Nearly 20 homes were damaged after a tornado touched down yesterday in Tangipahoa Parish. Jeff McKneely, spokesperson for Tangipahoa Parish Emergency Management, says with the weather much better today, they’ll continue to survey the damage, but they do have a lot of property damage east of Amite…

cut 15 (05) “was destroyed”

No injuries were reported. At least a dozen families are reportedly displaced as a result of the damage from the tornado.

Tonight it’s the annual Bonfires on the Levee in St. James Parish. Rhonda Lee, President of the Festival of the Bonfires, says the popularity of the Christmas Eve bonfires has been growing steadily over the last 25 years. There are several stories about how the bonfires started in St. James Parish, but Lee says one stands out…

cut 9 (06) “little children”

They will light the bonfires around 7 o’clock tonight.

Now that the bad weather day is behind us, we can expect beautiful, yet chilly, conditions for Christmas. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (27) “reporting”

Lake Charles Police say a 37-year-old man is under arrest accused of kidnapping a woman. They say a witness saw Oscar Pete of Lake Charles throw a woman into a vehicle and drive off. When the pair got to Iowa, the victim escaped the vehicle and contacted authorities. Shortly after, officers spotted Pete’s vehicle and arrested him. Pete was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on a charge of simple kidnapping.

Today in Tangipahoa Parish clean-up and recovery will take place near Amite where a tornado touched down yesterday afternoon causing damage to nearly 20 homes. Jeff McKneely, spokesperson for Tangipahoa Parish Emergency management, says the whole incident happened really quick…

cut 14 (13) “this storm”

It is reported that at least a dozen families have been displaced as a result of the tornado. No injuries were reported.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says now that those storms are behind us we can expect to have some nice Christmas weather. He says colder temperatures are now descending upon the state with the real cold weather settling in Christmas morning…

cut 5 (09) “chilly morning”

Keim says temperatures this morning range from the upper 30s across northern parishes to about 50 degrees along the coast, but most of the state is in the 40s.

Tonight in St. James Parish it’s the annual Bonfires on the Levee. Rhonda Lee, President of the Festival of the Bonfires, expects the levees to be packed with revelers. Lee says people from all over the United States plan their Christmas vacations to check out the bonfires…

cut 8 (06) “time with us”

If you plan on attending, it’s recommended that you get into the area before 6PM.

A thief with a heart two sizes too small is behind bars after the Washington Parish Sheriff’s office got a tip that the infamous Mr. Grinch was trying to steal Christmas. Sheriff Randy Seal says they did some investigating and were able to apprehend the suspect’s dog and attach a surveillance recorder to it…

cut 10 (08) “put him in jail”

Seal says the people of Washington Parish can sleep easier now that the cuddly as a cactus suspect has been caught.

Clean-up and recovery will take place today in Tangipahoa Parish near Amite where a tornado touched down yesterday afternoon causing damage to nearly 20 homes. Jeff McKneely, spokesperson for Tangipahoa Parish Emergency management, says thankfully no one was hurt…

cut 13 (05) “severe damage”

The twister also knocked down trees and power lines, causing power outages in the area. In a statement, Governor Bobby Jindal says the state stands ready to assist the people of Tangipahoa Parish.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says now that we have the nasty conditions behind us we can expect to have some nice weather for Christmas in Louisiana. He says colder temperatures are now descending upon the state…

cut 4 (09) “bottom line”

He says Christmas morning is when the real cold weather is going to settle in with highs on Thursday in the 50s…

The annual Bonfires on the Levee takes place tonight in St. James Parish. Rhonda Lee, President of the Festival of the Bonfires, says this is a tradition in the parish dating back more than 100 years. She says, this year, 130 bonfires will be lit…

cut 7 (09) “along the levee”

Lee says the popularity of the Christmas Eve bonfires has been growing steadily over the last 25 years or so and expects the levees to be packed tonight. If you plan on heading to the Bonfires on the Levee celebration, it’s recommended that you get into the area before 6PM. The fires will be lit around 7 o’clock.

East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner, Doctor Beau Clark, has determined the cause of death for a four-year-old child found in a water filled hole near his home last night. Doctor Clark says says Jassiah Clark drowned to death, with hypothermia as a contributing factor.

