A 17-year-old is dead and an 18-year-old is facing a negligent homicide charge as a result of a driving stunt in Tangipahoa Parish. Sheriff Gerald Sticker says Josean (ho-ZAY-in) Martinez was driving his truck recklessly while Dulce (DUL-chay) Rudas was sitting outside the passenger window and another 20-year-old was standing in the bed of the vehicle. He says this is a tragedy with a sobering lesson.

Cut 4 (11) “…go home again.”

The Coca-Cola Bottling Company announces that it’s investing more than 100-million dollars to expand its warehouse and distribution operations in Alexandria. Louisiana Central President and CEO Chris Masingill says in the long run, it made all the sense in the world for Coca-Cola to remain in central Louisiana.

Cut 9 (08)  “…and Rapides Parish.”

One of the most destructive floods in Louisiana’s history happened ten years ago this week. Jeff Palermo has a look back at the Great Flood of 2016.

Cut 3 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

In the aftermath, billions of dollars in federal aid were sent to south Louisiana to rebuild homes and businesses, elevate houses and improve flood-control systems.

A 17-year-old is dead, and an 18-year-old is facing a negligent homicide charge in what Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker calls a driving stunt with a pickup truck that went wrong. Sticker says Josean Martinez was driving recklessly while his 17-year-old passenger Dulce Rudas was sitting outside the passenger window…

Cut 5 (14) “…onboard that vehicle”

Martinez is facing up to ten years in prison.

Ten years ago today, the Great Flood of 2016 was impacting thousands of homes across south Louisiana. More than two feet of rain fell in Livingston Parish and a group of civilians known as the Cajun Navy helped rescue thousands. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry…

Cut 14 (09) “…help other people”

Landry says 78-percent of homes in Denham Springs had at least 18 inches of water.

Another huge economic development win for central Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

There are social media rumors of a data center coming to Moss Bluff, which is located just north of Lake Charles. State Representative Brett Geymann told the Advocate Newspaper there’s nothing moving for the project at the Louisiana Economic Development department or the Southwest Louisiana Economic Alliance.

Ten years ago today, thousands of lives were changed when a slow-moving weather system dumped torrential rain across south Louisiana, causing catastrophic flooding from the Lafayette area to southeast Louisiana. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry remembers planning a meeting for the morning of August 12th, only to have it cancelled because the water was rising.

Cut 13 (05)  “…inches of water.”

Coca-Cola has announced that it’s investing more than 100-million dollars to modernize and expand its warehouse and distribution operations in Alexandria. Louisiana Central President and CEO Chris Masingill…

Cut 7 (15) “…of their work.”

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A 17-year-old girl in Tangipahoa Parish died due to injuries from a reckless driving incident two weeks ago. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Powerball jackpot has once again hit ten figures. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says even if you don’t win the billion-dollar prize, you can still win a seven-figure prize by matching all five white balls, as evidenced by a certain drawing back in April.

Cut 12 (08) “…here in Louisiana.”

One of the most destructive floods in Louisiana’s history happened ten years ago this week. Jeff Palermo has a look back at the Great Flood of 2016.

Cut 3 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

In the aftermath, billions of dollars in federal aid were sent to south Louisiana to rebuild homes and businesses, elevate houses and improve flood-control systems.

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An 18-year-old is facing a negligent homicide charge, and a 17-year-old is dead after being thrown from a pickup truck.  Tangipahoa Parish. Sheriff Gerald Sticker says Josean (ho-ZAY-in) Martinez was driving his truck recklessly when 17 year old Dulce (DUL-chay) Rudas and a 20 year old were thrown from the vehicle and Martinez fled the scene.  Sheriff Sticker says parents need to teach their children the importance of driving safely and taking that responsibility seriously.

Cut 6 (09) “…have been made.”

The Powerball jackpot has once again hit ten figures once again.  It’s been happening more often ever since a 2015 change that added ten white balls and removed nine red balls from the drawing…reducing the odds from less than one in 175-million to less than one in 292-million. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery…

Cut 11 (06) “…of this run.”

Another huge economic development win for central Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Here we go again – the Powerball jackpot has once again hit ten figures. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says be sure to buy your tickets for tonight’s billion-dollar drawing.

