The mayor of New Orleans is seeking federal assistance on security plans. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Saints completed their worst season since 2005 with another loss yesterday, falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-19. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi wanted to win this one for New Orleans, which has been reeling from last week’s terrorist attack…

Cut 17 (09) “…short term”

The Saints finish the year with a 5-and-12 record.

Louisiana wages have grown 25-percent since 2019 according to a report by the Committee of 100 for Economic Development. Committee of 100 CEO Adam Knapp says that type of wage growth is solid, but it lags the Southern average. But Knapp says the Meta Artificial Intelligence data center coming to Richland Parish should help…

Cut 5 (09) “….the entire state”

The new year means changes to state’s unemployment laws. The number of consecutive weeks a person can be on unemployment has been decreased from 26 weeks to 12 to 20 weeks depending on the state’s unemployment rate. Robert Wooley with the Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state is also cracking down on unemployment fraud and will pursue legal action in certain cases…

Cut 11 (10) “…they would prosecute”

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says President Joe Biden has granted Mardi Gras a level one Special Event Assessment Rating, which is the highest potential threat rating the federal government can give to an event. Mardi Gras usually receives a level two rating, but Cantrell says a SEAR 1 rating means they’ll have more federal resources….

Cut 8 (09) “…months ahead”

Cantrell has also asked for the federal government to provide a tactical expert to review the city’s security plans.

Louisiana is experiencing its coldest temperatures of the winter as highs this week will be in the 40s and by the end of the work week, we’ll see high temperatures in the 30s for central and north Louisiana. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s been a mild winter up until this point…

Cut 12 (05) “….this point”

And the National Weather Service says there’s the possibility of wintery precipitation Wednesday night, into Thursday morning for the western side of the state.

The Committee of 100’s (C100) year-end economic report says wages statewide have increased 25-percent since 2019, with the average weekly wage nearly 12-hundred dollars. Committee of 100 CEO Adam Knapp says the state has made progress in bringing in more higher paying jobs, but there’s still more work to do…

Cut 3 (08) “…Louisiana since 2019.”

The report also says healthcare, construction, and professional services will be the fastest job growing sectors through 2032.

What kind of action will Saints owner Gayle Benson take after the Black and Gold just completed its worst season since 2005? NOLA-dot-com columnist Jeff Duncan….

Cut 13 (07) “…right now”

But Duncan does not expect Benson replace long-time general manager Mickey Loomis.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell wants the federal government to provide the city a tactical expert to help with security planning for the upcoming Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras. Cantrell says one of the things she’d like the tactical expert to do is to determine whether the city’s plans for bollards on Bourbon Street are sufficient to prevent another tragedy like the one that happened on New Year’s Day.

Cut 7 (08) “…for public safety.”

President Biden is visiting the city later today and will attend a prayer service tonight at St. Louis Cathedral.

The Saints wrapped their season in Tampa Bay yesterday with another loss. They finish with a 5-and-12 record. NOLA-dot-com columnist Jeff Duncan says changes will be made, but don’t expect General Manager Mikey Loomis to be fired…

Cut 14 (19) “…clean house”

As a legal challenge continues in court, today is the first day that schools will have an opportunity to implement Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law. Andrew Greenstein reports Attorney General Liz Murrill issued guidance Friday afternoon.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

President Joe Biden has signed the Social Security Fairness Act. It’s legislation authored by former Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves and it will mean 90-thousand government retirees in Louisiana like teachers, police officers and their spouses will see a 360-dollar per month increase in their Social Security benefits.

The FBI says Shamsud-Din Jabbar planned his attack on Bourbon Street well in advance. FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Mytrhil says during an October visit, Jabbar recorded reconnaissance video of Bourbon Street with smart glasses…

Cut 11 (11) “…contact us.”

At this time, the FBI does not know why Jabbar, who was from Houston, chose Bourbon Street to attack.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is seeking federal assistance on security plans for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.

Cut 6 (15) “…months on end.”

Mayor Cantrell says one of the things she’d like the tactical expert to do is to determine whether the city’s plans for bollards on Bourbon Street are sufficient to prevent another tragedy like the one that happened early on New Year’s Day.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser criticized New Orleans leadership following the terror attack on Bourbon Street. Nungesser was filled with sadness and anger when he heard the news as he was returning to Louisiana from the Rose Parade.

