Louisiana’s U-S Senate race has the potential to be heated with Senator Bill Cassidy facing three formidable challengers in a primary election that will be held in April. Many are wondering if President Trump will make an endorsement. Jeremy Alford with L-A Politics weekly says it’s possible Trump stays out of the race…

Cut 9 (10)  “…wouldn’t it.”

State Treasurer John Fleming, state senator Blake Miguez and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta are challenging Cassidy, who is seeking a third term.

Over the weekend, someone stole a statue of Abraham Lincoln from an Ascension Parish historic antebellum estate, and the owner would really like it back. Kevin Kelly, who owns Houmas House and Gardens in Darrow, discovered the 64-pound silver statue missing Sunday morning. Kelly doubts that it was an inside job.

Cut 6 (10) “…as 21 years.”

Kelly fears that given the statue’s value, the thief has likely melted it down by now.

An NFIB survey finds optimism among small business owners continues to increase. NFIB state director Leah Long says improving business conditions is leading to more optimism among small business owners…

Cut 3 (13) “…their businesses.”

She says owners are also optimistic over tort reform legislation recently approved that seeks to reduce frivolous lawsuits and hold down excessive litigation.

Solar manufacturer, First Solar Inc, is expected to begin operations at their new 1.1-billion-dollar plant in New Iberia soon and they’ve tapped St. Landry Parish Noble Plastics to supply components for the new facility.  Noble is investing 8.5 million dollars to expand their facility to meet the needs. Their expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and is expected to create 29 new direct jobs.

Houmas House and Gardens in Ascension Parish is missing a valuable statue of Abraham Lincoln. Sunday morning, owner, Kevin Kelly discovered that the 64-pound silver statue created by Gutzon Borglum who also carved the four U.S. Presidents into the side of Mount Rushmore was missing. Kelly says Lincoln stayed at Houmas House on more than one occasion.

Cut 8 (11) “…later, once again.”

A 15-year-old was arrested after an accidental shooting on Northwestern’s Campus left a victim seriously injured. Investigators say the juvenile was handling a firearm in a negligent way causing it to fire.  Natchitoches city and parish authorities along with Northwestern police responded Monday night and gave aid to the victim who was eventually airlifted to an Alexandria hospital and is now listed in stable condition. The juvenile is charged with illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile and negligent injuring.

A national survey conducted by the NFIB finds optimism among small businesses continues to improve. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Three formidable challengers are seeking the U.S. Senate seat held by Senator Bill Cassidy. Cassidy is considered vulnerable because of his 2021 vote to impeach President Donald Trump. But Jeremy Alford with L-A Politics weekly says

Cut 10 (10) “…Peace Prize.”

A Slidell woman was arrested for an alleged hit and run that left her co-worker critically injured. Slidell police say surveillance shows 67-year-old Lillian Sellers was backing up recklessly in the parking lot of Greenbriar Community Care Center Sunday night when she violently struck a female co-worker walking to her car. She then exited her SUV, retrieved a broken piece of bumper and put it in her car. She then walked in to work saying someone had fallen in the parking lot. When medical personnel determined the victim’s injuries were consistent with being struck by a vehicle, they notified police. When questioned, Sellers reportedly shrugged her shoulders and gave no explanation.

Louisiana’s U-S Senate race has the potential to be heated with Senator Bill Cassidy facing three formidable challengers in State Treasurer John Fleming, state senator Blake Miguez and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta. The primary is not until April but Jeremy Alford with LA Politics Weekly says if the primary was held today, he would expect Cassidy to come out on top…

Cut 11 (10) “…on a dime.”

A valuable statue was stolen from an historic Ascension Parish antebellum estate over the weekend, Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Small Business Owners are optimistic, says a recent NFIB survey and State director Leah Long says they are hearing from members across Louisiana that sales are improving…

Cut 5 (09) “…for them.”

Louisiana’s U-S Senate race has the potential to be heated with Senator Bill Cassidy facing three formidable challengers in a primary election that will be held in April. Many are wondering if President Trump will make an endorsement. Jeremy Alford with L-A Politics weekly says it’s possible Trump stays out of the race…

Cut 9 (10) “…wouldn’t it”

State Treasurer John Fleming, state senator Blake Miguez and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta are challenging Cassidy, who is seeking a third term.

An NFIB survey finds optimism among small business owners continues to increase. NFIB state director Leah Long says in Louisiana small business owners believe recent legislation approved will help their business grow, including the tort reform measures designed to reduce frivolous lawsuits and hold down excessive litigation costs…

Cut 4 (10) “…business owners ”

Some news on the progress of the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge. Project spokesperson Johnathan Hill told the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury construction should start early next year, with a finish date set for 2030. Hill says the new bridge will require a toll, but not until a year after the bridge opens.

