Neville High School is morning the death of one of their own as 16-year-old student athlete, Tarver Braddock is laid to rest. Braddock died in a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of Friday January Fifth at a deer camp in Jefferson County, Mississippi where Braddock, was staying with 5 other teens. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the overnight fire and say five teens were able to escape through a window. Braddock died at the scene. His community and his coach are asking for prayers for his parents, his family and his friends.

Governor Jeff Landry has overturned the appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says if the governor hadn’t issued the executive order, he believes incoming BESE members would have overturned it

Cut 10 (12) “…requirements.” 

One of Jeff Landry’s first acts as governor is calling lawmakers to the state capitol for a redistricting session. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A JMC Analytics poll reveals 26 percent of Louisianans believe the cost of homeowner and car insurance is the biggest issue in the Bayou State. Legislation addressing the state’s high insurance premiums will be discussed in the regular session that begins in the spring and Pollster John Couvillon says residents will be paying attention to what lawmakers are going to do.

Cut 6 (07) “…insurance commissioner.” 

A Neville High School student was laid to rest today.  16-year-old Tarver Braddock of Monroe died in a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of Friday January Fifth at a deer camp in Jefferson County, Mississippi where Braddock, a student athlete at Neville High School in Monroe was staying with 5 other teens. Authorities are investigating the cause of the overnight fire and say five teens were able to get out through a window. They were badly burned but did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Braddock was pronounced dead at the scene. His community and coach are asking for prayers for his family.

Among Governor Landry’s first actions in office was overturning the appeals process for high school seniors who fail the LEAP exam. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says Landry mentioned early on that he was against this particular proposal for waving those graduation requirements…

Cut 9 (08) “…in office.” 

A statewide poll of 650 likely voters finds car and home insurance rates are the number one issue for Louisianans. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

In the upcoming redistricting special session, Louisiana legislators may begin debating a move to closed primary elections. Moving from open primary elections to closed primaries would be a major change in how we elect our officials. Senate President Cameron Henry says the special session is at least giving legislators the ability to debate this issue and can vote on it at a later time…

Cut 4 (08) “…cost of it.”

Eunice Republican Phillip Devillier was elected as Louisiana’s new Speaker of the House today. Devillier was elected to the House in 2015 and his district includes parts of Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry Parishes. Devillier’s acceptance speech hit on a theme Governor Jeff Landry touched on during his inauguration speech and that’s unity….

Cut 9 (09) “… are coming” 

This crawfish season is among the most questionable in the Bayou State after the oppressive heat and drought of 2023. LSU AgCenter Crawfish Specialist Todd Fontenot says conditions have made it extremely difficult for the state’s favorite crustacean crop to thrive.

Cut 6 (08) “…this time.” 

Crawfish normally lay eggs in August but the drought dried out those areas where they normally retreat to reproduce.

Most of Southwest Louisiana is under a tornado watch till 9 PM Monday and the potential for tornadoes hail, and flash flooding is expected for all of south Louisiana thru early tomorrow morning. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The Saints missed the playoffs despite blowing out Atlanta out 48-17 yesterday to finish with a 9-8 record. There’s a lot of talk about what happened at the end of the game when Jamaal Williams scored a touchdown from one yard out with three seconds left. Coach Dennis Allen didn’t want his team to score again

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49 of 50 states have weather alerts today! Southwest Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 9 o’clock tonight. That means be prepared and ready to act quickly because conditions make tornado development possible. And Severe weather is expected to impact the southern half of Louisiana for the next several hours. National Weather Service Meteorologist Christopher Bannan says flash flooding is possible this afternoon thru early tomorrow morning for southeast Louisiana…

Cut 3 (12) “…eight inches.”

This crawfish season is among the most questionable in the Bayou State after the extreme heat and drought of 2023. LSU AgCenter Crawfish Specialist Todd Fontenot says On the bright side the mild winter we’ve had so far has improved conditions for crawfish. But for some farmers salinity issues and lack of rice stubble have devastated their mudbug crop.

Cut 8 (08) “…producers.” 

Eunice Republican Phillip Devillier was elected Louisiana’s new Speaker of the House today. He was elected to the House in 2015. Devillier says Louisiana faces a lot of challenges and its residents have waited long enough for real change…

Cut 10 (14) “…Louisiana succeeds” 

Atlanta Coach Arthur Smith was furious after the yesterday’s Saints/Falcon’s game and refused to shake Saints Coach Dennis Allen’s hand after the Saints victory in which the team went against Allen’s instructions to take a knee in the final three seconds. Quarterback Jameis Winston says it was a team decision to give Williams the ball so he can finish the year with one touchdown…

Cut 13 (09) “..good about that” 

Southwest Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 9 o’clock tonight. That means be prepared and ready to act quickly because conditions make tornado development possible. Severe weather is expected to impact all South Louisiana for the next several hours. National Weather Service Meteorologist Christopher Bannan says damaging winds, large hail in addition to tornadoes are possible for much of the extreme southeast region of the state.

Cut 5 (13) “ …potential develops.” 

Louisiana Senators elected Metairie Republican Cameron Henry as its President. Henry was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2008 and he’s beginning his second term as a state senator…

Cut 11 (05) “…great honor”

Mudbug season is questionable this year, after the heat and drought of 2023. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The Saints missed the playoffs despite blowing out Atlanta out 48-17 yesterday to finish with a 9-8 record. There’s a lot of talk about what happened at the end of the game when Jamaal Williams scored a touchdown from one yard out with three seconds left. Coach Dennis Allen didn’t want his team to score again

Cut 12 (10)  “…should be”  

Come January Eighth, Republicans will have a supermajority in both the Louisiana House and Senate, but Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this will not be a lost year for Democrats. He says they will likely have a new Congressional map that would provide the opportunity for two Democrats to be elected to Congress in November or in a December runoff

Cut 11 (09) “…for em.” 

