After being hit by a vessel early Thursday morning DOTD says the Grosse Tete bridge in Iberville will be closed for a significant amount of time. The drawbridge on La Highway 77, is closed to both vehicular and marine traffic. The bridge has a daily average use of up to 1,500 vehicles.

Lake Charles remains the Youth Sports Capital of Louisiana after they secured hosting rights with LHSAA for an additional two years.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

Lawmakers have repealed a law to put cameras on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux says when monies are collected from speeding fines issued by law enforcement, they help fund things like the Indigent Defense Board and Crimestoppers. When a speed camera issues a fine those monies aren’t distributed to other agencies…

Cut 5 (11)  “… goes on.”

Today is “Secure Your Load for Road Safety Day.” Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says it’s important for motorists to properly secure items to prevent them from becoming potentially lethal traffic hazards. And before you hitch that boat to your vehicle, secure loose objects.

Cut 10 (08) “…or death.”

Lawmakers have repealed a bill to put speed cameras on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. In 2022 St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux responded by putting more deputies on the bridge who wrote 7,000 tickets and reduced crashes by 25-percent. He says speeding is not the main cause of crashes its motorists driving slower in the left lane, distracted drivers…

Cut 4 (10) “…on the bridge.” 

Today is “Secure Your Load for Road Safety Day.” Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says not doing so can turn them into  traffic hazards.

Cut 9 (10) “…their loads.” 

And he reminds you to secure items in your boat before you tow them on the roadways.

Lake Charles has secured hosting rights for Boys Basketball, swimming, softball and baseball championships for an additional two years and solidified southwest Louisiana as the premiere high school sports destination of the state. Erick Zartler at Visit Lake Charles says it’s a huge economic impact to the region.

Cut 8 (05)  “…hotels full.” 

Over the course of the year around 45 to 50 thousand people head to Lake Charles for high school championship events

There’s been talk about building a new 400-million-dollar arena on the LSU campus. But where will it go? The Advocate is reporting based on emails they’ve obtained through a public records request, the LSU golf course next to Alex Box Stadium is the location that’s looked at the most. The Tiger Athletic Foundation is looking to partner with a private developer to build the arena.

Two East Baton Parish deputies were shot, and a suspect was shot and killed when authorities were conducting a “knock and announce” search warrant in an ongoing narcotics investigation this morning. One of the deputies was transported to Our Lady of the Lake hospital and is reported in serious but stable condition. Another deputy was shot but the bullet struck his bullet proof vest, and he was not injured. The name of the male suspect killed in the incident that occurred near Hollywood Street and North Foster Drive has not been released.

A bill to repeal a law that would have put speed cameras on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is welcome news to St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux.  In 2022 when lawmakers were discussing the option of speed cameras to reduce speeding and prevent crashes, he responded by…

Cut 3 (07) “…by 25-percent.” 

Lake Charles has secured hosting rights for boys basketball, swimming, softball and baseball high school championships for an additional two years and the 2025 state high school baseball tournament will have a new format as the top three divisions in select and non-select will move to a best out of three championship series. Senior Vice President of Sports at Visit Lake Charles Erick Zartler

Cut 7 (12) “…Lake Charles.”  

Today is “Secure Your Load for Road Safety Day.” Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says it’s important for motorists to properly secure items to prevent them from becoming traffic hazards. Objects as common as two-by-four pieces of wood or a suitcase can create a lethal problem on the road. And Fischer says you might not think a suitcase can do a lot of damage if falls from your car while you’re driving on the interstate, but…

Cut 11 (11) ” …on impact.”

A 2022 law to put speed cameras on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge to prevent crashes was repealed by the legislature this session. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Today is “Secure Your Load for Road Safety Day.” Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says it’s important for motorists to properly secure items to prevent them from becoming potentially lethal traffic hazards. And before you hitch that boat to your vehicle, secure loose objects.

Cut 10 (08) “…or death.”

Lake Charles has secured hosting rights for Boys Basketball, swimming, softball and baseball championships for an additional two years and Visit Lake Charles says it solidifies southwest Louisiana as the premiere high school sports destination of the state. Senior Vice President of Sports at Visit Lake Charles Erick Zartler says he couldn’t be happier…

Cut 6  (07) “…staple here. ” 

Kenny Wayne Shepard says he has a great opportunity for an aspiring Louisiana band.

