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An East Baton Rouge grand jury indicts a 17-year-old with first-degree rape in the Madison Brooks case and he will be tried as an adult…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

Shreveport Police say they have one suspect in custody, and have identified another, in two separate shootings at the Krewe of Gemini parade last Saturday night. They seek 22-year-old Antoine Ball for the shooting on Clyde Fant Parkway. A 16-year-old from Texas has turned himself in in connection with the other incident; a fatal shooting that took the life of a 17-year-old.

There’s an uproar over the Orleans District Attorney’s office’s decision not to prosecute 15 individuals for illegal gun possession during Carnival. Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche says it undermines efforts by the police to eliminate guns from the French Quarter and parade routes..:

CUT 06(06)      “…police and prosecutors.”

Orleans DA Jason Williams now says some of those cases will be revisited.

We have seen some record-high – or NEAR record-high – temperatures across Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a frontal boundary is hanging out just north of Louisiana. When it dips down, it will bring colder temperatures to north Louisiana…but that’ll be well into next week…:

CUT 10(08)      “…the weekend.”

Meanwhile, most of the rest of the U.S. is having a terrible winter storm.

A six-year-old was fatally shot around 8:00 pm last night in Raceland. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Brennan Matherne says the boy and his brother were playing with loaded gun when it went off. He says children should never be left unsupervised in a home with a gun…:

CUT 13(10)      “…to them.”

The victim is identified at 6-year-old D.J. Michel Jr. He was a first-grader at Lockport Lower Elementary.

An East Baton Rouge grand jury indicts a 17-year-old with first and third-degree rape in the Madison Brooks case. Authorities allege four males were involved in raping the 19-year-old LSU student before she died last month. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says a first-degree rape conviction carries a life sentence…:

CUT 03(11)      “…set of facts.”

Attorneys for the men charged say the sex with Brooks the night she died was consensual.

While we all enjoy near-record high heat for late February, the rest of the country is getting a huge winter storm. However, State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll continue to see moderate weather for a while…:

CUT 11(10)      “…to Louisiana.”

The D.A. in Orleans Parish says he won’t prosecute 15 people arrested for illegally carrying a gun during Mardi Gras. That’s has gotten some folks up-in-arms themselves. Metropolitan Crime Commission president Rafael Goyeneche says it creates a bigger problem…:

CUT 08(09)      “…selective prosecution.”

D.A Jason Williams office says, absent of probable cause, they thought it was best to confiscate the guns and move on…but some of the cases will be re-screened now that Carnival is over.

The Orleans Parish DA’s refusal to prosecute 15 illegal gun possession cases from Mardi Gras has created an uproar. More from Brooke Thorington…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

Now a resident of Holden, in Livingston Parish, actor John Schneider is mourning the death of his wife, Alicia Allain Schneider, who passed away after a battle with breast cancer. The couple were married in 2019. They worked together on music and film projects at Schneider’s studio home in Livingston Parish.

A six-year-old was fatally shot around 8:00 last night in Raceland. Police say the 6-year-old and his brother – the same age – were playing with a loaded gun in the living room of a residence, when the firearm discharged. State Police Trooper Brennan Matherne…:

CUT 12(10)      “…pronounced dead.”

This story will be updated as the investigation continues. Firearms are among the top causes of death for kids ages 1 to 19.

Record highs are possible today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says temperatures are running about 15-degrees above normal…:

CUT 09(10)      “…the state.”

While Louisiana is enjoying comfortable temperatures, a large portion of the country is impacted by a huge winter storm.

The Orleans District Attorney’s decision not to prosecute 15-gun possession cases from Mardi Gras has many upset. Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche says at a bail hearing prosecutors haven’t been able to review the suspect’s possible criminal record nor evidence from police. He says basically the DA refused to accept the charges without all the facts.

Cut 7 (05)  “… inappropriate.” 

In refusing charges the accused are not allowed to receive their guns that were seized from the arrest.

A petition to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was submitted to the Registrar’s office Wednesday. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says recalls are a huge undertaking and when it’s not a grassroots movement to be successful it takes some deep pockets.

Cut 14 (11)  “…an election.”

The signatures must be validated before an election is called.

An East Baton Rouge grand jury indicts a 17-year-old with first-degree rape in the Madison Brooks case and he will be tried as an adult. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A 17-year-old who was with Madison Brooks prior to her death has been indicted for first and third-degree rape. Desmond Carter of Walker will also be tried as an adult for a sexual assualt that allegedly occurred last month after Brooks and four men left a bar near the LSU campus. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says it’s appropriate for Carter to be tried as an adult based on his age and charges…
cut 5 (03) “….as an adult”
A grand jury has yet to hand down indictments against Carter’s three co-defendants.

There’s an uproar over the Orleans District Attorney’s office decision not to prosecute 19 individuals for illegal gun possession during Carnival. Metropolitian Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche says it undermines efforts by the police to eliminate guns from the French Quarter and parade routes…
cut 6 (06) “….prosecutors”
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is upset there are no consequences for the individuals arrested.

