The historic rain event on June 18th may be long gone in Avoyelles Parish, but the painstaking task of recovery is just getting underway. Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says many people in the parish lost everything.

Cut 3 (08) “…just thrown away.”

Baton Rouge officials are partnering with the FBI to recover the remains of missing 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather, which are believed to be in the Baton Rouge North Landfill. Police Chief T.J. Morse says it is an active solid waste landfill covering over 400 acres that receives around 16-hundred tons of waste each day.

Cut 9 (08)  “…half an acre.”

Police believe Minnieweather was beaten to death and picked up on a routine collection route to the landfill. 51-year-old Maurice Parms was arrested and is charged with first-degree murder. 

Julia Letlow rode President Trump’s endorsement all the way to the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate. Letlow was the last to enter the race, only doing so in January after Trump endorsed her. That proved to be the game-changer, as her entry thinned the field, allowing her to easily beat John Fleming and incumbent Bill Cassidy. Letlow says Trump reached out to her after she was projected to be the winner.

Cut 8 (07) “…the Senate side.”

So, what’s next for Fleming? LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow says the 74-year-old will continue working as State Treasurer and will likely seek re-election next year.

Cut 12 (05) “…stature.”

So Julia Letlow moves on to the general election, where her Democratic opponent is Jamie Davis. The Tensas Parish farmer and former police juror easily beat Gary Crockett to gain the Democratic nod.

After reports that the runoff between her and State Treasurer John Fleming could be a nailbiter, Julia Letlow won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate Saturday night by 14 percentage points. Fleming’s campaign strategist, Roy Fletcher, told Talk Louisiana on WRKF, the Letlow campaign spent a lot on advertising in the days leading up to the run-off election…

Cut 13 (09) “…never heard of.”

Letlow is now the favorite to be elected to the U.S. Senate in the November 3 general election versus Democratic nominee Jamie Davis. During the closed party primaries, Letlow geared her messaging towards fellow Republicans. Now that the race has shifted to the general election phase, Letlow says her strategy will remain consistent with the approach she’s had since entering the race in January.

Cut 7 (10) “…earn their vote.”

Baton Rouge officials are planning a massive search of the Baton Rouge North Landfill to find the remains of missing 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather. Police believe Minnieweather was beaten to death and picked up on a routine collection route to the landfill. Fire Chief Michael Kimble says the search will be conducted entirely by hand and compares the process to combing through the wreckage of 9/11.

Cut 11 (11) “…no more.”

Director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Joey Frank says more than 15-hundred households in the parish have reported flood damage in the historic rainfall two weeks ago. As recovery efforts begin, he says 120 displaced residents are staying in hotel rooms or in RVs at the Paragon Casino, with the state picking up the tab.

Cut 4 (10) “…just so sad.”

The closed party primaries are over; and thus, the race for the U.S. Senate moves to the general election phase. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

So, what’s next for John Fleming following the loss? LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow says the 74-year-old will continue working as State Treasurer and will likely seek re-election next year…

Cut 12 (05) “…stature.”

Recovery efforts are underway in Avoyelles Parish following the historic flooding two weeks ago.  Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says they’re winding down the emergency supply distribution centers.

Cut 5 (10) “…and in Dupont.”

Over 15-hundred households in the Parish have reported flood damage. The state urges any homeowners who have not already done so to report damages to damage-dot-la-dot-gov.

The Manning Passing Academy brought some of the top college quarterbacks in the nation to Thibodaux this weekend, including Texas quarterback Arch Manning. Manning will return to his home state November 14 as the Tigers host the Longhorns. The New Orleans native says he’s looking forward to playing in Death Valley.

Cut 18 (08) “…we’re excited.”

It is the first meeting between the schools since 2019.

Investigators are planning a massive search of the Baton Rouge North landfill to recover the remains of a missing 15-year-old. Kace Kieschnick has more on this grim story….

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Forty-nine men and women began training to be a State Police Trooper today. Cadet Class 109 will train for 24 weeks in Baton Rouge in areas such as defensive tactics, advanced firearms and impaired driving detection.

The GOHSEP estimates 15-hundred households in Avoyelles Parish have reported flood damage in their home from the record rainfall event on June 18^th. Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness director Joey Frank says 120 displaced residents are staying in hotel rooms or in RVS at the Paragon Casino, with the state picking up the tab…

Cut 4 (10) “…just so sad”

Those with damage are strongly encouraged to document all of it at damage.la.gov, in order to bolster the state’s quest to secure a federal disaster declaration.

State Treasurer John Fleming did not advance to the general election in the Senate Republican Primary run-off, but his campaign strategist Roy Fletcher says Fleming ran a good campaign, nearly hitting a home run…

Cut 14 (04) “…of people”

Fleming lost by 14-percentage points to Julia Letlow, who will be on the November 3^rd ballot along with Democratic Party Primary winner Jamie Davis.

