Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt files legislation to significantly increases the punishment for those who produce or combine fentanyl with other drugs. The maximum penalty for manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance would increase from 15 to 40 years with a minimum sentence of ten years of hard labor.

Cut 10 (10) “…in our state” 

The state’s first Safety Corridor continues to phase in measures to reduce speeding and accidents on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallet says the first phase of Act 426 called for increased signage along the 18-mile-long bridge.

Cut 6 (09)  “…feedback cameras.” 
A speed feedback camera is a digital sign that tells drivers how fast they are driving. The speed cameras that would issue citations are expected in 2024.

LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine is hoping to help with the ongoing vet shortage by increasing enrollment. LSU Vet School Dean, Oliver Garden says class size will almost double at 220 next year. He says the combination of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging makes a great foundation for a thriving department.

Cut 4 (12)  “…and ambitions” 

Out of the school’s 15 hundred applicants, only 120 were admitted in the past.

ULM and Louisiana Tech are renewing their rivalry on the gridiron but fans will have to wait until 2030 for the two to play each other again. KNOE-TV sports director Aaron Dietrich says many longtime Bulldog fans have pushed back on the idea of playing ULM…

Cut 13 (09) “..do change.”

Speeding cameras won’t be added to the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge until 2024. The 18-mile-long bridge between Lafayette and Baton Rouge is highly traveled and DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says even a small accident on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge can cause major repercussions.

Cut 8 (08)  “…over water.” 

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt files legislation to significantly increase the punishment for those who produce or combine fentanyl with other drugs. The maximum penalty would be raised from 15 to 40 years and a $ 500 thousand fine. Hewitt says similar penalties were successful in reducing heroin on our streets…

Cut 11 (12)  “…fentanyl.”

Billy Ellerbe Junior of Natchitoches was apprehended in New Orleans by U.S. Marshals for alleged arson in Natchitoches Parish earlier this year. In January multiple roadside and forest fires were set in the parish, threatening timberland, homes, and a cemetery and obstructing the flow of traffic. He faces multiple arson charges.

Pet ownership has increased and there’s a growing demand for veterinarians across the country. LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine hopes to increase admissions to help.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

New speeding cameras will be installed along the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge by the end of 2024. Brooke Thorington has the details.

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The United States Marshal Service Violent Offender Task Force arrested a Natchitoches man in New Orleans as a result of warrants for setting roadside and forest fires in January. Billy Ellerbe, Jr. is charged with one count of arson, one count of simple littering, and an additional count of arson. Authorities say the fires set in Natchitoches Parish threatened homes and obstructed traffic on I-49.

LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine plans to increase student enrollment and graduation rates to elevate a shortage of veterinarians across the country.  LSU Vet School Dean, Oliver Garden says the state has given the school $2.2 million in funding but additional funding is necessary.

Cut 5 (10) “…mix as well”

The school plans to increase its faculty and offer scholarships to attract students.

ULM and Louisiana Tech announce they will renew their football rivalry, but fans will have to wait until 2030 before the two schools separated by 36 miles will meet again on the gridiron. They have not played each other on the football field since 2000. KNOE-TV sports director Aaron Dietrich says it’s good to see the rivalry resume.

Cut 12 (07) “…make it happen” 

The two schools scheduled a game against each other in 2020, but it was scrapped because of COVID.

Speeding cameras along the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge are expected to be installed by the end of 2024. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says speeding fines are double along the 18-mile bridge and it’s the speed differential of vehicles, anywhere from ten miles an hour or more over 60 miles an hour that increases the chance of an accident on the narrow bridge.

Cut 7 (09)  “…the number of crashes.” 

A crash on the bridge can stop traffic along I-10 for hours.

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt files legislation to significantly increase the punishment for those who produce or combine fentanyl with other drugs. Hewitt says she’s going after those who operate clandestine drug labs…

Cut 9 (11) “…prescription drugs”

The maximum penalty would increase from 15 to 40 years.

LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine will increase enrollment and graduation rates to help with the shortage of veterinarians across the country. Vet School Dean, Oliver Garden says they will enlarge the class size from 120 to 220 – almost double the size next year.

Cut 3 (09) “…this happens”

With the LSU Lady Tigers basketball team in Dallas preparing to play Virginia Tech Friday night, the school announced this morning they’ve purchased billboard space in the Lone Star state to highlight their first appearance since 2008 to the Final Four. And a billboard featuring head coach Kim Mulkey is up in Waco, the home of Baylor University. Mulkey coached the Bears for 21 seasons and won three national titles there. Some Baylor fans are bitter about the billboard and Mulkey’s decision to leave the Big 12 school to return to her home state.

Minden Representative Wayne McMahan has filed legislation that would allow pet owners to have their pets’ cremated remains buried with them. And the bill clearly outlines that the cremated pet must have died before the person who wishes to have the remains buried with them.
Cut 12 (12) “…the burial.”
The practice is illegal in the state but McMahan says he’s optimistic that will change.

The state’s first Safety Corridor continues to phase in measures to reduce speeding and accidents on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallet says the first phase of Act 426 called for increased signage along the 18-mile-long bridge.
Cut 6 (09) “…feedback cameras.”
A speed feedback camera is a digital sign that tells drivers how fast they are driving.

The East Baton Rouge Coroner says fentanyl was involved in the death of Nathan Millard and sadly too many others. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The autopsy is in for the Georgia businessman who went missing in Baton Rouge and was located almost two weeks later. East Baton Rouge Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says Nathan Millard died from a combination of cocaine, alcohol, and fentanyl. Dr. Clark says fentanyl is lucrative to drug dealers even though it’s responsible for the majority of overdoses…:

Cut 6 (08)  “…addiction disorders.”

