Eleven servicemen are missing, including four soldiers from a Hammond, Louisiana-based National Guard Unit after the helicopter they were riding in crashed in the Florida panhandle. Search crews have found a debris site, but a rescue operation for the missing soldiers continues. CBS News reports that weather may have been a factor in the crash.

Effective this week, the Office of Motor Vehicles will issue a new format for all classes of Louisiana driver’s licences. State Police Sgt. Nick Manale says there’s also a new design for I-D cards and handicap placards…
cut 10 (11) “…aware of it also”
Manale says the new licenses contain multiple layers of security components and design features for greater security, protection of privacy and resistance to tampering.

Two men are in trouble after the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries allegedly found that they changed the freshness date on frozen mahi-mahi filets. The incident happened at a wholesale facility in New Orleans and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says the seafood ‘s original freshness date was September 2013, but they put the seafood in bags that had a best by date of May 2016. Einck says 26-year-old Seth Delaune and 49-year-old Thomas Smith were cited with misbranding seafood…
cut 9 (03) “…year in prison”

Gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards has received an endorsement from the Louisiana A-F-L/C-I-O. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a signficant endorsement for the democratic state representative….
cut 4 (09) “…I’m running”
Edwards is the only announced democratic candidate for governor.

A frantic search is underway for four missing soldiers from a Hammond, Louisiana-based National Guard unit. They were on a helicopter, along with seven marines, performing a training exercise in the Florida panhandle last night when officials say there chopper crashed. Rescue crews found debris at around two o’ clock this morning, but no soldiers.

We’re learning more about the deputy US Marshal who was fatally shot yesterday. He’s been identified as 27-year-old Josie Wells, a Mississippi native, who attended Jackson State and joined the U-S Marshal Service in 2011. Authorities say Wells was fatally shot by Jamie Croom, who was wanted for a double muder that occurred last month in Pointe Coupee Parish.

Democratic state Representative and gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards receives an endorsement from the Louisiana AFL-CIO. Scott Carwile has more…
cut 1 (29) “…reporting”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have cited two men for allegedly changing freshness dates on seafood packages by almost three years. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck says during a routine inspection of a wholesale seafood facility in New Orleans, they found two men changing packaging on frozen mahi-mahi filets which originally had a freshness date of September 2013…
cut 7 (09) “…2016”
Einck says the two men cited face hefty fines and possible jail time.

And all of southeast Louisiana remains under a flash flood watch until Friday afternoon.

The Saints have made a shocking trade as they’ve reportedly sent Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth round pick to Seattle in exchange for a first round pick and center Max Ungar. Saints radio color analyst Hokie Gajan’s reaction to the blockbuster deal…
cut 30 (11) “…I guess’
Graham signed a four-year, 40-million dollar contract last year.

Flash flood watches are posted across much of the southern half of the state, including Alexandria, Lafayette Houma and over to Slidell. Mike Shields, with the National Weather service, says these areas could receive repeat showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall, throughout the course of this weather event…
cut 5 (06) “….low lying ares”
He says some isolated areas could receive up to eight inches.

According to a new General Social Survey, 32-percent of Americans either own a firearm or live in a household with guns, but a local dealer says that could be misleading. Eric Gill has more…
cut 2 (28) “…reporting”

Triumph Campaigns has polled this year’s governor’s race, and found that Republican US Senator David Vitter leading Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards by just two percentage points. In the Lt. Governor’s race, Democratic Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden leads the field In the Attorney General’s race, incumbent Republican Buddy Caldwell and Democratic Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy are tied.

Much of South Louisiana is under a Flash Flood Watch; and that’s through Thursday, as heavy rains are expected throughout the area…
CUT 4 (07) Q: “inches of rain”
That’s Mike Shields, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, who says the culprit is a very slow moving upper level trough along the coast.

