A Baton Rouge man, accused of sexually trafficking two teen girls who’d run away from DCFS custody, has been arrested. 29-year-old Chad Armstead is charged with two counts of human trafficking and one count of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. One of the two girls reportedly met him online, before an in-person rendezvous, which led to him victimizing both.

A bill to require insurance companies to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients has been filed for the upcoming session…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Thorington.”

New research by the Life Extension Foundation finds the average Louisianan dies sooner than those in many other states. The group’s education director, Dr. Michael Smith, says the life expectancy in Louisiana is lower than other southern states as well…:

CUT 13  (12)        “…very well.”

He says eating right and getting some movement in will literally add years to your life.

Look forward to Easter Sunday, because the weather is expected to be much better than the rainy conditions we’re experiencing now. State Climatologist Barry Keim says all this rain and clouds will hang around until Saturday night…:

CUT 09(11)      “…already occurred.”

However Easter Sunday should be partly cloudy and quite pleasant.

A new research study by the Life Extension Foundation found Louisiana among the worst state for life expectancy; ranking 48^th of 50 states Life Extension Director of Education, Dr. Michael Smith says for two years in a row the overall average life span has declined and lifestyle is a major component…:

CUT 12(06)      “…as well.”

He says we not only rank poorly among all states, we are lower than most other southern states.

We have to get through some dicey wet weather for Good Friday and Holy Saturday before we see more sunshine on Easter Day. state Climatologist Barry Keim says, if there is an upside to all the rain, it’s that temperatures are lower, especially at night…:

CUT 11  (06)        “…60’s range.”

Easter should be fairly pretty with afternoon temperatures in the 70’s.

Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis has filed legislation to require health insurance to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients whose treatment could render them sterile. At the request of a constituent last year, Davis presented legislation to require health insurance to pay for in-vitro fertility treatments…:

CUT 07(08)      “…IVF bill.”

That bill failed last year. This year she’s bringing back a version require your insurer cover having eggs or sperm preserved prior to chemo and/or radiation treatments.

Police in Eunice are investigating a murder; something you don’t hear about often in the Acadiana town. Police say a 32-year-old man was found around 10:30 last night, on the street, suffering gunshots. He died sometime later at a local hospital. Officers believe the killer used a rifle. They ask anyone with information to call St. Landry Crimestoppers at 337-948-TIPS.

The weather is not so good this Good Friday, but Easter Sunday should be a different matter. State Climatologist Barry Keim says all this rain and cloudiness should hang around through tomorrow night, and some areas could see excessive rainfall…:

CUT 10  (10)        “…south Louisiana.”

Right now virtually all the state is under a flood watch until 7 pm Saturday. Easter Sunday should be clearing and nice. High in the 70’s.

Planning on giving one of the little ones a bunny, chick or even a puppy for Easter? Jeff Dorson, with the state Humane Society says give it more thought. He says we often think kids will take care of a pet, but sometimes it doesn’t work out…:

CUT 04  (12)        “…please reconsider.”

Shreveport Police are seeking a local man, 53-year-old Tremell Thomas, for the alleged murder of another man in mid-March. 58-year-old Steven Graham was found shot dead inside his home, and the investigation led to Thomas. Call SPD if you have any info. This is the city’s 20^th homicide of the year.

LSU say its national champion women’s basketball team will go to the White House once they receive an invitation, despite some hurt feelings from a statement made by First Lady Jill Biden. LRN Sports Director & Tiger Rag Radio host Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 02  (31)        “…Palermo.”

The weather on Easter Sunday is expected to be much better than the rainy conditions we’re experiencing today. But in the meantime, State Climatologist Barry Keim says the rain and clouds will hang around until Saturday night.
Cut 9 (11) “…already occurred.”
A large portion of north Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until tonight and all of south Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until tomorrow morning.

The biggest crawfish weekend of the season is upon us. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King…
Cut 13 (10) “…last Easter.”
You can find boiled crawfish this weekend for an average of $4.75 a pound and live will run you $2.59 a pound.

A bill to require insurance companies to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients has been filed for the upcoming session. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Ucore Rare Metals is investing 75-million dollars to build North America’s first technology rare earth element separation and purification facility. And the facility will be located at England Airpark in Alexandria. U-Core V-P and Chief Operating Officer Mike Schrider says they are upgrading an 80-thousand square foot complex….
cut 11 (10) “…particular building”
The rare earth oxides produced in this building will go towards the manufacturing of electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators.

Ponchatoula-based Elmer Chocolate was able to produce Heavenly Hash candy this Easter after only a small quantity the last two years because of a shortage of cornstarch. Elmer Chocolate CEO Rob Nelson says his family purchased the recipe for Heavenly Hash in 1923…
cut 27 (07) “…hard to believe”

Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis has filed legislation to require health insurance to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients whose treatment could render them sterile. Davis says she was surprised to learn it wasn’t always covered by some health insurance plans.
Cut 6 (09) “…bill does.”
The proposed law would be known as “The Medically Necessary Fertility Preservation Act.”

The Humane Society of Louisiana is advising against giving a baby chick or bunny to a child for Easter. H-S-L director Jeff Dorson says unfortunately animal shelters are overrun by chicks and bunnies a few weeks after Easter, because the owner no longer wants to take care of the animal. Instead of a live animal for Easter, Dorson says get a stuffed animal instead….
Cut 5 (05) “…with that.”

