An assault on a law enforcement officer or first responder is now considered a hate crime in Louisiana, under a new mandate in effect as of today. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris…:
CUT 5 (10) “their family”
After the fatal shooting of law enforcement officers in Baton Rouge, there were social media threats made against law enforcement in Caddo and St. Charles parishes. Harris says this law applies to those criminal acts.

There were two separate boating fatalities over the weekend, including one that claimed the life of a 5 year old boy. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries say the child, Ethan Hancock, was frogging with his father when they both went into the Intracoastal Waterway after a barge came up from behind them. Hancock was sucked under the tug boat. 44-year-old Robert Sims hit a piling while on a boat near Grand Isle and suffered serious head trauma and died.

After four confirmed cases of locally transmitted Zika were reported in Florida, state officials in Louisiana say were are ready in case that happens here. Medical Director for Community Preparedness Dr. Frank Welch says people should check their property regularly to make sure there is no standing water where mosquitoes can breed…:
CUT 12 (11) “in Louisiana”

UL-Lafayette professor Dr. Heather Stone is working to archive the history of a disappearing Terrebonne Parish island before it’s gone. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The “Blue Lives Matter” law goes into effect today. Jeff Palermo reports attacks on law enforcement can now be considered a hate crime…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The National Hurricane Center is tracking a strong tropical wave that they say is moving quickly over the east-central Caribbean Sea as of Sunday night. According to forecasters, the showers and thunderstorms associated with the system show signs of organization, and has the potential to become a tropical cyclone.  This wave is being given a 50 percent chance for development in the next 2 days.

Sad story out of LaFourche Parish. The Sheriff’s Office believes a 26-year-old mother, Nakesha Carrere, shot her give year old daughter to death, then turned the gun on herself in an apparent murder suicide…:
CUT 14 (08) “the scene”
That’s LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Brennan Matherne. He says the father is the one who made the devastating discovery.

A Terrebonne Parish island is disappearing, and one UL-Lafayette professor is working to preserve its history before it’s gone. Dr. Heather Stone says Isle de Jean Charles is home to the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe of Native Americans. She says many tribe members have had to leave the island because the road that connects it to the coast floods often…:
CUT 7 (08) “a choice”
Stone says she is passionate about preserving the tribe’s heritage.

A 26-year-old mother and her five-year-old daughter were found shot to death in a residence in Thibodaux. LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Brennan Matherne says investigators believe the mother, Nakesha Carrere shot Abigail Creamer and then turned the gun on herself.:
Cut 13 (07) “enter the residence”
A detailed letter was found inside the home and authorities believe Carrere wrote it.

Louisiana is ready for the possibility of local transmission of the Zika Virus. There are four confirmed cases of Zika in Florida in people who did not travel out of the country or have contact with someone who did. State Health Officer Dr. Frank Welch says Louisiana has been preparing since January…:
Cut 10 (11) “local transmission”
He says the biggest thing the public can do to prevent the spread is to make sure you don’t have standing water in your yard.

The “Blue Lives Matter” law goes into effect today in Louisiana, and Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the mandate is now more important than ever after the attacks on police officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas. Harris says crimes committed against first responders, because of the uniforms they wear, are now classified as hate crimes…:
cut 4 (09) “100 percent”
Those who opposed this measure have said it’s not a good idea to classify hate crimes by occupation and this wouldn’t stand up in court.

Lottery officials say the $487 million dollar Powerball jackpot was hit Saturday night — on a ticket sold in New Hampshire. The lump sum option is worth $330.6 million. It was the eighth largest U.S. lottery jackpot.

One in three students who thought they would receive a voucher to attend a private school are now on a waiting list because the state cut the voucher program by 2.5 million dollars because of Louisiana’s massive budget deficit. President of the Louisiana Federation for Children says this is devastating to these families but she’s hopeful legislators can resolve this issue soon because this is a huge problem.
CUT 8 (09) “through this”

Today’s Powerball jackpot has reached 478 million dollars with a cash value of 330.6 million. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says these jackpots just keep getting bigger and bigger. She says this is Powerball’s 5th largest prize.
cut 14 (08) “2012″

State Police are investigating a two vehicle crash in Folsom that left one man dead. 29-year-old Edward Lemoine Jr of Madisonville, was pulled over by a police officer after driving the wrong way down a one way street. Lemoine initially complied with the officer but then decided the flee the scene. Lemoine crossed into the opposite lane and hit a dump truck head on. He was not restrained and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the dump truck suffered minor injuries.

The biggest event in Grand Isle, the International Tarpon Rodeo is in full swing. Event Spokesperson Heather Martin says there will be live bands playing tonight in addition to fishing. She says every registered fisherman is entered to win a 20 foot boat and huge crowds are drawn in every year…
cut 10 (03) “daily”

The fishing rodeo began in 1928 and is informally referred to as the Mardi Gras of Grand Isle.

