We have two sad stories out of southeast Louisiana. Earlier today in New Orleans, searchers believed to be the body of 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez, a non-verbal autistic child that has been missing since August 14^th. It’s believed the child wandered away from his home, but NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says foul play has not been ruled out…

Cut 7 (12) “…includes foul play”

In Tangipahoa Parish, 54-year-old Barry West is facing four counts of attempted murder after he allegedly shot at another vehicle striking a 17-year-old woman in the head, who was seven months pregnant, in the head. Sheriff Gerald Sticker says the victim was rushed to the hospital, where she gave birth to her child…

Cut 4 (09) “…we speak.”

But Sticker says the 17-year-old mother is on life support and it’s believed the shooting was sparked by road rage.

What health impacts are coming out of the chemical plant explosion in Tangipahoa Parish? Andrew Greenstein talked with an environmental expert for some insight.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Kisatchie National Forest says the Backbone Fire in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area in Natchitoches Parish is now 100-percent contained. The trails within the Wilderness area have been reopened. A lighting strike on August third started the wildfire. The fire burned more than 24-hundred acres.

A 17-year-old, who was seven months pregnant, is on life support after she was shot in what authorities call a road rage incident. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker says the victim was in a vehicle with three other passengers in the Ponchatoula area and that vehicle was tailgating and brake-checking with another vehicle driven by 54-year-old Barry West. Sticker says West got upset and shot at the other vehicle, striking the 17-year-old in the head…

Cut 3 (09) “…human life.”

Sticker says the victim was rushed to the hospital, where she gave birth to her child, but the mother is on life support.

A sad end to a search for a 12-year-old New Orleans boy. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says searchers found Bryan Vasquez dead in a lagoon near his home.

Cut 6 (09) “…into the marsh.”

Vasquez was a nonverbal autistic boy who disappeared from his home on August 14th when he climbed out of a bedroom window. Foul play has not been ruled out.

Louisiana is one of 13 states where potentially radioactive imported shrimp was recalled from Walmart. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says infected shrimp from overseas is ending up on American’s dinner plates far too often.

Cut 11 (13) “…this seafood.”

Nungesser is calling for a ten-cent per pound seafood inspection fee.

Federal and state agencies continue to monitor the air in Tangipahoa Parish where Smitty’s Supply exploded on Friday, sending dozens of different chemicals into the air. EPA Region Six Director Scott Mason has this message for the public…

Cut 14 (06) “….to human health”

Area residents are still concerned and want to know the cause of the explosion and what chemicals were involved.

The fire that resulted from the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland is now 98-percent contained. The Department of Environmental Quality has been continuously monitoring air quality from the beginning. Governor Landry says had it not been for Mother Nature, the surrounding area would never have been covered in soot.

Cut 13 (14)  “…was utterly toxic.”

Starting today, the Secretary of State’s Office will be demonstrating several new potential voting systems as it prepares to replace its current outdated voting machines. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says all six systems it’s testing have a paper element to them.

Cut 4 (11) “…auditability of paper”

One of the toughest lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina was the need for an improved flood protection system. Jeff Palermo reports the federal government reacted by spending 14.5 billion dollars…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Just hours to go until NFL teams, including the Saints, need to get their rosters down to 53. The Saints started paring their roster down by cutting veteran running back Cam Akers.

We continue to look back 20 years ago this week when Hurricane Katrina ravaged southeast Louisiana. Katrina’s fierce winds caused extensive damage, but the storm surge that led to breaks in the levee system produced catastrophic flooding. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Renee Poche says a much better flood protection system is in place now…

Cut 7 (12) “…Lake Pontchartrain.”

The explosion that destroyed Smitty’s Supply Friday also destroyed the livelihoods of hundreds of people. 450 people were working there before the explosion. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says the state is making resources available to them.

Cut 15 (09) “…available to them.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is urging President Trump and Louisiana’s congressional delegation to impose a ten-cent-per-pound inspection fee on all imported seafood. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Jeff Landry has told the USA Today Network that he will wait to make an endorsement in Louisiana’s 2026 U-S Senate race until President Trump announces who he will support. Senator Bill Cassidy is facing three challengers in the April primary, John Fleming, Blake Miguez and Eric Skrmetta.