Severe weather has impacted much of the state today. We’ve had reports of hail across south Louisiana and portions of the northern half of the state as well. The National Weather Service says a tornado touchdowed down in Tangipahoa Parish, damaging several homes near Amite. At least one house had its roof torn off, but no injuries.

State Police say a West Monroe woman was killed this morning in a two-vehicle wreck in Ouachita Parish. Troopers say the victim, 30-year-old Jennifer Hale was ejected from her vehicle after losing control of her Nissan Versa and striking a Dodge Challenger. Hale was pronounced dead at the scene, the driver of the other vehicle had minor injuries.

A group of people in St. John Parish have a constructed a “Hands up!” bonfire on the Mississippi River West Bank. Michelle Southern reports…
cut 1 (31) “….reporting”

If you like fighting the crowds in the final hours of Christmas shopping, the Chairman of the Louisiana Tech Marketing Department Barry Babin says you can still get some great deals, since many retailers have already started their post-Christmas sales…
cut 14 (08) “they don’t like”
He says gift cards are very popular here at the last minute.

The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down this afternoon in Tangiphoa Parish near Amite. The twister knocked down trees and power lines in the area and damaged between 15 to 20 homes. In one case, a roof was torn off a home. No injuries have been reported.

Baton Rouge Police say the search for four-year-old Jassiah Clark came to a sad end last night when the boy’s body was found in a deep hole less than ten yards from his home. Eric Gill reports…
cut 5 (27) “….reporting’
The coroner has ruled Jassiah’s death a drowning with hypothermia as a contributing factor.

Time is running out to get your Christmas shopping done. For many last minute shoppers, gift cards are the way to go. Chair of the Louisiana Tech Marketing Department, Barry Babin, says some gifts cards are very useful for the recipient…
cut 22 (08) “….really need”

Tomorrow night, about 130 bonfires will be lit up on the levee of the Mississippi River in St. James Parish. One of the bonfires was structured as a person, with its arms up, in recognition of Michael Brown, who was shot to death by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Harold LaGrange built that bonfire and hopes it results in positive discussion about what happened…
cut 28 (07) “…about being negative”

Near Amite in Tangipahoa Parish, State Police say there was a tornado that touched down causing damage to several homes, including significant roof damage to at least one home. There’s also several trees down in the aream but no injuries have been reported.

A traffic stop near Hammond lead State Police to arrest a Texas man for transporting illegal narcotics. Trooper Greg Marchand says 37-year old Matthew Llanas was stopped for a traffic violation, he began displaying some suspicious behavior. He says at that point, officers requested a K-9 unit to assist…
CUT 3 (10) “200-thousand dollars”
He says that they believe Llana was transporting the marijuana from Texas to Atlanta. He was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail in Amite.

A group of people in St. John Parish have constructed a “Hands up!” bonfire structure on the Mississippi River West Bank in reaction to a grand jury’s decision not to indict the cop in Ferguson, Missouri who shot and killed Michael Brown. It’s being built across from Harold LaGrange’s home in Lucy, and he says they construct a creative bonfire every Christmas Eve..:
CUT 6 (08) “really trending right now”
Brown says it’s not a protest, but rather more of a teaching moment.

If you like fighting the crowds in the final hours of Christmas shopping, the Chairman of the Louisiana Tech Marketing Department Barry Babin says you can still get some great deals, since many retailers have already started their post-Christmas sales…
cut 14 (08) “they don’t like”
He says gift cards are very popular here at the last minute.

Around one hundred officers from different agencies involved in the search of a Baton Rouge preschooler made a sad discovery last night, as the body of 4-year-old Jassiah Clark was found in a deep hole less than 10 yards from his home. BRPD Sgt. Mary Ann Godawa (ga-DOW-ah) says it’s been tough…
CUT 11 (08) Q: “real tragic ending”
This afternoon the coroner’s report listed the preliminary cause of death is drowning with hyperthermia.

