Schools and public health officials fighting youth nicotine use find themselves going after the manufacturers. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A Baton Rouge-area serial killer has finally been sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 drive-by murder.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Sean Payton makes his return to the Superdome tonight as his Denver Broncos face a struggling Saints team. Jeff Palermo has more on Payton’s return…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Nicotine use among teens in Louisiana remains at an alarming rate. A statewide survey finds that one out of every three high schoolers and one out of every five middle schoolers vape. Chrishelle Stipe with the Louisiana Public Health Institute says schools need to ramp up their efforts to warn kids about the dangers of vaping.

Cut 4 (09) “…using vape products.”

Stipe is pinning a good portion of the blame on manufacturers of vape products, saying they’re specifically marketing their products towards children.

Cut 5 (07) “…drawn to youth.”

Stipe says makers of vape products are intentionally trying to get kids hooked on their products to increase their profits.

Cut 6 (11) “…to the youth.”

Under Louisiana law, you need to be 21 to buy any tobacco or nicotine product, including vaping devices. But Stipe says that’s not stopping parents from buying vape products for their kids, mistakenly thinking that those products are safer to use than cigarettes.

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Burn bans are now in effect for several parishes throughout Louisiana, as drought conditions persist. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says while October is traditionally the driest month in Louisiana, this October so far has been ridiculous.

Cut 7 (09) “…be considered normal.”

Keim says these tinder dry conditions will continue for the foreseeable future.

Cut 8 (05) “…in the forecast.”

Keim says the one thing that would reduce the risk of wildfire is a good drenching.

Cut 9 (17)  “…at this juncture.”

The burn bans cover parishes in nearly every corner of the state.

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A Baton Rouge-area serial killer has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 drive-by murder. Ryan Sharpe killed 48-year-old Brad DeFranceschi, a Boy Scout leader and father of two, while he was doing yard work at the Avondale Scout Reservation in East Feliciana Parish. 20th Judicial District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says the penalty for first-degree murder is life imprisonment or capital punishment…

Cut 10 (05) “…life imprisonment.”

Sharpe was found guilty of first-degree murder by an East Feliciana jury in August, which deliberated for less than an hour. D’Aquella says this follows a previous conviction in 2019 that was overturned in 2020 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled nonunanimous jury verdicts unconstitutional.

Cut 11 (11) …direct appeal.”

D’Aquilla says he hopes Sharpe’s life sentence brings closure to the families of his victims after years of legal proceedings.

Cut 12 (06) “…behind us now.”

He’s also accused in the shooting deaths of 62-year-old Tommy Bass of East Feliciana and 66-year-old Carroll Breeden, who was gunned down in front of East Baton Rouge Parish home. Sharpe also allegedly shot Buck Hornsby in East Feliciana, but he survived the shooting.

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Sean Payton returns to the Superdome as his new team, the Denver Broncos, will battle the New Orleans Saints in Thursday night football. NFL analyst Mike Detillier of WWL Radio expects Payton will receive a mixed reaction from Who Dat Nation….

Cut 13 (09)  “..forever.”

Payton was the head coach of the Saints for 15 years, guiding the team to its lone Super Bowl victory  to cap off the 2009 season. Detillier says Payton arrived following Hurricane Katrina, but he quickly got the right players around him…

Cut 14 (09) “…that train.”

Detillier says Payton is an excellent game planner, motivator and knew what buttons to push to produce 10 winning seasons in 15 years…

Cut 15 (10) “…motivated them.”

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The Saints will be short-handed tonight when they take on the Denver Broncos. Rookie Spencer Rattler gets a second consecutive start at quarterback, but the team’s top two receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are out and Taysom Hill is doubtful. Denver has one of the best defenses in the NFL and Coach Dennis Allen explains why…

Cut 16 (17)   “…what they’ve done”

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Bradyn Swinson is having a breakout season for the eighth-ranked LSU Tigers. Last Saturday, the senior defensive end had a career-high eight tackles and two sacks and was named SEC defensive line player of the week.

