Some Louisiana schools are moving to four-day work weeks. David Claxton, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents and Administrators, says four-day schools will still have to adhere to the state law requiring 63,720 minutes of instruction time per school year.

Cut 21 (09) “…five-day week gets.”

As for whether a four-day week has any effect on student achievement in either direction, Claxton says there’s currently not enough data to make a determination one way or the other.

It’s Lent and this is when many Catholics eat a healthy supply of seafood. Harlan Pearch of Harlan’s LA Fish in Kenner says crabs are expensive right now and there is shrimp available, but the supply does not pick up until April and May. He says there is crawfish and prices will go down as we get closer to Easter…

Cut 13 (08) “…us too.”

A Rapides Parish woman is convicted in connection with a wildfire west of Glenmora nearly three years ago. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says Carrie Willis was negligent as she was burning household trash on her property.

Cut 6 (14) “…a pine plantation.”

Strain says the guilty verdict will cost Willis almost ten-thousand dollars as part of her sentence.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette athletics is mourning the death of former basketball standout Bo Lamar who died earlier this week in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio at the age of 74. Lamar starred for the Ragin Cajuns from 1969 to 1973 and was one of the best basketball players in the country. Kevin Foote covers U-L Lafayette athletics for the Advocate…

Cut 9 (07)  “…mid major programs.”

Lamar averaged 31 points a game during his career and over his final three seasons, the Cajuns were 74-13 and only UCLA had a higher winning percentage.

As Lent begins and Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays, Ash Wednesday, and Good Friday, demand for Louisiana fresh seafood increases.  Harlon Pearce of Harlan’s LA Fish in Kenner says there is a lot of great seafood to choose from…

Cut 11 (11) “…as well”

Pearce says the wild catfish caught in Louisiana is amazing right now and he says give it a couple of weeks and there will be plenty of crawfish.

Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and abstinence in the Catholic church. New Orleans Archbishop James Checchio CHECK-ee-oh says fasting doesn’t always have to refer to refraining from eating food.

Cut 5 (08) “…important things with.”

A Rapides Parish woman by the name of Carrie Willis is convicted in connection with a wildfire west of Glenmora nearly three years ago. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says the incident came at a time when wildfires were rampant in Louisiana due to a historic drought.

Cut 8 (07) “…or from negligence.”

The wildfire burned about 27 acres of a young pine plantation and Willis was sentenced to two years of probation and she will have to pay nine-thousand dollars in restitution.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette athletics is mourning the death of former basketball standout Bo Lamar who died earlier this week at the age of 74. Lamar averaged 31 points a game during his career. Kevin Foote of the Advocate says Lamar was the catalyst for then-Southwestern Louisiana’s rise from an NAIA program to one of the top Division One programs…

Cut 10 (12) “…Top Ten teams.”

A Rapides Parish woman is convicted in connection with a wildfire west of Glenmora in March of 2023, when wildfires were burning rampantly due to a historic drought. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the guilty verdict will cost Carrie Willis almost ten-thousand dollars as part of her sentence.

Cut 7 (13) “…those 27 acres.”

Carnival is over for 2026. As you may know, Carnival is a predominantly Catholic festival, and it was the first for the new Archbishop of New Orleans, James Checchio (CHECK-ee-oh). Coming to New Orleans from New Jersey, Archbishop Checchio says he was welcomed with open arms.

Cut 3 (08) “…last couple nights.”

One of the greatest athletes to ever play at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette has passed away. Jeff Palermo has more on the loss of Bo Lamar who has died at the age of 74….

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

For those of you in the federally declared disaster area following Winter Storm Fern, the Louisiana Department of Revenue is granting you automatic filing and payment extensions to March 31st. They excise, sales, severance and withholding, along with the filing of W-2, L-3 and 1099 forms.

That’s a wrap for Carnival for 2026. The parades are over, the floats are back in storage, and the remaining stock of king cakes are on sale at bargain basement prices. This was the first Carnival season in New Orleans for the city’s new archbishop, James Checchio. He says he was impressed with all the traditions.

