The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries continues its investigation into a fatal boat wreck on the Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish. The incident claimed the life of 41-year-old Terry O’ Keefe Junior of Folsum and his 31-year-old girlfriend Jonie Morgan still has not been found. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says their 14 foot aluminum vessel capsized on Saturday near lock number 3…

cut 3 (07) “went into water”

Einck says there were three children on the boat, who survived because they wore life jackets.

The Louisiana Democratic Party endorses Amite Representative John Bel Edwards as its candidate in Louisiana’s governor’s race. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat thinks this shows that Edwards is the Democrats last, best hope for governor…

cut 6 (10) “where he is”

It is believed that this move will deter other major Democratic candidates from jumping into the race.

Fire officials say a mobile home fire in Caddo Parish has claimed the lives of a husband and wife. They say the fire broke out in the early hours of Monday morning and both 54-year-old Richard Fowler and his wife, 53-year-old Wanda Fowler were pronounced dead at the scene. The state Fire Marshal’s Office has been called in to investigate.

An online petition has been started by an 8th grade student from Buckeye High School in Deville to change the uniform policy in Rapides Parish. School leaders assert the current policy exists so that students can be easily identified on field trips. But 14-year-old Brandon Richardson says he would like to see the policy changed to one more similar to Rapides’ current “out of uniform” day rules…

cut 9 (07) “about what you wear”

The change.org petition states that students should not be told what to wear everyday because they are not able to express themselves.

26-thousand jobs have been added by private employers over the year based on February employment numbers from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The commission’s executive director Curt Eysink credits the job growth to a growing chemical industry in Louisiana…

cut 15 (10) “and New Orleans”

Eysink says this type of growth with the state’s labor force should continue for the next ten years.

Traps will be put out by the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry to track the invasive asian bug called the Emerald Ash Borer. Commissioner Mike Strain says they want to keep this insect from attacking the thousands of Ash trees in the Atchafalaya Basin, the Mississippi River delta and urban areas as well. He says the traps are large, purple sticky boxes that hang from trees…

cut 12 (09) “eradication”

The beetle was discovered recently in Webster Parish and it kills ash trees.

State Police say a single vehicle crash in Franklin Parish has claimed the life of a Delhi woman. Authorities say, for unknown reasons, 52-year-old Teresa Wrather traveled off the roadway, struck a culvert, and her vehicle began to overturn. Wrather, who was unrestrained, was partially ejected. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

An 8th grade student from Buckeye High School in Deville has started an online petition to change the uniform policy in Rapides Parish. Jeff Palermo reports…:

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

The state’s workforce commission says Louisiana set an employment record for the month of February. Scott Carwile has the story…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a boating accident in St. Tammany Parish has left one man dead and a woman missing. They say the boat capsized on the Pearl River. The operator of the boat, 41-year-old Terry O’Keefe, Jr., died in the accident. Crews are continuing to search for 31-year-old Jonie Morgan of Folsom. Morgan’s three children, ages four, six, and eight, who were also on the boat were rescued by a couple of boatmen who witnessed the accident.

New Orleans Representative Walt Leger proposes legislation that would use Gulf oil spill money for possible long-term financing for Louisiana colleges. The state is expected to receive billions of dollars from BP to pay for economic damage caused by the spill. Leger says there is no time table on when the BP issue will be resolved, but is confident that the state will be successful…

cut 6 (06) “investing in our students”

Leger feels a trust fund should be set up for colleges from recovery money received from the 2010 disaster.

14-year-old Brandon Richardson, an 8th grade student from Buckeye High School in Deville has started an online petition to change the uniform policy in Rapides Parish. School leaders assert the current policy exists so that students can be easily identified on field trips. But Richardson feels if everyone looks alike it could cause problems in crisis situations…

cut 8 (07) “at that school”

Currently students are essentially only allowed to wear navy or khaki bottoms and white collared shirts.

New Orleans Representative Walt Leger proposes to use Gulf oil spill money for possible long-term financing for Louisiana colleges. The state is expected to receive billions of dollars from BP to pay for economic damage caused by the spill and legislators have already dedicated the first $1 billion of that money. Leger’s proposal would target money above that. He says his proposal would fund higher education moving forward…

cut 5 (08) “funding in place”

The state Board of Regents have thrown their support behind Leger’s proposal.

Louisiana private employers have added 26-thousand jobs over the year based on February employment numbers, according to he Louisiana Workforce Commission. Executive Director Curt Eysink says says the state’s unemployment rate rose in the second half of 2014 as the state saw a large increase in people looking for jobs…

cut 14 (05) “finding work”

The unemployment rate for February was six-point-seven percent but it’s the second straight month it has declined.

The state department of agriculture and forestry will put out traps to track the invasive asian bug called the Emerald Ash Borer. Commissioner Mike Strain says the beetle, which is difficult to eradicate, is often transported into an area by infested firewood…

cut 11 (07) “you buy it”

The beetle was discovered recently in Webster Parish and it kills ash trees. Strain says the traps will be placed in high risk areas along the interstate, welcome centers and the Mississippi River delta.