Cut 10 (05) “…a billion dollars.”
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An 18-year-old is facing a negligent homicide charge, and a 17-year-old is dead as a result of a dangerous driving stunt in Tangipahoa Parish. Sheriff Gerald Sticker says Josean (ho-ZAY-in) Martinez was driving his truck recklessly while Dulce (DUL-chay) Rudas was sitting outside the passenger window and another 20-year-old was standing in the bed of the vehicle. He says this is a tragedy with a sobering lesson.

Cut 4 (11) “…go home again.”

Sticker says Martinez drove away from the scene and tried to hide his truck, leaving the two passengers injured in the street.

It’s believed to be one of the largest methamphetamine busts in Louisiana history. Deputies with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office pull over an 18-wheeler on eastbound I-12 in Denham Springs and found almost 800 pounds of meth in the trailer. A Russian national was arrested and is now in ICE custody.

Qualifying is over, so let the congressional campaigns begin. In the two open seats in the fifth and sixth districts, political analysts expect Republicans to win both, albeit not decided until runoffs in December. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says it would get very interesting if the balance of power in the House is not decided in November, and a Democratic candidate was in one or both races.

Cut 8 (11) “… redistricting.”

Optimism continues to rise among small businesses, but challenges persist. NFIB state director Leah Long says labor quality is a problem that the Landry administration, state lawmakers, K-through-12 and higher education leaders are trying to fix.

Cut 10 (15) “…owned businesses.”

A doctor with LCMC Health performs the first single-port robotic lung cancer surgery in the Gulf South on a man from Metairie, who is now cancer free. Dr. Wassim Abi Jaoude says the groundbreaking procedure involves just a single incision instead of four or five, and that provides great benefits to the patient.

Cut 4 (09) “…potentially less complication.”

Here we go again – the Powerball jackpot has once again hit ten figures. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says be sure to buy your tickets for tomorrow night’s billion-dollar drawing.

Cut 10 (05) “…a billion dollars.”

If it seems as if billion-dollar jackpots are happening more frequently in Powerball, you’re right. That’s due in large part to a change that happened in 2015, in which they added ten white balls and removed nine red balls, reducing the odds from less than one in 175-million to less than one in 292-million.

The latest nationwide survey finds that optimism continues to rise among small businesses, but challenges persist. NFIB state director Leah Long says for the month of July, the top reported issue was labor quality or availability.

Cut 9 (08)  “…definitely an issue.”

Long says it’s a problem that the Landry administration, state lawmakers, K-through-12 and higher education leaders are trying to fix.

An LCMC Health doctor performs a groundbreaking lung cancer procedure. Dr. Wassim Abi Jaoude (ZHAO-day) of East Jefferson General Hospital performed the first single-port robotic lung cancer surgery in the Gulf South on a man from Metairie, who is now cancer free.

Cut 3 (09) “…only one incision.”

Abi Jaoude is currently the only surgeon in the region offering the single-port robotic lung cancer surgery.

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan could miss the start of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

It’s believed to be one of the largest methamphetamine busts in Louisiana history. Deputies with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office pull over an 18-wheeler on eastbound I-12 in Denham Springs and found almost 800 pounds of meth in the trailer. Anton Rakov, a Russian national, was arrested and is now in ICE custody.

Tomorrow is the ten-year anniversary of the Great Flood of 2016. The slow-moving weather system dumped torrential rain across south Louisiana, causing catastrophic flooding from the Lafayette area to southeast Louisiana. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry remembers planning a meeting for the morning of August 12th, only to have it cancelled because the water was rising…

Cut 13 (05)  “..of water.”

More than 25 inches of rain fell in parts of Livingston Parish within hours, sending the Amite River in Denham Springs to a record crest of more than 46 feet. About 30-thousand people had to be rescued as rivers across the region overflowed their banks.

Congressional races are underway, and the two most notable candidates in the sixth district are state senators Blake Miguez and Rick Edmonds. ULM political science Professor Pearson Cross says the Republicans served together in both the House and Senate, and both are now attacking each other…

Cut 7 (08) “…the case.”