Cut 17 (11) “…just play fast.”

Swinson says the huge win over Ole Miss is now in the rear-view mirror, and that the competition doesn’t get any easier from here on out.

Cut 18 (16)  “…making the expectation.”

Swinson says the team took time to celebrate the Ole Miss win; but now, the focus is on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Cut 19 (12) “…a physical game.”  

Kickoff from Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville Saturday is six p-m.

A red flag warning is issued for the southern half of the state. You’re advised to avoid all fire-related activities, including campfires and burn piles. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says these precautions are essential to prevent uncontrolled fires.

Cut 13 (10) “…with open flames.” 

Louisiana is currently experiencing drought conditions, with no end in sight.

A Breaux Bridge man faces dozens of counts of trafficking of children for sexual purposes. Major Ginny Higgins with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says their deputies have been investigating 32-year-old Javien Demouchet (DEM-oo-shet) since July….

Cut 3 (08) “…juvenile victim.”

Higgins says Demouchet is accused of soliciting minors for sex in exchange for money and-or gifts. She says the investigation is ongoing regarding other juvenile victims.

2024 was a below average crawfish season, because of the historic drought in 2023. But the LSU AgCenter’s Todd Fontenot says early signs show a more normal 2025 crawfish season and he’s expecting crawfish acreage will go up….

Cut 7 (09) “…crawfish production.”

Fontenot says higher rainfall totals this year have improved field conditions.

New Orleans certainly knows how to throw a party, and that’s exactly what it will be doing the day before the Super Bowl with a Mardi Gras-style parade. The parade will feature marching bands, throws and about 20 floats, including signature floats from various krewes. Float-builder Barry Kern can’t wait.

Cut 10 (12) “…who we’re about.”

The parade will go along streets in the French Quarter and the Central Business District.

A Breaux Bridge man is facing more than 50 charges of trafficking children for sexual purposes. Major Ginny Higgins with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Javien Demouchet is accused of soliciting minors for sex in exchange for money and-or gifts. She says right now they know of just one victim, but the investigation is ongoing regarding other juvenile victims…

Cut 4 (05) “…the case.”

Authorities first began investigating Demouchet in July.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the southern half of the state. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says a red flag warning signals a heightened risk of wildfires, caused by a combination of low humidity and strong winds.

Cut 11 (08) “…spread of wildfires.”

Louisiana is currently experiencing drought conditions, which, according to Grymes, further increases the wildfire threat.

A severe drought and heat in South Louisiana caused major setbacks for crawfish farmers, with many crawfish and hatchlings perishing in 2023, but the 2025 season looks more promising. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

New Orleans certainly is throwing a Mardi Gras-style parade the day before the Super Bowl. The grand marshal is Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. He says this is a way to invite the whole city to the festivities surrounding the big game.

Cut 8 (08) “…are around it.”

A Breaux Bridge man is facing more than 50 charges of trafficking children for sexual purposes. Major Ginny Higgins with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Javien Demouchet is accused of soliciting minors for sex in exchange for money and-or gifts. She says right now they know of just one victim, but the investigation is ongoing regarding other juvenile victims…

Cut 4 (05) “…the case.”

Authorities first began investigating Demouchet in July.

The National Weather Service in New Orleans has issued a red flag warning for southeast Louisiana until 7 p.m. today, due to critical fire weather conditions. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says a red flag warning signals a heightened risk of wildfires, caused by a combination of low humidity and strong winds.

Cut 11 (08) “…spread of wildfires.”

In 2023, heat and severe drought in South Louisiana caused major setbacks for crawfish farmers, with many crawfish and hatchlings perishing. But the 2025 season looks more promising. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

New Orleans will be throwing a Mardi Gras-style parade the day before the Super Bowl. The grand marshal is Todd Graves, the founder of Baton Rouge-based Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. He says this is a way to invite the whole city to the festivities surrounding the big game.

Cut 8 (08) “…are around it.”

A Breaux Bridge man faces dozens of counts of trafficking of children for sexual purposes. Major Ginny Higgins with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says their deputies have been investigating 32-year-old Javien Demouchet (DEM-oo-shet) since July….

