The rain may be long gone in Avoyelles Parish, but the painstaking task of recovery is just getting underway. Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says many people in the parish lost everything.

Cut 3 (08) “…just thrown away.”

Baton Rouge officials are partnering with the FBI in searching the Baton Rouge North Landfill for the remains of missing 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather. The searchers are wearing fully insulated suits due to the threat of hazardous gases. Fire Chief Michael Kimble says the safety of the men and women conducting the search is a top priority.

Cut 10 (10) “…the search.” 

Police believe Minnieweather was beaten to death and picked up on a routine collection route to the landfill. 

Political analysts say the hard part is over for Julia Letlow. Nearly all of them say Letlow is all but certain to beat Jamie Davis and be elected to the U.S. Senate. But after beating John Fleming Saturday night, Letlow says she’s not taking anything for granted.

Cut 6 (11) “…House of Representatives.”

Davis easily won the Democratic Party nomination, receiving 80-percent of the vote to defeat Gary Crockett. The Tensas Parish crop farmer and former police juror says his grassroots campaign is just getting started.

Cut 14 (13) “…ground up.”  (woo-hoo) 

Davis and Letlow will square off November 3rd, vying for the seat currently held by Bill Cassidy, who failed to make the GOP runoff in his re-election bid.

It’s Julia Letlow and Jamie Davis in the general election for U.S. Senate. Letlow defeated John Fleming, garnering 57-percent of the vote. Letlow addressed her ecstatic supporters after the race was called Saturday night.

Cut 10 (12) “..win this thing.”   (cheering) 

Jamie Davis had an easier time, winning a whopping 80-percent of the vote among Democrats, compared to just 20-percent for Gary Crockett. In his victory speech, Davis says Letlow has voted for policies that have made it harder on Louisiana families.

Cut 15 (15) “…as for a promotion.”

Overall turnout was just over 15-percent.

Governor Landry vetoed 78 projects from three budget bills, totalling more than 12-million dollars. Landry offered no explanation for these vetoes. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says if Landry issued these vetoes strictly for political retaliation, he would by no means be the first governor to take this approach.

Cut 9 (13)  “…political party affiliation.”

A Louisiana professor receives a grant of more than 200-thousand dollars to research heat-related illness in high school athletes. LSU Health Shreveport Associate Professor Dr. Cory Coehoorn (KOO-horn) says while early morning and late evening practices that avoid the highest temperatures can certainly help, it’s merely a blanket solution, and that every athlete reacts to heat differently.

Cut 6 (09) “…a detrimental state.”

The race to represent the Republican Party in the 2026 U.S. Senate election comes to an end Saturday night, as the primary runoff between Julia Letlow and John Fleming will be decided. Negative ads have been prominent in this campaign as the two sides try to distinguish themselves as the more conservative candidate. Letlow has continuously pointed out that she has the endorsement of President Trump.

Cut 12 (12) “…desperate ads.”

Fleming says Letlow’s Parents Bill of Rights Act did not pass, and there’s very little she can point to as far as accomplishments since she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2021.

Cut 14 (10) “..into law.”

For the Democratic nomination, it’s Jamie Davis against Gary Crockett.

Sam Houston Jones State Park will be undergoing a major restoration after sustaining significant damage from Hurricane Laura and other storms. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says Woodside Energy is exclusively funding the project, committing five-million dollars.

Cut 8 (13) “…State of Louisiana.”

Jefferson Parish officials and Loop Linen Service broke ground on a 25-million-dollar project to keep the family-owned company in the parish. Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission Executive Director Jerry Bologna says Loop Linen had outgrown their previous facilities and was looking to move, and retaining these businesses is key to economic development.

Cut 3 (11) “…support them.”

The U.S. Senate nominations will be decided tomorrow night. Jeff Palermo has a look at the two candidates on the Republican side.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

And on the Democratic side, Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett will square off for that party’s nomination. Davis easily bested the field last month, garnering 47-percent of the vote. Crockett barely made the runoff, finishing ahead of Nick Albares by less than 300 votes.

