A system of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche now has a high chance of turning into at least a tropical depression and appears set to impact Louisiana late this week or early next week with many tracks having it headed straight for Lake Charles. Until those rains arrive we are expecting to see some brutal heat indexes due to the humidity. State Climatologist Barry Keim says expect heat indexes near 110 degrees…

Cut 5  (09) “…system”’

A 44-year-old cold case murder may have been solved by Lafourche Parish Sheriffs following the arrest of 78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off. Vegas is accused to shooting his wife, Dianne Vegas, in the back while in a restaurant in October of 1977. LPSD spokesperson Brennan Matherne says it’s good to get some closure…

Cut 8 (12) “..have” 

Slidell Police Officer Theresa Simon died while on duty Sunday from what authorities believe was likely a massive heart attack. SPD spokesperson Daniel Suzeneau says Simon was a decorated veteran of the force and leaves behind her husband, a Slidell Police Lt., and two children.

Cut 9 (12) “…loss”

Simon was a Southeastern Louisiana University alumni with a degree in criminal justice.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is calling for safety barriers to be installed along the Lake Bistineau Spillway after the tragic death of a 15-year-old teenager on June 1^st. Campbell says Hayden Mangum of Elm Grove might still be alive if safety barriers had been installed…

Cut 12 (11) “..protected”

Mangum was out fishing with his friend when their vessel got pulled towards the Spillway and capsized.

The tropics and the air temperature are heating up. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Today Orleans Parish became the first parish in the state with over 60 percent of all adults having received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. In total 1.7 million Louisianans have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, still one of the lowest rates in the country.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Department has made an arrest in the 1977 cold-case murder of a Golden Meadow woman who was found shot in the back in a restaurant. LPSD spokesperson Brennan Matherne says on October 10^th 1977 Deputies found 32-year-old Dianne Vegas on the floor of the Chicken House restaurant. They now believe her husband murdered her.

Cut 6 (09) “…went cold”

78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off is charged with 2^nd Degree Murder.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is calling for safety barriers to be installed along the Lake Bistineau Spillway after the tragic death of a 15-year-old teenager on June 1^st. Campbell says currents along impoundments that retain water on manmade lakes can be swift and unpredictable.

Cut 13 (12) “…in Louisiana.”

A broad low-pressure system in the Bay of Campeche now has a high chance of developing at least into a tropical depression over the next five days. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the system will hang around to the south of us before trekking northward into the upper Gulf later this week…

Cut 3 (06) “…Sunday morning.”

Keim is not expecting this system to develop into a hurricane.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Brennan Matherne says the arrest of 78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off for the alleged murder of his wife 44 years ago is probably the oldest cold case the department has solved before. Then 32-year-old Dianne Vegas was found shot in the back in 1977 and while Chester Vegas was always a suspect…

Cut 7 (11) “…warrant”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is calling for safety barriers to be installed along the Lake Bistineau Spillway after the tragic death of a 15-year-old teenager on June 1^st. Campbell sent a letter Friday to the Secretary of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries to have the safety barriers installed at spillways on all state-operated waterways.

Cut 14 (11) “….from him.” 

Hayden Lane Mangum drown while fishing with a friend when the boat they were in capsized at the Lake Bistineau spillway.

Slidell Police Officer Theresa Simon died while on duty Sunday from what authorities believe was likely a massive heart attack. SPD spokesperson Daniel Suzeneau says Simon was a decorated veteran who wore a lot of hats…

Cut 10 (11) “…middle schools.”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is calling for safety barriers to be installed along the Lake Bistineau Spillway after the tragic death of a 15-year-old teenager on June 1^st. Campbell says Hayden Mangum of Elm Grove might still be alive if safety barriers had been installed…

Cut 12 (11) “..protected”

Mangum was out fishing with his friend when their vessel got pulled towards the Spillway and capsized.

A 44-year-old cold case murder may have been solved by Lafourche Parish Sheriffs following the arrest of 78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off. Vegas is accused to shooting his wife, Dianne Vegas, in the back while in a restaurant in October of 1977. LPSD spokesperson Brennan Matherne says it’s good to get some closure…

Cut 8 (12) “..have” 

The tropics and the air temperature are heating up. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Slidell Police are mourning the death of Officer Theresa Simon who is believed to have suffered a major heart attack while on duty leading to her death.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Department has made an arrest in the 1977 cold-case murder of a Golden Meadow woman who was found shot in the back in a restaurant. LPSD spokesperson Brennan Matherne says on October 10^th 1977 Deputies found 32-year-old Dianne Vegas on the floor of the Chicken House restaurant. They now believe her husband murdered her.

Cut 6 (09) “…went cold”

78-year-old Chester Vegas of Cut Off is charged with 2^nd Degree Murder and left the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex Friday night after posting bail.

