Kaitlin Rust
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Kaitlin Rust joined the Fox 8 News team in November 2020 as a reporter.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Kaitlin is enjoying her trek around the United States.
She's back down in the Bayou State after spending almost three years in Louisville, Kentucky reporting for Fox 8’s sister station WAVE 3.
Kaitlin started her career in Lake Charles after graduating from Rider University with a major in Digital Media and a minor in Political Science.
Obsessed with animals and music, Kaitlin can often be found spending time with her rabbit and two dogs or out dancing at a show.
She's excited to be in New Orleans and would love to tell your stories!
Feel free to email her with any ideas or just to say hello.
Updated: Nov. 20, 2022 at 4:30 PM CST
|By Ken Daley, Kaitlin Rust and Andrew McMunn
The dog's owners said they had only spent a short time in New Orleans when their vehicle and dog were stolen.
Updated: Oct. 30, 2022 at 6:28 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
His estranged wife told deputies the man threatened to burn their house down and kill himself, authorities said
Updated: Oct. 11, 2022 at 11:06 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
A combination of soaring insurance premiums and rising interest rates is forcing some prospective homebuyers out of the market
Updated: Sep. 21, 2022 at 10:38 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Many Louisiana homeowners are nervously watching the Tropics, still trying to navigate the state’s insurance crisis and unable to afford their coverage.
Updated: Sep. 6, 2022 at 11:11 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Rodney Verdin's shrimp boat -- La Belle Idee -- has been stranded in a Golden Meadow marsh since Hurricane Ida washed it about 10 feet above the waterline in August 2021.
Updated: Aug. 26, 2022 at 6:24 AM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust and Gray News staff
Damage from Hurricane Ida pushed the long-neglected building to the edge of collapse
Updated: Aug. 15, 2022 at 7:50 PM CDT
|By Olivia Vidal and Kaitlin Rust
A three-day insurrection by barricaded inmates complaining of 'inhumane' treatment was the latest example of unrest inside the Orleans Parish jail, where two inmates have died in the first 100 days of Sheriff Susan Hutson's tenure.
Updated: Aug. 1, 2022 at 9:47 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Entergy has cited rising fuel costs, a nuclear plant shutdown and high demand in the face of record heat for the higher bills.
Updated: Jul. 27, 2022 at 10:44 AM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Three of four dogs abducted when a couple's truck was stolen last week in Gentilly Woods have been recovered, but one is still missing.
Updated: Jul. 20, 2022 at 10:15 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Entergy bills are strangling customers’ wallets across the state. An Avondale family finds it particularly egregious because their power has been disconnected from their home since Ida.
Updated: Jul. 1, 2022 at 5:59 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust and Jordan Gartner
Police are investigating a deadly shooting in New Orleans that took the life of a National Guard member.
Updated: Jun. 17, 2022 at 6:44 AM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
The court raises an initially low bond for a Slidell man accused of shooting two North Shore teens in the head after raping one and leaving them for dead in New Orleans.
Updated: Jun. 10, 2022 at 10:21 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
There have been at least 11 murders in just the past five days across New Orleans. We’re now up to at least 135 homicides this year as police start 12-hour shifts to try to fight back.
Updated: Jun. 8, 2022 at 4:10 PM CDT
|By Jesse Brooks, Kaitlin Rust and FOX 8 Staff
Four people were wounded when gunfire broke out at a high school’s graduation on Southeastern Louisiana University’s campus Thurs., May 19.
Updated: May. 31, 2022 at 6:42 PM CDT
|By Jesse Brooks, Kaitlin Rust and Andrew McMunn
The body of a man that went missing after a boat capsized at a Louisiana lake on Memorial Day has been recovered and identified according to authorities.
Updated: May. 25, 2022 at 10:59 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Louisiana leads the entire nation in mass shootings per capita according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Updated: May. 11, 2022 at 1:36 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Louisiana Right to Life, along with some other prominent religious organizations, says they will not support House Bill 813 that is heading to the House floor this Thursday.
Updated: May. 5, 2022 at 7:15 PM CDT
|By Jesse Brooks and Kaitlin Rust
Police say that the suspect took the victim around 8 a.m. in the area of North Oak Street and West Dakota Street and the incident was reported to campus police at 10:52 a.m.
Updated: May. 3, 2022 at 10:38 PM CDT
|By Jesse Brooks, Kaitlin Rust and FOX 8 Staff
The Natchez Steamboat has sustained fire damage.
Updated: Mar. 18, 2022 at 10:26 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Arts and sciences converge in New Orleans East thanks to the Mackie brothers, both spearheading their own multi-million dollar projects near Read Boulevard.
Updated: Feb. 1, 2022 at 1:34 PM CST
|By Kaitlin Rust and Gray News staff
It’s an eye-opener for some neighbors, but for many, this has been a fear for a while.
Updated: Jan. 19, 2022 at 10:41 PM CST
|By Kaitlin Rust
Hours after the coroner confirmed that the remains of a woman found in a freezer in a bus in the Upper 9th Ward last week belonged to Julia Dardar, friends and family gathered to remember her life.
