There’s good news for travelers who regularly take I-10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says they will soon begin the process of widening the interstate, and construction should begin in January. He says both lanes will remain open during roadwork…:
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Wilson says a $60 million federal grant will pay for the repaving and widening of I-10.

A 5 year old child has died in Jefferson Parish after he was accidentally shot in the face by his 9 year old brother. Col. John Fortunato says the two boys were playing in a closet when they came across a handgun…:
CUT 4 (07) “younger child”
He says the mother was with a neighbor at the time. No arrests have been made at this time.

Today marks the 4 year anniversary of the Assumption Parish sinkhole in Bayou Corne. John Boudreaux is the Emergency Preparedness Director at Assumption Parish. He says this is one of those situations that you never think could happen to you, but a reminder about why it’s so important to always been prepared for anything…:
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He says most of the people have moved on, but about 15 residents remain in the area.

An employee has been arrested in Thibodaux for allegedly stealing money from her register at work in order to pay for braces and her education. Thibodaux Police spokesperson David Melancon says 20-year-old Tralvaunta Bentley pocketed a lot of money in just over two weeks…:
cut 15 (07) “her till”
Bentley was charged with felony theft and released on a $3500 bond.

Construction will soon begin on I-10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Louisiana has received $400-thousand from the Centers for Disease Control to fight the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health says it will be used to educate both OBGYNs and at-risk pregnant women about the virus, and help them learn about what medical action needs to be taken if a woman gets Zika…:
cut 12 (08) “on it”

Today marks the 4 year anniversary of the Assumption Parish sinkhole in Bayou Corne, and leaders say many residents have moved on — but there are some who don’t want to let go. John Boudreaux is the Emergency Preparedness Director at Assumption Parish. He says this has been an unprecedented event…:

CUT 9 (07) “of the area”
Boudreaux says most residents are pleased with their settlements from Texas Brine and have established their lives elsewhere, but there are still about 15 who remain in the area.

The National NAACP President submitted to Attorney General Loretta Lynch a list of recommendations for action to address issues between police/community relations. The focus is on re-entry and law enforcement training programs.

The Department of Transportation announces they will soon begin the process of widening Interstate 10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson believes widening the road to three lanes in both directions will alleviate congestion…:
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Wilson says a $60 million federal FASTLANE grant will pay for the repaving and widening of I-10.

A 5-year-old has died after being shot accidentally by his 9-year-old brother. Col. John Fortunato with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says police received a call from the children’s mother, 29-year-old Generra Brown, and when first responders arrived at the scene they made a horrific discovery…:
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Fortunato says no charges have been filed at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.

It’s back to school time and as many parents put their kids school supply list together and start loading up on uniforms, the the Louisiana Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers that many of those expenses are tax deductible. The sales tax holiday will also be held Friday and Saturday which gives consumers a break on state sales taxes for most purchases made.

A Louisiana man is fighting to receive survivor benefits after his husband died. Marjorie Esman with the ACLU of Louisiana says William Conley passed away in February of 2015, and his husband Gerald Beem has been trying to get social security benefits ever since….:
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The ACLU is taking legal action, but the Louisiana Family Forum doesn’t seem them winning this case because gay marriages were not recognized in Louisiana at the time of Conley’s death.

With school set to begin very soon, the Louisiana Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers that many back-to-school expenses are tax deductible. Also, all consumers will get a break on state sales taxes for most purchases made on Friday and Saturday.

A Louisiana law requiring eyebrow threaders to get an esthetician’s license is raising eyebrows and a lawsuit from the Institute of Justice. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

A 37-year-old Lafayette woman is dead and her 33-year-old boyfriend has been charged with first-degree murder in her death. Lafayette Police Corporal Paul Mouton says the victim, Sheree Williams, had a protective order against Jonathan Aubrey, but that unfortunately didn’t stop this brutal crime…
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The coroner has determined Williams was strangeled to death.

Shreveport police are trying to determine who broke into and vandalized the office of state representative Barbara Norton. The Democratic lawmaker says several rooms are in disarray and writing that’s difficult to read was left on the door. Norton says her office will be closed until Monday…
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Norton’s office was also broken into last September.