According to a survey by the personal finance company SmartAsset, Covington and Mandeville top the list of best places to retire in Louisiana. Managing Editor A.J. Smith says they looked at key things for retirees, including taxes…:
CUT 6 (10) “recreation center”
Also included on the list was Thibodaux, West monroe and Gonzales.
—————————
A New Roads double homicide suspect is now accused for the shooting death of a Deputy U.S. Marshal in Scotlandville this morning. The suspect is 31 year-old James D. Croom. He was sent to the hospital with a gunshot wound after the gunfight, while thirty year-old Deputy Marshal Josie Wells was also transported, but he later died.

On one hand, there’s a new General Social Survey out that shows a record-tieing low for gun ownership and for guns in the home. On the other, are FBI stats that show an increase in the number of background checks, which indicates an increase in sales. Wade Duty, co-owner of Precision Firearms in Baton Rouge, says his sales are up, particularly sales to women…
CUT 11 (08) Q: ” training too”

It’s being reported that the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks have finalized a trade sending tight end Jimmy Graham to Seattle, and the Seahawks giving the Saints center Max Unger and a first-round pick.

It’s a tight race for governor, according to a new poll that shows 2 percentage seperating Republican US Senator David Vitter and Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards. In the Attorney General’s race, incumbent Republican Buddy Caldwell and Democratic Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy are in a dead heat with 30-percent each…
CUT 14 (08) Q: ‘a chance’
That’s Triumph Campaigns President Justin Brasell

A man wanted for a New Roads double homicide is now being accused for the shooting death of a Deputy U.S. Marshal in Scotlandville. The suspect is 31 year-old James D. Croom. He was sent to the hospital, while Thirty year-old Deputy Marshal Josie Wells was also transported, where he later died.

It’s being reported that the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks have finalized a trade sending tight end Jimmy Graham to Seattle, and giving the Seahawks for center Max Unger and a first-round pick.
——————————-
According to a new General Social Survey, 32-percent of Americans either own a firearm or live in a household with firearms, which ties the record low of 2010. But, Wade Duty, co-owner of Precision Firearms in Baton Rouge, says it’s a bit misleading since the population has increased, and the people surveyed may have not told the truth about owning a gun…
CUT 10 (08) Q: ‘protective measures’
He says his says are up about 11 percent from the same month last year.

There are several cities in Louisiana that have been listed by a personal finance company as the best cities to retire…
CUT 8 (06) Q: ‘as well’
That’s SmartAsset Managing Editor A.J. Smith, who says Covington and Mandeville are listed at the top of the Louisiana list.

The southern part of the state is under a Flash Flood Watch through Thursday as heavy rains are expected. Mike Shields, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says the culprit is some unstable air…
CUT 3 (08) “into our area”
He says six inches of rain could fall in South Louisiana over the next few days, with some areas receiving up to eight inches.

New polling numbers from a Mississippi-based firm is showing Republican US Senator David Vitter leading Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards by just two percentage points in the governor’s race. Triumph Campaigns also shows Democrat Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden ahead in the race for Lt. Governor with 33 percent of the vote…
CUT 13 (05) Q: ‘wide open’
That’s Triumph owner Justin Brasell.
—————————
A man wanted for a New Roads double homicide is now being accused for the shooting death of a Deputy U.S. Marshal in Scotlandville. The suspect is 31 year-old James D. Croom, who was also shot in the exchange of gunfire, was sent to the hospital. The 30 year-old Deputy Marshal’s identity has not be released.

According to a survey by the personal finance company SmartAsset, Covington and Mandeville top the list of best places to retire in Louisiana…:
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

Mississippi-based Triumph Campaigns has polled this year’s governor’s race, and found that Republican US Senator David Vitter leading Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards by just two percentage points. Triumph owner Justin Brasell says their generic gubernatorial ballot revealed an interesting statistic…:
CUT 12 (10) “percent lead”
In the Lt. Governor’s race, Democratic Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden leads the field In the Attorney General’s race, incumbent Republican Buddy Caldwell and Democratic Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy are tied.

Baton Rouge television stations are reporting a US Marshal is dead and murder suspect wounded in a hospital after a shooting during an investigation this morning. Sources say the injured man is Jamie Croom who was wanted by cops on first-degree murder charges in the deaths of a brother and sister killed outside of a nightclub in New Roads last month. This is a developing story.