An 8th grade student from Buckeye High School in Deville has started an online petition to change the uniform policy in Rapides Parish. Currently they are essentially only allowed to wear navy or khaki bottoms and white collared shirts. 14-year-old Brandon Richardson feels the current dress code is far too restrictive…

cut 7 (05) “still exists”

School leaders assert the current policy exists so that students can be easily identified on field trips.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says Louisiana private employers have added 26-thousand jobs over the year based on February employment numbers. The commission’s executive director Curt Eysink says this type of growth with the state’s labor force should continue…

cut 13 (10) “past ten years”

The unemployment rate for February was six-point-seven percent but it’s the second straight month it has declined.

A proposal to be sponsored by New Orleans Representative Walt Leger would use Gulf oil spill money for possible long-term financing for Louisiana colleges. Leger feels a trust fund should be set up for colleges from recovery money received from the 2010 disaster…

cut 4 (07) “for higher education”

The state is expected to receive billions of dollars from BP to pay for economic damage caused by the spill.

The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry will put traps out to track the invasive asian bug called the Emerald Ash Borer. The beetle was discovered recently in Webster Parish and it kills ash trees. Commissioner Mike Strain says the traps will be placed in high risk areas along the interstate, welcome centers and the Mississippi River delta…

cut 10 (09) “emerald ash borer is”

Strain says the beetle, which is difficult to eradicate, is often transported into an area by infested firewood. He says they want to keep this insect from attacking the thousands of Ash trees in the Atchafalaya Basin, the Mississippi River delta, and urban areas as well.

The state’s workforce commission says Louisiana set an employment record for the month of February. Scott Carwile has the story…
cut 3 (30) “…reporting”

Polls are open in 28 parishes today. For most residents who have an opportunity to vote, they’ll find tax proposals on the ballot. To see a sample ballot for your precinct, go to the Secretary of the State’s website or use their Geaux Vote Mobile app.

State Police say one person was killed and numerous others were injured in a three-vehicle crash in St. Landry Parish last night. The fatal victim has been identified as 55-year-old Harold Richard of Opelousas. Authorities say he was a passenger in a vehicle that attempted to cross both lanes of US 190 to gain access to the entrance ramp to I-49.

Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham, who is also a physician from Richland Parish, used his medical expertise to help a man, who nearly passed out during a flight. Abraham says this is the fourth time, since he launched his Congressional campaign that he’s had to provide medical attention to a person he met in public….
CUT 16 (07) Q: ’20 years’
The young man is a former marine, who was flying back home to Texas.

All smiles in southwest Louisiana, as Sasol has started construction on an eight-point-one billion dollar ethane cracker complex near Westlake. It’s the kind of news that makes Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Nic Hunter very proud…
CUT 13 (11) Q: “coming up”
The project is expected to create an estimated five-thousand construction jobs and the facility should be completed in 2018.

The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for a Rayne man accused of stealing crawfish from a crawfish plant. Spokesperson Maxine Trahan says a dock worker called authorities after witnessing the theft…
CUT 5 (10) “he was driving”
Then, he took off at about 100 miles an hour, and he is still at large. If you have any information, contact the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham, who is a physician in Richland Parish, had to administer medical treatment for a young military veteran on a plane. Abraham says the vet said he was feeling weak and his skin was white as a sheet, so the Congressman rushed to his aid….
cut 15 (08) “….and eath”
Abraham says it’s the fourth time, since he launched his Congressional campaign that he provided medical attention to a person he met in public.

Louisiana residents will enjoy great weather across the state this weekend. Temperatures today will range from the mid-60s to the 70s. Plenty of sunshine, warmer tomorrow as temps will be in the mids 70s to around 80 degrees. The next good chance for rain is Tuesday.

Tough loss for the number one ranked LSU baseball team last night. As the Tigers lost five to four in 12 innings to the Kentucky Wildcats. LSU looks to rebound at 6:30 tonight.

Construction is underway on Sasol’s eight-billion dollar ethane cracker complex in Westlake. Michelle Southern has more….
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

State Police say a three-vehicle crash in St. Landry Parish killed one person and injured several others. The wreck occurred on US 190 near Interstate 49 when a vehicle attempted to cross both lanes of US 190 to gain access to the entrance ramp to I-49. A passenger in that vehicle, 55-year-old Harold Richard of Opelousas was killed. Investigators say alcohol contributed to the crash.

Elections are taking place in 28 parishes today. The polls will be open until eight P-M. Most of the ballots have tax measures on them. You can find sample ballots at the Secretary of State’s website or use the Geaux Vote Mobile smartphone app.

The number one ranked LSU baseball team lost last night as the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Tigers five to four in 12 innings. Closer Jesse Stallings suffered the loss as he gave up two runs in the 12th.

Track star Lolo Jones headlined a five member class that was inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction last night. Celtic Studios Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn was also an enshrinee. He’s originally from Mississippi, but graduated from LSU Grad School in 2000…
CUT 8 (10) Q: ‘done for me’
Former LSU Associate Athletic Director Herb Vincent was also an inductee last night.