A silent alarm at the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement unit building, Sunday night, alerted deputies of a break-in. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tommy Carnline says when they inspected the RADE unit nothing was taken but the backdoor was propped open. Then they heard a noise at a nearby building…:

CUT 09(11)      “…use the restroom.”

He says Matthews was charged with burglary, criminal trespass and more.

Monroe state Senator Katrina Jackson responds to a lawsuit filed against her by the Tulane University 1^st Amendment Center, alleging she violated a woman’s right to free speech by blocking the woman’s access to her social media pages. Jackson says the woman used foul language, called Jackson obscene names and advised she should “burn in hell.” The harsh words came as Jackson was passing the state’s anti-abortion trigger law in 2022.

Senator Bill Cassidy says the White House botched the handling of a Chinese spy balloon that crossed the USA last week. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Palermo.”

Organizers of the petition to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell say they are within just over a thousand signatures of their goal, with just a week until the deadline to submit. The group seeks to put a recall vote on a local election ballot. 49-thousand confirmed signatures are needed. The deadline for that is Mardi Gras Day; next Tuesday.

Senator Bill Cassidy says the White House botched the handling of a Chinese spy balloon that crossed the USA last week. During his weekly press teleconference, Cassidy says President Biden should have ordered the balloon intercepted far earlier than he did…:

CUT 03(08)      “…southern border.”

Cassidy feels the president’s failure to react to the first balloon makes us look vulnerable to foreign powers, and places our national security at risk.

A Mandeville state lawmaker files a bill to let municipalities and parishes make sure their library system operates the way they want it to. Republican Rep. Paul Hollis says his Public Library Accountability Act is aimed at fighting a “woke” agenda being pushed on the masses using taxpayer dollars…:

CUT 07(11)      “…local communities.”

State Attorney General Jeff Landry issued a legal opinion stating local governments have authority to remove board members if needs be.

Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says deputies arrest a 15-year-old boy in connection with the death of an elderly Winnsboro man. 79-year-old Ben Scott was found last night. Cobb says the investigation is ongoing. The teen has been charged with murder.

Upon word that their beloved alligator “Hardhide” could be euthanized, the town of Ponchatoula rallied to keep the critter alive. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis has filed a bill for the upcoming regular session that he calls the Public Library Accountability Act. Hollis says his legislation gives power to municipalities and parishes to make sure their library system operates the way they want to…

Cut 6 (09)  “…not be.” 

Hollis says he wants to give local governments the ability to remove individuals from library control boards.

After a complaint to state wildlife Ponchatoula went into a frenzy upon news that their beloved alligator Hardhide could be put down. Owner T-Mike Kliebert (Klee-bear) says the community rallied to keep Hardhide from being euthanized. He says many questioned why she couldn’t be released back into the wild instead.

Cut 13 (11) “…not an option.” 

Hardhide will retire soon to the Kliebert family farm.

A study done at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge shows promise in heading off dementia among older black citizens. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 1 (34)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

State Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion stating local governments have the authority to remove members of Library Control Boards. St. Bernard Parish Representative Ray Garafalo says he asked Landry to render the opinion after local officials came to him with their concerns…:

CUT 07(09)      “…control board.”

The concern is over kids getting access to adult content at libraries and whether board members will take steps to assure they do not. Garafalo says he’ll propose legislation this spring to make the AG’s opinion a clear matter of state law.

Ponchatoula’s long-time mascot alligator, Hardhide, has been spared being euthanized by state Wildlife & Fisheries.  Owner T-Mike Kleibert says she’s been in the family since 1957 and at the Ponchatoula Country Market for 13 years…:

CUT 12(10)      “…could do.”

For Valentine’s Day, the Louisiana Family Forum announces the winners of the Long-Married Couple in 2023…:

CUT 03(31)      “…Thorington.”

Organizers of the petition to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell say they are within just over a thousand signatures of their goal, with just a week until the deadline to submit. The group seeks to put a recall vote on a local election ballot. 49-thousand confirmed signatures are needed. The deadline for that is Mardi Gras Day; next Tuesday.

