Candidates filed into the Secretary of State’s Office today for the first day of qualifying for both the special elections in the 2^nd and 5^th Congressional District. In the 2^nd State Senators Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter signed on the line along with Baton Rouge community activist Gary Chambers. Chambers plans to run as the progressive in the race, backing Medicare for All and the Green New Deal…

Cut 14 (09) ” last 100 years.” 

Mindy McConnell, a Libertarian from New Orleans, also qualified today. 

Tonight’s 730 million dollar jackpot drawing for the Powerball is the 4^th largest in game history. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says there’s lots of money up for grabs.

Cut 7 (11) “…dollars.”

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating the fatal shooting of a teenager. Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodaux says the shooting took place during the over night hours

Cut 15 (10) “…Opelousas” 

Thibodaux says the investigation is ongoing and no other information is being released.

The Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane protection project, which will protect Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, is awarded 12.5 million dollars by the Corps of Engineers. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority head Chip Kline says  it’s great to see this system, which protects tens of thousands of homes, get some attention after watching the New Orleans Levee System get fully funded.

Cut 5  (07) “..2005″ 

The full project will cost three billion dollars.

The race is officially on to replace the outgoing Cedric Richmond as Louisiana’s second district Congressional member. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 2 (37) ….I’m Jeff Palermo”  

And for the 5^th Congressional District, Julia Letlow said she’ll run the seat won by her late husband who died of COVID last month before he was sworn-in. So far Candy Christophe, Chad Conerly, Allen Guillory, and Horace Melton III have officially qualified.

The drawing for tonight’s Powerball, the longest-running in history with 36 draws reaches the fourth-largest jackpot in the game’s history at 730 million. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says even though no one’s hit the Jackpot since last fall, always check your numbers, while it might not be the jackpot it could still be a winning ticket.

Cut 8 (12) “…one number”

The Powerball drawing is tonight at 10.

The Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane protection project, which will protect Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, is awarded 12.5 million dollars by the Corps of Engineers. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority head Chip Kline says because the feds have taken so long to appreciate the project’s significance the state has already moved ahead with constructing parts of it.

Cut 4 (08) “….system.” 

Candidates for the 2^nd Congressional District special election race signed up to run at the Secretary of State’s office today on the first day of qualifying. The two favorites in the race so far, New Orleans State Senators Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter officially qualified, alongside Baton Rouge community activist and small business owner Gary Chambers. Chambers says not being a career politician will be benefit him…

Cut 13 (07)“.being honest”

The 2^nd covers most of New Orleans along with the River Parishes and parts of north Baton Rouge.

The drawing for tonight’s Powerball is historic, according to Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin it’s the fourth largest in the game’s history with a cash value of 546 million.

Cut 6 (07) “..its history”

The Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane protection project, which will protect Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, is awarded 12.5 million dollars by the Corps of Engineers. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority head Chip Kline says the project as a whole will cost three billion dollars, but it’s a good start…

Cut 3 (06)  “…system.”

The Morganza-to-the-Gulf project was initially forecasted to cost 10 billion dollars, but that price has come down to three billion after the cost was updated in 2019. The state has already pumped 600 million into the project.

The two main candidates seeking to replace outgoing U.S Representative Cedric Richmond as the state’s 2nd District Congressman officially put their names on the March 20th ballot today. New Orleans Senator Troy His main opponent will be New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson.

Carter says during his time in the legislature and away from public office, he’s worked to change lives.

Cut 11 (10) “..for it”

Both legislators have fought to raise the minimum wage and pushed to pass equal pay legislation at the state capitol. Peterson plans to take that fight up to Washington.

Cut 12 (10) “…done it before” 

Qualifying ends on Friday.

Qualifying began this morning at the Secretary of State’s Office and the other Congressional seat voters will choose representation for is in the 5^th District, left vacant after the death of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow in December from COVID. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Julia Letlow is the favorite to win the race. She’s the wife of late Congressman-elect Letlow.

Cut 4 (11) “…gone through”

As Kamala Harris made history being sworn in as the first female, first Black, and first South Asian vice president today she did so decked out in a purple coat designed by a Louisiana native. Harris donned a long purple coat designed by Christopher John Rogers, a Brooklyn based designer, and Baton Rouge native.  Rogers is a graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School. He also went on to earn the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s prestigious American Emerging Designer of the Year award in 2020.

The two main candidates seeking to replace outgoing U.S Representative Cedric Richmond as the state’s 2nd District Congressman officially put their names on the March 20th ballot today. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter found it significant that he qualified for this race on the same day a new president was sworn in…

Cut 9 (08) “..being better”

Carter previously served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, the New Orleans City Council and he’s currently a state senator. His main opponent will be New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson. The former chairperson of the Louisiana Democratic Party has served in the state legislature since 1999.

