There is potentially great news for residents of storm-ravaged Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes; work is underway on the Houma Navigational Canal Lock Complex, or HNC for short. When finished the project will provide much needed 100-year storm surge protection for the area. Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove says the first step is dredging over a million cubic yards of material to create 178 acres of marshland. Then the building of the actual lock structure, which starts in the spring…:

CUT 13  (11)         “…for about five years.”

Former sheriff of St. Tammany Parish Jack Strain faces a mandatory life sentence, after a jury finds him guilty of numerous sex crimes dating back over 40 years. It took the jury just over 5 hours to return the verdict. St. Tammany D.A. Warren Montgomery says even the most powerful need to be held accountable..:

CUT 04  (09)        “…although not perfect…works.”

The vote count is in for early voting ahead of this Saturday’s election. Dave Brannen reports the numbers are a bit surprising…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Brannen.”

St. Landry Parish deputies arrest the woman they say shot and seriously wounded her own mother. 38-year-old Ashley Sims allegedly used a gun to settle an argument with her mom last Friday. Vera Sims is in serious condition at a Lafayette hospital. The younger Sims is now in jail, awaiting a bond decision.

Fly United? Not anymore out of Monroe Regional Airport. The airline says poor ticket sales after losing billion during the pandemic has them leaving Monroe for good.

The former sheriff of St. Tammany Parish is found guilty of four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated incest, one count of sexual battery and one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Crimes that date back to the 1970’s. St. Tammany District Attorney Warren Montgomery says his staff worked very hard to get the conviction…:

CUT 03  (05)         “…high stakes prosecution.”

Strain served as Sheriff in St. Tammany for 20 years; some of the crimes occurred during that time. The jury of six men and six women deliberated just over 5 hours before returning the verdict. Strain is facing a life sentence.

United Airlines announces they are dropping service in and out of Monroe Regional Airport. The carrier cites low ticket sales as the reason. Airport Director Charles Butcher says the pandemic and resulting flight restrictions were instrumental in losing United. He hopes Delta and American airlines can fill the gap at Monroe Regional.

Construction is underway on the Houma Navigation Canal Lock Complex in Terrebonne Parish. It’s part of the state’s effort to provide Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes with 100-year storm surge protection. Terrebonne President Gordon Dove says the H-N-C Lock complex will be critical during storm surge and high water events…:

CUT 12  (08)         “…Terrebonne Parish.”

He says actual construction on the structure itself will take place next spring.

Some surprising numbers from early voting in Louisiana for the November 13^th election.  Pollster John Couvillon, with JMC Analystics, says early votes exceeded those from 2017. However he says he doesn’t necessarily expect a huge rush to the polls this Saturday, because in so many districts all there is on the ballot are four constitutional amendments..:

CUT 08  (08)         “…the same time.”

He expects only about 16-percent total voter turnout.

Former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain was found is guilty on all charges and faces a mandatory life sentence for raping and molesting multiple children Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The search is over for a woman wanted for shooting her mother several times late Friday afternoon at a Lofton Street address in the Opelousas area.  St. Landry Parish Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says Ashley Sims got into an argument with her mother. NO word on what motivated the dispute.

Northwestern State University’s new president, Marcus Jones, has now dropped the interim title he had held since July after the UL System Board of Supervisors appointed him Monday permanently to the post. Jones seems humbled by the move and looking forward to moving the school forward.

Cut 9 (10) “…to the institution.”

He says he owes part of his success to being able to compromise after being reared in a family where he was the 18th of 20 siblings.

Some surprising numbers from early voting in Louisiana for the November 13^th election.  Pollster John Couvillon tells us the figure, 142 thousand as of last night, far exceeds those of 2017.  He doesn’t expect that high response to translate to the actual turnout for the Saturday election.

Cut 7 (11) “….read them literally.”  

All in all, Couvillon does not expect an overall rush to the polls statewide this Saturday since in most cases the only thing on the ballot in many parishes are the four constitutional amendments.

Former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain faces a mandatory life sentence after it took five hours for a jury to convict him on eight charges of sex crimes involving several juveniles dating back to the 1970s. District Attorney Warren Montgomery says he hopes the verdict will bring Strain’s victims peace.

Cut 5 (10) “…their lives.”

Strain will be formally sentenced on January 18^th however the charges that he’s been found guilty of require a mandatory life sentence.

A Grand Jury indicts 49-year old Derwin Hamilton with 1^st-Degree Murder, for burning his girlfriend and young nephew to death last summer. He faces life in prison if convicted. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue the woman, though horribly burned, was able to tell first responders what happened.

Cut 13 (09) “…died on scene.”

The vote count is in for early voting ahead of this Saturday’s November 13^th election and, as Dave Brannen reports, they are somewhat surprising.

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Dave Brannen.”  