A broad area of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche may bring heavy rain to Louisiana late this week, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says it is unlikely to develop into the first hurricane of the season…

Cut 4 (12) “…In Louisiana.”

Governor Edwards is expected to veto two controversial bills that are headed to his desk, one involving removing the requirement to be permitted to carry a concealed handgun and the other restricting trans athletes from playing on girls or women’s sports teams. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says despite the strong support for these two bills in the session he doubts lawmakers will care enough about them to call a veto override session…

Cut 12 (09) “…do this.”

If both chambers do agree to return for a veto session it will take a two-thirds majority vote of both houses to override a veto.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan is celebrating the impending signing of legislation that will create grants of up to 6,400 dollars for working-class Louisiana adults who want to get degrees or certifications in one of five in-demand programs…

Cut 7 (10) “…hiring.”

State Police are investigating a confrontation on the House floor between Bogalusa Representative Malinda White, a Democrat, and Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh, a Republican, that ended in White allegedly threatening to get a firearm. The confrontation involved a dispute about domestic violence-related legislation brought by White that was opposed by Seabaugh. White who has previously shared that she’s a victim of domestic abuse herself was visibly emotional over the withdrawal of her bill.

Cut 10 (13) “…House Bill 159.”

Prominent House Democrat Ted James of Baton Rouge says he will represent White should charges be brought against her.

Central Pastor Tony Spell is facing charges that could land him in jail for several months after illegally killing an alligator that he claims he found outside his church. Spell posed for a picture on social media with the dead gator, prompting LDWF agents to show up and cite him.

Saturday and Sunday are free wishing weekend days and anglers won’t need a license to go out and catch fish. Louisiana Department of wildlife and fisheries spokesperson Gabe Giffin says consider this weekend a reminder to renew as well…

Cut 4 (12) “…this month.”

Opponents of a tax swap plan that was passed by the Legislature and will ultimately need to be approved by voters in the fall say the plan has no benefits for middle and lower-income Louisianans and features a number of poison pill, smaller policy additions. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says additions like an automatic trigger that would further cut taxes should the state see a surplus and a hard income tax cap of 4.75 percent are particularly troublesome…

Cut 12 (10) “..finish line”

Supporters say the plan will simplify the state’s tax code.

Governor Edwards says he’ll look closely at a bill to gradually increase funding for roads and bridges by an additional 300-million dollars per year, but he’s is concerned about taking money out of the general fund to put towards roads, when the general fund will see fewer dollars in 2025 when a temporary sales tax expires…

Cut 7 (12) “…alone”

The Louisiana Budget Project recommends voters reject a “tax swap” tax reform proposal passed by the legislature at the fall ballot. The constitutional amendment would lower income tax rates in exchange for eliminating the ability to deduct federal taxes. Executive Director Jan Moller says this doesn’t do anything for most Louisianans.

Cut  11 (11) “…taxes” 

Supporters of the tax swap say it simplifies the state tax code and will make Louisiana more attractive to businesses.

The Advocate newspaper reports retired Oregon State Coach Pat Casey is unlikely to become the next coach at LSU.  Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says LSU hiring a coach who allowed a sex offender to play on Oregon State’s 2018 national championship team would not be a good look.

Cut 14 (12) “….the energy” 

Instead Higgins says a name to watch in the school’s search for a new coach is former LSU catcher and current Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco.

It is an ideal weekend to go fishing and it’s also the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Free Fishing Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. LDWF spokesperson Gabe Giffin says the annual event is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to cast a line with family and friends.

Cut 3 (08) “…license.”

State Police are investigating a confrontation on the House floor between Bogalusa Representative Malinda White, a Democrat, and Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh, a Republican, that ended in White allegedly threatening to get a firearm. The argument was over legislation by White that would have expanded the definition of domestic abuse. White ended up withdrawing the bill Thursday…

Cut 9 (11) “…about.”

Governor Edwards says he’ll look closely at a bill that would increase funding for roads and bridges by an additional 300-million dollars per year. Edwards is concerned that the money is coming out of the general fund, potentially creating shortfalls in other areas of state government, especially after federal coronavirus aid is spent

Cut 6 (09) “…surely won’t”

The Louisiana Budget Project recommends voters reject a “tax swap” tax reform proposal passed by the legislature at the fall ballot. Executive Director Jan Moller says the plan that would lower income tax rates in exchange for eliminating the ability to deduct federal taxes does little to nothing for middle and lower-income Louisianans…

Cut 13 (09) “…needs.”

Supporters of the tax swap say it simplifies the state tax code.

It’s free fishing weekend in Louisiana and LDWF spokesperson Gabe Giffin says it’s the perfect opportunity to introduce the sport to someone who’s never been and possibly recruit a new fishing buddy.

Cut 5  (07) “…every day.”

You won’t need a fishing license this weekend in Louisiana.