A personal finance company out of New York says Covington is the best place to retire in Louisiana. SmartAsset Managing Editor A.J. Smith says the northshore city was ranked so high because of the large number of doctors offices in the area per 1000 people at 15…:
CUT 7 (09) “also higher”
She says they looked at key things which make the golden years happy and healthy including low taxes. Mandeville was number 2 on the Louisiana list.

There is a flash flood watch in effect for south Louisiana through 6pm Thursday. Mike shields with the National Weather Service in Slidell says some areas could get repeat showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall at times, throughout the course of the of this weather event…:
CUT 5 (06) “low lying areas”
He says three to six inches of rain could fall in south Louisiana over the next few days, with isolated areas receiving up to eight inches.

A lot of rain will be falling over south Louisiana over the next couple of days and the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch through 6pm Thursday. NWS-Slidell Meteorologist Mike Sheilds says a very slow moving upper level trough is pumping moisture from the Gulf into the area. He says significant rainfall totals are expected over the next 48 hours…:
CUT 4 (07) “inches of rain”
He says residents in these areas can expect repeat showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall at times.

Agents have said that nine people have been arrested in Louisiana recently who were suspected of being here illegally. Immigration authorities say the effort is part of a nationwide sweet called “Cross Check” which targets criminals who were illegally in the country during March 1 to March 5th. Agents arrested a total of 2,059 people with prior criminal convictions from 94 countries.

According to a new General Social Survey, 32-percent of Americans either own a firearm or live in a household with firearms, but a local dealer says that could be misleading. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

Congrats to ULM head basketball coach Keith Richard who has been named the coach of the year in the Sun Belt.

According to a new General Social Survey, 32-percent of Americans either own a firearm or live in a household with firearms. That figure ties the record low set in 2010. However, Wade Duty, co-owner of Precision Firearms in Baton Rouge, says the report can be misleading because they base their findings on a percentage of households…:
CUT 9 (12) “is definitely up”
Duty says his sales are up about 11-percent from the same month last year.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for the southern half of the state through Thursday afternoon. They say waves of repeating heavy rainfall will move over the area in amounts of 3-6 inches and possibly up to 8 inches over the next 48 hours.

According to a survey by the personal finance company SmartAsset, Covington and Mandeville top the list of best places to retire in Louisiana. Managing Editor A.J. Smith says they looked at key things which make the golden years happy and healthy including taxes, medical care and social life…:
CUT 6 (10) “recreation centers”
The top retirement cities in the state also include Thibodaux, West Monroe, Gonzales, Denham Springs, Slidell, Hammond, Morgan City and Lafayette made number 10.

The state announces they are putting 217 “underutilized” vehicles up for auction this weekend in Baton Rouge. It’s part of efforts to continue to raise money. The vehicles include passenger cars, 2 and 4 door — small trucks and vans as well as heavy duty trucks. The auction will be held this Saturday.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for most of south Louisiana through Thursday as heavy rains are expected throughout the area. Mike Shields, with the National Weather Service, says this is due to a stagnant weather pattern over the area…:
CUT 3 (08) “into our area”
He says three to six inches of rain could fall in south Louisiana over the next few days, with isolated areas receiving up to eight inches.

There’s a new president at Louisiana College and even though his official first day isn’t until April 7th, Rick Brewer says he’s already gotten to work on the Pineville campus. LC is on academic probation and the colleges has been plagues with a variety of issues in recent years and Brewer says it’s change to change the dial…:
CUT 6 (07) “the mind”
He says one of the main things he’ll start doing right away is work to increase enrollment at LC.

Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil has filed a Constitutional Amendment for the 2015 session which would give colleges control of raising their own fees. Scott Carwile reports..:
CUT 3 (32) “reporting”

State Police say a 21 year old man lost is life in a Denham Springs crash when he was not wearing his seat belt. They say last night, Garrett Minard of Walker was traveling on LA highway 1019 when he missed a curve, rolled several times then crashed into a ditch. Minard was not restrained at the time and impairment is a possible factor. He suffered fatal injuries.