And Ashley Sims the 38-year-old woman wanted in the shooting of her mother in in Opelousas area Friday has been taken into custody.

Former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain faces a mandatory life sentence after his conviction on eight charges of sex crimes involving several juveniles dating back to the 1970s. St. Tammany District Attorney Warren Montgomery. He says the guilty verdict is important because it reminds the public that everyone must be held accountable.

Cut 4 (10) “…works.”

The jury found Strain guilty of four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated incest and one count of sexual battery, and one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Some surprising numbers from early voting in Louisiana for the November 13^th election.  Pollster John Couvilion tells us the figures far exceed those of 2017.

Cut 6 (06) “…or by mail.” 

He says almost exclusively driving this increase is those choosing the mail-in option of voting..

——————

At last word, the search continued for a woman wanted for shooting her mother several times late Friday afternoon at a Lofton Street address in the Opelousas area.  St. Landry Parish Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says Ashley Sims got into an argument with her mother. As for the latest condition on Ashley Sims’ mother, Vera Sims, Deputy Chief Thibodeaux had few details.

Cut 11 (04) “…the last time.”

A Grand Jury indicts a St. Mary Parish man with 1^st-Degree Murder, for burning his girlfriend and young nephew to death last summer. 49-year-old Derwin Hamilton faces life in prison if convicted. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it happened in July when firefighters were called to a mobile home fire in the town of Centerville. When they arrived, they got a horrible shock…:

Cut 12 (12) “…live-in boyfriend.”

Hamilton is also the great uncle of the 5-year-old boy who perished.

Former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain faces a mandatory life sentence after it took five hours for a jury to convict him on eight charges of sex crimes involving several juveniles dating back to the 1970s. St. Tammany District Attorney Warren Montogmery credited his staff for their hard work…
Cut 3 (06) “….prosecution.”
A jury of six men and six women found him guilty of four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated incest and one count of sexual battery, and one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Marcus Jones has been named Northwestern State’s first black president. U-L System President Doctor Jim Henderson…
cut 8 (12) “.,…we should celebrate”
Jones says he wants Northwestern to work more collaboratively with business and industry to ensure graduates have the skills to meet the needs of the global market.

Lawmakers questioned health officials about adverse reactions to the COVID vaccine that have been reported in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The state gaming control board is expected to approve sports betting licenses for the Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles and L’Auberge Casino in Lake Charles today. The two casinos will begin taking legal sports bets tomorrow.

A St. Tammany Parish jury deliberated for about five hours before coming back with a guilty verdict against former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain who now faces a mandatory life sentence for raping and molesting multiple children. Strain has been found guilty of four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated incest, and one count each of sexual battery and indecent behavior with a juvenile.

History is being made on two fronts as the UL System Board of Supervisors hires Northwestern State University’s new president. More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

The search continues for a woman accused of shooting her mother several times late Friday afternoon in the Opelousas area. St. Landry Parish Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says Ashley Sims got into an argument with her mother, Vera Sims, who is now hospitalized with serious injuries. Deputy Chief Thibodeaux offered this description of the suspect.

Cut 10 (07)  “…140 pounds.” 

During a Health and Welfare Committee meeting, lawmakers questioned state health officials about adverse reactions to the COVID vaccine. Guillain-Barre (Ghee-YAN Bah-RAY) a muscle disorder that can cause weakness and sometimes paralysis has been associated with the vaccine. Representative Kenny Cox of Natchitoches asked State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter about it.

Cut 5 (10) “…be tested.“

Out of the 122 adverse reactions that have been reported in the state, 11 have met the state’s criteria as severe.

At the state Capitol, lawmakers questioned health officials about adverse reactions from the COVID vaccines. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says so far 122 events have been reported in Louisiana…
Cut 3 (12) “…established.”
But several registered nurses testifed before the panel saying they believe vaccine injuries are severely underreported.

The search continues for a woman wanted for shooting her mother several times late Friday afternoon at a Lofton Street address in the Opelousas area. St. Landry Parish Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says Ashley Sims got into an argument with her mother.
Cut 9 (09) “…her lower body.”
Sims fled the scene in a Mercedes SUV. The victim, Vera Sims, remains hospitalized.

Marcus Jones has been named Northwestern State’s new president and he’s the first African-American to lead the four-year university in Natchitoches. University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson says Jones beat out several quality candidates for the job…
cut 7 (12) “….the UL System Board”
Jones is a graduate of Northwestern and has been at the university for 23 years and the Winnfield native is the 18th of 20 children.

A Franklin man has been indicted for the buring deaths of his girlfriend and nephew. The tragic incident happened in July and State Fire Marshal’s office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says 49-year-old Derwin Hamilton now faces first-degree murder charges…
cut 14 (09) “…critical condition’
The woman who was left in critical condition died a few days later.