Jessie Hoffman is set to die this evening for the 1996 kidnapping, raping and murder of Molly Elliot. It will be the state’s first nitrogen gas execution. Hoffman is a practicing Buddhist and his lawyers say killing him with nitrogen gas would interfere with Buddhist breathing exercises. Hoffman says he would prefer a different form of execution, even firing squad. On Talk Louisiana this morning, Governor Jeff Landry says nitrogen gas is a more humane method of execution…

Cut 4 (07) “…that he chose.”

Jessie Hoffman’s lawyers are continuing the fight up until the very end. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Councilman Oliver Thomas is the third candidate to enter the race to become New Orleans next Mayor.  University of New Orleans Political Scientist Dr. Edward Chervenek says Thomas is well liked but he pleaded guilty in 2007 to accepting a bribe from a businessman while he was a city council member and served two years in a federal prison.  Chervenek says Thomas has expressed remorse and taken responsibility for his actions.

Cut 13 (10)  “…be as forgiving.”

Louisiana is seeing a number of whooping cough cases. Two infants have died in the last six months. State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says whooping cough is very serious that can affect anyone, but young kids, including infants, have the highest risk for severe symptoms.

Cut 11 (09) “…during each pregnancy.”

Sokol says 30-percent of infants who become infected with whooping are hospitalized, and one in 100 likely to die of the disease.

Governor Jeff Landry says he will not stand in the way of Jessie Hoffman’s scheduled execution tonight.  Sean Richardson reports it will be Louisiana’s first execution of a death row inmate in 15 years…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Hoffman was 18 when he killed Elliott and fathered a child before the crime. Jessie Smith is his son and says he didn’t get the opportunity to grow up with his father and would be devastated if his father is put to death.

Cut 8 (04) “…start over again.”

Hoffman is set to be executed between 6 and 9 PM.

Councilman Oliver Thomas has thrown his hat in the New Orleans Mayoral race.  University of New Orleans Political Scientist Dr. Edward Chervenek says Thomas is the third announced candidate. New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno and Former Orleans Parish Judge Arthur Hunter are the other two. Chervenak says Thomas is well liked as he’s serving for a third time on the city council…

Cut 12 (08) “…might be.”

Thomas pleaded guilty in 2007 to accepting a bribe from a businessman while he was a city council member and served two years in a federal prison.

The Louisiana Department of Health is still seeing a lot of cases whooping cough cases. State epidemiologist Doctor Theresa Sokol says whooping cough is very serious and can be potentially deadly…

Cut 10 (07) “…these coughing fits”

There are vaccines available to prevent whooping cough.

Louisiana is preparing to execute its first death row inmate in 15 years tonight as Jesse Hoffman is set to die. It will be the state’s first nitrogen gas execution. Governor Jeff Landry appeared as a guest on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster today and he has no plans to stop the execution…

Cut 3 (12) “…quite some time”

Hoffman kidnapped Molly Elliot the day before Thanksgiving in 1996. According to authorities, Hoffman robbed Elliot of 200-dollars, raped her in the backseat of her own car and fatally shot her execution style. Elliot’s body was dumped in a river in St. Tammany Parish.

Hoffman’s brother, Marvin Fields, says his brother deserves an opportunity to atone for what he did.

Cut 7 (08) “…people can change”

Hoffman’s execution is set to take place at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola between six PM and nine PM tonight.

Louisiana is seeing a large number of whooping cough cases. State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says the symptoms start off so mild that one might not initially suspect anything serious.

Cut 9 (13)  “…for whooping cough.”

Sokol says in the last six months, two children have died from this respiratory illness and she says a vaccine is available for protection.

As part of the deal to avoid a government shutdown last week, Congress approved another short-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program. Senator Bill Cassidy says while he appreciates that, that’s not enough. He’s introduced a bill that would reauthorize the program for two years.

Cut 13 (08)  “…asking too much.”

A Baton Rouge judge has dissolved his temporary restraining order that stopped tonight’s execution of Louisiana death row inmate Jessie Hoffman. It means Hoffman is set to die from nitrogen gas, which would be a first in Louisiana. Hoffman, kidnapped, raped and killed Molly Elliot in 1996 and his brother, Marvin Fields, says Hoffman is remorseful for what he did…

Cut 6 (06) “….can’t take back”

Attorney General Liz Murrill says Hoffman shot Elliot execution style after raping her on the eve of Thanksgiving Day.

A Morgan City woman has been arrested after authorities allegedly found 14 dead cats in her freezer. There was a total of 22 dead cats in the home of 71-year-old Sheri Hite. Morgan City police captain John Schaff says the discovery was made during a welfare check…

Cut 28 (10) “…23 counts”

Hite reportedly told authorities that she planned to dispose of the cats.

A recent poll by JMC Analytics and Polling, commissioned by Unite America, found that Louisiana voters overwhelmingly favor the open primary system that has candidates of all parties on a single ballot. JMC Founder John Couvillon says an open primary is simpler for voters…

Cut 18 (12) “…and a runoff.”

