The Department of Children and Family Services is under fire again after news of another infant fentanyl overdose death.  Days before one-year-old J’ahrei Paul of Baton Rouge’s Halloween death, the agency received an anonymous report he was in possible danger. DCFS Secretary Marketa Walters says a manpower shortage plus a sharp spike in child welfare cases is the reason stuff is slipping through crack. She says she’s assigning point person to oversee all such cases…:

CUT 07(06)      “…of response.”

DCFS is also seeking to hire a lot more new case workers.

The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1.9-Billion for tonight’s drawing. A lump-sum payment would net a single winner over $929-million. Louisiana Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison says excitement is building over the chance to become an instant millionaire…:

CUT 13(10)      “…exciting times.”

Tickets will be on sale until 9 tonight.

Last week we told you the low levels of the Mississippi River were affecting commerce. No, here’s solid evidence. The USDA says the number of grain barges ofload3ed at the Port of New Orleans is down 20-to-30-percent. This is because of shallow water limiting draft depth and the number of barges that can be connected. This can lead to a reduction of 10-to-15-thousand barrels per barge.

It’s getting dark earlier now that we are back on Central Standard Time, and that can make driving home in the evening a little tricky. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesman Mark Lambert says the drive home will be happening during twilight hours, when visibility is lessened. He says motorists can help avoid accidents with just a few simple steps…:

CUT 10(11)      “…when it’s dark.”

Lambert says there is a statistical increase in traffic accidents on the Monday after a time change; especially when “falling back” to Standard Time.

Days before the second high-profile death of an infant from fentanyl, the Department of Children and Families Services was alerted to his possible danger. Secretary Marketa Garner Walters defends her agency…:

CUT 2   (33)      “…Thorington.”

Deputies in Lafayette Parish arrest a man for murder, after a body was found Sunday morning. The victim is identified as Raul de Jesus Ortiz, age unknown. Detectives arrested 24-year-old Jose Nikolas Venture for 2^nd degree murder. The investigation is ongoing.

A real eyebrow raiser, as the state Republican Party voted last night to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor; a full year before the election. “LaPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says the GOP met virtually last night to do it. He questions whether the endorsement is worth all that much…:

CUT 04(13)      “…in Louisiana politics.”

There was no multistate Powerball winner Saturday, so the jackpot for tonight’s drawing is a bona fide record setter. Louisiana Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison…:

CUT 12(06)      “…jackpot lottery ever.”

A single winner selecting a lump-sum cash payment would collect just over $929-million. Tickets are on sale until 9 tonight.

The Louisiana Republican Party last night voted to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor eleven months before the election. Why…?

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby.”

State Police are investigating an officer-involved fatal shooting Sunday in Alexandria. LSP says a Rapides parish sheriff’s deputy shot a suspect and the person did not survive. The circumstances that led to the shooting have not been made public yet, as evidence is still being examined.

The Department of Children and Family Services is under fire again after news of another infant fentanyl overdose death.  Days before one-year-old J’ahrei Paul of Baton Rouge’s October 31st death, the agency received an anonymous report he was in possible danger. Reporters at a press conference this morning asked Secretary Marketa Garner Walters why they waited until Saturday to issue a press release…:

CUT 06(07)      “…when I can say them.”

It’s getting dark earlier now that we are back on Central Standard Time, and that can make driving home in the evening a little tricky. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesman Mark Lambert says a study done several years ago by Stanford University suggests there is a real, measureable effect of time changes on motorists…:

CUT 09  (09)        Savings Time ends

The Louisiana Republican party executive committee voted last night to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry in next year’s governor’s race. LA Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford called it historic—and controversial.
Cut 3 (12) “…same thing.”
Alford says this is a sign of Landry flexing his political muscles a year away from the election.

LSU has received another 250-thousand dollar fine from the SEC because its fans rushed onto the field after the Tigers dramatic overtime victory over Alabama. Coach Brian Kelly says the 102-thousand inside Tiger Stadium were a major factor…
cut 13 (12) “….for us”
The seismograph on LSU’s campus registered the ground shaking when Jayden Daniels scored in overtime and then three minutes later on the two point conversion.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says orders for abortion pills in Louisiana have increased 170 percent since abortion clinics closed….
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

A three-year-old and the driver of a Buick are fighting for their lives after suffering significant injuries from a major crash on Interstate 49 in Caddo Parish last night. Deputies say the Buick was heading in the wrong direction on the interstate when it slammed head-on into another vehicle. First responders say the three-year-old was not restrained and was found in the trunk of the Buick.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says since abortion clinics closed permanently, there’s been a 170-percent increase in online purchases for overseas abortion polls from Louisiana addresses. During the 2022 legislative session, a bill was passed making it illegal to order such medications in Louisiana, but New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman voted against it because there’s no way to enforce it.
cut 5 (10) “….be enforced”

Bishop Dee Williamston has been elected as the new bishop of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Williamston will be the first African American bishop to lead the Louisiana Conference. She served 22 years in the Kansas Army National Guard. She said the training was tough.
Cut 8 (07) “…for the church.”
Williamston takes over January 1st.

LSU fans will talk about the two-point conversion that beat Alabama for decades to come. …
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The seismograph on LSU’s campus registered the ground shanking when Jayden Daniels scored a touchdown in overtime and then three minutes later when the Tigers converted the winning two-point conversion. A small earthquake was also reported in April during country music star Garth Brooks’ performance in Tiger Stadium and in 1988 when LSU upset Auburn.

The LSU Tigers are up to number seven in the latest AP poll after their unbelievable overtime win over Alabama. After LSU lost to Florida State in the season opener, many thought this would be a tough transitional season for the Tigers. But QB Jayden Daniels kept the faith
cut 16 (16) “…every week.”
LSU is at Arkansas this Saturday.

