Several Shreveport-Bossier neighborhoods are dealing with low or no water pressure and Natchitoches Mayor Ronny Williams Junior has declared a state of emergency in an effort to get residents to conserve water.

Still waiting for more information from Jefferson Parish authorities on Saturday’s shooting at a gun range that resulted in three fatalities and two people injured.

Teachers can get the COVID-19 vaccine starting today. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Pregnant women are also among the 475-thousand people who become eligible today for the COVID-19 vaccine. But there are expectant mothers who question whether the vaccine is safe? West Jefferson Medical Center OB/GYN Dr. Jennifer Bigelow says talk to your personal physician first, but she recommends it.
Cut 4 (08)“…vaccine.”
COVID vaccine clinical trials for pregnant women are currently underway to gather more data.

One lawmaker is hoping to change the state motto in the upcoming legislative session. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson wants “We Live and Die for Those We Love,” to be the new state proverb.
Cut 13 (10) “…the seal.”
The current state motto is “Union, Justice and Confidence.”

The winter weather has left, but northwest Louisana is still dealing with water issues. Shreveport officials expect water to be fully restored by tomorrow. Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams Junior has declared a water emergency.

In Jefferson Parish, we are waiting for more details on what happened at the Jefferson Gun Outlet in Metairie on Saturday where three people were fatally shot and two others injured. Investigators say a 27-year-old man got into an argument with staff which led to a shootout.

New C-D-C data finds Louisiana saw the largest increase in drug overdose deaths from July 2019 to July 2020. About 17-hundred people died during that time span, a 53-percent increase from the year before. Jefferson Parish coroner Doctor Gerry Cvitanovich says a lot has been done to fight the addiction epidemic domestically, but the potent drugs are still pouring in from Mexico and China…
cut 12 (07) “…people” (2x)

Nearly half a million additional Louisianans are eligible for the COVID vaccine starting today and that includes K-through- 12 teachers. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says this will go a long way towards getting education back to some sense of normalcy.
Cut 7 (07) “…open.”

Pregnant women are also eligible to be vaccinated, but some wonder is it safe to do so?
cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Temperatures will get into the 40s in north Louisiana today, which should melt away most of the ice from the slick roads, bridges, and overpasses. Meanwhile, gas prices are on the rise and some areas are reporting fuel shortages because deliveries have been delayed. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman…
cut 5 (10) “…get it delivered”

During an interview with a Washington Post columnist, Governor John Bel Edwards said it was unfortunate the Lafayette City Council voted against a local mask mandate and said the vote shows a failure of leadership. Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory responded by saying the governor has failed to enforce the state’s mask mandate.

The state reported 34 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday, but the number of hospitalized COVID patients has fallen to 806.

Additional 475-thousand Louisiana residents will be eligible to get vaccinated against the coronavirus on Monday. Brooke Thorington has more from Governor Bel Edwards…
voicer 1 (29) “…Brooke Thorington”

As Brooke said, K-through-12 educators are eligible for the vaccine starting on Monday. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says this will go a long way towards getting education back to some sense of normalcy….
cut 7 (07) “…open”
Residents can call 2-1-1 for a vaccine provider near them.

With temperatures dropping below freezing this morning, roads remain very slick in areas where snow and ice are still on the ground. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says it will take several hours of temperatures above the freezing mark before the highways are free of ice. Wilson also defends the state’s response in trying to keep the roads open. He says they had 14-hundred workers, primarily in north Louisiana before the storm arrived, salting and brining major roads
Cut 13 (06)“…in that”

There are many Louisiana residents upset with their power company too as a result of the lengthy outages and rolling blackouts. Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says they will investigate how utility companies handled the winter storms…
cut 11 (09) “…same mistakes”

The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline increased another three-cents overnight to $2.30. The price at the pump has just jumped nearly ten-cents in the last week and Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says this is the type of spike we typically see during hurricane season…
cut 3 (10) “….screeching halt”
Redman says gas prices may increase by another 10-to-15 cents in the coming days.

On Monday, another 475-thousand Louisianans will become eligible for the COVID vaccine. Edwards says the winter storms caused delays in vaccine deliveries and administering doses, so he’s urging those looking to be vaccinated to be patient.
Cut 8 (07) “…not.”
For a list of participating vaccine providers go to CovidVaccine.LA.Gov or call 211.

The Public Service Commission is planning to investigate just how the power situation went so wrong across much of the state this week. Matt Doyle has more.
cut 2 (29) …I’m Matt Doyle”

Cleco reports this morning that about eight thousand of its customers remain without power. Most of those outages are in Rapides and Avoyelles Parishes. Entergy Louisiana is reporting 18-thousand outages. And there’s a freezing fog advisory in effect this morning for all of north Louisiana and as far south as Vernon parish.

State Police and the state department of transportation are warning motorists of black ice this morning in areas of the state where snow and ice are still on the ground. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says DOTD has used three and a half million pounds of salt and thousands of gallons of brine in an effort to keep the interstates from becoming too slippery…
cut 14 (13) “…in trouble”
Wilson says the snow and ice should melt away later today as temperatures will get into the low to mid-40s in north Louisiana.

The statewide average for a gallon of gasoline has jumped up to $2.30 and Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says motorists can expect prices at the pump to keep going up….
cut 4 (10) “…month ago”

Nearly half a million more Louisianans will be eligible to get vaccinated starting Monday, that includes K-12 teachers and those 55 and older with certain health conditions. Governor Edwards says this decision was made after the state was told we’re getting a big bump in our vaccine allocation.

