Two reporters gave a minute-by-minute account of last night’s execution of Jessie Hoffman. One of them was WDSU-TV reporter Gina Swanson. She says she saw involuntary body movements a minute after the nitrogen gas started being administered.

Cut 4 (11) “…a little bit.”

After the nitrogen gas was turned off after 19 minutes, the curtain lowered, and the spiritual advisor performed Buddhist chants.

In an interview on Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge, Governor Landry predicts his administration will announce 50-billion dollars in private investment in large projects by June 1st. Landry says the state has recorded a couple of big economic wins in recent months, including a 10-billion dollar artificial data center that Meta is building in Richland Parish…

Cut 9 (08)  “…to expand.”

A Washington Parish mother was arrested for the death of her 8-month-old infant child. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

LSU may the big Baton Rouge school in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, but they’re not the only one. Tonight, Southern takes on UC-San Diego in a 16-seed First Four matchup in Los Angeles. The winner takes on the tournament’s top overall seed, UCLA. Ironically, LSU is also playing a team from San Diego – San Diego State. That game is Saturday night.

We’re getting details of exactly what went on in the execution chamber as Jessie Hoffman was being put to death. New Orleans Times-Picayune and Advocate reporter John Simerman was one of two media witnesses to last night’s execution. Simerman says the curtains were raised at 6:20 last night, and Hoffman was already strapped to the gurney with a gas mask covering his entire face and a gray plush blanket covering his body.

Cut 3 (09) “…shrugged it off.” 

After Hoffman declined to say any last words, the nitrogen gas started flowing at 6:21, and it flowed for 19 minutes. Hoffman was pronounced dead at 6:50.

A mother is charged with first degree murder after her 8-month-old died from severe injuries, including broken bones. 24-year-old Autumn Harper is being held in Washington Parish Jail awaiting bond. Franklinton Police Chief Justin Brown says the incident is “absolutely heartbreaking” and extended condolences to the family.

Cut 7 (07) “…the worst one I’ve seen”

A state audit has found that more than one-fourth of pregnant women in Louisiana did not receive care in their first trimester of pregnancy, with Medicaid recipients being disproportionately affected. Chris Magee, the data analytics manager at the Legislative Auditor’s Office, says what’s frustrating is that the findings come amid the state spending 400-million dollars on maternal health reforms.

Cut 12 (09) “…they’re intended for.”

McNeese head men’s basketball coach Will Wade is on the radars of a lot of teams with coaching vacancies. This, as he leads his Cowboys against Clemson tomorrow in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer says he hopes Wade will choose to stay.

Cut 16 (08) “…in southwest Louisiana.”

McNeese is the 12 seed in the Midwest Regional, while Clemson is the fifth seed. Tipoff from Providence, Rhode Island, tomorrow afternoon is at 2:15.

For the first time in 15 years, Louisiana has executed a death row inmate. Jesse Hoffman, who kidnapped, robbed, raped and killed Molly Elliott in 1996 was executed yesterday evening by nitrogen hypoxia after the state and U.S. supreme courts declined to intervene. Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott said the execution went flawlessly.

Cut 6 (07) “…approximately 19 minutes.”

A state audit has found that prenatal care for Medicaid recipients in Louisiana is going in the wrong direction. It found that among other things, several OBGYNs who accepted Medicaid patients didn’t provide them services. Chris Magee, the data analytics manager at the Legislative Auditor’s Office, says the state will look to make it easier for OBGYNs to provide services to Medicaid recipients.

Cut 13 (09)  “…the Medicaid program.”

Three years ago, Will Wade was fired as head coach at LSU over recruiting violations. Now he’s one of the hottest coaching candidates after leading McNeese basketball to the NCAA Tournament two years in a row. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Elsewhere in sports, the second-ranked LSU baseball team had no trouble at all last night beating UNO. The Tigers scored six runs in the first three innings to run rule the Privateers 11 to one. Jared Jones homered and had four hits on the night. Ethan Frey hit two home runs. Jaden Noot gave up one run over four innings and struck out five for the win.

