The governor and attorney general reacted angrily to a Justice Department report saying Louisiana State Police troopers routinely use excessive force during drug arrests and vehicle pursuits. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Many schools and all state offices will be closed on Tuesday due to the possibility of a memorable winter storm. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim models are indicating that moisture from the Gulf, combined with cold temperatures will help produce snow, possibly multiple inches…

Cut 5 (08) “…I-10, I-12.”

Governor Jeff Landry has been flying in a five-point-five-million-dollar airplane to travel the state. Previous governors used helicopters but according to State Police the helicopters were 20 years old and difficult to maintain. WRKF Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington broke the story along with Julie O’ Donoghue from the Louisiana Illuminator…

Cut 9 (09)  “…traveling on it.”

The University of New Orleans will furlough approximately 290 staff and faculty members as they look to close a 10-million-dollar budget deficit driven by low enrollment. UNO CFO Edwin Litoff says the furloughs aim to save 1.7-million-dollars, with a hiring freeze projected to reduce the deficit by an additional 2.5-million-dollars. However, Litoff acknowledges that further cuts, layoffs, and retirement incentives will be needed.

Cut 7 (09) “…end of the year.”

To get around the state, Governor Jeff Landry has been flying in a five-point-five-million-dollar airplane. Public flight records show the single-engine plane traveling between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, near where the governor lives. The plane also made several back-and-forth trips between Baton Rouge and New Orleans after the Bourbon Street terrorist attack.  WRKF Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington says they do know the plane is not just for the governor’s travels

Cut 11 (12) “…in a hurry.”

The governor’s office says using the plane instead of the helicopters should save the state money.

The state has moved almost 160 homeless people in New Orleans, who were living in encampments around the Superdome, into a transitional shelter in Gentilly.  The plan has drawn concern from a pair of state legislators and from nearby residents, even though there’s a concrete wall separating the neighborhoods from the street where the shelter is located off of France Road.  GOHSEP Chief of Staff Scott Adams says there is tight security in the area.

Cut 14 (10) “…areas are impacted.”

You’ll need a warm coat, gloves, hats, and boots next week as Louisiana could see a significant winter storm. Jeff Palermo has the details…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A Houma man was arrested for second-degree murder after allegedly stabbing his 75-year-old aunt, Joyce Williams, during a confrontation at her Houma home on January 16. Police found Williams with multiple stab wounds, but she later died at the hospital.  45-year-old Greg Gaither stayed at the scene and was detained without incident and has been booked into the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex for one count of Second-Degree Murder.

der.

Many schools and state offices will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday as arctic cold weather is expected to grip the state and there’s a chance we’ll see snow on Tuesday.  The cold air mass will begin moving into the state on Sunday. Long periods of subfreezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills are expected Sunday night through Thursday. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says Monday and Tuesday will be very cold days…

Cut 4 (11) “…above freezing.”

The University of New Orleans (UNO) will furlough approximately 290 staff and faculty members as part of ongoing efforts to close a 10-million-dollar budget deficit driven by low enrollment. This follows previous cost-cutting steps, including layoffs, administrative reductions, consolidating five colleges into two, and closing facilities. President Kathy Johnson says the decision was hard but necessary to secure UNO’s future.

Cut 6 (09) “…gut-wrenching.”

To get around the state, Governor Jeff Landry has been flying in a five-point-five-million-dollar airplane. Previous governors used helicopters but according to State Police, the helicopters were 20 years old and difficult to maintain. Public flight records show the single-engine plane traveling between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, near where the governor lives. The plane also made several back-and-forth trips between Baton Rouge and New Orleans after the Bourbon Street terrorist attack. WRKF Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington says the plane was purchased last September….

Cut 10 (07) “…turbo prop plane.”

The state has moved almost 160 homeless people in New Orleans into a transitional shelter. Scott Adams, the chief of staff at GOHSEP, says the sweep is not city-wide.

Cut 12 (12) “…for Mardi Gras.”

Many schools and state offices will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday as artic cold weather is expected to grip the state and there’s a chance we’ll see snow on Tuesday. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says we’re looking at the possibility of a widespread snow event in the Bayou State…

Cut 3 (11) “…very very closely”

State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the cold air will begin to arrive on Sunday…

Cut 21  (14) “…for the afternoon”

Temperatures will be below freezing for most of the day Tuesday. State officials are urging residents to prepare for the winter storm as traveling could be a problem starting Monday night into Wednesday.