The Kenny Wayne Shepard band is looking for a band from Louisiana to open for them when they perform at the Raising Canes River Center in Baton Rouge on July 13^th.  They will be holding a Battle of the Bands at the Texas Club in Baton Rouge on June 21 and they are taking submissions now. Shepard says just about any band that does a great show will fit the bill and they are not limiting the search to blues and rock bands.

Cut 14 (07)  “…our crowd.”

Two East Baton Parish deputies were injured, and a suspect was killed when authorities tried to search for drugs this morning. The EBR coroner is on the scene in north Baton Rouge near the intersection of Hollywood Street and North Foster Drive. One of the deputies was struck by gunfire but their condition is unknown.  DEA is also reportedly on the scene.

Lake Charles will remain the Youth Sports Capital of Louisiana for next two years. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Sean Richardson.” 

Lawmakers have repealed a law to put cameras on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux says when monies collected from speeding fines issued by law enforcement they help fund things like the Indigent Defense Board and Crimestoppers. When a speed camera issues a fine those monies aren’t distributed to other agencies…

Cut 5 (11)  “… goes on.”

Governor Jeff Landry has declared today as “Secure Your Load for Road Safety Day.” Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says it’s important for motorists to properly secure items to prevent them from becoming traffic hazards.

Cut 9 (10) “…their loads.” 

Objects as common as two-by-four pieces of wood or a suitcase can create a lethal problem on the road

A bill passed in the most recent legislative session repeals a law that would have put speed cameras on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. When the issue was raised in 2022 St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux responded by putting more deputies on the bridge who wrote 7,000 tickets and reduced crashes by 25-percent. He says speeding is not the main cause of crashes it’s motorists driving slower in the left lane, distracted drivers…

Cut 4 (10) “…on the bridge.” 

He says cameras can’t detect human or drug trafficking.

DOTD has closed the Grosse Tete Bridge after it was damaged around 5:30 this morning by a vessel on the Port Allen Lock. An estimated 15-hundred cars use drawbridge, located on Highway 77 in Iberville Parish daily. The cause of the accident remains under investigation and no injuries have been reported.

It was 80 years ago today when more than 156,000 Allied ground troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, a turning point in WWII, what’s referred to as D-Day. Of the 2,500 Americans who were killed, 33 were from Louisiana. Colonel Jerome Buller with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs says this anniversary is notable because…

Cut 24 (10) “…operation.”

Of the Louisianans killed in action 12 are buried in state, 17 in American cemeteries in France, one in England, and three were never found.

Today is the 80th anniversary of D-Day when more than 156-thousand Allied ground troops stormed the beaches of Normandy….
cut 5 (10) “…be remembered”
That’s Colonel Jerome Buller with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

Awaiting the governor’s signature is a bill that would allow some high school students to opt out of taking the ACT test. Bossier City Representative Dennis Bamburg’s bill would give career-path diploma students the option to take a job skills test or a military readiness test instead. Bamburg says requiring a student who does not plan on attending college to take the ACT is lowering the state’s overall ACT score…
cut 9 (09) “…the ACT”
BESE President Ronnie Morris is urging the governor to veto this bill, because he says the proposed law would weaken school accountability.

Governor Landry has signed a bill to repeal a law that would have put speed cameras on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. It is welcome news to St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux, who has increased patrols on the bridge in 2022 and he says it’s helped reduce speeding and prevented crashes…
Cut 3 (07) “…by 25-percent.”
He says it is better to have a law enforcement presence versus cameras.

The Kenny Wayne Shepard band is performing at the Raising Canes River Center on July 13th in Baton Rouge, and they want a band from Louisiana to open up for them. They plan to hold a Battle of the Bands competition at the Texas Club in Baton Rouge on June 21 and they are taking submissions now. Kenny Wayne Shepard says this is a great opportunity for an aspiring Louisiana band.

Cut 13 (10) “…touring act.”
Go to Eagle981.com for info.