A south Louisiana man, who went on the run for more than 20 years after raping and molesting several children in the 1990s, has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences in prison. Calcasieu Parish District Attorney Stephen Dwight says Choy Van Leo fled southwest Louisiana in 2000 after he was indicted and it wasn’t until last year that he was found working at a restaurant in small town of Spirit Lake, Iowa…

Cut 7 (05) “…he may be.”

You can count Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple among those who would support a change in how the National Hurricane Center rates the strength of hurricanes. Currently, the hurricane center rates hurricanes from Category One to Category Five based solely on wind speed. A consortium of experts from the University of South Florida is proposing a different system that would also consider rainfall and storm surge, which Temple says are often more dangerous than wind speed.

Cut 4 (06) “…actual wind speeds.”

With the new scale, a storm with two or more Category factors would be a Category Six storm.

LSU football suffered its first loss of the season against Ole Miss by a score of 24 to 19 after yet another poor offensive showing. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

LSU Health Shreveport has been awarded a 7.5-million-dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to launch a new research center. It’s the first NSF-funded center grant in the history of LSUHS. LSU Senior Associate Dean Dr. Oren Rom says the center will provide research opportunities for students at every level.

Cut 10 (12) “…and so on.”

Crews in Tangipahoa Parish have contained the waste and recovered more than five and a half million gallons of waste from the Tangipahoa River and affected ponds from last month’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. EPA On-Scene Coordinator Adam Adams says yesterday, they started SCAT – Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Techniques — the final step in the cleanup of the river.

Cut 6 (13) “…a soft flush?”

Northwestern State is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as being one of the best public schools among regional universities in the South. Chief Marketing Officer Cole Young the quality of students that Northwestern is bringing in has greatly improved in recent years.

Cut 15 (11) “…at this point.”

A new area code comes to North Louisiana today. New phone numbers will be given the area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says existing phone numbers will not change.

Cut 10 (08) “…into the area.”

The Public Service Commission made the move, because North Louisiana ran out of telephone numbers.

The Rice Bowl makes a comeback this year. The first edition is this Saturday between ULM and Arkansas State. Brice Jones with ULM says the two schools are using the game for more than football.

Cut 8 (12) “…with our industry.”

Arkansas is the highest rice-producing state in the country, and Louisiana is third highest.

Clean up crews say they have contained the waste from last month’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland and so far, they have recovered more than five and a half million gallons of waste from the Tangipahoa River and affected ponds. EPA on scene coordinator, Adam Adams says that represents more than half of the overall waste to be recovered. Adams says you can see the progress in the ponds.

Cut 5 (08) “…products on there.”

You can get updates on the clean up at response.epa.gov and click on the region that includes Louisiana.

Louisiana has a new area code today. North Louisiana exhausted all of the numbers with a 318 area code so they added the new area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says you now must dial all ten numbers to make a call in the region, including local calls. There had been optional testing of the 10 number requirement, but Campbell says that expired a month ago; so if you omit the area code, you’ll get nowhere.

Cut 12 (02) “…dial the 318.”

Ole Miss head football coach Lake Kiffin calls LSU linebacker Whit Weeks an awesome kid. Jeff Palermo reports he’d better – Weeks could end up being his son-in-law.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

September is National Rice Month and ULM and Arkansas State are ending the month the Saturday with the return of the Rice Bowl Brice Jones with ULM says the Rice Bowl is a great way to promote the rice industry in the two of the country’s top rice producing states.

Cut 9 (10)  “…in our backyard.”

U.S. News and World Report has recognized Northwestern State as one of the best public schools among regional universities in the South. Chief Marketing Officer Cole Young says Northwestern has long made a commitment to individual student attention – something large universities may not be equipped to do as easily.

Cut 14 (05) “…to student ratio.”

Young says the quality of students that Northwestern is bringing in has greatly improved in recent years.

North Louisiana has run out of phone numbers for area code 318 so they’re getting the new area code 457 today. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell…

Cut 11 (04) “…to do something.”

Residents will now have to dial all ten numbers when making a phone call even if they are calling someone in the same area code.

Cleanup continues more than a month after the massive chemical explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A new take on a longtime college football rivalry game, as the Rice Bowl is making a comeback this year. The first edition is being held this Saturday between ULM and Arkansas State. Brice Jones with ULM says the resurrection of the game was the brainchild of the school’s new president, Dr. Carrie Castille.

Cut 7 (11) “…the same conference.”

Arkansas is the largest rice-producing state in the country, and Louisiana is third.

Cleanup continues in Tangipahoa Parish more than a month after the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland that spewed oil and other toxic substances into the Tangipahoa River. Adam Adams, a federal on-scene coordinator with the EPA, says the EPA has set up a website to keep the public updated on the cleanup progress.

Cut 4 (12) “…waste we’ve recovered.”

North Louisiana has a new area code today. All new numbers will be given the area code 457. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says no existing phone numbers will change.

Cut 10 (08) “…into the area.”

The new code became necessary since North Louisiana ran out of telephone numbers.

It’s a new take on an old classic – the return of the Rice Bowl. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Northwestern State is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as being one of the best public schools among regional universities in the South. Chief Marketing Officer Cole Young says it’s a testament to how the school is committed to student success.

Cut 13 (08)  “…in the workforce.”

Young says Northwestern has long made a commitment to individual student attention

20 years ago, today Louisiana saw its second devastating hurricane in less than a month when Rita made landfall in Cameron Parish. The storm produced widespread damage across southwest Louisiana. Retired Major General John Basilica was the commander of Louisiana National Guard’s storm operations and says like with Katrina, they had to perform search and rescue operations, but thankfully more assistance was available.

Cut 6 (07) “…getting it.”

