The statewide average price of regular gasoline in Louisiana is pennies away from hitting the three-dollar mark.  Dave Brannen reports it’s been seven years since that happened.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

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Days after the fatal shooting of Master Trooper Adam Gaubert in Ascension Parish questions remain as to why it took 15 hours to find his body. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (43)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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Gas prices across Louisiana are up about seven cents a gallon compared to last week, and Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst with Gas Buddy, says the ballooning prices can be blamed on the upswing in oil prices.

Cut 3 (09) “….a half-percent.”

The average price of regular has now climbed to about two-97 a gallon.

DeHaan says there was a chance that oil prices could have been rolled back, but OPEC put a halt to that with a blockage on additional crude production.

Cut 4 (08) “…of oil jumping.”

DeHaan says in the very near future drivers in Louisiana could be shelling out an average price of three-dollars a gallon for regular.

Cut 5 (09) “…and over with.”

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The widow of former Governor Edwin Edwards spoke publicly today about her decision to have his body exhumed and cremated last month. The Cajun Prince died on July 12^th and was buried days later. Trina Edwards says she was not allowed to bury him at the original plot he purchased, and she was forced to make a quick decision about his burial and soon regretted it.

Cut 6 (13) “…what I did.” 

Trina Edwards made the comments on Jim Engster’s Talk Louisiana radio show Monday.

In the process of having his body moved she faced criticism that she was having him cremated to destroy evidence. Edwards says however she’s comfortable with her choice to bring his remains home for now.

Cut 7 (11) “…allowed to do that.”  

As for the final resting place for the Silver Fox, Edwards hints that perhaps she’d like to have him placed next to another Louisiana governor and political legend Huey Long at the state capitol.

Cut 8 (07) “…about that.”

But in the meantime, his ashes will remain at the home they shared in Gonzales. Edwards says soon as she brought him home, she had an overwhelming sense of relief.

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Two days after the fatal shooting of Master Trooper Adam Gaubert in Ascension Parish, State Police is not sure why it took 15 hours before he was found dead in his patrol vehicle. Colonel Lamar Davis says they believe 31-year-old Matthew Mire killed Gaubert early Saturday morning, but he was found dead that afternoon…

Cut 9 (13) “….just that” 

Davis says Gaubert was killed during Mire’s shooting rampage that left a total of five people shot in two parishes, two of them dead.  Davis says in an incident like this, it’s standard procedure to limit radio traffic, and officers checking in with dispatch is not a priority.

Cut 10 (08)  “…is communicated.” 

Davis says Gaubert was in his vehicle entering an unrelated crash report in Ascension Parish and his last entry into the computer system was at 2:21 am. Surveillance footage shows Mire in the area around 2:30 am and the suspect turned off the vehicle’s lights.  Davis says it was another trooper that eventually found Gaubert 15 hours later but they also received a call about the officer.

Cut  11 (11)  “…unresponsive.”  

Flags are being flown at half-staff today in memory of Trooper Gaubert.

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Many Louisianans with National Flood Insurance Program coverage are alarmed at potentially huge premium hikes under FEMA’s new Risk Rating 2.0 plan. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says this COULD stimulate competition from private insurers. Donelon says the rate in increases will be devastating to homeowners and the Louisiana economy at large…:

Cut 12 (12) “.federally backed mortgage ”  

For those living in flood-prone areas, the increases in coverage could be literally unaffordable. Donelon says this leads to the possibility that private insurers could step up to compete with the FEMA-run National Flood Insurance Program…:

Cut 13 (12) “..government is proposing”

Donelon says it cannot hurt for disgruntled property owners to try shopping around for lower-cost flood insurance

Cut 14 (12) “..has had” 

New NFIP rates take effect right away for new flood coverage, and in April 2022 for existing policies.

An 18-year old Covington High School student is being held in St Tammany Parish Detention Center after a video of her attacking a disabled teacher went viral. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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State Police have arrested a Donaldsonville man after he hit a nine-year-old boy who just got off of a school bus. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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After responding to a residence for a medical emergency Wednesday night police in Lafayette found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound. Lafayette P.D. Corporal Bridgette Dugas says they are now investigating a homicide at an Essie Street home.

Cut 3 (09) “….gunshot wound.”

The gunshot victim was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead and police say she was only shot once.

Cut 4 (08) “…the shooter.”

Dugas says the shooting happened shortly after 9 pm Wednesday night in the 100 block of Essie Street. She says the area is not known for high crime and they are asking anyone who might have seen something out of the ordinary to contact them.

Cut 5 (12) “…crimestoppers.”

The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

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A disturbing viral Tik Tok video of an 18-year old Covington High School student and teacher is making the rounds. Covington Police Sgt. Edwin Masters says they got involved after the Wednesday afternoon altercation in which the female student attacked a 64-year old disabled teacher which caused her to go to the hospital.

Cut 6 (11) “…assault people.” 

In the video, you can see the teacher sitting at her desk when a student who has been identified as Larrianna Jackson approaches. There is a brief discussion, you can’t hear them, but you can hear students who are filming say they are going to run if she goes through with it. Moments later the students scream as Jackson punches the teacher repeatedly.

Masters says during the investigation they learned of the video challenge and because of recent legislation which can also hold a person who knowingly films a crime responsible, the female student directly involved in the altercation might not be the only one charged.

Cut 7 (07) “…forthcoming.”  

Masters gives a stark warning for residents in Covington even thinking about participating in such a challenge that involves violence and/or destruction of property.

Cut 8 (07) “…accountable.”

Jackson is charged with felony Battery of a School Teacher and is being held at the St. Tammany Parish Jail. The school teacher has been released from the hospital.

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The Louisiana Coastal Protection Restoration Authority says it has completed a multi-million-dollar project to enhance the presence of the Brown Pelican on Rabbit Island in Southwest Louisiana. Project Manager Todd Baker tells us the effort has been much more successful than expected.

Cut 9 (09) “….next this year” 

The Brown Pelican is Louisiana’s state bird and Baker says of the nests observed on the island, there are 11-hundred-50 Brown Pelican nests on the island. A total of 12 species have been observed on the island, ten of them listed as “species of greatest conservation need.

CPRA Project Manager Todd Baker tells us how important the restoration project, paid for with Deepwater Horizon oil spill money, is to preserve the Brown Pelican in the state.

Cut 10 (12)  “…and flooded out.” 

Baker talks about the importance of the Brown Pelican, in addition to it being the official state bird of Louisiana.

Cut  11 (11)  “…for those guys.”  

A portion of the 16-point-four-million dollars allocated to the project will help maintain the restoration effort in the years to come.

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A nine-year-old boy in southeast Louisiana suffered serious injuries after he was hit yesterday by a dump truck after getting off the school bus in Belle Chasse. State Police Trooper Ross Brennan says 61-year-old Gregory Valentine of Donaldsonville approached the rear of a school bus that had its stop signs extended and flashing lights activated

Cut 12 (09) “..nine  year old child”  

Brennan says the child continues to receive treatment at a local hospital. He says they do not suspect impairment on the part of Valentine, but he still faces several charges

Cut 13 (06) “..suspended license”

Brennan says they also do not suspect speed was a factor…

Cut 14 (11) “..school bus”