Louisiana officials are working to give a final resting place for a U-S soldier killed in action during the Korean War. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A procession will bring the bodies of Shane Hirstius and Leah Fonte back to their hometown of Metairie This morning, as the community remembers the young couple, who were struck and killed while walking on Nicholson Drive over the weekend.  The Kenner Fire Department says the Williams Boulevard closure for the procession will last about an hour beginning this morning at 10:30.

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With early voting underway, Louisiana’s Republican U.S. Senate nominee, Julia Letlow, urged her supporters to get the polls to cast their ballots for her. Letlow spoke in front of a small invitation-only audience in Lafayette.

Cut 10 (11) “…right to vote.”

Early voting runs through next Tuesday, except for Sunday. Early locations are open from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. JMC Analytics and Polling’s John Couvillon says this midterm election will not see an overall turnout that approaches a Presidential election, but he expects a good number of early voters.

Cut 4 (09) “…the way.”

To see what’s on your ballot, go to geaux-vote-dot-com.

Louisiana officials are working to give a final resting place for a U-S soldier killed in action during the Korean War. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Julia Letlow brings out a heavy hitter to help her urge her supporters to get to the polls in early voting. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Louisiana Tech President Doctor Jim Henderson’s last day will be Thursday, earlier than planned. Kace Kieschnick has the story.

Cut 3 (26) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Early voting continues today as it will run through Tuesday October 27th, except for Sunday. Early locations are open from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. JMC Analytics and Polling’s John Couvillon says this midterm election will not see an overall turnout that approaches a Presidential election, but he expects a good number of early voters.

Cut 4 (09) “…the way.”

Because this is a federal election, it falls on a Tuesday, not Saturday, which many Louisiana voters are used to. Couvillon says to avoid lines on Tuesday, November third, many people will cast their ballot during this early voting period.

Cut 5 (07) “…people believe.”

Couvillon says more than a quarter of the votes for this election will be made during early voting.

Cut 6 (08) “…next Tuesday.”

To see what’s on your ballot, go to geaux-vote-dot-com.

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The grave of a Louisiana soldier killed in the Korean War has deteriorated so badly that his casket is exposed at a Baton Rouge cemetery. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary, Doctor Jerome Buller (BUHL-er), visited Private First Class Samuel Pierre Junior’s grave yesterday.

Cut 7 (09) “…not so today.”

Buller says the brick structure covering Pierre’s grave has collapsed.

Cut 8 (08) “…open.”

Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says no grave should look like this, especially that of a soldier killed in action.

Pierre was 22 when he died in Korea in 1952. He grew up in Baton Rouge, attended McKinley High School, graduated from Gaudet High School in New Orleans and attended Southern University. He entered the Army in April 1951 and arrived in Korea that November.

With no living immediate family identified, Buller says the state, governor’s office, Louisiana Cemetery Board and Attorney General’s Office are considering repairing the grave or relocating Pierre’s remains.

Cut 9 (08)  “…behalf.”

The Louisiana Cemetery Board has advised that relocating remains would require court approval since no family members have been located.

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With early voting underway, Louisiana’s Republican U.S. Senate nominee, Julia Letlow, urged her supporters to get the polls to cast their ballots for her. Letlow spoke in front of a small invitation-only audience in Lafayette.

Cut 10 (11) “…right to vote.”

Letlow told her supporters that the difference between not only her and Jamie Davis, but also between Republicans and Democrats as a whole, couldn’t be any more stark.

Cut 11 (09) “…take back control.”

Letlow got an assist in getting her message out from Senator John Kennedy, who said as charming as Letlow is, she can also be very fierce.

Cut 12 (11) “…a light snack.”

Early voting runs through next Tuesday, with no early voting on Sunday.

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Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson will step down Thursday, months earlier than planned. Henderson announced last month that he would leave at the end of the year, citing health reasons. But his departure also comes amid frustration over the U-L System Board’s decision not to approve faculty pay raises. USA Today Network political reporter Greg Hilburn says Henderson sent a letter to faculty earlier this month criticizing the system board.

Cut 13 (12)  “…the two”

Hilburn says Henderson’s last day on the job is the same day that the U-L System will have its next board meeting.

Cut 14 (12) “…of the year.”

Hilburn reports that Dickie Crawford, Tech’s current executive vice president for student affairs, will serve as acting president. The UL System Search Committee is accepting applications until November sixth from individuals who are interested in becoming the school’s next president. Hilburn says State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley has been rumored as a possible replacement to Henderson.

