Five inmates from last Friday’s jailbreak at the Orleans Parish jail have been captured and five of them remain on the run. And State Police announced this afternoon that two people have been arrested for allegedly assisting some of the fugitives. The individuals arrested have been identified as 32-year-old Cortnie Harris of New Orleans and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptist of Slidell..

Meanwhile, the calls are growing for the Orleans sheriff to resign…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

The Louisiana House has approved legislation that would increase the tax on online sports betting operators like Draft Kings and Fan Duel. The tax would increase from 15-percent to 21.5 percent and Division one college athletic programs would receive some of the revenue, two million dollars for each school. Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator says the bill’s author, Columbia Representative Neil Riser, originally proposed a higher tax…

Cut 14 (09) “….their lobbying efforts”

The measure heads to the Senate for more discussion.

The Jimmie Davis Bridge Construction project has hit the one-year mark. DOTD spokesperson Erin Buchannan says the contractor continues to make progress with building the foundations of the new four-lane bridge in Bossier and Caddo Parishes and significant work is underway to realign and widen LA 511 on both sides of the river…

Cut 5 (09) “…two years from now”

As the search for the five remaining Orleans Parish Jail escapees continues, calls grow for the sheriff to step down. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Online sportsbooks could soon be paying additional state taxes if a certain bill makes it onto Governor Landry’s desk. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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It’s been one year since construction began on a new 360-million-dollar Jimmie Davis Bridge in Bossier and Caddo parishes.  State Transportation spokesperson Erin Buchanan says the new four-lane bridge will replace the existing two-lane structure….

Cut 3 (08) “…in those areas.”

Construction of the bridge’s foundations is advancing, aided by two temporary trestle bridges. Buchanan says significant work is also underway to realign and widen LA 511, including a raised median to enhance traffic flow.

Cut 4 (08) “…things like that.”

Buchanan says the project is set to open in early to mid 2027 and will serve over 30-thousand vehicles daily.

Cut 5 (09) “…two years from now.”

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Five down, five to go – Five inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center last Friday have been recaptured, and five remain on the loose. As the search for the remaining at-large escapees continues, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson continues to come under fire – so much so that she has temporarily suspended her re-election bid. Hutson told the New Orleans City Council that the jailbreak is very troubling.

Cut 6 (09) “…urgency and transparency.”

But Sheriff Hutson deflected some of the blame, saying that the city has not provided her office the necessary resources to properly operate the jail and prevent incidents like this.

Cut 7 (14) “…match our needs”

A pair of House Democrats who represent New Orleans are calling for Hutson not only to drop her re-election bid, but also to step down immediately. Among them is Jason Hughes.

Cut 8 (08) “…down to leadership.”

Another House member feeling the same way is Aimee Adatto Freeman.

Cut 9 (10)  “…from these criminals.”

The total reward money for each remaining fugitive is 20-thousand dollars – 10-thousand from the FBI and the rest from ATF and Crime Stoppers.

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A state representative is charged with DWI and child endangerment after he was involved in a single vehicle wreck early this morning. Three children in the vehicle. State Police Trooper Jacob Pucheu (POO-show) says troopers arrested Marrero Democrat Kyle Green.

Cut 10 (07) “…placed under arrest.”

Troopers transported Green, who was uninjured in the crash, to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, where he refused to provide a breath sample. Trooper Pucheu says the crash happened at around 2:30 this morning on  U.S. 90-B in Jefferson Parish and the crash was minor in nature.

Cut 11 (10) “…with him, though.”

Pucheu says troopers at the scene noticed signs of impairment and conducted a series of field sobriety tests…

Cut 12 (08) “…injury or death.”

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Online sportsbooks could soon be paying additional state taxes if a certain bill makes it onto Governor Landry’s desk. Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator says 25-percent of that added revenue would go to a new college sports fund.

Cut 13 (06)  “…One athletic programs.”

The legislature is betting on that added revenue adding about two-million dollars to each Division One college’s athletic program. While that may be a drop in the bucket for LSU, that would mean the world to smaller schools like ULM. Hutchinson says Columbia Republican Representative Neil Riser’s bill originally called for the tax rate to increase to 32.5-percent. But then, the sports betting lobbyists got involved.

Cut 14 (09) “…their lobbying efforts.”

Fiscal analysts had said that the state would have been able to parlay the original rate hike into almost 200-million dollars in annual sports betting tax collections. But with the scaled-back rate, the revenue estimate is less clear. Hutchinson says the state has nothing to lose by raising the online sports betting tax rate.

Cut 15 (11) “…not the same.”

