Today marks one year since the January 6^th riot at the U.S. Capitol that some say was an attempted insurrection. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Construction is underway in St. Bernard Parish on the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority-backed marsh creation project on Lake Borgne. Erik Piccoli has the story…

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The oldest living World War II veteran and Norwood, Louisiana native passed away at the age of 112 on Tuesday. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Today marks one year since the riot at the U.S. Capitol building that some are calling an attempted insurrection. Louisiana U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says the whole matter was sad and unfortunate, and it could have been avoided. He says inflammatory partisan rhetoric is largely to blame…:

Cut 4 (14) “… other person the enemy.” 

Five people died as a result of the sad incident a year ago, when a crowd of angry supporters of outgoing President Trump – unhappy over the election outcome – stormed the Capitol and tried to force entry into the House Chamber. Cassidy says Leftist partisan rhetoric contributed to the shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise in 2017. He says Democrats and Republicans on the Hill need to work together in good faith…:

Cut 5 (15) “…should not occur.”

District 6 Congressman Garret Graves says he’s disappointed the House committee investigating January 6^th is a mostly partisan panel, with only 2 GOP members…:

Cut 6 (12) “…political theater.”

Graves says partisan bickering over what happened a year ago and who is directly or indirectly responsible is counter-productive for the country and Congress…:

Cut 7 (11) “…North Korea and others.”

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Gov. John Bel Edwards has announced that construction has started on the Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project in St. Bernard Parish. Deputy Executive Director for Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Greg Grandy says this is the largest marsh creation project that the state of Louisiana has ever undertaken…

Cut 8 (08) “…near Shell Beach.” 

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group outlined the plan in January of 2017 and is funded by dollars obtained following compensation for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Grandy says the main piece of equipment used during the project is a cutter head dredge that will pick up sediment and transport it into the marshes…

Cut 9 (08)  “…back in those areas.”

The restoration will provide benefits to the risk reduction system around the greater New Orleans region. Grandy says that the project will also benefit the wetland ecosystem and fishermen…

Cut 10 (12) “…in and out.”

The project’s construction budget is $61 million.

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The Louisiana Department of Health says 90-percent of all COVID cases in the state are the Omicron variant. LSU Health Shreveport Infectious Disease specialist Dr. John Vanchiere  (van CHERRY) says their lab sequencing indicates a significant jump in northwest Louisiana…:

Cut  11 (12)  “…week prior.”  

Due to the highly transmissible variant and post-holiday surge in cases, Vanchiere says LSU Health Shreveport is testing on average 650 to 800 people a day…:

Cut 12 (08) “…community testing.”

Vanchiere stresses the importance of being fully vaccinated and boosted to reduce severe illness and hospitalization from the current variant…:

Cut 13 (08) “…easily spread.“

The CDC estimated the proportion of Omicron in the region that includes Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas is 98-percent.

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Louisiana native Lawrence Brooks, the oldest living World War II veteran in the US, died Tuesday at the age of 112. Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana Morris Thompson fondly recounts his friendship with Brooks that began twelve years ago at a New Orleans fish fry.

Cut 14 (12)  “…want to know.”

One of 15 children, Brooks was raised in Norwood, Louisiana, and drafted at the age of 31, spending the majority of World War II in the predominantly African American 91^st Engineer Battalion. Thompson says Brooks claimed the key to longevity is to serve God and be nice to people.

Cut 15 (12)  “…remember him.”

Brooks spent the majority of his service in WWII stationed in Australia. In Jim Crow America however, Thompson says Brooks told him he was often treated better overseas than he was in his own country.

Cut  16 (10) “…in the army.”

Brooks is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.

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After beginning Sun Belt play with two victories on the road, the Ragin Cajuns return home tonight to host Arkansas State tonight. U-L Lafayette Coach Bob Marlin says they want to build on what they accomplished last week…

Cut 17 (16) “ …front of us.”

