Authorities are still trying to figure out why a mother in Eunice may have shot and killed her two daughters before setting their house on fire then turning the gun on herself. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested three people in connection with a fatal shooting in Rayville. 53-year-old Mary Miles, 23-year-old Terrance Miles, and 25-year-old Robert Miles, all of Rayville, are charged with conspiracy to commit second degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Michael Bradley. The accused shooter, 29-year-old Larry Brown, Jr., reamins at large.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs announces it has awarded a lease for a permanent Veterans Clinic in Lake Charles. The clinic will be on a 4.5 acre site on Gerstner Memorial Parkway. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany is glad to see progress, but more work is needed to ensure quality healthcare needs for veterans living in southwest Louisiana…

cut 14 (10) “our veterans”

Boustany expects the clinic to be ready for use by 2017.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu spoke out about violence In New Orleans after a 16-year-old was arrested accused of committing a series of armed robberies in the Uptown area. Landrieu says we must do everything we can to build a city of peace.

cut 12 (08) “remain safe”

Landrieu says he is dedicated to stopping this violent trend.

LSU President F. King Alexander remains concerned about the continuing decline in state funding for higher education. During a speech at the Baton Rouge Press Club, Alexander called for more state dollars to conduct research. He says it would be a wise investment for the state….

cut 5 (11) “other areas”

Alexander says if trends keep continuing, Louisiana will become the second state to not pay a penny on higher education by the year 2027.

After months of wrangling, the US Department of Veterans Affairs announces it has awarded a lease for a permanent Veterans Clinic in Lake Charles. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany has been applying pressure on the V-A to get this done

cut 13 (04) “progress now”

The permanent Lake Charles veterans’ clinic will be on a 4.5 acre site on Gerstner Memorial Parkway. Construction is expected to be finished by 2017.

Authorities are perplexed as to why a mother in Eunice may have shot and killed her two daughters before setting their house on fire then turning the gun on herself. Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said the family wants the public to know that 39-year-old Carla Watford was a good person, and what lead her to do this we may never know…

cut 8 (08) “in this community”

Watford’s deceased daughters are 16-year-old Julia Watford and 9-year-old Tayla Watford.

New Orleans Police say a 16-year-old is behind bars after wielding a shotgun while committing a series of armed robberies in the Uptown area. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says they continue to aggressively recruit more police officers and are investing thousands of dollars to advance protection for the people of New Orleans…

cut 11 (09) “behind bars”

Authorities found five smart phones, similar clothes described by victims, and a rifle inside a chair bag while searching the suspect’s home.

LSU President F. King Alexander is concerned about the continuing decline in state funding for higher education. Alexander says if trends keep continuing, Louisiana will become the second state to not pay a penny on higher education by the year 2027. Alexander hopes the trend reverses with the next governor…

cut 4 (10) “to ask”

Alexander made his comments during a speech at the Baton Rouge Press Club.

A 16-year-old is behind bars after wielding a shotgun while committing a series of armed robberies in the Uptown area, according to New Orleans Police. Mayor Mitch Landrieu spoke out about violence in the city and says he is dedicated to stopping this trend…

cut 10 (09) “higher priority”

Extra police patrolling the area arrested the teenager while riding a bike.

Authorities are still trying to figure out why a mother in Eunice may have shot and killed her two daughters before setting their house on fire then turning the gun on herself. The mother is identified as 39-year-old Carla Watford and her two deceased daughters are 16-year-old Julia Watford and 9-year-old Tayla Watford. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning…:

cut 7 (08) “her own death”

Browning says they recovered the weapon they believe was used in the murder suicide and also the chemical accelerant that was used to set the fire.

