One of three Alexandria area men accused of the murder of Deven Brooks just over a year ago pleads guilty to 2^nd degree murder. Rapides Parish Assistant D.A. Lea Hall says 22-year-old Terry Lavalais changed his plea during jury selection. Two others, Jamaria Randle and Tremaine Veal, have trials set to start soon.

CUT 16  (11)        “…for this victim.”

Police say their motive for killing Brooks was theft.

A Hahnville man will spend at least eight years in prison for his role in a July 4^th 2020 boating fatality on Bayou Des Allemands in St. Charles Parish. State Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says 25-year-old Kevin Comardelle was driving a boat when it collided with another boat…:

CUT 06(09)      “…he was intoxicated.”

36-year-old Audrey Higgins, of Luling, was killed in that boat crash.

Congressman Steve Scalise and U.S. House Republicans pass a bill to bring federal employees back to the office. Jeff Palermo has more…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

State Farm Insurance, the largest auto insurer in Louisiana, says they will no longer cover certain models of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, because the cars and SUV’s are vulnerable to theft. They are all from model years 2015 through 2021. Those already covered will continue to be…but State Farm will write no NEW policies for these models. The Louisiana Department of Insurance said it has not been notified

One of the three men accused in the January 2022 fatal shooting death of Deven Brooks, in Alexandria, has pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree murder. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Lee Hall says 22-year-old Terrance Lavalais entered the guilty plea during jury selection…:

CUT 15(10)      “…that time.”

Brooks’ body was found on the edge of the Red River in Alexandria. Her body was bound with cable, zip ties and duct tape. Two others are also charged with her murder, Jamaria Randle and Tremaine Veal. Their trials are pending.

Congressman Steve Scalise says it’s time for federal agency workers to stop working from home due to pandemic – which is over – and get back to the office. He and fellow House GOP members passed the SHOW UP Act Wednesday. He says taxpayers are growing impatient with the government they pay for…:

CUT 05(10)      “…go back to work.”

A $1,300 reward is being offered for the safe return of a Shar Pei puppy that was stolen in New Orleans Monday. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.

It’s Groundhog Day and while the rodent in Pennsylvania DID see his shadow, the weather predicting nutria, Pierre C. Shadeaux in New Iberia, did NOT today. That means, as the folklore goes, we’ll see a longer, warmer spring in Louisiana. We always have a long warm spring, am I right?

Congressman and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise led colleagues in passing a bill requiring federal workers to return to the office. It’s dubbed the “SHOW UP Act”; an acronym for Stopping Home Office Work’s Unproductive Problems He says the federal government shouldn’t be operating in lockdown mode anymore. He cites the Veterans Administration as an example of the so-called “unproductive problems.”

Cut  4 (12)  “…that hurts people.” 

The bill heads to the Senate.

25-year-old Kevin Comardelle of Hahnville was sentenced to 8 years after the boat he was operating on July 4^th ran into another and killed 36-year-old Audrey Higgins. State Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says Comardelle was intoxicated.

Cut 8 (04)  “…prevented.” 

Four other passengers suffered significant injuries.

Thirty-one-year-old Louis Foret of Morgan City has received a life sentence after admitting to fatally shooting a Thibodaux man multiple times two years ago. Lafourche Parish District Attorney spokesperson David Melancon says Foret shot and killed his friend Chance Benoit.

Cut 14 (11)   “..hung up the phone.”

After a Shar Pei puppy was stolen from a Lakeview home in New Orleans Monday, a $1300 reward is being offered for its safe return. Humane Society of Louisiana Director Jeff Dorson says when UNO student Scott Elston arrived at his home, artwork and electronics had been stolen along with his beloved puppy Toby.

Cut 10 (11) “…they’re doing.” 

You’re asked to contact the Humane Society of Louisiana if you have any information about the puppy.

District 1 Congressman and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise led colleagues in passing a bill requiring federal workers to return to the office. It’s dubbed the “SHOW UP Act”; an acronym for Stopping Home Office Work’s Unproductive Problems. On the House floor, Scalise tells members the government should be held to the same standard as taxpayers…:

CUT 03(09)      “…get the job done.”

