21-year-old Chance Seneca of Lafayette is sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for kidnapping and attempted murder of a gay man as part of a hate crime scheme. U-S Attorney Brandon says hate crimes are a top priority for the D-O-J and they take these kinds of cases very seriously…

Cut 8 (11)  “…ever gets out.” 

Charges against 19-year-old Blayne Terrebonne of Larose have been upgraded after authorities say he sold 15-year-old female drugs in October that led to her death. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Brennan Matherne says detectives identified Terrebonne as the suspect and originally charged him with drug distribution.

Cut 5 (09) “…our office.”

The indicated high levels of fentanyl.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell responded to allegations she had a sexual relationship with a New Orleans Police Officer assigned to be her bodyguard. Those claims were made in divorce papers by the estranged wife of NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie. Cantrell says this is a personal matter for the Vappie family.

Cut 12 (03) “…of yours.”

Cantrell has denied the allegations after a FOX 8 tv investigation showed video of Vappie sending time with herr during the day and late at night at the city own apartment.

Many elected officials from Louisiana are in the nation’s capital for Washington Mardi Gras, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says over the next three days, says there will be several different dinners featuring Louisiana cuisine and there are also plenty of social events at night…

Cut 10 (11) “…hazardously” 

Charges against 19-year-old Blayne Terrebonne of Larose have been upgraded to second-degree murder after authorities say he sold 15-year-old female drugs that led to her death. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Brennan Matherne says on October 27^th, deputies first responded to a 16-year-male in Galliano.

Cut  4 (10)  “…suspected overdose.” 

Toxicology results indicated high levels of fentanyl in her system.

The state department of corrections says it’s reviewing a U-S Department of Justice report that finds the state is routinely keeping inmates in prison past their release dates, which is a violation of the 14th amendment. Baton Rouge attorney Lindsey Blouin says it’s been a problem for over a decade…

cut 12 (09) “…issues fixed”

A federal judge sentences 21-year-old Chance Seneca of Lafayette for attempting to kill a gay man he groomed on the dating app, Grindr. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The U-S Department of Justice says the Louisiana Department of Corrections is violating inmates constitutional rights by routinely holding them past their release dates. The report highlighted a four-month period last year where 27-percent of the people released from state custody were held past their release dates. Defense attorney Lindsey Blouin says this practice costs Louisiana millions of dollars…
cut 11 (09) “….thousands of people”
Defense attorney Lindsey Blouin says the department of corrections needs more money to update their computer system.

Many elected officials from Louisiana are in the nation’s capital for Washington Mardi Gras, but House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says it’s not all fun and games. Schexnayder says there are economic development meetings with the goal of bringing more manufacturing jobs to the state
Cut 9 (08) “…get it done”
21-year-old Chance Seneca of Lafayette has been sentenced to 45 years in a federal prison for attempting to dismember a gay man that he met on the dating app Grindr. US Attorney Brandon Brown says Seneca became fixated with the idea of killing gay men and he was fascinated with notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer…
cut 7 (07) “…quite some time”
The victim survived the attack, but has physical, emotional and psychological scars.

19-year-old Blayne Terrebonne of Larose has been charged with second-degree murder for selling a pill containing fentanyl that led to a 15-year-old female’s overdose death last October. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Brennan Matherne says the victim thought she was taking Percocet, but the toxicology report said otherwise.
Cut 3 (12) “…second-degree murder.”
Bail for Terrebonne has been set at 500-thousand dollars.

A Lafayette man has been sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for kidnapping and attempting to murder a gay man as part of a hate crime scheme. U-S Attorney Brandon Brown says Chance Seneca used the dating app, Grindr, to groom his victim and in 2020, he handcuffed his victim at a Lafayette home and tried to dismember him…
cut 6 (07) “…changed his mind”
The victim is 21-year-old Holden White who says the attack has left him with no feeling in his hands, a limited voice and permanent scars.