Cut 15 (06) “…by the governor”

The U-L System is looking to have a new president in place on January 1st.

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The Pelicans tip off the Jamahl Mosley era in New Orleans against the Pacers tonight. The Pels are coming off their two worst seasons since 2012, and with much of the same roster returning, Locked On Pelicans podcast host Jake Madison says the front office is putting a lot of faith in its new head coach.

Cut 16 (14) “…elevate them.”

Forward Zion Williamson returns as the team’s biggest star. After being plagued by injuries, the former number-one pick played in 62 games last year, but his 21 points per game were the fewest of his career. Madison says a lot has been made of his offseason work.

Cut 17 (18) “…prove it.”

NBA All-Rookie team selections from last year, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, will look to take the next step in year two. Queen has struggled during the preseason, but Madison says Fears has looked like the team’s best player. He says he wouldn’t be surprised if he is the starting point guard tonight.

Cut 18 (20)  “…right now.”

Tip-off in the Smoothie King Center is at 7 p.m.

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LSU will hope to snap its eight-game SEC road losing streak at Auburn this weekend. The Tigers have lost by one score in both of their conference away games so far this season, and safety Ty Benefield says every detail matters on the road.

Cut 19 (19) “…to outcomes.”

Benefield started the season at his natural safety position but has since moved over to STAR to fill in for the injured Dashawn Spears. His length and physicality have made him an excellent fit, but he says there is still more work to do.

Cut 20 (20) “…my brothers.”

Louisiana ranks 22nd nationally in foreclosure filing rate, with more than 29-hundred foreclosure filings in the first half of 2026 – that’s one out of every 724 housing units. NestCash Founder John Carter says the foreclosure process takes the longest in Louisiana by a very wide margin – taking nearly a whole decade to complete a process that would normally take no more than a year.

Cut 5 (10) “…the national average.”

Volunteers hauled 68 tons of trash and debris from Louisiana’s waterways during last month’s first-ever Love Our Waterways campaign. Susan Russell, the executive director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful says the month-long event had quite the turnout.

Cut 7 (11) “…up our waterways.”

The drought is intensifying in Louisiana. That’s according to State Climatologist Jay Grymes who says above-normal temperatures are not helping…

Cut 9 (08)  “…well as himself.”

Grymes expects to see extreme drought and exceptional drought designations expand when the U-S Drought Monitor updates on Thursday.

Video circulating from Paris showing violent demonstrations and riots has raised questions about the city hosting its first NFL game Sunday between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers. The demonstrations started as protests by students, who are upset with the poor school conditions and teacher shortages, but the movement has expanded to other issues, like cost-of-living, high fuel prices and cuts to public spending. Saints radio play-by-play announcer Mike Hoss says the NFL is closely monitoring the situation…

Cut 14 (07) “…day by day”   

What was the response to the inaugural Love Our Waterways month in Louisiana? Andrew Greenstein has the numbers.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Former Southwood High School Band Director Lennard Holden has been indicted on charges of child pornography. According to court documents the indictment alleges that Holden asked a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct and produce a video of the activity. Holden faces 15 years to 30 years in federal prison if convicted on all charges.

When it comes to foreclosures, each of Louisiana’s biggest metropolitan areas is at an elevated risk. That’s according to a new study by NestCash, which did a county-by-county analysis of foreclosure risk across the country. NestCash Founder John Carter says Louisiana’s mortgage delinquency rate is the highest in the country.

Cut 3 (10) “…national 0.9-percent.”

Carter says the foreclosure risk is highest in Orleans Parish, followed by Evangeline, St. John the Baptist, Sabine, Caddo and East Baton Rouge parishes.

According to State Climatologist Jay Grymes the drought in Louisiana is intensifying and as a result of the dry conditions wildfires are becoming an ever-increasing problem as well…

Cut 11 (06) “…of the state.”

Grymes adds that preliminary numbers from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry suggest as many as 80-plus fires in the state in recent weeks.

Louisiana Tech president Doctor Jim Henderson says Thursday will be his last day on the job. Henderson said last month he would retire at the end of the calendar year, but in a letter to university employees today, Henderson says he needs to address some things with his physical health. This announcement comes after a public dispute with the UL System board over proposed faculty pay raises.

State Climatologist Jay Grymes says drought conditions are intensifying in Louisiana.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

During the inaugural Love Our Waterways campaign last month, 43-hundred volunteers across 51 parishes removed 68 tons of debris from Louisiana’s waterways. Susan Russell, the executive director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, says the volunteers ran the gamut from government organizations, schools, businesses, non-profits – and even families.

