The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested 11 people this week involved in the theft of dozens of cell phones from Mardi Gras revelers in New Orleans. Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis says the suspects are members of a Colombian theft ring and they are trying to return stolen phones to the owners…

Cut 3 (09) “…bring your phone” 

Phone numbers are listed on the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Facebook page.

Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau is reintroducing legislation to keep auto insurance companies from unfairly discriminating against one’s gender. He says in Louisiana women often pay more than men. Last time the bill failed to make it out of committee because some members thought the legislation would cause insurance rates for men to increase.

Cut 11 (05)  “…that way.”

The regular session begins on April 10^th.

Morgan City Police arrest a New York man, who’s also convicted sex offender after he was selling candy and novelty items along the Hera (Hair-ah) Parade route. Thomas Devaul did not have a permit and he also failed to report his move to St. Mary’s Parish. Among his are charges of soliciting without a permit, and failure to register as a sex offender.

With the start of Lent today, we look in on the Louisiana seafood industry. How ready are they for the additional demand…?

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Legislation to will be presented by Alexandria Representative Jay Luneau to keep auto insurers from charging female drivers more in an upcoming session. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (28)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A two-vehicle in Calcasieu parish claimed the life of two people around 8:20 pm on Feb. 21. According to Louisiana State Police Troop D, the accident involved a pickup truck and a motorcycle near the intersection of Victoria Drive and Hwy 171. A male and female occupant driving the motorcycle was pronounced dead on the scene.

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Organizers of the recall petition to oust New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell have enough signatures to move forward. Cantrell’s controversies have plagued her leadership while in office. Vice Chair of Nolatoya Recall, Eileen Carter, says they are ready to move forward with the recall.

Cut 14 (07)  “…can do.”

Once the petition is certified, it will move forward to Governor John Bel Edwards.

Today is the first day of lent. Many will feast on seafood, fruits, and vegetables over the next 40 days. With Louisiana being the seafood capital, how will supply keep up? Gulf Seafood Institute chairman and owner Harlon’s LA Fish, in Kenner. Harlon Pearce…:

Cut 7 (04) “…great year coming up.”

Was you phone stolen during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans? Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff deputies have discovered 282 stolen phones at short-term rental complex in the Tickfaw Area. Chief Jimmy Travis says they arrested four individuals and found more than 160 cell phones on Sunday and then made a second round of arrests on Monday…
cut 6 (08) “…be stolen”
Travis says they are working to determine the phone numbers for the stolen devices and posting those numbers on the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Facebook page.

This afternoon organizers of an effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell will turn over what they say are the necessary number of signatures needed to force a recall election. Vice chair of the recall effort Eileen Carter says the residents of New Orleans are fed up with Cantrell’s administration…
cut 15 (08) “…your job”
Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau has once again filed a bill that would prohibit auto insurance companies from setting rates based on the gender of the driver. Luneau’s legislation has yet to receive legislative support..
cut 12 (10) “…insurance rates”
Luneau says there are no competent studies that indicate females are worse drivers.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten Season. Many Catholics will stay away from eating meat today and Fridays during the Lenten Season. Gulf Seafood Institute chairman Harlon Pearce says whatever you prefer, you’ll have no trouble finding your seafood favorites…:
Cut 9 (07) “…to go around.”
Pearce says wild-caught catfish is “exploding”, crawfish are big and abundant and crabs are about to start coming ready to harvest.

Organizers say they’ve garnered enough signatures to force a recall election to oust New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Teiko Foxx reports today is the deadline to turn over the signatures to the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

LSU’s leading receiver last season Malik Nabers is facing gun charges. Records show he was booked into the Orleans Parish Jail on a charge of illegal carrying of a weapon. The LSU athletics department says they are aware of the arrest and working to gather more information. Last season, Nabers caught 72 passes for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns.

Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau is once again looking to pass legislation to prohibit auto insurance companies from using gender as a factor in setting rates. Luneau says over the years they’ve found some providers charge females more than they do male drivers.
Cut 10 (12) “…than males.”
Luneau has a bill filed for the upcoming regular season. Last year it failed to get out of committee.

Hundreds of smart phones were stolen from revelers in New Orleans and many of them have been found at an apartment complex in the Tickfaw areas. Tangiaphoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis says the suspects are part of an organized crime group that came to Louisiana to take advantage of Carnival…
cut 4 (10) “…United States”
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has on its Facebook page the phone numbers of the phones they’ve recovered.

At least 49,976 signatures will be submitted to the Orleans Parish Registrar of voter’s office today to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Cantrell, the first black woman elected as Mayor of New Orleans, has faced constant accusations and impropriety while in office. Vice Chair of the No-Latoya Recall, Eileen Carter, says the time is now to be held accountable.
Cut 13 (10) “…to deliver.”

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff deputies arrest eleven members of a Colombian Theft Ring for stealing at least 282 cell phones taken from individuals who were enjoying Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans. Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis says the phones were found at an apartment complex in Tickfaw…
cut 5 (08) “…to a brick”
Travis believes the thieves were preparing to ship the phones out of the country.

With the start of 40 days of Lent, we look in on the Louisiana seafood industry. How ready are they for the additional demand…?
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Windy and warm today and rain chances are above 50-percent in north Louisiana.

It was 33 years ago when 15-year-old Tammy Call disappeared from Leesville High School and seven years later, her remains were found in the Sandy Hill area. On the anniversary of her disappearance, Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft made a post on social media to encourage anyone with information to contact them.

Cut 3 (12) “…they may know.” 

He says one clue could help them find a break in this cold case.

Its Fat Tuesday, a tradition like no other in the world here in Louisiana. There are parades across south Louisiana and in New Orleans, the party will go until midnight and these revelers on historic St. Charles Avenue are ready….

Cut 6 (06)  “…never enough” 

And if you missed out, you won’t have to wait as long next year with Fat Tuesday on February 13^th.

Shreveport Police and State Police have been fast and transparent in the recent officer-involved shooting death of 43-year-old Alonzo Bagley; releasing body cam footage & other evidence to the public quickly. This contrasts with the 2019 case of Ronald Greene, wherein body cam footage was suppressed for over a year before it leaked to the public. Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney Franz Borghardt says there’s no comparison…:

Cut 11 (13)  “…apples and papayas.”

Borhardt can only speculate but says quite possibly lessons learned from the Greene case have inspired law enforcement to be more forthcoming with information going forward.

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers was arrested on a weapons-related charge in New Orleans Monday. Details of the arrest are yet unavailable, but we do know the charge was “illegally carrying a weapon” and that he has been released from jail as of this afternoon. So far no comment from the university.

Authorities have arrested a 19-year-old in connection with the Sunday night shooting death 19-year-old Ashton Money of Broussard. Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Katherine Breaux says Caiden Sheridan was arrested by Lake Charles police Monday evening.

Cut 9 (08) “…second-degree murder.”

It was 33 years ago when 15-year-old Tammy Call disappeared from Leesville High School and yet the case is still cold. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft is asking the public for any tips about Call. In 1997 a hunter found human remains in the Fort Polk area.

Cut 5 (12) “…suspicious at the time.”

You’re asked to contact the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s office if you have any information whatsoever.

Shreveport Police and State Police have been fast and transparent in the recent officer-involved shooting death of 43-year-old Alonzo Bagley compared to the 2019 case of Ronald Green.  Shreveport Police Officer Alexander Tyler has been charged with negligent homicide. Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney Franz Borghardt says, in this case, releasing the body cam video was the right choice…:

Cut 13 (10) “…a good thing.” 

Everywhere else in the country today it’s Tuesday, but here in Louisiana its Fat Tuesday, a tradition like no other. There are parades and celebrations across the state today. Visitors from all over come to Louisiana for carnival season. These folks from Texas are enjoying their first Fat Tuesday in the Big Easy…

Cut 8 (08)  “…overturn.” 

