Three people are dead, including two children, as a result of a head-on collision between an SUV and a pickup truck on L-A 25 in Washington Parish. State Police Trooper Marc Gremillion says the adult who was killed has been identified as 42-year-old Tequilla Santee. Gremillion says the two children who died were 11 and three years old…

Cut 12 (10) “…deceased on the scene.”

Several people sustained moderate injuries in a four-vehicle crash in Lafayette caused by an Opelousas man who stole a school bus after fleeing a Youngsville mental health facility Sunday. Lafayette PD Senior Corporal Ashley Wood says after the crash, 26-year-old Marion Baker fled the scene in a truck he stole from someone who had stopped to help. He was arrested after crashing the bystander’s truck in Rayne. Baker is currently being held without bail in Lafayette Parish Jail.

Cut 5 (09) “…as well as theft.”

A National Council on Teacher Quality report says Louisiana teachers are less diverse than its population. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Students in kindergarten through third grade are improving their reading scores, thanks to a new focus on phonics-based literacy instruction. Dr. Jenna Chiasson (CHASS-on), the deputy superintendent at the State Department of Education, says several factors are contributing to the rise in reading proficiency among those children.

Cut 7 (12) “…Science of Reading.”

Dr. Chiasson says tutoring has also helped improve reading scores, with kids getting individualized instruction.

The Louisiana Department of Health has detected the first possible human case of a highly pathogenic strain of Bird Flu. The state says the person lives in southwest Louisiana and is hospitalized. LDH says while the current public risk for Bird Flu is relatively low, those who work with or have recreational exposure to birds, poultry or cows are at higher risk.

Billy Cannon’s legacy is celebrated at Baton Rouge’s Capitol Park Museum. Organized by his youngest daughter, Bunnie Cannon, the exhibit, titled “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend,” showcases nearly 200 artifacts, including his Heisman Trophy and high school letterman jacket. Bunnie, deeply tied to LSU like her father, aims to preserve his legacy through this exhibition

Cut 12 (13) “…the first process.”

The exhibit opens next Tuesday.

The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act moves to the Senate after unanimous approval by the house.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A bill spurred in part by the September 2017 hazing death of LSU freshman Max Gruver passes both houses unanimously.  Senator Bill Cassidy who co-sponsored it says the legislation establishes a hazing education and prevention program.

Cut 4 (13) “…that have violated.”

Cassidy says fraternities and sororities across the country are in full support of this legislation.

A bill that addresses hazing on college campuses passed both houses. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The House unanimously approved the FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act, co-authored by Congressmen Garret Graves. The bill enables local governments and co-ops to secure loans for disaster recovery while awaiting FEMA reimbursement…

Cut 7 (14) “…FEMA takes to process claims.”

Café du Monde on Decatur in the French Quarter closed unexpectedly Friday. In a Facebook post, they cited a maintenance issue. WWL reported police officers and fire crews cordoned off the area due to structural concerns at the French Market. Structural engineering crews reportedly found support pillars that appeared to be split in the attic, and wooden rafter beams that appeared to be split or separated. Café Du Monde’s Facebook post says that it would be closed for the rest of the day and hope to reopen Saturday.

High school playoffs continue in the Superdome and for the first time since 1987, the Archbishop Shaw Eagles are state champions. Shaw outlasted ED White 28-25 to become the Division II Select champions. Ruston is looking to defend its Division one non-select state championship when it faces Central. Bearcats Coach Jerrod Baugh says starting quarterback Josh Brantley is playing at a high level…

Cut 11 (10) “…for us.”

The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act, co-authored by Congressmen Garret Graves requiring FEMA to pay interest on delayed reimbursements to local governments and electrical cooperatives is headed to the senate after passing the house.

Cut 8 (11) “…it has substance.”

The bill enables local governments and co-ops to secure loans for disaster recovery while awaiting FEMA reimbursement. This approach incentivizes faster FEMA processing.

Both houses of Congress unanimously passed a bill spurred in part by the September 2017 hazing death of LSU freshman Max Gruver. It requires college campuses to post the organizations found guilty of hazing and establish hazing education and prevention programs. Senator Bill Cassidy who introduced the bill says fraternities and sororities across the country are in full support of this legislation.

Cut 5 (11) “…endorse this concept.”

Alexandria Senior High is making its first trip to the Superdome to play in a state championship Saturday at noon. Coach Thomas Bachmann says their fanbase can’t wait….

Cut 10 (09) “…experience that.”

They face Edna Karr who will be going for their seventh state championship.

Billy Cannon’s legacy is celebrated through an extensive exhibit of memorabilia at Baton Rouge’s Capitol Park Museum. His daughter, Bunnie Cannon, organized the exhibit, titled “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend,” She says it reminds Louisiana of Cannon’s significant contributions, including putting Baton Rouge on the map by winning LSU’s first Heisman.

Cut 14 (12) “…on the map.”

The exhibition opens next Tuesday.

The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act, co-authored by Congressmen Garret Graves was unanimously approved by the house and now moves to the Senate.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A bill that Senator Bill Cassidy introduced along with Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar to address hazing on college campuses is now on President Biden’s desk. The bill passed both houses unanimously. Cassidy says it requires college campuses to post all instances in which an organization has been found guilty of hazing.

Cut 3 (10) “…particular campus organization.”

The legislation was spurred in part by the September 2017 hazing death of LSU freshman Max Gruver.

Edna Karr will go after their seventh state championship tomorrow when they Alexandria Senior High in the Division One select state championship game. The Cougars are undefeated, and Coach Brice Brown says his team does a lot of things well…

Cut 9 (13)  “…(laughs),”

The exhibit, “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend,”  opens next Tuesday at Capitol Park Museum. On display is memorabilia that reflects his journey as a celebrated athlete and his redemption story following a 1983 counterfeiting arrest. After serving 2 ½ years in prison, he served 23 years as a dentist at Angola. His daughter Bunnie Cannon hopes that time in her father’s life doesn’t overshadow his legacy.

