A Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for insurance fraud. State Police Trooper Eddie Thomas says 50-year-old Frank Launer of Blanchard got into a wreck last April while allegedly uninsured but quickly obtained coverage after the accident. An arrest warrant was issued after months of investigation provided enough evidence to show that Launer obtained and filed a claim with his insurance provider after he got into a wreck.

Cut 10 (09) “…insurance fraud.”

After U-S Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s “Returning Education to the States” tour stop in Louisiana, State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley commented on the improvement in Louisiana’s reading scores from 49th to the 32nd on a national test called the nation’s report card. Brumley says they went back to the basics…

Cut 4 (10) “…academic excellence.”

A wildlife has burned 15-hundred acres in the Kisatchie National Forest, but Jeff Palermo reports officials are confident they can get fire contained by the end of the week…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Optimism is up among small businesses according to a new survey released by the NFIB. State Director Leah Long says federal legislation that makes a 20-percent small business tax deduction permanent is positive and in Louisiana there’s optimism that the tort reform legislation approved in the last regular session can help reduce insurance rates over time….

Cut 7 (07) “…for that.”

U-S Secretary of Education Linda McMahon started her “Returning Education to the States” tour in Louisiana because she’s impressed with Louisiana’s improved reading scores. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says it was validation for what is doing in the public classroom…

Cut 3 (08) “…with disabilities”

McMahon toured Jefferson Terrace Academy which has implemented new reading initiatives, including high dosage tutoring and the Baton Rouge school is already seeing results.

A Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy is on administrative leave after he was arrested for insurance fraud. State Police Trooper Eddie Thomas says a months long investigation has determined 50-year-old Frank Launer of Blanchard got into a wreck last April and did not have automobile insurance and then quickly bought coverage

Cut 9 (11)  “…same day”

Launer says once investigators had enough evidence to show that Launer filed a claim with his insurance provider after he got into a wreck, an arrest warrant was issued.

A new national survey finds small business optimism rose in July.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Don Molino.”

The Louisiana Tech University community is mourning the death of its longest-serving first lady, Linda Reneau. Linda spent 26 years as Louisiana Tech’s first lady, and left a lasting contribution on Louisiana Tech’s campus, including an endowment to care for the landscape and maintenance created by her and former President Dan Reneau. The Quad’s rose garden is also named after Linda.

The National Federation of Independent Business surveyed small businesses last month and found that more small business owners are optimistic. NFIB state director Leah Long says Congress making the 20-percent small business deduction permanent helped boost optimism and locally, small business owners are hopeful tort reform legislation approved in the regular session can help lower insurance rates over time…

Cut 7 (07) “….for that’

The U-S Forest Service is fighting a large wildfire in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area in Natchitoches Parish. It has burned 15-hundred acres and Jim Caldwell says because of the wildfire, the entire Kisatchie Hills Wilderness area is closed…

Cut 15 (09) “….backpacks on”

Caldwell says they believe the wildfire will be contained by the end of the week. No structures have been damaged.

State Police arrested a Caddo Parish deputy for insurance fraud. Joe Gallinaro has the details…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro”

A sheriff’s deputy in Concordia Parish is also facing charges. Authorities say 22-year-old Drakel Carter was arrested after a physical altercation involving another person. Carter is charged with malfeasance in office and simple battery.  He’s been placed on administrative leave as State Police continue to investigate.

Fortified roofs were the focus at the annual Louisiana Department of Insurance conference. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Optimism is up among small businesses according to a new survey released by the NFIB. NFIB state director Leah Long says federal legislation that makes a 20-percent small business tax deduction permanent gives small business owners more clarity…

Cut 6 (08) “…businesses grow”

The five deep-water ports of the Lower Mississippi River have partnered up to develop a unified marketing strategy. Chairman of the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission, Joe Toomy, says this united effort between these five lower Mississippi River ports will help increase international trade, drive economic growth and attract new business…

Cut 9 (12)  “…L-N-G.”

Firefighters hope to have a wildfire burning in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area in Natchitoches Parish contained by the end of the week. Kisatchie National Forest spokesperson Jim Caldwell says they’ve seen their share of wildfires there, but this one’s a difficult battle because of the terrain…

Cut 14 (11) “…fire in.”

Caldwell says the entire Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area is closed and they are advising the public to avoid the Longleaf Trail National Scenic Byway.

A special mass was held last night at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Acadia Parish to honor Charlene Richard, who is know as the Little Cajun Saint. Monday was the 66^th anniversary of her death. She died when she was 12 years old from Leukemia, but she offered her suffering for others. People from around the world have traveled to her grave to pray to her and there are testmonies of miracles attributed to her intercession, including a pregnant woman from New York who was told by doctors her fetus had two severe brain abnormalities…

Cut 11 (12) “….the baby”

That’s the President of the Charlene Richard Foundation, Nanette Reiners, who says there’s an effort to get Charlene canonized as a saint.

Tropical Storm Erin is in the central Atlantic, expected to strengthen to a major hurricane, but Erin is not a threat to the coastal U-S.

Fortified roofs were the focus at the annual Louisiana Department of Insurance conference. In the past the state held a lottery where homeowners can receive grant dollars to pay for a fortified roof. There are none of those right now.  But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says thanks to a new law, homeowners can receive a higher tax deduction if they pay for fortified roof…

Cut 5 (07) “…now ten-thousand dollars.”

Firefighters hope to have a wildlife burning in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area in Natchitoches Parish contained by the end of the week. A lighting strike on August 3rd sparked the fire that has burned 15 hundred acres. Kisatchie National Forest spokesperson Jim Caldwell says they are using various methods to extinguish the blaze, and they can use some help from Mother Nature…

Cut 13 (07)  “…a lot.”