Louisiana has carried out its first execution in 15 years. Andrew Greenstein was at the state penitentiary in Angola, where it was carried out.

Cut 1 (54) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Forty-eight-year-old Danette Colbert now faces a murder charge in connection with the death of Kansas City sports reporter Adan Manzano, who was found dead in a Kenner hotel during Super Bowl week.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Three years ago Will Wade was fired as head coach at LSU over recruiting violations, now he’s one of the hottest coaching candidates after leading McNeese basketball to the NCAA Tournament two years in a row. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Louisiana has executed its first death row inmate in 15 years. Jesse Hoffman, who kidnapped, robbed, raped and killed Molly Elliott in 1996 was executed yesterday evening by nitrogen hypoxia after the state and U.S. supreme courts declined to intervene. After the execution, Attorney General Liz Murrill says final justice for Elliott’s family and loved ones was long overdue.

Cut 4 (15) “…State of Louisiana.”

The execution was not without controversy, as several groups spoke out against the state’s use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution. Outside the state penitentiary in Angola, a group of death penalty opponents held vigil. While Elliott’s sister-in-law spoke out against executing Hoffman, Murrill said other relatives did not feel the same way.

Cut 5 (07) “…to have finality.”

Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott said the execution went flawlessly.

Cut 6 (07) “…approximately 19 minutes.”

Hoffman’s EKG flatlined after 14 minutes, and protocol dictated that the nitrogen gas continue to flow for five additional minutes. Corrections Chief of Operations Seth Smith, who was a longtime nurse, says he did not see Hoffman suffer in pain during the execution.

Cut 7 (12) “…inconsistent with death.”

Murrill noted that there are now 55 inmates on death row in Louisiana, and executions using nitrogen hypoxia will continue.

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Forty-eight-year-old Danette Colbert now faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Adan Manzano, the 27-year-old sports reporter from Kansas City found dead in a Kenner hotel room during Super Bowl Week. The coroner’s report found Manzano had a lethal combination of Xanax and alcohol in his system. Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley says an accomplice, Rickey White of Gretna, was also arrested in Florida for allegedly using Manzano’s debit card…

Cut 8 (12) “…Kenner Police Department.”

Colbert was originally charged with robbery and fraud in connection with Manzano’s death. Conley says the murder charge comes after investigators collected a sufficient amount of evidence for a judge to agree with the murder warrant. Conley says Colbert’s case is ready for prosecution by Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick’s office and admits the case against her is  circumstantial.

Cut 9 (06) “…the courtroom.”

Colbert was originally arrested on February sixth after investigators determined she was the last person to see Manzano alive and she was also allegedly in possession of his cell phone and credit cards. Colbert is known to police as a person who targets men in the French Quarter and steals their money and credit cards by drugging them. He says many different agencies were part of this investigation…

Cut 10 (10) “…Randy Smith.”

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A state audit has found that prenatal care for Medicaid recipients in Louisiana is going in the wrong direction. Chris Magee, the data analytics manager at the Legislative Auditor’s Office, says the audit has found that more than one-fourth of pregnant women in Louisiana did not receive care in their first trimester of pregnancy, with Medicaid recipients being disproportionately affected.

Cut 11 (14) “…to Medicaid beneficiaries.”

Magee says what’s frustrating about this report is that it comes amid the state spending 400-million dollars on maternal health reforms.

Cut 12 (09) “…they’re intended for.”

Magee says the state will look to make it easier for OBGYNs to provide services to Medicaid recipients.

Cut 13 (09)  “…the Medicaid program.”

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Tomorrow the McNeese’s men’s basketball team faces Clemson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cowboys are in the Big Dance for a second straight year, a first in program history. Athletics Director Heath Schroyer says he took a gamble in hiring Will Wade in 2023, who was fired by LSU in 2022 because of recruiting violations. He says needless today, that gamble has paid off.

