The owner of Fat Daddy’s Crawfish in Shreveport was killed in what authorities are calling a home invasion at his residence in Natchitoches Parish. Teiko Foxx has more

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Pineville, Louisiana is where you’ll find the only dental robot in the state. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives are investigating a home invasion that killed a local business owner Tuesday night. 71-year-old, Mark Hailey, owner of Fat Daddy’s Crawfish in Shreveport was found unresponsive in his home on Jim Bell Road north of Campti. Captain Tony Moran says Hailey’s body was initially discovered by a relative who went to do a wellness check.

Cut 3 (09) “…the residence.” 

Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office preliminary autopsy determined Hailey’s cause of death as apparent blunt and sharp force trauma. On Wednesday morning, Moran says they received a lead in the case.

Cut 4 (08)  “…near Natchitoches.” 

Hailey’s 2015 Ford F-350 truck was found at the location. Moran says detectives are working to identify the person or persons responsible for this senseless act of violence.

Cut 5 (08) “…three zero.”

Anonymous tips can be reported by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388.

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Crude oil dropped below $70 a barrel in trading Wednesday, for the first time in more than a year. So, what does that mean for consumers at the pump? Triple A analyst Don Redman says a drop in prices goes against what we typically see in the Spring when fuel costs increase due to demand and the transition to summer-grade gasoline.

Cut 6 (09)  “…fall accordingly.” 

Redman believes the drop in crude oil prices is reflective of the markets after the collapse of a couple of banks. And whether that scenario changes in terms of the outlook for the markets, he says it suddenly could reverse and prompt demand for crude oil, and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine adds uncertainty.

Cut 7 (10)  “…on politics.” 

Crude oil prices account for 50 to 60 percent of the price of gasoline, and even with the current drop in barrel prices, Redman says he’s still advising Triple-A members to continue to budget for gas prices around the $3.00 mark. As for the typical price increase due to demand in the spring, we’re not having a typical spring.

Cut 8 (11)  “…uptick in demand.” 

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana today is $3.09

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Most of the northern half of the state is under a slight risk for severe weather this afternoon and tonight as a result of strong cold front that will kick up spring storms. L-R-N Meteorologist John Wetherbee says one and a a half to two inches of rain could fall, there’s also the possibility of tornadoes and hail is a concern…

Cut 9 (07) “…through the state.”

A wind advisory is in effect for southwest and central Louisiana today. Wetherbee says tomorrow the heavy rain and severe weather event shifts to southeast Louisiana….

Cut 10 (09) “…Friday evening” 

Wetherbee says the rain will be out of the state for St. Patrick’s day on Saturday, but you’ll need a jacket…

Cut 11 (06)  “…festivities”

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If you were told one of only 150 dental robots in the world was in Louisiana, the city of Pineville most likely wouldn’t be your first guess. Dr. Jonas Gauthier of Today’s Dental says since January they’ve performed dozens of dental implant surgeries with the Yomi Robotic Dental System and it drastically reduces recovery time.

Cut 12 (12) “…for the patients”. 

In addition to reducing recovery time, Gauthier says the robot helps dentists avoid nerves, sinuses, and blood vessels during the placement of dental implants.

Cut 13 (09) “…some challenges.”

And with the cutting-edge technology available in central Louisiana, you might think you’d have to pay more…

Cut 14 (11)  “…Yomi robot.”

Gauthier says robotic surgery started in orthopedics and in 2017 the first dentistry robot received FDA approval.

After years of testing, tropical storm predictions will have a different spin from weather experts. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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A recent governor’s poll has Jeff Landry and Shawn Wilson running neck and neck. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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National Hurricane Center officials are extending forecasts for the upcoming hurricane season – instead of the traditional five-day forecast, they will give a seven-day forecast. The recent modifications come after years of testing long-range predictions. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s a great step forward for the Emergency Management Community.

Cut 3 (07) “…their region.” 

The 2022 hurricane season for Louisiana on average was a bit quieter, even though it produced 14 named storms. Keim says hurricane season officially begins June 1st and this extension will be extremely beneficial.

Cut 4 (10)  “…be headed” 

Forecasters have become more confident in the accuracy of extended weather predictions. Keim says that even though there has been a demand for longer-range forecasts – they will not be error-free.

Cut 5 (09) “…these hurricanes.”

The changes will begin on May 15.

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Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission are seeking federal funding to study the feasibility of a new passenger rail service across North Louisiana. The corridor along Interstate 20 would serve cities between Meridan, Mississippi, and Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Southern Rail Commission Chairman, Knox Ross says this has been an ongoing project.

Cut 6 (07)  “…distant service.” 

Canadian Pacific has agreed on the study with Amtrak but the co-owner of Norfolk Southern Railway would also have to approve. Ross says the application is the first step in determining the practicability of this concept.

Cut 7 (09)  “…train operation.” 

Amtrak will seek funding from last year’s congressional infrastructure law for the study. Ross says last year the cities of Monroe, Ruston, Shreveport, and Vicksburg, Mississippi began the process of applying for federal-state partnership grants for this purpose.

Cut 8 (09)  “…those cities.” 

If the study finds service is warranted, Amtrak would then seek federal money to pay for startup costs.

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A recent poll for governor has Attorney General Jeff Landry leading with 29 percent followed by Shawn Wilson with 28 percent. JMC Analytics Veteran pollster John Couvillon says with Wilson as the only major Democrat in the race…

Cut 9 (08) “…first in October.”

And with Wilson running neck and neck with Landry, Couvillon says the question is how much traction can the remaining four Republican candidates make before the primary.

Cut 10 (09) “…in the run-off.” 

The poll, conducted March 6-8, included Congressman Garret Graves, who was third with 12 percent. And with Graves out of the race, Couvillon believes his support would most likely be distributed geographically among the other Republican candidates. For example, in Baton Rouge, it would likely go to Stephen Waguespack because of name recognition.

Cut 11 (10)  “…after Garret Graves.”

And with Louisiana a majority red state, Couvillon says even if Wilson is the leader in October, he’ll have to court moderates and soft Republicans to claim victory in an expected November runoff.

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The latest national survey of small business owners shows inflation and labor shortages continues to prevent full economic recovery from the COVID pandemic. N-F-I-B state director Dawn McVea says inflation has driven up prices and there’s a lack of qualified job applicants…

Cut 12 (09) “…unrelenting inflation”. 

McVea says 47-percent of owners reported job openings that were hard to fill, remaining historically very high…

Cut 13 (05) “…workforce.”

McVea says the workforce issue needs to be resolved soon so the economy can grow again. She says they need the help of the federal and state government, because small business owners are doing what they can to cope with the labor shortage…

Cut 14 (07)  “…work schedules.”