There are 110 people from ten states involved in extinguishing the Backbone Fire.

A strong effort is ongoing to get the “Little Cajun Saint,” Charlene Richard canonized as a Saint. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office has released the name of a 12-year-old who was fatally shot over the weekend. Shreveport Police say Caiden Smith died at a hospital after he accidentally shot himself after finding a gun inside his home. Authorities say this heartbreaking incident highlights the importance of safe firearm storage and education.

Fortified roofs were the focus of last week’s annual Louisiana Department of Insurance conference. Commissioner Tim Temple says fortified roofs have been proven to lower homeowner’s insurance premiums by as much as 50-percent.

Cut 4 (10) “…in Louisiana.”

Louisiana issued just 313 fortification certificates prior to 2023, but thanks to the state providing funding for the Fortify Homes Program, 54-hundred properties have been certified as of last February.

The U-S Forest Service is fighting a large wildfire in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area in Natchitoches Parish. It has burned 15-hundred acres and Jim Caldwell says because of the wildfire, the entire Kisatchie Hills Wilderness area is closed…

Cut 15 (09) “….backpacks on”

Caldwell says they believe the wildfire will be contained by the end of the week. No structures have been lost.

Palermo reports officials are confident they can get fire contained by the end of the week…

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Louisiana Tech University community is mourning the death of its longest-serving first lady, Linda Reneau. The university announced Reneau’s death yesterday. Linda spent 26 years as Louisiana Tech’s first lady, and left a lasting contribution on Louisiana Tech’s campus, including an endowment to care for the landscape and maintenance created by her and President Dan Reneau. The Quad’s rose garden is also named after Linda.

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The five deep-water ports of the Lower Mississippi River have partnered up to develop a unified marketing strategy. Chairman of the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission, Joe Toomy says the ports have traditionally worked independently, but two years ago discussions began that they should unify…

Cut 8 (09) “…the port.”

Fortified roofs were the main focus of last week’s annual Louisiana Department of Insurance conference. Louisiana homeowners who pay for a fortified roof can now receive a higher tax deduction thanks to recent legislation passed.  Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says in the future, he would like building codes amended so that all new homes are built with fortified roofs.

Cut 6 (06) “…it’s not fortified”

Fortified roofs were the main focus of last week’s annual Louisiana Department of Insurance conference. In the past the state had grant programs, in which homeowners entered a lottery to be selected for a discounted fortified roof. Those are none of those right now.  But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says thanks to lawmakers in this past legislative session, homeowners can receive a higher tax deduction if they pay for fortified roof…

Cut 5 (07) “…now ten-thousand dollars.”

Firefighters hope to have wildlife burning in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area in Natchitoches Parish contained by the end of the week. Kisatchie National Forest spokesperson Jim Caldwell says the they’ve seen their share of wildfires there, but this one’s a difficult battle because of the terrain…

Cut 14 (11) “…fire in.”

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A strong effort is ongoing to get the “Little Cajun Saint,” Charlene Richard canonized as a Saint. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of one of its own yesterday.   CPSO says 22 year old Deputy Drakel Carter was arrested after a physical altercation involving the deputy on Saturday.  Carter is charged with malfeasance in office and simple battery.  He’s been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by State Police.

Fortified roofs were the main focus at the annual Louisiana Department of Insurance conference. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The five deep-water ports of the Lower Mississippi River have partnered up to develop a unified marketing strategy. Chairman of the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission, Joe Toomy, says this collaboration will allow each port to emphasize their own strength…

Cut 7 (08) “…the world.”

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Firefighters hope to have wildlife burning in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area in Natchitoches Parish contained by the end of the week. A lighting strike on August 3rd sparked the fire that has burned 15 hundred acres. Kisatchie National Forest spokesperson Jim Caldwell says they are using various methods to extinguish the blaze, and they can use some help from Mother Nature…

Cut 13 (07)  “…a lot.”

The Vatican is considering The Little Cajun Saint for sainthood as it’s believed she has performed miracles. Charlene Richard from Acadia Parish died in 1959 from leukemia at the age of 12 years old. President of the Charlene Richard Foundation, Nanette Reiners, says Richard knew she would die at a young age, but every day she offered her suffering for other people…

Cut 10 (07) “…everybody else”

Medicaid reportedly paid nearly ten-million dollars to healthcare organizations for over a thousand deceased beneficiaries between February 2019 and March of this year according to a report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office. State auditor Chris Magee says their recommendation to the Louisiana Department of Health is to use third-party data sources in their effort to make sure beneficiaries of Medicaid have not passed away…

Cut 7 (07) “…data basis.”

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon was in Baton Rouge this morning to kickoff her returning education to states tour. Secretary McMahon visited Jefferson Terrace Academy and participated in a roundtable conversation on Louisiana’s literacy progress. McMahon says she’s impressed with Louisiana’s improvement on the Nation’s Report Card…

Cut 12 (12) “…making it work.”

Secretary McMahon will also visit Arkansas and Tennessee this week.

Fortified roofs were the focus of last week’s annual Louisiana Department of Insurance conference. Commissioner Tim Temple says fortified roofs have proven to lower homeowner’s insurance premiums by as much as 50-percent.

Cut 4 (10) “…in Louisiana.”

Louisiana issued just 313 fortification certificates prior to 2023, but thanks to the state providing funding for the Fortify Homes Program, 54-hundred properties have been certified as of last February.

Ponchatoula-based Elmer Chocolate has been sold to Florida based Hoffman Family Companies. Elmer is known for Gold brick eggs and heavenly hash eggs, popular Easter candies. Geoff Hoffman with HFC says their goal is to grow Elmer

Cut 30 (12) “…avenues of growth”