Severe weather is putting a damper on Mardi Gras parades. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says the greatest threat for severe weather tomorrow is all of north and central Louisiana and a part of south Louisiana…

Cut 7 (05) “….south of I-10”

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollands on how to deal with the effects of bird flu and how to get egg prices under control.

Cut 9 (17)  “…and for poultry.”

Strain says it also might be time to import foreign eggs to help lower prices.

Former LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell ran the 40 yard dash under five seconds and made a vertical jump over 30 inches at the NFL draft combine, which is impressive for the former Neville star. Campbell believes he’s the best offensive tackle in the draft…

Cut 19 (17) “..separates me.”

There are some mock drafts that have the Patriots taking Campbell with the fourth overall pick.

Severe weather is expected to move into Louisiana tomorrow and that means Mardi Gras celebrations will be cut short. In New Orleans Marching krewes and truck parades will not parade but Zulu will roll at 7 a.m. and Rex at 9 a.m. but and all parades must wrap up by noon. Collin Arnold, New Orleans’ director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says while Mayor LaToya Cantrell has input and influence, she wasn’t the decision-maker in this instance.

Cut 13 (04)  “…of that decision.”

Arnold says not all floats are able to withstand high winds.

Jefferson Parish has cancelled both of their parades. Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says if those wind speeds are high enough to keep buses and Entergy crews off the roads, they’re certainly high enough to make conditions for a parade unsafe.

Cut 4 (14) “…tents, chairs, tarps.”

Parade times in New Roads, Kaplan, and Franklin have been moved up and Mardi Gras Festival in Cajun Field in Lafayette has been cancelled.

Authorities have made at least one arrest in a shooting that wounded five people after Mardi Gras parade in Franklinton last night. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (24) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollands on how to deal with the effects of bird flu and how to get egg prices under control.

Cut 9 (17)  “…and for poultry.”

The Bird flu has had a significant impact on egg prices and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollands getting prices under control and help farmers who have lost millions. The US is temporarily allowing imported eggs to help ease the prices and allow farmers time to rebuild their supply. Strain says there is not an overnight solution but is confident that in time egg prices should be back under control, and back to normal.

Cut 11 (03) “…gonna be riots.”

The state is forecast to have its first major potential spring weather event and unfortunately it arrives on Fat Tuesday. Meteorologist Mattt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says the severe weather threat begins tomorrow morning….

Cut 6 (11) “…there as well.”

Mardi Gras parades will not be rolling in Jefferson Parish tomorrow. Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says that’s because the high winds in the forecast will make conditions unsafe.

Cut 3 (11) “…hour is possible.”

While parades in Jefferson Parish are cancelled tomorrow due to the high winds, New Orleans is working to allow some parades to roll.  Zulu will roll at 7 a.m. and Rex at 9 a.m. Marching krewes and truck floats will not be allowed, and all parades must wrap up by noon. Collin Arnold, New Orleans’ director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says not all floats are able to withstand high winds.

Cut 14 (12) “…wind as others.”

Lafayette has cancelled Mardi Gras Festival in Cajun Field and the towns of Kaplan, Crowley, New Roads and Franklin have moved their parade times up.

Severe weather is putting a damper on Mardi Gras parades. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

In New Orleans, Zulu will roll at 7:00 am and Rex at 9:00am. Marching krewes and truck parades will not be allowed, and all parades must wrap up by noon. Collin Arnold, New Orleans’ director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says the city made the most of a tricky situation.

Cut 12 (06) “…the last day.”

In Lafayette, Mardi Gras Festival in Cajun Field has been cancelled. Parade times have been moved up in the towns of Kaplan, Crowley, New Roads and Franklin.

The state is forecast to have its first major potential spring weather event and North Louisiana will be under an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms which could include strong winds, hail and the possibility of tornados. Meteorologist Mattt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport…

Cut 8 (11) “…through sunset.”

In an effort to get egg prices under control after bird flu caused an increase, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met with Secretary of U-S Department of Agriculture Brooke Rollands. Strain says imported of eggs will be allowed into the United States temporarily to help and allow poultry farmers time to increase the egg supply.

Cut 10 (15) “…rebuild the population.”

Mardi Gras parades will not be rolling in Jefferson Parish tomorrow. Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says parades by the Krewe of Argus and the Elks Krewe of Jeffersonians have been called off due to high winds. Sheng says this is not a decision that she wanted to make, but the possibility of 60 mile an hour gusts left her with no other choice.

Cut 5 (14) “…work with us.”

New Orleans. meanwhile, is working to fit in its parades. The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and the Krewe of Rex will still hold their parades – Zulu at 7 a.m. and Rex at 9 a.m. Collin Arnold, New Orleans’ director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says while Mayor LaToya Cantrell certainly has input and influence, she’s not the final decision-maker in this instance.

Cut 23 (04) “…of that decision.”

Authorities have made at least one arrest in a shooting that wounded five people after the Mardi Gras parade in Franklinton last night. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (24) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met with U-S Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollands on how to deal with the effects of bird flu and how to get egg prices under control.

Cut 9 (19)  “…and for poultry.”

Mother Nature is picking the wrong day to inundate Louisiana with severe weather. Meteorologist Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says severe weather is forecast to move across North Louisiana, but could it possibly extend south into Central Louisiana.

Cut 7 (05) “…south of I-10.”

Either way, that’s going to put a damper on Mardi Gras parades for Fat Tuesday as Carnival season draws to a close. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng has cancelled both of tomorrow’s parades due to high winds. Sheng says if those wind speeds are high enough to keep buses and Entergy crews off the roads, they’re certainly high enough to make conditions for a parade unsafe.

Cut 4 (14) “…tents, chairs, tarps.”

While parades in Jefferson Parish have been called off for tomorrow, we’re still awaiting official word from New Orleans on the status of its parades. Collin Arnold, New Orleans’ director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says with tomorrow being the end of Carnival season, rescheduling parades is much more tricky.  

Cut 25 (09) “…do to reschedule.”

Arnold says while some floats are built to withstand high winds, others are a lot older and are less likely to do so. A little further west, parade times have been moved up in the towns of Kaplan, Crowley, New Roads and Franklin with severe weather moving in.

Fat Tuesday could be marred by severe weather. Meteorologist Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says the severe weather threat begins tomorrow morning….

Cut 6 (11) “…there as well.”

As such, the weather is putting a damper on Mardi Gras parades. In Jefferson Parish, President Cynthia Lee Sheng says high winds in the forecast will make parade conditions unsafe; and thus, all parades tomorrow are cancelled. 

Cut 3 (11) “…hour is possible.” 

President Sheng says if those wind speeds are high enough to keep buses and Entergy crews off the roads, they’re certainly high enough to make conditions for a parade unsafe. Parade times have been moved up in the towns of Kaplan, Crowley and Franklin.

While Lafayette will be the first city in Louisiana to get a Buc-ee’s, Ruston won’t be too far behind. Infrastructure work will get underway next week for the new Buc-ee’s there, with travel center construction starting in about five weeks, Mayor Ronny Walker says the store will benefit all facets of the city.

Cut 12 (08) “…taxes also.”

Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s frustrated that veterans are having trouble getting services from the Veterans Administration; and thus, he’s introducing two bills to address it. The first one is called the VetPAC Act, which would create a policy advisory commission to review the Veterans Health Administration.

Cut 14 (12) “…to patient care.”

The other bill is the Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act, which would create an independent organization to assess the quality of care.