New Orleans may become the new place to recharge… at least, recharge your electric vehicle, as the city just got over 9 million dollars to install EV chargers. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

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Governor Jeff Landry testified before the U-S House Transportation Committee, asking for more federal dollars to pay for major highway projects. Andrew Greenstein has the story….

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

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The lineup for the 2025 New Orleans Jazz Fest has been announced. Michelle Southern reports this year’s festival features a wide array of artists and something special for Louisiana residents…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

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New Orleans has received over 9 million dollars from the Federal Highway Administration to install electric vehicle chargers across the city. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter thinks this will help New Orleanians go greener.

Cut 4 (12) “…place to charge.”

The funding will add around 118 publicly available EV chargers at 58 locations across New Orleans. 66 percent of the chargers will be installed in federally designated disadvantaged communities.

Cut 5 (06) “…throughout our community.”

Gasoline- and diesel-based cars, trucks and buses account for almost 43% of New Orleans’ total greenhouse gas emissions. Carter hopes these chargers will help lower those emissions.

Cut 6 (12) “…that are available.”

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Governor Jeff Landry testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, urging the new Congress to provide more federal dollars for an improved interstate system, including new bridges for Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. Landry says a new Mississippi River bridge in the capital city is desperately needed to alleviate congestion on Interstate 10…

Cut 7 (07) “…back and forth.”

Landry says a modernized interstate system will boost the economy. He says a recent report found Louisiana will experience the third largest freight growth in the nation. The governor says connecting I-49 from Shreveport to New Orleans has been discussed since the early 1980s….

Cut 8 (10) “…been completed.”

The state is moving forward on building a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles, but tolls will help pay for the two-point-three-billion-dollar project. Landry says if the state can receive more federal dollars, he can lower the tolls

Cut 9 (13)  “…can help.”

The tolls will range from $2.55 to $12.26 for commercial trucks depending on their size and whether it has a toll tags. Local motorists would pay 25 cents to cross the bridge while automobiles from the outside the area will pay anywhere from $1.25 to $3.75.

House Transportation Chairman Sam Graves says one of their priorities is to reauthorize the nation’s surface transportation programs, but that doesn’t mean everyone will get everything they want.

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The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has released its 2025 line-up. Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Luke Combs, Lenny Kravitz and Kacey Musgraves are the headliners for the two-weekend musical festival that takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course April 24^th to May fourth. Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis says weekend passes are on sale now and Louisiana residents receive a discount…

Cut 10 (10) “…local people.”

Cubes and show times have not yet been released, but Davis says if you go to n-o-jazz-fest-dot-com you can find out which weekend the different artists will perform…

Cut 11 (11) “…zip code.”

Davis says this year’s festival features a wide variety of musical performers, covering every genre…

Cut 12 (10) “…jazz singer.”

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Three men are now under arrest in connection with the shooting at the bonfire in Webster Parish last weekend. 23-year-old Zyan Adominick-Jaire Stanley of Minden and one other are each charged with six counts of attempted first-degree murder. 22-year-old Jacolby Tyrone Snell of Doyline is charged with accessory after the fact and two counts of modifying a pistol to a machine gun. Sheriff Jason Parker says the organizers of the bonfire did not obtain a permit ahead of time.

Cut 13 (11) “…having get-togethers.”

Parker says if they did obtain a permit as they were supposed to have done, the shooting may have been prevented.

Cut 14 (07) “…reduced the risk.”

Of the six people shot, two were injured critically. Parker says thankfully, all victims will survive.

Cut 15 (08) “…that they’re okay.”

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The Ragin Cajuns visit Arkansas State tonight the preseason favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference. Both teams enter the matchup with three and two records in league play. Interim UL Lafayette head coach Derrick Zimmerman says the Red Wolves have a lot of talented players, including former Cajun Kobe Julien…

Cut 16 (25) “…for them.”

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Louisiana Tech won two in a row at home last week and they are back on the road this week. Tonight, the Bulldogs visit Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks finished with a losing record last year, but Tech head coach Talvin Hester says Jax State is 9-and-7 overall this year…

Cut 17 (17)  “…mismatches.”

Louisiana Tech is third in Conference USA in defense, allowing 68 points a game. But Hester says his team can be better on the defensive end of the floor…

Cut 18 (10)   “…over enough.”

La Tech is only forcing 12 turnovers a game. Tip off tonight is at 6 PM.

President Biden delivers his farewell address tonight. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross expects it to be a traditional one.

Cut 5 (13) “…some looking ahead.”

Cross says he expects Biden to tout his accomplishments over the last four years, and he may make at least a passing reference to his predecessor and successor. Biden’s address is at seven Central time.

Small businesses are more optimistic now than they have been in the last six years. NFIB State Director Leah Long says small business owners are looking forward to a new presidential administration, and one thing they want in the new term is the reauthorization of the Main Street Tax Act.

Cut 14 (12) “…small business owners.”

The Louisiana Department of Education launches its new website. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Some big names are lined up for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival – from Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews to Santana and New Orleans’ own Harry Connick Junior. Just about every musical genre will be represented. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival begins April 24th.