Sam Houston Jones State Park in Calcasieu Parish will be undergoing a major restoration after sustaining significant damage from Hurricane Laura and other storms. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the project will cover more than 800 acres of forest habitat over the course of six years.

Cut 6 (12) “…help that park.”

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2026 induction ceremony is tomorrow night in Natchitoches. Former LSU second baseman Warren Morris is one of the inductees. Morris, of course, blasted the iconic walk-off homer to win the 1996 College World Series. He says he spent most of the season injured in the dugout supporting his teammates.

Cut 9 (07)  “…that championship.”

The ceremony will be broadcast live on Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

The U.S. Senate nominations will be decided tomorrow night. Jeff Palermo has a look at the two candidates on the Republican side, Julia Letlow and John Fleming.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

And on the Democratic side, Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett will square off for that party’s nomination. Davis easily bested the field last month, garnering 47-percent of the vote. Crockett barely made the runoff, finishing ahead of Nick Albares by less than 300 votes.

Jefferson Parish officials and Loop Linen Service broke ground on a 25-million-dollar project to keep the family-owned company in the parish. Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission Executive Director Jerry Bologna says the new 62-thousand-square-foot facility will retain 125 jobs from its current operation.

Cut 4 (11) “…supported them.”

Among those being inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame tomorrow is Mike McConathy. The former Northwestern State and Bossier Parish Community College coach is the winningest college basketball coach in state history. In 2006, he led the Demons to an NCAA tournament upset win over 15th-ranked Iowa. He says that team was built on the ones that came before it.

Cut 10 (10) “…how to win.”

If you didn’t cast a ballot in early voting in the U.S. Senate runoffs, you have one more chance tomorrow. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says Julia Letlow appears to be well on her way to securing the GOP nomination, but it appears she may have counted her chickens before they hatched.

Cut 13 (07)  “…race of it.”

As for the Democrats, Cross is not expecting Gary Crockett to be a factor against Jamie Davis.

Sam Houston Jones State Park in Calcasieu Parish will be undergoing a major restoration after sustaining significant damage from Hurricane Laura and other storms. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the project will cover more than 800 acres of forest habitat over the course of six years.

Cut 6 (12) “…help that park.”

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2026 induction ceremony is tomorrow night in Natchitoches. Former LSU second baseman Warren Morris is one of the inductees. Morris, of course, blasted the iconic walk-off homer to win the 1996 College World Series. He says he spent most of the season injured in the dugout supporting his teammates.

Cut 9 (07)  “…that championship.”

The ceremony will be broadcast live on Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Tomorrow is your last chance to make your voices heard in the U.S. Senate runoffs. On the Republican side, Julia Letlow and John Fleming are the last two standing for the nomination. Whereas Fleming was the first candidate to launch a challenge against Bill Cassidy, Letlow was the last to enter the race after getting President Trump’s endorsement. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says while that endorsement cleared out the field of challengers, that may actually end up working against Letlow.

Cut 14 (10) “…the establishment candidate.”

On the Democratic side, Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett are squaring off to decide that party’s nomination.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry says depending on where you live, you may find some other items on your ballot to vote on.

Cut 6 (08) “…party primary items.”

Governor Landry signs an executive order that he says will ensure that residents and local businesses are not paying for the massive amount of energy needed to power A-I data centers. Landry says the order will require data center companies to follow a new set of guidelines in order to qualify for tax breaks.

Cut 10 (09) “…on the ratepayer.”

Tomorrow, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inducts its Class of 2026. Among the inductees is former UL-Lafayette catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who became a two-time All-Star in 12 seasons in Major League Baseball and says he owes it all to Cajuns coach Tony Robichaux.

Cut 17 (18) “…that includes him.”

