The impeachment trial is over as the Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump on two charges, abuse of power and obstruction of justice. Both Louisiana Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy voted against removal. Kennedy says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tried to turn impeachment into a routine political weapon….
Cut 10 (09) “…control”
Democrats say that if the president remains unchecked he’ll continue to abuse the power of his office for political gain.

Governor John Bel Edwards has a warning for local governments, makes sure you are protected from a cyberattack and have important data behind a firewall…
cut 15 (09) “….successfully attack”
That’s Edwards speaking at a Louisiana Municipal Association meeting.

Some Louisiana conservatives are rethinking capital punishment with the formation of Louisiana Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

An LSU researcher is beginning a two-year study of the impacts of vaping on people who were previously non-smokers. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Some Louisiana conservatives are rethinking capital punishment by announcing the formation of a new group known as Louisiana Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy vote against removing President Trump as impeachment ends with a 52-48 not guilty vote in the Senate…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle 

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As vaping rates soar LSU assistant professor of Comparative Biomedical Sciences Alexandra Noel is looking into how vaping impcats the lungs of people who were previously non-smokers.

Noel says a lot of the previous vaping related studies looked at the effects on people who had smoked cigarettes previously, but the craze is beginning to impact a large number of previous non-smokers.

Cut 4 (09) “…concerns.”

Part of her study will be measuring to make sure what vape companies say is in their product is actually what ends up in your lungs after it’s inhaled.

Cut 5 (10) “…produced”

She hopes her research can help inform public policy on the issue as more and more kids take up vaping without having ever touched a cigarette.

Cut 6 (10) “steps.”

The legal age for vaping has now been raised to 21 in the US, but there’s still confusion as to whether it’s legal to sell to those 18-21 in Louisiana.

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Some Louisiana conservatives are rethinking capital punishment by announcing the formation of a new group known as Louisiana Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty.  The organization’s national manager Hannah Cox says a recent study indicates the death penalty cost the state’s taxpayers nearly $16 million more annually than life without parole.

Cut 7 (13) “…other government programs.”

Louisiana becomes the thirteenth state to join the national organization.  Conservative activist and member of the St. Tammany GOP Parish Executive Committee Col. Rob Maness says the death penalty doesn’t go along with the fiscal or pro-life perspective of the Republican party, adding sometimes the government gets it wrong.

Cut 8 (13) “…they do well.”

Cox says they’ve had lots of conservative movement on the issue in other states, but with the state’s death penalty high-usage history, Louisiana’s handling on the death penalty could be very compelling to the rest of the country.

Cut 9 (10) “…the nation’s attention.”
Louisiana last executed an inmate in January 2010.  The lack of access to the drugs needed for lethal injection has been credited for gap.

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Impeachment comes to an end as the Senate votes to acquit President Donald Trump in a nearly party-line 52-48 not guilty vote on both articles of impeachment.

Both Louisiana Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy voting against removal. Kennedy gave the reasoning for his acquittal vote, attacking House Democrats impeachment proceedings as a partisan exercise.

Cut 10 (09) “…control”

The only Republican to vote in favor of removal was Utah Senator Mitt Romney.

Kennedy attacked the House’s impeachment proceedings, saying Democrats did not give the President a fair shake and broke procedurals norms to push an impeachment vote.

Cut 11 (10) “…rage”

The House impeachment vote was a mostly party-line, with three Democrats voting against and no Republicans voting for.

The Senator believes impeachment was a Democrat plot thought out long before any allegations of wrongdoing involving Ukraine surfaced.

Cut 12 (11) “…squad”

Democrats allege the President threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless the country investigated Joe Biden’s son’s business dealings in the country.

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Governor John Bel Edwards warns local government officials of the headaches that can be created by not being ready to withstand a cyberattack.  Edwards says recent cyberattacks across the state are likely to happen again in other areas.

Cut 13 (10) “…very very problematic.”

Ransomware attacks have been the issue faced in the most recent attacks.  The hackers will hold data ransom until a ransom is paid with cryptocurrencies.  Edwards says he doesn’t want anyone trying to pay that tab.

Cut 14 (05) “…over and over.”

Edwards urges officials to take precautionary steps to avoid an attack by backing up data and protecting it behind a firewall.

Cut 15 (09) “…been successfully attacked.”

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LSU football signed three more players to its 2020 recruiting class on Wednesday. 24-7 sports ranks the Tigers incoming group of players as the fourth-best in the nation. Coach Ed Orgeron says there are great character and athletes in this class

Cut 16  (17)  …can play”  

LSU can still sign three more players. They can use those scholarships on transfers or use them in next year’s recruiting class. Orgeron also needs to find a new passing game coordinator to replace Joe Brady, who came from the Saints. Coach O would like to get another NFL coach on his staff…

Cut 17  (18) “spring ball” 

Orgeron also announced the Tigers are moving to a four-three front on defense with new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. Orgeron says Pelini will install a defense that will create more negative plays for opposing offenses…

cut 18  (20) ” his defense”   

State health officials are responding to a mumps outbreak involving LSU students. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Governor John Bel Edwards approves the deployment of 23 State Fire Marshal deputies and personnel to Puerto Rico to assist in the recovery from recent earthquakes. The Urban Search and Rescue specialist will survey and access about 12,000 damaged buildings on the two-week mission.

A slow-moving cold front is providing the state with active weather today.  There is a chance for a wintry mix of precipitation in the northwest corner of the state, including the Shreveport area, and severe weather throughout most of the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says by tomorrow afternoon the front should be clear of the state and chilly air will settle in.

Cut 14 (12) “…of Louisiana.”

