Farmers say despite the single-digit temperatures that gripped the state last week, sugarcane appears to have held up quite well. LSU AgCenter sugarcane expert Kenneth Gravois says, though, that the full extent of damage will remain unclear for weeks.

Cut 4 (09) “…crop starts emerging.”

Gravois says the timing of the freeze helped avoid disaster.

The Louisiana Forestry Association is encouraging industry to utilize the overabundance of trees in the state’s forests. Executive Director Buck Vandersteen says with trees growing at a much faster rate than those being harvested, that creates an opening for the biofuel industry to thrive.

Cut 6 (15) “…or outside Louisiana.”

Five people from Houston are arrested for allegedly using drones to smuggle contraband, including drugs and cell phones, into the federal prison in Pollock. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also involved.

Cut 10 (09) “…that’s here illegally.”

That person is 35-year-old Laura Martinez, and ICE has a detainer on her. The sheriff’s office and the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement seized about 12-thousand dollars. McCain says they’re working on ways to combat the use of drones in smuggling contraband into federal prisons.

An alleged shoplifter shot by an off-duty Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputy has died. Sheriff Mark Wood says the deputy was working off-duty detail at Academy Sports and Outdoors on Friday night in Alexandria when he attempted to stop an alleged shoplifter

Cut 7 (16) “…his injuries .”

Authorities have not released the identity of the man who died and the  deputy is on paid leave.

Farmers say sugarcane held up well in last week’s winter storm, despite record-breaking single-digit temperatures. LSU AgCenter sugarcane expert Kenneth Gravois says the snow acted as insulation for the cane…

Cut 3 (12) “…underground buds”

Gravois says farmers are also planting cane varieties that are better at standing up to the cold.

Nationally, egg prices surged nearly 38-percent in the past year.  Sean Richardson explains why…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne took to social media to complain about the scoring from judges and the concern gymnasts are not being awarded with perfect 10s which is what fans want to see. Dunne might have a point, there have only been two perfect tens awarded, compared to 19 at this same time last year in collegiate gymnastics.

The spread of bird flu has caused egg prices to rise again. Nationally, egg prices surged nearly 38-percent in the past year, with the average price of a dozen eggs reaching $3.65 compared to $2.14 a year ago, according to USDA data. LSU AgCenter agent Will Strickland says the holidays also added to the price jump.

Cut 4 (10) “…egg inventory.”

Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood says an alleged shoplifter shot by an off-duty deputy working security detail at Academy Sports and Outdoors in Alexandria last Friday has died…

Cut 8 (13) “….do that”

The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation for the Central Louisiana Critical Incident Response Team.

Five people from Houston were arrested for allegedly using drones to get drugs and cell phones to inmates at the federal penitentiary in Pollock. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says drones have become more popular to smuggle contraband into federal prison and they’re working on ways to combat it…

Cut 12 (08) “….federal prison here”

Junior right-handed pitcher Gavin Guidry from Barbe High School in Lake Charles will wear the coveted number eight jersey for the second-ranked LSU baseball team this season. Guidry says he’ll wear the number with pride and use this leadership position to help the Tigers win…

Cut 18 (15)   “…what that looks like.”

College baseball opening day is February 14^th.

Have you noticed the price of eggs lately? According to the USDA, egg prices have increased 39-percent over the past year to $3.65 for a dozen eggs. LSU Ag Center agent Will Strickland says the bird flu has whipped out egg-laying birds in California and the Midwest…

Cut 5 (10) “….pricing even here”

Strickland noted egg prices likely won’t drop soon due to the slow process of replenishing flocks.

Five people from Houston have been arrested for allegedly using drones to drop off drugs and cell phones to inmates at the federal prison in Pollock. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says this type of activity has been going on for awhile….

Cut 11 (12) “….to two years”

McCain says they’re working on ways to combat the use of drones in smuggling contraband into federal prisons.