If you didn’t cast a ballot in early voting in the U.S. Senate runoffs, you have one more chance tomorrow. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The Calvary Baptist Lady Cavaliers are officially high school softball national champions. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Tomorrow is the day when we will find out who will be advancing to the general election for U.S. Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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If you haven’t voted in the U.S. Senate runoffs, tomorrow is your last chance to do so. Overall turnout in early and absentee voting was just under 165-thousand, and Secretary of State Nancy Landry expects the turnout tomorrow to be low as well.

Cut 4 (06) “…percent for Saturday.”

If you’re a no-party voter and you cast either a Republican or Democratic ballot last month, that’s the ballot you will cast this time around, unless you registered with the opposite party before the deadline. Landry says no-party voters who either cast a no-party ballot or didn’t cast a ballot at all will still have the option.

Cut 5 (13) “…May and June.”

Landry says depending on where you live, you may find some other items on your ballot to vote on.

Cut 6 (10) “…party primary items.”

You can view your sample ballot on GeauxVote-dot-com or on the GeauxVote app.

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The Calvary Baptist softball team was named this year’s national champion by MaxPreps-dot-com. The Lady Cavaliers went 37-and-1 this season and earned their sixth straight state title. They become the first Louisiana high school team to be named national champions by MaxPreps. Coach Tiffany Frazier Wood says the feeling is hard to describe.

Cut 7 (11) “…it’s been exciting.”

Calvary finished in the top five in MaxPreps’ final ranking last year and spent most of this season in the top spot. The Lady Cavaliers dropped out of first after their lone loss of the season. Wood says the team that replaced them as number-one lost in their playoffs.

Cut 8 (11) “…their final poll.”

Wood and her team waited 51 days for the official announcement as schools across the country wrapped up their playoffs.

This Calvary team was led by seniors Kynzee Anderson and Abby Sims, who have been with the program since seventh grade and were a part of all six state championships. Wood says the program wouldn’t be what it is today without the teas that laid the foundation.

Cut 9 (11)  “…number-one spot.”

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Governor Jeff Landry signs an executive order that he says will ensure that residents and local businesses are not paying for the massive amount of energy needed to power A-I data centers. Landry says the order will require data center companies to follow a new set of guidelines in order to qualify for tax breaks.

Cut 10 (09) “…on the ratepayer.”

Data Center companies will be required to submit evidence to the Louisiana Department of Economic Development that they are able to pay for their own electricity needs.

There are four data center campuses under construction in Louisiana, and Landry says more artificial intelligence centers could be on the way, but not at the expense of the ratepayer.

Cut 11 (10) “…meet those demands.”

The governor signed the Louisiana Ratepayer and Community Protection Initiative a week after an Advocate newspaper report that said Entergy was planning to purchase a power plant in Texas to help power the Meta data center in Richland Parish. The acquisition would cost the average Entergy residential ratepayer eight dollars a month.

Landry says data centers can do business in Louisiana, but they cannot pass along costs to customers and that’s what his executive order ensures.

Cut 12 (10) “…the East Coast.”

Entergy says its plan to purchase the Texas power plant was part of its supply plan before Meta was a potential customer. Entergy Louisiana also says it’s committed to delivering an estimated 2.8-billion dollars in customer savings over the next two decades.

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By the end of the day tomorrow, we will know exactly who will advance to the general election for U.S. Senate. On the Republican side, a runoff that had all the makings for a runaway is now anything but. Recent polls show John Fleming either closing the gap or catching Julia Letlow. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says he feels that Letlow may have counted her chickens before they hatched.

Cut 13 (07)  “…race of it.”

Whereas Fleming was the first candidate to launch a challenge against Bill Cassidy, Letlow was the last to enter the GOP race after getting President Trump’s endorsement. Cross says while that endorsement cleared out the field of challengers, that may actually end up working against Letlow.

Cut 14 (10) “…the establishment candidate.”

