A mother and her two sons have been arrested in connection with the death of a 14-year-old Port Barre student. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Minden Police has arrested a woman after she allegedly dragged a police officer with her car. They say officers responded to a call that 54-year-old Vicky Brackens was attempting to steal two televisions. When an officer tried to un-buckle Brackens’ seat belt, she took off dragging the officer over 50 feet. The officer did suffer several injuries but is okay. Brackens is charged with attempted first degree murder.

Governor John Bel Edwards announces there will continue to be “an elevated presence” of state troopers patrolling New Orleans historic French Quarter. State Police Superintendent, Colonel Mike Edmonson, says additional troopers in the tourist areas of the French Quarter have helped to lower criminal activity…

cut 12 (09) “state of Louisiana”

Edmonson says they are also bringing in an additional 170 troopers for Mardi Gras festivities this weekend.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged 18-year-old Andrew Jacob Wallace with second degree murder in the stabbing death of Dylan Kyle Poche. It’s believed a feud began between the two last week and continued on social media until the two met at the Sibley Lake boat launch. Captain Tony Moran says the investigation is ongoing…

cut 15 (08) “contact us”

NPSO has arrested two more people in connection with the fatal stabbing.

Today is the last day to register to vote or change your party affiliation for Louisiana’s March 5th presidential preference primary. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says casting your vote is the best way to express your opinion on how government should be run…

cut 6 (08) “that right”

You can register or change your party affiliation at your local registrar of voters office until 4:30 today or do it online at geauxvote-dot-com until midnight tonight.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office says 18-year-old Andrew Jacob Wallace is charged with second degree murder in the stabbing death of Dylan Kyle Poche. Captain Tony Moran says says Wallace was arrested shortly after the stabbing because he fled the scene in a vehicle and was followed by relatives of Poche….

cut 14 (10) “the homicide”

NPSO has also arrested 18-year-old William Holman and 18-year-old Kristine Woodall in connection with Poche’s death.

State Police has arrested a former police officer after they found he was paid for working for two police departments at the same time. Their investigation discovered, that on several occasions, 47-year-old Joseph Johnson was on-duty simultaneously for both the Bunkie and Cottonport Police Departments. Johnson was subsequently paid by both departments for those hours. Johnson is charged with malfeasance in office and 30 counts of public payroll fraud.

The Tabasco plant on Avery Island cut the ribbon this week on a brand new Visitors Center. Michelle Southern speaks with McIlhenny CEO Tony Simmons…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The historic French Quarter in New Orleans will continue to see “an elevated presence” of state troopers according to Governor John Bel Edwards. State Police Superintendent, Colonel Mike Edmonson, says they are also bringing in an additional 170 troopers for the big Mardi Gras festivities this weekend, but that won’t hurt their presence in other areas of the state…

cut 11 (05) “law enforcement”

A sales tax approved by French Quarter residents last October provides the funding to keep more troopers in New Orleans.

The ribbon was cut this week on a brand new Visitors Center at the Tabasco plant on Avery Island. McIlhenny Company of Louisiana President and CEO Tony Simmons says you can now take a tour of the facility that shows their barrel mash warehouse…

cut 8 (10) “make Tabasco”

The Visitors Center includes the new “Tabasco Family of Flavors Restaurant 1868″ which is open daily for lunch.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office says they have found the murder weapon in the investigation into the stabbing death of Dylan Kyle Poche. The 18-year-old was killed Saturday at the Sibley Lake boat launch. Captain Tony Moran says they’ve arrested 18-year-old Andrew Jacob Wallace and after several days of searching detectives found a critical piece of evidence.

cut 13 (10) “for analysis”

Moran says Wallace is being held without bond.

If you want to vote in Louisiana’s March 5th presidential preference primary, today is the last day to register or change your party affiliation. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says Independent voters will not be able to take part in the presidential primary, but in some areas of the state there will be other items on the ballot…

cut 5 (11) “all voters”

Governor John Bel Edwards announces they will continue to have “an elevated presence” of state troopers patrolling New Orleans historic French Quarter. State Police Superintendent, Colonel Mike Edmonson, says a sales tax approved by French Quarter residents last October provides the funding to keep more troopers in the Big Easy…

cut 10 (07) “New Orleans”

Edmonson says additional troopers in the tourist areas of the French Quarter have helped to lower criminal activity.