To get around the state, Governor Jeff Landry has been flying in a five-point-five-million-dollar airplane. Previous governors used helicopters but according to State Police the helicopters were 20 years old and difficult to maintain. WRKF Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington broke the story along with Julie O’ Donoghue from the Louisiana Illuminator…

Cut 9 (09) “…traveling on it”

Public flight records show the single-engine plane traveling between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, near where the governor lives. The plane also made several back-and-forth trips between Baton Rouge and New Orleans after the Bourbon Street terrorist attack.

And the Sugar Bowl has made a 500-thousand-dollar donation towards the New Yar’s Day tragedy fund. The money will help support the families who lost loved ones and those seriously injured. The dollars will also go towards safety initiatives. Sugar Bowl president Walter Becker…

Cut 15 (11) “…and move on”

The U-S Justice Department has released a report that has found State Police Troopers routinely use excessive force, including the unjustified use of Tasers and escalating minor incident involving individuals who do not pose a threat. The Justice Department says L-S-P has made changes to its use of force policy, but more work must be done.

We’re watching for the possibility of a winter storm blanketing the state with snow early next week. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has the latest….

Cut 27 (31) “…upcoming storm”

What should go into determining if a person is obese? Currently your Body Mass Index is the major tool, but health experts worldwide say B-M-I is really just a measure of a person’s height and weight, but it doesn’t say how much fat you have. Doctor Phillip Schauer at Pennington says it’s important to know if a person has pre-clinical obesity or clinical obesity…

Cut 6 (13) “….extend their lives”

The Sugar Bowl is donating a half-million dollars to the Greater New Orleans Foundation in the wake of the tragedy on Bourbon Street the morning of the day when the game was originally scheduled to be played. Sugar Bowl President Walter Becker says the money will be evenly split two ways.

Cut 13 (09) “…the French Quarter.”

Fourteen people were killed and dozens injured in the New Year’s Day attack.

Based on computer models, confidence is growing that snow could fall in Louisiana on Tuesday. State Climatologist Jay Grymes…

Cut 11 (11) “…early Wednesday”

The European model is showing the likelihood for snowfall is greater for central and south Louisiana, and it’s possible south Louisiana could see two to four inches.

There is a high risk for hard freezes with low temperatures ranging from the upper teens in north Louisiana to the mid-20s in south Louisiana. Louisiana Department of Health Deputy Secretary Doctor Pete Croughan says whatever you do, do not use your stove or oven to heat your home…

Cut 9 (07) “…. carbon monoxide poisoning”

And space heaters need to be three to five feet away from bedding or other flammable materials.

Health experts around the world are trying to get a better handle on what should lead to a person being diagnosed as obese. B-M-I is the main tool right now, but a muscular individual could be determined as obese, even though they are in great shape. LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is participating in this effort to come up with new guidelines to determine if a person is obese. Doctor Phillip Schauer says it’s critical to understand exactly what the disease is…

Cut 5 (05) “….and overtreat obesity”

The Sugar Bowl is donating 500-thousand dollars to the New Year’s Day tragedy fund in response to the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street that led to a one-day postponement of the game. Half of the donation will go to the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s New Year’s Day Tragedy Fund; the other half will fund public safety initiatives. Sugar Bowl President Walter Becker…

Cut 14 (08) “…EMS or fire”

14 people were killed and many more injured in the New Year’s Day attack.

A lengthy investigation by the U-S Justice Department has found a pattern of misconduct by State Police when it comes to using excessive force during arrests and vehicle pursuits. The D-O-J report said the use of stun guns is particularly concerning.  Governor Jeff Landry is not happy with the report and says it’s an attempt to diminish the service and exceptionality of LSP.

The Sugar Bowl makes a sizeable donation following the New Year’s Day Bourbon Street attack. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

We are looking at a mild day tomorrow, but then a blast of artic air will descend on the state, bringing the possibility of a measurable snowfall on Tuesday. There was the potential for winter precipitation last week in north Louisiana that never materialized, but State Climatologist Jay Grymes says there’s a better chance that next week’s winter storm will deliver…

Cut 12 (06) “…first go around”

Travel could be difficult on Tuesday, if it snows. Louisiana Department of Health Deputy Secretary Doctor Pete Croughan says if you need to run important errands, get them done before the winter precipitation arrives…

Cut 8 (08) “….tomorrow or Monday”

LSU backup quarterback Colin Hurley is recovering after he was involved in a single vehicle wreck early Thursday morning on the LSU campus. His family says Hurley is in stable condition but expected to make a full recovery.