Anyone with information leading to the capture of the two remaining escapees from the Orleans Justice Center could earn a reward of 50 thousand dollars per fugitive since Greater New Orleans upped their share of the reward to 20-thousand dollars. On the other hand, Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Robert Hodges says assist the escapees and go to jail and he says he’s very confident that Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves will soon be back in custody.

Cut 5 (12) “…them in custody.”

LSU-Shreveport won a record-tying 57^th straight game last night. The win ties the all time college baseball record for longest winning streak. Howard College in Texas won 57 in a row in 2009.  Senior shortstop Jose Sallorin drove in three runs last night and says they are not thinking about the winning streak…

Cut 14 (06) “…0-and-0.”

The House Health and Welfare committee rejected a bill that would ban fluoride in drinking water.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A major monkey wrench in the fight to restrict speed cameras throughout the state. As the legislature continues considering Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey’s bill to do away with the speed cameras, the House passed an amendment by a single vote to exempt Opelousas from any such rule.

Cut 6 (14) “…of this amendment.”

Governor Landry signed six auto insurance reform bills into law this morning. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A person who infects another person with a sexually transmitted disease could be charged criminally under a bill approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee. Monroe Representative Pat Moore has spent the last six weeks trying to get this proposal out of committee…

Cut 9 (08)  “…incurable diseases.”

Moore says current Louisiana law only addresses HIV.

A statewide poll shows strong support for the App Store Accountability Act which would require parental consent before minors could download apps.  Louisiana Family Forum CEO Gene Mills says it would also ensure accurate age ratings and require the app stores to implement one-time age verification.

Cut 7 (11) “…parental consent.”

The bill, authored by Mandeville Representative Kim Carver heads to the Senate Commerce Committee.

LSU Baseball is hosting its 28^th Regional this weekend and its first since 2023. Designated Hitter Ethan Frey from Rosepine was a freshman on that team and is excited to experience postseason baseball at the Box once again….

Cut 17 (12)  “…every game.”

Several bills addressing the high cost of auto insurance in Louisiana have made their way to Governor Landry’s desk and at a ceremony in the governor’s mansion, he signed six of them into to law this morning. Landry said insurance companies make more money in Louisiana than in other states.

Cut 3 (13) “…in the country.”

These bills grant the insurance commissioner authority to reject rate increases regardless of market conditions, bar drivers 51-percent at fault or higher from collecting damages to cover their injuries and bar undocumented immigrants from collecting damages.

A bill that would require app stores to obtain parental consent before a minor could download an app passed the house. Louisiana Family Forum CEO Gene Mills supports  The App Store Accountability Act.

Cut 6 (12) “…40 apps a week.”

While at least fourteen people face charges for helping some of the ten inmates in their escape from the Orleans Parish Jail, two people are being charged for helping Tra’von Johnson escape the Tangipahoa Parish Jail last week. Johnson was recaptured last Friday and 37-year-old Dameon Booth who was reportedly with Johnson when he was recaptured has been arrested charged with principal to simple escape and aggravated escape. Another inmate, 28-year-old Trevon Wallace allegedly helped Johnson over the fence also faces charges for his role. More arrests may be coming as deputies are searching for others who may have been involved in this escape.

A statewide ban on kratom is now one signature from Governor Landry away from becoming reality. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

It’s been a historic season for LSU Shreveport and the Pilots can make more history today. If LSU S wins tonight, it will be their 57^th straight victory which will tie the all-time college win streak set by Howard College in Texas. LSU-S will play at 8:30 central time in Lewiston, Idaho.

The ULM School of Education earned an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality for its elementary math teacher preparation, one of only four Louisiana universities to achieve this distinction. This follows ULM’s prior A+ rating in Reading Foundations. School of Education Associate Director Dr. Shalanda Stanley

Cut 5 (10) “…student performance.”

She says the difference is shortening the gap between learning how and actually practicing with students getting hundreds of hours of field experience prior to full-time teaching.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network held Cancer Action Day at the Capitol. Louisiana Government Relations Director for the ACS CAN Alice Kline says the rally was to advocate for increasing funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Cut 10 (10) “…so heavily.”