Cut 3 (08) “…juvenile victim.”

Higgins says Demouchet is accused of soliciting minors for sex in exchange for money and-or gifts. She says the investigation is ongoing regarding other juvenile victims

Former LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. is suing the school and Our Lady of the Lake hospital, alleging negligence in the treatment of a brain tumor that ended his football career. Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt says it’s too soon to tell if this is medical negligence.

Cut 6 (12) “…substantiate that or not.”

A new app will be coming in the town of Brusly (BROO-lee), near Baton Rouge, to notify drivers of an oncoming pursuit. This comes following the New Year’s Eve 2022 deaths of two Brusly High cheerleaders, Caroline Gill and Maggie Dunn, who were hit by a police officer who ran a red light during a pursuit. Caroline’s father, Jason Gill, says that real-time notification can mean the difference between life and death in these pursuits.

Cut 14 (08) “…off you’ll be.”

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month; and every October 15th families, communities, and health care providers gather for Global Wave of Light events. Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge held their event last evening. Manager of Social Services Whitney Craig:

Cut 12 (10) “…in silence.”

Former LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. has filed a lawsuit against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake hospital, alleging negligence in the treatment of a brain tumor that ended his football career. Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt says it is too soon to tell if this is medical negligence.

Cut 6 (12) “…substantiate that or not.”

There will soon be an app near Baton Rouge to notify drivers of oncoming pursuits. The town council in Brusly (BROO-lee) has accepted a donation to launch an app to notify drivers of an oncoming pursuit. Jason Gill, whose daughter was killed in a pursuit-related crash almost two years ago, says real-time notification can mean the difference between life and death.

Cut 14 (08) “…off you’ll be.”

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Last evening, families, friends, and healthcare providers gathered to honor the young lives. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

An 11-year-old boy is killed in an ATV crash in Calcasieu Parish. Deputies say he and another juvenile were operating the ATV when it tipped over. The boy, who was a passenger, died from his injuries; the driver was not hurt. Investigators say foul play is not a factor, and the death has been ruled accidental.

Former LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr, who is now disabled, has filed a lawsuit against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake hospital, alleging negligence in the treatment of a brain tumor that ended his football career. Sean Richardson has more..

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Last evening, families, friends, and healthcare providers gathered to honor the young lives. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Warning drivers of an oncoming pursuit – there will soon be an app for that. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Former LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. has filed a lawsuit against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake hospital, alleging negligence in the treatment of a brain tumor that ended his football career. The lawsuit claims that Brooks was left “permanently disabled” after surgery to remove the tumor. Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt says it’s a “kitchen sink” lawsuit…

Cut 4 (05) “…it has legs.”

Before the tumor’s discovery, Brooks experienced symptoms, including dizziness, and the lawsuit alleges that LSU’s training staff delayed recommending him to a neurological specialist. LSU coach Brian Kelly is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Borghardt says the suit claims the coaching staff pressured him to continue practicing, threatening his starting position.

Cut 5 (10) “…evaluations by the team.”

Brooks is now unable to walk and struggles to speak, requiring lifelong care, according to his attorneys. LSU, while not commenting on the litigation, expressed support for Brooks as he undergoes rehabilitation. Our Lady of the Lake also declined to comment on specific details but defended the quality of its care, emphasizing its experienced neurosurgical team. Borghardt says it is too soon to tell if this is medical negligence.

Cut 6 (12) “…substantiate that or not.”

Brooks transferred to LSU in 2022 after playing for Arkansas and appeared in two games during the 2023 season before the tumor was discovered. Both LSU and the hospital expressed their continued prayers for Brooks’ recovery.

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Senator Bill Cassidy is hosting his Louisiana Energy Security Summit today in Baton Rouge. Senator Cassidy says among the purposes of the summit is devising strategies for advancing energy security in a changing global landscape.

Cut 7 (18) “…of their military.”

Cassidy says the summit will also focus on ways to keep energy jobs in Louisiana to ensure a prosperous future for the state.

