Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Deputies found a couple dead in their home near Amite Thursday afternoon and they are searching for the couple’s son in connection with a double homicide investigation. During a welfare check, deputies first found 66-year-old Priscilla Brocato deceased and later found 75-year-old Marc Brocato deceased on the property. 34-year-old Joshua Brocato has been named a person of interest He is 5 feet, 9 inches and weighs 200 pounds with brown hair and eyes believed to be driving a white 2014 Ford utility van with a last known to be in Lafayette. Sheriff Gerald Sticker asks anyone with information to call TPSO, State Police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-554-5245.

Economists are concerned President Donald Trump’s sweeping 10% and higher tariffs could slow the U-S economy, and Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says the restaurant industry is bracing for increased costs for essential goods.

Cut 7 (06) “…or replace equipment.”

ULM students have voted to put a 75-dollar fee on themselves with the money going to the school’s athletic department. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A 73-year-old immigrant living in Lafayette was taken into custody by immigration authorities and his family is pleading for his release. Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez has lived in the U.S. for 45 years since he fled Cuba. His stepdaughter, Christian Cooper Riggs posted this emotional plea on Facebook…

Cut 13 (14)  “…not the solution.”

Bossier, Caddo and Webster Parishes are under a tornado watch until 9:00 tonight and tomorrow the severe weather threat will expand statewide. LSU Public health climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 3 (15) “…severe weather.”

Heavy rainfall is a possibility with this storm system. Kein says north Louisiana could see two to three inches, while an inch of rain could fall along the coast

Louisiana State Police say a man killed in a head-on crash on I-10 in Ascension Parish was traveling the wrong way. Officials identified the victim as 39-year-old James Burns of Amite. According to preliminary investigation around 1:30 Friday morning, a tractor-trailer traveling east was struck by Burns’ GMC Sierra. The Vehicles caught fire. Authorities say Burns died at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.

Sweeping 10-percent and higher tariffs on all imports has sparked concern across Louisiana industries.  Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The family of a 73-year-old immigrant who was taken into custody in Lafayette is pleading for his release. Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez’s stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs says Rodriguez tried to become an official citizen for the last ten years, but because he committed a crime in the first couple of years after he arrived in the U.S., he’s been unsuccessful. She says for the last 43 years her stepfather has been a model immigrant

Cut 12 (15) “…our country.”

With 10 percent tariffs on all imports now in effect and higher tariffs on imports from key trading partners like China (34%) and the European Union (20%), some Louisiana industries are expressing concern.  Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris believes costs will potentially go up and low profit margin businesses like restaurants will have to do some belt-tightening.

Cut 8 (11) “…period of time.”

ULM students approved a 75-dollar per semester fee in a 711 to 650 vote. The extra 600-thousand dollars the fee is expected to generate in its first year is going to the athletic department. ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell…

Cut 10 (10) “…sports medicine program.”

The family of a 73-year-old man who cares for his wife who has dementia is pleading for his release after immigration enforcement agents took him into custody near his home in Lafayette. Cuba native, Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriquez has lived in the U.S. for 45 years. His stepdaughter Christian Cooper Riggs took to Facebook saying she understands the there’s an immigration problem, but a 45-year resident who works and cares for his family is not the problem…

Cut 14 (05) “…a machete.”

Riggs says, for 10 years, Rodriguez’s attempts to become an official citizen have been unsuccessful because he committed a crime when he first arrived in the U.S. but since then has been a model immigrant.

Do you want to know how public-school districts and charter schools are spending their money? You can find that information at treasury-dot-la-gov.  State Treasurer John Fleming says click the box that reads Louisiana K-12 School Transparency Project.

