The under-construction Meta data center in Richland Parish is paying dividends for teachers in a huge way – literally. The increased tax revenues from the project have led to teachers receiving a bonus this year of up to – listen to this number – FIFTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS! Holly Ridge Elementary School teacher Sarah Morris says the jaw-dropping bonus makes life a lot easier for her and her fellow teachers.

Cut 4 (11) “…a great way.”

In the latest back and forth between state leaders and the city of New Orleans, Governor Jeff Landry says the Crescent City is no longer a key to the success of Louisiana. Landry says New Orleans is not the economic driver it once was.

Cut 9 (09)  “…fate of New Orleans.”

Tragedy in Ponchatoula as a three-year-old boy died in a hot car late last week. Police Chief Bry (“bree”) Layrisson says police responded after the vehicle owner found Jahcari James locked inside.

Cut 12 (10) “…just fell asleep.” 

Chief Layrisson says this is merely a tragic accident; and while the investigation is ongoing, he does not expect any criminal charges to be filed.

St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s deputies rescued four people from a car that crashed into a canal off of I-10 early Monday morning. The two adults and two children were taken to a New Orleans-area hospital, and Sheriff Mike Tregre says he has not received any negative news on their health. He hopes they can one day meet the deputies under better circumstances.

Cut 8 (09) “…that night.”

The Meta data center in Richland Parish is paying off quite handsomely for schoolteachers there – literally. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Deputies in St. John the Baptist Parish rescued four people from a car that crashed into a canal off the side of I-10. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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The under-construction Meta data center in Richland Parish is paying dividends for teachers in a huge way – literally. The increased tax revenues from the project have led to teachers receiving a bonus this year of up to – listen to this number – FIFTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS! Holly Ridge Elementary School teacher Sarah Morris says she’s shocked by the enormity of the bonus.

Cut 3 (07) “…of this sort.”

Morris, who teaches third and fourth grade, says the jaw-dropping bonus makes life a lot easier for her and her fellow teachers.

Cut 4 (11) “…a great way.”

Mangum High School head football coach Scott Wilcher says the bonus is a huge help to him and his family.

Cut 5 (09) “…along right now.”

The bonuses are part of an overall investment in the Richland Parish region of more than 50-billion dollars.

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St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s deputies rescued four people from a car that crashed into a canal off of I-10 early Monday morning. Sheriff Mike Tregre says the deputies were nearby for another crash and were directed to the partially submerged vehicle.

Cut 6 (10) “..out of the vehicle.”

The crash occurred around 1 a.m. near the Spencer Chauvin Memorial Bridge. Tregre says the deputies acted immediately and it was just their human reaction to jump into the canal and pull them out.

Cut 7 (08) “…proud of them.”

State Police is investigating the cause of the crash. The two adults and two children in the car were taken to New Orleans area hospitals, and Tregre says he has not received any negative news on their health. He says he hopes they can one day meet the deputies under better circumstances.

Cut 8 (09) “…that night.”

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In the latest back and forth between state leaders and the city of New Orleans, Governor Jeff Landry says the Crescent City is no longer a key to the success of Louisiana. Landry says New Orleans is not the economic driver it once was.

Cut 9 (09)  “…fate of New Orleans.”

Landry made that statement to reporters following a press conference where Meta announced it is committing more than 50-billion dollars to its Richland Parish Data Center project. Landry says Meta’s investment brings the total invested in Louisiana by businesses to 150-billion dollars since he took office in 2024.

A political rift started growing between Governor Landry and newly elected New Orleans Helena Moreno, when Moreno and other city officials pushed back against a new law that combined the city’s civil and criminal district courts. Landry points out Orleans Parish was the only parish in the state with two separate district courts and they should be treated like every other parish.

Cut 10 (13) “…rest of the state.”

Moreno responded to Landry’s latest comments by saying the focus should always be to strive for every city, every town and every parish to reach their fullest potential.

The mayor is asking for a face-to-face meeting with the governor to go over the city’s finances. New Orleans is strapped for cash which is forcing Moreno to furlough employees and delay projects. Landry says he’ll meet with the mayor, but he says one important condition needs to be met.

Cut 11 (07) “…a discussion.”

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Tragedy in Ponchatoula as a three-year-old boy died in a hot car late last week. Police Chief Bry (“bree”) Layrisson says police responded after the vehicle owner found Jahcari James locked inside.