A new Advocate/WWL-TV poll on the Louisiana governor’s race shows Republican David Vitter tied with Democrat John Bel Edwards at 24% in the primary. The survey, conducted by Clarus Research Group, shows Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne with 15-percent and 14-percent respectively. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says Vitter had 38% in the spring polls…:
CUT 3 (10) “a runoff”

The LSU football team is 3-0, but Coach Les Miles knows there’s room for improvement. The Tigers are last in the Southeastern Conference in penalties, as they’ve been penalized 28 times for 258 yards. Miles says they are trying to do something about all of the yellow flags…
cut 30 (06) “…get it fixed”
In the victory over Syracuse, LSU was flagged 14 times for 120 yards.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue announces a 50th arrest has been made in a massive statewide crackdown on tax fraud. They say Joyce Gains, just like many of these other busted tax filing establishments, filed phony business losses for customers. LDR Criminal Investigators Director Barry Kelly encourages the public to be vigilant…:
CUT 14 (08) “are bound to”
He says the state has recovered over $400,000 in court-ordered restitution of fake refunds.

Authorities are still trying to figure out why a mother in Eunice may have shot and killed her two daughters before setting their house on fire then turning the gun on herself. The mother is identified as 39-year-old Carla Watford and her two deceased daughters are 16-year-old Julia 9-year-old Tayla. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning…:
CUT 7 (08) “her own death”
He says this is still an ongoing investigation.

According to a Louisiana governor’s race media poll by the Advocate and WWL, Democrat John Bel Edwards and Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne would defeat Republican David Vitter in a potential runoff. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says the survey shows Vitter would be an underdog in the runoff. He says this poll does bring up an interesting question…:
CUT 5 (08) “the runoff”
In the primary, the Clarus Research Group puts Edwards and Vitter in at 24%.

In continuing efforts to crackdown on crime in New Orleans, the police department announces the arrest of a 16-year-old they believe to be responsible for at least five armed robberies Uptown this month. Cops say they were actively patrolling the area to locate the suspect who tried to evade officers on his bike. Cops say they found a revolver on the teen then later at his home discovered five smart phones and a lever action rifle in a folding chair bag.

There are still questions looming as to why a mother in Eunice would have murdered her two daughters, then setting her house on fire before killing herself. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the mother is 39-year-old Carla Watford and her daughters are 9-year-old Layla and 16-year-old Julia. He says autpsies on the three are planned…:
CUT 8 (07) “cause of death”
He says there was a letter found in the rubble they believe was written by the mother.

A study by WalletHub puts Louisiana at number 4 in the nation for Hispanic assimilation. Manny Blanco, President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, has high hopes for the future of the Hispanic community in Louisiana…:
Cut 11 (10) “our communities”
The study ranked states on Cultural & Civic, Education, and Economic assimilation.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office believes the fatal fire in Eunice where a mother and her two children died, was the result of a murder-suicide. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they are still working to determine the cause of the early Sunday morning massive blaze…:
CUT 6 (08) “to this fire”
Authorities have identified the mother as 39-year-old Carla Watford.
They believe she shot her daughters, age 9 and 16, before starting the fire and turning the gun on herself.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue says they’ve made the 50th arrest in a statewide crackdown of tax fraud. LDR’s Director of Criminal Investigations, Barry Kelly, says Joyce Gaines of Harvey is charged with filing or maintaining false public records and illegal transmission of monetary funds…:
CUT 13 (09) “don’t even own”
He says in the last two years, LDR has recovered over $400,000 in fake refunds.

A new Advocate/WWL-TV poll shows Democrat John Bel Edwards and Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne each defeating Republican David Vitter in a potential runoff in Louisiana’s governor’s race. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (26) “I’m Eric Gill”

State Police say a toddler was killed and three others injured in a single vehicle crash in St. Landry Parish. Authorities say a car driven by Shararia Citizen of Church Point ran off the roadway and struck several trees. A two-year-old sitting in the rear of the vehicle in a child safety seat suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Citizen and two other juveniles suffered minor injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

Please note the State Fire Marshal believes the Eunice fatal fire was murder-suicide.