The Department of Corrections and the West Feliciana Sheriff’s Office are investigating the death of 64-year-old Clifton Bell, an inmate at Angola, who died Monday after falling from a forklift he was driving. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

State Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion stating local governments have the authority to remove members of Library Control Boards. St. Bernard Parish Representative Ray Garafalo asked for the opinion. Garafalo says they are not trying to ban or remove books from libraries, but feels local governments need the freedom to act, should they see the need to do so…:

Cut 9 (11)  “…they need to do.”

Garafalo plans to file legislation to clarify local government powers over libraries.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center says social engagement and learning may help older African Americans from cognitive decline. Dr. Robert Newton says nearly 60 black men and women – ages 65 to 85 – took part in the 12-week study, one group was more involved in learning and discussion the other exercised…

Cut 6 (08)  “…cognitive health.” 

You can read more about the study at “PBRC.edu”

The Louisiana Family Forum announces the winners of the Longest Married Couple on Valentine’s Day. LFF President Gene Mills says the winning couple is Ira and Margery Milan of New Orleans who recently celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary.

Cut 13 (10)  “…extraordinary family.”
And the Family Forum also recognizes Lauris and Earline Broussard of Abbeville who were married for 82 years. Earline passed away last week before the couple could be honored.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says Attorney General Jeff Landry has issued a legal opinion that says local governments can remove members of Library Control Boards…
cut 8 (09) “…those members”
Garofalo says he asked for the A-G’s legal opinion because more local governments are becoming concerned with children gaining access to sexually explicit material at public libraries.

On this Valentine’s Day, the Louisiana Family Forum is recognizing the longest known married couples in the state. Winning the honor this year is Ira and Margery Milan of New Orleans, who have been together for 81 years. Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says it’s important to recognize couples who have long lasting marriages…
cut 15 (09) “…make it work”
Mills says they are also recognizing ten of other couple who have been married for over 73 years today.

For many older African Americans, social engagement and learning may help defend against cognitive decline according to an LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center study. Dr. Robert Newton says they split two groups of black persons around 70 years of age; one group did intensive learning about their own health and social interaction with study peers…the other concentrating on exercise…:
Cut 4 (08) “…your thinking skills.”

If your dog eats Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental….throw it out as the manufacturer has issued a recall of the prescription dry food because of elevated levels of Vitamin D. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says excessive levels of Vitamin D can cause the following symptoms…
cut 11 (06) “…excessive drooling”

The Attorney General’s office issues a legal opinion stating local governments have the power to remove members of library control boards. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

An East Baton Rouge Grand Jury is set to hear evidence in the Madison Brooks case tomorrow. Authorities say the LSU student from Covington was raped inside a vehicle before she was let out of the vehicle and then struck and killed by a passing motorist last month. Attorneys for the defendants say the sex was consensual.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says based on its research social engagement and learning is a much better defense against cognitive decline than exercise for older African Americans. Lead researcher Robert Newton says physical exercise is still important, but keeping the brain active is also key…
cut 5 (09) “….African Americans’
African Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s, or other dementias, than whites…and are generally under-represented in health and aging research.

The Louisiana Family Forum announces Ira and Margery Milan of New Orleans are the winners of their longest known married couple award as they’ve been husband and wife for 81 years. Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says they also want to recognize Lauris and Earline Broussard of Abbeville, who were married for 82 years, before Earline died last week at the age of 98…
cut 14 (08) “…good bye”

State Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion stating local governments have the authority to remove members of Library Control Boards. Chalmette Representative Ray Garafalo says he asked Landry to render the opinion after local officials came to him with their concerns…:
Cut 7 (09) “…library control board.”
More local governments are becoming concerned with the possibility of children accessing adult reading materials in the public library.

So far there’s only one person who has announced they are running for State Treasurer this fall and that’s state representative Scott McKnight, a Republican from Baton Rouge. McKnight says he’s a fan of outgoing Treasurer John Schroder, and says he’d run the Treasury, and represent Bond Commission, much as Schroder does…:
CUT 21 (11) “…with there.”

On this Valentine’s Day, the Louisiana Family Forum announces the state’s longest known married couple…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Nestle Purina PetCare Company is voluntarily recalling select lots of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets el Elmental prescription dry dog food because of elevated levels of Vitamin D. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain…
cut 12 (06) “…can get it”
El Elemental dog food is normally prescribed for dogs who have allergies or stomach issues.