A breakthrough N-I-L deal in Louisiana – and he’s a high school sophomore! Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Google says it will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in Google Maps once it is updated in the U-S Geographic Names System. President Donald Trump has ordered the name change and the U-S Board of Geographic Names is working to update the name.

Nationally, egg prices surged nearly 38-percent in the past year.  Sean Richardson has more

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

LSU AgCenter sugar cane specialist Kenneth Gravois says last week’s snowfall acted as insulation and protected sugarcane from single digit temperatures. But Ponchatoula strawberry farmer Racheal Harris told WGNO-TV says she lost about 500 cases of strawberries to the historic winter weather.

Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood says an alleged shoplifter shot by an off-duty deputy working security detail at Academy Sports and Outdoors in Alexandria last Friday has died…

Cut 8 (13) “….do that”

The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation for the Central Louisiana Critical Incident Response Team.

The nation’s number one high school football prospect in the Class of 2027, Elijah Haven from Dunham High School in Baton Rouge, has inked an NIL deal with the Matt Bowers Auto Group which owns multiple car dealerships in the Gulf South. Matt Bowers is an Ole Miss alumnus, but says this N-I-L deal is not a way to convince him to sign with the Rebels in two years.

Cut 15 (12) “…their friends.”

Bowers says he’s known Elijah and his family for a long time. He calls the sophomore a great kid and someone he wants promoting his dealerships.

An alleged shoplifter shot by an off-duty Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputy has died. Sheriff Mark Wood says the deputy was working off-duty detail at Academy Sports and Outdoors on Friday night in Alexandria when he attempted to stop an alleged shoplifter

Cut 7 (16) “…his injuries .”

The man who died in Friday night’s shooting has been identified by the person’s mother as 22-year-old Isiah Treadway of Alexandria.

A law professor is not teaching at LSU this semester, and his attorney claims he was removed from the classroom because of political comments he made during class. Ken Levy’s attorney Jill Craft says Levy revealed to his students that he was a Democrat and referred to President Trump in colorful terms while talking to his students about political changes to the constitution because of the makeup of the US Supreme Court. LSU has not commented on the situation.

Five people from Houston are arrested for allegedly using drones to smuggle contraband, including drugs and cell phones, into the federal prison in Pollock. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also involved.

Cut 10 (09) “…that’s here illegally.”

That person is 35-year-old Laura Martinez, and ICE has a detainer on her.

High School football star Elijah Haven from Dunham High School in Baton Rouge has signed an NIL deal and he’s only a sophomore. Haven is considered the best prospect in the nation for the Class of 2027 and Matt Bowers of the Matt Bowers Auto Group felt Haven would be a good pitch man for his business…

Cut 14 (10) “…come see”

Bowers is an Ole Miss alum and says this is not an attempt to influence Haven to sign with the Rebels in two years.

Governor Landry is urging US Senator Bill Cassidy to vote for the confirmation of Robert F Kennedy as Secretary for the U-S Department of Health and Human Services. In a letter sent to Cassidy and South Dakota Senator John Thune, Landry says America’s health continues to decline, and the country needs a leader who will shake up the status quo.

Five people are arrested for allegedly using drones to smuggle contraband into a federal prison in Pollock. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood says there was a violent struggle between an off-duty sheriff’s deputy and an alleged shoplifter at an Academy Sports and Outdoors in Alexandria, before the deputy discharged his weapon killing the suspect. There are some claiming the officer, who was working security detail should not have shot the man, but Wood says the individual was fighting with his deputy…

Cut 9 (13) “…gets you killed”

The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating Friday night’s incident.

The top high school quarterback in the country in the Class of 2027 has an NIL deal with Matt Bowers Auto Group. Elijah Haven led Dunham High School to the state championship last season as a sophomore. Matt Bowers says he’s known Elijah and his family for a long time…

Cut 13 (13)  “…you root for.”

