The next Louisiana Gubernatorial race is more than two years away but the top potential candidates are on their way to assembling large campaign war chests. Matt Doyle has the story.

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If you receive unemployment, Medicaid or SNAP you’re also eligible to receive free mobile internet service. Brooke Thorington has more.

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Potential 2023 Gubernatorial Race contenders Attorney General Jeff Landry and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser are off to a strong fundraising start with the election more than two years away.

Landry is sitting on two million dollars and Nungesser has a million in a half in the bank. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the two statewide elected Republicans are strong early favorites.

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The reported numbers cover the end of the 2020 fundraising period.

Other Republicans rumored to be contemplating a run include Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt and State Treasurer John Schroder, but each is only sitting on six-figure sums…

Cut 4 (07) “…found out.” 

Hewitt claimed 215,000 dollars cash on hand while Schroder has 550,000 in the bank. Another potential Republican, Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves, has a federal election war chest that can’t be used in state races.

Pinsonat says with Governor Edwards term-limited there’s no easy answer for Democrats in 2023, but Edwards two wins prove you can’t count the party out…

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Pinsonat says two early Democrats being floated are Norco Senator Gary Smith and Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields.

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office is asking residents to reconsider the use of heat lamps to keep pets and animals following several fires last week, including one in Bossier Parish that claimed the lives of seven horses. State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says even outside, heating lamps can be hazardous.

Cut 6 (15) “…over the heat lamp.”

Rodrigue says there was also a fire involving a heating lamp in the Houma area that killed a dog and another one in Livingston Parish. Rodrigue says the fires could be due to the lamps being placed near flammable objects like a blanket…

Cut 7 (11) “…on fire”

Rodrigue says that if animals are able to be brought inside, then that’s the best option for warmth.

Cut 8 (12) “…not advisable.”

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A 56-year old Bossier Parish Sheriff’s deputy is recovering after being allegedly shot multiple times by his daughter in Benton Monday night. Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Bill Davis says they were called to Burt Wich’s home in Benton around 5 pm.

Cut 9 (11) “…murder”

22-year old Kalee (pronounced Kallie) Wich is being held at the Bossier Maximum-Security Facility in Plain Dealing.

Davis says Deputy Wich, who lives alone was getting ready to go assist a friend with storm damage when his daughter Kalee arrived.

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Davis says Deputy Wich is in stable condition at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and was up walking around this morning after being shot multiple times.

Cut 11 (08) “…to work.”

Davis says the gun used in the shooting was not the deputy’s service revolver. The investigation is ongoing.

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Thanks to a COVID Relief bill those receiving unemployment, Medicaid or SNAP Benefits are now eligible to receive free mobile internet service. Q Link Wireless is one of the phone providers participating in the program and CEO Issa Asad (EE-sa Ah-sod) says you can even keep your current phone and number.

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Asad says to sign up for the benefit you can visit QLinkWireless.com, He says once approved you’ll receive service in two to three days.

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The Emergency Broadband Benefit program passed by Congress begins on February 25th and lasts until the end of the year, after that Asad says you can roll over into the LifeLine program.

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Louisiana officials are asking residents who suffered damage during last week’s winter weather to report it, as the state plans to submit that information to the federal government. Taylor Sharp has more

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Louisiana Strawberry farmers are pulling up tarps and surveying damage from last week’s winter storms. Brooke Thorington has more.

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The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is seeking information via survey on damage.la.gov from anyone who sustained damage from the winter weather, which could potentially lead to federal assistance.  GOHSEP Spokesperson Mike Steele says filling out a survey will help speed up the recovery process.

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 Steele says that reporting the damage will also help state officials determine where the most damage occurred.

Cut 4 (10) “…assistance may be available.” 

 Steele explains that this doesn’t guarantee federal assistance but it could certainly help.

Cut 5  (11)  “…benefit us” 

Steele wants Louisiana residents to understand that this should not replace reporting damage to your insurance agency.

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Strawberry farmers are surveying crops after last week’s winter storm and it appears 30 to 35 percent of the crop is lost according to one farmer. Owner of Harris Farmers in Springfield, Trey Harris says despite covering the berries, the length of the storm also impacted the crops.

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Harris says the last time a winter storm impacted the crops this bad was four years ago, his first season in the strawberry business. Harris says but the December 2017 snow gave them enough time to recover because it takes 21 days for a bloom to produce a strawberry.

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As for prices on strawberries, Harris says they should stay up for a while because of lack of volume, and it’s not just Louisiana that’s having issues with strawberries.

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Harris says the peak of the season is mid-April giving farmers time to salvage their season.

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A Bienville Parish man was fatally shot Sunday morning by a truck driver after allegedly attempting to break into his 18-wheeler. Bienville Sheriff John Ballance says 35-year-old Jonathan Raney of Ringgold kicked in the front door of a liquor store, then targeted a nearby semi…

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Raney did not enter the liquor store after kicking in its front glass door.

Ballance says the truck driver woke up and warned Raney to leave… 

Cut 10 (06) “…shot” 

The driver was parked at the store’s parking lot overnight with permission.

Ballance says the driver fired four shots and they believe the shooting was justified.  

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Ballance speculates Raney’s erratic behavior was the result of drug use but says they are awaiting toxicology results to determine if that is the case.  

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The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office releases new details about a fatal shootout at a Gretna gun store on Saturday.

Sheriff Joe Lopinto says video evidence and witness reports show 27-year-old Jamal Williams was not confrontational while in the store, and was exiting the premises after being asked to unload his weapon by staff when he fired a round out the door and across the street, then turned around and shot his first victim…

Cut 12 (03) “ …happened” 

Williams held a concealed carry permit, had no major criminal history, and was allegedly at the store with his brother and a minor to purchase ammo, and was in the store for seven minutes before he began shooting.

Lopinto says contrary to their initial impressions…

Cut 13 (11)“…training”

Two people were fatally shot, 59-year-old Veronica Billiot a customer who was the first victim in the spree, and 47-year-old store employee Noah Fiscbach, who was shot while lying on the ground.

Video shows Williams exiting and entering the store and moving through the building exchanging fire with store employees before being shot in the parking lot. Lopinto says it could’ve been worse…

Cut 14 (12) “…day”