The Louisiana Youth ATV/UTV Safety Task Force is uniting law enforcement, education and healthcare professionals to protect young people across the state. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Outrage in Beauregard Parish as a judge goes easy on a former mayor. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Duck hunters can enjoy a special black-bellied whistling duck season starting this year. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Louisiana is launching a statewide Youth ATV-UTV Safety Task Force. Jay Cripple with the New Orleans Regional Safety Commission says ATV and UTV wrecks result in 500 hospital trips per year and the most injured group is 10 to 19-year-olds.

Cut 4 (08) “…fatalities a year.”

The task force will be a collaboration between law enforcement, state, safety, education and healthcare officials with the goal of spreading awareness to Louisiana families. Cripple says one effort will be promoting the nationally-recognized training program offered by Louisiana 4-H.

Cut 5 (12) “…of these tragedies.”

Cripple says common causes of youth injury include reckless speeds, lack of proper safety equipment, and vehicles with size and power kids are unable to control. He says parents often buy their kids a vehicle they can grow into, which is not a good idea.

Cut 6 (09) “…operating the vehicle.”

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A man who killed a Covington priest and his caretaker shortly after being released from prison will spend the rest of his natural life on death row. 49-year-old Antonio Tyson had pleaded guilty to first degree murder in the 2022 killings of Father Otis Young and Ruth Prats. St. Tammany Parish District Attorney Collin Sims says he and the victims’ families had originally sought the death penalty; however, late disclosures regarding Tyson’s low IQ forced a change of direction.

Cut 7 (10) “…resolve the case.”

So Sims secured a plea deal which calls for Tyson to serve his life prison sentence on death row. He says it’s essentially a death sentence without the execution.

Cut 8 (13) “…so we did.”

Sims says what makes this case all the more tragic is that just months before killing Young and Prats, Tyson had been released from the Rayburn Correctional Facility after serving 30 years of a 40-year sentence for forcible rape, armed robbery and burglary.

Cut 9 (07)  “…Department of Corrections.”

As part of his plea deal, Tyson has agreed to waive all rights to pursue sentence reductions, judicial reviews or release mechanisms.

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She faced up to 17 years in prison; instead, she got 90 days. That was the sentence Judge Kent Savoie handed to former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts, who was convicted back in March of having sex with a 16-year-old boy while she was in office. Pamela Sleezer, who’s been covering the trial for the American Press, says the prosecution was not happy with the lenient sentence.

Cut 10 (11) “…for these crimes.”

The victim’s mother called the 44-year-old a predator with hair extensions in high heels during her impact statement. Sleezer says while Savoie acknowledged the mother’s statement, he considered other factors as well.

Cut 11 (10) “…sentencing and everything.”

During the sentencing, the prosecution implored Judge Savoie to be mindful of the fact that Roberts committed this crime while she was serving as mayor. Sleezer says Savoie was unfazed by that.

Cut 12 (11) “…that this occurred.”

Roberts must also pay a five-thousand-dollar fine, undergo regular drug screenings and psychological therapy, and register as a sex offender.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced a new experimental black-bellied whistling duck season starting this year. LDWF Waterfowl Program Manager Jason Olszak says the season will run from October 3rd to the 11th and will offer hunters the opportunity to exclusively target the species.

Cut 13 (06)  “…next four years.”

Shooting hours for the special season will be sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit is four ducks with a possession limit of 12.

Olszak says the black-bellied whistling duck population has shown it can support more harvesting opportunities over the last two decades.

Cut 14 (08) “…in the year.”

The season will run later in the year than teal season due to the species’ late nesting. Olszak says historically, black-bellied whistling ducks left the state or gravitated towards urban areas, but recent research shows that’s changing.

Cut 15 (08) “…end of January.”

Office of Motor Vehicle locations had to shut down today because of network outages. Thomas Mule’ (myoo-LAY) with the Office of Technology Services says connectivity issues began while installing new network equipment….

Cut 12 (08) “…started going out.”

But Mule says they have the connectivity issues ironed out and OMV offices are expected to be open tomorrow.

The Chairman of the Louisiana House Insurance Committee is considering a run for Congress. Gabe Firment from Grant Parish would run for the seat that fellow Republican Julia Letlow is leaving….

Cut 8 (10) “…sense to me.”