A man from Metairie is now cancer-free, thanks to a groundbreaking lung cancer surgery performed by an LCMC Health doctor. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Saints head coach Kellen Moore said the team is still evaluating the severity of veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan’s hamstring injury, but he will miss some time. Moore did not confirm how long that would be but said Jordan may not make it back in time for the Saints’ season opener in Detroit September 13^th.

Qualifying is done and the Congressional races can officially begin. Pearson Cross teaches political science at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and says the race to replace Republican Julia Letlow is wide open as four state lawmakers seek a seat in the U-S House…

Cut 6 (12) “…barn burner”

The two most well known candidates in the sixth district Congressional race are Republican state senators Blake Miguez and Rick Edmonds and the two are already attacking each other.

The latest national small business survey finds that optimism continues to rise to its level since August of 2025. NFIB state director Leah Long says one reason for the growing optimism is that inflation has slowed…

Cut 11 (06) “…in their business”

Twenty-five percent of small business owners nationally plan to make capital outlays in the next six months.

LCMC Health is proud to announce it’s the first hospital system in the Gulf South to perform single-port robotic lung cancer surgery to remove a person’s cancer. Dennis O’ Neil of Metairie had this groundbreaking procedure performed on him at East Jefferson Hospital and thoracic surgeon Doctor Wassim Abi Jaoude (ZHAO-day) says this single small incision, results in less pain, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays…

Cut 5 (10) “…happened yet”

Greg Nielsen, the CEO of East Jefferson says this is a monumental medical advancement for Louisiana.

The Small Business Administration is encouraging residents and business owners who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Arthur to apply for low-interest disaster loans. SBA spokesperson Michel Genovese says homeowners may qualify for up to 500-thousand dollars to repair their primary residence, and collateral is not required for smaller loans.

Cut 15 (08) “…50-thousand dollars.

Genovese says homeowners, renters and businesses in Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes are eligible for this assistance

A man from Metairie is now cancer-free, thanks to a groundbreaking lung cancer surgery performed by an LCMC Health doctor. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan could miss the start of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

____________________________________________

An LCMC Health doctor performs a groundbreaking lung cancer procedure. Dr. Wassim Abi Jaoude (ZHAO-day) of East Jefferson General Hospital performed the first single-port robotic lung cancer surgery in the Gulf South on a man from Metairie, who is now cancer free.

Cut 3 (09) “…only one incision.”

Dr. Abi Jaoude says through this single incision, he’s able to do the exact same thing that he’s able to do with the traditional multiple incisions. But by using that one incision measuring between two and seven centimeters long along with the Vinci Single Port Robotic Surgical System, that provides great benefits to the patient.

Cut 4 (09) “…potentially lest complication.”

Abi Jaoude says while that certainly results in reduced recovery times, they’re not quite at the point where the procedure could be an outpatient procedure just yet.

Cut 5 (10) “…not happened yet.”

Abi Jaoude is currently the only surgeon in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi offering the single-port robotic lung cancer surgery.

____________________________________________

Qualifying is done and the Congressional races can officially begin. Pearson Cross teaches political science at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and says the race to replace Republican Julia Letlow is wide open as four state lawmakers seek a seat in the U-S House…

Cut 6 (12) “…barn burner”

The two most notable candidates in the sixth district Congressional race are state senators Blake Miguez and Rick Edmonds. Cross says Miguez and Edmonds are Republicans, who have served together in both the House and Senate and both are now attacking each other…

Cut 7 (08) “…the case.”

Political analysts expect a Republican will win the 5^th and 6^th Congressional district races, but both races will likely be decided in a December runoff. Cross says it would get very interesting if the balance of power in the U.S. House was not decided in November and a Democratic candidate was in one or both races…

Cut 8 (11) “… redistricting.”

____________________________________________

The latest nationwide survey finds that optimism continues to rise among small businesses, but challenges persist. NFIB state director Leah Long says for the month of July, the top reported issue was labor quality or availability…

Cut 9 (08)  “…definitely an issue.”

Long says it’s a problem that the Landry Administration, state lawmakers, K-through-12 and higher education leaders are trying to fix.

Cut 10 (15) “…owned businesses.”

Long says overall small business owners are encouraged by what they are seeing and one reason for that is inflation has slowed…

Cut 11 (06) “…in their business.”

Twenty-five percent of small business owners nationally plan to make capital outlays in the next six months.