81-year-old Delhi Representative Francis Thompson who has represented northeast Louisiana in the state legislature for almost 50 years has switched parties. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Jefferson Parish owners of Neuty, the 22-pound nutria, have come to an agreement with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that will allow them to keep the pet under certain conditions. The couple has applied for a permit and LDWF will allow the couple to keep the nutria under strict guidelines. The owners were issued a citation for housing a wild animal which is illegal in Louisiana. The matter is ongoing and the details of the permit are being finalized.

Calls to Louisiana 2-1-1 seeking food assistance have tripled since February after the announcement that SNAP benefits are returning to pre-pandemic amounts this month. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Terri Ricks says the reduction comes at a difficult time.

Cut 3 (03) “…time high.” 

The Pandemic SNAP benefits totaled more than $70 million monthly in Louisiana.

Brandon Trosclair, the owner of 13 Ralph’s Markets in Louisiana, has joined the race for Secretary of State this fall. Replacing the state’s Dominion voting machines is a top priority of Trosclair’s. The company’s voting systems – used here in Louisiana – drew criticism after the 2020 Presidential election for security flaws and possible vote tampering. Trosclair says he’d end the deal with Dominion…:

Cut 11 (12)  “…implement that statewide.”

No allegations made against Dominion machines have been substantiated with proof.

Entergy, Louisiana’s largest electricity provider, is laying the regulatory groundwork to expand its solar energy. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

An agreement is being finalized by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that will allow a Jefferson parish couple to keep their 22-pound pet nutria. LDWF agents visited the owners Thursday to seize the animal after news surfaced of their ownership. The matter is ongoing.

Louisiana 2-1-1 center has received three times the amount of calls from families seeking food assistance after SNAP benefits returned to pre-pandemic amounts this month. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Terri Ricks says DCFS cannot replace the loss of those extra benefits.

Cut 5 (08) “…not there.”

More than 471,000 households in Louisiana receive food stamps.

State Rep. Francis Thompson – who has represented the Democratic party for nearly 50 years-  announced he will be switching parties and joining House Republicans — which would give the GOP the majority votes if all members vote along party lines. 81-year-old Thompson says he has been thinking about making the switch for some time.

Cut 4 (12)  “…elected me.”

Thompson is the longest longest-serving member of the state’s legislature. 

There is a new man leading the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Jeff Palermo talked with Jim Patterson about L-A-B-I’s priorities in the upcoming legislative session

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has agreed to allow the owners of Neuty, the 22-pound nutria to keep the pet under special conditions. The Jefferson Parish couple has applied for a permit and LDWF says they are working out an agreement. The owners were issued a citation for housing a wild animal which is illegal in Louisiana. The matter is ongoing.

Delhi Representative Francis Thompson, a lifelong Democrat and the longest-serving member of the Louisiana legislature, has joined the Republican Party. The 81-year-old says he’d been contemplating switching parties for years.

Cut 4 (12)  “…elected me.”

Thompson voted with Republicans to overturn Governor Edwards’ veto of a congressional map.

Longtime L-A-B-I official Jim Patterson is the interim president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, taking over, for now, gubernatorial candidate Stephen Waguespack. With the legislative session coming up, Patterson says L-A-B-I will be involved in the property insurance crisis and they would like to see the legislature address the high taxes on insurance premiums…

Cut 10 (10)  “…fiscal session.”

LABI will also discuss eliminating the state’s income tax and phasing out the state’s inventory tax.

81-year-old Delhi Representative Francis Thompson who has represented northeast Louisiana in the state legislature for almost 50 years has switched parties. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Jefferson Parish owners of Neuty, the 22-pound nutria, have come to an agreement with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that will allow them to keep the pet under certain conditions. The couple has applied for a permit and LDWF will allow the couple to keep the nutria under strict guidelines. The owners were issued a citation for housing a wild animal which is illegal in Louisiana. The matter is ongoing and the details of the permit are being finalized.

Calls to Louisiana 2-1-1 seeking food assistance have tripled since February after the announcement that SNAP benefits are returning to pre-pandemic amounts this month. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Terri Ricks says the reduction comes at a difficult time.

Cut 3 (03) “…time high.” 

The Pandemic SNAP benefits totaled more than $70 million monthly in Louisiana.

Brandon Trosclair, the owner of 13 Ralph’s Markets in Louisiana, has joined the race for Secretary of State this fall. Replacing the state’s Dominion voting machines is a top priority of Trosclair’s. The company’s voting systems – used here in Louisiana – drew criticism after the 2020 Presidential election for security flaws and possible vote tampering. Trosclair says he’d end the deal with Dominion…:

Cut 11 (12)  “…implement that statewide.”

No allegations made against Dominion machines have been substantiated with proof.

Eleven-year-old Matthew Fortenberry was killed last night while sitting in a car in North Baton Rouge last night and a 17-year-old suspect is in custody. BRPD Spokesperson Sargent L’Jean McNeely says the suspect approached the car on foot where the victim was inside with family members and held them at gunpoint.

Cut 12 (12) “…his injuries.” 

The suspect was charged with First Degree Murder, four counts of First Degree Attempted Murder, and False Imprisonment.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents are on the hunt to seize Neuty, a Jefferson Parish couple’s 22-pound pet nutria.  News stories began circulating Wednesday about the couple’s ownership of the rodent which they found on Christmas Eve of 2020. Pratt says when the status was made public – the department decided to move forward to confiscate the animal.