Dee Williamston will take over as the new bishop of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. The 57-year-old will be the first African-American bishop of the Louisiana Conference. Her election comes as dozens of churches are leaving the United Methodist Church over same sex marriages and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy…
cut 9 (12) “….better together”

According to the oil field services firm Baker Hughes, the number of drilling rigs in Haynesville has risen over the last year to 70 from 47. The Advocate reports the war in Ukraine has led to a big demand in natural gas and producers are getting top dollar for the fuel that they can ship overseas thanks to natural gas faciliies on the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

Passenger rail service could be coming to Northeast Louisiana as soon as 2025. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association says abortion pills shipped from overseas to Louisiana addresses have increased 170-percent since abortion clinics were closed permanently in August. New Orleans State Representative and Democrat Aimee Freeman doesn’t see the trend of ordering abortion medications online decreasing anytime soon…
cut 6 (11) “…only option”
According to the study, Louisiana leads every other state in online abortion pill orders, followed by Mississippi.

LSU has received another 250-thousand dollar fine from the SEC because its fans rushed onto the field after the Tigers dramatic overtime victory over Alabama. Coach Brian Kelly says the 102-thousand inside Tiger Stadium were a major factor…
cut 13 (12) “….for us”
LSU is at Arkansas this Saturday.

With 68 out of 400 Methodist Churches in Louisiana leaving over same-sex marriage and gay clergy, the state conference of the United Methodist Church is bringing in a new bishop to try to heal the division…..
cut 23 (27) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby”

Tomorrow is election day, polls will open from 6 AM to 8 PM. Elections for U-S Senate, U-S Representative and eight constitutional amendments highlight the ballot. There are also some competitive mayoral races.

Tonight’s Powerball drawing has a record Jackpot of one-point-nine billion dollars. Ticket sales end at 9 PM tonight.

LSU fans are still in a state of euphoria following the Tigers upset 32-31 victory over Alabama in overtime on Saturday night. The Bayou Bengals won the game on a successful two-point conversion as Jayden Daniels threw a pass to tight end Mason Taylor who got into the end zone. Coach Brian Kelly on the decision to go for two…
cut 14 (10) 100 times out of 100″
LSU is up to number seven in the AP poll and will visit Arkansas this Saturday.

The Southern Rail Commission says passenger rail service could come to north Louisiana as early as 2025. Southern Rail Commission chairman Knox Ross says a study will need to be conducted first…
cut 11 (09) “…begin that process”
Ross says once the study is complete, the rail line could be running by late 2025.

The state department of Children and Family Services will hold a press conference this morning to discuss the death of one-year-old J’ahrei Paul. The coroner says the Baton Rouge toddler died of a fentanyl overdose. DCFS says they previously investigated the child’s mother for marijuana use during her pregnancies. She was in jail in Texas at the time of the child’s death. The child was in the care of her father when the infant was taken to the hospital last Monday.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says orders for abortion pills in Louisiana have increased 170 percent since abortion clinics closed….
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, since abortion clinics closed permanently in Louisiana the number of online purchases of abortion pills from addresses in the state have increased by 170 percent. New Orleans Democrat State Representative Aimee Freeman says she’s not surprised.

Cut 4 (09) “…online.”
The Louisiana Right to Life says it’s dangerous to terminate a pregnancy through an abortion pill.
68 out of approximately 400 United Methodist churches in the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church say they are leaving over same sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. A new bishop is being brought in to try to heal divisions. Bishop Dee Williamston says she is in favor of inclusion at the church’s table

Cut 7 (06) “…God’s children.”
Passenger rail service could be coming to Northeast Louisiana as soon as 2025. A conference held last week in Monroe discussed launching a study of implementing the service. Southern Rail Commission chairman Knox Ross says it’s an idea people have asked for and been working toward for 25 years. He says the proposal is to split the existing New Orleans-to-Washington DC route at Meridian, Mississippi…:

Cut 10 (11) “…to Dallas/Fort Worth.”
Ross says the study should get underway soon, and should not take long to complete.
Who would have thought that LSU would be in contention to win an SEC title less than a year after Brian Kelly was named the head coach of the Tigers? But that’s the situation facing the Bayou Bengals after their dramatic 32-31 overtime win over Alabama on Saturday. Kelly’s team could win the SEC west this Saturday with a win over Arkansas and an Ole Miss loss…
cut 15 (10) “….Arkansas next”
Kick-off at Arkansas is at 11 AM.

Funeral services are underway in Ferriday for rock n roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis. The funeral is taking place at Young’s Funeral Home and Owner of Mid-South Broadcasting Jim Bob Allgood says there should be a big crowd to say goodbye to the man who’s been wowing audiences since he was 13…:

CUT 16(16)  “…on Saturday.”

The service is being streamed on mid-south-dot-tv.

Don’t forget to set the clocks back one hour tonight as we return to Standard Time. No one likes time changes some prefer extra daylight in the morning others in the evening LSU Health New Orleans psychologist Dr. Michelle Moore…:

CUT 11(08)      “…normally wake up.”

State Police graduate 23 newly trained cadets Friday, which should help with a manpower shortage. Trooper Sgt. Monroe Dillon says the accelerated cadet grads are not complete rookies, and they’ll be added to troops statewide to help the veterans…:

CUT 08(08)      “…the police.”

The drawing for tonight’s Powerball Jackpot hits an all-time high at $1.6 billion, with a cash value of $782-million. Louisiana Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison says that is driving ticket sales. From August 6th through to Thursday over $25-million in tickets in Louisiana alone…:

CUT 04(08)      “…in Louisiana.”

It’s been since 2018 that anyone in Louisiana has scored a Powerball jackpot…so we’re due.