A Calcasieu Parish jury has found a southwest Louisiana man guilty of murder in the brutal death of 72-year-old Sheila Ortega in 2023. District Attorney Stephen Dwight says it took just over an hour for a jury to convict 43-year-old Christopher Cater of first-degree murder and unlawful disposal of remains….

Cut 10 (12) “…guilty verdict.”

The longtime face of New Orleans Mardi Gras is calling it a career. Arthur Hardy, the longtime publisher of the Mardi Gras Guide magazine, says after a half century, the 2026 edition will be his last.

Cut 6 (09) “…time as any.”

Hardy launched the Mardi Gras Guide with his wife in 1977 as a way to make it easy for people to keep up with parade schedules. It’s now published by Georges Media and will continue to bear Hardy’s name.

Drought conditions are starting to develop across Louisiana as the state is in store for another dry weekend. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is starting to test seafood for contamination following last month’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. LDEQ is testing them for heavy metals and petroleum-related chemicals. It’s collecting samples in the Tangipahoa River and Lake Pontchartrain.

The longtime publisher of the Mardi Gras Guide magazine says the 2026 edition will be his last. Arthur Hardy launched the magazine with his wife in 1977 as a way to make it easy for people to keep up with parade schedules. Hardy says while he always knew it was a great idea, it took a few years for it to really catch on.

Cut 8 (10) “…financial disaster initially.”

The guide is now published by Georges Media and will continue to bear Hardy’s name.

We’re looking at a dry weekend across the state and abnormally dry conditions have developed across south Louisiana and along the Arkansas border. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the dry conditions will likely worsen as we move into fall as La Nina conditions are expected to develop…

Cut 5 (10) “…and spring”

A Calcasieu Parish jury has found a southwest Louisiana man guilty of murder in the brutal death of a 72-year-old woman in 2023. District Attorney Stephen Dwight says after 43-year-old Christopher Cater killed Shelia Ortega, he drove around with the woman’s body for a month.

Cut 9 (07)  “…during the summer.”

It took just over an hour for a jury to convict Cater of first-degree murder and unlawful disposal of remains.

LSU will host Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday before it gets to the meat of its SEC schedule. The Tigers’ mantra for the entire season is to go 1-and-0 every week, and Sophomore linebacker Davhon Keys reiterates focusing on one opponent at a time.

Cut 20 (15) “…the future.”

We are looking at a dry weekend across the state. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says other than a pop up thunderstorm here or there, there’s not a significant chance for rain for several days.

Cut 4 (07) “…for rain.”

Grymes says the dry conditions will likely worsen as we move into fall as La Nina conditions are expected to develop.

The longtime face of New Orleans Mardi Gras has announced his retirement. Arthur Hardy, the longtime publisher of the Mardi Gras Guide magazine, says after a half century, the 2026 edition will be his last. Hardy says he has lots of post-retirement plans.

Cut 7 (08) “…in Oslo, Norway.”

Hardy launched the Mardi Gras Guide with his wife in 1977 as a way to make it easy for people to keep up with parade schedules.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Canada trying to drum up travel back to Louisiana, but he’s finding it difficult. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

We are looking at a dry weekend across the state and abnormally dry conditions have developed across south Louisiana and along the Arkansas border. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says nearly half of the state is on the verge of drought conditions according to the Drought Monitor.

Cut 3 (12) “…of Louisiana.”

The longtime face of New Orleans Mardi Gras is calling it a career. Arthur Hardy, the longtime publisher of the Mardi Gras Guide magazine, says after a half century, the 2026 edition will be his last.

Cut 6 (09) “…time as any.”

Hardy launched the Mardi Gras Guide with his wife in 1977 as a way to make it easy for people to keep up with parade schedules. It’s now published by Georges Media and will continue to bear Hardy’s name.

With Jefferson Parish receiving a Class Three flood protection rating from FEMA, homeowners in unincorporated parts of the parish will receive an additional 10-percent discount on their flood insurance premiums. Maggie Talley, the parish’s director of floodplain management and hazard mitigation, says the parish has made upgrades in drainage, improved the pumping systems and adopted stronger building codes.

Cut 8 (08) “…flood damages.”

If you’re hoping that the Fed rate cut will mean a lower rate on your mortgage, think again. Rajesh Narayanan (rah-JESH na-RYE-an), a professor of finance at LSU, says the interest rates that the Fed sets affect how banks borrow from one another and do not have an immediate direct impact on the interest rates that consumers pay, including mortgages and other types of interest.