Monroe Police have arrested six people, in connection with a brawl over the Memorial Day weekend. Police Chief Vic Zordan (rhymes with Jordan) says investigators used surveillance video footage to arrest the six, and more arrests are expected.

Cut 13 (09)  “…on video there.”

This incident comes months after a shooting outside a sporting goods store in which rival gangs went after one another.

After nearly 100-thousand Entergy and Cleco customers in Southeast Louisiana lost power for hours due to a “load-shed” event ordered by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator. CLECO says they will investigate the outage and Entergy says they want to understand the directive from MISO and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta says is demanding transparency from MISO on why the outages occurred without warning.

Cut 10 (12) “…within 30-minutes.”

Monroe tourism officials say Phil Robertson brought a lot of attention to the region. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gave high praise to current Speaker Mike Johnson during an appearance on a Baton Rouge radio morning show. The 81-year-old Gingrich says Johnson is the most remarkable Speaker of the House in his lifetime for how he has led a 435-member body with a slim Republican majority…

Cut 3 (12) “…people complain.”

Nearly 100-thousand customers in New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana lost power for hours due to a “load-shed” event ordered by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator on Sunday.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating a fatal crash that happened Monday STPSO says the driver of a Porche failed to stop after a traffic violation on I-12. The deputy lost sight of the Porche but it was later found crashed into the tree line at the Lacombe exit. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been released.

Police in Monroe arrest six people, including an Arkansas man, in connection with a brawl over the Memorial Day weekend. Police Chief Vic Zordan (rhymes with Jordan) says Trace Castleberry is facing a second-degree battery charge, and Monroe Police are working to bring him back to the city to face charges.

Cut 12 (07) “…lot in Monroe”

Zordan says investigators used surveillance video footage to arrest the six, and more arrests are expected.

Phil Robertson, patriarch of Duck Dynasty passed away Sunday following a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Monroe tourism officials say he and his family provided a huge boost in visitors to the area. Sheila Snow with Discover Monroe-West Monroe …

Cut 6 (11) “…family called home.”

Phil Robertson was 79.

More than 10 days after 10 inmates escaped the Orleans Parish Justice Center, 2 are still at large. Three inmates were recaptured on Monday. Lenton VanBuren was arrested in Baton Rouge, and Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were arrested in Houston. The number of accomplices who helped the prisoners escape or assisted them afterwards is up to a dozen and there may be more. The two remaining escapees are Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves, and they are considered armed and dangerous. There is a 20-thousand-dollar reward offered for information leading to the capture of each inmate.

Around 100-thousand Southeast Louisiana customers were without power for hours Sunday due to a “load-shed” event ordered by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator after an Entergy nuclear plant unexpectedly went offline but even Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta hasn’t been given specific information on the outage. He says MISO’s lack of transparency is unacceptable.

Cut 11 (07) “…explain everything.”

The outages affected 75 thousand Entergy and 25 thousand Cleco customers.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gave high praise to current Speaker Mike Johnson during an appearance on Baton Rouge talk show, Mornings with Brian Haldane Tuesday. Johnson was elected to congress in 2016 and became Speaker of the House in 2023 and Gingrich says he is impressed with Johnson’s ability to unify factions within the GOP, something with which past leaders struggled.

Cut 5 (11) “…remarkably smart.”

Gingrich does not think Johnson will be a presidential candidate in 2028, because he’s too humble.

Fans of Duck Dynasty are mourning the death of patriarch Phil Robertson. Sheila Snow with Discover Monroe-West Monroe says the region took full advantage of its new-found fame brought by the TV show and the Robertson family.

Cut 8 (13) “…in West Monroe.”

Phil Robertson passed away on Sunday at the age of 79.

Another jailbreak – this one in Tangipahoa Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A week ago today, ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail and five of the escapees remain at large. It’s been three days since authorities announced the capture of an escapee. New Orleans Police announced today the arrest of 30-year-old Casey Smith for aiding at least two of the escapees. She’s accused of driving them to multiple locations following their escape.

