A south Louisiana man faces a life sentence after he was convicted of raping a teenager while the victim’s mother was tied up in a separate room. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival is back! The internationally popular event is Saturday in Opelousas. Marsanne Golsby has more.
Cut 2 (32) I’m Marsanne Golsby.”
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A twelve person jury needed only an hour and a half to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 55-year-old Morgan Ratley of Cut-off for raping a teenager while the mother was restrained. Lafourche Parish District Attorney spokesperson David Melancon says the horrific incident happened in July of 2019…
Cut 3 (08) “…by our office”
Melancon says Ratley was a live-in boyfriend of the mother and began sexually assaulting the teenage victim without the mother’s knowledge. He says the victim testified during the trial and delivered powerful testimony, describing the sexual abuse and fear she lives with at the hands of Ratley…
Cut 4 (09) “…strength”
The trial lasted three days and the victim has been described by prosecutors as an incredibly strong young lady. Melancon says evidence on the victim’s phone helped lead to a conviction…
Cut 5 (11) “…able to collect”
Ratley’s sentencing has been scheduled for October 19th. He faces a mandatory life sentence.
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After a two-year break due to COVID, the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival returns to Opelousas Saturday. Festival executive director Lena Charles says Zydeco gained popularity with poor farm workers as a way to boost their spirits after a long day in the fields. She says it has the same effect today.
Cut 6 (10) “…away from that.”
It starts at noon at the Yambilee Festival Building and goes until midnight. There are seven bands, including Grammy winner Chubby Carrier, and a tribute to the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier.
Charles says the festival began in a soybean field in 1982. It was started by a group called The Treasures of Opelousas. They were afraid that Creole music was dying. The festival has drawn large crowds for many years. Charles says it’s taken commitment to keep it going.
Cut 7 (14) “…tellers of the story.”
Charles said they had virtual events during the COVID break, but there’s nothing like being able to share the best of Southwest Louisiana in person.
Cut 8 (12) “…you know that.”
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State Police in Troop B ask the public’s help solving a hit & run early this morning in Marrero, in Jefferson Parish, that left two people dead. Trooper First Class Kate Stegall says it happened on the elevated Westbank Expressway at about 3:30 am…:
Cut 9 (12) “…occupants on the scooter.”
Stegall says the suspect was driving a white early 2000’s model Ford F-150 extended cab pickup, with a silver toolbox in the bed. She says the pickup just plowed into the rear of the scooter…:
Cut 10 (07) “… failed to stop.”
Stegall says both the operator of the scooter and the passenger were tossed into the roadway and died at the scene. They have not yet been identified. The pickup driver drove off dragging part of the scooter with it. That person is still out there, and Stegall says that’s where the public can help…:
Cut 11 (07) “…grill and headlights.”
Tips can be called in to LSP at 504-471-2775.
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The mystery of who will be LSU’s starting quarterback remains unsolved. But Tiger Rag Magazine Assistant Editor William Weathers believes it will most likely be Jayden Daniels because he’s had 29 starts at the Division 1 level in the Pac-12.
Cut 12 (09) “…make more sense.”
Head coach Brian Kelly has declined to publicly name his starting QB as a tactical move, so Florida State won’t know which previous game footage to study, Daniels at Arizona State or Garrett Nussmeier’s four games at LSU. But Weathers says Kelly has informed a select few.
Cut 13 (08) “…gotten out yet.”
With Daniels, the most likely favorite to start Weathers says don’t count Nussmeier out. While he might not throw the first pass of the game he says Nussemier is expected to play a significant role this season.
Cut 14 (07) “…his chance.”
Kickoff Sunday night is 6:30 in the Superdome.