Louisiana has received a federal grant worth 750-thousand dollars that will go towards reducing the recidivism rate for inmates that suffer from mental illness and substance abuse. Assistant Corrections Secretary Rhett Covington says the money will go towards a program called New Beginnings and it’s been successful in the past…
cut 8 (09) “…navigate things”
Covington says without help, inmates with mental illness and substance addictions almost always return to prison.

Seven people have been booked into the Orleans Justice Center for allegedly staging a motor vehicle crash and making false insurance claims for injuries and property loss. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey says a confession from one of the suspects was the big break in the case…
cut 11 (08) “…New Orleans”
The suspects face several different charges.

The Dash Diet which LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center helped developed has been ranked as the second best diet of 2019 by U.S. News and World Report. The Dash Diet calls for two to three daily servings of dairy, six to eight servings of lean meats, two to three servings of fats and oils, six to eight servings of whole grains, and eight to ten servings of fruits and veggies. Pennington researcher Catherine Champagne says fruits and vegetables are the key to this diet.
Cut 5 (09) “…certain levels.”
The number one goal of the Dash Diet is to lower blood pressure, but Champagne says if you stick with it, you’ll consume fewer calories.

A new Congress was sworn in today and Louisiana’s five U-S House Republican members now find themselves in the minority party. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says with Democrats in control of the House, expect climate change legislation to come up…
cut 28 (11) “….those lines”
But Hogan says with Republicans still in control of the Senate, gridlock is likely for the next two years.

Most of the state is seeing a steady rain fall and it’s causing concerns along rivers and other waterways. Kent Kuyper with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says several lakes and rivers are at flood stage or above…
cut 13 (12) “…coming up”
Kuyper says dry and mild air moves into the state tomorrow.

A Texas man who allegedly scammed a Rapides parish person out of 60-thousand dollars by claiming he was a retired F-B-I agent living in Nigeria has been arrested in Mississippi. Rapides Sheriff’s office Captain Tommy Carline says 64-year-old Scott Alan Romans has been charged with theft…
cut 5 (06) “…hard to do”
Romans bond was set at 20-thousand dollars.

For those who live around the Hammond area, Southeastern Louisiana University is asking residents to drop off their old Christmas tree at one of several sites, so that the trees can be used to enhance the wetlands. Rob Moreau says for the 24th straight year S-L-U is conducting a recycled tree program and the trees are deployed in the Manchac wetlands…
cut 10 (12) “…in and around”
Drop off locations can be found at southeastern-dot-e-d-u-slash-turtle cove.

A steady rain continues to fall across an already saturated Louisiana today. National Weather Service Lake Charles Senior Forecaster Kent Kuyper says the rain, which could be heavy at times, will come to an end later today or early tomorrow morning…
cut 12 (10) “…rest of the afternoon”
Calcacsieu Parish officials are concerned about possible flooding in the Starks and Vinton area. In Natchitoches Parish, Lake Sibley is overflowing and Cane River Lake is closed due to high levels.

Louisiana is one of nine states reporting a high activity level for flu-like illnesses. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Diseases specialist, Doctor Fred Lopez, says doctors are also treating cases of strep throat and various respiratory viruses…
cut 8 (08) “…type of infections”
The CDC says 4.5 percent of the hospital visits in Louisiana during the Christmas week were because of the flu or flu-like illnesses.

A Monroe Police officer and two suspects were shot early this morning at Super 8 Motel on Highway 165 in Monroe. State Police says officers went to the motel to check on a disturbance complaint and when they arrived shots were fired. Authorities say the three people shot suffered non-life threatening injuries and two subjects have been arrested.

A 64-year-old scam artist from Texas is behind bars after he allegedly convinced his victim to pay him over $60,000 so he can pay US taxes and fees in Nigeria. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A new Congress begins its work today as Louisiana’s five U-S House Republican members now find themselves in the minority party. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says with Democrats in control of the House, expect climate change legislation to come up…
cut 8 (10) “….those lines”
But Hogan says with Republicans still in control of the Senate, gridlock is likely for the next two years.

State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Monre. There’s been heavy police presence at a Super 8 Motel on Highway 165. Very few details are available at this time.

