Governor Jeff Landry says the Biden Administration is not enforcing the immigration laws and he wants to send Louisiana National Guard troops to help secure the southern border. Landry claims open borders allow drugs and human trafficking to flow into our communities and it’s putting Texas, Louisiana and every other state at risk…

Cut 10 (10) “…this country”

Landry says when in trouble, Texas has always opened their arms to Louisiana, it’s time the Bayou State returns the favor.

Tax time is here, and CPA Kevin Willis says standard deduction has gone up and if use your vehicle for work and can deduct your milage there’s welcome news…

Cut 13 (08)  “…ever remember”

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund believes a map with two majority-Black districts will be used for the fall election. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A man and woman were fatally shot in the front yard of their home following the Krewe of Hercules parade in Houma on Friday. Terrebonne Parish authorities says the shooting happened before midnight in the 300 block of Willowdale Drive. The age and identities of the victims were not immediately available. The investigation is ongoing.

Governor Jeff Landry wants to send Louisiana National Guard troops to Texas to help with southern border security. Landry made the statement following a visit to Eagle Pass, Texas and receiving a briefing from Texas public safety officials…

Cut 9 (11) “…protect our citizens”

Landry claims the Biden Administration is not enforcing the immigration laws on the books and it’s resulting in illegal crossings and an increase in drugs and human trafficking into the United States.

Louisiana’s new Department of Transportation Secretary Joe Donahue says the state faces a $19 billion backlog due to the state’s gasoline tax and an increase in infrastructure projects.

Cut 8 (13) “…was assessed.” 

Last year, DOTD received $210 million, the largest amount on record, in federal highway funding and hopes to secure more funding this year.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has implemented a change to help parishes and local governments receive an extra ten percent of eligible reimbursement from their agency and going forward 90-percent versus 80-percent. Director Jacques Thibodeaux says the change will also speed up an estimated 500 requests.

Cut 10 (10) “…dollar count.”

Thibodeaux says the policy change is retroactive and it is welcome news for those that incurred large expenditures from Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans believes the redrawn congressional map giving the state a second majority-black district or a previous map will be used for the fall election. He says the previous map reflected the re-districting principles of compactness and communities of interests together.

Cut 6 (12) “…the road.”

Louisiana’s road and bridge repair backlog has reached 19-billion dollars. DOTD secretary Joe Donahue says the state’s gasoline tax of 20-cents for every gallon has not been able to keep up with inflation and the growing number of transportation projects. Donahue says the Landry administration will do its best to reduce the backlog…
cut 9 (13) “…most impact”

Louisiana’s new congressional map that has two majority Black districts is facing a legal challenge from 12 plaintiffs described as non African-American voters. The lawsuit says the map is racially gerrymandered. But NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans is confident the map signed by Governor Landry will be the one used this fall…
cut 5 (13) “….Black District”

In Louisiana, filing taxes typically comes after Mardi Gras and that’s right around the corner so Colleen Crain looks at filing those 2023 returns.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Louisiana’s Lainey Wilson won Best Country Album at the 2024 Grammy’s. That’s the first Grammy for the Franklin Parish native…
cut 28 (11) “…of a lifetime”

The congressional map approved by lawmakers in the last special session is facing lititagation over claims it was racially gerrymandered. But Brooke Thorington reports the NAACP Legal Defense Fund believes a map with two majority Black districts will be used for the fall election…
cut 1 (32) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

Governor Landry was in Eagle Pass, Texas yesterday with about a dozen other governors to get a first hand look at what’s happening at the Southern Border. Landry says he would like to send Louisiana National Guard Troops to the southern border to help with the migrant crisis.

The backlog of road and bridge projects in Louisiana has grown to 19 billion dollars according to new Department of Transportation Secretary Joe Donahue. The state’s gasoline of tax of 20-cents a gallon is not keeping up with inflation and the growing number of projects that need to be completed. Donahue says staff wil look at ways to dedicate more dollars to transportation projects….
cut 7 (10) “….that backlog”

It’s tax filing season, and if you are a parent you maybe eligible for the child tax credit. CPA Kevin Willis…
cut 14 (07) “….is refundable”
On Friday, The U-S House approved a child tax credit expansion. The legislation would raise the amount of the credit available as a tax refund, increasing it to 18-hundred dollars for 2023 tax returns. But the proposal still needs Senate approval.

The backlog of road and bridge projects in Louisiana has grown to 19-billion dollars. Teiko Foxx has more….
cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

Governor Jeff Landry wants to send Louisiana National Guard troops to the southern border to help Texas keep drugs and human trafficking from flowing into the United States. Landry says when in trouble, Texas has always opened their arms to Louisiana, it’s time the Bayou State returns the favor.

With the most recent congressional map containing two majority-Black districts facing litigation from 12 plaintiffs, who identify as non-Black voters, NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans believes it or a previous map they endorsed in Fall 2021 will be used for the 2024 election. He says the Secretary of State wants a map in place by the end of May.
Cut 4 (09) “…for 2024.”
The plaintiffs challenging the map approved in the recent legislative session call it an unconstitutional gerrymander.

You can start filing your 2023 tax returns. Kevin Willis of Taylor and Willis CPAs in Metairie and Slidell says if you hire a tax prepare, be sure to vet them carefully…
cut 15 (08) “…advantage of you”
You can check CPA credentials on the Louisiana CPA Board’s website.

If you’re getting ready to head out, be sure to get out your rain gear and be aware that Mardi Gras Parade times have been either moved or canceled today due to the threat of heavy rain this weekend. Slidell National Weather Service Meteorologist Danielle Manning says rain chances are filtering into the southeast this morning.