Bowers is an Ole Miss graduate and says this is not an attempt to sway him to the Rebels when his prep career is over.

One of the two men who Shreveport Police say are responsible for a murder of a pharmaceutical delivery driver in a Walgreens parking lot is under arrest. Corporal Chris Bordelon says 38-year-old Kelvin Lewis was arrested late last week on an unrelated charge.

Cut 6 (08) “…as Larry Lewis.”

Bordelon says they believe it was Kelvin Lewis who fatally shot 67-year-old Billy Jamison last Wednesday. Investigators say Jamison was targeted, possibly because he had medical drugs in his delivery vehicle.

Louisiana State Police graduates its newest cadet class. What’s unique about this class is that it was made up entirely of former law enforcement officers. Trooper Shelby Mayfield says because of that, they were able to put the cadets through an accelerated class.

Cut 13 (09)  “…14-week class.”

So how did Louisiana’s trucking industry handle last week’s historic snowstorm? Sean Richardson has the details…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

We now know the two teams who will be coming to New Orleans for Super Bowl 59 – the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. This is the second time for each team that they will be playing the Super Bowl in New Orleans. The Eagles lost Super Bowl 15 to the Raiders, 27-10. In 1970 at Tulane Stadium, the Chiefs matriculated the ball down the field and 65 Toss Power Trapped the Vikings, 23-7, in Super Bowl 4.

A man wanted in the deadly shooting of a delivery driver outside a Shreveport Walgreens store is under arrest. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana Tech has partnered with Archem, a Shreveport-based leader in advanced aerospace fuel solutions, to advance aerospace innovation. La Tech Chief Innovation Officer Donna Johnson says this collaboration unites academic research and industry expertise.

Cut 3 (08) “…get things set up.”

Last week’s historic snowstorm forced the closure of most of Interstate 10 through Louisiana, causing significant challenges. Louisiana Motor Transportation Association Executive Director Renee Amar says many drivers were stuck waiting for conditions to improve.

Cut 9 (07)  “…where you are.”

Amar says the lack of safe truck parking further complicated matters, as trucks resorted to parking on interstate shoulders, creating safety hazards.

Last week’s weather-related road closures across the state prevented many hunters from engaging in recreational hunting opportunities for several days during open season so the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has announced they are extending the season in some areas. The extension only applies to season dates and does not increase or otherwise affect the annual bag limit. For a list of the extensions check the website at wlf dot louisiana dot gov.

A St. Tammany Parish man is trouble for repeated incidents of animal cruelty. While Sheriff’s deputies were at the home of 36-year-old Steven Sims to arrest him on charges Saturday, they found eight more sick puppies in very poor conditions on a screened in porch. Authorities arrested Sims at a nearby gas station and Animal Services took possession of the puppies.

Shreveport Police say the man they believe shot and killed pharmaceutical delivery driver Billy Jamison in a Walgreens parking lot last Wednesday has been arrested in Texas. Corporal Chris Bordelon says Kelvin Lewis was arrested late last week on an unrelated charge. Larry Lewis is still being sought for his suspected involvement. Bordelon says this crime has shaken the community to the core. They believe Jamison was targeted, possibly because he had prescription drugs in his delivery vehicle.

Cut 7 (12) “…heinous crime responsible.”

Last week’s historic snowstorm forced the closure of most of I-10 through Louisiana, causing significant challenges for the trucking industry. Louisiana Motor Transportation Association Executive Director Renee Amar says many drivers were stuck waiting for conditions to improve.

Cut 11 (08) “…greatly appreciated that.”

Amar views the event as an opportunity to improve preparedness for future extreme weather impacts on transportation.

Louisiana State Police graduates its newest cadet class which was completely comprised of former law enforcement officers and because of that, Trooper Shelby Mayfield says they were able to put the cadets through an accelerated class

Cut 14 (07) “…in the agency.”

56 cadets began Cadet Class 105, and 51 graduated.