It took  Calcasieu Parish jury just over an hour to find a southwest Louisiana man guilty of murder in the brutal death of a 72-year-old woman in 2023. District Attorney Stephen Dwight says 43-year-old Christopher Cater killed Sheila Ortega and drove around with the woman’s body for a month.

Cut 10 (12) “…guilty verdict.”

Louisiana is facing a long, dry weekend as abnormally dry conditions have developed across south Louisiana and along the Arkansas border. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says nearly half of the state is on the verge of drought conditions and other than a pop up thunderstorm here or there, there’s not a significant chance for rain for several days…

Cut 4 (07) “…for rain.”

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The longtime voice of New Orleans Mardi Gras is calling it a career. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is good to go as the Tigers host Southeastern Louisiana today. Nussmeier has been dealing with a torso injury, but head coach Brian Kelly says that he showed no signs of being hurt in practice this week.

Cut 12 (10) “…he’s comfortable”

Kick-off is at 6:45.

Two people are dead, multiple others injured, after a shooting in Shreveport overnight.  Shreveport Police say it happened in a vacant lot on Poland Street around where a crowd of people was gathered around one this morning.  We’re told multiple victims were hit by gunfire, with two victims dying at the scene. Others were taken by ambulance and private vehicles to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. So far, there’s no word on suspects.

A Calcasieu Parish jury has found a southwest Louisiana man guilty of murder in the brutal death of a 72-year-old woman in 2023. District Attorney Stephen Dwight says after 43-year-old Christopher Cater killed Sheila Ortega, he drove around with the woman’s body for a month…

Cut 9 (07)  “…during the summer.”

It took just over an hour for a jury to convict Cater of first-degree murder and unlawful disposal of remains.  He will face sentencing on an identity theft charge October 7^th.

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The longtime face of New Orleans Mardi Gras is calling it a career. Arthur Hardy, the longtime publisher of the Mardi Gras Guide magazine, says after a half century, the 2026 edition will be his last.

Cut 6 (09) “…time as any.”

The Mardi Gras Guide is now published by Georges Media and will continue to bear Hardy’s name.

We are looking at a dry weekend across the state and abnormally dry conditions have developed across south Louisiana and along the Arkansas border. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says nearly half of the state is on the verge of drought conditions according to the Drought Monitor…

Cut 3 (12) “…of Louisiana.”

Several Louisiana legislators have received postcards with graphic images of a lynching. The postcard has a image of two people hanging from a noose with the words “Thank You.” Republican State Representative Mike Bayham of Chalmette says the postcard has the Department of Homeland Security’s mailing address with Secretary Kristi Noem’s name.

Cut 8 (10) “…federal authorities.”

Bayham says the F-B-I is now investigating.

Another death from a deadly flesh-eating bacteria has been reported in Louisiana.  Health officials warning that infections from Vibrio vulnificus, are now up to 26 cases in Louisiana this year.  In all six, six cases have been fatal.  Typically Louisiana sees only one death per year related to this flesh eating bacteria.

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The Washington Post is reporting that the White House is planning to deploy up to a thousand National Guard troops to various cities throughout Louisiana. Governor Landry supports the idea. But Democratic Congressman Troy Carter, who represents New Orleans, says Landry and State Police have already implemented an alternative to the National Guard that has proven to lower crime in New Orleans – with Troop NOLA.

Cut 15 (11) “…making a difference.”

The Office of Louisiana Highway Construction has set an ambitious goal of fixing 62 small bridges in rural areas of Louisiana by end of next year.  Director Archie Chaisson says it typically takes two years for DOTD to repair a bridge, but the state legislature gave the his office the ability to cut through the red tape faster so it can get the job done.

Cut 11 (11) “…quicker”

The legislature used 100-million dollars from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to pay for the bridge replacement program.

The Washington Post is reporting the White House has plans to send as many as one-thousand National Guard troops to various cities in Louisiana. Reaction to the possibility is mixed. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Officials in Terrebonne Parish have announced the arrests of two Houma men in connection with the 2015 murder of Pamela Johson.  70 year old Charles Johnson and 43 year old Shannon Robinson are both facing charges of First-Degree Murder and Solicitation for murder in the death of Johnson, who was 56 the night she was found shot to death.  They’re being held in the Terrebonne Parish Detention Center without bond.

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Several Louisiana legislators have received postcards containing graphic images of a lynching. Republican State Representative Mike Bayham of Chalmette was one of the lawmakers who received the nefarious postcard.

Cut 7 (13) “…disturbing images.”

Bayham says the F-B-I is now investigating.

The Office of Louisiana Highway Construction has set an ambitious goal of fixing 62 small bridges in rural areas of Louisiana by end of next year. The Louisiana Legislature established this new office earlier this year and granted the new agency with emergency procurement powers. The director of this new office, Archie Chaisson, says that allows them to hire contractors faster…

Cut 10 (09) “…quicker”

The Washington Post is reporting that the White House is planning to deploy up to a thousand National Guard troops to various cities throughout Louisiana. Governor Landry supports the idea.

Cut 13 (09)  “…already war zones.”

Democratic Congressman Troy Carter, who represents New Orleans, doesn’t see it that way. He says the Crescent City already has Troop Nola to help with crime and says sending in the National Guard is counterproductive.

Cut 14 (13) “…insult to injury.”

Governor Landry has said that reducing crime with the help of the National Guard will ultimately help attract business.

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A new Louisiana transportation agency is working on repairing dozens of rural bridges by the end of 2026. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Another Louisiana school is reporting surging enrollment. LSU Alexandria has announced that its enrollment has almost up t0 77-hundred students. Abbey Bain, the vice chancellor for enrollment and student engagement, says it’s a the latest in a long streak of wins for the school.