The U-S Department of Justice says the Louisiana Department of Corrections regularly violates the Fourteenth Amendment when it holds inmates past their release date. Baton Rouge Defense Attorney Lindsay Blouin (blu-in) says the pandemic revealed a number of deficiencies within the criminal justice system that should be fixed.
Cut 10 (06) “…update their status.”
The D-O-C says it’s reviewing the D-O-J report, which says between January and April last year, nearly 27-percent of the people released from state custody were held past their release date.

Three Louisiana teachers received a $25 thousand dollar award for their outstanding educator skills.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

Washington Mardi Gras gets underway today in D-C as Governor Edwards and several elected officials and business leaders from Louisiana conduct meetings with federal officials. But there is also partying and LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says including a formal ball on Saturday…
cut 8 (09) “…Carnival style”

The Department of Justice says the Louisiana Department of Corrections is violating the 14th Amendment by holding inmates beyond their release date. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged 19-year-old Blayne Terrebonne of Larose with second-degree murder in the death of a 15-year-old girl who overdosed on fentanyl last October. Blayne Terrebonne was originally arrested for drug distribution, but investigators say they’ve learned Terrebonne sold the victim a pill pressed from pure fentanyl.

The annual Washington D.C. Mardi Gras gets underway today. The event has become a staple for political folk who want to “see-and-be-seen,” network and fund raise. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford is in the nation’s capital…
Cut 7 (13) “…events take place.”
Candidates running for governor will use Washington Mardi Gras as a chance to build their campaign teams and fund raise.

Lafayette Parish third grade teacher Corrie Campbell is one of three teachers in Louisiana to receive a 25-thousand dollar award from the Milken Family Foundation because of her outstanding teaching skills…
cut 6 (14) “…more engaging”
Prairieville teacher Elise Frederic and Port Allen’s Dereka Duncan also received the Milken Educator Award.

The state department of corrections says it’s reviewing a U-S Department of Justice report that finds the state is routinely keeping inmates in prison passed their release dates, which is a violation of the 14th amendment. Baton Rouge attorney Lindsey Blouin says it’s been a problem for over a decade…
cut 12 (09) “…issues fixed”

Washington Mardi Gras gets underway today and numerous elected officials are in D-C conducting business, building relationships and since this is an election year, they are also raising cash….
cut 9 (07) “…raising money”
La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says gubernatorial candidates Jeff Landry and John Schroder held fundraisers last night and this afternoon Sharon Hewitt will hold one.

Authorities arrested a 15-year-old female who allegedly called in bomb threats into a restaurant in Opelousas and five schools in St. Landry Parish. Deputy Chief of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office Eddie Thibodaux says they got involved yesterday when Northwest High School received a bomb threat. He says the school was evacuated and bomb dogs were brought in…
Cut 13 (10) “…received one.”
A final bomb threat was called into Washington Career Center.

Three south Louisiana teachers are $25 thousand dollars richer for receiving the Milken Educator Award which goes to about 40 elementary educators across the country every year. The three recipients are Prairieville teacher Elise Frederic, Port Allen’s Dereka Duncan, and Lafayette Parish teacher Corrie Campbell. Frederick won the award for her innovative teaching skills with first graders.
Cut 4 (12) “…appreciate it.”

The U-S Department of Justice says the Louisiana Department of Corrections is violating inmates constitutional rights by routinely holding them past their release dates. The report highlighted a four-month period last year where 27-percent of the people released from state custody were held past their release dates. The report says this unconstitutiional practice costs Louisiana over two-point-five million dollars a year…
cut 11 (09) “….thousands of people”
Defense attorney Lindsey Blouin says the department of corrections needs more money to update their computer system.

