The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center on Tropical Storm Nate shows the storm moving across northeast Nicaragua with maximum sustained winds at 40-miles per hour. The N-H-C says Nate is expected to keep moving in a northerly direction across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico, which it should develop into a hurricane. A landfall in southeast Louisiana as a Category One storm on Sunday is possible.

Former New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson is set to be released from his 13-year sentence for taking bribes.  Federal Judge T-S Ellis says seven out of ten counts against Jefferson are now invalid.  Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says Jefferson’s time in prison might be done based on today’s ruling…

(CUT 7) :10) “Other counts.”

The sentencing on his three remaining counts will take place in December.

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator is concerned about the 192 felons that will be released early from prison next month in Caddo Parish due to criminal justice reform. Prator says  he is compassionate and believes reformed criminals should be given a second chance, but many of the prisoners that will be released should not be on the streets…

Cut 11 (:11) (your kids.)

State Police have arrested a St. Joseph mother for allegedly murdering her newborn and putting him in the dumpster. The one day old boy was found Monday in front of an elementary school. Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says 21-year-old Alicia Richard is charged with first degree murder.  Detectives were able to find Richard when she went to the hospital after having the baby…

Cut 13 (:08) “hospital.”

Reichardt says detectives are working to determine how Richard could do this to her child.

Tropical Storm Nate is forecast to reach the northern Gulf Coast this weekend as a hurricane. Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New Orleans Phil Grigsby says Nate could make landfall in southeast Louisiana Sunday morning as a cat one. He says rainfall totals should be low..:
Cut 4 (09) “small storm”
He adds there is a low chance of this storm breaking up or not developing into a hurricane.

A federal judge in Virginia has ordered convicted former congressman William Jefferson released from jail. He threw out seven of the ten corruption charges against Jefferson in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding what constitutes an official act. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says it’s now up to the Department of Justice to decide if they want to prosecute further…:
Cut 8 (08) “been dismissed”

Nearly 200 felons in Caddo Parish are set to be released early from prison and Sheriff Steve Prator is concerned. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

State Police arrests a St. Joseph mother for allegedly murdering her newborn and putting him in the dumpster. Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says 21-year-old Alicia Richard is charged with first degree murder…:
Cut 12 (09) “Tensas Parish”
The infant was found Monday in front of an elementary school.

Tropical Storm Nate has the potential to become a Category one hurricane and make landfall on the southeast Louisiana coast Sunday morning. Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New Orleans Phil Grigsby…:
Cut 3 (09) “good news”
He says that means should keep rainfall totals and storm surge low.

The Grand Isle Mayor has issued a voluntary evacuation order, as the island is expecting 4 to 5 inches of rain; and unusually high tides. Grand Isle schools will be closed Friday and Monday.

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator is extremely concerned that criminal justice reform measures passed during the last legislative session will allow for the release of 192 felons there in November. He agrees Louisiana needs reform:
Cut 9 (11) “be out”

Former New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson is set to be released from his 13-year prison sentence for taking bribes. A federal judge says seven out of ten counts against Jefferson are now invalid. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the ruling is based on a U.S. Supreme Court decision involving former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell’s corruption case:
Cut 6 (12) “official act”
Ciolino says Jefferson’s time in prison might be done based on today’s ruling.

State Police arrest a St. Joseph mother and charged her with first degree murder of her infant child, which was discovered Monday in a dumpster in Tensas Parish. She is identified as 21-year-old Alicia Richard.

The National Hurricane Center predicts Tropical Storm Nate will develop into a Category 1 Hurricane with a possible landfall along the southeast Louisiana coast. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Governor John Bel Edwards can’t understand why Congress didn’t include 2016 Louisiana flood victims in legislation that gives this year’s hurricane victims special disaster tax breaks. The bill has five tax relief provisions. Edwards says Congress should not pit storm victims against one another.

20 people have been arrested for drug trafficking in Winn Parish. Eleven individuals face federal charges and 10 people will be brought up on state charges. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District Alexander Van Hook says the defendants were involved in the distribution of large amounts of methamphetamines….
cut 7 (11) “…imprisonment”

An important fish for the Gulf of Mexico seafood industry, Menhaden, has declined in size and LSU researcher Eugene Turner says rising sea surface temperatures are to blame….
cut 14 (10) “…lesser amounts of time”
Turner says Menhaden had a dockside value of 129-million dollars in 2013 and that dollar amount will decline as the fish get smaller.

Emergency preparedness planners are gearing up for a possible hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Michael Farrar has the story…

Voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michael Farrar”

The updated forecast track still shows Nate as a Category One storm making landfall from southeast Louisiana to the Florida panhandle. The National Hurricane Center has Nate as a hurricane in the southern Gulf of Mexico Saturday morning. Nate’s maximum sustained winds are at 40-miles per hour and northwest near nine miles per hour.

