The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for northwestern Louisiana. The watch area covers everything east of Monroe and north of Natchitoches. Strong or severe thunderstorms are expected that can cause drainage systems and roadside ditches to overflow. Remember, do not try to drive through high water. Find another route.

DOTD is awarded a $150 million federal grant for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge Project…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

The Coast Guard is searching for four people aboard a helicopter that crashed this afternoon, about ten miles out in the Gulf. More on this as it develops.

A single-vehicle crash in Terrebonne Parish claims the life of a Houma man. State Trooper Ross Brennan says 29 years old Steven English was traveling at a high rate of speed on LA- Highway 15 when he went off the road, flipped over and hit a tree. A toxicology sample is pending, however, Brennan says investigators believe impairment is possible…:

CUT 07(05)      “…particular crash.”

Giving up smoking is a pretty good New Year’s resolution. So says Smoke-Free Louisiana, and spokesman Randy Hayden. He says nicotine is very addictive but those cravings won’t last forever…:

CUT 04(07)      “…they’ll pass.”

He says to remember help & support with quitting is as close as a phone call to 800 QUIT NOW.

A single vehicle crash in Terrebonne Parish claims the life of a Houma man. Trooper Ross Brennan says 29-year-old Steven English was traveling at a high rate of speed on LA Highway 15…:

CUT 06(07)      “…struck a tree.”

A toxicology sample is pending, however, Brennan says investigators believe impairment was a factor.

The Department of Transportation and Development gets a $150-million federal grant for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge Project. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says this is welcome news…:

CUT 09(14)      “…this project.”

The whole project rings up at just over $1.5-billion.

Anti-smoking experts say New Year’s is a great time to quit smoking. Marsanne Golsby has more…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby.”

A Zwolle man – already on probation for dealing drugs – was apparently caught by his parole officer back up his old tricks. Sabine Parish deputies say 46-year-old Larry Melmay was nabbed after a short chase. Officers they found abundant amounts of weed, and various pills, plus guns in his home. When caught, he had over $4000 cash in his pockets. Melmay is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

The LSU Ag Center says the recent freezes were disruptive to the sugarcane crop. Sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says the crops now being harvested experienced what he calls a killing freeze…:
CUT 07(09) “…we’ve had.”
However, ten of the eleven sugar cane mills in Louisiana are still processing cane, and the quality of the sugar being processed is still very good.

The Smoke-free Louisiana coalition says they saw an eight-percent increase in Quitline calls during the year by individuals looking to stop using tobacco products or vaping. Spokesperson Randy Hayden says a good New Year’s resolution for smokers would be to kick the habit…
cut 5 (09) “…in the year”
The number to call is 1-800-Quit-Now

Recent wastewater samples from Shreveport show an increase in COVID in northwestern Louisiana. The Center for Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats at LSU Health Shreveport has been monitoring samples. Dr. Krista Queen says when individuals are infected the virus begins replicating in their bodies even before they know they are sick.
Cut 11 (08) “…uses the restroom.”
She says similar to this time last year, we’ll start to see cases spike again.

LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte announced last night he’s entering the NFL draft and will not come back for his senior season. But Hunt Palmer of the LSU Sports Radio Network and ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge says the Tigers still have several talented receivers…
cut 14 (12) “….as well”
The Tigers play Purdue in the Citrus Bowl on Monday.

Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (BOO-tee) changes his mind and enters the NFL draft. The New Iberia native made the announcement hours after LSU said Boutte would not play in Monday’s Citrus Bowl but was enrolled for the spring semester. Hunt Palmer of the LSU Sports Radio Network and ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge has this reaction…

Cut 12 (07) “…for a championship”  

Palmer says it’s unclear what led to the abrupt ending of Boutte’s career at LSU…

The Revenue Estimating Conference forecasted the state will have a surplus of $935 million in this year’s state budget. And because it’s not guaranteed to have the same amount of surplus of funds in the future Jan Moeller with the Louisiana Budget Project says the state usually allocates these funds towards nonrecurring expenses.

Cut 6 (10)  “…for inflation.”

Recent wastewater samples from Shreveport show an increase in COVID in northwestern Louisiana. The Center for Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats at LSU Health Shreveport has been monitoring samples. Director of Viral Genomic and Surveillance Dr. Krista Queen…

Cut 10 (11) “…sick yet.” 

If quitting smoking is on your New Year’s resolution list, the Smoke-Free Louisiana Coalition has some tips for you. Randy Hayden says nicotine replacement products are among the most effective ways.

Cut 3 (10) “…nicotine drug.” 

Research shows that most smokers who are trying to quit have to make several attempts before they succeed, but Hayden says to keep at it.

Recent wastewater samples from Shreveport show an increase in COVID in northwestern Louisiana. The Center for Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats at LSU Health Shreveport has been monitoring samples. Director of Viral Genomic and Surveillance Dr. Krista Queen says when individuals are infected the virus begins replicating in their body even before they know they are sick.

