DOTD has cleared the last financial hurdle in building a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Mel Bridges has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

A police shooting in Morehouse Parish yesterday has left a person in serious condition. The Northwest Louisiana Sheriff’s Investigative Unit says Morehouse Sheriff deputies were executing an order for protective custody when they were met by a man with a gun. Deputies reportedly told the man to drop the weapon but the situation escalated and the person was shot. He was airlifted to a regional hospital.

The Louisiana Lottery says last fiscal year was there second best ever, with 643-million dollars in revenue and 205-million dollars of that revenue will go to K-through-12 public education. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says they’ve transferred around five billion dollars since they started in 1991, 35-percent of their total revenue…
cut 11 (10) “….education”

New real estate rules go into effect on Saturday that changes the way how an agent gets paid. Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors President-elect Larry Miller says compensation has always been between the client and broker…
cut 9 (11) “….will be”

Entergy Louisiana customers will see a rate increase in early 2025 but fees will go down. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The Louisiana Department of Health has told residents in Madison Parish not to drink the water if the drinking water comes from the Walnut Bayou Water District. L-D-H says the Walnut Bayou Water System suffered a water line break resulting in the drinking water being exposed a toxic herbicide that’s used for weed control. Bottle water has been made available.

The state department of transportation has announced preliminary work on a new I-10 Lake Charles Bridge may begin this year and full-on construction operations will begin in 2026 and construction should be completed in 2031. One-point-two billion dollars in state and federal funding will help pay for the bridge’s construction and so will tolls. But Project Manager Paul Vaught says the state will retain about 15-percent of the tolls net profit…
cut 15 (11) “….five-parish area”
Tolls will not be collected on the bridge until its open to traffic.

The Louisiana Lottery Corporation just ended its’ second-best fiscal year ever, with around 643 million dollars in revenue. Spokesperson Dustin Annison says the Lottery transferred almost 205 million dollars to the state treasury that will go towards K-through 12 public education…
cut 10 (12) “…education system.”

Many Entergy Louisiana customers will see a rate increase of four-dollars in early 2025 but Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis says the rate hikes could have been worse…
Cut 4 (13) “…eight to ten dollars.”
Lewis says on a positive note, Entergy is reducing its late fees, eliminating connection and reconnection fees and expanding eligibility for low-income senior bill discounts.

The state department of transportation says preliminary construction activities can begin this year on a new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Lake Charles bridge as DOTD and the developer, Calcasieu Bridge Partners, have reached what is called a financial close, which allows the contractor to proceed. Project manager Paul Vaught says the Landry administration put a financing plan in place earlier this year that received legislative approval…
cut 14 (10) “…were made”
Tolls will help pay for the bridge.

Real estate agent commissions will change starting tomorrow. Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors’ President-elect Larry Miller says buyers who previously didn’t have to pay a commissioner to their realtor who helped them purchase a home will be expected to pay for the service…
cut 8 (10) “..broker directly”
There is a concern this could hurt first-time homebuyers because they are already stretched for cash.

The Louisiana Lottery says last fiscal year was their second best year on record as lottery ticket sales produced 643-million dollars in revenues and 205-million dollars of that will go to K-through-12 public school education. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says scratch-offs continue to be the top seller in the Lottery’s game portfolio and the lottery tries to keep scratch offs fresh by adding more, higher and unique prizes…
cut 12 (10) …our games”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation says a major step has been taken in the construction of a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Project Manager Paul Vaught says they’ve officially reached a financial close, which means the developer has sold the bonds needed to complete financing. He says the developer, Calcasieu Bridge Partners, will start final designs immediately…
Cut 13 (09) “…to complete.”
One-point-two billion dollars in state and federal funds will help pay for the two-point-three billion dollar bridge and tolls will also pay for the bridge.

Many Entergy Louisiana customers will see their rates go up by about four dollars early next year, but Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis says Entergy has agreed to expand low-income senior discounts, eliminate connection and reconnection fees, and they are reducing late fees…
cut 5 (06) “….one and a half percent”

A settlement involving the National Realtor’s association is bringing changes to the way Realtors help homebuyers purchase a home.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has released his preliminary investigative report into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Higgins says it was a local SWAT operator that shot Matthew Crooks’ rifle stock and fragged his face, neck and shoulder, which stopped Crooks’ from shooting and then a Secret Service sniper fatally shot him. Higgins says he found it disturbing that Crooks’ body was released for cremation ten days after the shooting, but the FBI says they followed proper protocols.

11-year-old Joe Petraro from Long Island, New York, will take online classes at LSU this fall as a sports leadership major. Joe, who has Tourette’s, graduated high school this year after speeding through middle and high school in two years. He says his Tourette’s and intelligence used to be at odds, but now he’s using them to his advantage.
Cut 29 (11) “…and it helps.”
Joe has an IQ of 168. He’s built a friendship with former LSU basketball star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who also has Tourettes.

The owner of Raising Canes, Todd Graves is putting 100-thousand dollars towards the construction of a Artificial Coral reef near Grand Isle. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan says the new reef is called Cajun Coral, uses a highly flexible type of Three-D printed concrete…
cut 7 (08) “…across the state”

Twenty-six-year-old Trystan McMillion is in the Tangipahoa Parish prison on second-degree murder charges in the overdose death of 27-year Nicholas Platte, who was found dead in a Hammond home last January. Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron says fentanyl killed McMillion and those who sell drugs that leads to death will face charges, including murder…
cut 4 ((05) “…community”
Platt was a son, husband and father.

40-year-old Ahmed Gaber of Pineville is facing charges after allegedly selling THC infused products and other vape products to juveniles at the Pineville Smoke Shop. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tommy Carnline says Gaber was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center for distribution of THC greater than 2.5 pounds…
cut 11 (10) “…juveniles”
Gaber has been released on a ten-thousand dollar bond.

The state Department of Transportation announced today that construction will likely begin this year on a new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. That’s because DOTD and the contractor, Calcasieu Bridge Partners have reached a financial close which allows work on the project to begin. Tolls will help pay for construction.

Joe Petraro is taking online classes at LSU as a sports leadership major. He’s also an 11-year-old with Tourette Syndrome. Mel Bridges has this incredible story.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

The Hammond Police Department is charging 26-year-old Trystan McMillon with second-degree murder in the fentanyl overdose death of 27-year-old Nicholas Platt. Platt’s father, Jay Platt, says he hopes this will lead to more fentanyl-related arrests and spare other families from losing a child or other loved ones.
Cut 5 (11) “…Thank You .”
McMillon was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail.

Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, donated $100,000 to fund the creation of a 3D-printed artificial reef off the coast of Grand Isle. The reef will replace an old, decommissioned oil platform, contributing to marine conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.
Cut 6 (08) “…for the community.”
Graves says he plans to donate more dollars to build four other artificial reefs off the coast of Louisiana.