Cut 13 (10)  “…anything for anybody.”

Congressman Garrett Graves says he’s been given assurance that the Social Security Fairness Act he sponsored in the house will get a vote in the Senate before the end of the session.

Cut 5 (16) “…mid next week.”

The act would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Penalty, and the Government Pension Offset, that have historically lowered Social Security benefits for public sector workers like teachers, police officers and firefighters.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking deer hunters to be on the lookout for deer exhibiting signs of chronic wasting disease. This, as a deer at a captive deer farm in Jeff Davis Parish tested positive for the disease last month.

Cut 9 (10)  “…been detected there,”

It’s a Christmas miracle…crawfish season has begun in Louisiana.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Archbishop Shaw Football Coach Hank Tierney believed his coaching days ended in December 2021 but instead of retiring, he returned to Shaw. Now in his third season back at Shaw, he leads the 11-2 Eagles to the Division II Select state final Friday.

Cut 12 (10) “…everyone involved.”

They meet E.D. White at noon.

President Joe Biden is pardoning 39 people today, among them, a 46-year-old New Orleans woman, who pled guilty to non-violent offenses she committed at age 23. Trynitha Fulton has since earned a master’s degree, worked in education, volunteered, and founded 2 non-profit organizations to help young people in her community.

Welcome news as crawfish season is underway. Laney King, co-founder of The Crawfish App, says the App will help find local vendors, sorted by the lowest price per pound.

Cut 7 (09) “…not a huge supply.”

Vendors are offering boiled crawfish and sacks of live crawfish.

The Social Security Act is moving forward in the Senate. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Coaching legend Hank Tierney’s career spans separate stents at Archbishop Shaw, his first from1982-2001 and a state title in 1987. He says a second state title this Friday would mean a lot to the school and the community.

Cut 14 (13) “…that will do.”

The Social Security Fairness Act will get a vote in the Senate and Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves who sponsored the act in the house says as long as it’s brought up for a vote, getting it through the Senate is a mere formality.

Cut 4 (11) “…the president’s desk.”

The Social Security Fairness Act would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Penalty and the Government Pension Offset.

It’s December, but crawfish season is already underway. While the timing may seem unusual to some Laney King, co-founder of The Crawfish App, explains that an early crawfish season is not out of the ordinary in Louisiana. This year, vendors are off to a strong start.

Cut 8 (14) “…crawfish for Christmas.”

Coach Hank Tierney, ranked the sixth-winningest football coach in LHSAA history, was ready to retire in 2021. Instead, he returned to Archbishop Shaw and now he’s taking the Eagles back to the superdome for a Division II Select State championship. Tierney has produced athletes like Running Back Jasper Parker who has signed with Michigan.

Cut 13 (08)  “…good player.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking deer hunters to be on the lookout for deer exhibiting signs of chronic wasting disease after a deer at a captive deer farm in Jeff Davis Parish tested positive last month. Johnathan Bordelon, the deer program manager at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, says

Infected deer undergo behavior changes.

Cut 11 (12) “…test the animals”

No one should take matters into their own hands instead, contact the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The Social Security Fairness Act that would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Penalty will get a vote in the Senate, as the bill has been placed on the legislative calendar. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves, who sponsored the House bill, says Senator Chuck Schumer will be bringing it up for a vote as a standalone bill, and that’s the last hurdle before heading to President Biden’s desk.

Cut 3 (09) “…through the Senate.”

And Graves says as long as it’s brought up for a vote, getting it through the Senate is a mere formality.

A deer at a captive deer farm in Jeff Davis Parish tested positive for chronic wasting disease last month and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking deer hunters if they encounter a deer exhibiting signs of the disease to contact them. Johnathan Bordelon, the deer program manager at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, says chronic wasting disease is 100-percent fatal and is highly transmissible.

Cut 10 (07) “…to other deer.”

It’s a Christmas miracle…crawfish season has begun in Louisiana.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Hank Tierney believed his coaching days ended in December 2021 after Ponchatoula’s loss in the Class 5A state final at the Superdome. Planning to retire, he instead became Shaw High School’s head coach by January. Now in his third season back at Shaw, Tierney leads the 11-2 Eagles to the E.D. White Division II state final.

Cut 12 (10) “…everyone involved.”

A crash in Concordia Parish took the lives of two pedestrians last night. State Police responded to the crash on Highway 84 near the 84 Quick Stop around 9:00 PM. Investigators says 67-year-old Carleen Smith of Farmerville and Donnie Free of Ferriday were walking in the roadway when they were struck by a Chevrolet Journey traveling east and Dodge Challenger traveling west. Both sustained fatal injuries. The crash remains under investigation. Toxicology tests are pending.

It’s almost winter here in Louisiana; and flu and COVID-19 activity is expected to spike. Dr. Gabrielle Givens with St. Tammany Hospital says you can protect yourself by getting vaccinated. She says while the vaccines won’t prevent you from contracting either virus, they can minimize symptoms and complications.

Cut 8 (07) “…case scenario, death.”

Small Business optimism is the highest it’s been since June 2021. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

16 high school football teams will play for state championships in the Caesars Superdome starting on Thursday. Franklinton will face Cecilia on Friday night. Demons head coach Nick Saltaformaggio says he has the best kept secret in Louisiana, his starting quarterback Jacob Crain who has thrown for 24 touchdowns. They also have a running back in Sy Austin who has rushed for nearly two thousand yards and has 28 touchdowns on the season…

Cut 12 (10) “…offensive line.”

The Division two non-select state title game is at 7 PM.