Cut 7 (09) “…group”

Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says once the winter weather has passed the PSC will investigate what went wrong and why power providers had such poor communication with customers. Greene says companies’ failure to give customers a heads up when they would be subject to a rolling blackout needs to be addressed. He says there must be a better system in place.  

Cut 10 (12) “…out” 

It won’t be until Saturday afternoon before the highways are free of ice in north Louisiana. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they had 14-hundred workers, primarily in north Louisiana before the storm arrived, salting and brining major roads
Cut 13 (06)“…in that”

With oil refineries shutting down due to the recent winter weather across the south, gas prices have risen almost 3 cents overnight to 2.28 a gallon for regular gas.  Triple-A Fuel Analyst Don Redman says prices were already on the rise before the storms and the weather only made things worse.  Redman believes that gas prices will continue to increase.

Cut 4 (10) “…a month ago.” 

K-12 teachers and those 55 and older with certain medical conditions will be added to the list of eligable vaccine receipients Monday. That’s nearly a half million more eligable state residents but Governor Edwards thinks we have the supply now to start opening things up…
Cut 6 (14) “…this week.”
Over a half million Louisianans have been vaccinated so far.
AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman warns Louisianans to fill up their gas tanks now because we could be experiencing low gas supply due to the winter storms.
Cut 5 (10) “…get it delivered”
He says those storms are resulting in increase fuel costs for drivers. A gallon of regular is up to 2.28 a gallon for a statewide average. That’s a three cent overnight jump and a fifteen cent jump month to month.
__________________
roads across north Louisiana are still impassable and State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they likely won’t be clear to drive on until the sun comes out and temperatures rise Saturday afternoon.
Cut 12 (12) “ …in the morning”
Wilson says DOTD also used three and a half million pounds of salt and thousands of gallons of brine in an effort to keep interstates from becoming too slippery.
Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says once the winter weather has passed the PSC will investigate what went wrong. Greene says we just didn’t have the emergency capacity to keep everyone’s lights on during this historic week of winter weather.
Cut 9 (12) “…affordability”

On Monday another 475-thousand will be prioritized for the COVID vaccine in Louisiana. Edwards says with the winter storms causing delays in vaccine deliveries and administering doses, he’s urging those looking to be vaccinated to be patient.

Cut 8 (07) “…not.”

For a list of participating vaccine providers go to CovidVaccine.LA.Gov or call 211.

It won’t be until Saturday afternoon before the highways are free of ice in north Louisiana. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says DOTD used three and a half million pounds of salt and thousands of gallons of brine in an effort to keep interstates from becoming too slippery.

Cut 14 (13) “…in trouble”

The Public Service Commission is planning to investigate just how the power situation went so wrong across much of the state this week. Matt Doyle has more. 

cut 2 (29) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

State Police are investigating an officer involved shooting in which Washington Parish Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man who confronted them with two large knives in Mount Hermon Thursday. Deputies were there to investigate a report of domestic violence when 28-year-old Dustin Crain reportedly confronted them with knives. The sheriff’s office is investigating the domestic violence while state police investigate the shooting.

Nearly half a million more Louisianans will be eligible to get vaccinated starting Monday, that includes K-12 teachers and those 55 and older with certain health conditions. Governor Edwards says this decision was made after the state was told we’re getting a big bump in our vaccine allocation.

Cut 7 (09) “…group”

540,000 Louisianans have now received atleast one dose of their two dose vaccine series.

The winter weather is driving up the price of a gallon of regular in Louisiana, now up to 2.28 on average. Triple-A Fuel Analyst Don Redman says we’re up three cents over yesterday and 15 cents on the month, the kinds of spikes you ususally only see around hurricanes.

Cut 3 (10) “…screeching halt”

Redman also warns the winter conditions could delay gas shipments, so tank up while you can.
______________________________________________________
Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says once the winter weather has passed the PSC will investigate what went wrong and why power providers had such poor communication with customers. Greene says they won’t have immediate answers to what went wrong, but they will conduct a thorough investigation.

Cut 11 (09) “…mistakes.”

Governor Edwards has requested everyone limit energy consumption from 7PM to 10 PM tonight and 7 AM to 9 AM tomorrow to help reduce the need for rolling blackouts.

It will be until Saturday afternoon before the highways are free of ice in north Louisiana. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they had 14-hundred workers, primarily in north Louisiana before the storm arrived, salting and brining major roads
Cut 13 (06)“…in that”

With oil refineries shutting down due to the recent winter weather across the south, gas prices have risen almost 3 cents overnight to 2.28 a gallon for regular gas.  Triple-A Fuel Analyst Don Redman says prices were already on the rise before the storms and the weather only made things worse.  Redman believes that gas prices will continue to increase.

Cut 4 (10) “…a month ago.” 

It won’t be until Saturday afternoon before the highways are free of ice in north Louisiana. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says some melting will occur today, but they expect re-freezing tonight as temperatures fall into the teens.

Cut 12 (12) “ …in the morning” 

Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says once the winter weather has passed the PSC will investigate what went wrong and why power providers had such poor communication with customers. Greene says companies’ failure to give customers a heads up when they would be subject to a rolling blackout needs to be addressed. He says there must be a better system in place.  

Cut 10 (12) “…out” 

On Monday COVID vaccine eligibility will increase by another 475-thousand. The historic winter storms delayed COVID vaccine shipments across the state. But Governor Edwards says with an increase in weekly allocations he’s comfortable in allowing more to be vaccinated.

Cut 6 (14) “…this week.”