Cut 7 (11)  “…of it.” 

State law says it is illegal to own nutria.

District Four Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Mike Francis enters the race for Louisiana Secretary of State. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

LSU Cybersecurity students and state ports have joined forces to protect critical infrastructure. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Local officials announced at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce that Amtrak will be running a new passenger rail service through Monroe within the next two years. It was also announced that within four years, there will be two round trips spanning from Mederian, Miss. To Dallas, Texas passing through Monroe, LA. Amtrak is actively applying for full funding and grants for this project.

Alzheimer’s Association released a new study that the number of Americans diagnosed with the disease will double to about 13 million around 2050. LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center Professor, Dr. Owen Carmichael says there are new medications to help slow the numbers.

Cut 8 (09) “…first place.”

There are approximately 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.

Public Service Commission member Mike Francis has added his name to the race for Secretary of State against incumbent Kyle Ardoin this fall. Francis tells LRN local clerks of court feel a lack of communication has created a disconnect.

Cut 10 (08)  “…for the most part.”

Ardoin says Francis is trying to create a rift where there isn’t a rift.

A Shreveport businessman was found murdered in his home Tuesday evening. Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives identified the victim as 71-year-old, Mark Hailey, owner of Fat Daddy’s Crawfish. Captain Tony Moran says the following day Hailey’s vehicle was spotted.

Cut 4 (08)  “…near Natchitoches.” 

The investigation is ongoing.

A cold front is expected for north Louisiana placing the area under a slight risk for severe weather this afternoon and this evening. L-R-N Meteorologist John Wetherbee says there’s a possibility for rain, tornadoes and hail…

Cut 9 (07) “…through the state.”

Heavy rain and severe weather are expected to shift to southeast Louisiana tomorrow.

Oil prices made a steep decline to below $70 a barrel after trading Wednesday – settling at the lowest levels in more than a year. Triple A analyst Don Redman says a drop in oil prices is not typical during this time of year.

Cut 6 (09)  “…fall accordingly.” 

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana today is $3.09.

Pineville is the only city in Louisiana to receive new cutting-edge technology in dentistry – a dental robot.Dr. Jonas Gauthier of Today’s Dental says the Yomi Robotic Dental System reduces recovery time and there’s no increase in cost for the patient.

Cut 14 (11)  “…Yomi robot.”

FDA approved the first dentistry robot in 2017.

A Shreveport business owner was found dead Tuesday evening. The owner of Fat Daddy’s Crawfish, 71-year-old, Mark Hailey was discovered in his residence on Jim Bell Road near Campti. Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Captain Tony Moran says Hailey’s truck was missing but they received a lead in the case on Wednesday.

Cut 4 (08)  “…near Natchitoches.” 

Crude oil dropped below $70 a barrel in trading Wednesday, for the first time in more than a year. So, what does that mean for consumers at the pump? Triple A analyst Don Redman says a drop in prices goes against what we typically see in the Spring when fuel costs increase due to demand and the transition to summer-grade gasoline.

Cut 6 (09)  “…fall accordingly.” 

Redman believes the drop in crude oil prices is reflective of the markets after the collapse of a couple of banks.

27-year-old, Dillion James, convicted in the December 2021 attack on a newspaper delivery driver in Rosepine was sentenced to eight years in prison  – the maximum sentence for his second-degree battery conviction. Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright.

Cut 13 (09) “…the wrong.” 

His brother Douglas James received a similar sentence in October.

Congressman Garret Graves introduces a bill to streamline federal disaster recovery assistance for storms and hurricanes. Graves says the current federal disaster recovery processes take years to get the necessary funding to local governments trying to assist communities and businesses in need.

Cut 10 (10)  “…or spend the dollars.”

The Natural Disaster Recovery Program Act would create block grants under FEMA for “unmet needs.”

Louisiana Department of Education Education plans to increase student safety by funding a single point of entry for campuses across the state through a new 21-million-dollar grant program.  Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley says more than 40 grants of half a million each will be awarded. He says a webinar on the application process for the one-time funding will be held for school principals today.

Cut 6 (05)  “…after that.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards talked about his efforts to raise the state’s minimum wage on his monthly radio show “Ask the Governor,” and how gubernatorial candidate Stephen Waguespack opposed increasing living wages for Louisianans. Edwards thinks Waguespack will be silent on the topic over the next several months.

Cut 9 (06)  “…his campaign.”

Edwards is supporting former Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson in the governor’s race.

Congressman Garret Graves introduces a bill to streamline federal disaster recovery assistance for storms and hurricanes. Graves says the current federal disaster recovery processes take years to get the necessary funding to local governments trying to assist communities and businesses in need.

Cut 10 (10)  “…or spend the dollars.”

The Natural Disaster Recovery Program Act would create block grants under FEMA for “unmet needs.”

The second man convicted in the December 2021 attack on a newspaper delivery driver in Rosepine has been sentenced. 24-year-old, Dillion James was sentenced to eight years in prison  – the maximum sentence for his second-degree battery conviction. Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright .

Cut 13 (09) “…the wrong.” 

His brother Douglas James received a similar sentence in October.