A longtime Texas staple will soon be coming to South Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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If you still need to mail your Christmas gifts to arrive on time, time is running out. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Enhanced seat belt warnings are coming in all new vehicles in the U.S. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A longtime Texas staple is coming to South Louisiana. Buc-ee’s will be opening a store along I-10 in Lafayette sometime in early 2026. Mandi Mitchell, the president and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, says this means dozens of new jobs for the region.

Cut 4 (09) “…dollars an hour.”

People normally spend between 30 and 60 minutes inside a Buc-ee’s store. Along with uniquely branded items, Buc-ee’s is widely known for their clean bathrooms. The stores are generally huge in size, and Mitchell says this one will be no different

Cut 5 (10) “…120 fuel pumps.”

Mitchell says having a Buc-ee’s in Lafayette is a golden opportunity to market the city to people passing through, inviting them to experience everything the city has to offer.

Cut 6 (15) “…period of time.”

Construction is slated to get underway in the first quarter of 2025.

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If you still need to mail your Christmas gifts to arrive before Christmas Day, you’d better get a move on it. Evelina Ramirez with the Postal Service says the first deadline is today.

Cut 7 (10) “…is December 19th.”

And if you miss that deadline, your last resort is Priority Mail Express, with a deadline of December 21st – this Saturday. Ramirez says the Postal Service will go to great lengths to deliver packages in time for Christmas, including after dark.

Cut 8 (09) “…they’ll be safe.”

Ramirez says volume is expected to pick up, and the Postal Service is ready.

Cut 9 (11)  “…season to shine.”

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Enhanced seat belt warnings are coming soon in all new vehicles in the U.S. Under new NHTSA (NIT-sa) rules, all new vehicles will come equipped with enhanced seat belt warnings for front-seat occupants by September 1st, 2026; and seat belt warnings for rear-seat passengers will come one year later. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says Louisianians already buckle up in huge numbers.

Cut 10 (11) “…are buckled up.”

Using statistics from last year, Fischer says for many years, seat belts have been proven to save lives.

Cut 11 (09) “…not buckled up.”

Fischer says the enhanced seat belt warnings will go a long way, especially for those who are rushing out the door in the morning to get to school or work.

Cut 12 (11) “…the right direction.”

Fischer notes that many vehicles that are currently rolling off the assembly line already comply with NHTSA’s new rules.

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Barring an injunction from an appellate judge, most school districts in the state will be given the green light to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms starting on January 1st. Attorney General Liz Murrill says while Judge John DeGravelles blocked the law on constitutional grounds, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals limited the scope of his ruling,

Cut 13 (05)  “…to this injunction.”

Murrill said the school board not named in the lawsuit should have nothing to worry about when it comes to posting the Ten Commandments.

Cut 14 (07) “…a federal lawsuit.”

Murrill said the state is ready to defend any school board that gets sued over the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

Cut 15 (08) “…to your order.”

Big problems on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway as at least 40 vehicles are involved in six separate crashes this morning. Causeway General Manager Carlton Dufrechau says visibility dropped to nearly zero.

Cut 9 (07)  “…on both bridges,”

Dufrechou says no one went over the rail and into the water, and all stranded vehicles made it off the Causeway. 33 people are hospitalized, none of them with life-threatening injuries.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has confirmed a case of bird flu in Bossier Parish. Commissioner Mike Strain says the long-term outbreak has been going on for almost three years.

Cut 7 (07) “…February of 2022.”

Strain says wild geese and ducks are bringing the virus into Louisiana. He says if you see a sick duck or goose, do not touch it and keep it out of contact with your domestic birds.

Chronic absenteeism in Louisiana schools continues to be on the rise. In the 2023-24 school year, chronic absenteeism grew three points to almost 25-percent. It’s the second year in a row that the rate increased. BESE President Ronnie Morris says that includes truancy, which is a huge problem across the state.

Cut 4 (06) “…a truancy problem.”

Morris says solutions include making school fun again, including opportunities for kids to do hands-on activities such as robotics and music.

As expected, at the meeting of the Louisiana Electoral College at the State Capitol, all eight electors cast their ballots for Donald Trump for President and J.D. Vance for Vice President. Voters overwhelmingly chose the electors during the election last month. It’s a scene that played out in all 50 states today, as electors formally elected Trump and Vance. Congress will certify the vote in a joint session on January 6th.

School absenteeism is trending in the wrong direction. In the 2023-24 school year, chronic absenteeism grew to almost 25-percent. It’s the second year in a row that the chronic absenteeism rate increased. BESE President Ronnie Morris says one factor that’s likely contributing to the problem is the fact that many students can’t read at grade level.

Cut 3 (10) “…what’s going on.” 

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has confirmed a case of bird flu. Commissioner Mike Strain says this is in Bossier Parish.

Cut 6 (11) “…not commercial flock.”