Updated: Dec. 2, 2021 at 8:53 AM CST
|By Jesse Brooks, Kaitlin Rust and Gray News staff
The victim, Jonshel Alexander, 22, was around 11 years old when she was cast in Benh Zeitlin’s low-budget yet visually stunning full-length motion picture filmed in Montegut and areas around Terrebonne Parish.
Updated: Jul. 22, 2021 at 10:34 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Ochsner, the largest health system in the state, says it will soon make it mandatory for all of its employees to have their COVID shots.
Updated: Jul. 16, 2021 at 7:47 AM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust and Gray News staff
An Uber driver was robbed at gunpoint by his own passenger Monday night next to Pontchartrain Park, and it briefly cost the driver his job.
Updated: Jul. 9, 2021 at 10:51 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
A 13-year-old girl has been reunited with her parents after being rescued from an alleged sex-trafficking situation in Terrytown. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office alleges the young girl was forced to have sex more than 10 times, arranged online by a Texas man and woman.
Updated: Jun. 21, 2021 at 9:33 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
A suspect has been arrested and charged with murder in Russia following the death of an American student and New Orleans native, Catherine Serou.
Updated: Apr. 29, 2021 at 10:29 PM CDT
|By WAFB Staff, FOX 8 Staff and Kaitlin Rust
Officials the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has confirmed the state’s first two identified cases of the SARS-CoV-2 virus known as the Brazil P.1 variant.
Updated: Feb. 2, 2021 at 10:30 PM CST
|By Kaitlin Rust
There’s been little federal help for an industry that spans from musicians to technicians.
Updated: Jan. 25, 2021 at 5:02 AM CST
|By Kaitlin Rust
In response to this third COVID-19 surge and the threat of variants sending us into another spike, the state health department launched a new app Friday that can anonymously detect if you’ve been exposed to COVID.
Updated: Jan. 13, 2021 at 11:27 PM CST
|By Kaitlin Rust
After the historic move to impeach the President for the second time in the House, it’s still unclear exactly what will happen in the Senate.
Updated: Feb. 25, 2019 at 3:26 AM CST
|By Kaitlin Rust
Kristina Larkin was only about 10 minutes into her 19th birthday celebration with her family when she heard a commotion near the host stand. Now, she said those next few terrifying moments have been playing on a loop in her head.
Updated: May. 23, 2018 at 5:50 AM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
A high school senior at Vinton received over $1 million in scholarship money.
Updated: May. 21, 2018 at 6:16 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
You just can't stop Justify. The fan favorite edges closer to glory, but there's something you may not know about this young stunner. One of his owners found her love for racing right here in SWLA. DeRidder native, Laurie Wolf is a co-managing partner with Starlight Racing, one of the four companies to own a part of the horse. Wolf says she never doubted Justify, who broke "Apollo's Curse" and becoming the first two year-old to win the derby in over 100 years....
Updated: May. 16, 2018 at 7:06 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Here we go again... This time, the internet isn't fighting over a dress that may or may not be blue and black. A strange audio clip has taken over making people question their hearing. It's the newest debate sweeping the internet, whether you hear Yanny or Laurel in this clip. What do you hear?! Yanny or Laurel pic.twitter.com/jvHhCbMc8I — Cloe Feldman (@CloeCouture) May 15, 2018 What do you hear? Audiologist and owner of Hearing Solutions of Louisiana...
Updated: May. 10, 2018 at 5:56 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Lake Charles has seen growth, but over the past year, you may have noticed a few notable restaurants and small businesses closing. Why is this the case if our economy is said to be thriving? "It's not a big town but you have to stay relevant," said Brett Stutes the owner of Sloppy Taco and Sloppy's Downtown. Stutes has had some success here in Lake Charles over the past 3 years, becoming a major player in the local food scene and with a new venture on the...
Updated: May. 9, 2018 at 3:10 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
The Louisiana Department of Health will begin mailing notices May 10 to nearly 37,000 Medicaid patients to inform them that their eligibility could end on July 1. These notices will include instructions on how the recipients can apply for re-determination for other Medicaid programs. In a press conference Wednesday, Jay Dardenne, commissioner of the Division of Administration, and Dr. Rebekah Gee, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health discus...
Updated: May. 8, 2018 at 5:34 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Over 30,000 elderly nursing home residents in Louisiana may be evicted due to proposed budget cuts to Medicaid. The Louisiana Department of Health says it's beginning the process of notifying nursing home residents who may lose their Medicaid eligibility and the effects of this could impact more than just the residents evicted. Massive cuts to the Department of Health proposed in the house's plan... "People tell us to cut the budget, cut the budget," said Repr...
Updated: May. 7, 2018 at 6:02 AM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Those who have ever rescued or adopted an animal know how much joy they can bring to your life, and vice versa. However, older animals tend to get overlooked. Julie Strong is a wife, mother of three humans (with one on the way) and a shining light for animals in need. 17 dogs, some handicapped bunnies, a 165 pound mini pig, a bunch of cats, there's nothing Strong doesn't take on. That's where Rita comes in. Fostering with the Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue, Strong w...
