The Little League World Series Champions are traveling back home to the New Orleans area today. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (28) “..I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The L-S-U Ag Center is trying to determine if sugarcane can successfully grow in central Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story…
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The Eastbank Little League World Champions are traveling back to New Orleans today and will have a welcoming celebration at the Shrine on Airline this afternoon. U.S. House Minority Whip and Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise says the team is one the state can be proud of.
President Trump has extended an invitation for the team to visit the White House following the 8-0 shutout in the championship game. Assistant coach Kevin Johnson says the victory hasn’t really sunk in and had an effect on the team yet.
Johnson says of the key to success for the team…
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The Dean Lee Research Center outside Alexandria is now the farthest north location for sugar cane planting in the world as scientists try to test the limits of the cash crop.
LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Ken Gravois says more and more farmers are growing interested in the crop in central Louisiana and elsewhere away from the coast.
Soybeans and corn tend to dominate acreage the further north you move in Louisiana.
Gravois says it’s not just that the average temperatures are lower in the north, there are also much higher risks of hard freezes which can decimate the tropical crop.
The study crop was planted on August 14th.
Currently, the farthest north commercial sugarcane is grown is in Lecompte, a few miles south of Dean Lee. Gravois says it’s remarkable we’ve even found success that far inland.
Sugarcane prices are considered more stable than grain and soybeans.
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A Caddo Parish first-grader admits to starting a church fire in Vivian. The 7-year-old told investigators he broke a window at the Church of Christ on Saturday, came back Sunday to see the opening was patched with cardboard. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the child snuck into the church through that opening.
Cut 9 (09) “…whole building down.”
The child told investigators he found a lighter in the parking lot. Browning says the child insisted on having no ill will or issues with the church or its congregation.
Cut 10 (08) “…matches and lighters.”
Due to the suspect’s age, no arrest was made. Browning says this is a teachable moment for the child as well as other children.
Cut 11 (09) “…out of control.”
Browning says the building is pretty much a total loss.
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State Police believe an impaired driver caused a wreck that killed a motorcyclist from Vidalia early Sunday morning in Concordia Parish. Trooper Scott Moreau says 63-year-old Veria Coleman of Jonesville crossed the center line on U-S Highway 84 and hit a couple of motorcyclists
Cut 12 (10) “…the motorcycles”
Moreau says the fatality occurred when one of the fallen motorcyclists was hit by a vehicle driving behind them
Cut 13 (08) “…the motorcycle.”
The deceased motorcyclist is identified as 22-year-old Cody McClung. There were five additional injuries and they were transported to an area hospital. Moreau says the crash remains under investigation as Coleman may have been at fault