A tragic story out of Jennings: a 10-month-old baby girl has died after being left in a hot car Tuesday. According to Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes (Simms), the mother says she left her child in the hot car for an hour and a half by accident, and took the baby to the hospital as soon as she realized.

cut 10 (11) “…we all are.”

DOTD has completed financing for the new Calcasieu River Bridge project. The project to replace the current I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, which is over 70 years old, has been discussed for years, and project manager Paul Vaught says a joint committee voted against it as late as last October. However, Vaught says Governor Landry’s administration is keen on the project…

cut 14 (11) “…that were made.”

Construction is expected to start early 2026 and finish by 2031.

 
26-year-old Trystan McMillon of Hammond was arrested on charges of second-degree murder after allegedly selling fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose. Jay Platt, father of the victim, 27-year-old Nicholas Platt, says he hopes this leads to more related arrests and spares other families from losing loved ones.

cut 5 (10) “…thank you.”

Todd Graves, founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, donated 100 thousand dollars to fund a 3D-printed artificial reef off the coast of Grand Isle. The donation supports the efforts of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana, and LDWF Secretary Madison Sheahan says this is a huge opportunity to show what a public-private partnership can do in the state…

cut 7 (08) “…anglers across the state.”

A 10-month-old baby girl has died after being left in a hot car for an hour and a half Tuesday in Jennings. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes (Simms) says the girl’s mother was called into work and accidentally left the child in the car. Temperatures were in the mid-90s with heat indexes over 105 degrees. Semmes says it’s a miracle hospital workers were able to establish a pulse on the baby, though she ended up passing away Wednesday night.

Cut 11 (11) ” …one hundred and twenty.”

According to Kids and Car Safety, the ten-month old from Jennings is the 23rd child who has died this year after being left in a hot car. It’s the second one in Louisiana. An infant died in East Baton Rouge Parish last month after the parent “forgot” the child was in the car and was at work.

Kids and Car Safety say since 1995 at least 46 children have died in hot cars in Louisiana, making Louisiana the sixth worst state in the country when it comes to child hot car deaths.

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers founder Todd Graves donated $100,000 to fund the creation of a 3D-printed artificial reef off the coast near Grand Isle. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (29) …I’m Sean Richardson.”

DOTD has made a major step forward in the new Calcasieu River Bridge Project. Project Manager Paul Vaught says they’ve officially reached a financial close, or the developer has sold the bonds needed to complete financing. He says the developer will start final designs immediately…

Cut 13 (09)  “…to complete.”

A sad story out of Jennings: a 10-month-old baby girl has died after being left in a hot car on Tuesday. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Mel Bridges.” 

This is the second Louisiana Baby and the 23^rd in the nation to die this year after being left in a hot car.

A Louisiana state trooper charged in the death of Ronald Green has been allowed to retire, WAFB in BATON ROUGE is reporting Kory York who has been on suspension since January 12, 2023 was allowed to retire effective August 11, 2024. And according to their sources Louisiana State Police said York was waiting to retire until he hit 20 years with the state. Greene was killed in May of 2019. Months later leaked body camera footage showed Greene pleading for his life as he was beaten an dragged by his ankle shackels.

York’s trial is scheduled for October.

26-year-old Trystan McMillon, of Hammond, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder after allegedly selling fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose. Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron reported that McMillon sold the potent synthetic opioid to 27-year-old Nicholas Platt who later died from an overdose.

Cut 3 (11) “…everything we can to stop that”

The Fentanyl Overdose Response (FOR) Team has seized 8 pounds of fentanyl since January as the deadly drug has contributed to a surge in overdose deaths in Louisiana.

Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, donated $100,000 to fund the creation of a 3D-printed artificial reef off the coast of Grand Isle. The reef will replace an old, decommissioned oil platform, contributing to marine conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.

Cut 6 (08) “…for the community.”

The donation supports the efforts of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of Louisiana, which is collaborating with researchers and environmentalists to design and deploy the artificial reef.

The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement has arrested a Pineville man for allegedly selling THC products to kids. 40-year-old Ahmed Gaber (gah-bear) of Pineville was booked in the Rapides Parish Detention Center for distribution of a stage-one classified drug above 2.5 pounds and released the same day on a ten-thousand-dollar bond. Tommy Carnline with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office says vapes in schools are a big problem…

Cut 12 (12) “…this type of stuff.”

A 10-month-old baby girl has died after being left in a hot car Tuesday in Jennings. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes (Simms) says the girl’s mother was unexpectedly called into work at a local restaurant and accidentally left the child in the car during her hour-and-a-half-long shift.

