The 68th D.C. Mardi Gras is underway in our nation’s capital. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford is there, and he says, for the first time in three years, Louisiana’s governor is attending. He says Governor John Bel Edwards is using this opportunity to gt a lot of work done…:
CUT 9 (11) “health care policy”

Five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence of Neville High School announced he plans to attend LSU. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the LSU coaches have done an excellent job this year of making sure in-state talent stays in Louisiana…:
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He says the Tigers are now in excellent position to have the number one recruiting class in the nation.

There’s now a website that seeks to settle the score once and for all, to find out who makes the best king cake. Emelie Gunn reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Public colleges in Louisiana have been told that they could be facing a $131 million dollar cut across the board in the remaining 5 months of the current fiscal year. The Edwards Administration says its making tough choices in filling the state’s $750 million dollar budget shortfall.

Hopefully you brought a coat with you today as the temperatures in Louisiana are far colder than they were yesterday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a strong cold front has brought us some of the lowest temperatures this winter…:
Cut 13 (04) “extremely cold”
He says the maximum temperatures today will be in the 40s.

Gov. John Bel Edwards’s administration has notified universities across Louisiana of severe potential cuts to higher education. LSU President F. King Alexander sent a letter to students Friday morning indicating the university is looking at cuts due to Louisiana’s budget shortfall. Alexander stated LSU officials were notified by Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne late Thursday that the state’s $750 million dollar budget deficit would require $131 million in cuts to higher education, with the LSU system bearing about $65 million of that total.

The subject of who makes the best King cake comes up every Mardi Gras season, and now there’s a platform which allows enthusiasts to review and rate their favorite. Erica Sweeny is the spokesperson for the site, KingCakeSnob.com. She says a fun, healthy rivalry goes on among bakeries, and Louisiana residents swearing by their favorite King Cake…:
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She says on KingCakeSnob.com, you can rate your favorite king cake on a variety of characteristics which will develop a score for that bakery.

Five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence from Neville commits to LSU, a day after the Tigers got a commitment from John Curtis offensive lineman Willie Allen. That’s 22 commitments for the Tigers. According to 247Sports, LSU currently holds the No. 1 recruiting class ahead of Ohio State. National Signing Day for high school recruits is set for Wednesday, Feb. 3.

Cold temperatures have arrived for the end of the work week. Jeff Palermo has a look at a big change in our weather.
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LSU President F King Alexander says they are expecting another round of cuts, but that Governor John Bel Edwards remains committed to prioritizing higher education. Alexander says, in the face of a $750 million dollar budget shortfall in the current fiscal year, LSU will take a $65 million dollar cut out of the $131 million for higher ed across the board.

Victim Charlotte Murray Pace’s mother says the death of serial killer Derrick Todd Lee does not offer closure. Pace’s case was the one that sent Lee to death row in 2004. Ann Pace said on The Jim Engster Show that the only thing she will never be able to remove from her mind about Lee, is the question of why he chose the women he did…:
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Lee received a second murder conviction and is linked by DNA to 5 other brutal slayings. He died yesterday in Baton Rouge.

State Police say Louisiana’s 15 riverboats, four racetrack slot casinos and Harrah’s New Orleans saw a 7.5 percent drop last month from December of 2014. Winnings in New Orleans fell by 13.5 percent in December, Louisiana gambling market’s biggest year-to-year decrease in revenue.

The mother of one of serial killer Derrick Todd Lee’s victims said on the Jim Engster Show that the world is a better place now that the serial killer is dead…

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A three judge panel of the state 4th Circuit Court of Appeals heard closed-door arguments yesterday regarding the mental competency of Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson. Last year, a New Orleans judge ruled the 88-year-old billionaire competent to run his business empire, but his estranged heirs appealed that decision. It’s reported that the panel will rule in about a month. This is part of a dispute between Benson and his heirs about ownership of the sports franchises.