He says there is a high possibility that any illicit drugs on the streets are dangerously laced with fentanyl.

A measure to decide whether to ban the death penalty in Louisiana will be heard in the upcoming legislative session. Marrero Representative Kyle Green says the legislation is based on morality, not to mention it’s extremely costly to house prisoners on death row…:
Cut 14 (11)  “…of legislation.”

The proposal is not retroactive.

The state department of transportation says there are now just three proposed locations for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge – all connecting the East and West Banks of Iberville Parish. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the $1.5 billion dollar project has received $300 million in state funding, which is a good starting point:

Cut 8 (11) “…gets built.”
He says they hope to narrow down the location of the new bridge when environmental evaluations are completed in the summer of 2024.

Minden Representative Wayne McMahan is once again trying to make it legal for pet owners to have the cremated remains of their pet buried with them. He says the measure still allows a cemetery to decide if they’ll allow it…:

Cut 11 (05)  “…to do.”
He says this would just make it legal. The regular session begins April 10th.

The autopsy for Georgia executive Nathan Millard, who went missing in Baton Rouge and found wrapped in a rug, shows he died from a lethal combination of cocaine, alcohol, and fentanyl.  East Baton Rouge Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says fentanyl is driving a rise in deaths in the country.

Cut 4 (12)  “…person’s system.”

Clark says these days illicit drugs are laced with fentanyl and there are major consequences.

Louisiana transportation officials have narrowed the prospects down to three for a new Mississippi River Bridge in an effort to decrease traffic congestion.  The $1.5 billion dollar project has received $300 million in state funding but will need additional funding. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says all locations will have to go through the environmental phase to determine the most effective route before a final selection is made.

Cut 9 (11)  “…approved route.”

Residents are worried about the environmental impact of one site that threatens Cypress Forest in Iberville Parish.

Minden Representative Wayne McMahan has filed legislation that would allow pet owners to have their pets’ cremated remains buried with them. The retired veterinarian says this bill should be considered because pets are like a part of the family. And the bill clearly outlines that the cremated pet must have passed before the person who wishes to have the remains buried with them.

Cut 12 (12)  “…the burial.”

The practice is illegal in the state but McMahan says he’s optimistic that will change.

Marrero Representative Kyle Green has filed a bill that would eliminate the death penalty in Louisiana. The proposed legislation says anyone found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, or treason would serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Green proposed the same bill in 2020 and 2022 but believes it is worth another debate.

Cut 13 (11) “..get it right.” 

The legislation would not apply to individuals already on death row.

A measure to decide whether to ban the death penalty in Louisiana will be heard in the upcoming legislative session. Marrero Representative Kyle Green says the legislation is based on morality, not to mention it’s extremely costly to house prisoners on death row…:
Cut 14 (11) “of legislation”
The proposal would not apply to individuals already on death row.

The autopsy is in for the Georgia businessman who went missing in Baton Rouge and was located almost two weeks later. East Baton Rouge Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says Nathan Millard, like so many others, overdosed from cocaine, alcohol, and fentanyl. He says lacing drugs with fentanyl is lucrative for dealers…:
CUT 5 (11) “powerfully addictive”
He says most street drugs out there right now are laced with fentanyl.

A north Louisiana lawmaker is trying to make it legal for your pet’s remains to be buried with you if you wish. Brooke Thorington has more:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Governor John Bel Edwards has released a statement on the mass shooting at a school in Nashville which claimed the lives of three children and three adults — two of whom were Louisiana natives. Mr. Edwards said nobody should ever have to worry about whether a teacher or student will come home from school alive, and he’s asking the entire state to pray for the families of the victims.

The toxicology results for Nathan Millard have been released. The Georgia Businessman who went missing in Baton Rouge and was found a couple weeks later died from an overdose of cocaine, alcohol and fentanyl. That’s according to East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Beau Clark who says fentanyl is responsible for so many overdose deaths…:
Cut 4 (12) “person’s system”
He says there is a lot of evidence showing most street drugs are laced with fentanyl these days.

A bill that would allow people to be buried with the cremated remains of their pets has been filed for the session beginning April 10th. Minden Representative Wayne McMahan on how the law stands now…:
CUT 10 (12) “just human”
He suspects this law is broken often.

Lawmakers will debate a bill to eliminate the death penalty during the upcoming legislative session. Teiko Foxx has more…:
Cut 3 (35) “I’m Teiko Foxx”

DOTD says there are 3 final proposed location choices for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge all in Iberville Parish. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says there are numerous factors to be considered in the planning of locations..:
Cut 7 (09) “the communities”

A bill that would eliminate the death penalty in Louisiana has once again been filed for the upcoming legislative session. The measure by Marrero Representative Kyle Green would put a max life sentence for first degree murder and rape convictions. He proposed the same bill in 2020 and 2022 but believes they need to take another look…:
CUT 13 (11) “get it right”

As the LSU Women’s Basketball team heads to the Final 4 to face Virginia Tech on Friday, Coach Kim Mulkey comments on her flashy courtside fashion which she says is in no way meant to take away from the team:
CUT 17 (18) “game for us”
The game Friday tips at 6.

The East Baton Rouge Coroner says fentanyl was involved in the death of Nathan Millard, like so many others.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Minden Representative Wayne McMahan is once again trying to make it legal for pet owners to have the cremated remains of their pet buried with them. He says the measure still allows a cemetery to decide if they’ll allow it…:
CUT 11 (05) “to do”
He says this would just make it legal. The regular session begins April 10th.