The town of Merryville and the Junction areas have a mandatory evacuation order in place for the ongoing wildfires. Beauregard Parish Sherrif spokesperson Shannon Burgess says previously the fire was well contained but winds only fanned the flames. The fire came extremely close to having Merryville go up in flames, but the wind change saved it by less than a mile.

Cut 10 (10) “…in jeopardy.”

In Vernon Parish, Paul Nash has been arrested and charged with two counts of arson, and violation of the state’s burn ban. Sheriff Sam Craft says the suspect lit a brush pile in his backyard and it quickly got out of control.

Cut 7 (07) “…that critical.” 

Craft says there’s no excuse for setting a blaze in these conditions.

Thirty-nine-year-old Joey Clement (Clay-mon) of Thibodaux has been found guilty of killing three teenagers in a 2021 drunk driving head-on crash in Lafourche Parish. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx” 

The Louisiana National Guard has been activated to provide support with the wildfires in Beauregard Parish. 97 soldiers are assisting, and LANG helicopter crews are dropping gallons of water in the affected areas.  Additional aircraft from Oklahoma are also assisting with the wildfires.

Wildfires that erupted in Vernon Parish Thursday have since been contained and an arrest has been made in connection with one of the fires.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Firefighters are having trouble containing wildfires in Beauregard Parish. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Shannon Burgess…
cut 9 (08) “…50-percent”
But a wind shift kept the Tiger Island Fire from causing extensive damage to the town of Merryville.

New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest today in Slidell, more than 80 years after his life ended in the attack on Pearl Harbor. His cousin Denise Bennett says the Navy is paying for Thompsons burial and the family chose to have him buried at the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery. Bennett says it’s just another example of how the military leaves no man behind…
cut 12 (07) “…to family”
Thompson was a cook on the USS Oklahoma.

The Saints are mourning the death of former defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell. He was 78 and helped develop the great line backing group of the 1980’s and 90’s known as the Dome Patrol, with Rickey Jackson, Pat Swilling, Sam Mills, and Vaughn Johnson. The coordinator was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2004.

The Saints defense has been led by Coach Dennis Allen since linebacker Demario Davis arrived in New Orleans in 2018. Allen was the defensive coordinator for the team until last year when he became the head coach, and Davis says the defense’s success starts with Allen.

Cut 20 (13) “…game situation.”

Last year the Saints defense was 5th in yards allowed and in sacks, and will once again be led by Davis. The Saints third and final preseason game is this Sunday at 7 p.m. against the Texans and their first regular season game is on Sept. 10 against the Titans.

The wait is almost over for Louisiana Tech football to take the field for their first game of 2023 season. La Tech takes on Conference USA rival Florida International tomorrow at 8 p.m. in Ruston. Last year’s La Tech offense finished middle of the road in the Conference USA in total yards, and second year coach Sonny Cumbie says how graduate transfer quarterback Hank Bachmeier and him have been able to stay on the same page to put them over the top.

Cut 17 (18) “…comfort with it.”

Off the football field, La Tech was set to unveil the A-L Williams Champions Plaza tonight, but the schools says of the six statues has not made it to Ruston.

The Ragin Cajun athletic programs have agreed to contract extensions with their men’s basketball coach Bob Marlin and softball coach Gerry Glasco. Both coaches led their teams to Sun Belt tournament championships in 2022.

Multiple wildfires are taking place throughout the state. State officials are urging the public to follow the statewide burn ban. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says violators could face jail time, fines and could be forced to pay restitution for loss of property…
cut 28 (13) “…property and life

An arrest has been made in connection to one of the wildfires that erupted near Rosepine in Vernon Parish yesterday. Sheriff Sam Craft says Paul Nash faces two felony arson charges for violating the state’s burn ban. Craft says Nash lit a brush pile in his backyard on fire and it quickly spread…
Cut 6 (08) “…massively.”

In Beauregard Parish, the town of Merryville is under a mandatory evacuation, a shift in the winds last night has spared the town of one-thousand people.

A jury needed only six hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 39-year-old Joey Clement of Thibodaux for killing three teenagers in a fatal crash in 2021. Assistant District Attorney Shaun George says Clement was speeding and driving under the influence…
Cut 3 (09) “…whole night”
Clement crashed his Ford F-150 into their SUV head-on on Highway 20 north of Thibodaux.

At the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery in Slidell today, New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest. Thompson worked as a cook on the USS Oklahoma when it was destroyed during the attack on Pearl Harbor…
cut 11 (06) “…in coming”
That’s Thompson’s cousin Denise Bennett. Thompson’s return home is part of the Navy’s Project Oklahoma which has identified the remains of 355 sailors since 2015 through DNA.

Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Temple says he’s not wasting any time since he became the lone candidate and he’s already getting a head start on the job. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Fire crews are working to contain a blaze at the Marathon Oil refinery on Airline Highway in Garyville. Officials say that the release and the fire are contained within the refinery’s property. No injuries are reported. It is unknown what led to the chemical release and fire.

State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says anyone who starts a fire will be held liable. Under the state burn ban, the public should not throw cigarettes out of a car window, use barbecue grills to cook outside, or burn debris. Strain says burning small debris fires could be extremely dangerous.

Cut 8 (11) “…of life.”

Violators could face a fine or jail time.

Extremely dry conditions have placed 50 percent of the state is currently in extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. In extreme drought, trees are stressed, saltwater intrudes into rivers and water pressure is low. State climatologist Barry Keim says southwestern Louisiana is the driest part of the state.

Cut 14 (10) “…drought class.” 