The rain may be long gone in Avoyelles Parish, but the painstaking task of recovery is just getting underway. Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says many people in the parish lost everything.

Cut 3 (08) “…just thrown away.”

Baton Rouge officials are partnering with the FBI in searching the Baton Rouge North Landfill for the remains of missing 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather. The searchers are wearing fully insulated suits due to the threat of hazardous gases. Fire Chief Michael Kimble says the safety of the men and women conducting the search is a top priority.

Cut 10 (10) “…the search.” 

Police believe Minnieweather was beaten to death and picked up on a routine collection route to the landfill. 

Political analysts say the hard part is over for Julia Letlow. Nearly all of them say Letlow is all but certain to beat Jamie Davis and be elected to the U.S. Senate. But after beating John Fleming Saturday night, Letlow says she’s not taking anything for granted.

Cut 6 (11) “…House of Representatives.”

Davis easily won the Democratic Party nomination, receiving 80-percent of the vote to defeat Gary Crockett. The Tensas Parish crop farmer and former police juror says his grassroots campaign is just getting started.

Cut 14 (13) “…ground up.”  (woo-hoo) 

Davis and Letlow will square off November 3rd, vying for the seat currently held by Bill Cassidy, who failed to make the GOP runoff in his re-election bid.

Governor Landry vetoed 78 projects from three budget bills, slashing more than 12-million dollars from the state’s budget in the process. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says many of these projects are added on to the budget with no public discussion…

Cut 26 (09) “…statewide holistic basis.”

LSU Health Shreveport Associate Professor Dr. Cory Coehoorn (KOO-horn) received a grant of over 200-thousand dollars to research heat-related illness in high school athletes, which he says is a major problem, especially in the south, and with the padding football players wear

Cut 5 (11) “…gear prevents that.”

Coehoorn says they want to develop a cost-effective wearable system that can provide real-time heat-risk alerts to coaches and trainers.

Republican and Democratic voters have nominated their candidates for U.S. Senate. Andrew Greenstein is at Julia Letlow’s watch party with details.

Cut 3 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Letlow’s supporters are excited about her big win on Saturday night…

Cut 16 (15) “…for her.”

U-S Representative Julia Letlow won the Republican primary in the U-S Senate race on Saturday, taking 57 percent of the vote to defeat State Treasurer John Fleming.  Letlow who has served in the U-S House since 2021 is now one step closer to replacing outgoing Senator Bill Cassidy…

Cut 11 (15) “…all of you.”    (cheering)

There was a belief Fleming had the momentum heading into Saturday’s election, but LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says Fleming could not overcome President Trump’s endorsement of the Congresswoman…

Cut 12 (10) “…begin with”

Letlow’s main challenger in the November general election will be Tensas Parish farmer Jamie Davis who won the Democratic Party Primary by a landslide over Gary Crockett.

Baton Rouge officials are partnering with the FBI to recover the remains of missing 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather, believed to be in the Baton Rouge North Landfill. Police Chief T.J. Morse says it is an active solid waste landfill covering over 400 acres…

Cut 9 (08)  “…half an acre.”

Authorities have charged 51-year-old Maurice Parms with first-degree murder in connection with Minniweather’s death. Police say Parms beat Minniweather to death during a confrontation. Minnieweather was last seen June 5^th.

LSU Health Shreveport Associate Professor Dr. Cory Coehoorn (KOO-horn) received a grant of over 200-thousand dollars to research heat-related illness in high school athletes. The study will work with around 100 football players. Coehoorn says the goal is to use A-I and machine learning to predict internal temperatures.

Cut 4 (13) “…it even starts.”

It’s Julia Letlow and Jamie Davis in the general election for U.S. Senate. Letlow defeated John Fleming, garnering 57-percent of the vote. Letlow addressed her ecstatic supporters after the race was called Saturday night.

Cut 10 (12) “..win this thing.”   (cheering) 

Jamie Davis had an easier time, winning a whopping 80-percent of the vote among Democrats, compared to just 20-percent for Gary Crockett. In his victory speech, Davis says Letlow has voted for policies that have made it harder on Louisiana families.

Cut 15 (15) “…as for a promotion.”

Overall turnout was just over 15-percent.

Governor Landry vetoed 78 projects from three budget bills, totalling more than 12-million dollars. Landry offered no explanation for these vetoes. Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council says if Landry issued these vetoes strictly for political retaliation, he would by no means be the first governor to take this approach.

Cut 9 (13)  “…political party affiliation.”

A Louisiana professor receives a grant of more than 200-thousand dollars to research heat-related illness in high school athletes. LSU Health Shreveport Associate Professor Dr. Cory Coehoorn (KOO-horn) says while early morning and late evening practices that avoid the highest temperatures can certainly help, it’s merely a blanket solution, and that every athlete reacts to heat differently.

Cut 6 (09) “…a detrimental state.”