Mardi Gras next year will arrive even sooner, with Fat Tuesday, February 13th.

The Shreveport cop who is charged with negligent homicide in the shooting death of unarmed suspect Alonzo Bagley has been subject to three Internal Affairs investigations in his two short years with SPD. He was cleared in one but found to have violated department policy in two others.

No doubt Shreveport Police and State Police have been forthcoming with information on the Bagley shooting. Is that, in some way, because of the 2019 Ronald Greene case, where body cam evidence was suppressed from public view? Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney Franz Borghardt think that’s possible, yes. He says they diffused public anger by releasing the Bagley footage, but there IS a risk in being too transparent with evidence…:

CUT 12  (13)        “…as to guilt.”

Borghardt says, in this case, SPD probably did the right thing.

Organizers of the effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell say they are confident they have gathered the signatures needed to get a recall election, and are now looking for additional signatures. They must submit their signatures to the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters tomorrow, but voters will have an additional five business days to either add their name to the petition, or remove it.

Farewell to the Flesh, it’s Fat Tuesday; the most joyous day of the Louisiana year. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 02  (28)        “…Palermo.”

Everywhere else in the country today it’s just Tuesday, but here in Louisiana its Fat Tuesday, a tradition like no other. You could not ask for a better Mardi Gras weather wise. Warm temperatures and no rain and these parade goers are enjoying the day…:

Cut 07   (07)        “…celebrating life.”

It all ends at midnight tonight, when Lent officially begins.

Lawmen in southwest Louisiana arrest a 19-year-old in connection with Sunday night’s fatal shooting of a person in the Coteau area. Iberia Sheriff’s spokesperson Katherine Breaux says Caiden Sheridan was arrested for 2^nd degree murder by Lake Charles Police Monday. She says IPSO was first notified of the crime at around 7pm Sunday…:

CUT 10  (11)        “…on foot.”

The victim’s name has not been released as yet.

Shreveport Police and Louisiana State Police have been fast and transparent in the recent officer-involved shooting death of 43-year-old Alonzo Bagley; releasing body cam footage & other evidence to the public quickly. This contrasts with the 2019 case of Ronald Greene, wherein body cam footage was suppressed for over a year, before it leaked to the public. Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney Franz Borghardt says there’s no comparison…:

CUT 11  (13)        “…apples and papayas.”

Borhardt can only speculate, but says quite possibly lessons learned from the Greene case have inspired law enforcement to be more forthcoming with information going forward.

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers was arrested on a weapons-related charge in New Orleans Monday. Details of the arrest are yet unavailable, but we do know the charge was “illegally carrying a weapon” and that he has been released from jail as of this afternoon. So far no comment from the university.

Everywhere else in the country today it’s just Tuesday, but here in Louisiana its Fat Tuesday, a tradition like no other. There are parades across south Louisiana. In New Orleans, the party will go until midnight and these revelers on historic St. Charles Avenue are ready…:

CUT 06(06)      “…never enough.”

Today is the last day of parades until next January. It will be an early Mardi Gras in 2024 as Fat Tuesday next year is February 13th.

Authorities arrest a 19-year-old in connection with the Sunday night shooting death of a person in the Coteau area. Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Katherine Breaux says Caiden Sheridan was arrested by Lake Charles police Monday night…:

CUT 09(08)      “…2^nd-degree murder.”

The victim’s name has not been released pending positive identification from the coroner.

Detectives in Vernon Parish are asking the public for help with a 33-year-old cold case of a teen that disappeared…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Thorington.”

Deputies in Tangipahoa Parish have now recovered over 160 stolen cellphones, and made additional arrests of a gang of pickpockets from Miami, who came to Louisiana to prey on Mardi Gras parade revelers. If your phone was pilfered, contact the Tangipahoa sheriff’s Office to see if they have it.