The family of a teenager who was found dead in Iberia Parish after being reported missing under mysterious circumstances is calling for an independent investigation into what happened. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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A study published in the journal Nature says climate change is causing hurricanes to retain their strength longer. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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After months of relative calm Louisiana appears to be facing a third wave of COVID. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Civil rights activists and the ACLU demand an independent investigation into the death of a 15-year-old Black male who was found dead in an Iberia Parish sugar cane field.

An Iberia Parish Coroner’s report concluded that Quawan “Bobby” Charles drowned and that damage to his face was caused by wildlife, but ACLU of Louisiana head Alanah Odoms believes it may have been a hate crime.

Cut 4 (12) “…going on.”

Charles’ body has been sent to an independent forensics lab in Texas. A report from that lab is expected soon.

Charles’ parents have expressed serious concern with the lack of transparency and the slow pace of the investigation. Odoms says the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department has provided little information to the family…

Cut 5 (08) “…life.”

Last week an Iberia Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing and there is little information that can be given out at this time, but the death is being investigated as a possible homicide.

Charles went missing on October 30^th in Baldwin. Odoms says it’s highly frustrating that Baldwin Police did not contact State Police about putting out an Amber Alert after being contacted by Charles’ family.

Cut 6 (05) “…there.”

Charles was found 20 miles away from his home in the field near Loreauville on November 3^rd.

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An article in the journal Nature claims hurricanes are keeping their staying power longer once they make landfall, thus more inland destruction. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we know once storms make landfall, they are cut off from their energy source of warm water.

Cut 7 (11)  “…much longer.”

Keim says the study showed the average length of time it took a storm to weaken to two-thirds of its landfall strength in the 1960s was about 17-hours.

Cut 8 (04) “…same extent.”

Keim says a good example of longer staying power is Hurricane Laura, it made landfall as a Category 4 and was still at hurricane strength when it reached Shreveport 250-miles inland.

Keim says hurricanes are no longer seen as a coastal issue as warmer sea temperatures from climate change serve as an energy reservoir for storms.

Cut 9 (10) “…makes landfall.”

The study compared 71 Atlantic hurricanes with landfalls as far back from 1967.

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Governor Edwards says he’s concerned about the recent spike in COVID cases and indicated that if it were to continue the state may have to move back to Phase Two or more.

The US has shattered total new daily case records throughout November, leading to new restrictions and lockdowns elsewhere in the country. Edwards says he hopes that’s not needed here…

Cut 10 (11) “…die.”

Edwards says unlike the first wave of cases in the spring if we were to begin running out of hospital capacity we couldn’t just send patients out of state right now.

Cut 11 (11) “…available.”

Edwards says we can avoid the fate much of the rest of the country is facing if we redouble our mask-wearing and social distancing efforts, and we need to start now if we want to get ahead of the virus.

Cut 12 (08) “…weeks.”

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The Saints fell behind 10-0, lost quarterback Drew Brees to a rib injury, but still ended up beating San Francisco 27-13 for their sixth straight win. Brees took a big hit in the first half and that drew a roughing the quarterback penalty. He did not play in the second half. Coach Sean Payton

Cut 13 (12) “….made the switch”

Jameis Winston took over as the number one QB in the second half and led the Saints on an important fourth-quarter drive that resulted in a Alvin Kamara touchdown, his third of the day. Kamara says he knew Winston would be ready…

Cut 14 (12) “..one person.” 

Brees says he’ll take his injury one day at a time and he may have injured more than one rib. He wasn’t the only starter who got hurt on Sunday. Tre’Quan Smith and Josh Hill both left the game with a concussion. Payton says his team was able to adapt to the personnel changes…

Cut 15 (12)“.. playing well” 

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The 24th ranked Ragin Cajuns are Sun Belt Western Division champs for a third consecutive season. U-L Lafayette clinched a spot in the conference title game with a 38-10 win over South Alabama. Coach Billy Napier says it was their best performance of the year as a football team

Cut 16 (23) “…tackled well.”

The Cajuns started off fast as they scored two touchdowns in the first quarter and had a balanced effort throughout with 254 yards rushing and 252 yards passing. The defense didn’t allow any points in the second half. Napier says it was nice to see his team take control early…

cut 17 (18) “…our plan”

The Cajuns will play in the Sun Belt Championship on December 19th against either Coastal Carolina or Appalachian State. But Napier’s team still has three regular-season games left before that contest…

cut 18 (18) “..continue to improve.”