Updated: May. 2, 2018 at 8:28 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
A hit and run Saturday morning left a Lake Charles salon picking up the pieces, for the second time. Signatures Salon Manager, Noel Mills, describes what happened early Saturday morning. "I was boarding a flight to New York at about 5 a.m.Saturday morning and my phone just kept going off from a phone number I didn't recognize, so I finally answered it," said Mills. "I was literally sitting in my airplane seat and it was Lake Charles Police Department." LCPD...
Updated: May. 1, 2018 at 7:29 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Take a trip down Shell Beach Drive and you'll see signs lining the road, asking people to vote no on a restaurant. A historic home at 1301 Shell Beach Drive has been up for sale for $2.6 million dollars. "My vision is to keep the house in tact and save it from being demolished or being used for other commercial venues and the property can be used as a subdivision easily here in Lake Charles," said Mazen Hijazi owner of Mazen's in Lake Charles. Hijazi is planning...
Updated: Apr. 30, 2018 at 5:51 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Pictures on Facebook are sparking new concerns with the West Fork Bridge, better known as the Moss Bluff Draw Bridge on Highway 378. Driving over the draw bridge, everything seems normal, but people in the area say you have to go underneath to see what everyone's worried about. "We have a lot of dump trucks and 18 wheelers that pass, with all the construction that's going on and the Sasol projects, there's a good bit of traffic," said one Moss Bluff resi...
Updated: Apr. 25, 2018 at 8:32 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Louisiana's senators have agreed to allow the state's riverboat casinos to move on land. The Senate voted 22-14 Tuesday for the proposal by Sen. Ronnie Johns, a Lake Charles Republican. The measure would allow Louisiana's 15 riverboat casinos to conduct gambling activities within 1,200 feet on land from where the riverboat is berthed and remove the requirement the riverboats have an operable paddlewheel. It also would redefine the limits on gambling space.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2018 at 6:18 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
It's no secret we need a new I-10 bridge. Right now, there is work being done to strengthen the bridge to handle an a future increase in traffic, diverted from the re-decking of the I-210 bridge. The bridge already normally sees 90,000 vehicles cross a day. I-10 is an important corridor to the nation for interstate commerce and travel. There are a lot of scenarios like this all over the country and federal funding for infrastructure has been cut significantly.&nbs
Updated: Apr. 17, 2018 at 3:32 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
The man accused of killing a 10-year-old boy on Shattuck Street was pleads not guilty. The grand jury indicted Felton Thompson, 50 on October 5, 2017 for one count of first-degree murder. Administrative First Assistant District Attorney, Loren M. Lampert says, "his arraignment was delayed in order to allow the Indigent Defense Board to appoint capital certified defense counsel. Both the State and defense filed pre-trial discovery motions. A status co...
Updated: Apr. 16, 2018 at 7:05 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
A local teen is trying to earn his Eagle Scout rank by going where not many Boy Scouts have gone before, to the pound. This is Joel Bailey, a 17 year old Boy Scout, eager to do something great. This is Greg Menkins, the only animal control officer for Beauregard Parish, who's mission could use a little help. "It's seven days a week, whether I'm here or on Facebook trying to network getting dogs out, constantly making new contacts with rescues," said M...
Updated: Apr. 16, 2018 at 6:46 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Close friends of the cyclist hit and killed last week on Highway 90 in Sulphur spoke with 7News today. 34 year old J.J. Brooks was riding his bike at night, and was struck from behind. State police say its preliminary investigation revealed the driver was not at fault and the cyclist was violating state law. Brooks' friends disagree. "Me and my fiancé, Crystal, he called us 'mom and dad'," said Michael Trahan. "It's really taki...
Updated: Apr. 11, 2018 at 5:18 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy stood out during yesterday's testimony of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for grilling the billionaire on privacy and propaganda concerns. Mark Zuckerberg faced hours in the hot seat and Senator John Kennedy laid into the CEO. "I was mildly disappointed in the hearing because, I hope I'm wrong on this, I felt like we weren't connecting with Mr. Zuckerberg," said Kennedy. "He was well rehearsed. He's obviously whip smart, and he did ack...
Updated: Apr. 9, 2018 at 8:15 PM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
You may notice traffic on I-10 running a bit smoother, but with the westbound side of the interstate seeing some work, it won't stay that way. All 4 lanes are open on the bridge and on the eastbound side of the interstate, but now the westbound side is beginning to see some closures. Luckily they haven't reached the bridge quite yet. I-10 westbound is reduced to one lane from exit 33 to 31. Commuters, like Cade Marcantel, are used to getting stuck in traffic on the bridge and...
Updated: Apr. 4, 2018 at 10:20 AM CDT
|By Kaitlin Rust
An off-duty Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Deputy is hospitalized and suffering serious injuries, after being struck on his motorcycle by a car. Deputy Parker Vaughan has a lot of surgeries in the coming weeks that will require a lot of blood. Today, there will be a blood drive that's open to the public for Deputy Vaughan from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sheriff's Office, located at 4900 Broad Street. Stop by and donate! If you can't make it today, you ...
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