A gay man from Louisiana who was married in California in 2014 is fighting for survivor benefits following the death of his husband. The ACLU of Louisiana says even though gay marriage was not legal here at the time, the unity should still be recognized. But Gene Mills with the Louisiana Family Forum does not agree…:
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William Conley passed away in February of 2015, and his husband Gerald Beem has been trying to get social security benefits ever since.

State Police say alcohol and excessive speed are suspected factors in a Deridder crash that claimed the life of the 18-year-old driver. They say around 12:30 this morning, Angela Vidrine was speeding when she ran off the road and smashed into a tree. Vidrine was not wearing a seat belt and sustained fatal injuries. Three other passengers that were buckled up had minor injuries.

A Lafayette man faces a first-degree murder charge for allegedly strangling his ex-girlfriend to death. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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The office of Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton was vandalized again for the second time in less than a year. She says following the break-in, messages were left throughout the office with the name of someone who works at the courthouse, the word “taxes,” and what appeared to be an address:
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She says the offender also changed the locks at her office for some reason.

A gay Louisiana man is seeking legal action to receive survivor benefits after his husband died. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman says even though gay marriage was not legal in Louisiana when the two men were married in California in 2014, the marriage should still be recognized:
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But the Louisiana Family forum doesn’t see Gerald Beem winning this case.

A Lafayette man is behind bars for allegedly brutally strangling his ex girlfriend to death. Lafayette Police Cpl. Paul Mouton says 37-year-old Sheree Williams was found Monday, and they believe 33-year-old Jonathan Aubrey was at her house the prior day…:
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Williams is charged with first degree murder.

A lawsuit has been filed that seeks to toss a law that requires eyebrow threaders to have an estheticians license. The salon process is the practice of shaping eyebrows using a cotton thread. Institute for Justice attorney Meagan Forbes says not only are eyebrow threaders losing their jobs, but it’s hurting businesses as well…:
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But Louisiana Board of Cosmetology Executive Director Steve Young says health concerns arise with any kind of hair removal and people should also make sure their cosmetologist is licensed….:
CUT 7 (08) “sanitary place”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says a 5-year-old boy was shot and killed in Marrero when his 9-year-old brother found a gun. The gun went off as the two were in a closet and the little boy was pronounced dead on the scene. Apparently the mother was assisting an elderly neighbor at the time. The investigation is ongoing.

The family of East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Tullier, the officer who was shot an injured in an ambush on police in Baton Rouge on July 17th, say their son is still fighting for his life. They say in a Facebook post that Tullier’s extremely critical condition has not changed, but the phenomenal medical staff is doing everything they can for Tullier.

The ACLU of Louisiana is taking legal action in an attempt to get Social Security survivor benefits for a man after his husband died. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Lafayette man has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend. Lafayette Police Cpl. Paul Mouton says investigators have determined 33-year-old Jonathan Aubrey went to the home of 37-year-old Sheree Patin Williams on Sunday and killed her…:
Cut 8 (07) “strangulation”
Aubury was arrested Monday night for Violation of a Protective order. The charges were upgraded to 1st degree murder.

Shreveport police are searching for a suspect who vandalized and broke into the office of State Representative Barbara Norton. Norton says the outside of her office was vandalized last week, then someone broke into it on Sunday. She says the person also changed one of the locks at her office…:
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This is the second time in less than a year that Norton’s office has been broken into.

A Louisiana man is fighting to receive survivor benefits after his husband died. Marjorie Esman with the ACLU of Louisiana says William Conley passed away in February of 2015, and his husband Gerald Beem has been trying to get social security benefits ever since….:
cut 11 (07) “in Louisiana”
The ACLU is taking legal action, but the Louisiana Family Forum doesn’t seem them winning this case because gay marriages were not recognized in Louisiana at the time of Beem’s death.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards and Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson will hold a news conference to highlight a major transportation project set to begin between the I-10/I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Last month the US Department of Transportation awarded a $60 million dollar grant to Louisiana to partially fund the project.

Eyebrow threaders in Louisiana are raising more than their eyebrows over a 2010 law requiring them to have an esthetician’s license. The Institute for Justice has filed a lawsuit to get the law tossed out. Attorney Meagan Forbes says this law forces threaders to spend as much as $13-thousand completing 750 hours of cosmetology training and taking licensing exams. But Forbes says cosmetology schools don’t teach anything about threading:
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But others say threading falls under the cosmetology law and this is only fair and about the public’s safety. A similar licensing law was overturned in Texas last year.