Basilica says it was not until February 2006 until the National Guard restored all authority and responsibility back to civilian authorities.

Pope Leo XIV has named the person who will step in to fill Archbishop Gregory Aymond Archbishop of New Orleans’ role. New Jersey native, Most Reverend James Checchio is named Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans assisting Archbishop Aymond until his retirement.

Superdome lease negotiations have stalled because of pending lease deals on related properties like the state’s leasing of space in Benson Tower. Times-Picayune reporter Jeff Duncan says the state sees that as two different issues, but it is a way for the state to support the Saints. The current Superdome lease agreement ends in 2030 and Duncan doesn’t see a world where the Saints relocate to another city, but he says neither side is planning to back down.

Cut 12 (07) “…to be.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking you to be on the lookout for the eastern spotted skunk – not documented in Louisiana more than three decades. Furbearer, Jennifer Manuel says the eastern spotted skunk is very good at pest control.

Cut 14 (08) “…sort of thing.”

Manuel asks, if you see an eastern spotted skunk, take a picture and send it to LDWF.

That state has issued a permit to Sempra Infrastructure for the first carbon storage well in Louisiana. It will be located beneath Black Lake in Cameron Parish and Patrick Courreges (cur-RAHJ) with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources says Sempra needs to know the geology in the area to build the storage well.

Cut 8 (14) “…the zone underground.”

According to NOLA.com Superdome lease negotiations have stalled Times-Picayune reporter Jeff Duncan says there’s major disagreement between the state and the Saints. As part of the current lease agreement, the state has rented office space in Benson Tower since 2010 at $32.50 per square foot compared to the New Orleans average of $20.67 per square foot. Duncan says the agreement is a way to for the state to financially support the Saints….

Cut 11 (12) “…that support”

Twenty years ago today, Hurricane Rita flooded low-lying areas of southwest Louisiana with its storm surge and produced more power outages to a state struggling to get back on its feet from Katrina. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking you to be on the lookout for the eastern spotted skunk. The species hasn’t been documented in Louisiana in more than three decades and the department wants to help biologists determine the current distribution and needs of the species. Furbearer Biologist, Jennifer Manuel says it’s the smallest species of skunk with a distinctive pattern of white spots on a black coat and unique behavior.

Cut 13 (14)  “…scare away predators.”

Louisiana’s first carbon storage well is coming to Cameron Parish. Sempra Infrastructure received a Class Six permit to inject around two-million metric tons of carbon dioxide beneath Black Lake every year for up to 20 years. Patrick Courreges (cur-RAHJ) with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources says these are the most restrictive permits the department grants.

Cut 7 (16) “…inject the carbon.”

Pope Leo XIV has named the person who will step in to fill Archbishop Gregory Aymond Archbishop of New Orleans’ role. New Jersey native, Most Reverend James Checchio is named Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans assisting Archbishop Aymond until his retirement.

NOLA.com is reporting the Superdome lease negotiations are at standstill between the Saints and the state. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Today is the 20^th anniversary of Hurricane Rita’s landfall in Cameron Parish. Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29^th in Plaquemines Parish, killing hundreds and leaving thousands homeless. On September 21^st, Rita entered the Gulf becoming a Category Five storm before weakening to a Category Three before making landfall in southwest Louisiana on September 24^th. Retired Major General John Basilica says the preparation for the storm was well done, despite the tough circumstances…

Cut 5 (09) “…listened.”

20 years ago today, Hurricane Rita made landfall in Cameron Parish producing widespread damage across southwest Louisiana as the state was still reeling from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Katrina. Retired Major General John Basilica was the commander of Louisiana National Guard’s storm operations in Louisiana and says it was difficult to respond to two natural disasters at the same time…

Cut 4 (10) “…supporting us.”

He says like Katrina, they had to perform search and rescue operations, but more assistance was available.

NOLA.com reports that the Superdome lease negotiations have stalled because of pending deals regarding related properties such as Benson Tower, Champions Square and the Saints practice facility. Times-Picayune reporter Jeff Duncan says that state and the Saints are in the midst of a major disagreement.

Cut 10 (10) “…separate deals.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking you to be on the lookout for the eastern spotted skunk so that biologists can determine the current distribution and conservation needs of the species. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana approves its first-ever carbon storage well. The state issued Sempra Infrastructure a Class Six permit to inject an estimated two-million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year for up to 20 years underneath Black Lake in Cameron Parish. Patrick Courreges (cur-RAHJ) with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources says these permits are the most restrictive permits and the well will need to be carefully monitored.

Cut 9 (06)  “…injection zone.”

Two men are killed in a mass shooting in Shreveport over the weekend. Shreveport Police Corporal Chris Bordelon says it happened at around one Saturday morning, where more than 100 people were gathered for a memorial party.

Cut 4 (13) “…55 years of age.”

Authorities believe it was a targeted attack but many who were shot were not the intended target.

Oak Hill High School in Elmer was closed yesterday after a social media post threatening to shoot up the school was discovered Sunday. A juvenile suspect was identified and arrested. Tommy Carnline with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office says post like this spread quickly

Cut 9 (09)  “…bottom of it.”

Researchers at the University of South Florida there’s a better way to categorize hurricanes. Professor of Geosciences Jennifer Collins says an overall category would be the highest value of the ratings of wind, rainfall, and storm surge. And in some cases, a storm could be rated as category six when

Cut 12 (10) “…a cat five.”

Collins says she and her fellow researchers are planning to present their proposal to the National Hurricane Center.

President Trump is concerned about a possible link between acetaminophen and autism and is urging pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol. President of the Louisiana Chapter of the Autism Society, Beryl Hebert, says there is no conclusive evidence to link Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism. She recommends discussing it with your physician…

Cut 14 (08) “…that you trust.”