Monroe Representative Michael Echols is planning on running in the fifth district. Qualifying is in the first week of August.

Meta announced the launch of America’s Workforce Academy, a nationwide AI infrastructure jobs training program with an academy in Baton Rouge. Meta Director of U.S. Policy Diana Doukas says the program will pay participants to train in a variety of jobs..

Cut 3 (09) “…next decade.”

The academy requires no prior experience and provides tuition, airfare and lodging. For more information go to meta-dot-com-backslash Americas-Workforce Academy.

The Louisiana America 250 commission is hosting a free Fourth of July concert in downtown Baton Rouge. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says there will be live music in Repentance Park starting at 2 p.m. and culminating with a big fireworks show over the Mississippi River…

Cut 9 (09)  “…to America.”

The concert will feature performances from local stars Amanda Shaw, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., John Schneider and Wayne Toups

The former mayor of DeRidder Misty Roberts was sentenced to 90 days in prison for having sex with a 16-year-old boy at pool party at her home while she was still the mayor. The 44-year-old Roberts was facing up to 17 years in prison. The victim’s mother called Roberts a predator with hair extensions in high heels during her impact statement.

A Meta AI infrastructure training facility is coming to Baton Rouge….

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Office of Motor Vehicles is experiencing network outages that started Sunday when the Office of Technology Services started replacing a legacy piece of hardware. Thomas Mule’ (myoo-LAY) with the OTS says during the migration, some are experiencing connectivity issues.

Cut 13 (09) “…the new system.”

Mule’ hopes the OMV will be back online tomorrow.

There will be a free Fourth of July concert in Baton Rouge as part of the festivities put on by the Louisiana America 250 Commission. There will be live music starting at 2 p.m. through the evening ending with fireworks on the Mississippi River. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says don’t worry if you can’t make it to the Capitol City, there will likely be a celebration near you

Cut 11 (09) “…over Louisiana.”

A full list of celebrations across the state can be found at america250la.org

Problems at the OMV today due to network outages. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to a report by the Louisiana Illuminator, state lawmakers have until June 23^rd to decide if 168-million dollars should be taken away from public school operations so that teachers do not receive a two-thousand dollar pay cut. This is Governor Landry’s plan to fund a teacher stipend, but it needs a two-thirds vote in both the House and Sente for it to happen.

Meta has launched an AI infrastructure jobs training program and will have a training academy in Baton Rouge. Meta has already begun construction on a 27-billion-dollar data center in Richland Parish.

Cut 5 (11) “…down the road”

Meta Director of U.S. Policy Diana Doukas says Meta will pay for the four to five week bootcamp and upon graduation, trainees are employed by that contractor partner and assigned to work on-site at a Meta data center construction site.

Republican State Representative Gabe Firment of Grant Parish says he’s looking at running for Congress. Firment says he’s fielded numerous calls about running for the open fifth district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and he believes he would be very effective.

Cut 7 (12) “…philosophy to Congress.”

Firment says he plans to make a decision next month.

If you’re trying to get things done at the OMV, either in person or online, you may have a little difficulty right now. That’s because the office is experiencing network outages. Thomas Mule’ (myoo-LAY) with the Office of Technology Services says they started replacing a legacy piece of hardware Sunday….

Cut 12 (08) “…started going out.”

Mule’ says it’s part of switching the network from what he says is the equivalent of a 1992 Honda Civic to a 2026 McLaren 750. He says during the migration, some are experiencing connectivity issues.

State Representative and Chairman of the House Insurance Committee is considering a run for Congress. Gabe Firment from Grant Parish would run for the seat that fellow Republican Julia Letlow is leaving….

Cut 8 (10) “…sense to me.”

Monroe Representative Michael Echols is planning on running in the fifth district. Qualifying is in the first week of August.

A Meta AI infrastructure training facility is coming to Baton Rouge. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Faith Technologies Incorporated has announced it will build an 80-million-dollar manufacturing facility in Ouachita Parish that will create at least 200 new jobs. This is the company’s first location in Louisiana, and it will help them expand production capacity of electrical components and solutions for large-scale infrastructure projects. Construction is already underway.

Meta announced the launch of America’s Workforce Academy, a nationwide AI infrastructure jobs training program with a pilot academy in Baton Rouge. Meta Director of U.S. Policy Diana Doukas says the program will pay participants to train in a variety of jobs..