Cut 9 (12) “…emergency room.”

Temperatures were in the mid-90s across Acadiana on Tuesday, with heat indexes over 105 degrees.

This school year, some of Louisiana’s educators will be evaluated under a new system. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jenna Chiasson (sha-son) says the old system lacked a comprehensive rubric or ongoing support, so they developed Louisiana’s Educator Advancement and Development System, or LEADS…

Cut 13 (09)  “…one-time event.”

LEADS will be fully implemented for the 2025-26 school year, this year will be treated as a learning year.

Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, donated $100,000 to fund the creation of a 3D-printed artificial reef off the coast of Grand Isle. The reef will replace an old, decommissioned oil platform, contributing to marine conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. Graves expressed his commitment to preserving Louisiana’s natural resources with plans to build four more artificial reefs in the Gulf.

Cut 8 (07)  “…great fishing again.”

11-year-old Joe Petraro from Long Island, New York, will take online classes at LSU this fall as a sports leadership major. Joe, who has Tourette’s, graduated high school this year after speeding through middle and high school in two years. He says his Tourette’s and intelligence used to be at odds, but now he’s using them to his advantage.
Cut 29 (11) “…and it helps.”
Joe has an IQ of 168. He’s built a friendship with former LSU basketball star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who also has Tourettes.

The owner of Raising Canes, Todd Graves is putting 100-thousand dollars towards the construction of a Artificial Coral reef near Grand Isle. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan says the new reef is called Cajun Coral, uses a highly flexible type of Three-D printed concrete…
cut 7 (08) “…across the state”

Twenty-six-year-old Trystan McMillion is in the Tangipahoa Parish prison on second-degree murder charges in the overdose death of 27-year Nicholas Platte, who was found dead in a Hammond home last January. Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron says fentanyl killed McMillion and those who sell drugs that leads to death will face charges, including murder…
cut 4 ((05) “…community”
Platt was a son, husband and father.

40-year-old Ahmed Gaber of Pineville is facing charges after allegedly selling THC infused products and other vape products to juveniles at the Pineville Smoke Shop. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tommy Carnline says Gaber was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center for distribution of THC greater than 2.5 pounds…
cut 11 (10) “…juveniles”
Gaber has been released on a ten-thousand dollar bond.

The state Department of Transportation announced today that construction will likely begin this year on a new two-point-three billion dollar I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. That’s because DOTD and the contractor, Calcasieu Bridge Partners have reached a financial close which allows work on the project to begin. Tolls will help pay for construction.

Joe Petraro is taking online classes at LSU as a sports leadership major. He’s also an 11-year-old with Tourette Syndrome. Mel Bridges has this incredible story.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

The Hammond Police Department is charging 26-year-old Trystan McMillon with second-degree murder in the fentanyl overdose death of 27-year-old Nicholas Platt. Platt’s father, Jay Platt, says he hopes this will lead to more fentanyl-related arrests and spare other families from losing a child or other loved ones.
Cut 5 (11) “…Thank You .”
McMillon was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail.

Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, donated $100,000 to fund the creation of a 3D-printed artificial reef off the coast of Grand Isle. The reef will replace an old, decommissioned oil platform, contributing to marine conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.
Cut 6 (08) “…for the community.”
Graves says he plans to donate more dollars to build four other artificial reefs off the coast of Louisiana.

Louisiana Treasurer Dr. John Fleming has called for the elimination of the state’s personal income tax, arguing it is time for Louisiana to adopt a more competitive tax structure.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Entergy Louisiana customers will see an increase in their bills. Public Service Commissioner Davanta Lewis says customers can expect about a four-dollar a month increase. He says the rate increase could have been higher, but a settlement was reached over allegations that Entergy bilked ratepayers and mismanaged a nuclear power plant in Mississippi.

26-year-old Trystan McMillon, from Hammond, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder after allegedly selling fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose. Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron reported that McMillon sold the potent synthetic opioid to 27-year-old Nicholas Platt who later died from an overdose.
Cut 3 (11) “…everything we can to stop that”

Rapides Parish sheriff deputies have arrested a Pineville man for allegedly selling THC products to kids. R-P-S-O spokesperson Tommy Carnline says the illegal activity took place at the Pineville Smoke Shop, run by 40-year-old Ahmed Gaber (gah-bear)…
Cut 10 (12) “…THC-infused products.”
Carnline says the THC infused items include vape liquids, gummies and other illegal edibles.