A federal judge in New Orleans hears arguments today over how large the fine should be against BP for its role in the 2010 Gulf oil spill. The fine could be as much as 13-billion dollars. BP is expected to argue for a lower penalty. Associate director of the Tulane Energy Institute, Eric Smith, says the judge will consider several factors in this complex case…
cut 9 (08) “….we’ve ever seen”
Testimony is expected to last three weeks.

Today federal and state governments begin accepting 2014 tax returns. Mark Eldredge, with Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants, says if you purchased health insurance through the federal marketplace, get your returns to a licensed preparer soon, because even tax pros are trying to get up to speed on the new rules…
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Former Saints player Steve Gleason is Senator David Vitter’s guest tonight for President Obama’s State of the Union Address. Gleason, who is battling A-L-S, will also get to meet with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell to discuss bringing more attention to the disease. Vitter says Gleason is excited for this opportunity…
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Governor Bobby Jindal is in the middle of some controversy during his trip to Europe. During a speech to the Henry Jackson Society, Jindal said there are communities in Europe that enforce Islamic law, instead of that country’s legislation. But British political leaders and American media outlets have issued a statements that say Muslin “no-go zones” do not exist in Europe.