Cut 13 (11)  “…want to know”

The State Fire Marshall’s office is asking for help in identifying the person who intentionally set a Monroe church on fire Sunday March 30th. The Monroe Fire Department was able to quickly extinguish the fire at St. Mary’s Number 2 Baptist Church around 2:00 P.M. Sunday afternoon but not before destroying the building. Investigators say surveillance video shows a person intentionally setting the fire. Anyone with information can report it anonymously to the Arson Hot Line at 844-954-1221 or online at lasfm.org.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance is applauding President Trump’s tariffs on imported shrimp. Leann Bosard, a board member at the Southern Shrimp Alliance, says she hopes the tariffs will provide a boost to the U.S. shrimping industry.

Cut 3 (12) “…for decades now.”

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gas jumped three cents from yesterday to $2.82.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The defending national champion LSU gymnastics squad begins its NCAA postseason journey tonight as they will compete in the Penn State Regional. LSU won the SEC regular season championship, and they won the SEC Gymnastics meet. Mike Smith, the announcer at LSU gym meets says the Tigers are the favorites to repeat as national champs…

Cut 14 (10) “…convincingly.”

If the Tigers finish in the top two of tonight’s session, they advance to the regional final on Saturday.

Five North Louisiana Parishes are under a tornado watch until 10:00 P.M. Some in the area are still without power from yesterday’s severe storms. The National Weather Service issued today’s warning for Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Union, and Webster Parishes. Residents should stay alert and be prepared to move to a safe location should conditions worsen.

A man and a woman are dead following a plane crash near Raceland. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says the 1976 Cessna 2010 L owned by Southern Seaplanes went down last night in a remote marsh area. It was located two miles north of Highway 182 near the intersection of Highway 90….

Cut 12 (11) “…wreckage site.”

Authorities have identified the victims as Lyle Pannepinto who was training as a pilot for the company and Lauren Menkemeller, owner of Southern Seaplanes.

There’s at least one group that’s applauding President Trump’s tariffs – at least on one specific import. Andrew Greenstein explains.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State University is calling for an above-average hurricane season with 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Researcher Lauren Beard says ocean temperatures are not as warm as last year but it is above average, so stay updated.

Cut 8 (08) “…for your area.”

Tariffs recently imposed on imported shrimp by President Trump are getting a positive response by at least one group.  Leann Bosard with the Southern Shrimp Alliance, says

the U.S. has been subsidizing direct competitors of the U.S. shrimping industry’s for far too long.

Cut 5 (13) “…allow that anymore.”

Forecasters are calling for an above-average hurricane season. 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Colorado State University Hurricane Researcher Lauren Beard says based on their research, there’s a 33-percent chance that a major hurricane will hit the Gulf Coast somewhere between the Florida panhandle and Brownsville, Texas.

Cut 7 (06) “…from that.”

The average price of a gallon of gasoline in up 3 cents since yesterday. Don Redman with AAA says while gas prices are up from last month’s average, compared to this time last year, prices are down, but he says, be prepared for gas prices to keep rising.

Cut 10 (10) “…get into May.”

The defending national champion LSU gymnastics squad begins its NCAA postseason journey tonight and for the first time in program history, LSU is the number one seed. The Tigers are once again led by All-Americans Haleigh Bryant and Aleah Finnegan. Kailin Chio is the SEC Freshman of the Year and Smith says they’ll have to count on a couple of other freshmen during this postseason run…

Cut 15 (11) “…they did just fine”

Governor Jeff Landry has issued a statewide hiring freeze. According to his announcement, he is looking to save an annualized $20 million in the state general fund. He said, “To ensure the long-term fiscal health of Louisiana and protect essential services for our most vulnerable citizens, we must take decisive action now to address revenue shortfalls.” All state government departments and agencies are subject to the freeze, but local government entities are not included.

While President Trump is expected to announce global tariffs saying they will bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., U-N-O economics professor Dub Lane says there’s a reason that many goods are manufactured overseas in the first place.

Cut 4 (09) “…be more expensive.”

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office says a Slidell man was shot after forcing his way into a home and assaulting a woman. Lieutenant Suzanne Carboni says, learning that 52-year-old Tyrone Mercadel (merk-a-dell) kicked in the door and attacked the woman and in self-defense, the woman fired two shots, hitting Mercadel in the leg.