Bastrop police are looking for a missing child. He’s been identified as 13-year-old Skyler Colston. He’s five-foot-three, 100 pounds and has brown hair and eys. Colston was last seen in the West Hickory area.

A 68-year-old Thibodaux man has posted bond after he was arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot up store during the holidays, after someone took his shopping cart. Thibodaux Police Lt. Clint Dempster says store management did a good job of calming down Louis Albarado, but a 44 magnum was found in his car…
cut 12 (04) “…his vehicle”
Dempster says Albarado told detectives that his plan was to retireve a weapon from his vehicle and shoot the person who took his buggy.

Fort Polk officials have launched an investigation into the fatal shooting of five horses found dead on the training grounds of the military base. The social media group called the Pegasus Equine Guardian Association first made public of the incident. Spokesperson Amy Hanchey says genetic testing indicates these horses have strong Colonial Spanish ties…
cut 14 (11) “…biological isolation”
Hanchey says it appears the horses were shot with a high powered rifle.

Five out of six Louisiana U.S. House members find themselves out of power as Democrats take control of the lower chamber today as a new Congress is sworn in. LSU Political Science Professor Doctor Robert Hogan says this could make it harder to get funding for Louisiana specific flood protection projects…
cut 7 (12) “…any power”
The first order of business for the new Congress is to end the partial government shutdown which has reached 13 days.

Another day of rainy weather in Louisiana. Most of Louisiana is under a flash flood watch today as heavy rains are possible, which may lead to flash flooding. The National Weather Service says the rain is expected to gradually end from west to east this afternoon and tonight. We can look forward to a dry and mild weekend.

A 68-year-old man faces terrorizing charges after he allegedly threatened to shoot shoppers at a store after someone took his shopping cart…
voicer 3 (29) “….Kevin Barnhart”

The U-S 11 bridge between Slidell and New Orleans will be shut down to traffic starting today, running through April 18th. State transportation department spokesperson Rodney Mallett…
cut 4 (06) “….system installed”
The repairs will cost 28-million dollars.

Congress begins its 116th session today with Democrats taking over the House, while Republicans maintain control of the Senate. Matt Doyle has more on what this means for Louisiana’s five republican members of the US House…
voicer 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Much of Louisiana is under a flash flood watch. Forecasters say it’s possible those in the watch area can see to two to four inches and some localized areas could see five inches of rain. The weekend will be dry and mild.

The U-S 11 Bridge which connects New Orleans to Slidell over Lake Ponchatrain is closed today for repairs and it’s not expected to re-open until April. State Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the 28-million dollar project includes concrete and structural repairs, a new fender system and electrical rehabilitation…
cut 5 (10) “…kind of unreliable”
Mallett says about six-thousand motorists use U-S 11 on a daily basis.

Fort Polk says it’s investigating the shooting of five wild horses in the Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area, which is part of the Kisastchie National Forest. Spokesperson for the Pegasus Equine Guardian Association, Amy Hanchey, says the first report she received of the shooting was on December 29th, but the act could have taken place as early as the 27th…
cut 15 (05) “…within the week”
Hanchey says this was not an accidental shooting as someone with a good shot had to have targeted the horses, since they were all shot in the same area of the body.

A new Congress is sworn in today on Capitol Hill as Democrats officially take control of the House, while Republicans increase their majority in the Senate. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says get ready for two years of hardcore gridlock…
cut 9 (10) “…things done”
The first order of business is to end the partial government shutdown. President Donald Trump says the shutdown could last a long time as he’s seeking billions of dollars for a border wall.

A 68-year-old man faces terrorizing charges after he allegedly threatened to shoot up a store, after someone took his shopping cart. Thibodaux Police Lt. Clint Dempster says store management handled the situation well.
Cut 10 (10) “…police got there.”
Officiers obtained a search warrant for Louis Albarado’s vehicle and located a 44 magnum handgun.

Fort Polk personnel are investigating what appears to be a deliberate killing of five wild horses gunned down in the Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area, which is part of the Kisatchie National Forest. Kevin Barnhart has more…
Voicer 1 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”