Cut 15 (13) “…August of 2031.”

Someone stole a rare 64-pound silver statue of Abraham Lincoln from the Houmas House and Gardens in Ascension Parish. Kevin Kelly is the owner of the historic antebellum estate that features multiple restaurants and rooms to stay the night. Kelly reported the theft on Facebook and the comments on the post are upsetting…

Cut 7 (08) “….Abraham Lincoln”

Over the weekend, someone stole a statue of Abraham Lincoln from an Ascension Parish historic mansion, and the owner would really like it back. Kevin Kelly, who owns Houmas House and Gardens in Darrow, discovered the 64-pound silver statue missing Sunday morning. Kelly doubts that it was an inside job.

Cut 6 (10) “…as 21 years.”

Kelly fears that given the statue’s value, the thief has likely melted it down by now.

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge project. Project spokesman Johnathan Hill says construction is slated to begin next year and is expected to take several years to complete.

Cut 14 (10) “…in 2031.”

A national survey conducted by the NFIB finds optimism among small businesses continues to improve. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

An NFIB survey finds optimism among small business owners continues to increase. NFIB state director Leah Long says improving business conditions is leading to more optimism among small business owners…

Cut 3 (13) “…their businesses.”

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office has filed a motion with the 19th Judicial District in Baton Rouge to reinstate the death sentence for convicted killer Dale Dwayne Craig. Just days prior to turning 18, Craig shot and killed LSU freshman Kipp Gullet after stealing his vehicle. Attorney General Liz Murrill expects the motion to be denied, and that will allow the state to begin the appeals process to get the case before the U-S Supreme Court.

Cut 12 (08) “…this case.”

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge project. Project spokesman Johnathan Hill says that it’s currently in the design phase and is prepping for construction, which will start early next year.

Cut 13 (13)  “…design plan.”

The bridge will take several years to build, but Hill says that it’s expected to be ready for use by 2030.

Saints starting safety Julian Blackmon seriously injured his labrum in the regular season opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Kellen Moore says Blackmon is expected to miss significant time, which could end up being the rest of the season.

Cut 19 (12) “…as well.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has started the legal process in the state’s attempt to reinstate the death sentence for convicted killer Dale Dwayne Craig. In 1992, when he was just a few days shy of his 18th birthday, Craig fired three bullets through the head of LSU freshmen student Kipp Gullet after stealing his vehicle.

Cut 10 (09) “…to do it.”

In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that no one can be executed for a crime committed before the age of 18.

When it comes to budgeting money, Louisianans apparently aren’t that good at it. A new study by WalletHub ranks Louisiana as the second worst state in the country in money budgeting. Analyst Chris Lupo says you can blame that in part on Louisiana’s relatively low median income.

Cut 4 (10) “…median annual income.”

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new Lake Charles I-10 bridge project. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A doctor from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is arrested for alleged indecent behavior with a juvenile from St. Tammany Parish. Investigators with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation say 32-year-old Brandon Joseph Bunol engaged in inappropriate online communications with the minor. Bunol is booked into the St. Tammany Correctional Facility.

When it comes to budgeting money, Louisianans apparently aren’t that good at it. That’s according to a new study by WalletHub, which ranks Louisiana as the second worst state in the country in money budgeting, trailing only Mississippi. According to the study, Louisiana is near the bottom when it comes to debt, credit, and savings and many pay only the minimum on their credit cards.  Analyst Chris Lupo says it’s a by-product of the state’s relatively low median income.

Cut 6 (10) “…their daily expenses.”

Some news on the progress of the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge project Johnathan Hill told the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury construction should start early next year, with a finish date set for 2030 . Hill says the new bridge will require a toll, but not until a year after the bridge opens.

Cut 15 (13) “…August of 2031.”

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State Police are investigating a trooper involved shooting that happened in Lafourche Parish yesterday afternoon. Investigators say it all began with an attempted traffic stop that led to a pursuit that ended on a dead-end road in Houma.  We’re told that’s when a passenger exited the vehicle, was shot by the trooper and pronounced dead at the scene.  Officials say the suspect driver then fled again…put was apprehended when the pursuit ended in a crash a short time later.

People who live near Smitty’s Supply in Roseland are getting frustrated at what they say is a lack of progress in the cleanup effort after that explosion August 22nd. Pat Mashburn says he wakes up every morning to the stench of oil and diesel; and for the last two weeks, he’s seen no change in the amount of oil coating the Tanpipahoa River. Mashburn says he’s especially frustrated by what he says is a relative lack of communication from environmental officials.

Cut 9 (10)  “…one-mile radius.”