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.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation says a major step forward in constructing a new I-10 Lake Charles Bridge has been completed. DOTD says the two-point-three billion dollar project has officially reached a financial close and the contractor, Calcasieu Bridge Partners can begin work. Construction could begin later this year and take seven years to complete.

Some of Louisiana’s educators will be evaluated under a new system this school year: It’s called LEADS. Mel Bridges has more.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming is encouraging state lawmakers to approve legislation next year to phase out of the state’s personal income tax. This tax provides the state with five-billion dollars to pay for higher education, public safety, health care and other programs. But Fleming says the state spends too much on things that do not help the state’s economy…
cut 9 (12) “…and voters”
Lawmakers will hold a fiscal regular session next year, so legislators can vote on proposed tax changes.

An eleven-year-old from Long Island, New York will attend online classes at LSU this fall, majoring in sports leadership. Joe Petraro has an IQ of 168 and it only took him two years to graduate middle and high school. Joe got a jump start on his college career, by taking a couple of online class this summer…
cut 5 (10) “…but it was awesome”
Joe says he decided to attend LSU because of its sports teams.

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 4 (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 state department of education is rolling out a new teacher evaluation system. It’s called LEADS which stands for Louisiana’s Educator Advancement and Development System. Deputy Superintendent of Education Jenna Chiasson (sha-son) says LEADS will provide educators with a highly customized approach to coaching…
cut 15 (10) “…what could be improved”
Chiasson says struggling teachers will receive immediate instructional support.

A ten-month old child is hospitalized after being left in a hot car for about an hour and a half on Tuesday. Jennings Police say the mother told detectives she was called in to work and inadvertently left the toddler in the car while she was inside. At last report the child was in critical condition.

40-year-old Ahmed Gaber of Pineville is facing charges after allegedly selling THC infused products and other vape products to juevenilles 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 education is rolling out a new teacher evaluation system called LEADS. Deputy Superintendent of Education Doctor Jenna Chiasson says it rewards effective teachers with fewer observations. In fact, teachers with at least three years of experience who score highly on their first observation can opt out of remaining observations that school year.
Cut 14 (09) “…rewarded.”
Chiasson says the LEADS evaluation system will also provide better feedback for improvement and resources to support individual growth.

Rapides Parish sheriff deputies have arrested a Pineville man for allegedly selling THC and other vape products to juvenile customers at the Pineville Smoke Shop. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tommy Carnline says they can’t have this going on in their community…
cut 12 (12) “…this type of stuff”
40-year-old Ahmed Gaber of Pineville was arrested on allegations he’s distributed THC greater than two and a half pounds.

Add State Treasurer John Fleming’s name to the list of politicians who would like to see Louisiana lawmakers pass legislation to phase out the state’s personal income tax.
Cut 8 (09) “…business-friendly state.”
State lawmakers will take a hard look at tax reform proposals during next year’s fiscal session.

An eleven-year-old from Long Island New York will take online classes at LSU this after graduating middle and high school in two years. Joe Petraro has an IQ of 168, despite having Tourette’s Syndrome. Joe says he chose LSU because of its sports teams and he’s majoring in sports management…
cut 6 (11) “…..and inclusion”
To read more about Joe’s story, go to Louisiana Radio Network-dot-com.

The Louisiana Department of Education is rolling out a new way to evaluate teachers. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jenna Chiasson (sha-son) says it’s called Louisiana’s Educator Advancement and Development System, or LEADS…
Cut 13 (09) “…one-time event.”
Chiasson says LEADS will promote the recruitment and retention of effective teachers and struggling teachers will receive immediate instructional support.

Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming wants lawmakers to pass legislation next year that would rid the state of its personal income tax. Fleming believes this major tax reform would attract more businesses and residents to the state….
cut 7 (10) “….Texas or Tennessee”
Expect lawmakers to look at ways next year to lower the state’s income tax and balance that by eliminating certain sales tax exemptions.

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.”

LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell and linebacker Harold Perkins have both been named to ESPN’s All-American preseason team.
Ragin Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux has yet to make any decisions on who will be the starting quarterback for the season opener against Grambling. It’s a tight battle between Chandler Fields and Ben Woolridge.