A St. John Parish sheriff’s deputy is lucky to be alive after he was struck by a possible drunk driver on Interstate 10 this morning. Sheriff Mike Tregre says his Sgt. Staty Lewis was assisting a St. Charles Parish deputy with an accident on the side of I-10.

Cut 3 (10) “in his unit”

Lewis was airlifted to an area hospital and treated for head, neck, and back injuries.

An officer involved shooting in Ouachita Parish left one suspect wounded. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says deputies were called to a convenience store on Highway 594 around 10:30 Sunday morning.

Cut 10 (07) “the first place”

The suspect was taken to the hospital and treated for serious injuries.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says if you’re outside for the Fourth of July holiday prepare for dangerous heat levels. Don Molino the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

Public school students will learn to write cursive this year, as a law by Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell has gone into effect. Mizell pushed the bill through last year because she was worried kids won’t be able to sign their names or read cursive writing. The requirement was delayed until this year to give schools time to prepare.

A St. John Parish sheriff’s deputy is recovering after he was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 10. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A State Police spokesperson tells us a state transportation worker was killed when struck by a pickup truck near New Iberia this morning while performing road work on LA 31. We’ll have more as this story develops.

It will be a hot Fourth of July holiday as the National Weather Service is calling for heat indices of 100-degrees or more. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion, like heavy sweating, dizziness or a weak, rapid pulse….
Cut 6 (09) “problems develop”

Farmers and ranchers impacted by last year’s floods could be eligible for recovery grants. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the state has $10 million to help affected farmers…:
CUT 14 (10) “accepting applications”
He says to qualify, you must have had at least $10,000 in uninsured losses.

A St. John deputy was injured this morning while responding to a crash on Interstate 10 near I-55. Sheriff Mike Trege says Sergeant Staty Lewis was reaching into his car for a first-aid kit when another vehicle rear ended his unit. Trege says they believe the driver of that vehicle was impaired…
cut 5 (08) “…point of impact”
Trege says Sergeant Lewis was treated for a broken shoulder blate and other minor injuries.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is among 10 Senate Republicans calling for the cancellation of the August recess. Kennedy says Congress has three months to extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which expires September 30th. He says a budget and 12 appropriations bills before that date also has to be approved to avoid a government shutdown…
cut 12 (09) “…through August”
No word if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will cancel August recess.

It’s a hot fourth of July holiday across the state. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedeness spokesperson Mike Steele says you’re planning on spending a significant amount of time outside, make sure you wear the appropriate clothes…
cut 8 (07) “….stay hydrated”
The National Weather Service is calling for heat indices of 100-degrees or more for extended periods.

This year all public school students will learn cursive writing, thanks to a new state law by Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is among 10 in the Senate who have sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell requesting that he cancels August Recess. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Authorities in Tangipahoa Parish saya two-year-old child found unresponsive in a swimming pool in Ponchatoula is in critical condition. First responders were able to get the child’s heart beating again, but the toddler is still in critical condition. Police Chief Bry Layrisson calls it a tragic incident.

About 38-thousand state workers will see a pay raise this fiscal year. The higher wages will cost the state an additional 48-million dollars, but state civil service director Byron Decoteau says the raises combat a high turnover rate in state government, which is also costly…
cut 9 (10) “…in turnovers”
Decoteau says prison guards and probation officers are among the state workers that will see an even higher pay on January 2nd.

Farmers and reachers impacted by last year’s floods could be eligible for for recovery grants made possible by the federal government. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the floods caused more than 100-million in dollars agriculture losses and this something his office has worked for since the floods. He says there needs to be a better system in place to help farmers after disasters…
cut 15 (09) “…Stafford Act”

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is among 10 Senate Republicans calling for the cancellation of the August recess in order to address issues that demand immediate attention. Kennedy says changes are still being made to the Senate health care reform bill and he’s waiting to see if the final product is better than Obamacare…:
Cut 11 (08) “for it”
He says now is not the time to be taking a vacation with so much work to be done.

Farmers and ranchers who were impacted by last year’s floods could be eligible for recovery grants. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the state has $10 million to help affected farmers…:
CUT 14 (10) “accepting applications”
He says to qualify, you must have had at least $10,000 in uninsured losses.

Public school students will be required to learn cursive writing this year, as a 2016 bill by Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell went into effect on July 1. She says she’s visited about 15 schools since passing the legislation last year, and she’s thrilled these kids are excited about being able to sign their names…:
Cut 5 (10) “a signature”
The law took a year to take affect so teachers would have time incorporating cursive into their lesson plans.

A Baton Rouge woman is facing several charges after she allegedly stabbed her brother, then attacked an EMS worker and a sheriff’s deputy. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office reported 26-year-old Tiah Bradley, of Baton Rouge, got into a fight with her brother in which they punched each other in the face a few times. According to court documents, Bradley punched an EMS worker in the face while she was being treated. She was booked on charges of attempted second-degree murder, battery of emergency room personnel/emergency services and battery of a police officer.

38,000 state employees will see a pay raise in the fiscal year that began Saturday, but not until 2018. A 2% pay hike was approved in this year’s legislative session. State civil service director Byron Decoteau says prison guards and probation officers are among the state workers that will see an even higher pay on January 2…:
Cut 8 (04) “modest increase”
Decoteau says raises help combat a high turnover rate in state government, which is more costly than the increases.

