A shooting last night in New Iberia leaves a little girl with a gunshot injury. NIPD’s Sgt. Daesha Hughes says it happened at a Raceway gas and convenience store, when a mom left her 4 kids in the car while she ran inside for a minute. While she was gone, one of the kids found a gun in the car and somehow shot his 5-year-old sister in the leg. Hughes says never leave your kids unattended in the car..:

CUT 08          (12)    “…for sure.”

He has a Guinness World Record for most scholarships offered in U.S. history and now New Orleans high school senior Maliq Barnes says he’s decided to accept Cornell University’s offer. He graduates in just weeks and says, once at Cornell, he’ll pursue dual degrees in computer science and criminal justice. His advice to fellow teens? “Put your best foot forward”…:

CUT 11          (11)    “…come true.”

Maliq has accumulated nearly $10-million in scholarship offers.

The World Health Organization declare an end to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean COVID is eradicated. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01          (31)    “…Thorington.”

Police in Baton Rouge arrest a convenience store clerk who allegedly faked a robbery this week. BRPD says 36-year-old Ishawna West called police to report the robbery, but holes in her story turned up immediately.  Police say she emptied the store safe of about $7500. West was booked on theft, obstruction of justice and injuring public records.

A shooting incident between groups of teens in Bastrop last night leaves two of them dead and two injured. Morehouse Parish Sheriff Mike Tubbs says one of the injured victims showed up at a local hospital and told authorities what happened…:

CUT 12(10)      “…also died.”

Tubbs says a big argument led to the gunplay. If you any tips on the crime, call the MPSO.

New Orleans high school senior Dennis “Maliq” Barnes, who set a record of receiving ten-million dollars in scholarship money, announced today he will attend Cornell University this fall. The 16-year-old scholar set a Guinness World Record for the highest amount of scholarships offered in U.S. history. Currently dual-enrolled in high school and at Southern University New Orleans, he says selecting Cornell was easy..:

CUT 10(12)      “…to Cornell.”

He graduates high school in three weeks, with a 4.98 GPA.

Police in Shreveport are searching for the person or persons who shot and seriously wounded a 6-year-old girl Thursday night. Police say the child was playing in her front yard when multiple people began shooting at one another. She caught a stray bullet. She suffered life-threatening injury. Caddo Crimestoppers would love to hear what you may know.

The World Health Organization says COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, which marks a historic end to the pandemic. But LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease specialist, Dr. Fred Lopez says the virus is still active, so we need to stay up-to-date on shots and testing…:

CUT 04(07)      “…present itself.”

Lopez says this particularly applies to the elderly, diabetics and people with otherwise compromised immune systems.

A shooting in New Iberia leaves a 5-year-old girl with gunshot wounds. New Iberia Police Sgt. Daesha Hughes says a mom left her four kids in the car while she went into a Raceway store. She says one of the kids found a gun in the car and shot the girl – a sibling – in the leg…:

CUT 07  (04)        “…under investigation.”

The little girl is in stable condition.

Two teens are dead and two shot and injured in the shooting in Batrop last night; the result of an apparent argument. Morehouse parish Sheriff Mike Tubbs says they believe there was only one gunman, who they are seeking. He says it’s bad when youths settle their disputes with gunfire…:

CUT 14  (09)        “…younger and younger.”

An update on the fire this morning at Alexandria’s historic Hotel Bentley. KALB TV reports three people were hurt in that fire; two construction workers and a fire investigator. All are expected to be OK. Damage was concentrated to one lower area that was under renovation.

The World Health Organization declare an end to the pandemic, but that doesn’t necessarily mean COVID itself is over…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

New Iberia Police are investigating a shooting incident that left a 5-year-old injured at a Raceway on LA-14 Thursday morning. Sergeant Daesha Hughes says officers received a call of a 4-year-old shot in a vehicle.

Cut 6 (06)  “…the leg.” 

Investigators say the shooting happened at the gas station after the mother left her four kids in the car while she went inside. The child was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries.

And in Bastrop, two juveniles are dead, and two others are injured from a shooting that took place around midnight. Morehouse Parish Sheriff Mike Tubbs says one of the injured victims showed up at a local hospital and told authorities about the shooting. They believe there was only one gunman and some sort of a dispute between those involved.

Cut 13 (07) “…the week.” 