Today is the final day to register to vote or change your party affiliation for Louisiana’s March 5th presidential preference primary. The presidential election season kicked off Monday in Iowa. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says it’s important to make sure your party affiliation is correct for this election…

cut 4 (10) “Republican side”

You can register to vote or change your party affiliation at your local registrar of voters office until 4:30 today or do it online at geauxvote-dot-com until midnight tonight.

The Tabasco plant on Avery Island cut the ribbon this week on a brand new Visitors Center which also includes a restaurant with meals prepared with the world famous pepper sauce. Tabasco is produced by the McIlhenny Company of Louisiana, and President and CEO Tony Simmons says the new Tabasco Visitors Center tour features an interactive greenhouse…

cut 7 (10) “pepper sauces”

Simmons says his family has been on the island since 1818 and began creating Tabasco in 1865. He says the new museum contains artifacts and history from their time there.

State health officials, along with the EPA, are reviewing water quality concerns in the Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph. Eric Gill reports..:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

Two juveniles and their mother have been arrested in connection with the death of 14-year-old Treyvon Goudueu of Melville. The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office says an autopsy determined Goudeau died of a gunshot wound to the head, and his body was found in woods Friday evening. A 12 year old is charged with Negligent Homicide. His 15-year-old brother is charged with Obstruction of Justice. Their mother is booked with Obstruction of Justice and 2 counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile.

Acadiana’s Cajun Groundhog, the nutria Pierre C. Shadeaux, predicts an early spring as he did not see his shadow on this Groundhog Day. Pierre came out of his house this morning in New Iberia in front of a huge crowd led by Daily Iberian Publisher Will Chapman. He says the young nutria forecasts a shorter winter for the fifth year in a row…:
CUT 3 (09) “mild temperatures”

Governor John Bel Edwards is providing answers Tuesday night to public school teachers at a town hall style meeting at a Baton Rouge high school. The event is sponsored by Louisiana Association of Educators and President Debbie Meaux says they’re honored to have the new governor attend one of their events and hopes he gives insight on the fate of funding for K-12 education. She says they’ll make sure L-A-E members who cannot come are updated on what Edwards’ says…:
cut 15 (10) “access that”

**arrests have been made in the St. Landry case**

St. Landry’s Captain Clay Higgins with the Sheriff’s Office says two juveniles and their mother have been arrested in connection with the death of 14-year-old Treyvon Goudueu. He says they are working to determine what happened…:
CUT 11 (10) “a homicide”
A 12 year old is charged with Negligent Homicide. His 15-year-old brother is charged with Obstruction of Justice. Their mother is booked with Obstruction of Justice and 2 counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile.

Residents in the Tensas Parish town of St. Joe are being told by the Department of Health and Hospitals that it might be a while before the murky brown water in their system can be cleared up. DHH’s Dr. Jimmy Guidry..:
CUT 8 (10) “treatments occur”
He says the iron in the water and is not a health issue.

St. Landry’s Captain Clay Higgins with the Sheriff’s Office says they are working around the clock to find the person responsible and motive for killing 14-year-old Treyvon Goudeau…:
CUT 11 (10) “a homicide”
He says the autopsy determined that Goudeau was shot in the head and that’s how he died. An arrest, possibly two, have reportedly been made, but details are scarce at this time.

A former cop in Avoyelles Parish who worked for Bunkie and Cottonport police has been arrested by State Police amid allegations he was on duty at the same time for both departments and collected pay from each. Investigators say they discovered 47-year-old Joseph Johnson of Mansura, for quite some time, was collecting two payroll checks for working the same hours. He was charged with 30 counts of public payroll fraud and malfeasance in office.