But next year’s Congressional elections will move to a closed primary, which means registered voters can only vote for candidates in their party in the primary, which will be held in April next year.

When Congress approved a funding bill last week to keep the government open, it also kept the flood insurance program going for the next few months. Senator Bill Cassidy says it’s time to stop with the short-term extensions and approve a bill to keep the NFIP going for at least the next two years…

Cut 14 (15) “….would be unsettling”

A hearing is going on at this hour in Judge Chip Moore’s courtroom that could determine whether Jessie Hoffman will be executed this evening. Moore issued an injunction yesterday afternoon pending this morning’s hearing on whether using nitrogen hypoxia violates Hoffman’s right to religious freedom. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law professor Dane Ciolino says depending on what happens today in both Judge Moore’s courtroom and at the U.S. Supreme Court, the execution still may happen this evening.

Cut 12 (07) “…execution hour approaches.”

Senator Bill Cassidy has introduced a bill that would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program for two years. Cassidy says while temporary reauthorizations are better than nothing, families who rely on the NFIP deserve better.

Cut 15 (12) “…period of time.”

A Morgan City woman was arrested for animal cruelty after police found many dead cats inside her home. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The list of people looking to succeed LaToya Cantrell as mayor of New Orleans is growing. Oliver Thomas is the latest to throw his or her name in the hat. In a campaign video, the councilman says New Orleans needs a comeback, and no one understands that better than him. Thomas joins Helena Moreno, Arthur Hunter and Tyrell Morris in the race to succeed the term-limited Cantrell.

On again, off again – as of this morning, the execution of Jessie Hoffman is off. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Hoffman’s attorneys are making the case that because he is Buddhist, execution by nitrogen gas would impact his abilities to do his Buddhist breathing exercises. Meanwhile, the state is expecting to be successful in court today and they are expecting to carry out the execution tonight.

A poll paid for by Unite America has found most Louisiana residents do not support the moving of Louisiana’s elections to a closed primary system. Starting with next year’s Congressional elections, candidates will need to win a party primary to advance to the November general election. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon says only 34-percent of the voters surveyed are aware of this change…

Cut 6 (12) “…candidates”

In a closed primary, only registered voters of the Democratic or Republican Party can vote for candidates of their party.

As part of the deal to avoid a government shutdown last week, Congress approved another short-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program. Senator Bill Cassidy says while he appreciates that, that’s not enough. He’s introduced a bill that would reauthorize the program for two years.

Cut 13 (08)  “…asking too much.”

A hearing will begin in a Baton Rouge courtroom next hour as the lawyers for Jesse Hoffman try to halt his execution that’s scheduled for tonight. Loyola of New Orleans University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Hoffman’s attorneys are trying to make the case that using nitrogen gas to kill Hoffman, would interfere with his Buddhist breathing exercises…

Cut 11 (09) “….Religious Freedom Act”

The state is seeking to execute Hoffman for the 1996 murder of Molly Elliot in St. Tammany Parish.

In Morgan City, 71-year-old Sheri Hite is facing animal cruelty charges after 22 cats were found dead in her home, 14 of them in a freezer. Morgan City Police Captain John Schaff says they can’t speak to Hite’s mental state, but that will come out during her trial…

Cut 9 (08) “….the judicial process”

A new poll commissioned by Unite America shows a majority of Louisiana voters prefer an open primary system over a closed primary system. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed an executive order that requires all state agencies and state boards and officers to refer to the body of water south of Louisiana as Gulf of America instead of Gulf of Mexico. On President Trump’s first day in office, he signed an executive order that directs the U-S Secretary of the Interior to rename the Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America

It’s off again — for now. The execution of Jessie Hoffman is once again put on hold. This time, it’s 19th Judicial District Court Judge Chip Moore who issued a temporary restraining order halting Jessie Hoffman’s execution pending a hearing at 9:30 this morning. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law professor Dane Ciolino says such last-minute legal maneuvering by the defense is not unusual.

Cut 10 (09) “…halt an execution.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill believes Hoffman will be executed tonight by nitrogen hypoxia as he has exhausted all of his state and federal post conviction remedies.

A new statewide poll conducted by JMC Analytics and paid for by Unite America has found Louisiana voters overwhelmingly approve of an open primary voting system and only 34-percent are aware that next year’s Congressional elections will be a closed party primary. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says that means the primary will take place in the spring, instead of the fall…

Cut 5 (08) “….last 50 years”

A Morgan City woman was arrested for animal cruelty after police found several dead cats inside her home. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a deer harvested by a hunter in Catahoula Parish had chronic wasting disease. This is the first CWD confirmed positive in a wild deer outside of Tensas Parish. CWD was first detected in Louisiana in 2022 and there have been 34 detections in Louisiana since that time. LDWF will release a CWD response plan for this area soon.