The Red Wolves begin Georgia Southern in their lone Sun Belt game of the season and they are 10-and-3 overall. Marlin says A-S-U are led by Caleb Fields, Norchad Omier and a talented shooter by the name of Marquis Eaton, who had 32 points against the Cajuns in a game last February…

Cut 18 (16) “ …player inside” 

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The 13th ranked LSU women’s basketball team puts its 13 game winning streak on the line tonight when they host top-ranked South Carolina. Lady Tigers Coach Kim Mulkey says this is a tremendous challenge and opportunity for her squad…

Cut 19 (13) “…size to rebound” 

South Carolina is led by National Player of the Year Candidate Aliyah Boston, who is averaging 17 points and ten rebounds a game. Mulkey understands the excitement around this game, but it will not make or break their season…

Cut 20 (25) “..remain the same.”  

Governor Edwards gave a posthumous pardon to Homer  Plessy, the subject of the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case that ensconced a “separate, but equal” policy that enabled decades of segregation. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

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LSU’s 42-20 loss to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl last night will be known as the Jontre Kirklin game, as the fifth-year senior started his first college game at quarterback. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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At a ceremony in New Orleans, Governor John Bel Edwards posthumously pardoned civil rights pioneer Homer Plessy, the subject of a separate but equal Supreme Court ruling that enabled decades of segregation of black Americans. Keith Plessy, a direct descendant, was on hand for today’s ceremony…

Cut 3 (10) “…to be born.”

Homer Plessy was a Creole man arrested in New Orleans 130 years ago when he refused to leave a whites-only railroad car. Plessy’s protest led to the 1896 ruling known as Plessy versus Ferguson, which said it was legal to have white-only spaces in public areas. Governor Edwards says unfortunately the negative effects of that ruling still linger…

Cut 4 (08) “…our country.”

The Supreme Court reversed segregation laws in 1954. Plessy died in 1921 with his conviction still on his record.

Edwards says this is Louisiana’s first pardon as a result of a 2006 state law that allows for pardons of people convicted under laws that were intended to discriminate…

Cut 5 (12) “…criminal conviction”

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A strange ending to the 2021 football season for the LSU Tigers last night as they only had 38 scholarship players available and it showed in a 42-20 loss to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl. Fifth-year senior Jontre Kirklin made his first start at quarterback and threw three touchdown passes…

 Cut 6 (12) “…whole journey” 

Kirklin was a standout quarterback at Lutcher High School but only played cornerback and wide receiver at LSU up until last night. Kirklin was a backup during his time and LSU, but he’s known as a hard worker and a team leader…

Cut 7 (10) “…here I am” 

Kirklin says he was calm heading into his first start at quarterback since 2016…

Cut 8 (11) “…win this game” 

Kirklin completed seven of his eleven pass attempts for 138 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.

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Two children were tragically killed in a house fire early this morning in St. Landry Parish. Opelousas Fire Chief Charles Mason says they received a call shortly before 1:30 of a house fire where six people resided, only four escaped.

Cut 9 (06) “…and one eleven.”

Mason says the home in the 1900 block of Jake Drive was fully engulfed when eight firefighters responded to the scene. In addition to the two fatalities, another child was taken to the hospital.

Cut 10 (05)  “…smoke inhalation.”

The cause of the fire is unknown, and the State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating.  

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Jonesboro’s Fire Chief and a Jackson Parish Sheriff’s deputy face insurance fraud charges involving a two-vehicle crash of fire department vehicles. Trooper Michael Reichardt says State Police received a tip in August and found Chief Brandon Brown and Deputy George Wyatt were involved and listed as the drivers.

Cut  11 (10)  “…the vehicles.” 

The two men have been charged with insurance fraud, filing or maintaining false public records, and malfeasance in office. Reichardt credits LSP investigators for their diligent work in the case.

Cut 12 (07) “…jail now.”  

Reichardt says it appears the two men were trying to cover up the fact that Chief Brown’s juvenile son was one of the drivers at the time of the crash.

Cut 13 (12) “….drive those. “

The investigation remains active.