraction that has garnered a lot of attention over the years. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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COVID cases are rising sharply, but ventilator use and deaths are not following at the same rate, so why is that? Matt Doyle has more…
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The Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete is changing ownership and the new proprietors will no longer display the collection of exotic animals that have put a spotlight on the business. The flagship animal, a 550-pound Bengal tiger named Tony, died in 2017. Now-former owner Michael Sandlin says that death hit him hard.
Cut 3 (08) “…getting another tiger.”
Following the euthanizing of Tony the Tiger due to age-related health issues, the main attraction became Caspar the Camel. The camel and a kangaroo are now residing at the Alexandria Zoological Park. Sandlin says he still owns some of the other animals.
Cut 4 (08)_ “…at my homestead.”
Sandlin considers himself and animal welfare advocate and says stepping away from the ownership of the truck stop and roadside zoo has been an emotional process.
The Tiger Truck Stop has been no stranger to controversy over the years, most recently drawing attention after a Florida woman bit the camel’s testicles after entering the animal’s enclosure to retrieve her dog.
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COVID cases are surging and hospitalization numbers are rising sharply as well, but deaths and ventilator use are not following at the same rate as the state’s first wave in April. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says it appears to be because this new wave of cases is disproportionately young people.
Hart says Ochsner currently has plenty of ventilator capacity, but that hospital bed usage has seen a big increase over the last month.
Dr. Hart says healthcare providers have also developed new techniques to aid COVID patients that were not available in March and April, including an antiviral that is much more accessible.
Early in the pandemic hospitals were reporting a concerning decline in the number of people going to the ER or visiting clinics for non-COVID treatments that could be vital for maintaining their health, but Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says patients appear to be a lot more comfortable going back to their healthcare providers these days.
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The Office of Motor Vehicles is expanding the number of offices that will operate using only online appointment scheduling by seven.
OMV Spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says it’s a good way to provide a safer, more convenient experience that avoids making people wait outside when the building hits capacity.
Boudreaux says the online scheduler is very easy to use.
Boudreaux says they’re going to monitor these locations and if the process works out consider implementing it as a normal business practice even after the pandemic passes.
Breaux Bridge, Marksville, Opelousas, Plaquemine, Thibodaux, Vivian, and West Monroe join the nine other existing OMV offices to move to online scheduling.
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A Lake Charles man who authorities say fatally shot two people and left a third-person fighting for her life is now in custody. Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the manhunt that went on for over 24 hours wrapped up when 51-year-old Neil Broussard surrendered by going to a Dollar General and asking an employee to call the cops.
Cut 12 (12) “…heroic of them.”
Broussard was arrested at the store near the wooded area in Beauregard Parish where authorities had been searching for him. Mancuso says the man did not have the murder weapon on him at the time of arrest and they have not gotten a confession out of the suspect.
Cut 13 (09) “…to continue working.”
Mancuso says a motive for Broussard’s actions is still unclear.
Cut 14 (06) “…would like that.”
Broussard is accused of killing 17-year-old Kyla Hildalgo and 18-year-old Kaleb Charlton at a home in Westlake. A third victim, 40-year-old Catherine Hidalgo was shot multiple times and is currently hospitalized.