Cut 14 (10) “…by credit risk.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Canada this week with state and local tourism officials trying to promote travel to Louisiana, but he’s finding Canadians are not interested in leisure trips to the United States because of President Trump’s previous statements and actions.

Cut 4 (08) “…the tariffs.”

The Trump administration is allocating more than 400-million dollars in additional federal funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Grambling University President Dr. Martin Lemelle says part of that money would be used to upgrade facilities at the university.

Cut 11 (15) “…as enhance infrastructure.”

The schools haven’t decided how the money will be divided among them yet.

Jefferson Parish is the first parish in Louisiana to receive a Class 3 flood protection rating from FEMA, which means a larger flood insurance premium discount for thousands in unincorporated parts of the parish. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A Florida woman is arrested for allegedly scamming the Terrebonne Parish government out of nearly 130-thousand dollars. Prosecutors say 56-year-old Linh Thuy Ngo (“leen twee nyo”) sent phony invoices posing as a DOTD employee, asking employees to wire transfer money to a Florida bank account.

Homes and businesses located in unincorporated areas of Jefferson Parish will get a raise from their current 25 percent to a 35-percent discount on their flood insurance premiums when their policies renew after October 1^st. Director of floodplain management and hazard mitigation Maggie Talley, says it’s because the parish has made upgrades in drainage, improved the pumping systems and adopted stronger building codes.

Cut 8 (08) “…flood damages.”

The Fed cut interest rates by a quarter point and indicated that there may be two more rate cuts by the end of the year. LSU professor of finance, Rajesh Narayanan (rah-JESH na-RYE-an) says they issued the cut in response to weakness in the job market. But he says can be a tough balancing act – while unemployment is up, it becomes a different situation if inflation also rises.

Cut 15 (08) “…rise up.”

The Trump administration is allocating more than 400-million dollars in additional federal funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Grambling University President Dr. Martin Lemelle says that’s over and above the funding the schools received in the previous fiscal year, and part of that money would go towards the Title Three program.

Cut 10 (15) “…and graduate students.”

Funds are being redirected from other grants, mostly the government’s Hispanic-Serving Institution program, which offers grants to colleges and universities where at least a quarter of undergraduates are Hispanic.

Last year an estimated 185-thousand Canadian visitors to Louisiana spent nearly 194-million dollars but Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser who is in Canada promoting to Louisiana says visits are down because President Trump’s talk of making the neighbors to the north the 51^st state has rubbed Canadians the wrong way.

Cut 6 (10) “…in Canada.”

Canada is Louisiana’s largest international tourism market. Last year, they spent nearly 194-million dollars in the Bayou State and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is visiting Canadian cities promoting travel to Louisiana. He says this year, Louisiana has seen a decline in travel by Canadians.

Cut 5 (11) “…we’re battling.”

Joining Nungesser on this trip are representatives of the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana and nine parish tourism partners. They’ve been to Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City.

More than 400-million dollars in additional federal funding is being allocated to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Grambling University President Dr. Martin Lemelle says part of that money would be used to upgrade facilities at the university.

Cut 11 (15) “…as enhance infrastructure.”

This week, the Fed cut interest rates by a quarter point. What does that mean for consumers like you and me? Andrew Greenstein has some insight.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Jefferson Parish is one of only 11 communities nationwide to reach Class 3 level in the National Flood Insurance program’s community rating system and that means homes in unincorporated areas of the parish will see their flood insurance discount rise to 35 percent. Director of Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation, Maggie Talley on how they achieved the rating…

Cut 9 (09)  “…class rating.”

The Trump administration is allocating more than 400-million dollars in additional federal funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Grambling University President Dr. Martin Lemelle says money would be used to upgrade facilities and programs to ensure students’ academic success.

Cut 12 (11) “…opportunity to succeed.”

The money is being redirected from other grants, mostly from the government’s Hispanic-Serving Institution program.

The Federal Reserve dropped interest rates by a quarter point this week but that doesn’t mean consumers’ interest rates are dropping. LSU Professor of finance, Rajesh Narayanan (rah-JESH na-RYE-an), says the Fed sets the interest rates that impact the rates that banks charge to borrow from one another.

Cut 14 (10) “…by credit risk.”

Jefferson Parish is the first parish in Louisiana to receive a Class 3 flood protection rating from FEMA, which means a larger flood insurance premium discount for thousands in unincorporated parts of the parish. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Canada this week with state and local tourism officials trying to promote travel to Louisiana, but he’s finding Canadians are not interested in leisure trips to the United States because of President Trump’s previous statements and actions.

Cut 4 (08) “…the tariffs.”