Cut 14 (08) “…great fit here.”

Schroyer says Wade’s leadership has earned McNeese some very valuable national exposure.

Cut 15 (10) “…uptick in enrollment.”

When Wade took the McNeese job two years ago, he said he would commit to two years. With this being the second of those two years, his name has already been connected to several high-profile openings, including North Carolina State. Schroyer says he hopes Wade will choose to stay.

Cut 16 (08) “…in southwest Louisiana.”

McNeese is the 12 seed in the Midwest Regional, while Clemson is the fifth seed. Tipoff from Providence, Rhode Island, tomorrow afternoon is at 2:15.

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New U-L Lafayette men’s basketball coach Quannas White is predicting big things as he takes over a program that just concluded a 12-and-21 season. White, who is still with Houston as they make a run for a national title, says he plans to bring in high character players into the program…

Cut 17 (15)  “…culture.”

White says he’s hoping the fan base will get behind his program…

Cut 18 (15)  “…Final Four bound.”

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One of LSU’s new defensive ends, Jack Plyburn, a transfer from Florida, believes he’s the best run stopping defensive end in the country. Plyburn says his goal at LSU is to become an elite pass rusher…

Cut 19 (19) “…those things”

New tight end Bauer Sharp from Oklahoma, believes he’s the most versatile tight end in college football…

Cut 20 (11) “…this season.”

A hearing is going on at this hour in Judge Chip Moore’s courtroom that could determine whether Jessie Hoffman will be executed this evening. Moore issued an injunction yesterday afternoon pending this morning’s hearing on whether using nitrogen hypoxia violates Hoffman’s right to religious freedom. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law professor Dane Ciolino says depending on what happens today in both Judge Moore’s courtroom and at the U.S. Supreme Court, the execution still may happen this evening.

Cut 12 (07) “…execution hour approaches.”

Senator Bill Cassidy has introduced a bill that would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program for two years. Cassidy says while temporary reauthorizations are better than nothing, families who rely on the NFIP deserve better.

Cut 15 (12) “…period of time.”

A Morgan City woman was arrested for animal cruelty after police found many dead cats inside her home. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The list of people looking to succeed LaToya Cantrell as mayor of New Orleans is growing. Oliver Thomas is the latest to throw his or her name in the hat. In a campaign video, the councilman says New Orleans needs a comeback, and no one understands that better than him. Thomas joins Helena Moreno, Arthur Hunter and Tyrell Morris in the race to succeed the term-limited Cantrell.

The execution of Jessie Hoffman is off again. This afternoon, 19th Judicial District Court Judge Chip Moore issued a temporary restraining order halting Hoffman’s execution pending a hearing tomorrow morning. At issue is whether using nitrogen hypoxia violates Hoffman’s rights to religious freedom.

The National Weather Service in Slidell confirmed two tornadoes touched down in Tangipahoa this past weekend damaging over 20 homes in the area.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe has passed away. The New Iberia native died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 62. Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says Duhe worked tirelessly to bring justice to victims and their families…

Cut 11 (11) “…seek justice.”

Duhe attended law school at Tulane and in 1993 he began working in the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s office. He became the D-A in 2015.

A massive fire over the weekend at the Port of Caddo/Bossier. About 95-hundred tons of baled paper spread across two and a half acres at Pratt Industries caught fire late Saturday afternoon. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese says this was a very difficult fire for firefighters to battle, not just because of the high winds.

Cut 8 (12) “…at 950 degrees.”

The tornadoes that tore through Tangipahoa Parish Saturday are rated EF-2 and EF-3. That’s out of five on the Fujita scale. The tornadoes cut through nearly identical paths; and so far there are reports of more than 20 homes being damaged. National Weather Service Senior Forecaster Rob Frye says it’s not uncommon for storms like this to follow similar paths, and that leads to more destruction when that’s the case.

Cut 5 (11) “…in this case.”