The southern parts of the state were abnormally dry but were not in a drought this same week last year.

Fire crews are working to control wildfires across Louisiana. How they started is unknown but State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain promises to hold people who intentionally or unintentionally start fires responsible. Strain says these wildfires are destroying acres of land and property…

Cut 7 (11) “…full restitution.”

Violators with civil citations could pay up to $250 in fines. If it is criminal, Strain says the perpetrator could face a $500 fine and up to six months in jail.

Triple-digit heat and excessively dry conditions have placed 90 percent of Louisiana in “extreme” or “severe” drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. State climatologist Barry Keim ….

Cut 13 (12) “…July first.”

50 percent of the state is currently in extreme drought.

Tim Temple got the job he wanted as the state’s next Insurance commissioner after his only opponent withdrew from the race. Commissioner-elect Temple says he’s ready to get things started

Cut 4 (08) “…implement those.”

Temple also vows to work with the next governor and lawmakers to implement methods to attract new insurers and retain current providers.

Pearl Harbor Sailor and New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be buried in Slidell this morning, more than 80 years after the December 7^th attack on the USS Oklahoma. His cousin Denise Bennett says they are extremely grateful for the lengths the military went to in identifying his remains.

Cut 10 (08) “…his family.”

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. and is open to the public.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Beauregard and Vernon Parishes as a result of multiple wildfires. The Tiger Island Fire is threatening the one-thousand person town of Merryville. A wildfire in the Evans area of Vernon Parish has reportedly jumped containment.

Louisiana’s historically dry summer is causing many of these wildfires. The U-S Drought Monitor reports that nearly half of the state is in extreme or eceptional drought…..
cut 3 (32) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

Tim Temple will be the state’s next Insurance Commissioner after his only opponent withdrew from the race. And even though he’s not having to hit the campaign trail, Commissioner-elect Temple says he’s simply getting a head start on the job.
Cut 4 (08) “…implement those.”
Temple says he’ll push for a special session early next year that will look at legislation to make insurance more affordable and available.

At the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery in Slidell today, New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest. Thompson worked as a cook on the USS Oklahoma when it was destroyed during the attack on Pearl Harbor…
cut 11 (06) “…and coming”
That’s Thompson’s cousin Denise Bennett. Thompson’s return home is part of the Navy’s Project Oklahoma which has identified the remains of 355 sailors since 2015 through DNA.

Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Beauregard Parish later today to get a first hand look at the response efforts as a massive wildfire has resulted in the mandatory evacuation of the town of Merryville and other areas of Beauregard Parish. The Tiger Island Fire has burned more than 13-thousand acres.

How it started is unknown. State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain promises to hold people who start those fires responsible…
cut 7 (11) “…full restitution”
Southwest Louisiana is suffering from extreme drought conditions according to the U-S Drought monitor. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will take a lot of rain to make up for the dryness…
cut 15 (12) “…the news”

Tim Temple is gearing up to be Louisiana’s next insurance commissioner. His lone opponent dropped out of the race last week so Temple is insurance commissioner-elect. Temple says setting up a regulatory environment that invites insurance companies to do business in Louisiana will be the key…
cut 6 (12) “….Louisiana” (2x)

Navy Ship’s Cook First Class Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest today in Slidell, more than 80 years after his life ended in the attack on Pearl Harbor. His cousin Denise Bennett says the Navy is paying for Thompsons burial and the family chose to have him buried at the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery. Bennett says it’s just another example of how the military leaves no man behind…
cut 12 (07) “…to family”

In Beauregard Parish, residents in Merryville and the surrounding area were told to leave immediately late yesterday afternoon as the Tiger Island Fire was within two miles of the town. Evacuations have also been ordered in Vernon Parish in the Evans area and B Johnson road.

People who are responsible for starting wildfires will be held liable according to State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Scorching temperatures and dry conditions have placed 90 percent of Louisiana in some type of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is updated every Thursday. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 13 (12) “…July first”
The drought monitor shows 44-percent of the state in extreme drought. That most of south Louisiana and the Alexandria area and western parishes like Sabine and Vernon.

We are 50 days until the October 14th primary and Tim Temple is already the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner-elect as his lone opponent dropped out of the race last week. Temple says he’s been meeting with stakeholders to find solutions to the insurance crisis and he doesn’t want to rush to failure with a half-baked plan…
cut 5 (08) “…..change nothing” (2x)
Temple says he wants to make Louisiana attractive for insurance companies to do business in the state, but the regulatory environment also needs to be consumer friendly.

Things have taken a turn for the worse in Beauregard Parish and residents in the town of Merryville are being asked to evacuate immediately as the Tiger Island Fire is within two miles of the town. A storm with 30-mile-per-hour winds only helped the fire spread. Authorities say the fire has grown more intense and is moving quickly.

People who are responsible for starting fires will be held liable according to State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

While firefighters continue to battle wildfires in Beauregard Parish, crews are rushing to the scene of another large blaze in Tangipahoa Parish near the city of Amite. Crews have responded to 357 wildfires this month alone. Governor Edwards is imploring residents to abide by the burn ban and asking citizens to even refrain from cooking outdoors and lighting fire pits at this time because fire crews are stretched thin, and the extreme drought is causing outbreaks to quickly get out of control.

Pearl Harbor Sailor and New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be buried in Slidell Friday morning, more than 80 years after the December 7^th attack on the USS Oklahoma. His cousin Denise Bennett says they are extremely grateful for the lengths the military went to in identifying his remains.

Cut 10 (08) “…his family.”

The 11am funeral at Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery is open to the public.