The state Department of Revenue announce the 50th arrest under a statewide crackdown on tax fraud. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

Governor Bobby Jindal issued an angry statement in response to the ACLU of Louisiana’s letter to a Bossier City High School which accuses them of promoting Christianity due to student groups hanging prayer boxes and the principal ending an online letter with “May God Bless You All.” Jindal says this is an example of the war on Christianity going too far. He says soon the LA-ACLU says will outlaw the phrase “God Bless You” when a student sneezes.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says they believe murder suicide is a factor in the blaze which claimed the life of a mother and her two daughters, age 16 and 8, early Sunday in Eunice. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says Eunice cops and fire investigators are working to determine how the blaze was started and what might have happened…:
CUT 7 (07) “it is suspicious”
He says preliminary investigations reveal Carla Wotford may have shot her two daughters. The fire started outside the master bedroom.

A study by WalletHub ranks Louisiana fourth in the nation for Hispanic Assimilation. Manny Blanco, President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, says that’s a good number, but the the state’s Hispanic and unemployment and poverty rates are concerning…:
CUT 10 (09) “accomplish that”
Louisiana’s “Veteran Status for Hispanics” is 10th in the country, which Blanco says is a source of pride within the community.

The Louisiana governor’s race keeps getting more interesting. A new Advocate/WWL-TV poll shows Republican David Vitter tied with Democrat John Bel Edwards at 24% in the primary. The survey, conducted by Clarus Research Group, shows Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne with 15-percent and 14-percent respectively. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says the spring polls, when Vitter had 38 percent, were largely based on name recognition…:
CUT 4 (10) “large numbers”
The poll shows Vitter losing to Edwards in a potential runoff by four points, Angelle by five points, and Dardenne by seven points.

Coming off a win at Syracuse, LSU Coach Les Miles spoke with the media at his weekly Monday news conference to discuss the game against Eastern Michigan in Death Valley this weekend. The Tigers are a 45 point favorite in the contest which kicks off in Baton Rouge at 6pm.

The state Department of Revenue announces the 50th arrest under a statewide crackdown on tax fraud. Joyce Gaines of Harvey is accused of filing false income tax returns for hundreds of clients. Barry Kelly, Director of Criminal Investigations, says teaming up with the Attorney General’s Office is a key to the success of the crack down…:
cut 12 (07) “to do alone”
He says LDR has saved tax payers more than $50 million through various anti-fraud programs since 2014.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office has identified the woman who drowned in the Indian Creek Recreation Area on Saturday. They say witnesses report 33-year-old Stacy Roszell of Pineville was swimming when she dove down in water which was about 20 feet deep and never resurfaced. Detectives say foul play is not suspected, but an autopsy will be conducted to determine cause of death.

A new Advocate/WWL-TV poll shows Democrat John Bel Edwards and Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne each defeating Republican David Vitter in a potential runoff in Louisiana’s governor’s race. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (26) “I’m Eric Gill”

LSU running back Loenard Fournette is named the SEC Player of the Week for the third straight week the conference announced Monday. The Heisman Trophy candidate, who leads the nation in rushing with 210 yards per game, set a career high with 244 yards and two touchdowns in LSU’s 34-24 win over Syracuse.

The Bayou State is ranked among the top states in the country where Hispanics have adapted to the American mainstream. The WalletHub study ranks Louisiana fourth for all states for Hispanic assimilation. Manny Blanco, President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, says Louisiana’s Hispanic population is a varied group…:
CUT 9 (07) “and Mexico”
He says Hispanic’s in Louisiana are a very unified group with strong relations helping those coming in to assimilate as best they can.

The Louisiana Lottery says there were no jackpot winners in the Powerball drawing Saturday night which means the big prize on Wednesday now goes to an estimated $301 million dollars. They say there was a ticket purchased at the Pilot in Hammond that matched four of the five numbers to win a $10,000 prize.