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe has passed away. The New Iberia native died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 62. For the last ten years, he had been the top prosecutor for Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin parishes. Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says Duhe’s legacy of justice and service will never be forgotten and he’ll be greatly missed…

Cut 10 (07) “…hard to fill”

It will be a late night in the PMAC on Saturday night as the LSU Lady Tigers host San Diego State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

More than 100 firefighters were called to the Port of Caddo/Bossier to put out a huge paper fire. About 95-hundred tons of baled paper spread across two and a half acres at Pratt Industries caught fire late Saturday afternoon, and the high winds were making the battle very difficult. One firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The tornado that tore through Tangipahoa Parish Saturday was a doozy. The National Weather Service has rated it an EF-3 out of five on the Fujita scale. Senior Forecaster Rob Frye says due to how close it was to an EF-2 that followed almost the same track, it’s difficult to determine each storm’s effects.

Cut 4 (06) “…tornado did what.”

More than 100 firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze at a paper facility at the Port of Caddo/Bossier Saturday afternoon. The high winds were making the battle very difficult, but crews were able to prevent it from spreading to any buildings. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese says the entire inventory at Pratt Industries is a total loss.

Cut 7 (11) “…damage to it.”

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe has passed away. The New Iberia native died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 62. He’d been the top prosecutor for Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin parishes since 2015. Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero says he had an outstanding working relationship with Duhe…

Cut 9 (11)  “…investigation.”

March Madness is here. In the men’s tournament, The Midwest regional’s 12th seed, McNeese, takes on Clemson Thursday afternoon in Providence, Rhode Island. In the women’s tournament, LSU is a three seed and hosts San Diego State Saturday night.

It’s now up to the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether Jessie Hoffman will be executed tomorrow night by nitrogen hypoxia. This, after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the scheduled execution and the State Supreme Court declined to intervene. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law professor Dane Ciolino says there’s also a chance that the case might not actually be over in the Fifth Circuit.

Cut 12 (06) “…the Fifth Circuit.”

A National Weather Service survey team confirmed that two tornadoes touched down east of Kentwood in Tangipahoa Parish on Saturday and later moved into Pike and Walthall Counties in Mississippi. NWS Senior Forecaster Rob Frye says they were around a mile from each other.

Cut 3 (12) “…identical area.” 

More than 100 firefighters were called to the Port of Caddo/Bossier to put out a huge paper fire. About 95-hundred tons of baled paper spread across two and a half acres at Pratt Industries caught fire late Saturday afternoon, and the high winds were making the battle very difficult. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese says job number one for fire crews was preventing the fire from spreading to buildings, and they succeeded.

Cut 6 (06) “…the main goal.”

Reese says Pratt’s entire inventory is a total loss.

For the fourth time, Kim Mulkey has led the LSU women’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament – and for the fourth time, they’re a three seed. They will take on San Diego State Saturday night at the P-MAC. When asked about San Diego State, Head Coach Kim Mulkey was admittedly dumbfounded.

Cut 13 (14)  “…start watching film.”

For now, tomorrow’s execution of Jessie Hoffman is back on. On Friday, a three-judge panel at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick that granted Hoffman a delay. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law professor Dane Ciolino says he’s surprised that the Fifth Circuit acted as quickly as it did.

Cut 10 (07) “…the issues presented.”

Hoffman’s last hope is the U.S. Supreme Court.

It seems that every day, the U.S. makes an announcement of a new tariff. University of New Orleans economics and finance professor Dub Lane says if it goes on much longer, inflation will go up, the economy will suffer, and America will experience a recession.

Cut 7 (11) “…a trade war.”

Suspended LSU Law Professor Ken Levy spoke with Talk Louisiana host Jim Engster about where he stands with his lawsuit against LSU. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Two people are killed in a shooting at a downtown Shreveport night club. It happened just after 2:30 Saturday morning at Club Haze. Two others were injured but are expected to survive. At this time, it’s unclear what led up to the shooting, and investigators have not identified any suspects.