By third grade, public school students will be taught cursive writing under a 2016 approved law now in effect. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says her bill did not outline how long teachers should spend on the matter. She says she wanted to leave that up to the school districts and the teachers…:
Cut 6 (10) “the curriculum”
She says the kids she’s spoken with are excited about learning how to write in cursive.

Louisiana farmers and ranchers impacted by the 2016 floods are eligible for recovery grants. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Ponchatoula Police Department say a 2 year old was found in a pool unresponsive Saturday, and is in critical condition. They said in a statement that the incident is tragic and being handled with great care. First responders were able to restore the child’s heartbeat, but the toddler is still fighting for life.

Public school students in Louisiana will learn cursive writing, thanks to a new law now in effect by Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell…:
cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Plaquemine police say two people are under arrest on principle to second degree murder charges in connection to the overdose death of a 21-year-old man during a house party that got out of hand. 20-year old Michael Moore Jr. and 19-year old Georgette Centeio, both from Baton Rouge, allegedly left Andrew Lee Blanchard in a bathtub after he’d passed out, and located him the dead the next morning. Cops say they were found to be in possession of marijuana, cocaine, and heroin.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is among 10 Senate Republicans calling for the cancellation of the August recess in order to address issues that demand immediate attention. Kennedy says the current Senate calendar shows only 33 potential working days remaining before the end of the fiscal year and they’ve yet to approve meaningful reforms…:
Cut 10 (10) “infrastructure bill”
He says there is too much to be done to take a vacation right now.

Farmers and ranchers who were impacted by last year’s floods could be eligible for recovery grants. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the state has $10 million to help affected farmers. He says it is part of the $1.6 billion Congress appropriated for flood recovery…:
Cut 13 (07) “the flooding”
Strain says those eligible must have had at least $10,000 in uninsured losses.

The new fiscal year is underway and 38,000 state employees will see a two percent pay raise, but not just yet. State civil service director Byron Decoteau says traditionally state employees were eligible for a four percent performance adjustment on October 1, but that won’t happen this year…:
Cut 7 (09) “January 1″
The higher wages will cost the state an additional 48-million dollars this year.

Public school students will be required to be taught cursive writing this year. A law by Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell went into effect on July 1st, after being approved in 2016. She says this gave school systems more time to prepare…:
Cut 4 (09) “right now”
The mandate says cursive writing should be included in lesson plans by the 3rd grade.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is among 10 in the Senate who have sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell requesting that he cancels August Recess…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

An Assumption Parish Sheriff’s deputy was killed in a crash Sunday, according to state police. He is identified as 21-year-old Seth Bourgeois of Thibodaux.

East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore provided extensive details on what happened when law enforcement officers were ambushed in Baton Rouge last July. Moore replayed the chilling dispatch call when the gunman, Gavin Long, opened fire on Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola and others…:
Cut 7 (11) “shooting from”
Moore says Long came to Baton Rouge to inflict pain on police officers, because of the fatal police shootings of black men.

If you’re vacationing for the 4th of July Holiday, you’re not alone. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says 44 million Americans are expected to travel and that means 2017 will be the most traveled Independence Day holiday ever..:
Cut 4 (08) “growing economy”
He says 37.5 million people will be driving to their destinations, and 3.44 million will fly which is a 4.6% increase over last year.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler has yet to decide if they’ll provide voter identification information to a commission set by President Donald Trump investigating voter fraud. The panel is seeking names, birth dates, addresses and partial Social Security numbers. The President tweeted a number of states are refusing to give this information and he asks what are they trying to hide.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is among 10 Senators who want to see the upcoming August recess cancelled, because they’ve yet to pass meaningful tax and health care reform. Kennedy says changes are still being made to the Senate health care reform bill and he’s waiting to see if the final product is better than so-called Obamacare…
Cut 11 (08) “for it”
No word on if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will cancel the August recess.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says Gavin Eugene Long came to Baton Rouge last summer to inflict pain on police officers. Moore released many more details on last July’s attack on law enforcement where Long killed three officers. The D-A says the officers who killed Long were completely justified and he was ready to die that day too based on his suicide note….
cut 9 (11) “…get your award”
Moore says SWAT officers fired a total of 89 rounds and Long had a total of 45 bullet wounds.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon both said at the 95th Louisiana Farm Bureau Annual Convention that they both plan on running for re-election in 2019.

Thanks to routine water testing, the Louisiana Department of Health found a brain-eating amoeba in the North Monroe Water system and in a Terrebonne Parish water system. State Health officer, Doctor Jimmy Guidry….
cut 11 (08) “….rid of it”
Guidry says the water is safe to drink, but make sure it does not go up your nose, where it can impact the brain tissue.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is among 10 Senate Republicans calling for the cancellation of the August recess in order to address issues that demand immediate attention. Kennedy says the current Senate calendar shows only 33 potential working days remaining before the end of the fiscal year and they’ve yet to approve meaningful reforms…
cut 10 (10) “…infrastructure bill”
Kennedy says changes are still being made to the Senate health care reform bill, but he says if the final product is better than so-called Obamacare, he’ll vote for it.