Cut 3 (09) “…next decade.”

The academy requires no prior experience and provides tuition, airfare and lodging. For more information go to meta-dot-com.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the state needs to address rising auto insurance rates for commercial drivers. Temple says there were several bills in the recently completed legislative session that could have helped. Including a measure that said expert witnesses brought in to testify in a trial can only receive a fee for payment.

Cut 12 (11) “…have to say.”

The House approved that bill, but it was never heard in the Senate,

Gabe Firment has been in the Louisiana House of Representatives for more than six years now. Could he have his sights set on something bigger, like the U.S. House of Representatives? The Republican from Grant Parish says several people have reached out to him asking him if he’d be interested in running for the open seat in the fifth district.

Cut 6 (12) “…an intriguing opportunity.”

Monroe Representative Michael Echols is expected to run for the 5^th district congressional seat.

The Louisiana America 250 commission is hosting a free Fourth of July concert in downtown Baton Rouge. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says there will be live music in Repentance Park starting at 2 p.m. and culminating with a big fireworks show over the Mississippi River…

Cut 9 (09)  “…to America.”

The concert will feature performances from local stars Amanda Shaw, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., John Schneider and Wayne Toups

A St. Charles Parish man suspected of driving drunk ended up having to fight off alligators as he jumped into a swamp to evade authorities who were trying to arrest him. State Police Trooper Kyle Wagner says the incident happened Sunday morning along U-S Highway 61…

Cut 4 (09) “…an alligator”

40-year-old Victor Rivas of Montz was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later charged with DWI and Resisting an Officer.

Louisiana is making strides in seeing rates come down when it comes to private auto insurance and homeowners’ insurance rates. But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says commercial auto rates continue to rise. Temple says one legislative proposal that could help bring down commercial auto rates is a General Damage Cap bill. He says a person’s medical bills and the cost to repair a damaged vehicle would still be covered, but a person involved in a car wreck could not recover damages that are not quantifiable.

Cut 11 (07) “…cap on that.”

Temple says it’s a bill that needs to be seriously discussed during next year’s legislative session.

The Assumption Parish School System is now offering its students a chance to take 100-percent of their classes online. Superintendent John Barthelemy says students will still be allowed to participate in school clubs, sports and events. Barthelemy says providing traditional social and athletic experiences to students was a priority.

Cut 9 (11)  “…for my kid.”

One of the state’s top high school football players has given his verbal pledge to the LSU Tigers. Markez Davis from Northwest High School in St. Landry Parish has committed to the Tigers. The Opelousas native is ranked by 247 Sports as the 15th-best player in Louisiana and is listed as an athlete, but is expected to play cornerback at LSU….

Cut 19 (18) “…off from there”

Starting August 1st, prisons, jails and other correctional facilities will be required to immediately notify the public whenever a violent inmate is inadvertently let out. That’s due to a new law Governor Landry signed last month that was authored by New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry, who said there had been several instances when it took hours for these facilities to issue bulletins about escaped inmates.

Cut 3 (04) “…we needed this.”

While it was not an inadvertent release, Landry was prompted to author the bill by last year’s jailbreak at the Orleans Parish Jail, in which the public wasn’t notified until about ten hours after ten inmates broke free.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry says they need more election commissioners.  Landry says if you are looking for some extra cash and interested in working at a voting precinct on election day, you can apply at your parish Clerk of Court’s office. Landry says there are some requirements in order to be a poll commissioner…

Cut 11 (14) “….to vote yet”

More information is on the Secretary of State’s website.

Louisiana ranks 48^th for child well-being in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2026 Kids Count Data Book. But it’s not all bad news. Chief Data and Impact Officer at the Agenda For Children, Teresa Falgoust, says Louisiana ranks 35^th in education and it’s score in the area of education improved by more than any other state…

Cut 14 (09) “…on time”

The state department of education announced today that literacy screener results showed a 16.5 percentage-point increase in students reading on or above grade level from the beginning to the end of the school year.

Thirty years ago today, one of the greatest moments in College World Series history took place when Warren Morris hit a home run over the right field wall to give LSU a 9-8 win over Miami to win the national championship in 1996….

Cut 6 (12) “….seen him”

The walk-off home run is still the only one in the College World Series Championship game.