State Troopers are looking for the driver and vehicle Involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash yesterday around 1:00 p.m. on I-10 north frontage road just east of Highway 165 in Jefferson Davis Parish. The crash claimed the life of pedestrian 53-year-old Bonnie Fontenot of Jennings, who had previously been reported missing. Fontenot died at the scene. Authorities are working to determine the make, model, and driver of the suspect vehicle, and they’re asking anyone with information to contact LSP Troop D at (337) 491-2511. Information can be reported anonymously through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by visiting File a Report or calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.

We now know how 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez died. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick announced yesterday that he died from blunt force due to an alligator and subsequently drowned. Bryan was a nonverbal autistic boy who disappeared from his home on August 14th, 12 days before his body was found. Kirkpatrick says they are looking into the circumstances surrounding Bryan’s disappearance.

Cut 15 (14) “…made aware of.”

Twenty years ago, people in New Orleans were caught off-guard by Hurricane Katrina, with forecasters originally predicting it was going to make landfall several hundred miles east. Andrew Greenstein reports technology has evolved since then.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The 90th annual Shrimp and Petroleum Festival is this weekend in Morgan City. Festival President Charlie Solar Jr. says there will be live music, activities for kids and a shrimp cook off. And admission is free.

Cut 6 (06) “…a gate charge.”

New Orleans authorities reveal 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez the nonverbal autistic boy who disappeared from his home on August 14th died from blunt force due to an alligator and subsequently drowned. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has requested that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries eradicate nuisance alligators.

Cut 14 (14) “…was going on.”

An arrest has been made in the ongoing investigation into the shooting of  6-year-old Riley Francis in Lafayette Sunday. 21-year-old Daylon Andrus has been arrested and booked into a Lafayette Parish jail on one count of attempted second-degree murder. Riley is listed in stable condition. She is in a critical care unit in a  Baton Rouge hospital.

On this day 20 years ago, New Orleans residents who had no place to go walked into the Superdome to take shelter from approaching Hurricane Katrina. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (43) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says predicting where the storms go and how strong they will be has also gotten a lot more precise in the last two decades.

Cut 8 (10) “…inside the hurricane.”

On a Friday afternoon twenty years ago, no one expected Hurricane Katrina would upend lives by Monday. That’s because Katrina’s original forecast track showed landfall over Pensacola, Florida. A sudden westward shift brought her widespread destruction to New Orleans, southeast Louisiana and coastal Mississippi. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says forecasting technology has improved in the last two decades.

Cut 7 (08) “…of the storm.”

Keim says now drones fly into the hurricanes to gather more data than the airplanes.

We now know how Bryan Vasquez died. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick made the announcement about the nonverbal autistic boy who disappeared from his home on August 14th.

Cut 13 (14)  “…then subsequently drowned.”

At her request, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has begun work to eradicate nuisance alligators.

Is tonight the night that Northwestern State football wins its first game since November of 2022? Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

The 90th annual Shrimp and Petroleum Festival gets underway this evening in Morgan City. It’s a celebration of two of Louisiana’s biggest industries; but last year, genetic testing done at five vendors that claimed to be selling local shrimp found that four of them were selling imported shrimp. Festival President Charlie Solar Jr. says this year, all shrimp is required to be domestically caught, and organizers will make sure of that.

Cut 4 (07) “…their shrimp from.”

In response to the massive recall of potentially radioactive shrimp from Indonesia that was being sold at Walmart in 13 states, including Louisiana. Lieutenant Governor Nungesser says people need to know what they’re eating.

Cut 12 (10) “…eating Louisiana.”

Louisiana law requires restaurants and suppliers clearly indicate whether their seafood is imported or not. Nungesser would also like to see a 10-cent per pound inspection fee be imposed on importers.

The Secretary of State’s Office is demonstrating six potential voting systems to replace the state’s outdated system. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says all the systems are a significant improvement over the state’s current voting system.

Cut 6 (10) “…our elections safe.”

Public demonstrations of the systems run today through September 18 at the old governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge.

As we look back 20 years ago this week when Hurricane Katrina ravaged southeast Louisiana. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Renee Poche says it’s still possible for a strong hurricane to overtop the system, but flooding can still be minimized…

Cut 9 (10)  “…water out”

Poche says work continues on providing even more flood protection as construction is ongoing on a one-billion dollar project to protect the River Parishes.

The Saints began making cuts to get to the 53-man roster by 3:00. Veteran running back Cam Akers was part of the first cuts after showing promise in preseason camp. Head coach Kellen Moore says it was a tough move, but he likes the depth the Saints have at running back.

Cut 19 (19) “…group there.”

20 years ago this week New Orleans was devastated when the levees broke. Since then, two different administrations from two different parties directed Congress to appropriate 14.5 billion dollars to rebuild the levees in metro New Orleans. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Renee Poche says the design started in 2007 and construction was finally completed in 2018 on all of the storm barriers, flood walls, levees and pumps.

Cut 8 (08) “…see today.”

He says flood protection work continues with ongoing construction on a one-billion dollar project to protect the River Parishes.

Clean up continues after the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland rocked Tangipahoa Parish Friday. Governor Landry says people in the affected area should have nothing to worry about at this time.

Cut 14 (12) “…a big mess.”