In light of recent mass school shootings across the country, BESE is calling on the state legislature to appropriate funding for trained school resource officers in all public schools to increase security. District 4 Member Michael Melerine says the Board is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all students and educators is a priority.

Cut 9 (08)  “…school system.”

The Board also requested that school systems annually report the total number of school resource officers to the Louisiana Department of Education.

It’s Easter weekend and while we’ll admit they are awfully cute, getting a baby chick and or bunny isn’t the best idea. Humane Society of Louisiana director Jeff Dorson says shelters and veterinarians see an influx of rabbits and chicks after the holiday that is surrendered and in poor health.

Cut 3 (12) “…your money.”

In many cases, Dorson says state wildlife has to retrieve them because owners abandon them in the wild and they are unable to fend for themselves.

Rare metals giant UCore will invest $ 75 million to build North America’s first rare earth metals separation and purification facility in Rapides Parish. UCore V.P. and Chief Operating Officer Mike Schrider says the plant will extract elements used in making electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and numerous consumer goods. He says the raw ores will arrive via the port of New Orleans…:

Cut 10 (11) “…other elements eventually.” 

Schrider expects the plant to be fully operational by 2027.

The LSU football team is just over halfway through their spring practice schedule and Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock says he hopes to build on the progress his offense made last year and become one of the best in the SEC.

Cut  16 (19)  “..really elite.” 

With nearly all of its starting core returning, the Tiger’s offense should be a strength for the team ahead of the 2023 season.

A rare metals extraction plant is headed to Alexandria in the next few years. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

State police have arrested a Chalmette Pastor – who had been previously accused of sex crimes with minors – with new charges of sex-related offenses. 56-year-old Milton Martin III was charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile. Martin had been investigated in 2022 and booked with charges of sexual battery and carnal knowledge of a juvenile last month. State police said another victim came forward saying Martin had sexual relations with them in 1991 when they were 14 years old. An additional arrest warrant was issued for Martin, and he turned himself in on Wednesday. He was booked into the St. Bernard Parish Correctional Center for indecent behavior with juveniles.

Heavenly Hash Eggs are back and celebrating 100 years after offering limited products last year due to supply chain issues. Elmer Chocolate CEO Rob Nelson says last year they received hundreds of phone calls daily wanting to know why all three versions of Heavenly Hash were not in stores.

Cut 5 (06) “…selling out.”

Elmer Chocolate began making the Strawberry version when the company relocated to Ponchatoula in 1970, the Strawberry capital of the world.

Easter weekend is one of the biggest crawfish-selling weekends of the season and will be in high demand.  Crawfish App co-founder Laney King says prices on average are the same as last weekend.

Cut 14 (10)  “…this week.”

King says you can find boiled crawfish this weekend for an average of $4.75 a pound and live will run you $2.59 a pound.

BESE is calling on the state legislature to appropriate funding so there are trained school resource officers in all public schools. District 4 Member Michael Melerine says he raised the issue last year following the Uvalde-Texas school shooting and is revisiting it after the Nashville school mass shooting hit close to home.
Cut 7 (12) “…by it.”
A recent survey found that 67-percent of 73-percent of schools responding have a school resource officer.

Crawfish prices are 25-percent lower for this Easter compared to last Easter. Co-Founder of the Crawfish App, Laney King, says expect to pay 60 to 75-dollars a sack for medium to large size crawfish…
cut 15 (09) “….a sack”

Some of Louisiana’s favorite Easter treats are back on the shelves this year after supply chain disruptions….
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU spokesperson Michael Bonnette told the Associated Press the Lady Tigers basketball team will accept an invite to the White House to celebrate their national championship. Star forward Angel Reese said on a podcast they would rather celebrate with the Obamas. Reese and her teammates are upset First Lady Jill Biden suggested Iowa should also be invited to the White House.

BESE is requesting the state legislature to provide additional dollars to make sure every school has a school resource officer….
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Law enforcement officers involved in two separate shootings that took place in Rapides Parish last November have been cleared of any wrong doing. One of the shootings took the life of Derrick Kittling, who was killed during a traffic stop that became physical. D-A Phillip Terrell says in both cases the shootings were legally justified.

Canadian based, Ucore North America, announces plans to build a 75-million dollar rare earth metals manufacturing facility at England Airpark in Alexandria. Ucore V-P and Chief Operating Officer Mike Schrider says it will be the first rare element separation and purification facility in the U-S and the rare earth oxides are needed for electric vehicle motors ..
cut 12 (12) “….make those vehicles”
Schrider expects operations to start in early 2025 and they expect to create 100 new jobs.

The biggest crawfish weekend of the season is upon. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King…
Cut 13 (10) “…last Easter.”
You can find boiled crawfish this weekend for an average of $4.75 a pound and live will run you $2.59 a pound.

In response to an increasing nationwide trend of school shootings, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is calling on public school systems to partner with local law enforcement to provide a school resource officer in every school and for the Louisiana legislature to provide the necessary funding to make sure it happens….
cut 8 (11) “…on it really’
That’s BESE member Michael Melerine.

After limited supplies the last couple of years, Heavenly Hash Eggs are back, and Ponchatoula-based Elmer Chocolate CEO Rob Nelson says it’s just in time to mark the beloved treat’s 100th anniversary. Nelson says a cornstarch shortage kept them from making all three versions of the angelic candy.
Cut 4 (10) “…dark is back.”
He hopes the strawberry-filled Heavenly Hash Egg will be back next year.

Big news for Central Louisiana: a huge rare metals extraction plant is coming to Alexandria. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”