Will lawmakers go along with Governor John Bel Edwards proposal of raising some taxes in an effort to help with the state’s budget deficit? UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says he doesn’t expect much push back from legislators right now given the dismal budget situation the state faces…

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It will take a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate to pass any tax increase.

Louisiana State Police is offering a motorcycle training program in an effort to reduce motorcycle injuries and fatalities. Trooper Bryan Lee says they have courses available for basic, intermediate and experienced riders…

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Locations and class dates can be found at www-dot-lsp-dot-org-slash-motorcycle-dot-html.

Governor John Bel Edwards has proposed raising taxes as a way to fix the current budget deficit, will lawmakers go along with this? Emelie Gunn has more…

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New Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson will tour the state over the next two weeks meeting with local economic development groups. The tour begins Monday with stops in Tallulah, Delhi, and Alexandria. Pierson will make stops in six cities before wrapping up February 5th in Baton Rouge. The meetings will focus on the importance of collaboration between LED and local area chambers of commerce to draw new business to their areas.

In an effort to reduce motorcycle fatalities and injuries, Louisiana State Police is getting the word out about a motorcycle training program. The training program is offered statewide in 10 locations. Lee says locations and class dates can be found at www-dot-lsp-dot-org-slash-motorcycle-dot-html…

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There are courses available for basic, intermediate and experienced riders.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says a strong cold front has brought us some of the coldest temperatures we’ve seen this winter. He says high temperatures today will only be in the 40s statewide. Keim says it also will be breezy causing a wind chill….

cut 15 (09) “these air temperatures”

He says Sunday morning in north Louisiana lows could dip in the mid-20s, which could pose a risk to pipes.

The mother of one of Derrick Todd Lee’s victims says the world is a better place now that the serial killer is dead. Ann Pace, mother of Charlotte Murray Pace, said on the Jim Engster Show that Lee’s death does not offer her closure, but she is glad that the case is stopped…

cut 5 (08) “go on from there”

Lee died at the age of 47 in a Baton Rouge hospital on Thursday.

In an effort to reduce motorcycle fatalities and injuries, Louisiana State Police is getting the word out about a motorcycle training program that’s offered at 10 different locations around the state. Trooper Bryan Lee says this training course helps to build mental and physical skills to safely operate a motorcycle…

cut 7 (09) “these crashes”

During 2015 there were nearly two thousand motorcycle related crashes across Louisiana and 80 resulted in death.

Governor John Bel Edwards has proposed some tax hikes as a way to help with the state’s fiscal issues. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the governor is looking into how much support there is for raising taxes in different areas…

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He believes lawmakers may approve these tax hikes depending on what they are and who they impact.

You may want a coat before leaving the house today as temperatures are much colder than yesterday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says to expect the maximum temperature statewide today to be in the 40s, with the warmest part of the day in the morning…

cut 14 (10) “the daylight hours”

He says a strong cold front has brought us some of the coldest temperatures we’ve seen this winter.

Governor John Bel Edwards has proposed raising some taxes in efforts to help with the state’s fiscal issues. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross believes lawmakers might approve these tax hikes but it depends on what they are and who they impact. He says if republican lawmakers agree to the increase, it likely won’t affect their reelection.

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Cross says Governor Edwards has made many proposals for raising revenue and will likely continue to make the point that Louisiana is in dire budget straights.

Make sure you grab a coat before leaving the house today as the temperatures are much colder than what we experienced yesterday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a strong cold front has brought us some of the coldest temperatures of the winter…

cut 13 (04) “extremely cold”

Keim says to expect the maximum temperature statewide today to be in the 40s.

The mother of the victim in the case that put Derrick Todd Lee on death row says the world is a better place now that the serial killer is dead. Lee died at the age of 47 in a Baton Rouge hospital on Thursday. Ann Pace said on the Jim Engster Show that Lee got off far easier than her daughter, Charlotte Murray Pace, and the, at least, 6 other victims…

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Charlotte Murray Pace was just 22 when Lee stabbed her 81 times and bludgeoned her with an iron at her Baton Rouge home in 2002.