Cut 5 (12) “…making it safer” 

Except for the five districts named in the ACLU’s ongoing lawsuit, all public school classrooms are now required to post the Ten Commandments. Attorney General Liz Murrill issued guidance late last Friday afternoon, saying among other things that there are four posters to choose from.

Cut 7 (13) “…with the law.”

The posters should be between 11-by-14 inches and 18-by-24 inches in size, placed within close proximity to other educational posters and away from a teacher’s desk or podium.

Federal authorities say the New Year’s Day attack on Bourbon Street could have claimed more lives if officers did not kill the suspect after he crashed into construction equipment. Joshua Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the A-T-F New Orleans field office, says Shamsud-Din Jabbar possessed a transmitter with radio receivers designed to ignite two bombs that he placed on Bourbon Street

Cut 10 (09) “…set off the devices.”

Jabbar died in a gun fight with New Orleans Police officers after his vehicle crashed.

President Joe Biden will arrive in New Orleans later today, where he’ll meet with victim family members and talk with federal, state and local officials responding to the terrorist attack. Governor Landry says he wants to speak with the President about issuing a disaster declaration, which the governor says can protecth, health, property and safety following the terrorist attack. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has faith in Governor Landry…

Cut 6 (16) “…city it can be”

As a legal challenge continues in court, today is the first day that schools will have an opportunity to implement Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law. Andrew Greenstein reports Attorney General Liz Murrill has issued guidance…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

What kind of action will Saints owner Gayle Benson take after the Black and Gold just completed its worse season since 2005. Her NBA franchise also has the worst record in the Western Conference. NOLA-dot-com columnist Jeff Duncan….

Cut 13 (07) “…right now”

The FBI is looking at foreign trips made by Shamsud-Din Jabbar before he carried out his attack on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day that killed 14 people. FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Mytrhil says Jabbar traveled to Canada and Egypt in 2023…

Cut 12 (08) “…in New Orleans’

Mythril says Jabbar was also in New Orleans in October and rode through the French Quarter on a bike and used smart glasses to record video of the buildings.

Schools re-open today following the winter break and a law went into effect at the start of the new year requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public-school classroom. A federal judge has ruled the law unconstitutional, but the state is appealing. Attorney General Liz Murrill says only five school districts are impacted by the ruling and her office has provided guidance on how others can follow the state law without violating the constitution…

Cut 8 (12) “….and comply constitutionally”

The Saints ended their season yesterday with another loss and finished with a 5-and-12 record, while the NBA Pelicans have the worst record in the Western Conference. Nola.com columnist Jeff Duncan expects owner Gayle Benson to make some major changes.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

A strong cold front has brought us the coldest temperatures of the winter, with wind chill readings below freezing. This cold weather is expected to remain in place for nearly the entire week.

The FBI says the Houston man who killed 14 people on Bourbon Street on New Year’s day visited New Orleans on at least two occasions in the weeks leading up to his terror attack. FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Mytrhil says during an October visit, he recorded reconnaissance video of Bourbon Street with smart glasses…

Cut 11 (19) “…contact us.”

Deputy Assistant Director of the counterterrorism division, Christopher Raia, says they still believe Shamsud-Din Jabbar acted alone…

Cut 27 (11) “…and disrupt”

President Joe Biden will visit New Orleans today where he’s expected to visit with victim family members and attend a prayer service.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is critical of New Orleans leadership for not doing more to prevent the Bourbon Street terrorist attack. Nungesser doesn’t understand why there wasn’t more of an impediment for vehicles to get on Bourbon Street. The city says they were making repairs to their bollard system, but Nungesser wonders why those repairs were not done before the New Year’s holiday…

Cut 4 (11) “…angers me”

Winter break is over and schools re-open today and there’s a new law that says public school classrooms must display the Ten Commandments. A federal judge has ruled the law is unconstitutional and Louisiana has appealed the ruling. Attorney General Liz Murrill says there are constitutionally sound ways to implement the law and her office has provided schools with guidance….

Cut 9  (12) “…see them”

Murrill concedes that posting the Ten Commandments by itself without any educational context violates the First Amendment.