A survey by Innovet Pet reveals that one in three Louisiana pet owners struggles financially to care for their animals. Elizabeth Sprang, Director of Southern Animal Foundation, a nonprofit vet clinic in New Orleans, Sprang, can assist low-income pet owners at her clinic but admits it’s a challenge.

Cut 10 (11) “…everybody else” 

The Census will be taken this year and then it will be up to the state legislature to draw up new political maps. Lake Charles Republican Stephen Dwight was just named chair of the House Governmental Affairs Committee and he lays out the timeline for when reapportionment discussions will begin.

Cut 6 (10) “…redistricting”

A Census is taken every ten years.

Five LSU students who were living off-campus are confirmed to have a case of the mumps, a contagious disease that spreads through saliva or other respiratory droplets. Doctor Frank Welch says they are trying to determine if there’s a connection between the students because they did not live in the same apartment

Cut 4 (12) “…families.”

A slow-moving cold front is providing the state with an active weather today.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is a chance for a wintry mix of precipitation in the northwest corner of the state, including the Shreveport area starting with rain tonight.

Cut 12 (12) “…kind of interesting”

Keim says we also have a tornado watch in effect for a large section of the state until 6 pm covering Monroe, Alexandria, Lake Charles, and Baton Rouge.

A survey by Innovet Pet reveals 42% pet owners say if they lost their job, they would not have the means necessary to keep their animals. Elizabeth Sprang, Director of Southern Animal Foundation, a nonprofit vet clinic in New Orleans, says some owners have come to her feeling they had no options.

Cut 11 (10) “…can’t afford”

A survey by Innovet Pet finds that 34 percent of pet owners in the Bayou State struggle financially to care for their pets. Brooke Thorington has more.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

LSU has confirmed five students living off-campus have come down with the mumps. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says the contagious disease can spread through contact with saliva or respiratory droplets…

Cut 3 (09)  “…very seriously” 

A slow-moving cold front is keeping the state in cloudy and wet conditions throughout today and into tomorrow afternoon.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says we also have a tornado watch in effect for a large section of the state until 6pm covering Monroe, Alexandria, Lake Charles, and Baton Rouge…
Cut 13 (08) “…spun up.”
Keim says there is a chance for a wintry mix of precipitation in the northwest corner of the state, including the Shreveport area.
The Census will be taken this year and then it will be up to the state legislature to draw up new political maps. Lake Charles Republican Stephen Dwight was just named chair of the House Governmental Affairs Committee and he lays out the timeline for when reapportionment discussions will begin. Dwight will join with Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt, who chairs Senate House and Governmental Affairs, in the effort. He says they’ll tour the state after the Census is conducted.

Cut 7 (11) “…result”

A large portion of the state is under a tornado watch this afternoon as a slow-moving cold front moves across the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says by tomorrow afternoon the front should be clear of the state and chilly air will settle in.

Cut 14 (12) “…of Louisiana.”

LSU has confirmed five students living off-campus have come down with the mumps. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says you can protect yourself from getting the mumps by receiving two doses of the M-M-R vaccine. He says students should seek treatment if their glands are swollen under their ears or jaw

Cut 5 (09) “…sides.”

The Census is about to get underway and it could decide if Louisiana regains the Congressional seat it lost in the previous census. Lake Charles Republican Stephen Dwight was just named chair of the House Governmental Affairs Committee. Dwight says it’ll be interesting to find out if our population has recovered and the state gains another seat.

Cut 8 (07) “…we’ll see.”

A survey by Innovet Pet reveals that 42% pet owners in Louisiana say if they lost their job, they would not have the means necessary to keep their animals. Elizabeth Sprang, Director of Southern Animal Foundation, a nonprofit vet clinic in New Orleans, says some owners have come to her feeling they had no options.

Cut 11 (10) “…can’t afford”

The survey said one in three pet owners in the state struggle financially with owning a pet.

1:30 PM newscast.
Louisiana’s U-S Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy are expected to vote today with fellow Republican Senators in acquitting President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment. The Advocate reports the senators have received thousands of emails and phone calls from constituents voicing their opinions.
State health officials are responding to a mumps outbreak involving LSU students. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

A slow-moving cold front is keeping the state in cloudy and wet conditions throughout today and into tomorrow afternoon.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is a chance for a wintry mix of precipitation in the northwest corner of the state, including the Shreveport area starting with rain tonight.

Cut 12 (12) “…kind of interesting”

A tornado watch is in effect for a large section of the state until 6pm covering Monroe, Alexandria, and Lake Charles.

A survey reveals that one in three Louisiana pet owners struggle financially to care for their animals. The survey by Innovet Pet found that nearly a quarter of those surveyed admit they have a difficult time caring for their pets. Elizabeth Sprang, Director of Southern Animal Foundation, a nonprofit vet clinic in New Orleans, says medical costs continue to increase for pet owners.

Cut 9 (11) “…ultrasound machine”

LSU has confirmed five students living off-campus have come down with the mumps. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says they are trying to determine if there’s a connection between the students because they did not live in the same apartment

Cut 4 (12) “…families.”

Welch says you can protect yourself from getting the mumps by receiving two doses of the M-M-R vaccine.

The Census is right around the corner and that’s set to make the House Governmental Affairs Committee a busy place for the next two years. Lake Charles Republican Stephen Dwight was just named chair of the committee. He lays out the timeline for when Louisianans can expect reapportionment to begin.

Cut 6 (10) “…redistricting”

In Louisiana, the death rate for pregnant women is twice the national average and the leading cause of death for expectant mothers is homicide, that’s according to a joint study between Tulane and LSU. These numbers come as no surprise to Mariah Wineski Executive Director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Cut 10 (09) “…also preventable”

Of the 119 pregnancy-related deaths in Louisiana from January 2016 to December 2017, 13-percent were homicides.  You can call Louisiana Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-888-411-1333 for assistance.