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Tulane won its third straight on Saturday as they had no trouble beating Army 38-12 at Yulman Stadium. Green Wave Coach Willie Frtiz says all three phases played well

cut 19 (20) “… clock”

Tulane will seek a fourth straight win on Thursday night when they visit 25th ranked Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane is 4-0 in the American Athletic Conference after beating previously 19th ranked SMU. Green Wave defensive end Patrick Johnson says Tulsa will be tough to beat…

cut 20 (07) “…next week now”

Instead of hosting number one ranked Alabama on Saturday, Tiger Stadium will be empty as a COVID-19 outbreak has sidelined the team. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 1 (29) “  I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Louisiana moves past 200-thousand coronavirus cases since the pandemic started after reporting nearly 35-hundred new cases on Friday. Don Molino has more…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Don Molino”  

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Three college football games involving teams from Louisiana have been postponed this weekend due to Covid-19 concerns. LSU, Louisiana Tech and ULM are each dealing with coronavirus cases on their team. The Tigers were scheduled to host Alabama. Athletic Director Scott Woodward says LSU could possibly move the Ole Miss game to December 19^th in order to play Alabama on December 5^th.

Cut 3 (09)  “…to me”  

LSU has already lost one home game this year when the matchup against Missouri was moved to Columbia due to Hurricane Delta.  Woodward says the school can’t afford to lose another home game because the university will miss out on millions of dollars.

Cut 4 (09)   “…program.”  

Woodward says there is only a small number of players who have tested positive, but many more are in quarantine. He says none of the players who have tested positive, have experienced a serious illness.

Cut 5  (14) “…vulnerable.” 

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Gron Fuels is considering constructing a 9.2 billion dollar renewable fuel complex in the Port of Greater Baton Rouge.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the facility would produce clean-burning fuels and would utilize one of Louisiana’s cash crops.

Cut 6 (08) “…disesel”

The leftover soybean husks from the process could then be turned into cattle feed.

Pierson says the West Baton Rouge-based port is perfectly situated on the Mississippi River and already is built to handle the kinds of advanced logistics necessary to transport the complex’s product.

Cut 7 (10) “…products.”

If constructed the first phase of the project would be a 1.2 billion dollar investment. Once all phases are complete the facility would employ over 1,000 workers at an average salary of just under six figures.

A final investment decision is expected in 2021, and Pierson is feeling confident we will land it.

Cut 8 (09) “..positioned.

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Today’s COVID numbers for Louisiana are startling, 35-hundred, the highest the state has seen since the start of the pandemic in March.  Governor John Bel Edwards says they show an alarming trend two weeks after Halloween and the House Petition to overturn coronavirus restrictions in the state.

Cut 9 (07) “…the summer.”

News of a 90-percent effectiveness rate on a vaccine was released earlier this week, but the vaccine has yet to be approved and distributed. Edwards says it will be sometime before the vaccine can make a difference.

Cut 10 (13) “….recommendations.”

Edwards implored Louisianans to take precautions and to wear face masks. The CDC released a report this week that face masks also benefit the wearer. While Edwards is optimistic about the pandemic next summer and a vaccine, the present situation is dire.

Cut 11 (08) “….of Louisiana”

Governor Edwards will be holding a press conference at 3 pm today and LDH will unveil a new COVID dashboard.

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A new poll shows a tight race for the 2nd Congressional District should Congressman Cedric Richmond leave his seat to join the Biden administration.

LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says it’s only a matter of time before we find out what job Richmond, a close ally of President-elect Biden, works next…

Cut 12 (10) “…comming” 

The 2^nd District is the state’s majority-minority district and it covers New Orleans and communities along the Mississippi River into north Baton Rouge.

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu leads in the poll, followed by City Councilwoman Helena Moreno, and State Senators Troy Carter, Cleo Fields, and Karen Carter Peterson…

Cut 13 (07) “…too soon.”

Landrieu is far out ahead of the pack, scoring 25 percent support in the poll but should he not run Moreno and Carter would be nearly tied for the lead.

Alford says should the highly coveted seat come open he expects things will get down and dirty pretty quickly.

Cut 14 (12) “…the ladder”