And in St. Martin Parish, a 2007 SEC football championship ring is missing. Deputies say it was stole from a home in the Cade area last week along with several other items. St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Major Ginny Higgins says they’ve been able to recover nearly all of the stolen property, but the ring remains missing. Higgins says investigators have made arrests.

Cut 11 (06) “…with anything else.” (suspects are juveniles)

During Memorial Day Weekend, the “Click It or Ticket” campaign heats up increasing the likelihood of tickets for unbuckled drivers and passengers. LHSC spokesperson Mark Lambert says data shows more than 88-percent of Louisiana drivers wear a seat belt and nearly half of vehicle occupants killed in crashes were unbelted.

Cut 7 (12) “…getting seriously injured”

As of Friday afternoon, five of the 10 escapees from the Orleans Justice Center are still at large and another suspected accomplice has been arrested. NOPD arrested 30-year-old Casey Smith who they say admitted transporting some of the escapees. Three others were previously arrested by the State Police. 32-year-old Cortnie Harris, accused of transporting escapees. 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste accused of helping an escapee get food. 59-year-old Connie Weeden accused of providing cash to an escapee through a cell phone app. Maintenance worker at the jail, 33-year-old Sterling Williams allegedly turned off the water in a cell allowing inmates to escape through a hole behind a toilet.

And in Tangipahoa Parish, a manhunt is underway for 19-year-old Tra’Von Johnson, who escaped from the jail Thursday afternoon – and this is not the first time he’s escaped from that jail.  Sheriff Gerald Sticker says inmates flooded a cell and while jail employees were pushing the water out, both the cell door and an exterior door were open simultaneously for less than a minute, enough time for Johnson and another inmate to get out of the building – only Johnson left the property.

Cut 12 (09) “…the back fence.”

Johnson previously escaped jail with three other inmates in May of 2024.

An LSU SEC championship ring was among many items stolen from a home on May 13^th and Martin Parish, sheriff’s investigators are looking to recover it. Major Ginny Higgins…

Cut 10 (07) “…bragging about it.”

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this ring is asked to call St. Martin Parish Crime Stoppers.

The House has passed a resolution asking the SEC not to schedule LSU home football games before six p-m in the month of September. Harahan Republican John Illg drafted the resolution after ESPN scheduled LSU’s September 21st home game against UCLA for 2:30 in the afternoon. The temperature at kickoff was 94 degrees with a heat index of 100

Cut 3 (05) “…factor into it.”

The resolution if passed is only a formal request to the SEC and to the TV networks.

Another suspected accomplice has been arrested for allegedly helping the inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center last week. NOPD arrested 30-year-old Casey Smith who they say admitted transporting some of the escapees. Three others were previously arrested by State Police. 32-year-old Cortnie Harris is also accused of transporting escapees. 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste allegedly helped one of the escapees get food. 59-year-old Connie Weeden allegedly sent cash to an escapee through a cell phone app.  Maintenance worker at the jail, 33-year-old Sterling Williams, was the first arrested after he allegedly turned off the water in a cell allowing inmates to escape through a hole behind a toilet. As of Friday afternoon, five of the 10 escapees are still at large.

St. Martin Parish sheriff’s investigators are looking for an LSU SEC championship ring that was stolen earlier this month. Major Ginny Higgins says the ring was among many items stolen from a home on May 13th.

Cut 9 (06)  “…of this ring.”

Anyone with information about the ring is asked to call St. Martin Parish Crime Stoppers.

The House has passed a resolution asking the SEC to not schedule LSU home football games before six p-m in the month of September. Harahan Republican John Illg drafted the resolution after a a 2:30 September kickoff temperature was 94 degrees. Shreveport Democrat Steven Jackson asked Illg whether he’d be open to including all schools in this non-binding resolution.

Cut 5 (07) “…for everybody else.”

The House passed Illg’s resolution unanimously, but it is only a formal request to the SEC and to the TV networks which establish the kickoff times.

With increased travel beginning Memorial Day Weekend, The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is heating up. LHSC spokesperson Mark Lambert says by combining strict enforcement with public awareness, the campaign aims to encourage wearing seat belts every trip, every time.

Cut 8 (12) “…happy Memorial Day.”