Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has announced his retirement from the NFL and many are saying thank you to number nine for the 15 years he gave to New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards released a video message shortly after Brees announced his playing days are over

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Brees will stay close to football by working as an NFL analyst for NBC. 

New Orleans-based Brass Band the Nightcrawlers took home the GRAMMY for Best Regional Roots Album last night for their 2020 hit Atmosphere. The Nightcrawlers have been around for 25 years and saxophonist Jason Mingledorff says the tight-knit family never imaged one day they’d be here…

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The Nightcrawlers only play a few live shows a year as the band is a collective of actively gigging musicians.

As we enter spring and more people are being vaccinated, they are also taking to the roads, and prices at the pump continue to increase. Brooke Thorington has more.

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Speaking of vaccinations the state is set to receive another 112,000 vaccine doses this week and the criteria for being vaccine eligible has fallen significantly. Some estimate as much as three-quarters of the state’s population now qualifies under new guidelines allowing anyone 16 and older with co-morbidities like smoking, being overweight, or having asthma.

Drew Brees is hanging up his cleats as the future hall of famer announces he’s retiring after 20 seasons. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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In a statement from Brees, the former quarterback says he’s only retiring from football, not New Orleans. This is not goodbye but rather, a new beginning and now his real life’s work begins. Brees announced this morning that he will be going to work for NBC Sports as a football analyst.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins is among a group of Republican U-S House members who are in Texas today to assess the increase of unauthorized crossing attempts from Mexico. Higgins says what was a manageable situation during the Trump administration has turned into a crisis
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Gas prices have returned to pre-pandemic levels and continue to increase at the pumps. According to Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan it is usually the summer months when gas prices typically increase, and it looks like they could reach the $3-mark nationally but living in the Bayou State does have its perks.

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According to Gas Buddy-dot-com, the statewide average for regular gasoline is $2.54, a 60-cent increase since the beginning of the year

You knew the Drew Brees retirement announcement was coming you just didn’t know when. The 42-year-old decided to make the announcement on the 15-year anniversary of him signing with the Black and Gold. During that 15 year run, Brees set numerous NFL records and led the Saints to their only Super Bowl victory. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says to think it almost never happened…
cut 15 (10) “…ever play”
Brees says he’s not retiring from New Orleans and now his real life’s work begins.

Gas prices continue to increase at the pumps. According to Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan demand for gasoline has reached its highest point since the pandemic started….
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DeHaan says the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.58.

As of last week, the state reported 470-thousand Louisiana residents have completed the COVID-19 vaccine series. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says more people have been vaccinated than reported cases of COVID, which is 437-thousand…
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The state is receiving 112-thousand coronavirus vaccines this week, including 52-hundred doses of the Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccine.

After approving a massive COVID-19 relief package last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she’ll push Congress to pass a fiscally sound infrastructure and job package. But Republican Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says what’s happening on the U-S Mexico border also has to be addressed…
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Higgins is among a group of Republican lawmakers in Texas today to assess the situation at the Southern border.

On the 15-year anniversary of the Saints signing Drew Brees as a free agent, the future Hall of Fame quarterback announced his retirement from professional football on Sunday, ending a stellar 20-year career. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Brees helped turned a losing franchise into a Super Bowl champion
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Brees played 20 seasons and setting 13 NFL records.

Gas prices continue to inch higher as the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.56, up eight cents from last week. Gas-buddy Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says U-S production of crude oil is far below what it was a year ago and…
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Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins is in Texas today, part of a House Republican delegation assessing the situation at the U-S Mexico border where the number of migrant children detained has reportedly tripled. Cassidy says illegal drug trafficking is also on the rise since President Joe Biden took office…
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Democrats says the rise of unaccompanied children arriving at the U-S-Mexico border is the result of the policies of former President Donald Trump.

The state is receiving 112-thousand coronavirus vaccines this week, including 52-hundred doses of the Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccine. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter…
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It’s the end of a great era for Saints fans, as their beloved quarterback, Drew Brees, has announced his retirement at 42-years-old. During 15 seasons in New Orleans, Brees led the Saints to nine playoff appearances, seven division titles, including the last four, and a Super Bowl Championship in 2010. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Brees’ relationship with Coach Sean Payton helped produce a winning atmosphere…
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Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins is among a group of Republican U-S House members who are in Texas today to assess the increase of unauthorized crossing attempts from Mexico. Higgins says what was a manageable situation during the Trump administration has turned into a crisis
Cut 10 (10) “…illegal crossings” (2x)

As COVID hospitalizations continue to decline in Louisiana and vaccinations on the rise, state health officials are hopeful the pandemic is making a positive turn. Brooke Thorington has more…
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Louisiana’s public schools are set to receive two-point-six billion dollars from the COVID-19 relief bill approved by Congress last week. State education leaders are still trying to figure out how to spend the one-point-two billion dollars it received in December from another federal aid package.