Cross says while the race between Fleming and Letlow appears to be coming down to the wire, the same cannot be said for Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett as they vie for the Democratic nomination.

Cut 15 (08) “…the final election.”

___________________________________________________

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inducts its 2026 class tomorrow night. Former LSU basketball coach John Brady led LSU to four NCAA tournament appearances and two SEC regular season titles. In 2006, he became the third Tigers coach to lead a team to the Final Four. He says that team was a special group.

Cut 16 (14) “…one overall seed.”

Former UL-Lafayette catcher Jonathan Lucroy set records with 184 RBI, 54 doubles and 414 total bases. He hit 35 home runs with a .356 batting average and was a two-time All-Sun Belt selection. Lucroy was a two-time MLB All-Star in 12 seasons in the majors and says he owes it all to Cajuns coach Tony Robichaux.

Cut 17 (18) “…that includes him.”

Monroe native and former Wossman High star Pat Williams played 14 seasons in the NFL. The nose tackle was one of the league’s top run stoppers, earning three Pro Bowl selections. He signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent and says he learned from Hall of Famers like Bruce Smith.

Cut 18 (10) “…be great too.”

The induction ceremony will be held in Natchitoches and televised statewide on LPB.

Last Thursday’s torrential rainfall in Avoyelles Parish is one step closer to being an official state record. A volunteer observer with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network measured 29.06 inches of rain within a 12-hour period three miles southeast of Cottonport. Jonathan Brazzell (“Brazil”) with the National Weather Service says there are indications that some areas got even more.

Cut 11 (07) “…around 30 inches.”

East Baton Rouge Parish Pastor Tony Spell said he had a right to defend his family and church by fighting a neighbor who he claims threatened to kill and rape his family. Spell and his attorney blamed the Central Police Department for a failure to respond to numerous complaints made about the family, but Police Chief Roger Corcoran says that’s news to him.

Cut 12 (11) “…back and look.”

A bipartisan trio of Louisiana congressmen is supporting a bill that would reclassify crawfish processors .By reclassifying them as agricultural workers, they would be eligible for the uncapped H-2A visa program instead of having to secure a capped H-2B visa. Andy Brown with the Louisiana Farm Bureau says the current arrangement led to a shortage of crawfish peelers this year.

Cut 4 (11) “…within that cap.”

The Shrine on Airline is getting a 30-million-dollar renovation to convert the former baseball stadium into a multi-use venue. Jerry Bologna, the executive director of the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission, says it will add visitor sideline seating, which is a must for high school football.

Cut 7 (11) “…view the games.”

The massive rainfall in Avoyelles Parish one week ago is one step closer to being an official state record. A volunteer observer measured 29.06 inches of rain within a 12-hour period three miles southeast of Cottonport. Jonathan Brazzell (“Brazil”) with the National Weather Service is among a team of meteorologists who have verified that reading.

Cut 10 (10) “…will become official.” 

East Baton Rouge Parish Pastor Tony Spell said he had a right to defend his family and church by fighting a neighbor who he claims threatened to kill and rape his family. Spell and his attorney blamed the Central Police Department for a failure to respond to numerous complaints made about the family, but Police Chief Roger Corcoran says that’s news to him.

Cut 12 (11) “…back and look.”

Those looking to come to the U.S. to work as seasonal crawfish peelers could soon be eligible for the uncapped H-2A visas, under legislation sponsored by a bipartisan trio of Louisiana congressmen. Andy Brown with the Louisiana Farm Bureau says these workers are not taking any jobs away from Americans, who he says on a whole simply do not find that work very a-peel-ing.

Cut 5 (14) “…off the job.”

The Shrine on Airline is getting a 30-million-dollar renovation to convert the former baseball stadium into a multi-use venue. Jerry Bologna, the executive director of the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission, says it will add visitor sideline seating, which is a must for high school football.

Cut 7 (07) “…first class facility.”