Even though Christmas Eve is tomorrow, there are many people who will be getting out in the crowds to get those final Christmas gifts…
cut 13 (09) “on Christmas Day”
That’s the Chairman of the Louisiana Tech Marketing Department Barry Babin.
————————————
With the lighting of the Christmas Eve bonfires along the river tomorrow night, there is one in St. John Parish called the “Hands Up” bonfire in reaction to the Ferguson, Missouri police controversy. It’s being built across from Harold LaGrange’s home in Lucy…
CUT 7 (09) Q: “educating them at home”
The fire is scheduled to be lit at 7 pm tomorrow night.

State Police have arrested a Texas man during a traffic stop near Hammond for transporting a large amount of narcotics. State PoliceTrooper Greg Marchand says 37 year-old Matthew Llanas began acting suspiciously, and that’s when they called out the K-9 unit.
CUT 4 (08) “is marijuana”
Marchand says Llanas was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail in Amite.

Most of the state is under a tornado watch this afternoon until 6 pm. The lines of heavy rains in advance of am approaching front have already produced high winds, golf ball-sized hail, and several power outages in some areas. All of the rains should exit the state by midnight tonight.

Baton Rouge Police say the search for 4-year-old came to a sad ending last night when the body of little Jassiah Clark was found in a deep hole less than 10 yards from his home. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

——————————
A Texas man has been arrested during a traffic stop near Hammond for transporting about $200 thousand dollars of illegal narcotics. When police saw the driver acting suspious, they called out the K-9 unit. State Police Trooper Greg Marchand says it’s an example of their proactive enforcement to target drug trafficking organizations…
CUT 5 (06) Q: “constant commitment”
Thirty-seven year-old Matthew Llanas is charged with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.

Time is running out to get your Christmas shopping done. For many last minute shoppers, gift cards are the way to go. But Chair of the Louisiana Tech Marketing Department, Barry Babin, says some people feel obligated to use a gift card, even if it can be somewhat of a pain to receive…
cut 12 (09) “they really need”

Christmas Eve is tomorrow and Lutcher residents are putting the final touches on their holiday bonfires, which line the levees of the Mississippi River for Papa Noel to see his way down the river. They are set to be lit at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve.

There’s group of people in St. John Parish have constructed a “Hands up!” bonfire on the Mississippi River West Bank in response to the Fergerson, Missouri situation. Here’s Michelle Southern with more…
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

================================
The search for 4-year-old Jassiah Clark came to a sad ending last night when the boy’s body was found in a deep hole less than 10 yards from his home in Baton Rouge. BRPD Sgt. Mary Ann Godawa (ga-DOW-wa) says they found the body of little Jassiah Clark was found in a deep hole, which was filled with dirt and water…
CUT 10 (08) “a muddy area”
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 6 pm for most of Louisiana because of some rather intense storms in advance of a cold front. Some of the storms could also include heavy rains, frequent lightening and damaging hail.

Baton Rouge Police say the search for 4-year-old Jassiah Clark came to a tragic ending last night when the boy’s body was found in a deep hole that was filled with dirt and water less than 10 yards from his home. Sgt. Mary Ann Godawa says officers were looking in the area where the Jassiah was last seen…:
CUT 9 (11) “body of Jassiah”
She says they will know more about what happened pending the results of an autopsy today.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the majority of Louisiana until 6pm this evening. The entire state should be aware there is a risk for severe weather all day today which could bring in damaging winds, lots of rain so a flash flood potential, thunderstorms and lightning.

A group of people in St. John Parish have constructed a “Hands up!” bonfire on the Mississippi River West Bank. The structure, which is a reaction to a grand jury’s decision not to indict the cop in Ferguson who shot and killed Michael Brown, is built across from Harold LaGrange’s home in Lucy. He says they construct a creative bonfire every Christmas Eve..:
CUT 6 (08) “really trending right now”
He says this is NOT a protest against police in anyway. They will light the bonfire tomorrow around 7pm.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office says two men are under arrest accused of selling weed out of their snoball stand. Sgt. Clay Higgins says they had been getting complaints from the community about the T&E Soul Food and Sno-Ball stand in Opelousas. He says the narcotics enforcement team gathered enough evidence to obtain a search warrant…:
CUT 13 (08) “each man”
Under arrest are 37-year-old Jermaine Doucet and 32-year-old Bryant Fields, both from Opelousas.