The bill passed the House and is now in the Senate, where Hutchinson expects it to pass. Governor Landry has come out in favor of it. The tax rate for brick-and-mortar sports betting in Louisiana would remain unchanged at ten-percent.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says she takes full responsibility for last Friday’s jailbreak, in which ten inmates escaped. However, she also deflected some of the blame, telling the New Orleans City Council that the city has not provided her office the necessary resources to properly operate the jail and prevent incidents like this.

Cut 7 (14) “…match our needs”

Hutson has temporarily suspended her re-election campaign. But a growing number of state lawmakers, including Aimee Freeman, want her to end her bid altogether and step down immediately.

Cut 9 (10)  “…from these criminals.”

State Police, meanwhile, have arrested two women for allegedly helping some of the escapees following the jailbreak.

If you like to hop on your cell phone and bet on your favorite team, it could soon cost you more money to do so. The legislature is poised to increase the tax rate for online sports betting from 15-percent to 21.5-percent. Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator says 25-percent of that added revenue would go to a new college sports fund.

Cut 13 (06)  “…One athletic programs.”

The legislature is betting on that added revenue adding about two-million dollars to each Division One college’s athletic program.

Construction on the new 360-million-dollar Jimmie Davis Bridge along L-A 511 in Bossier and Caddo parishes has entered its second year. DOTD spokeswoman Erin Buchanan says work is also underway to realign and widen the roadway including a raised median to enhance traffic flow.

Cut 4 (08) “…things like that.”

The project is set to be completed in the middle of 2027.

It’s been one year since construction began on a new 360-million-dollar Jimmie Davis Bridge in Bossier and Caddo parishes. Construction of the bridge’s foundations is advancing, aided by two temporary trestle bridges. DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchanan says significant work is also underway to realign and widen LA 511, including a raised median to enhance traffic flow.

Cut 4 (08) “…things like that.”

A state representative is charged with DWI and child endangerment after he was involved in a single vehicle wreck early this morning. Three children in the vehicle. State Police Trooper Jacob Pucheu (POO-show) says troopers arrested Marrero Democrat Kyle Green.

Cut 10 (07) “…placed under arrest.”

Five down, five to go – Five inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center last Friday have been recaptured, and five remain on the loose. As the search for the remaining at-large escapees continues, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson continues to come under fire – so much so that she has temporarily suspended her re-election bid. Hutson told the New Orleans City Council that the jailbreak is very troubling.

Cut 6 (09) “…urgency and transparency.”

A pair of House Democrats who represent New Orleans are calling for Hutson not only to drop her re-election bid, but also to step down immediately. Among them is Jason Hughes.

Cut 8 (08) “…down to leadership.”

The search continues for five of the ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish jail last Friday. State Representative Aimee Freeman has called for Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson to resign…

Cut 9 (10) “…these criminals”

Hutson told the New Orleans City Council that she takes full accountability for this failure. But Hutson also told the council she does not have enough funding…

Cut 7 (14) “…our needs”

Hutson is up for re-election in October. She has suspended her campaign and she was already facing two challengers before the jail break.

State Police have charged state representative Kyle Green with a DWI and child endangerment after he was involved in a single vehicle wreck in Jefferson Parish during the middle of the night. The wreck happened at around 2:30 in the morning and no one was injured, including the three children he had in his vehicle. State Trooper Jacob Pucheu says troopers at the scene noticed signs of impairment and conducted a series of field sobriety tests..

Cut 12 (08) “….or death”

The children in the vehicle were released to a family member.

The Jimmie Davis Bridge Construction project has hit the one-year mark. DOTD spokesperson Erin Buchannan says the contractor continues to make progress with building the foundations of the new four-lane bridge in Bossier and Caddo Parishes and significant work is underway to realign and widen LA 511 on both sides of the river…

Cut 5 (09) “…two years from now”

As the search for the five remaining Orleans Parish Jail escapees continues, calls grow for the sheriff to step down. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that wounded four people. It happened last night in Rayville at the Richland Apartments. Deputies say three of the victims were sent to the hospital and one of the individuals declined medical treatment. Investigators believe gunfire erupted as a result of a physical altercation.

A bill that would make the Insurance Commissioner an appointed position in state government rather than an elected position appears to be dead for the legislative session. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis is author of the bill as part of an effort to lower insurance rates. He received push back fellow senators during the debate on the Senate floor. Bossier City Republican Adam Bass questioned Duplessis…

Cut 14 (15) “…finding another solution”

Duplessis tabled a vote as it appears he does not have the votes for it to pass.

It’s been one year since construction began on a new 360-million-dollar Jimmie Davis Bridge in Bossier and Caddo Parishes.  State Transportation spokesperson Erin Buchanan says the new 4-lane bridge will replace the existing 2-lane structure….

Cut 3 (08) “…in those areas.”

The new four-lane bridge will open in 2027.