Cut 8 (11) “…go there too.”

More than 280 people have registered for the summit.

Cut 9 (13)  “…listen to others.”

The summit goes from nine a-m to four p-m at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge.

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October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and every October 15^th families, communities, and health care providers gather for Global Wave of Light events. Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge held their event last evening. Manager of Social Services, Whitney Craig says families had an opportunity to learn about available resources but most importantly, honor the little lives.

Cut 10 (10) “…light candles.”

Craig says events that bring people together are important because the unimaginable pain of infant and pregnancy loss is more common than we may realize. In 2021, the CDC reported just under 20,000 deaths of children under a year old…

Cut 11 (09) …this daily.”

Craig says, during the Global Wave of Light candlelight vigil, families, friends, and healthcare workers who cared for the families were able to walk the Harris Walking Trail at Woman’s Hospital together.

Cut 12 (10) “…in silence.”

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Notification of high-speed police pursuits? In one community near Baton Rouge, there will soon be an app for that. The town council in Brusly (BROO-lee) has accepted a donation to launch an app to notify drivers of an oncoming pursuit. This comes following the New Year’s Eve 2022 deaths of two Brusly High cheerleaders, Caroline Gill and Maggie Dunn, who were hit by a police officer who ran a red light during a pursuit. Caroline’s father, Jason Gill, who runs the Carolina Grace Gill Foundation, says this is an example of using modern technology to keep people safe.

Cut 13 (11)  “…protect our communities”

Gill says that real-time notification can mean the difference between life and death in these pursuits.

Cut 14 (08) “…off you’ll be.”

Gill was instrumental in getting the Brusly Town Council to implement this technology, and he says he’s pushing for implementation at other levels, including other cities, parishes and the state as a whole – and he’s not stopping there.

Cut 15 (07) “…push that through.”

But for now, the Town of Brusly will install tracking software in nine patrol vehicles as part of the rollout of the technology there. As for the chase that resulted in the girls’ deaths, the former police officer, David Cauthron, is currently serving a 32-year prison sentence with 22 years suspended. The suspect Cauthron had been pursuing, Tyquel Zanders, is also charged; his case is still pending.

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Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler is set to make his second NFL start tomorrow night when New Orleans hosts the Broncos. Rattler threw for 243 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay. But he was also intercepted twice and sacked five times. Rattler is glad the first game is out of the way….

Cut 16 (16)   “…your belt helps”

Broncos coach Sean Payton will make his return to the Superdome. He was the head coach in New Orleans for 15 seasons, guiding the franchise to its lone Super Bowl victory. Payton says his focus is on winning the game…

Cut 17 (17) “…better games”

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The LSU Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks resume their rivalry on Saturday night in Fayetteville. The last four games have been decided by three points or less and Hogs head coach Sam Pittman is expecting another close game…

Cut 18 (15)  “…come watch.”

Arkansas’ quarterback Taylen Green is six-foot-six and he’s thrown for 15-hundred yards. LSU Coach Brian Kelly says Green can run it too…

Cut 19 (17) “….formidable offense.”  

Flu season is off to a slower-than-usual start. Ochsner Family Medicine Physician Dr. Whitney Hardy says it’s still very important for people to get vaccinated, particularly people like the elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems.

Cut 10 (12 “…your protection.”

Ochsner Clinics in New Orleans will be holding drive-thru and walk-up fairs this Saturday.

Detectives with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Major Crime Unit are investigating a deadly shooting outside a Slidell-area business.  67-year-old Dennis Knecht and 64-year-old Cynthia Knecht were killed. Lieutenant Suzanne Carboni says there is no danger to the public…

Cut 13 (08) “…populated area.” 

This is an ongoing investigation.

The state is ordering a Lafayette-based roofing company to stop acting as public adjusters. Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

When the LSU Board of Supervisors voted last week to change its bylaws to allow its chairman to make appointments to any search committee in the system, it may have violated the state’s open meetings law. The Louisiana Illuminator reports the notice for the meeting only stated that the group would discuss “bylaw review,” and an attorney says the vague nature of that wording may violate the open meetings law.