A fire broke out at The Hotel Bentley in Alexandria this morning. The fire was extinguished by 10 am. According to KALB-TV the fire was on the lower-level exterior roof elevation of the hotel. It was in the midst of being replaced. The building was evacuated, and a contractor receive burns from the blaze.

The 16-year-old from New Orleans who holds The Guinness Book of World Records for receiving $9 million in scholarship offers from 125 colleges, makes a big announcement. Teiko Foxx has the story.

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx” 

Two juveniles are dead and two others are injured from a shooting that took place around midnight in Bastrop. Morehouse Parish Sheriff Mike Tubbs says one of the injured victims showed up at a local hospital and told authorities about the shooting on Welch Avenue and Pruett Street.

Cut 12 (10) “…also died” 

Tubbs says they believe there was only one gunman and some sort of a dispute between the individuals involved resulted in the shooting.

The World Health Organization ended the COVID-19 global health emergency status, more than three years after the pandemic began. But LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease specialist, Dr. Fred Lopez says the battle is not over.

Cut 3 (11) “….years ago.”

According to the WHO, the pandemic claimed seven million lives across the globe. Lopez says individuals need to stay up to date on vaccinations.

The New Orleans high school senior who received more than $10 million in scholarships and acceptance to over 185 universities, Dennis “Maliq” Barnes, announced he will attend Cornell University this fall. Barnes made the announcement during a special news conference.

Cut 9 (10) “….Cornell University.”

The 16-year-old scholar set the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest amount of scholarships offered in U.S. history. Barnes will graduate from the International High School of New Orleans on May 24.

The coronation of King Charles III will take place Saturday morning, almost 70 years after his mother Queen Elizabeth II was crowned.Historian and LSU Professor Meredith Veldman says this will be the second coronation to ever be televised and it’s an opportunity for the United Kingdom to celebrate.

Cut 17 (06) “…would say.”

Veldman says there’s a huge PR campaign to change the narrative of the affair between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.

There was a fire at the historic Hotel Bentley in downtown Alexandria this morning. Smoke appears to be coming from the roof. The hotel manager says there are no injuries, and the building has been evacuated. Hotel Bentley was constructed in 1907 and has the distinction of hosting John Wayne, President Eisenhower, and General George Patton.

The Louisiana House has approved a budget that does not contain money for Governor Edwards’ proposed two-thousand-dollar teacher pay raise.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The experimental drug – donanemab – developed by Eli Lilly appears to slow cognitive decline by 35% in people with Alzheimer’s disease. LSU Pennington BioMedical Research Center Professor Dr. Owen Carmichael says the study also showed a 40% decrease in the inability to perform activities of daily living.

Cut 5 (13)   “…their physician.”

The last drug to be approved for Alzheimer’s was in 2004.

King Charles III will be crowned tomorrow morning. The last coronation was almost 70 years ago. Historian and LSU Professor Meredith Veldman says the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II’s has the distinction of being the first televised coronation.

Cut 24 in black and white. :11

You’ll have to set the alarm to watch the coronation live tomorrow morning, it begins at 5 AM central standard time, and this one will be in color.

The Louisiana House has approved a proposed budget for next fiscal year that does not contain Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed two-thousand-dollar annual teacher pay raise. Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says teachers can still receive a raise from their local school systems because there’s money in the budget to pay down teacher retirement debt. But it’s a plan Shreveport Representative Tammy Phelps doesn’t like…

Cut 11 (09)  “…this way.”
The state Senate will begin discussions on its budget plan next week.

An experimental drug developed by Eli Lilly appears to slow cognitive decline by 35% in people with Alzheimer’s disease. LSU Pennington BioMedical Research Center Professor Dr. Owen Carmichael…

Cut 6 (06)  “…promising therapies.”

The coronation of King Charles III will take place Saturday morning, almost 70 years after his mother Queen Elizabeth II was crowned. Historian and LSU Professor Meredith Veldman says during the last coronation when the Archbishop of Canterbury anointed the Queen, that part of the ceremony was not visible. A tent was placed around her to hide the sacrament.

Cut 9 (07)  “…on Saturday.”

The coronation begins at 5 AM central standard time.

It’s another big weekend for festivals. You have Jazz Fest in New Orleans, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, to name a few and Alexandria has its biggest down event, Alex River Fete. Special Events Coordinator Angella Guillote…

Cut 13 (07) “…art fete.” 
The weekend lineup can be found at alex-river-fete-dot-com.