Strain says wild geese and ducks are bringing the virus into Louisiana. He says if you see a sick duck or goose, do not touch it and keep it out of contact with your domestic birds.

A huge mess on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway this morning. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Two dozen people in Concordia and Rapides parishes are arrested for their alleged involvement in a nationwide drug trafficking network following a two-year-long investigation. Concordia Sheriff David Hedrick says there is no safe haven for criminals in his parish…

Cut 14 (13) “…do so.”

Chaos erupted on the Causeway Bridge over Lake Pontchartrain this morning as dense fog resulted in six separate crashes involving over 40 vehicles. 33 people were injured, most of the injuries were minor and none of them were life-threatening. Causeway General Manager Carlton Dufrechau says it did not not start off as a foggy morning …

Cut 10 (12) “….people almost simultaneously”

Fog is expected again tomorrow morning in southeast Louisiana.

In Bossier Parish, bird flu has been found with a backyard flock. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says wild geese and ducks are bringing the virus into Louisiana. He says the key for all poultry producers is biosecurity.

Cut 8 (10) “…your domestic birds.”

Strain says the infected birds have been euthanized and the facility has been cleaned up.

About one in four Louisiana students was chronically absent last school year, an increase from the previous year. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is looking at ways to reduce chronic absenteeism and BESE President Ronnie Morris says solutions include making school fun again, including opportunities for kids to do hands-on activities such as robotics and music. Another idea is to open up internship opportunities to high school kids.

Cut 5 (08) “…way after graduation.”

A two-year long investigation has resulted in two dozen people in Concordia and Rapides Parishes arrested for their alleged involvement in a nationwide drug trafficking network. U-S Attorney Brandon Brown says 13 of the suspects face federal drug trafficking charges…

Cut 12 (13) “…imprisonment.”

Concordia Sheriff David Hedrick says his deputies arrested 11 more suspects in the investigation.

Dense fog this morning resulted in multiple crashes involving over 40 vehicles on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge that connects the New Orleans Metropolitan Area and the North Shore. Causeway General Manager Carlton Dufrechau…

Cut 11 (06) “….nine separate crashes”

Officials say 33 people were hospitalized, but most of the injuries are minor and none are life-threatening.

Two-dozen people are facing either federal or state charges as a result of a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking involving methamphetamine in Rapides and Concordia parishes. U-S Attorney Brandon Brown says multiple people from Vidalia and Ferriday have been taken into custody…

Cut 13 (12) “….bad applies”

13 people are facing federal charges and Concordia Sheriff David Hedrick says his deputies arrested another 11 individuals.

The absenteeism trend in Louisiana schools is heading in the wrong direction. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Dan Casey says yesterday’s system outage that prevented O-M-V from conducting any transactions is the result of a computer software system that’s 50-years-old. Casey says in the coming days, OMV will announce a modern solution to replace the aging system.

Chronic absenteeism in Louisiana schools continues to be on the rise. In the 2023-24 school year, chronic absenteeism grew three points to almost 25-percent. It’s the second year in a row that the rate increased. BESE President Ronnie Morris says that includes truancy, which is a huge problem across the state.

Cut 4 (06) “…a truancy problem.”

Morris says solutions include making school fun again, including opportunities for kids to do hands-on activities such as robotics and music.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has confirmed a case of bird flu in Bossier Parish. Commissioner Mike Strain says the long-term outbreak has been going on for almost three years.

Cut 7 (07) “…February of 2022.”

Strain says wild geese and ducks are bringing the virus into Louisiana. He says if you see a sick duck or goose, do not touch it and keep it out of contact with your domestic birds.

A huge mess on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway this morning. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

As expected, at the meeting of the Louisiana Electoral College at the State Capitol, all eight electors cast their ballots for Donald Trump for President and J.D. Vance for Vice President. Voters overwhelmingly chose the electors during the election last month. It’s a scene that’s playing out in all 50 states today. Barring any faithless electors, the Trump/Vance ticket will rack up 312 electoral votes to 226 for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

The absenteeism trend in Louisiana schools is heading in the wrong direction. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A huge mess on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway this morning. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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School absenteeism is trending in the wrong direction. For the second year in a row, the rate of chronic absenteeism – kids who are absent more than ten-percent of the time – has increased. In the 2023-24 school year, chronic absenteeism grew to almost 25-percent, up nearly three percentage points from the year prior. BESE President Ronnie Morris says one factor that’s likely contributing to the problem is the fact that many students can’t read at grade level.

Cut 3 (10) “…what’s going on.”

Morris says another factor is kids skipping school for no valid reason, and that’s a huge problem across the state.

Cut 4 (06) “…a truancy problem.”

Morris says solutions include making school fun again, including opportunities for kids to do hands-on activities such as robotics and music. Another idea is to open up internship opportunities to high school kids.

Cut 5 (08) “…way after graduation.”

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The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has confirmed a case of bird flu. Commissioner Mike Strain says this is in Bossier Parish.

