Congressman Garret Graves has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at lowering insurance rates that would make it a federal crime to stage a vehicle collision and fraudulently claim financial damages. The bill Graves introduced targets those involved in staging accidents, collecting from insurance companies and in turn leading to higher insurance rates for the public.

Cut 5 (11) “…in the process.”

At last word, 50-year-old Sharon Whatley of Eros continued to be held at the Ouachita Correctional Center, but she’s no big-time criminal. In fact, despite her protestations to authorities, she wasn’t wanted on any kind of criminal charges, until she refused to leave the parking lot of the sheriff’s office annex.

Cut 7 (08) “…numerous times.”  

That’s sheriff’s spokesman, Glenn Springfield, who says Whatley was eventually arrested Saturday afternoon on a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge.

The United Cajun Navy has deployed teams to assist with recovery efforts from the devastating tornados that left areas of Kentucky, and nearby states leveled from the destruction. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (34)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

The Louisiana election season for 2021 has finally ended with the December 11^th election and while voter turnout was low as predicted LaPolitics.com Editor Jeremy Alford says one race, in particular, should grab national headlines with Democrat Susan Hutson unseating four-term incumbent Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman with 53-percent of the vote.

Brian Trascher with the United Cajun Navy says their field team arrived in Madisonville, Kentucky on Sunday which is about 90 miles away from Mayfield and near other areas that were devastated by tornados overnight Friday. Trascher says the immediate needs are tarps and water and unlike you can prepare days in advance for a hurricane…

Cut 9 (08) “…really, really bad.”

A 50-year-old Eros woman is jailed at the Ouachita Correctional Center on criminal trespass charges after being told twice to leave from the sheriff’s office parking lot Saturday afternoon. Sheriff’s spokesman, Glenn Springfield, identified the person as Sharon Whatley.

 Cut 6 (12) “…to leave.” 

Springfield says the woman says she was wanted on charges, but it was determined she wasn’t. So since she wouldn’t leave, she’s now facing a lone misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass.

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If you’re wondering why your insurance rates are so high in Louisiana, Congressman Garret Graves it’s blamed in part on staged accidents, the most egregious example taking place in the Big Easy in recent years. Graves has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at lowering insurance rates that would make it a federal crime to stage a vehicle collision and fraudulently claim financial damages. He says these staged accidents have financial consequences beyond those directly attributed to the staged crashes, one ring said to be responsible for more than 100 of them.

Cut 4 (09) “…all Louisiana drivers.”

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Unemployment in Louisiana is returning to pre-pandemic claims but some 85,000 have not returned to the workforce. Brooke Thorington has more from the Secretary of Labor.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Consumer prices jumped a whopping 6.8 percent in November, the largest annual increase in 39 years. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott believes inflation is in part a product of supply-and-demand and discounts the possibility of collusion to boost prices and thus stir up the inflationary pot.

Cut 8 (08) “…experiencing right now.”

Fifteen fatal crashes leading to 26 deaths. That is the updated toll for the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The accidents are blamed on a variety of things including distracted driving, driver impairment and speeding. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallet asks that if you witness someone behind the wheel who could be impaired or driving aggressively, please call law enforcement.

Cut 11  (09)  “…star-LSP.”

Election day is tomorrow in nearly three dozen parishes in Louisiana with ballot questions that include some tax proposals, candidate runoffs and a casino gambling proposal in the lone parish of St. Tammany.  Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says several races will be decided in Orleans Parish.

Cut 14  (12)  “…Orleans Parish.

Polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm.

November consumer prices jumped 6.8 percent in November compared to a year earlier. That’s the highest annual inflation rate in nearly four decades. LSU economist, Dr. Loren Scott, says fixing the supply chain issues won’t likely do much to erase inflation. Scott talks about what he says is the inflationary impact of a very accommodating monetary policy by the Federal Reserve as being a major cause for rising prices.

Cut 7 (11) “…is right now.”  

Thanksgiving weekend was among the deadliest on Louisiana roadways this year with 15 crashes responsible for now 26 fatalities. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says after reviewing data from law enforcement a majority of the traffic fatalities were caused by speeding, impaired, or distracted driving all of which are preventable.

Cut 10 (07)  “…a lot.”

Tomorrow is Election Day for 34 Louisiana parishes, consisting of local matters, municipal runoffs, some tax proposals, and gaming for St. Tammany Parish. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says he already expected voter turnout to be low due to only a few things on the ballot, but inclement weather could reduce earlier predictions. In St. Tammany however, Ardoin says early voting there was significant and he expects the largest turnout to be in the southeast parish to decide if they will allow a gaming casino in Slidell.

Cut 13 (09) “…and vote.”

In addition to gaming in St. Tammany, Ardoin says there are several races to be decided in the neighboring parish of Orleans.

MiniPig

A man sought in connection with a double homicide in Shreveport this past Monday is in custody in Mesquite, Texas. Police say 31-year-old Jamarcus Richardson surrendered to authorities late last night. He’s accused in the shooting deaths of Teola Booker and D’Angelo Hinton, both 41. Their bodies were discovered inside a vehicle in the Mooretown neighborhood. Richardson faces two counts of first-degree murder. No word on the motive for the deadly shootings.