Five down, five to go – Five inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center last Friday have been recaptured, and five remain on the loose. As the search for the remaining at-large escapees continues, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson continues to come under fire – so much so that she has temporarily suspended her re-election bid. Hutson told the New Orleans City Council that the jailbreak is very troubling.

Cut 6 (09) “…urgency and transparency.”

A pair of House Democrats who represent New Orleans are calling for Hutson not only to drop her re-election bid, but also to step down immediately. Among them is Jason Hughes.

Cut 8 (08) “…down to leadership.”

The total reward money for each remaining fugitive is 20-thousand dollars, including 10-thousand from the FBI.

The House Appropriations Committee advances a bill that’s intended to speed up the appeals process in capital murder cases. Attorney General Liz Murrill says convicts can still file numerous appeals, but they can’t wait three to four years between them.

Cut (12) “…in this system (2x).”

It appears that insurance commissioner will remain an elected position in Louisiana and will not become an appointed position. After spirited debate, Senator Royce Duplessis essentially withdrew his bill. The New Orleans Democrat said one of his main goals was to take politics out of that role.

Cut 13 (12)  “…of the people.”

Currently, 39 states appoint their insurance commissioners.

It looks like insurance commissioner in Louisiana will remain an elected position. Following spirited debate yesterday, New Orleans Democrat Royce Duplesis effectively pulled it from consideration, sensing that he did not have the votes to pass it. Among those speaking out against it was River Ridge Republican Kirk Talbot, who said making insurance commissioner an appointed position would do nothing to lower premiums.

Cut 15 (14) “…not this.”

The House Appropriations Committee advances a bill that would streamline the post conviction appeals process. This, as Larry Roy – the Cheneyville slasher – continues to fight an execution date. He’s been on death row since 1997. Attorney General Liz Murrill says this is torture for the family members of the three people Roy killed…

Cut 11 (10) “…going to fix it.”

More than a quarter of households in Southwest Louisiana live paycheck to paycheck but make too much money to qualify for government assistance. Tammy Chrisope with United Way Southwest Louisiana says those families are left to make difficult financial survival decisions.

Cut 5 (09) “…rent that month.”

That figure does not include the 15-percent of families in that part of the state that live below the poverty line.

With the recent news that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, the disease is on the minds of many Americans. Ochsner Health Oncologist Dr. Brian Halbert says the key in treating it is to lower testosterone levels.

Cut 9 (11)  “…three years.”

Another option is a new advanced treatment called Pluvicto, which is essentially a targeted form of radiation.

The House Appropriations Committee advances a bill that’s intended to speed up the appeals process in capital murder cases. Attorney General Liz Murrill says convicts can still file numerous appeals, but they can’t wait three to four years between them.

Cut 10 (12) “…in this system (2x).”

The Office of the State Public Defender’s office says it would need an additional four-million dollars, since it would need more lawyers to defend the additional cases. Attorney Robert Morris represents death row inmates and expressed his concerns about the legislation…

Cut 12 (10) “…by this bill.”

The debate comes at the same time that death row inmate Larry Roy, the Cheneyville slasher, continues to fight an execution date – he’s been on death row since 1997.

According to new research, 31-percent of households in Southwest Louisiana live paycheck to paycheck but their income is high enough that they do not qualify for government assistance. Tammy Chrisope with United Way Southwest Louisiana says in addition, 87-percent of single-female-headed households with children in Louisiana are struggling – the highest rate in the nation.

Cut 6 (12) “…verge of losing it.”

Prostate cancer is on the minds of many Americans in light of the news that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease. Ochsner Health Oncologist Dr. Brian Halbert says prostate cancer is a hormone-sensitive cancer.

Cut 8 (14) “…for prostate cancer.”

New research finds that 31-percent of households in Southwest Louisiana are ALICE households, which means they live paycheck to paycheck but their income is high enough to them from qualifying for government assistance.  That number does not include the 15-percent of households in Southwest Louisiana that live in poverty. Tammy Chrisope with United Way Southwest Louisiana says residents that live below the ALICE Threshold are having to make difficult financial survival decisions.

Cut 5 (09) “…rent that month.”

Prostate cancer is on the minds of many Americans in light of the news that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. Ochsner Health Oncologist Dr. Brian Halbert says prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men; and as such, they need to stay on top of their prostate health.

Cut 7 (13) “…around age 45.”

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There was spirited debate on the Senate Floor but no vote was taken on a bill that would make insurance commissioner an appointed position instead of an elected position. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana State Police have recaptured the fifth of 10 escapees from the Orleans Justice Center jail. The latest fugitive caught is Corey Boyd, an escapee who had briefly been spotted last Friday on a French Quarter surveillance camera just hours after the jailbreak. Boyd is accused of killing Brandon Fees during a car burglary in 2024.