Cut 12 (10) “…just fell asleep.”

Chief Layrisson says this is merely a tragic accident; and while the investigation is ongoing, he does not expect any criminal charges to be filed.

Cut 13 (08) “…any foul play.”

Layrisson says family members attempted life-saving measures on the little boy until first responders arrived; but given the time he was inside, it was hopeless.

Cut 14 (06) “…the heat exhaustion.”

Governor Landry says he’ll accept New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno’s invitation for an in-person meeting to discuss the city’s finances. But Landry says one important condition needs to be met.

Cut 11 (07) “…a discussion.”

New Orleans is strapped for cash which is forcing Moreno to furlough employees and delay projects.

A three-year-old Ponchatoula boy is dead after apparently locking himself inside a vehicle last Friday afternoon. Investigators say Jahcari James walked out of his home and climbed into the unlocked vehicle. He was locked inside for more than 45 minutes before family members were able to get him out. Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson says this appears to be a tragic accident, and he does not expect any criminal charges to be filed.

Cut 13 (08) “…any foul play.”

Deputies in St. John the Baptist Parish rescued four people from a car that crashed into a canal off the side of I-10. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A deputy U.S. marshal was killed in a shooting in Alexandria yesterday afternoon. It happened as the marshal was attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a fugitive. The U.S. Marshals Service says the suspect was ultimately taken into custody. The FBI is leading the investigation into the marshal’s death.

A political rift is heating up between Governor Landry and New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno. It started when Moreno and other city officials pushed back against a new law that combined the city’s civil and criminal district courts. Landry noted that Orleans Parish was the only one with two separate district courts.

Cut 10 (13) “…rest of the state.” 

Moreno responded by saying the focus should always be to strive for every city and every parish to reach their fullest potential.

The increased tax revenue from the under-construction Meta data center in Richland Parish is leading to teachers there receiving a bonus this year of up to – listen to this number – FIFTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS! Holly Ridge Elementary School teacher Sarah Morris says she’s shocked by the enormity of the bonus.

Cut 3 (07) “…of this sort.”

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputies rescued four people from a car that crashed into a canal off of I-10 early Monday morning. Sheriff Mike Tregre says the deputies were nearby for another crash and were directed to the partially submerged vehicle.

Cut 6 (10) “..out of the vehicle.”

Tragedy in Ponchatoula as a three-year-old boy died in a hot car late last week. Police Chief Bry (“bree”) Layrisson says police responded after the vehicle owner found Jahcari James locked inside.

Cut 12 (10) “…just fell asleep.” 

Chief Layrisson says this is merely a tragic accident; and while the investigation is ongoing, he does not expect any criminal charges to be filed.

A St. Tammany Parish youth pastor is behind bars in connection with a decades-old crime. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill and her legal team are seeking indictment-related records from Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and Special Prosecutor Laurie White. They’re seeking documents, text messages and emails in an effort to learn what led to the 16-count indictment against Murrill, which is currently on hold.

The search for the remains of a 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy continues at the Baton Rouge North Landfill. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says finding Je’Derrius Minnieweather’s remains is crucial for two reasons.

Cut 12 (06) “…in this matter.”

Baton Rouge Police say 51-year-old Maurice Parms beat Minnieweather to death and dumped his body in a trash can that was picked up during garbage collection. 

A new study from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows that bariatric surgery is effective in not only weight loss, but also in improving obesity-related health conditions. Dr. Philip Schauer (“shower”), who led the study, says chronic obesity is a disease that begins early in life; and sometimes, surgery may be the one and only viable option in ensuring a patient’s long-term health.

Cut 8 (10) “…would be surgery.”

A new study shows that the benefits of bariatric surgery go beyond just massive weight loss. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A difficult search is underway for the remains of a teenager who authorities believe ended up in a landfill. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A St. Tammany Parish youth pastor is behind bars in connection with a decades-old crime. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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Meta has announced it’s expanding its Richland Parish A-I data center to five gigawatts, becoming one of the largest data centers in the world. Work on the 32-hundred-acre site is underway; and the president of Meta, Dina Powell McCormick, says they anticipate the project will be completed in 2036.

Cut 4 (12) “…to move fast.”