In response to the massive recall of potentially radioactive shrimp from Indonesia that was being sold at Walmart in 13 states, including Louisiana. Lieutenant Governor Nungesser says people need to know what they’re eating.

Cut 12 (10) “…eating Louisiana.”

Louisiana law requires restaurants and suppliers clearly indicate whether their seafood is imported or not. Nungesser would also like to see a 10-cent per pound inspection fee be imposed on importers.

The Secretary of State’s Office is demonstrating six potential voting systems to replace the state’s outdated system. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says all the systems are a significant improvement over the state’s current voting system.

Cut 6 (10) “…our elections safe.”

Public demonstrations of the systems run today through September 18 at the old governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge.

As we look back 20 years ago this week when Hurricane Katrina ravaged southeast Louisiana. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Renee Poche says it’s still possible for a strong hurricane to overtop the system, but flooding can still be minimized…

Cut 9 (10)  “…water out”

Poche says work continues on providing even more flood protection as construction is ongoing on a one-billion dollar project to protect the River Parishes.

The Saints began making cuts to get to the 53-man roster by 3:00. Veteran running back Cam Akers was part of the first cuts after showing promise in preseason camp. Head coach Kellen Moore says it was a tough move, but he likes the depth the Saints have at running back.

Cut 19 (19) “…group there.”

20 years ago this week New Orleans was devastated when the levees broke. Since then, two different administrations from two different parties directed Congress to appropriate 14.5 billion dollars to rebuild the levees in metro New Orleans. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Renee Poche says the design started in 2007 and construction was finally completed in 2018 on all of the storm barriers, flood walls, levees and pumps.

Cut 8 (08) “…see today.”

He says flood protection work continues with ongoing construction on a one-billion dollar project to protect the River Parishes.

Clean up continues after the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland rocked Tangipahoa Parish Friday. Governor Landry says people in the affected area should have nothing to worry about at this time.

Cut 14 (12) “…a big mess.”

The 450 displaced employees are encouraged to visit the mobile unit from Louisiana Workforce in Hammond.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is urging President Trump and Louisiana’s congressional delegation to impose a ten-cent-per-pound inspection fee on all imported seafood. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana is replacing its 35-year-old voting system. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says all six of the voting systems being tested and demonstrated are currently being used elsewhere.

Cut 5 (08) “…across the country.”

Starting today, the Secretary of State’s Office will be demonstrating the systems at the old governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana is one of 13 states where potentially radioactive imported shrimp was recalled from Walmart. Lieutenant Governor Nungesser says infected shrimp from overseas is ending up on American’s dinner plates far too often.

Cut 11 (13) “…this seafood.”

The explosion that destroyed Smitty’s Supply Friday also destroyed the livelihoods of hundreds or people. 450 people were working there before the explosion. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says the state is making resources available to them.

Cut 15 (09) “…available to them.”

One of the toughest lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina was the need for an improved flood protection system. Jeff Palermo reports the federal government reacted by spending 14.5 billion dollars…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Starting today, the Secretary of State’s Office will be demonstrating several voting systems as it prepares to replace the outdated system in use for the past 35 years. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s Office says six systems are being tested, and all of them have a paper element to them.

Cut 4 (10) “…auditability of paper”

When Hurricane Katrina’s fierce winds caused extensive damage, it was the storm surge that led to breaks in the levee system that produced catastrophic flooding. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Renee Poche says a much better flood protection system in place now…

Cut 7 (12) “…Lake Pontchartrain.”

He says more flood protection is in the works with a one-billion dollar project in the River Parishes.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is renewing his call for President Trump and Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to impose a ten-cent-per-pound seafood inspection fee.

Cut 10 (09) “…imported seafood.”

This is in response to the massive recall of potentially radioactive shrimp imported from Indonesia that was being sold in Walmart stores in 13 states, including Louisiana.

Starting today, the Secretary of State’s Office will be demonstrating new voting machines. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Since the explosion Friday afternoon the Department of Environmental Quality has continuously monitored air quality around Smitty’s Supply in Roseland. Monday, Governor Landry spoke at a news conference.

Cut 13 (14)  “…was udderly toxic.”