2024 is bringing a significant tax change for Louisiana businesses. Tax Expert for Advantous, Jason DeCuir says the new sales tax collection system with Uniform Local Sales Tax Boards is not perfect but it’s simpler for businesses and should improve collection.

Cut 14 (11) “…right direction.”

If you find you’ve failed to keep your New Year’s resolution, LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Rahn Bailey says you can always start over again, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Cut 8 (06) “…in our lives.” 

If you or someone you care for is having a mental crisis you can call 9-8-8 for free counseling and guidance to local resources.

The American Red Cross is making a call to action for more volunteers in Louisiana. Regional Volunteer Services Officer Rebecca Merritt says 90 percent of the Red Cross workforce is made up of volunteers. She says there are lots of different disaster-related volunteer roles.

Cut 5 (12) “…as well.”

For more information visit www dot redcross dot org forward slash Louisiana.

2024 is here and Louisiana’s new Legislature will get to work soon on redrawing the state’s Congressional map. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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It’s New Year’s Day and the beginning of 2024 resolutions. In order to avoid a setback, LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Rahn Bailey says choose realistic resolutions, let them be things you can control, and have a support group.

Cut 6 (08) “…positive future.”

The new year is bringing a significant tax change. Tax Expert for Advantous, Jason DeCuir says after the Wayfair lawsuits, new federal rules regarding sales tax collection require states to have a simple centralized collection method. He says the state’s previous fragmented system cost Louisiana uncollected revenue from remote online businesses…

Cut 13 (12) “…remitting to Louisiana”

If giving of your time is your New Year’s resolution, Regional Volunteer Services Officer Rebecca Merritt says the American Red Cross needs your help. More than 900 people voluntarily give time to help the Louisiana Red Cross. In the last year, she says volunteers responded to more than 16 hundred local disasters.

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2024 promises to be a busy year politically with a new governor and legislature set to take over on January 8th. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says two special sessions are planned. Pinsonat says a special session to redraw a new Congressional map will begin January 15th and a criminal justice reform session is expected to take place in February…

Cut 9 (06)  “…serious outcomes.”

A significant tax change takes place with the start of the new year. Tax Expert for Advantous, Jason DeCuir says Louisiana is moving to a Uniform Local Sales Tax Board to collect taxes from businesses, instead of the Parish E-File System which DeCuir calls one of the most complex collection systems in the country.

Cut 12 (11) “…local government.” 

DeCuir says after the Wayfare lawsuits, new federal rules regarding sales tax collection require states to have a simple centralized collection method.

It’s New Year’s Day and if you want to keep your resolutions this year, Brooke Thorington has some advice from a professional.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

If you’re looking for a way to give back in the new year, the American Red Cross is making a call to action for more volunteers in Louisiana. Regional Volunteer Services Officer Rebecca Merritt says the need for more volunteers to help respond to disasters in the Bayou State has never been greater.

Cut 3 (12) “…keep happening.”

The American Red Cross has responded to nearly twice as many large disasters across the country as it did a decade ago.

The Edwards administration has been working to make Louisiana a major player as a hub for Carbon Capture and Sequestration, taking carbon dioxide from industrial sources out of the air and storing it deep underground in wells. Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Patrick Courreges says the U-S EPA has now given Louisiana the power to approve these wells…

Cut 13 (09) “…a lot.” 

The State Supreme Court has opted not to hear Caddo Parish Sheriff candidate Henry Whitehorn’s appeal to keep his one-vote victory in the run-off election. The 2^nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for another runoff due to voting irregularities. Political Analyst Scott Hughes…

Cut 6 (12) “…new election.”

In Ouachita Parish four-year-old Bentley Whittlesey was killed in a fatal crash involving two vehicles. Trooper Ryan Davis says the child was a properly restrained rear passenger in a Toyota Corolla driven by 27-year-old Kaytlin Whittlesey. The Toyota turned into the path the Ford pick up. The drivers received minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital. He says routine toxicology samples were taken, however…

Cut 5 (06) “ …this crash.” 

A woman who said she was kidnapped from a bar in New Orleans managed to escape her kidnappers in Vidor, Texas Thursday night. Vidor Police say the woman approached a man in a parking lot saying she escaped her captors. The woman was transported by Acadian Ambulance Service to a nearby hospital and is currently in stable condition. Authorities are searching for the vehicle the victim described as a white 2010 – 2015 Cadillac Escalade pickup truck with three Cadillac rims with the rim on the driver’s side being a spare tire with a black rim.

The U-S EPA is giving Louisiana the authority to approve permits for underground storage of carbon dioxide. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

If you’re planning fireworks at home this year State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says suggests having a water source nearby in case of emergency and she says do not pop fireworks when impaired because it slows your reaction time and never give children fireworks, even sparklers.

Cut 11 (13) “…and bracelets.”

A woman who said she was kidnapped from a bar in New Orleans managed to escape her kidnappers in Vidor, Texas Thursday night. Vidor Police say the woman approached a man in a parking lot saying she escaped her captors. The woman was transported by Acadian Ambulance Service to a nearby hospital and is currently in stable condition. Authorities are searching for the vehicle the victim described as a white 2010 – 2015 Cadillac Escalade pickup truck

The State Supreme Court is not hearing Caddo Parish Sheriff candidate Henry Whitehorn’s appeal to keep his one-vote victory in the run-off election. With early voting starting March 9^th, Political Analyst Scott Hughes says Democrat Whithorn and Republican challenger John Nickelson only have about six weeks to campaign. He believes with the presidential primary at the same time it will favor Republican turnout and it also comes down to…

Cut 8 (09) “…vote race.” 

The election will be held March 23^rd with the presidential primary.