You knew the Drew Brees retirement announcement was coming you just didn’t know when. The 42-year-old decided to make the announcement on the 15-year anniversary of him signing with the Black and Gold. During that 15 year run, Brees set numerous NFL records and led the Saints to their only Super Bowl victory. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says to think it almost never happened…
cut 15 (10) “…ever play”
Brees might also go down as the greatest free-agent signing in NFL history considering everything he did for the Saints franchise and the New Orleans area.

The number of COVID patients in the hospital fell again yesterday to 457. State health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says it’s an encouraging sign…
cut 7 (11) “…working”

As we enter spring and more people are being vaccinated, they are also taking to the roads, and prices at the pump are on the rise. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

According to Gas Buddy-dot-com, the statewide average for regular gasoline is $2.54, a 60-cent increase since the beginning of the year.

Governor Edwards declares tomorrow a Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Louisianans who died from COVID-19 as Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the state’s first confirmed coronavirus-related death. Over nine-thousand flags have been placed on the front lawn of the State Capitol. Communications director for the governor’s office, Shauna Sanford says each flag represents a Louisiana life lost due to COVID-19.
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The COVID-19 death toll in Louisiana has reached 9,861.

The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital is below 500 for the first time since the early days of the pandemic. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the continuing decline in hospitalizations is proof that vaccines work.
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LSU is facing calls for additional punishments for those involved in the mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. Don Molino has more…
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The LSU Tigers won their first SEC Tournament basketball game since 2016 last night by beating Ole Miss 76-73. Trendon Watford led the way with 24 points. The Tigers face Arkansas in the semi-finals at around 2:30. And If Nicholls beats Abilene Christian tonight, the Colonels will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tourney.

The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office has identified the 77-year-old caretaker that authorities say was killed by her special needs client. 77-year-old Barbara Bridges of Harvey was found dead in a Terrytown home yesterday morning. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says the special needs woman is non-verbal and he believes a fight led to Bridges’ death…
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The suspect is being held in the psychiatric ward at University Medical Center in New Orleans.

It was eight days ago today the Husch Blackwell report came out, which detailed how LSU has mishandled sexual misconduct cases. LSU interim president Thomas Galligan says they are implementing the report’s 18 recommendations, which includes beefing up the Title Nine Office…
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Today is the last day for early voting as two special Congressional elections need to be decided. In the predominantly New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District, JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon predicts a runoff between Democratic state lawmakers Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson, or social justice advocate Gary Chambers or possibly…
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There’s also the fifth district congressional race. Election day is next Saturday.

There were two more boating fatalities in the past couple of weeks bringing the total to seven before we hit the spring and summer boating season. At this time last year, the state reported only two boating fatalities. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Lieutenant Dean Aucoin says boaters need to be aware of their surroundings.
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Aucoin is also asking boaters to please wear a life jacket.

Early voting for the March 20th election for two Louisiana congressional seats in the 2nd and 5th districts ends today. Taylor Sharp has a look at how the races are shaping up…
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President Biden wants COVID vaccine eligibility expanded to all adults by May. A spokesperson for Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s possible Louisiana will exceed that goal as long as the state continues to get the number of doses promised by the federal government.

LSU heard a lot of criticism this week from sexual assault victims, students, and state lawmakers that the Husch Blackwell report didn’t lead to firings within the athletic department for its mishandling sexual abuse cases. LSU interim President Thomas Galligan suspended two high-ranking athletic department officials and will continue to listen to what others have to say…
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Galligan says LSU is working to implement the 18 recommendations found in the Husch Blackwell report.

The state department of wildlife and fisheries says seven people have died this year in boating fatalities. At this time last year, there were only two. Lieutenant Dean Aucoin is asking boaters to wear a life jacket…
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LSU is facing calls for additional punishments for those involved in the mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. Don Molino has more…

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On Friday, the state department of health reported COVID hospitalizations under 500. Another milestone for a week that is the one-year anniversary of the first reported case and death from the pandemic in Louisiana. More people in the state have now completed their vaccinations than the number of reported positive cases in the state since the pandemic began.

Early voting ends Saturday for the two special congressional races for the second and fifth districts. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says the second district race is likely headed to a run-off, but the fifth district could be won outright when the election is held on March 20th. He says Republican Julia Letlow is the favorite…

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Early voting will end Saturday at 6 PM.

The weather looks great for boating this weekend. Lieutenant Dean Aucoin, with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Department, says before going on the water, make sure your safety equipment is in good shape…
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There is a marginal risk for severe weather in northeast Louisiana on Sunday.