Today is a very bad day to be lighting outdoor fires. A red flag warning is in effect throughout South Louisiana and central Louisiana as the area deals with low humidity and high winds. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says dewpoint temperatures are what areas like Phoenix would expect, but not South Louisiana.

Cut 3 (10) “…year in Louisiana.”

The dewpoint temperatures are leading to relative humidity levels of between 20 and 30 percent.

Do you have your REAL ID yet? If not, you’d better get a move on it.

Cut 10 (13) “…state-issued credential.”

Matt Boudreaux with the Office of Motor Vehicles says select OMV locations will be open this Saturday to help with the rush of people who still need to get their Real ID. For more information go to express-lane-dot-org or go to the Office of Motor Vehicles Facebook Page to see which offices are open this Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM.

The McNeese men’s basketball team is looking for its first ever NCAA Tournament win this afternoon when it faces Clemson at 2:15. The Cowboys were eliminated in the first-round last year. Coach Will Wade says his team has a different mentality this year…

Cut 13 (12)  “…more than one.”

Wade is expected to leave McNeese once its season is over and take the North Carolina State head coaching job.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has its first confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease in wild deer out of Tensas Parish. It has also been detected in a white-tailed buck harvested by a hunter on private land in Catahoula Parish. LDWF Deer Wildlife Manager Jonthan Bordelon says knowing the disease has spread to another parish helps in their efforts to control the spread…

Cut 6 (11) “….on the landscape”

More information regarding the response plan for this area will be forthcoming.

State Police is investigating an officer involved shooting involving the Alexandria Police Department last night. The person shot was taken to a local hospital. No officers were injured in the incident that took place on Willow Glen Street at Third Street.

The deadline to get the REAL ID so you can fly domestically without the need of a passport is May seventh.  Matt Boudreaux with the Office of Motor Vehicles says to help people meet that deadline, the OMV is opening select offices on select Saturdays so that people won’t have to take time off work. Last Saturday was the first of what was originally going to be three Saturdays; and it was such a hit that they’re adding another Saturday this week.

Cut 11 (10) “…few different offices.”

Three OMV offices will be open in the New Orleans area, along with Bossier. Monroe, Shreveport and Winnsboro OMV field offices.

The Secretary of State’s Office says the number of early votes cast for the March 29^th election has reached 100-thousand. Joel Watson with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office says spring elections historically see lower turnout, but every voter has something on their ballot…

Cut 9 (08) “…their ballot”

Early voting runs through Saturday.

The 12^th seeded McNeese State Cowboys will look to pull off the upset this afternoon as they face fifth seeded Clemson in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Tigers were 18-2 in the A-C-C and have a significant height advantage over McNeese. Coach Will Wade says they must limit Clemson’s shots around the basket.

Cut 14 (09) “…said than done.”

Once McNeese’s season ends, Wade is expected to be named the new head coach at North Carolina State.

Two men are dead and a teenager is hospitalized following a triple shooting last night in the Village of Tangipahoa in Tangipahoa Parish. Law enforcement received a call just before six PM about multiple people shot outside of a mobile home. Investigators believe the community is safe and there are no suspects being sought at this time.

If you haven’t gotten your REAL ID yet, you’d better get a move on it. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The state is reporting its first case of Chronic Wasting Disease in a wild deer outside of Tensas Parish. A hunter-harvested white-tailed buck shot in Catahoula Parish tested positive for C-W-D, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Louisiana to 36….

Cut 5 (08) “….guidance of the CDC”

That’s LDWF Deer Wildlife Manager Jonathan Bordelon says the CDC and the World Health Organization recommend against the human consumption of deer known to be infected with CWD.

Today begins the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. McNeese plays at 2:15 against Clemson. Cowboys Senior forward Christian Shumate is glad to be in the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year, but he wants the experience to last longer…

Cut 15 (12) “…moments happen.”

McNeese is 0-and-3 in its history at the NCAA Tournament.

Baton Rouge police continue to look for the person responsible for fatally shooting an employee of Our Lady of the Lake in a parking lot across the street from the hospital. Authorities say the gunman waited for the victim to get off of work to shoot her in what’s described as a domestic incident. President of Our Lady of the Lake, Chuck Spicer, is heartbroken by this terrible act of violence…

Cut 20 (11) “….for being here”

The hospital was placed on lockdown for about 45 minutes after the shooting.

A case of Chronic Wasting Disease has been confirmed in a hunter-harvested white-tailed buck in Catahoula Parish. This is the first confirmed case outside of Tensas Parish since CWD was first detected in Louisiana in 2022. LDWF Deer Wildlife Manager Jonathan Bordelon says this brings the state’s total CWD detections to 36.

Cut 4 (06) “…Services Laboratory.”

LDWF is currently working to implement the LDWF CWD response plan.

There are three more days left of Early Voting for the March 29th election,  which features four constitutional amendments. Secretary of State Joel Watson says turnout is strongest in East Baton Rouge Parish, where voters in the new city of St. George are electing a mayor and city council…

Cut 8 (07) “….in St. George”

Watson says early voting numbers for this spring election are ahead of the pace from a spring election that took place four years ago.

Eight Office of Motor Vehicle locations will be open this Saturday to give residents a chance to get their REAL ID. OMV spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says when May 7th rolls around, you will not be able to use your driver’s license to confirm your identity at the TSA checkpoint unless it’s REAL ID compliant.

Cut 12 (09) “…after that date.”

Boudreaux says they will also have certain OMV field offices open on April 12^th and May 3^rd from 8 AM to 1 PM.

The state is just beyond the halfway point for early voting and Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says they are seeing a decent turnout for this spring election….

Cut 7 (08) “…by mail votes”

Watson says early voter turnout is strongest in East Baton Rouge Parish as voters in the newly created city of St. George are electing a mayor and city council members. Every ballot has something on it, highlighted by four constitutional amendments.

Do you have your REAL ID yet? If not, you’d better get a move on it.

Cut 10 (13) “…state-issued credential.”

Matt Boudreaux with the Office of Motor Vehicles says select OMV locations will be open this Saturday to help with the rush of people who still need to get their Real ID. For more information go to express-lane-dot-org or go to the Office of Motor Vehicles Facebook Page to see which offices are open this Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM.

Chronic wasting disease was found in Catahoula Parish in a hunter-harvested white-tail deer. Sean Richardson reports it’s the first case outside of Tensas Parish since CWD was first detected in Louisiana in 2022.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Today is the first day of spring and central and south Louisiana are under a Red Flag Warning today, which means conditions are right for wildfires. Officials are asking the public to refrain from outdoor burning. It will be windy and dry today, with northwest winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour and humidity values as low as 15-percent.

Louisiana carried out its first execution of a death row inmate in 15 years last night and it was the first time the state used nitrogen gas as the method. Jessie Hoffman was declared dead at 6:50 PM. WDSU TV reporter Gina Swanson witnessed the execution…

Cut 5 (11) “…the right side”

Hoffman was put to death for killing Molly Elliot in 1996. She lived in St. Tammany Parish and was married to Andy Elliot. Andy Elliot called the execution bittersweet news.

A 24-year-old Washington Parish mother faces a first-degree murder charge after authorities determined she beat her eight-month old child to death. Franklinton Police Chief Justin Brown believes mental health issues with Autumn Harper played a significant role, and hopes to prevent cases like this in the future.

Cut 8 (12) “…and says something.”

Forty-eight-year-old Danette Colbert now faces a murder charge in connection with the death of Kansas City sports reporter Adan Manzano, who was found dead in a Kenner hotel during Super Bowl week.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 29 (29) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”