He says needed government services for taxpayers are going undone because federal offices are un-staffed or badly under-staffed. He says the pandemic is over and it’s time to stop working from home.

A Hahnville man gets 8 years in prison for a July 4^th 2020 DWI boating accident that killed a woman. State Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman Adam Einck says 25-year-old Kevin Comardelle was found to be intoxicated while piloting the boat. 36-year-old Audrey Higgins of Luling was killed in the collision. Einck says Comardelle was convicted of vehicular homicide and four counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injuring…:

CUT 07(09)      “…of the vessel.”

There’s a $1300 reward offered for helping New Orleans student Scott Elston recover his stolen Shar Pei puppy. The dogs can easily cost that much or more to obtain. Louisiana Humane Society director Jeff Dorson says someone broke in while Elston was in class…:

CUT 09(10)      “…called Toby.”

Shar Peis are hard to miss for all their folds of skin. Call 888-6-HUMANE if you think you’ve seen Toby.

A police officer in the West Baton Rouge Parish town of Addis, who caused the death of two teen girls while engaged in a high speed chase on New Year’s Eve, has resigned his job. Officer David Cauthern and officers from other jurisdictions were chasing a car theft suspect, when he broadsided the girls’ vehicle. He has been charged with 2 counts of negligent vehicular homicide.

In Washington D.C. Congressman Steve Scalise and U.S. House Republicans pass a bill to bring federal employees back to the office. Jeff Palermo has more…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and 19 other state AG’s have warned pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens against mailing abortion pills into their jurisdictions, and imply they will take legal action. The message reads they will (quote) “uphold the law and protect the health, safety, and well-being of women and unborn children.”

A Morgan City man gets life behind bars for the 2021 shooting death of Chance Benoit of Thibodaux. Lafourche parish DA’s spokesman Dave Melancon says 31-year-old Louis Foret had been a friend of the victim…:

CUT 13(10)      “…was shot dead.”

Foret changed his plea to guilty, just as trial was about to start. He was sentenced to life in prison for 2^nd degree murder.

A man in the Lakeview area of New Orleans says there’s a reward offered for the return of his stolen dog; a Shar Pei puppy named Toby. UNO student Scott Elston says someone nabbed the pooch while he in class.

…and now today’s commodities…

Thirty-one-year-old Louis Foret of Morgan City has received a life sentence after admitting to fatally shooting a Thibodaux man multiple times two years ago. Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s spokesman David Melancon says Foret entered the guilty plea as his trial was set to begin…:

CUT 12(10)      “…Pleading guilty.”

Melancon says Foret killed his friend Chance Benoit at his home on a February night in 2021

A Hahnville man will spend eight years in prison for his role in a July 4^th boating fatality in St. Charles Parish. State Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says 25-year-old Kevin Comardelle was driving a boat when it collided with another boat…:

CUT 06(09)      “…he was intoxicated.”

The victim was 36-year-old Audrey Higgins of Luling, she was a passenger in the other vessel and several other passengers received significant injuries.

As lawmakers debate a plan to help alleviate soaring property insurance costs and availability, there is growing support for a plan to incentivize homeowners to hurricane-proof their roofs and lower their coverage costs. Winnfield Representative Jack McFarland supports the idea of the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program…:

CUT 04(11)      “…insurance premiums.”

In essence, the program would give homeowners grants of up to $10-thousand (paid from a special fund) to retrofit their home’s roof so it is capable of withstanding 150-mile-an-hour winds.

At the Capitol, the Senate Finance Committee is now discussing the $45-million Insure Louisiana Incentive Fund, to help ease the state’s property insurance crisis. Tens of thousands have lost their home insurance in the last couple years, and were forced into Louisiana Citizens. Rates at the state-run insurers are, by law, higher than the private market and they just went up by over 60-percent.

The Louisiana House has approved a bill that puts 45-million dollars to an incentive fund for insurance companies to provide homeowners coverage. It 90-8 vote. Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan voted against it.