Cut 10 (07) “…has experience”

Qualifying ends on Friday.

Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office suspends the head of the criminal division Pat Magee after an investigation found he engaged in inappropriate conversations that included sexual and unprofessional comments. Magee is suspended for 38 days — but must still report to work. He will not receive a salary during that period Magee will lose more than $20-thousand and take training courses to develop better workplace skills.

LSU remains without a defensive coordinator after Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen receives a promotion and a new contract to stay in New Orleans.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

25,000 National Guardsmen and numerous other security forces are on the ground in D.C. ahead of today’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. The nation’s capital city and Capitol Building are heavily militarized amidst accusations that security was not tight enough in D.C. on January 6^th. Congressman Steve Scalise says that failure must be investigated, and…

Cut 9 (08) “..should be.”

Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris are expected to be sworn in sometime just after 11 AM.

The State Office of Public Health is looking for retired medical providers who’d be interested in volunteering to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Bureau of Community Preparedness interim director Dr. Sundee Winder says they are offering flexible schedules for volunteers and offer mornings, afternoons, and evenings for training and eventually participation.

Cut 15 (08)“…paid.”

Qualifying has begun in the race for both the second and fifth Congressional district special elections. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m matt Doyle”

The White House announced several early morning pardons from President Donald Trump, among the 143 today wrapper and New Orleans Native Dwayne Michael Carter Jr better known as Lil Wayne.   The rapper was charged in Florida on Nov. 17 with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a federal offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Inauguration Day festivities are set to get underway in Washington D-C as President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in as the United States’ 46th president. There are 25-thousand National Guard members in the nation’s capital to help provide security. Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise hopes the country can soon reunite again…
cut 8 (10) “….together”

Qualifying has started for the 2nd and 5th district Congressional races. The two main candidates in the 2nd district, New Orleans Senators Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson, both showed up at 8 AM to get their names on the March 20th ballot. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat expects others to sign up, but Carter and Peterson are the favorites….
cut 6 (07) “….well known”
The fifth district race will feature Julia Letlow, the wife of the late Congressman-elect Luke Letlow.

The state is seeking retired healthcare workers who’d be interested in volunteering to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The state health department has told healthcare providers they should not prioritize their own patients when distributing vaccines. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter said in a memo that preferential access to vaccines must immediately cease. An L-D-H spokesperson told the A-P that violators could face fines and limits on future vaccine allocations.

25,000 National Guardsmen and numerous other security forces are on the ground in D.C. ahead of today’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Metairie Congressman and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise…
Cut 7 (08) “…alert.”
The Louisiana State Capitol building is closed today in an abundance of caution because of possible protests.

Meanwhile, candidates for the 2nd and 5th district Congressional seats can sign up today to have their names on the March 20th ballot. The two announced candidates in the fifth district are Republican Julia Letlow and Democrat Candy Christophe. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Luke Letlow voters will return to the polls and vote for his wife…
cut 5 (07) “….odds on favorite”
Pinsonat says in the second district, it looks to be a two-person race, between New Orleans Senators Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson.

The state Department of Health is seeking retired medical providers to help vaccinate thousands of Louisiana residents. Interim Executive Director of the Bureau of Community Preparedness, Doctor Sundee Winder, says they expect the feds will ramp up the availability of vaccines in the spring or summer and want to be prepared when that happens…
cut 14 (08) “….to us”
Those interesting in volunteering should email D-H-H-O-C-O-3 at l-a-dot-gov.

And LSU is still looking for a defensive coordinator after its latest top candidate, Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen, will remain in New Orleans after getting a promotion and a new contract. Football Analyst Mike Detillier says it’s likely LSU Coach Ed Orgeron has another option…
cut 12 (10) “…very quickly too”

Qualifying begins today at the Secretary of State’s Office for two special Congressional elections on March 20th. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Julia Letlow is the favorite to win the 5th district race. She’s the wife of late Congressman-elect Luke Letlow
Cut 4 (11) “…gone through”
In the 2nd district, Democratic state senators Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson will qualify and they are the two main candidates.

LSU remains without a defensive coordinator after its top candidate, Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen stays in New Orleans. Nielsen was reportedly working on a contract with LSU to become the Tigers next defensive coordinator, but NFL analyst Mike Detillier says coach Sean Payton would not let Nielsen out the door
Cut 10 (08) “…other coaches”
Nielsen has been promoted to assistant head coach and has a new three-year contract.

The State Office of Public Health is looking for retired medical providers who would be interested in volunteering to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Bureau of Community Preparedness interim director Dr. Sundee Winder says they need anyone who’s available to augment their current force of vaccinators.
Cut 13 (11) “….pandemic”
Those eligible include physicians, osteopaths, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, paramedics, and EMTs.

The state health department reported yesterday that 267-thousand vaccines have been administered statewide. 35-thousand individuals have received both of their doses.