Cut 8 (09) “…did their part.”

The Saints are enjoying a day off in Paris today and will practice tomorrow as they get ready to face Pittsburgh on Sunday in the first NFL game ever to be held in Paris. The radio voice of the Saints, Mike Hoss, says the protests you’ve seen on the news, have yet to impact their trip…

Cut 13 (14) “…this area”

Early voting in the November 3rd election is now underway. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says with your ballot being exceptionally long this year, it’s important that you review your sample ballot ahead of time.

Cut 28 (08)  “…Vote mobile app.”

Early voting runs today through Tuesday, October 27^th, from 8:30 AM to 6 PM, except on Sunday

Video circulating from Paris showing violent demonstrations and riots has raised questions about the city hosting its first NFL game Sunday between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers. But Saints radio play-by-play announcer Mike Hoss, who is traveling with the team, says the unrest appears to be concentrated in northern Paris and surrounding communities, with demonstrations often taking place on weekends….

Cut 12 (09) “…and arranged”

The demonstrations started as protests by students, who are upset with the poor school conditions and teacher shortages, but the movement has expanded to other issues, like cost-of-living, high fuel prices and cuts to public spending.

After experiencing a taste of fall this past weekend, a warm and dry week is in store for the Bayou State. State Climatologist Jay Grymes expects to see extreme drought and exceptional drought designations expand when the U-S Drought Monitor updates on Thursday. He says we may have to wait until December before we start to see regular rainfall. That’s when the Super El Nino conditions will kick in…

Cut 10 (07) “…need to be.”

According to Nestcash, at the end of 2025, two-percent of the state’s mortgages were 90 or more days past due, the highest rate in the country and double the national percentage. Nestcash founder John Carter says the foreclosure rate takes the longest, taking a whole decade to complete that would normally take no more than a year…

Cut 5 (10) “….the national average”

Carter says the foreclosure risk is highest in Orleans Parish, followed by Evangeline, St. John the Baptist, Sabine, Caddo and East Baton Rouge parishes.

Louisiana Tech president Doctor Jim Henderson, who previously announced, he was retiring at the end of the calendar year, but today he informed faculty and staff that he needs to address some things with physical health and is last day on the job will be Thursday. Henderson says Tech is well-positioned to continue the recent momentum.

State Climatologist Jay Grymes says drought conditions are intensifying in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Keep Louisiana Beautiful says during the inaugural Love the Waterways campaign last month, 68 tons of litter was removed from the state’s waterways….

Cut 7 (11) “…waterways”

That’s Keep Louisiana Beautiful director Susan Russell, who says Water bottles, metal cans and plastic snack packaging were some of the more common items they took out of the water. Volunteers also collected 177 tires.

A new study from Nest Cash, fines that Louisiana has the highest percentage of mortgages that are 90 or more days past due, but NestCash founder John Carter says that pales in comparison to where the state was at 18 years ago…

Cut 4 (04)( “…were in 2008”

Louisiana ranks 22nd nationally in foreclosure filing rate, with more than 29-hundred foreclosure filings in the first half of 2026 – that’s one out of every 724 housing units.

Early voting is now underway. The biggest race on the general election ballot is for U.S. Senate, with Republican Julia Letlow squaring off against Democrat Jamie Davis. Throughout the campaign, analysts had said whoever emerges as the Republican nominee – in this case, Letlow – would be almost a lock to win the general election. But LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says with the only two publicly-released polls showing Davis within just four points of Letlow, it could end up being a lot closer than originally forecast.

Cut 12 (11) “…ties with Trump.”

The U-S Drought Monitor releases an update Thursday, and State Climatologist Jay Grymes expects to see extreme drought and exceptional drought designations throughout the state. Grymes says wildfires are becoming an ever-increasing problem as well.

Cut 11 (06) “…of the state.”

When it comes to foreclosures, each of Louisiana’s biggest metropolitan areas is at an elevated risk. That’s according to a new study by NestCash, which did a county-by-county analysis of foreclosure risk across the country. NestCash Founder John Carter says Louisiana’s mortgage delinquency rate is the highest in the country.

Cut 3 (10) “…national 0.9-percent.”

During the inaugural Love Our Waterways month last month, 43-hundred volunteers across 51 parishes removed 68 tons of debris from Louisiana’s waterways. Susan Russell, the executive director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, says the volunteers ran the gamut from government organizations, schools, businesses, non-profits – and even families.

Cut 8 (09) “…did their part.”