The weather outside is about to turn frightful, and that could potentially mean snow. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says we’ll have to wait a few more days before forecasters can accurately predict the possibility for snow. But he says there’s an excellent chance for pipe-busting cold…

Cut 11 (08) “…season.”

The latest Small Business Optimism Index by the National Federation of Independent Business shows that small business owners are more optimistic today than they have been in the last six years. State Director Leah Long says here in Louisiana, the reduction in the income tax will be a big boost to small business owners.

Cut 13 (06)  “…hire more employees.”

Long says small business owners are looking forward to a new presidential administration, and one thing they want in the new term is the reauthorization of the Main Street Tax Act.

The Louisiana Department of Education unveils its brand new website. Department spokesman Ted Beasley says the new website is easier to navigate and much more aesthetically pleasing.

Cut 8 (10) “…they’re looking for”

Beasley says the old website was ten years old and was getting to be a tad cumbersome to use. The website also has a new web address – doe.louisiana.gov. Those who still go to louisianabelieves.com will be redirected to the new URL.

A former Union Parish Sheriff’s deputy pleads no contest to a simple battery charge in connection with the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene. Chris Harpin was placed on supervised probation and will not serve any jail time. In fact, none of the officers involved in the videotaped beating of Greene will face jail time. Federal prosecutors declined to press charges after failing to find evidence that Greene’s civil rights were violated.

President Biden delivers his farewell address at seven tonight. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A former Union Parish Sheriff’s deputy involved in the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Green has pleaded no contest to a simple battery charge. Chris Harpin will not serve any jail time, instead he was placed on supervised probation. None of the officers involved in the videotaped beating of Greene will face jail time. Federal prosecutors could not find evidence that his civil rights were violated.

Small businesses are more optimistic now than they have been in the last six years. That’s according to the latest Small Business Optimism Index by the National Federation of Independent Business. State Director Leah Long says small business owners are looking forward to the upcoming change at 16-hundred Pennsylvania Avenue.

Cut 12 (08) “…the labor shortage.”

Here locally, Long says the reduction in the income tax will be a big boost to small business owners.

The state Department of Education has revamped its website. Department of Education spokesperson Ted Beasley says the new website is easier to navigate and students, parents, educators and system leaders should be able to find what they are looking for quickly….

Cut 7 (11) “….they’re looking for”

If your dreams of a White Christmas didn’t come true, a white January might be a small consolation. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says there’s a chance a large portion of the state could see snow and ice on Tuesday, but it remains to be seen if the conditions will be right for precipitation to fall…

Cut 10 (10) “…winter precipitation.”

President Biden delivers his farewell address tonight. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Biden will tout his accomplishments in his four years in office, and he also expects Biden to make at least a passing reference to his predecessor and successor.

Cut 4 (10) “…a personal rule.”

Biden’s address comes as he prepares to leave office in five days. It’s at seven Central time.

The Louisiana Department of Education launches its new website. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Some big names are lined up for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival – from Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews to Santana and New Orleans’ own Harry Connick Junior. Just about every musical genre will be represented. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival begins April 24th.

The Lineup for New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is out.  The two weekends beginning April 24^th will feature just about every style of American music  including Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, Luke Combs, Lil Wayne, Lenny Kravitz, Kacy Musgraves, Santana, John Fogerty, Burna Boy, Cage the Elephant, Gladys Knight, Pattie LaBelle, Harry Connick Jr. and hundreds more. “Locals Thursday” advance tickets for only $50 will go on sale soon for Louisiana residents. Weekend passes and VIP packages are available now at nojazzfest.com.

The Louisiana Department of Education launches its new website today. Department spokesman Ted Beasley says the old website was ten years old and was getting to be a tad cumbersome to use. Beasley says the new website is easier to navigate.

Cut 6 (10) “…they’re looking for.”

President Biden delivers his farewell address at seven tonight. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

We’ll have to wait a few more days before forecasters can accurately predict the possibility for snow but LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says there’s a chance a large portion of the state could see snow and ice on Tuesday, and what we know for sure is that it will be cold.

Cut 9 (11)  “…freezing mark.”

Two arrests have been made in Saturday’s Dubberly bon fire shooting that left six wounded, two critically. 23-year-old Zyan Adominick-Jaire Stanley is charged with six counts of attempted first degree murder and 22-year-old- Jacolby Tyrone Snell was booked as accessory after the fact and two counts of modifying a pistol to a machine gun. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker says the investigation continues and more arrests are expected. The two critically wounded victims are improving and expected to recover.

President Biden delivers his farewell address tonight. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Biden will tout his accomplishments in his four years in office.

Cut 3 (09) “…massive infrastructure investment.”

All in all, Cross expects this farewell address to be a traditional one.

The Louisiana Department of Education launches its new website today. Department spokesman Ted Beasley says the new website is easier to navigate and more aesthetically pleasing.

Cut 8 (10) “…they’re looking for”

The website also has a new web address – doe.louisiana.gov. Anyone using louisianabelieves.com will be redirected to the new URL.