The good news: layoffs appear to be subsiding. The bad news: so has hiring. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The state is ordering a Lafayette-based roofing company to stop acting as public adjusters.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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The good news is, layoffs are starting to subside. The bad news – those who are looking for jobs due to getting laid off are finding it hard to land one. While layoffs are now at their lowest level since the pandemic, the hiring rate in August fell to just 3.3-percent, its lowest rate in more than a decade. U-N-O professor of business economics Mark Rosa says workers in one industry have artificial intelligence to blame for the lack of jobs.

Cut 3 (12) “…doing that first.”

Rosa says while layoffs are down overall, there are troubling signs ahead for the retail sector.

Cut 4 (10) “…yet to happen.”

Rosa says the financial sector has undergone a lot of consolidation.

Cut 5 (12) “…this feels worse.”

The Federal Reserve board meets again next month to discuss ways to spur more hiring.

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A Lafayette roofing company accused of defrauding insurance companies is ordered to stop acting as a public adjuster. Nathan Strebeck with the state office of insurance fraud says Zac Moore and Roofing Guys LLC would allegedly go to people’s homes uninvited and tell them that they needed a new roof, when in fact they didn’t.

Cut 6 (13) “…in fact man-made.”

A forensic engineering company confirmed the inspector’s findings that the damage was man-made, leading to a roof replacement that cost 27-thousand dollars. Strebeck says one big takeaway from all this is for homeowners to tell roofing companies, “don’t call us, we’ll call you.”

Cut 7 (11) “…on their roof.”

Furthermore, Strebeck stresses that roofing companies are not insurance experts.

Cut 8 (10) “…the insurance process.”

Strebeck also urges homeowners not to abandon their claim to a repair company and to stay engaged throughout the process.

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The 2024 flu season is off to a slower-than-usual start, with early data suggesting similar flu activity levels than previous years. Ochsner Medical Family Medicine Physician Dr. Whitney Hardy says this is due to various factors, including widespread vaccination campaigns

Cut 9 (13)  “…too late.”

Hardy cautions that flu activity can pick up later in the season, especially as temperatures drop and people spend more time indoors. They stress the importance of getting vaccinated, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems.

Cut 10 (12) “…your protection.”

Hardy says flu shots are available in New Orleans on Saturday, October 19 at Ochsner Clinics with drive-thru and walk-up fairs or can be scheduled online at Ochsner-dot-org.

Cut 11 (09) “…healthy holiday season.”

The CDC continues to monitor flu trends closely as the season progresses.

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Detectives with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Major Crime Unit are investigating a shooting that occurred Monday afternoon outside a Slidell-area business.  STPSO Lt. Suzanne Carboni…

Cut 12 (09) “…outside a store.”

Deputies found two individuals with apparent gunshot wounds.  67-year0old Dennis Knecht was pronounced dead at the scene.  64-year-old Cynthia Knecht was transported by emergency medical personnel to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.  Carboni says there is no danger to the public…

Cut 13 (08) “…populated area.” 

This is an ongoing investigation.

The good news is, layoffs are starting to subside. The bad news – those who are looking for jobs due to getting laid off are finding it hard to land one. U-N-O professor of business economics Mark Rosa says workers in one industry have artificial intelligence to blame for the lack of jobs.

Cut 3 (12) “…doing that first.”

While layoffs are now at their lowest level since the pandemic, the hiring rate in August fell to just 3.3-percent, its lowest rate in more than a decade.

Two high school football teams involved in a brawl following their game last week will be forfeiting their games this week. That’s the ruling handed down by the LHSAA against both North Vermillion and Comeaux high schools. North Vermillion was slated to play Teurlings, and Comeaux was set to take on Saint Thomas More. Those two schools are now scrambling to find opponents on short notice.

Tired of the heat? Good news…a cold front moves across Louisiana today, bringing a welcome change after weeks of sweltering heat and humidity. Sean Richardson has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”