Media reports out of Shreveport say it appears the body of missing seven-year-old Daysean Combest has been found. He’s been missing for three days. His mother says Daysean was in a drainage ditch during a heavy rainstorm and he was swept away. It’s unknown how he got into the ditch.

The state Department of Transportation is looking at widening I-12 in St. Tammany Parish between Mandeville and Covington. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Membership is set for a task force that will examine the 350-million dollar TOPS scholarship program for the first time. Its chairman, Jennings Senator Blade Morrish, says the panel consists of an array of lawmakers representing both parties and all corners of the state…:
Cut 13 (09) “concerning TOPS”
The first meeting is September 6.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is conducting a study to see if expecting mothers with gestational diabetest are at a higher risk to giving birth to a baby that will suffer from diabetes or obesity. Dr. Nick Broskey says they’re recruiting women with gestational diabetes for the study…
cut 6 (11) “…or diet”

In Acadia Parish, Esterwood Assistant Police Chief Wayne Welsh has resigned amid allegations he posted racists remarks on his Facebook page. Police Chief Ernest Villejoin says Welsh has publicly apologized…:
Cut 12 (08) “department”
Welsh posted multiple comments on his Facebook page referring to Muslim women as trash bags, as well as, a racially charged meme.

Baton Rouge police arrest a 42-year-old man for the stabbing death of his 41-year-old ex-girlfriend. Sara Hernandez was found dead in her Baton Rouge home on Sunday. Sergeant Don Coppola says detectives quickly learned Miquel Angel Lopez was their main suspect and they learned he suffered injuries during the attack…
cut 11 (10) “…into custody”
Authorities believe Lopez stayed with Hernandez’s body 10 to 14 hours before fleeing the scene.

The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is the biggest one ever measured. Jeff Palermo has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Citing money problems, The Salvation Army homeless shelter in Monroe, the only one in the area, will close later this month. Spokesperson Jon Kalahar says church services and weekly prayer meetings will continue, and so will basic social services…:
Cut 7 (10) “care program”
About 30 homeless individuals sleep at the shelter every night.

U.S District Judge Patricia Minaldi of Lake Charles is retiring. The federal judge took a medical leave in December to receive alcoholism treatment. According to court records, Minaldi’s drinking got so bad that a colleague asked the court to rule she cannot take care of herself. Minaldi said a few months ago that her alcoholism didn’t impact the outcome of her cases.

The projected starter at right guard for LSU has been suspended….

Voicer 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

In Acadia Parish, an assistant police chief resigned after referring to Muslim women as trash bags on Facebook, plus he posted a racially charged meme. Esterwood Police Chief Ernest Villejoin (Vee-jewan) says Wayne Welsh made the right decision to step down….
cut 14 (06) “…it happened”
Welsh was a police officer for the town for over two years.

The end to the construction on Bourbon Street is moving slower than anticipated. New Orleans Public Works Department Director Mark Jernigan says rain has caused delays, along with poor utility plan depictions. He says they’ve also uncovered that many businesses along the historic street are in violation of the state’s plumbing code.:
Cut 5 (09) “businesses”
He says they are about two months behind and all of the work might not get completed until Halloween.

In Acadia Parish, the Esterwood Assistance Police Chief has resigned after posting racially charged remarks on his personal Facebook page….
voicer 2 (28) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

One person is dead and a Red River Parish Sheriff’s deputy was injured during a shoot out at a home south of Coushatta this morning. A state police spokesperson says the deputy was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while the male suspect died at the hospital. The deputy visited the home in reference to a welfare concern.

The massive construction project on Bourbon Street is two months behind schedule. New Orleans Public Works Director Mark Jernigan blames a rainy June and the exact location of almost all the utility lines underneath the historic street were either missing or inaccurately depicted on their plans…:
Cut 4 (11) “are buried”
It might be until Halloween before all of the work is completed.

The only homeless shelter in the Monroe area will close its doors later this month. On August 26, the Salvation Army will discontinue its overnight shelter services. Spokesperson Jon Kalahar says the shelter serves an average of 30 people each night…:
Cut 6 (08) “for 2016″
Six people will also lose their jobs and it’s unclear where the homeless will sleep once the shelter closes.

More women than ever are heading to court, as the American Bar Association finds an uptick in female attorneys. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Associated Press reports U.S District Judge Patricia Minaldi of Lake Charles is retiring. This news comes after she took a medical leave for alcoholism treatment in December. Judge Minaldi said in an interview in April that her battle with alcoholism didn’t impact the outcome of her cases.

Today is the first day of school for public school students in Bossier Parish and the start of school is right around the corner for many others. Public Relations Chair for the Louisiana PTA Stacey Simpson says to help improve your child’s academic achievement make sure you stay involved….
cut 6 (10) “…everyday life”
Parents can find some tips at be-a-learning-hero-dot-org.

LSU has located a young tiger that could become Mike Seven. It’s nine months old and he is currently located in a tiger sanctuary in Florida. The facility is rehoming some of its animals, so LSU vet school spokesperson Ginger Guttner says the university would not have to pay for the tiger…
cut 11 (10) “…our tiger”
The new could arrive in mid-August.

Louisiana’s domestic abuse laws now include dating partners, as a new law takes effect today. Executive Director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Mariah Wineski, says previously these abusers could only be charged with simple battery, but the new law creates the crime of battery of a dating partner.
Cut 13 (11) “dating partners”

LSU says they may have found a new live mascot at a sanctuary in Florida. Ginger Guttner with the LSU Vet School says the prospect is a nine-month-old, 160 pound male tiger….
cut 12 (08) “…in August”
Guttner a major renovation project on the school’s Tiger habitat is nearing completition. She says if LSU gets the Tiger, it will be donated by the rescue facility, so no cost to the unviersity.
The resident of the third home to be completed under the Restore Louisiana program is about to be home. Lillie Gumm of Baton Rouge was one of the first people to complete the flood recovery survey at restore.la.gov. She says throughout this ordeal, she’s learned about taking deep breaths..:
Cut 7 (09) “turned around”
Money from the homeowner assistance program first went to the elderly, disabled and low-income individuals.

Two Minnesota teens are well on their way to becoming the youngest team to kayak the entire Mississippi River. Matt Rens and Jesse Richard are paddling through the Bayou State today getting closer to New Orleans. Rens says they have encountered some unexpected challenges along the way, like poison ivy.
Cut 4 (10) “unknown things”
The pair has raised a little over 4-thousand dollars to help fund cleaner water in a village in a third world country.

More victims are now covered under Louisiana’s domestic violence laws. Two laws take effect today that expand the statutes to include same-sex couples and dating partners. Executive Director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Mariah Wineski says this extends legal protections to more victims.
Cut 12 (10) “domestic abuse battery law”
Wineski says the laws passed by the legislature strengthen the penalties for those found guilty of abusing a dating partner.

Today is the first day all bars in the city of Lafayette are non smoking. Robin McMillan owns McMillan’s Pub and she’s hopeful nonsmokers will help keep her in business…
cut 11 (08) “….my business”

Two Minnesota teenagers are seeking to become the youngest team to travel the entire Mississippi River by kayak. Emelie Gunn has more on the pair that is approaching New Orleans…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The LSU vet school says a juvenile tiger at a sanctuary in Florida could be the next live mascot for the school and become Mike Seven. The university says it’s nine months old, weighs 160-pounds and the rescue facility would donate the Tiger. LSU is completing a major upgrade to its Tiger habitat and those renovations should be complete in a couple of weeks.