Cut 11 (08)  “…uses the restroom.”

She says similar to this time last year, we’ll start to see cases spike again.

LSU Ag Center experts say the recent freezes were disruptive to the sugar cane industry. Sugar cane specialist Kenneth Gravois says 90 percent of the new crop is already in the fields and experts just tested soil temperatures to assess the health of that crop.

Cut 9 (10)  “… don’t freeze.”

Of the harvested crops he says the quality of the sugar being processed is still very good.

Hunger Free America says food insecurity is surging in Louisiana because of inflation and the expiration of the child tax credit and free school meals. Hunger Free America CEO, Joel Berg says If you need assistance, he says to contact the national hunger hotline at 1-8-6-6 3 Hungry. And he’s also encouraging the public to help fight hunger…

Cut 6 (09)  “…in Louisiana.” 

Next year the state’s corporate franchise tax will decrease slightly. Tax attorney and consultant Jason Decuir says there are also triggers calling for further reductions if Louisiana’s revenue hits certain benchmarks, which IS projected to happen. He says this is an important step in becoming a friendlier environment for business and competing with our Gulf south neighbor states…:

Cut 15 (08)  “…to do the same.”

Some call it “food insecurity” and for others it’s simply “hunger”…but it’s on the rise in Louisiana; largely due to inflation and expiration of the federal child tax credit and reduction in meals provided by schools. Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg says, from October 2021 to October of this year, food insecurity has increased by over 25-percent…:

CUT 05  (13)        “…the nation.”

Residents in need should call 866-3-HUNGRY for help.

The recent freezes were hard on Louisiana sugar cane. LSU Ag Center sugar specialist Ken Gravois says the good news is about 85-percent of the crop has been harvested, and the sugar processed is pretty good…:

CUT 08  (09)        “…the crop.”

Wastewater samples in Shreveport indicate there’s about to be a spike in COVID cases…:

CUT 03(32)      “…Thorington.”

He said he was staying…but he’s not. LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was listed yesterday as “unavailable” to play in the Citrus Bowl Monday, and head coach Brian Kelly quickly said he IS enrolled for the spring semester. However, yesterday Boutte tweeted he WILL declare for the NFL draft, and will not be back next season.

The Mayor may not like the moniker “Murder Capital of the USA”, but nevertheless New Orleans is on track to have the nation’s highest per-capita murder rate for 2022. The Crescent City is set to pass up the record of 70 homicides per 100-thousand people for the first time in 11 years. Experts say teaching conflict resolution as opposed to violence is key to reducing the murder rate. Meanwhile the city has seen 5 homicides since last Saturday.

A new report shows food insecurity in Louisiana is on the rise as a result of inflation and a cut in federal benefits like the child tax credit. Whitney Thomas reports..:

CUT 01(25)      “…Thomas.”

LSU Ag Center experts say the recent freezes were disruptive to the sugar cane industry. Sugar cane specialist Kenneth Gravois says the crops now being harvested experienced what he calls a killing freeze…:

CUT 07(09)      “…we’ve had.”

However, ten of the eleven sugar cane mills in Louisiana are still processing cane, and 85 percent of the cane in the fields has already been harvested. Gravois adds that, despite the freeze, the quality of the sugar being processed is still very good.

Experts say tests of Shreveport wastewater show another COVID surge is likely. Dr. Krista Queen is with LSU Health in Shreveport. She says there was a similar increase of the virus in wastewater this time last year, due to holiday gathering probably…:

CUT 12(12)      “…recently.”

She recommends social distancing, face masks, and frequent hand-washing.

Police in Natchitoches arrest two people in connection with the Christmas day death of a 1-year-old child. Officers responded to a medical emergency Sunday afternoon to find the baby unresponsive. Efforts to revive the child proved unsuccessful. Police arrested the parents, 27-year-old Damian Jewett and 23-year-old Jocelyn Crenshaw, for negligent homicide, the investigation is still underway.

Sugar cane experts say Louisiana’s huge sugar cane industry was hit hard by the recent hard freezes…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Golsby.”

Recent wastewater samples from Shreveport show an increase in COVID in northwestern Louisiana. The Center for Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats at LSU Health Shreveport has been monitoring samples. Director of Viral Genomic and Surveillance Dr. Krista Queen…:

CUT 10(11)      “…sick yet.”

Even though the wastewater samples are from Shreveport, Queen says it’s indicative of the area in terms of community spread.

With the New Year comes a significant change in corporate taxes for Louisiana. A tax reform package passed by lawmakers in 2021 reduces the state’s corporate franchise tax; a tax paid on companies’ capital. Tax attorney and consultant Jason Decuir says this is a first step in eventually getting rid of corporate franchise taxes altogether…:

CUT 14(07)      “…starting this year.”

Decuir says there are also triggers calling for further reductions if Louisiana’s revenue hits certain benchmarks, which IS projected to happen.