Cut 4 (05) “…record-breaking enrollment.”

Louisiana’s chronic absenteeism rate dropped two-percent for the 2024-25 school year after seeing it rise following the COVID pandemic. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Scary afternoon for some Vernon Parish students yesterday as their bus was involved in a crash with another vehicle on Louisiana Avenue at Fort Polk.   A Facebook post by the installation reported some children were injured. We’re told the driver of the other vehicle had to be airlifted for treatment.

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Operation Lifesaver is using this week to spread awareness of the dangers of trespassing on railroad tracks. Nan Arthur, the state coordinator for international organization says the week has daily themes…today’s is Operation Clear Track.

Cut 9 (12)  “…just be warned.”

A little good news for officials at McNeese this fall where they’ve seen an end to a 14-year decline in enrollment. University President Dr. Wade Rousse (“roose”) says more and more students are choosing to attend McNeese.

Cut 4 (12) “…in 22 years.”

Dr. Rousse says what he’s most proud of is the more than 13-percent increase in the size of this year’s freshman class.

Louisiana’s public school absenteeism rate is finally headed in the right direction.  Chronic absenteeism in our state hit a high of nearly 25 percent in 2023-24, but last year it dropped two percent.  Misty Davis, the executive director of attendance strategies at the department of education, says a special task force was formed to address the issue and local school systems are also making prioritizing consistent attendance.

Cut 12 (08) “…and packets.”

An international organization is using this week to spread awareness of the dangers of trespassing on railroad tracks.  According to operation Lifesaver, it’s a big problem in Louisiana.  In fact more than ten people have been killed by trains while trespassing on railroad tracks in the last year.  Nan Arthur, the state coordinator for Operation Lifesaver.

Cut 8 (10) “…that’s illegal.”

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Trump has announced that nearly  $500 million in federal funds will be redirected to historically Black colleges and universities and tribally controlled colleges and universities.  The news comes days after Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said her department would end discretionary funding to some grant  programs that required meeting racial or ethnic quotas.

An international organization is urging you not to fool around on train tracks. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A woman is dead in what police in Bossier City are calling a murder-attempted suicide during a mental health crisis. Sergeant Shawn Poudrier (POO-dree-ur) a SWAT team was brought in and forced its way into the apartment, confronting the man, who was armed.

Cut 14 (06) “…of our officers.”

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Louisiana is making progress in reducing the state’s chronic absentee rates in public schools. After reaching a high of 25 percent in 2023, that number dropped last year by two percent.  Misty Davis, the executive director of attendance strategies at the department of education, says the plan to continue that trend is to focus on prevention and improving school culture, instead of punishment.

Cut 11 (10) “…needed.”

After a 14-year decline in enrollment, McNeese is seeing an upward trend this year. University President Dr. Wade Rousse (“roose”) announcing this year’s freshman class is 13-percent bigger than last year’s.  Rousse says in the last 45 years, there’s been only one instance in which there’s been an increase as big.

Cut 5 (08) “…to this data.”

Rousse says he credits the increase in enrollment in part to a robust advertising and marketing campaign.

A woman is dead in what police in Bossier City are calling a murder-attempted suicide. Sergeant Shawn Poudrier (POO-dree-ur) says a family member called police Sunday afternoon saying that a man was going through a mental health crisis and had harmed his wife and was threatening to harm himself. Poudrier says police made contact with the man.

Cut 13 (07)  “…to hurt himself.”

SWAT officers ultimately found the woman dead and the man with a self-inflicted gunshot would to the head.  He’s hospitalized and critical.  We’re told two officers were also shot in the incident.

An international organization is using this week to spread awareness of the dangers of trespassing on railroad tracks. Nan Arthur, the state coordinator for Operation Lifesaver, says it’s a huge problem in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (13) “…to the tracks.”

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Louisiana has made strides in reducing the state’s chronic absenteeism rate among public school students. Chronic absenteeism rose following the COVID pandemic to a high of nearly 25-percent for the 2023-24 school year; but last year, the rate dropped two-percent. Misty Davis, the executive director of attendance strategies at the department of education, says a task force was formed to address absences.

Cut 10 (07) “…in school?”

McNeese has stopped a 14-year decline in enrollment in a big way. University President Dr. Wade Rousse (“roose”) says more and more students are choosing to attend McNeese.

Cut 4 (12) “…in 22 years.”

Dr. Rousse says what he’s most proud of is the more than 13-percent increase in the size of this year’s freshman class.

Less than two days after the assassination of conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk, someone vandalized a sidewalk outside the headquarters of the Louisiana Democratic Party headquarters, spray painting the word “murderers” in red.  Executive Director and East Baton Rouge School Board member Dadrius Lanus says it happened Thursday night.  He posted a photo on social media, calling the incident fear-mongering at its best.

Three people have been arrested for allegedly stealing a solid silver statue of former President Abraham Lincoln from Houmas House in Ascension Parish. Houmas House owner Kevin Kelly says he believes more people were likely involved…

Cut 7 (15) “…Houmas House even exists.”
The state’s estimate value: 166-thousand dollars.
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With sophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green now officially listed as doubtful with an MCL sprain, LSU will have to rely heavily on Bauer Sharp to be effective against the Florida Gators tonight. Head coach Brian Kelly likes the traits and intensity Sharp brings to the field each week.

Cut 13 (13)  “…four quarters.”

The Saints defense will have to contain one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league tomorrow in 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. Linebacker Demario Davis says that McCaffrey’s versatility makes it difficult for defenses to stop him.

Cut 14 (14) “…too much.”

Kick off is tomorrow at noon.