Louisiana’s Cajun groundhog, Pierre C. Shadeaux, predicts an early and long spring this year. The young nutria came out of his Cajun cottage in New Iberia this morning in front of a crowd awaiting to find out his forecast. Publisher of the Daily Iberian Will Chapman says every year there is a great turnout for the event and the kids really look forward to seeing Pierre come out of his cottage…:
CUT 4 (10) “welcome Pierre”

Governor John Bel Edwards is providing answers Tuesday night to public school teachers at a town hall style meeting at a Baton Rouge high school. The event is sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Educators. L-A-E President Debbie Meaux says the Edwards is addressing a variety of issues:
cut 14 (06) “several others”
Meaux says they’re honored to have the new governor attend one of their events and hopes he gives insight on the fate of funding for K-12 education.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the murder of a Melville teenager. Capt. Clay Higgins says the body of 14-year-old Treyvon Goudeau was found in woods Friday evening and an autopsy revealed he’d been shot in the head. He says detectives searched a Melville home this morning…:
cut 10 (07) “an arrest”
Goudeau was a student at Port Barre High School.

Governor John Bel Edwards has received criticism about the amount he’s paying his cabinet members, but Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says his salary of $237,500 is what he was offered to tackle the state’s massive budget matters…:
CUT 13 (11) “do that”
Dardenne says he is cutting spending on his office’s executive staff.

Severe storms prompted the National Weather Service to issue a tornado watch today for 31 parishes across south central/southeast and far northeast Louisiana. They say the squall line is associated with an approaching cold front which will cause temperatures to drop dramatically in the over night hours into Wednesday. The good news is that the forecast remains mostly dry, yet cool, in the days leading up to Mardi Gras.

Residents in the Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph have been dealing with some brown, murky running water which has raised concerns. The EPA and the state Department of Health and Hospitals say the level of iron in the system discolors the water, but it’s not a health issue. State Health Officer, Dr. Jimmy Guidry, says the St. Joe water system is old and they are working on a fix for the dark water…:
CUT 7 (05) “address it”
He says the state legislature has approved funds to work on the system.

The Thibodaux Police Department arrests one of the men in connection with the double shooting at a parade. They say it was 20-year-old Ryan Harris of Napoleonville who, while wearing body armor, approached Quincy Johnson and shot him in the chest as several thousand people were gathering for Mardi Gras festivities on Sunday. Johnson fired back striking Harris on the left side. Harris is charged with attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of Body Armor, Terrorizing, and Illegal Carrying of a Firearm at a Parade.

The Cajun groundhog climbed out of his cottage in New Iberia today to tell us if we we’ll be seeing an early spring. Emelie Gunn has more on Pierre C. Shadeaux’s forecast…:
CUT 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Meanwhile most parishes in south central, southeast and on up to far northeast Louisiana are under a tornado watch until 7 this evening. The National Weather Service says a strong thunderstorm system is moving through that could produce damaging wings in excess of 40 miles per hour. Temperatures are expected to drop significantly following the storm with Wednesday highs in the 60s.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says he’s paying his executive staff nearly 400-thousand dollars less than what employees were paid under the previous administration. Dardenne says he’s made these decisions because of the state’s budget problems…:
cut 12 (10) “to understand”

A mother and father are facing several charges after investigators say their baby was discovered alone at a Baton Rouge residence with what call cops described as having horrific living conditions. Baton Rouge Police were assisting a bails bondsman at the house when they found a one year old alone on a bed in a dirty diaper and the house filled with rotten food and animal feces. 24-year-old Jasmine Rose and 25-year-old Hollis Banks were booked on charges of cruelty to juveniles, child desertion, criminal abandonment and resisting an officer with force.

It’s Groundhog Day and Acadiana’s Cajun Groundhog, a young nutria named Pierre C. Shadeaux, predicts we’ll have a long spring. This morning Pierre did not see his shadow, just like Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil. Publisher of the Daily Iberian Will Chapman led the ceremony and says the nutria knows he has a lot of responsibility with predicting this forecast..:
CUT 5 (11) “no shadow”
He adds Pierre has never been wrong.

Landry’s Incorporated, which operates the Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles, says a large scale data breach resulted in customers credit card information being compromised for months. If you used a credit or debit card at Golden Nugget from May 4, 2014 through March 15, 2015 and from May 5, 2015 through December 3, 2015, being the latest 7 month long breach, you may have been affected.