An estimated 75-hundred construction workers are needed to build the Richland Parish data center project. Meta is willing to train many of the workers needed to construct this facility and other data centers for free. McCormick says anyone interested in getting trained for electrical, plumbing and fiber optics should look into Meta’s America’s Workforce Academy.

Cut 5 (11) “…data center site.”

Once the facility is constructed, it’s expected to employ one-thousand people. Governor Jeff Landry says this is the kind of job creation he talked about when he ran for office.

Cut 6 (12) “…those opportunities elsewhere.”

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A new study from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows that bariatric surgery is not only safe and effective in helping morbidly obese people lose weight, but it’s also effective in improving obesity-related health conditions. Dr. Philip Schauer (“shower”), who led the study, says the study evaluated 76 patients between the ages of 10 and 25 who underwent bariatric surgery between January 2020 and March 2025, and an average loss of 30-percent body weight wasn’t the only positive outcome.

Cut 7 (13) “…60-percent improvement.”

Dr. Schauer says chronic obesity is a disease that begins early in life; and sometimes, surgery may be the one and only viable option in ensuring a patient’s long-term health.

Cut 8 (10) “…would be surgery.”

Schauer says as evidenced by this study, bariatric surgery is becoming a more widely accepted option for younger patients.

Cut 9 (10)  “…or bariatric surgery.”

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The search for the remains of a 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy is underway at the Baton Rouge North Landfill. Baton Rouge Police say 51-year-old Maurice Parms beat Je’Derrius Minnieweather to death and dumped his body in a trash can that was picked up during garbage collection. Minniweather’s grandmother, Jawanna Brooks, is looking for answers.

Cut 10 (07) “…his mom don’t.”

The FBI is helping with the search. Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp says investigators have narrowed the search area to about one acre, but there are massive amounts of debris to sift through.

Cut 11 (11) “…at a time.”

Parms has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of the teen. Arrest records say Minnieweather went to see a 16-year-old friend on June 5th. Investigators say he got into an argument with Parms over the way Parms was treating the girl. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says finding Minnieweather’s remains is crucial for two reasons.

Cut 12 (06) “…in this matter.”

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A St. Tammany Parish youth pastor is arrested for allegedly sexually abusing several children decades ago. 72-year-old David Mercer was wanted on a warrant issued out of Bossier Parish. Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Matthew Bertrand says Mercer was wanted for crimes committed between 1989 and 1995, while he had served as youth pastor at Cypress Baptist Church in Benton.

Cut 13 (08)  “…molestation of juveniles.”

Mercer was taken into custody Friday afternoon at a property owned by First Baptist Church of Folsom, where he was working as a youth pastor. Sergeant Bertrand says it’s baffling that Mercer has continued to serve as youth pastor all this time.

Cut 14 (10) “…a little concerning.”

Bertrand says while there are four alleged victims at this time, there are likely many more, and he wants them and anyone else with any information to come forward.

Cut 15 (08) “…know about it.”

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Jay Johnson and LSU brought in some big-time high school signees who chose to enroll at LSU over signing with an MLB team. Aledo, Texas, left-hander Lucas Nawrocki was Perfect Game’s number-50 high school prospect and pulled his name from the draft the night before it began. Glen West with On3-dot-com says he can have an immediate impact.

Cut 16 (16) “…from the start.”

Foxworth, Mississippi, right-handed pitcher Kolby Stringer ranked 110th in MLB’s draft prospect rankings. The 6-3, 205-pounder was not selected in the Major League draft and will head to Baton Rouge. West says he shot up draft boards late.

Cut 17 (13) “…bullpen next year.”

On the position player side, Perfect Game’s 28th-ranked high schooler Malachi Washington chose to go to school after being drafted at pick 528. 45th-ranked prep prospect Dominic Santarelli was picked 550th overall and announced his enrollment at LSU. West says this class is one Tiger fans may look back on as a program-changer.

Cut 18 (20) “…they’re that talented.”

Meta is doubling its AI data center in Richland Parish. Meta President and Vice Chairwoman Dina Powell McCormick says they now plan to spend as much as 50-billion dollars on the project and related infrastructure, up from the ten-billion it originally planned

Cut 3 (12) “…Richland Parish and beyond.”

The site will encompass more than 32-hundred acres, more than four times the size of New York City’s Central Park, and there are concerns that the massive size will increase electricity bills for area residents because of the amount of power needed to run one of these facilities. But Governor Landry says Meta and Entergy have come up with a plan for ratepayers not to bear the extra costs.