A 15-year-old has been taken into custody after allegedly calling in bomb threats to a restaurant in Opelousas and five different schools in St. Landry Parish. Deputy Chief of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Eddie Thibodaux, says some kids might think it’s a fun prank, but the consequences are not…
cut 14 (10) “….the departments”

Washington Mardi Gras gets underway today in D-C as Governor John Bel Edwards and numerous other elected officials and business leaders from Louisiana conduct meetings with federal officials. But there is also some partying and LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Washington Mardi Gras ends with a formal ball on Saturday night…
cut 8 (09) “…Carnival style”

Students and teachers at Cohn (CAH-n) Elementary School in Port Allen are celebrating fifth grade science teacher Dereka Duncan’s achievement of receiving 25-thousand dollars as she is a recipient of the Milken Educator Award….
cut 5 (13) “…state of Louisiana”
Duncan is one of three Louisiana teachers to receive the Milken Educator Award.

The U-S Department of Justice says the Louisiana Department of Corrections regularly violates the Fourteenth Amendment when it holds inmates past their release date. Baton Rouge Defense Attorney Lindsay Blouin (blu-in) says the pandemic revealed a number of deficiencies within the criminal justice system that should be fixed.
Cut 10 (06) “…update their status.”
The D-O-C says it’s reviewing the D-O-J report, which says between January and April last year, nearly 27-percent of the people released from state custody were held past their release date.

A 15-year-old female is in custody after allegedly calling bomb threats to a restaurant in Opelousas and five different schools in St. Landry Parish. Deputy Chief of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office Eddie Thibodaux urges parents to talk to their kids about the repercussions of calling in false complaints…
cut 15 (10) “…false alarms”

The annual Washington D.C. Mardi Gras gets underway today. Kevin Gallagher reports on the must-attend event for movers, shakers and candidates for office…:
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

While the Tigerland Bar Reggie’s is being investigated for serving minors involved with the alleged sexual assault of Madison Brooks, the state has suspended their liquor license.   East Baton Rouge Alcoholic Beverage Control Board member Scott Wilfong says bars should not allow anyone under the age of 21 to enter.

Cut 5 (10) “…the age to 21.”

In his press briefing U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy was asked about classified federal documents recently found in President Biden’s office in Philadelphia, and in two homes in Delaware. Cassidy says there’s no good reason for a former Vice President to have such files in his personal possession…:

Cut 6 (08)  “…different residences. Period.” 

Classified documents were discovered this week in the home of former vice President Mike Pence.

It’s National Passenger Safety Week and State Police is urging passengers to speak up for their safety when in a dangerous driving situation. Trooper Ross Brennan says vehicle passengers make up 62 percent of traffic fatalities in the U.S.

Cut 11 (11) “…the nation.”

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says Mardi Gras Krewes will be able to use their full parade routes this year, after COVID and lack of law enforcement officers, forced them to abbreviate their routes. Cantrell announce this morning that the city has secured enough law enforcement officers for Mardi Gras this year.

Cut 12 (12) “…traditional routes.”

Trouble for notorious Tigerland bar Reggie’s in Baton Rouge; its liquor license is suspended after 4 underage youths were served – and likely overserved – and then went on to allegedly gang rape an LSU co-ed. Scott Wilfong is on the local Alcoholic Beverage Control board. He says Reggie’s has been cited for serving minors before. He says an investigation is warranted…:

CUT 04(12)      “…the license.”

He says state and local lawmakers should consider measures to curtail underage drinking. Police say 19-year-old Madison Brooks had a blood alcohol level of .319 when she was hit and killed by a car, after the suspects in her attack dropped her on the roadside.

Ouachita Parish deputies are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in West Monroe Wednesday. A requested welfare check of the home revealed that Zane Brantley and Gwen Brantley were both dead. They says it looks like one killed the other, then themselves.

It’s National Passenger Safety Week and passengers are being encouraged to speak up. Whitney Thomas reports…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Whitney Thomas.”

The National Weather Service confirms that an EF1 tornado hit the town of Ventress in Pointe Coupee Parish last night. The twister tossed multiple mobile homes onto their side and even tore one apart. Three people were treated for minor to moderate injuries.