Cut 7 (12) “…shoot out his tires.”

Authorities later located Mercadel and transported him to a hospital. Carboni says once released, he will be arrested for aggravated battery. The woman’s husband was also arrested and booked with aggravated criminal damage to property.

Experian has teamed up with LSU women’s basketball star Flau’jae Johnson to help relieve five-million dollars of consumer debt for five-thousand families in Louisiana. Christina Roman with Experian says the partnership is perfect since Experian and Johnson both promote financial literacy…

Cut 12 (09) “…tangible difference.”

A warrant has been issued for a Slidell man after investigators say he forced his way into a home and assaulted a woman. Lieutenant Suzanne Carboni says St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home U-S Highway 190 East, learning that 52-year-old Tyrone Mercadel had kicked in the door and attacked the woman.

Cut 6 (08) “…actively fighting them.”

Carboni says in self-defense, the woman fired two shots, hitting Mercadel in the leg.

A major drug trafficking organization is being dismantled in Claiborne Parish. What started with the arrests of 15 individuals on January 31^st has now grown to 23 people being indicted.  Multiple agencies including Federal, State, multiple Parish, and out of state law enforcement were involved in identifying and apprehending the accused. Authorities confiscated firearms, cash, and drugs including crack cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine.

President Trump is expected to make an announcement on global tariffs. He says one purpose of the tariffs is to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. U-N-O economics professor Dub Lane doesn’t believe jobs will come to the U.S. if China loses them because of tariffs. He says those jobs would probably go to Vietnam or Bangladesh.

Cut 5 (12) “…over other people.”

The world is bracing for a big announcement by President Trump on global tariffs. U-N-O economics professor Dub Lane says while countries will pay a tax on the goods they export to the United States, those extra costs will end up being passed along to the consumer.

Cut 3 (10) “…be U.S. citizens.”

Lane says it’s cheaper to make products in other countries but tariffs will raise prices for consumers here.

Senator Bill Cassidy has introduced “The Defining Male and Female Act.”

He and fellow physician, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall say the legislation would codify one of President Trump’s executive orders and make accommodations for people born with chromosomal variations.

Cut 15 (10) “…allows for that.”

This week, execution dates were announced for two death row inmates in Caddo Parish, a parish with a disproportionate number of Louisiana death row inmates.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

United Way Southwest Louisiana has launched My Free Taxes, a free online tax filing service for U-S tax filers earning up to 84-thousand dollars a year. Associate Director of Community Impact Kimberlie Heckard…

Cut 10 (11) “…My-Free-Taxes-dot-com website.”

The rejection of Constitutional Amendment 2 by voters leaves the future of educator salaries uncertain. Governor Landry warned before the vote that no alternative plan existed, and his administration has not confirmed whether it will support additional stipends. The amendment would have dissolved education trust funds to pay down teacher retirement debt, freeing up about $200 million annually for raises. Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees President Larry Carter says the complexity of the amendment led to its defeat.

Cut 4 (09) “…that was needed.” 

Some were irked by a sentence in Governor Jeff Landry’s statement following the defeat of Amendment Two. He said positive change can be hard to implement in a state conditioned to fail. Social media Users questioned Landry’s leadership and tone. Some criticized the amendments, saying they were overly complex. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says it’s not a fatal loss for the government but could be if Landry keeps going down this road.

Cut 13 (07)  “…on any governor.”

Expect periods of heavy delay on I-20 in North Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU men’s basketball coach Matt McMahon wants to be in the NCAA Tournament next season and he’s signed two players out of the transfer portal, including one of the top guards in the portal, Dedan Thomas from UNLV.  McMahon says Thomas averaged 15 points a game this past season…

Cut 10 (10) “…locked in on”

LSU has also signed six-foot-ten Michael Nwoko, who started at Mississippi State.