Cut 6 (12) “..infrastructure.”

Speaking of data centers under construction, the “help wanted” sign is out at the Hut 8 data center in West Feliciana Parish, and there will be a job fair tomorrow afternoon to fill scores of positions. Parish President Kenny Havard says the positions cover both immediate and future positions.

Cut 10 (06) “…15-hundred construction jobs.” 

The job fair will be from three to six tomorrow afternoon at West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville. 

A St. Tammany Parish youth pastor is arrested for allegedly sexually abusing several children decades ago. 72-year-old David Mercer was wanted on a warrant issued out of Bossier Parish. Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Matthew Bertrand says Mercer was wanted for crimes committed between 1989 and 1995, while he had served as youth pastor at Cypress Baptist Church in Benton.

Cut 13 (08)  “…molestation of juveniles.”

Meta is doubling its A-I data center in Richland Parish. Governor Landry says as artificial intelligence continues to accelerate worldwide, the infrastructure powering it is expanding to meet the growing demand. He says with this investment, Meta is establishing the Richland Parish Data Center as the cornerstone of its global infrastructure and it puts Louisiana in a great spot too.

Cut 4 (10) “…the world.”

It’s another wet start to the work week, with some areas getting around two inches of rain today and tomorrow. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the prolonged rainfall raises the potential for certain major conditions, but other forms of severe weather are not expected for the time being.

Cut 8 (10) “…of weather conditions.”

The “help wanted” sign is out at the Hut 8 data center in West Feliciana Parish, and there will be a job fair tomorrow afternoon to fill scores of construction and permanent technical positions. Parish President Kenny Havard says the job fair will be from three to six tomorrow afternoon at West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville.

Cut 11 (10) “…involved in it.”

Thanks to a grant from the Louisiana Department of Health, up to six physician assistant students at LSU Health Shreveport will receive scholarships in exchange for a two to three year commitment at participating rural hospitals upon graduation. Dr. Sharon Dunn, the dean of the School of Health Professions and Sciences, says the longer the scholarship, the longer the hospital commitment will be. 

Cut 14 (11) “…August of 2029.”

Louisiana is one of 29 states to report cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection causing severe diarrhea. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

A St. Tammany Parish youth pastor is arrested for allegedly sexually abusing several children during the 1990s. 72-year-old David Mercer was taken into custody Friday afternoon at a property owned by First Baptist Church of Folsom.

After exchanging social media posts with Governor Landry about the city’s finances, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno is asking for a face-to-face meeting with the governor to discuss the issue. In Moreno’s latest post, she asked the governor to work with her administration so that both the city and the state can be successful.

Cut 11 (06) “…our conversation.”

Thanks to a grant from the Louisiana Department of Health, up to six physician assistant students at LSU Health Shreveport will receive scholarships in exchange for a two to three year commitment at participating rural hospitals upon graduation. Dr. Sharon Dunn, the dean of the School of Health Professions and Sciences, says the longer the scholarship, the longer the hospital commitment will be. 

Cut 14 (11) “…August of 2029.”

Louisiana has reported more than 20 cases of cyclosporiasis (cy-clo-spo-RYE-uh-sis), the parasitic infection which causes explosive diarrhea. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says if you notice symptoms lasting more than a few days, you should contact a health professional. Sokol says cyclosporiasis can be treated with antibiotics.

Cut 6 (11) “…they can relapse.”

From now on, groups releasing political ads using A-I technology must disclose that fact. That’s due to a bill authored by New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry and signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry. Representative Landry says those who violate the new law face substantial penalties when it takes effect on August 1st.

Cut 9 (10)  “…years in jail.”

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno asks for a face-to-face meeting with Governor Landry after exchanging letters and social media posts about the city’s finances. Landry has accused the city of treating Louisiana as an ATM. Moreno responded by saying she’s more than happy to discuss the city’s finances in person.

Cut 12 (04) “…ATM machine.”

Thanks to a grant from the Louisiana Department of Health, up to six physician assistant students at LSU Health Shreveport will receive scholarships in exchange for a two to three year commitment at participating rural hospitals upon graduation. Dr. Sharon Dunn, the dean of the School of Health Professions and Sciences, says it’s a win for everyone involved.

Cut 15 (14) “…these rural communities.”