Louisiana

TERREBONNE PARISH, La. — Eight people are dead after a helicopter crash in Terrebonne Parish.

Coast Guard officers said that the crash happened at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday near Bayou Penchant, La.

Nine passengers were onboard the helicopter owned by Petroleum Helicopters Inc.

Rescue units from both the Coast Guard and Terrebonne emergency services responded to the scene and began a search.

One passenger has been taken to Chabert Medical Center in Houma, La.

Another passenger was missing for a time but later found deceased, bringing the total number of fatalities to eight.

The cause of the crash in under investigation.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 12:46 PM CST

AMITE — Gov. Bobby Jindal has appointed Russell Conger of Amite to serve on the State Market Commission.

Conger is the president and CEO of First Bank, formerly known as Peoples Bank of Louisiana. He will serve as a representative of the 1st Congressional District.

“I’m looking forward to it because we are certainly dedicated to the improvement of the economy by providing jobs. That’s really what the Market Commission can help do,” Conger said Friday.

The commission is focused on agriculture-related industries and has an appropriation from the state to help underwrite agricultural processing facilities that cannot get complete financing in the private sector.

The commission makes some of the proposals work by providing additional loan funds.

(Read the full post about ‘Jindal appoints Conger to board’…)

NEW ORLEANS — The Archdiocese of New Orleans held a news conference Saturday in response to local churches’ refusals to close.

Archbishop Alfred Hughes held a 10:30 a.m. news conference at the Chancery at 7887 Walmsley Ave. in New Orleans.

The conference was held to discuss the recent closure of Our Lady of Good Counsel’s church building and the end of the former parishioner’s vigil at the church.

WDSU.com will bring you the latest details on the conference as they are released.

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley said on Saturday that a man killed by police early New Year’s Day shot first when an unmarked car full of plainclothes officers pulled up next to his car.

He said he does not know whether 22-year-old Adolph Grimes knew he was shooting at police — or whether Grimes fired more than once.

Riley said the officers were in a group of three women acting as holdup decoys and six men covering them when a shooting was reported at a club in that area. (Read the full post about ‘Police: Man Shot By Cops Shot First At Unmarked Car’…)

NEW ORLEANS — Hundreds of people gathered inside a New Orleans church on Saturday to remember a man whose legacy they said will live on forever.

The Rev. Doctor Marshall Truehill was laid to rest on Saturday, but not before those who loved him had a chance celebrate his life and say goodbye.

Inside the mid-city church, hundreds sand the Christian hymn “Amazing Grace,” while celebrating the life and legacy of a man they said fought tirelessly for truth and justice.

“A giant of a man has fallen in the city of New Orleans,” Vincent Sylvain said. (Read the full post about ‘Rev. Truehill Laid To Rest Saturday’…)

New Orleans, LA — (Sports Network) - Brian Johnson threw for 336 yards and three scores, as seventh-ranked Utah polished off an undefeated season with a 31-17 win over No. 4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Johnson completed 27-of-41 passes for the Utes (13-0), who notched their eighth consecutive bowl win. In that streak is another BCS bowl victory, a 35-7 pounding of Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.

Freddie Brown recorded 12 catches for 125 yards for Utah, which stormed Alabama with a 21-point first quarter and held on for the win to complete its third undefeated season — one in which the Utes won the Mountain West Conference title and rose to sixth in the BCS standings.

Bradon Godfrey, David Reed and Brent Casteel caught a touchdown each for Utah, which not only was sharp offensively, but used a suffocating defense to beat the Crimson Tide. (Read the full post about ‘Utah Captures Win Over Alabama In Sugar Bowl’…)

The New Orleans Fire Department and Harbor Police say two freight trains derailed in Uptown at about 5 a.m. Saturday on the tracks between State Street and Henry Clay Avenue near the river. A few cars on both trains came off the tracks. No injuries have been reported.

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Police Department confirmed Saturday afternoon that missing 2-year-old Ja’ Shawn Powell was found dead.

A media advisory was issued for the boy early Saturday to the New Orleans area media outlets in effort to assist NOPD in the recovery of the child.

His father, 22-year-old Danny Platt, said he was taken from him by armed men at about 11:30 p.m. Friday near the area of Brainard Street and Jackson Avenue. (Read the full post about ‘Police: Father Admits To Killing 2-Year-Old Son’…)

NEW ORLEANS — A popular Poydras Street restaurant is among the low-scoring restaurants in this week’s Restaurant Report Card.

At Mother’s Restaurant, inspectors found flies were present in the establishment. WDSU talked to managers by phone, and they said all violations were corrected immediately.

From there it was on to Captain Sal’s Seafood and Chicken on Louisiana Avenue, where inspectors also found flies. And there were more flies on the premise around the Dumpster site, specifically maggots. (Read the full post about ‘Popular Eatery Scores Low In Restaurant Report’…)

HARVEY, La. — An accident on the Westbank Expressway over the Harvey Canal that shut down two lanes has been cleared.

Harvey Fire Department officials said there were minor injuries, and the two lanes had to be closed while crews work to clear the scene.

The accident involved an 18-wheeler and two other vehicles.

The two lanes over the Harvey Canal have since reopened.

Click here for real-time traffic conditions and to sign up for traffic alerts.