The 450 displaced employees are encouraged to visit the mobile unit from Louisiana Workforce in Hammond.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is urging President Trump and Louisiana’s congressional delegation to impose a ten-cent-per-pound inspection fee on all imported seafood. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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Louisiana is replacing its 35-year-old voting system. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says all six of the voting systems being tested and demonstrated are currently being used elsewhere.

Cut 5 (08) “…across the country.”

Starting today, the Secretary of State’s Office will be demonstrating the systems at the old governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana is one of 13 states where potentially radioactive imported shrimp was recalled from Walmart. Lieutenant Governor Nungesser says infected shrimp from overseas is ending up on American’s dinner plates far too often.

Cut 11 (13) “…this seafood.”

The explosion that destroyed Smitty’s Supply Friday also destroyed the livelihoods of hundreds or people. 450 people were working there before the explosion. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says the state is making resources available to them.

Cut 15 (09) “…available to them.”

One of the toughest lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina was the need for an improved flood protection system. Jeff Palermo reports the federal government reacted by spending 14.5 billion dollars…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Starting today, the Secretary of State’s Office will be demonstrating several voting systems as it prepares to replace the outdated system in use for the past 35 years. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says six systems are being tested, and all of them have a paper element to them.

Cut 4 (10) “…auditability of paper”

When Hurricane Katrina’s fierce winds caused extensive damage, it was the storm surge that led to breaks in the levee system that produced catastrophic flooding. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Renee Poche says a much better flood protection system in place now…

Cut 7 (12) “…Lake Pontchartrain.”

He says more flood protection is in the works with a one-billion dollar project in the River Parishes.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is renewing his call for President Trump and Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to impose a ten-cent-per-pound seafood inspection fee.

Cut 10 (09) “…imported seafood.”

This is in response to the massive recall of potentially radioactive shrimp imported from Indonesia that was being sold in Walmart stores in 13 states, including Louisiana.

Starting today, the Secretary of State’s Office will be demonstrating new voting machines. Andre Champagne reports.

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Since the explosion Friday afternoon the Department of Environmental Quality has continuously monitored air quality around Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. Monday, Governor Landry spoke at a news conference.

Cut 13 (14)  “…was udderly toxic.”

Much has changed since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana 20 years ago this Friday. Barry Erwin, the chief policy officer of Leaders for a Better Louisiana says during recovery, New Orleans attempted to reinvent itself economically.

Cut 6 (13) “…didn’t really stick.”

Today, like pre Katrina, New Orleans’ biggest economy is in travel and tourism.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is promoting Voter Registration Week this week. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State office has some important reminders…

Cut 11 (13) “…you’re eligible.”

Updates can be done online or on the geaux vote app.

Authorities have been monitoring the air quality around Smitty’s Supply since Friday’s explosion. The EPA is now the lead agency at the site and they are collecting and disposing of hazardous materials in and around the site including the Tangipahoa River.

Tangipahoa Parish President Robbie Miller says thankfully not only was no one killed, no one was injured in the blast. He says the evacuation order is still in effect…

Cut 13 (08)  “…sightseers come by.”

The preseason is over for the Saints and now we wait for head coach Kellen Moore to announce who will start at quarterback when the regular season begins on September 7th against Arizona. Spencer Rattler started and Tyler Shough replaced him Rattler midway through the second quarter. Moore says both did good things…

Cut 15 (15) “…good stuff.”

Shough ran for a touchdown and threw for 102 yards, but also lost a fumble. Rattler was 5-of-8 for 43 yards.

Hurricane Katrina made landfall 20 years ago this week. After the levees broke everything changed. Now the levee boards have been consolidated. Chief Policy Officer for Leaders for a Better Louisiana, Barry Erwin…

Cut 5 (11) “…the levee board.”

It’s Voter Registration Week and Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office wants to remind voters to make sure their information is up to date before the upcoming elections. Updates can be done through the Geaux Vote app or online.

Cut 12 (12) “…and accurate.”

Tangipahoa Parish firefighters were busy all weekend fighting a fire at a lubricant manufacturing facility after an explosion Friday. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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The EPA is now leading the cleanup.

North and Central Louisiana are getting a new area code.

Cut 9 (04)  “…3-1-8.”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the 3-1-8 area code has run out of seven-digit numbers and starting today, the area will have to dial their area code plus the other seven digits to make a phone call. Beginning, September 25^th, newly assigned phone numbers in north and central Louisiana will have a 4-5-7 area code.

The EPA has now taken the lead in the cleanup at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland after Friday’s the explosion that caused officials to call for a mandatory evacuation of a 1 mile radius. Among those evacuated were former Governor John Bel Edwards and his wife. A family associate says they’re safe and monitoring the situation. During a news conference Saturday morning, State Police Sergeant William Huggins says there were several small explosions in the hours after the initial explosion.

Cut 14 (09) “…at this time.”

The evacuation remains in effect to give crews space for clean up.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is promoting Voter Registration Week this week. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State office says this there are events throughout the state this week.

Cut 10 (10) “…their registration.”

This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. Jeanne (ZHAHN) Burns reports the storm changed some aspects of the state forever.

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Residents in the 3-1-8 area code now have to dial the area code plus the seven other numbers when making a call starting today. Starting September 25^th, newly assigned phone numbers in north and central Louisiana will have a 4-5-7 area code. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell

Cut 8 (08) “…deal with.”

He says they’ve run out of seven-digit numbers for the 3-1-8 area code…