Tax reforms passed in 2021 now have Louisiana ranked among the lowest state income tax rates, where they were once among the highest….
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Record highs could be set today with temperatures in the low 80s. State Climatologist Barry Keim says temps will continue to run about 15-degrees above normal in south Louisiana for the next week…
cut 10 (08) “….into the weekend”

An East Baton Rouge grand jury indicts a 17-year-old Desmond Carter with first and third-degree rape in the Madison Brooks case. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says it’s easier to get a conviction for third-degree rape, which happens when the victim does not consent because of impairment.  First-degree rape, which carries a life sentence is harder to get a conviction, but it could still work in the D-A’s favor…

Cut  4 (08)  “…lower charge” 

A petition to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was submitted to the Registrar’s office Wednesday. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says recalls are a huge undertaking and when it’s not a grassroots movement to be successful it takes some deep pockets.

Cut 14 (11)  “…an election.”

The signatures have to be validated before an election is called.

The Biden administration moved closer to meeting its offshore wind energy goals by announcing lease sales for developments in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday. Interim Executive Director of the Center of LSU Energy Studies, Greg Upton says the areas include acreage off of Lake Charles and the workforce availability may be limited short term.

Cut 6 (08)  “…in particular.” 

He estimates an operational wind turbine in the Gulf is a few years away.

The 2023 carnival season is in the books now and we asked Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy for a review. He says the last-minute switch to traditional parade routes was a big perk even if his publication was outdated.

Cut 11 (13)  “…just wonderful.”

Fat Tuesday next year is February 13^th.

An East Baton Rouge grand jury indicts a 17-year-old with first and third-degree rape in the Madison Brooks case. Authorities allege four males were involved in raping Brooks before she died last month . Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says a first-degree rape conviction carries a life sentence…
cut 3 (12) “….set of facts”
The 17-year-old defendant will also be tried as adult and has been identified as Desmond Carter from Walker.

The Biden Administration has proposed the first ever lease sale for offshore wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the boundaries is a 102-thousand acre area south of Lake Charles. Interim Executive Director of the Center for LSU Energy Studies, Greg Upton, says we are not too far off from seeing wind turbines in the Gulf…
cut 5 (09) “…wind farm”
The wind energy lease sales cover a smaller area than what was proposed last year to help out the fishing and shipping industry.

Tax reforms passed by state lawmakers have Louisiana ranked sixth in the country for the lowest income tax rate among states that levy an income tax. That data comes from a new report by the Tax Foundation. Baton Rouge tax attorney and consultant Jason DeCuir says our state was among the highest at 6-percent…
Cut 7 (08) “…where we have been.”
The state income tax rate is now 4.25 percent.

Mardi Gas is done for another year. It was a carnival season that revelers enjoyed after it was canceled in 2021. That year we saw the creation of float houses in New Orleans and elsewhere. Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy says it’s a new trend that might be here to stay…
cut 12 (06) “….of the streets”
Mardi Gras Day will be February 13th next year.

The Biden administration announces plans to hold the first ever lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico for renewable energy companies interested in building wind farms. Interim Executive Director of the Center for LSU Energy Studies, Greg Upton says the move is promising for investors.
Cut 4 (10) “…that project.”
One of the boundaries is a 102-thousand acre area south of Lake Charles.

The Tax Foundation says Louisiana has the sixth lowest income tax rate in the country among states that levy an income tax. Tax consultant Jason Decuir credits a 2021 state law that eliminated the federal income tax deduction…
cut 8 (08) “….4.25 percent”
There will be discussion in the upcoming regular session to eliminate income taxes.

After being canceled in 2021 and smaller parade routes in 2022 how was Mardi Gras this year? Brooke Thorington asks Mardi Gras Guide Publisher Arthur Hardy.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Charges have been dropped against LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers who was arrested in New Orleans this week for a misdemeanor count of illegal carrying of a weapon on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Prosecutors decided to drop charges on the condition that Nabers does not get the gun back.

An East Baton Rouge grand jury has handed down two counts of rape, including first-degree rape against a 17-year-old who was one of four males involved in the alleged sexual assault of LSU student Madison Brooks before she died. Desmond Carter of Walker will be tried as an adult.

The Biden Administration proposes the Gulf of Mexico’s first ever wind farm lease sale. Teiko Foxx has more….
cut 1 (31) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

According to the Tax Foundation, out of the 43 states and the District Columbia that have income taxes, Louisiana has the sixth lowest income tax rate at 4.25 percent. Tax attorney and co-owner of Advantous Consulting, Jason Decuir, says tax reforms approved in 2021 helped lower the income tax rate and should help spur economic development…
cut 9 (07) “….one of the highest”
Despite the lower tax rates, Louisiana is still on track to collect about 40-percent of its annual revenue from income taxes and other declaration and withholding taxes.

The No La Toya Cantrell campaign turned over more than 49-thousand signatures yesterday to the Registrar of Voters Office in Orleans Parish as they attempt to recall the mayor of New Orleans. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross….
cut 15 (12) “…in small town”
Orleans officials have until March 14th to verify the signatures before we know for certain we’ll have a recall election.