Four men are facing deer hunting violation charges after being caught hunting for deer during illegal hours and doing so from a moving vehicle in Red River Parish. But, as Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the vehicle the four were in was a Coushatta Police Department patrol unit and one of those arrested, officer Javerrea Pouncy could wind up facing charges or disciplinary action from other law enforcement agencies, including the Coushatta Police Department.

Cut 7 (08) “…to commit crimes.”  

LDWF cited Pouncy for night hunting and hunting without a license.

Thibodaux Regional Health System celebrates the grand opening of its 80,000 square foot facility to provide advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says the facility provides services to residents of Lafourche and seven surrounding parishes. In addition to staying open after Ida, Nungesser says the hospital also provided meals for residents and first responders.

Cut 4 (08) “…so proud.”

Thibodaux Regional Health System is one of the largest employers in the state and was the only fully functioning hospital in the Bayou region after Hurricane Ida.

The 40th annual LHSAA Prep Football Classic kicks off tomorrow in the Caesars Superdome. Ouachita Christian seeks its eighth state championship as they face Southern Lab in the Division Four-title game. Longtime Eagles Coach Steven Fitzhugh says the chemistry of his team is second to none…

Cut 12 (09) “…close-knit family.”  

Kick-off is at noon.

Thibodaux Regional Health System celebrates the grand opening of its 80,000 square foot facility to provide advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says the facility provides services to residents of Lafourche and seven surrounding parishes. Nungesser says it’s a joy to recognize such achievements in the state, especially this time of year.

Cut 5 (10) “…Louisiana special.”

Four men are facing deer hunting violation charges after being caught hunting for deer during illegal hours and doing so from a moving police patrol unit in Red River Parish. Adam Einck with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says one of the people in the police vehicle during the hunt was 31-year-old Anthony Caldwell who was arrested for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and had harvested an eight-point buck.

Cut 8 (09) “…not have licenses.”

Louisiana residents are facing or have already received significant increases in their premiums to be protected by the National Flood Insurance Program. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, says NFIP’s new Risk Rating 2.0 program proposes to alter premiums as to make them unaffordable to many. He says many of those who live in flood-prone areas in coastal areas of the state do so because of their various livelihoods in order to make a living.

Cut 10 (10)  “…to the coast.”

The 40th annual LHSAA Prep Football Classic kicks off tomorrow in the Ceasars Superdome. Ouachita Christian seeks its eighth state championship as they face Southern Lab in the Division Four-title game. Longtime Eagles Coach Steven Fitzhugh says the chemistry of his team is second to none…

Cut 12 (09) “…close knit family.”  

Kick-off is at noon.

A man sought in connection with a double homicide in Shreveport this past Monday is in custody in Mesquite, Texas. Police say 31-year-old Jamarcus Richardson surrendered to authorities late last night. He’s accused in the killing of Teola Booker and D’Angelo Hinton, both 41. Their bodies were discovered inside a vehicle in the Mooretown neighborhood. Richardson faces two counts of first-degree murder. No word on the motive for the deadly shootings.

Four men are facing deer hunting violation charges after being caught hunting for deer during illegal hours and doing so from a moving vehicle in Red River Parish. But, as Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the vehicle the four were in was a Coushatta Police Department patrol unit and one of those arrested, officer Javerrea Pouncy could wind up facing charges or disciplinary action from other law enforcement agencies, including the Coushatta Police Department.

Cut 7 (08) “…to commit crimes.”  

LDWF cited Pouncy for night hunting and hunting without a license.

Thibodaux Regional Health System celebrates the grand opening of its 80,000 square foot facility to provide advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says the facility provides services to residents of Lafourche and seven surrounding parishes. In addition to staying open after Ida, Nungesser says the hospital also provided meals for residents and first responders.

Cut 4 (08) “…so proud.”

Thibodaux Regional Health System is one of the largest employers in the state and was the only fully functioning hospital in the Bayou region after Hurricane Ida.

The number of COVID-19 Omicron cases is growing in Louisiana. State health officials say the total has now grown to four. One of the cases involves an individual from the Acadiana area who traveled internationally. The other two new cases, as the initial case previously reported, involve individuals in the Greater New Orleans area.

LSU Quarterback Max Johnson is entering the transfer portal after spending two seasons with the Purple and Gold. Johnson’s decision comes as a surprise after starting 11 games this past season. It’s unknown how new head football coach Brian Kelly feels about this. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins is surprised Johnson didn’t at least go through a spring practice to get a feel for the new coaching staff…

Cut 4 (10) “…on the surface.”

Johnson’s departure leaves LSU with just one scholarship quarterback on the roster, Garrett Nussmeier, who was not supposed to play anymore this season to preserve his redshirt.

A Slidell man is in trouble with the law after being allegedly caught shrimping without any commercial licenses required to do so. Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says 34-year-old Michael Daigle Jr. was cited on Sunday:

Cut 7 (11) “..commercial fishing licenses.”

Agents say they seized more than 13-hundred pounds of shrimp from Daigle’s vessel and the haul was sold to the highest bidder.

If you’re looking for work in the manufacturing industry, Louisiana Economic Development is ready to help out.  They’re holding an LED FastStart virtual career fair today. Jamie Nakamoto is overseeing the event.

Cut 10 (12)  “…all these companies.”

The career fair is taking place until two this afternoon.