Over 400 students who thought they would received a voucher to attend a private school are now on a waiting list. President of the Louisiana Federation for Children Ann Duplessis says these kids could be forced to go to some of the state’s worst schools. She says now siblings could be split up and won’t be attending the same school.
CUT 7 (10) “disruption”

The Louisiana Lottery is calling 2016 the year of the jackpot as today’s Powerball prize is 478 million dollars. Spokesperson Kim Chopin says the cash value of the jackpot is 330.6 million dollars. She says the giant jackpots are happening more after Powerball underwent a matrix change to correspond with the increase in players.
Cut 13 (10) “million”

Two more people have been arrested in connection with a 4-month-old who was found dead of alcohol poisoning in Lake Charles. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A bear at the Baton Rouge Zoo has been diagnosed with cancer after zoo officials noticed a growth in his mouth. Plato, a 22-year-old, spectacled bear has a tumor on his lower jaw. The biopsy results should be available next week and will determine what treatment Plato will undergo. He is one of only 47 spectacled bears in North Americans zoos.

One in three kids who applied for a voucher are now on a waiting list because the program was significantly cut during the legislative session. Michelle Southern has more…
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office discovered a body on Hwy 90 near the Rigolets. Authorities say the body is badly decomposed and appears to be a male around 5 foot 10 with a scar from an open hear surgery but age and race have not been determined. The death has been ruled a homicide and the Sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help with identifying the body.
The father of a 4-month-old baby who was found dead at his Lake Charles home has been arrested, and an additional person has been booked in connection with the incident. The mother, 25-year-old Courtney Moore, was arrested shortly after the warrant was obtained. Police Chief Don Dixon says they were called to investigate a death at an apartment complex two weeks ago.
CUT 3 (07) “face down”

The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating a to vehicle fiery crash on I-110 that left one person dead. The status of anyone else involved in unknown and the interstate was shut down for a few afters following the incident. Authorities says the investigation is on-going.

After three officers have been laid to rest following the attack on police in Baton Rouge, one deputy remains in the hospital in critical condition. Cpl. Nick Tullier was shot in the head and torso. He underwent surgery yesterday to attempt to close an abdominal incision.

Kids are getting ready for the new school year as the summer is wrapping up, but one in three students who expected to receive a voucher to attend a private school are now on a waiting list. President of the Louisiana Federation for Children Ann Duplessis says this isn’t fair or right for the families who need the program. She says more than 400 young people who anticipated being placed in a private school have now been told a week before school starts, they don’t have a spot.
CUT 6 (09) “before school”

Today’s Powerball jackpot has soared to 478 million dollars with a cash value of 330.6 million. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says it doesn’t matter how large the jackpot grows, the odds of winning are always the same…
cut 12 (10) “in 25

Drug arrests in Baton Rouge have significantly dropped since the officer involved shooting of Alton Sterling. Crime analyst Jeff Asher says they saw similar patterns in other cities that had police shootings, like Ferguson, Chicago, and Baltimore.
cut 15 (09) “narcotics arrests”

Asher says the homicide rate also increased during the same time period, which raises the question as to what will happen in Baton Rouge.

The International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is in full swing. Event spokesperson Heather Martin says plenty of fisherman have already started reeling them in, but expects even more people to come out today for the final event.
Cut 11 (09) “out there”

Martin says live bands will be performing tonight.

The new school year is just around the corner, and hundreds of students who attend private schools with vouchers are on a waiting list to receive their vouchers. President of the Louisiana Federation for Children, Ann Duplesiss says we now have situations where siblings are split up and won’t be attending the same school.

Cut 7 (10) “disruption”

Duplesiss says these students could be forced to go to some of the worst schools in the state.

Drug arrests in Baton Rouge are down substantially since the fatal officer-involved shooting of Alton Sterling. Crime analyst Jeff Asher says they saw similar occurrences in other cities that had police shootings, like Ferguson, Chicago, and Baltimore.

cut 15 (09) “narcotics arrests”

Authorities have arrested the father of a 4-month-old who was found dead in a Lake Charles home and another person has been books in connection with the incident. Police Chief Don Dixon says 40-year-old Larry Champ and 25-year-old Courtney Moore each face charges of 2nd Degree Murder. Dixon says disturbing toxicology results came back from the child’s autopsy.
CUT 4 (06) “alcohol content”

23-year-old Danielle Allen was booked with Accessory after the fact.

Grand Isle’s biggest event of the year, the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, is underway. The massive fishing festival draws thousands of people every year. Event spokesperson, Heather Martin says on the first day of the 88^th annual rodeo, a man from Houma caught a 167 pound fish that took him 45 minutes to reel in.

CUT 9 (03) “pretty big”

The fishing rodeo began in 1928 and is informally referred to as the Mardi Gras of Grand Isle.