Cut 13 (13)  “….make sense.”

Funding the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program will be debated at the regular session. The program would give homeowners grants to have their roofs updated to withstand 150-mile-per-hour winds and Winnfield Representative Jack McFarland says it would lower insurance rates.

Cut 5 (14) “…hold the roof down.”

The regular session begins April 10^th.

The 2022 Louisiana Economic Development Annual Report says the state topped $20 billion in economic investment for a second consecutive year. And LED Secretary Don Pierson says their focus isn’t just on metro areas of the state.

Cut 11 (12)  “…larger companies.”

Antiques Roadshow is coming to Baton Rouge. You can register to win tickets at pbs.org forward slash antiques. Roadshow Producer Marsha Bemko says appraisers will tell participants where the two items were made, a little history about it, and their value. But when experts eye something remarkable the experience is quite different.

Cut 9 (06)  “…cameras are rolling.”

The deadline to register for tickets is March 13^th and the show will be recorded on May 2^nd.

State lawmakers in the House approved a 45-million-dollar fund to award grants to insurance companies who provide homeowners coverage. The vote was 90-8 though some legislatures weren’t thrilled about the bill. But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is confident this will help stabilize the homeowner’s insurance market in Louisiana, at least for now. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says the Louisiana Legislature can propose additional ideas for the regular session that begins in April…”
Cut 15 (09) “let’s go”
One idea says Winnfield Representative Jack McFarland is to incentivize homeowners to hurricane-proof their roofs and lower their coverage costs. He says the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program is similar to one that works in other states…:
Cut 4 (11) “their insurance premiums”
The Incentive fund legislation will be discussed in the Senate starting today.

If you’re a fan of Antiques Roadshow, listen up because the 20-time Emmy Award-winning series is coming to Baton Rouge. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

There is growing concern about flooding for much of the state today as more rain is in the forecast after what’s already been a wet couple of weeks. Most of North Louisiana is under a flood watch with some areas under a flood warning today, and sandbag locations are being set up at various locations.

The state House has approved a plan that creates a 45-million-dollar incentive fund to attract more private insurers to the state. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Now there is growing support to incentivize homeowners to hurricane-proof their roofs. Winnfield Representative Jack McFarland says the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program is a proven plan…:
Cut 6 (09) “and fortifying”

The Antiques Roadshow is coming to Baton Rouge on May 2nd, and two thousand pairs of tickets will be issued to folks who will be able to bring two items to be appraised for free. Roadshow producer Marsha Bemko says it’s an opportunity to have experts evaluate your treasures, so bring in something that you can’t look up on the internet…:
Cut 8 (09) “came in”
The deadline to register for tickets is March 13th and participants will be notified in mid-April if they’ve won tickets.

It’s Groundhog Day and while the rodent in Pennsylvania did see his shadow, the weather predicting nutria Pierre C Shadeaux did not in New Iberia today. That means, as the folklore goes, we’ll see a longer spring in Louisiana.

There was no big winner in last night’s Powerball drawing. Saturday’s jackpot is worth $700 million with a cash value of $375.7 million.

Some legislators weren’t happy about it, but the Louisiana House approved a $45 million dollar funding bill to incentivize more property insurers to write policies here. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said if this isn’t done thousands of homeowners below I-10 and I-12 would lose their homes. Plaquemine Representative Chad Brown was hoping Donelon would have provided more options…:
CUT 14 (11) “be more competitive”
The measure advanced on a 90-8 vote and now heads to the Senate where it will likely also pass.

The state has topped the $20 billion dollar investment mark for a second consecutive year and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson predicts additional expansion and thus more good news for 2023…:
CUT 12 (10) “for Louisiana”

A Winnfield lawmaker says, instead of paying property insurers to come to Louisiana, why not pay homeowners to make their roofs hurricane-proof…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

It’s Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow this morning. In New Iberia they are still waiting for the weather predicting nutria to make a move. Pierre C. Shadeaux’s foretells longer spring, or shorter summer? One thing is for certain and that is he’ll be one wet nutria as most of the entire state will see rain all day today.