Cut 3 (13) “…for Sunday.”  
Before you leave the house to catch some beads you’ll want to check to see if your intended parade time has been changed.

A shooting incident left one person injured in a McDonald’s parking lot in Mandeville last night. Police there say they responded to shots fired around 9:30 last night where they found the victim who has been shot. So far there’s no word on the condition of the victim. Authorities are urging anyone with information on the shooting to come forward.

———————————

Louisiana’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway now through February 13^th in an effort to save lives. During the 2022 Mardi Gras holiday, 11 people were killed and 120 people were hurt in crashes that involved a driver who had been drinking, according to the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Greg Fischer says Mardi Gras is one of the deadliest times to be on the roads and alcohol impairment isn’t the only problem.

Cut 10 (09) “…all distractions.”
Time to start thinking about filing your taxes. CPA Kevin Willis says while there are no major changes this year, the standard deduction has gone up and if use your vehicle for work, kept track or your milage, and can deduct your milage, there’s welcome news…

Cut 13 (08)  “…ever remember”

Louisiana’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway now through February 13^th in an effort to save lives. And while most of the attention is on New Orleans, there were no accidents reported in the Crescent City last year. But there were fatal accidents in Acadia, Ascension, Caddo, East Baton Rouge, St. Charles, Tangipahoa, and Webster Parishes during carnival season in 2022. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson GregFischer says there’s a responsible way to celebrate safely. He says make plans for a sober driver.

Cut 11 (13) “…just wait.”

Before you leave the house to catch some beads you’ll want to check to see if your intended parade time has been altered and Slidell National Weather Service Meteorologist Danielle  Manning says don’t forget to take your raincoat with you.

Cut 4 (11) “… Saturday night.”

———

The Louisiana Tech community is mourning the loss of one of its students. A police investigation is underway after 18-year-old Austin Johnson of Bossier City was shot in the chest in what authorities believe to be a tragic accident.  It happened in a fast food drive through. We’re told Johnson was taken to a local hospital for treatment and then airlifted to LSU-Shreveport, where he later passed away.

We’re all thinking Mardi Gras here, but it’s also tax season.   The IRS started accepting online tax returns on January 29^th, but many Louisianans don’t think about taxes until after Mardi Gras.  CPA Kevin Willis says if you’re going to hire a tax preparer, be sure you vet them carefully…

Cut 15 (08) …advantage of you.“

You can check CPA credentials on the Louisiana CPA Board’s website. LRN

Get out your rain gear and be aware that Mardi Gras Parade times have been either moved or canceled today due to the threat of heavy rain this weekend. Slidell National Weather Service Meteorologist Danielle Manning says rain chances are filtering into the southeast this morning.

Cut 3 (13) “…for Sunday.”

Before you leave the house to catch some beads you’ll want to check to see if your intended parade time has been changed.

A shooting incident left one person injured in a McDonald’s parking lot in Mandeville last night. Police there say they responded to shots fired around 9:30 last night where they found the victim who has been shot. So far there’s no word on the condition of the victim. Authorities are urging anyone with information on the shooting to come forward.

____________________________

Louisiana’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway now through February 13^th in an effort to save lives. During the 2022 Mardi Gras holiday, 11 people were killed and 120 people were hurt in crashes that involved a driver who had been drinking, according to the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Greg Fischer says Mardi Gras is one of the deadliest times to be on the roads and alcohol impairment isn’t the only problem.

Cut 10 (09) “…all distractions.”
Time to start thinking about filing your taxes…but there is some good news. CPA Kevin Willis says while there are no major changes this year, the standard deduction has gone up and if use your vehicle for work, kept track or your milage, and can deduct your milage, there’s welcome news…

Cut 13 (08)  “…ever remember”

With heavy rainfall anticipated many parade times have been changed or canceled. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Tech community is mourning the loss of one of its students. A police investigation is underway after 18-year-old Austin Johnson of Bossier City was shot in what is believed to be a tragic accident in a fast food drive through.  We’re told he was taken to a local hospital for treatment and then airlifted to LSU-Shreveport, where he later passed away.

———-

While parade goers are snagging necklaces this Mardi Gras season, Louisiana law enforcement officers are stepping up patrol to catch impaired drivers during the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign through February 13. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Greg Fischer says too many people are getting hurt and killed in accidents involving impaired drivers during Mardi Gras season.

Cut 9 (11) “…Mardi Gras.”

46-year-old Jefferey Dixon of Bunkie faces attempted murder and arson charges in connection with a house fire earlier in the week. State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says when the Bunkie Fire Department responded to a house fire Tuesday evening, they found the back porch engulfed in flames and one of the residents safely outside.

Cut 6  (06) “…set fire.” 

46-year-old Jefferey Dixon of Bunkie faces attempted murder and arson charges in connection with a house fire. State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue…

Cut 6  (06) “…set fire.” 

Dixon was quickly apprehended and also faces Violation of a Protective Order and Simple Burglary charges.

Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator announces his plans to retire early to accept a state appointment to the Louisiana Board of Pardons. Partor was appointed by Governor Jeff Landry. Prator is among the longest-serving sheriffs in Caddo Parish, and at the end of his current term, he will have served 24 years.

Forecasters are predicting inclement weather over the weekend and some krewes have moved or rescheduled parade times. Slidell National Weather Service Meteorologist Danielle Manning…

Cut 3 (13) “…for Sunday.”  

So make sure to check to see if your intended parade time has been altered.

Louisiana law enforcement officers are stepping up patrol during Mardi Gras season to catch impaired drivers during the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign through February 13. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Greg Fischer says too many people are getting hurt and killed in accidents involving impaired drivers during Mardi Gras season.

Cut 9 (11) “…Mardi Gras.”