20 people have been arrested after an investigation into drug trafficking in Winn Parish.Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Alexander Van Hook says the investigation began back in April of 2016 and 10 individuals face state charges and another 10 face federal charges….

Cut 8 (07) “…methampheatimes”

He says the one individual not yet arrested is Cristina Santos, who is thought to be the ringleader and authorities believe she is in the Los Angeles area.

Visitation begins tonight for Lafayette Police Corporal Michael Middlebrook, who was gunned down Sunday night in a shooting outside of a convenience store. Lafayette Police Chief Toby Aguillard says when fellow officers arrived, they kneeled in respect then took off in pursuit of the suspect….
cut 6 (09) “….of done”

Middlebrook was allegedly shot by 28-year-old Ian Howard who is in jail without bond and charged with first degree murder.

Tropical Storm Nate has formed near the coast of Nicaragua and the long range forecast calls for Nate to develop into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall along the northern Gulf coast this weekend. The National Hurricane Center’s forecast track for the storm has moved west, so southeast Louisiana is now in the cone of uncertainity.

LSU researcher Eugene Turner has discovered the Menhaden, a small silver fish, that can be found along the Gulf coast has shrunk in size over the last 65 years, becuase of warmer sea surface temperatures…
cut 15 (08) “…in the 60s”
Menhaden is known as one of the most economically important fish as they make up one-half of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico fish harvest and they are a significant food source for birds, whales, striped bass and other animals.

20 people have been arrested after an investigation into drug trafficking in Winn Parish. Eleven individuals face federal charges and 10 people will be brought up on state charges. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District Alexander Van Hook says the defendants facing federal charges were involved in the distribution of large amounts of methamphetamines….
cut 7 (11) “…imprisonment”

Visitation is today for Lafayette Police Officer Michael Middlebrook who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday. Police Chief Toby Aguillard says Middlebrook was an excellent officer and dedicated to his community as he received the Heart of Law Enforcement Award….
cut 5 (11) “…less fortunate”
Middlebrook leaves behind a wife, a three-year-old and two step children.

Tropical Storm Nate could threaten Louisiana. The storm is near the coast of Nicaragua and National Hurricane Specialist Robbie Berg says Nate will interact with land as it churns along the Nicaraguan and Honduras coast, plus it may go over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula….
cut 12 (11) “…bit difficult”
But the current projection has a Category One hurricane making landfall anywhere from southeast Louisiana to the Florida panhandle on Sunday morning.

An important fish for the Gulf of Mexico seafood industry has declined in size and LSU researcher Eugner Turner says rising sea surface temperatures are to blame….
cut 14 (10) “…lesser amounts of time”
Turner says Menhaden had a dockside value of 129-million dollars in 2013 and that dollar amount will decline as the fish gets smaller.

State Police arrest a St. Joseph mother and charged her with first degree murder of her infant child, which was discovered Monday in a dumpster in Tensas Parish. An autopsy report of the one-day old baby found it died from blunt force trauma. 21-year-old Alicia Richard’s bond has been set at 200-thousand dollars.

Visitation is today for the Lafayette Police officer killed while responding to an incident at a convenience store. Michelle Southern reports…:
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Tropical Depression number 16 is now Tropical Storm Nate near the Nicaragua coast and it’s expected to head north and become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. National Hurricane Specialist Robbie Berg says a landfall along the Gulf Coast is likely on Sunday….
Cut 10 (05) “at this point”
The latest cone of uncertainty has a Category One storm making landfall anywhere from southeast Louisiana to the Florida panhandle.

Law enforcement arrested 20 people in Winn Parish as part of a large scale drug bust operation. Suspects are accused of distributing large amounts of methamphetamines. Winn Sheriff Cranford Jordans says the investigation began as a result of a lot of crime in the Winnfield area…
cut 9 (10) “….domestic abuse”
Visitation begins tonight for Lafayette Police Corporal Michael Middlebrook, who was gunned down Sunday night in a shooting outside of a convenience store. Lafayette Police Chief Toby Aguillard says when fellow officers arrived, they kneeled in respect then took off in pursuit of the suspect….
cut 6 (09) “….of done”
An LSU study finds the Menhaden, a small silver fish along the Gulf Coast is shrinking as ocean temperatures rise. Professor Eugene Turner says they have reduced in size by about 15-percent over the past 65 years, because there is less oxygen in warmer water…
cut 13 (12) “….warmer temperatures”
Smaller menhaden means less food for birds, whales, dolphins, red fish and bass.