Cut 6 (11) “…not commercial flock.”

Strain says the long-term outbreak has been going on for almost three years.

Cut 7 (07) “…February of 2022.”

Strain says wild geese and ducks are bringing the virus into Louisiana. He says the key for all poultry producers is biosecurity.

Cut 8 (14) “…your domestic birds.”

Strain says the infected birds have been euthanized and the facility has been cleaned up.

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A huge mess on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway as at least 40 vehicles are involved in crashes this morning. Causeway General Manager Carlton Dufrechau (DOO-fruh-show) says visibility dropped to nearly zero.

Cut 9 (07)  “…on both bridges,”

Dufrechou says it did not start off as a foggy morning on the 24-mile stretch of roadway.

Cut 10 (12) “…people almost simultaneously.”

Dufrechou says crews were called to several separate incidents.

Cut 11 (16) “…nine separate crashes.”

No one went over the rail and into the water, and all stranded vehicles made it off the Causeway. There were no serious injuries.

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A two-year long investigation has resulted in two dozen people in Concordia and Rapides Parishes arrested for their alleged involvement in a nationwide drug trafficking network. U-S Attorney Brandon Brown says 13 of the suspects face federal drug trafficking charges…

Cut 12 (13) “…imprisonment.”

Brown’s office says Henry Jefferson Senior of Katy. Texas is the ring leader. But Brown says multiple people have arrested for possessing, distributing or manufacturing methamphetamine in Ferriday and Vidalia..

Cut 13 (12)  “…bad apples.”

Concordia Sheriff David Hedrick says his deputies arrested 11 more suspects in the investigation. He says there is no safe haven for criminals in Concordia Parish…

Cut 14 (13) “…do so.”

A huge mess on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway as at least 40 vehicles are involved in crashes this morning. Causeway General Manager Carlton Dufrechau says visibility dropped to nearly zero.

Cut 9 (07)  “…on both bridges,”

Dufrechou says crews responded to as many as nine separate crashes. No one went over the rail and into the water, and all stranded vehicles made it off the Causeway. There were no serious injuries.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has confirmed a case of bird flu. Commissioner Mike Strain says this is in Bossier Parish.

Cut 6 (11) “…not commercial flock.”

Strain says wild geese and ducks are bringing the virus into Louisiana. He says if you see a sick duck or goose, do not touch it and keep it out of contact with your domestic birds.

School absenteeism is trending in the wrong direction. For the second year in a row, the rate of chronic absenteeism – kids who are absent more than ten-percent of the time – has increased. In the 2023-24 school year, chronic absenteeism grew to almost 25-percent, up nearly three percentage points from the year prior. BESE President Ronnie Morris says one factor that’s likely contributing to the problem is the fact that many students can’t read at grade level.

Cut 3 (10) “…what’s going on.”

At this hour, Louisiana’s Electoral College is meeting to officially cast eight votes for Donald Trump and J-D Vance to be the next President and Vice President of the United States.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Dan Casey says yesterday’s system outage that prevented O-M-V from conducting any transactions is the result of a computer software system that’s 50-years-old. Casey says in the coming days, OMV will announce a moder solution to replace the aging system.

Funeral services are tomorrow for Richland Parish Sheriff Gary Gilley, who passed away Saturday at the age of 66. Gilley was a law enforcement officer for nearly 30 years, the last eight were as the sheriff of Richland Parish. Ouachita Sheriff Marc Mashaw (Muh-shaw) says Gilley’s death is a loss for north Louisiana…

Cut 9 (04) “…was one of us”

Richland Parish Schools will be closed tomorrow in honor of Sheriff Gilley.

LSU has signed quarterback Michael Van Buren who started eight games for Mississippi State this season. Van Buren threw 11 touchdown passes for the Bulldogs in 2024, but he also threw seven interceptions and was sacked 27 times. David Murray covers State for 2-4-7 sports and says Van Burn is known to hang on to the ball in the hopes of hitting the deep pass…

Cut 15 (16) “…college level certainly”

The 2024 Louisiana Electoral College meets at 11:30 at the State Capitol today to cast their official votes for President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Joel Watson with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office says you can watch the historic moment on the Louisiana Legislature’s website…

Cut 6 (10) “….start at 12”

Researchers at Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi  have found pharmaceuticals, including Fentanyl, in several bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine biologist at Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi, Doctor Dara Orbach, on how this is possible…

Cut 12 (13) “….predators like dolphins”

Many of the fish species that dolphins eat are also eaten by humans, which may mean that if Fentanyl and other drugs are not disposed of properly, they could end up in the fish that you might one day consume.

State Police have arrested the former Bossier City Police Deputy Chief for carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Investigators say 57-year-old Richard McGee committed the crime of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile with at least one victim from 1994 to 1999. He was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center.

A beloved sheriff in North Louisiana has passed away. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”