Cut 4 (11) “…they value here.”

A Rapides Parish woman is convicted in connection with a wildfire west of Glenmora nearly three years ago. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says Carrie Willis was negligent as she was burning household trash on her property.

Cut 6 (14) “…a pine plantation.”

Willis was sentenced to two years probation and has been ordered to pay almost ten-thousand dollars in fire suppression costs and restitution.

Louisiana has lost legendary civil rights leader and former president of Xavier University Dr. Norman C. Francis. He died early this morning at Ochsner Hospital. Francis led the only Catholic historically Black university in the country for almost 50 years and is credited with transforming Xavier into a standout institution for medical education. Francis also advised eight U.S. presidents and was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dr. Francis was 94 years old.

UL-Lafayette athletics is mourning the death of former basketball standout Bo Lamar, who died earlier this week in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 74. Kevin Foote covers Cajuns athletics for the Advocate.

Cut 9 (07)  “…mid major programs.”

Lamar starred for the team from 1969 to 1973, when it was known as the Southwestern Louisiana Bulldogs, and he was one of the best basketball players in the country.

Carnival is over, the floats are back in storage, the remaining stock of king cakes are now on sale – and with that, it is the start of Lent – a 40-day period of fasting and abstinence in the Catholic church. New Orleans Archbishop James Checchio says fasting doesn’t always have to refer to refraining from eating food.

Cut 5 (08) “…important things with.”

A growing number of school districts, mainly in rural parishes, are going to four-day weeks. David Claxton, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents and Administrators, says whether students attend school four or five days a week, the state law requiring 63,720 minutes of instruction time per school year does not change.

Cut 11 (09) “…five-day week gets.”

Louisiana continues remembering a civil rights icon. Andre Champagne has more on the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

For the first time in 14 years, Allegiant Air is extending non-stop service from Shreveport to Orlando beyond the summer months. Mark Crawford, the airport business and development manager for the Shreveport Airport Authority, says depending on when you travel, you might be able to book each leg of your trip for less than a daily pass to Disney World.

Cut 15 (05) “…73 dollars one way.”

Carnival is over for 2026. As you may know, Carnival is a predominantly Catholic festival, and it was the first for the new Archbishop of New Orleans, James Checchio (CHECK-ee-oh). Coming to New Orleans from New Jersey, Archbishop Checchio says he was impressed with all the traditions of Carnival in New Orleans.

Cut 3 (08) “…last couple nights.”

A growing number of school districts are moving to four-day weeks. David Claxton, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents and Administrators, says this seems to be happening more in rural parishes, and the biggest motivating factor is money.

Cut 10 (10) “…that way financially.”

Students who spend one fewer day a week in school end up spending an additional hour and a half in school per day.

Starting today, SNAP recipients will not be able to use their benefit cards to purchase soda, energy drinks or candy. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

For the first time in 14 years, Allegiant Air is extending its nonstop service from Shreveport to Orlando beyond the summer months. Mark Crawford with the Shreveport Airport Authority says that’s because more people wanted to visit Orlando when it’s not scorching hot outside.

Cut 14 (04) “…in the summer.”

Louisiana has lost legendary civil rights leader and former president of Xavier University Dr. Norman C. Francis. He died early this morning at Ochsner Hospital. Francis led the only Catholic historically Black university in the country for almost 50 years and is credited with transforming Xavier into a standout institution for medical education. Francis also advised eight U.S. presidents and was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dr. Francis was 94 years old.

We continue to get reaction to the death of iconic civil rights leader, Reverend Jesse Jackson who passed away yesterday at the age of 84. Sixth District Congressman Cleo Fields worked on Jackson’s Presidential campaigns in the 1980s and says he remembers one conversation in particular with Reverend Jackson.

Cut 9 (11)  “…impression on me.”

A growing number of school districts are moving to four-day weeks. David Claxton, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents and Administrators, says 4-day schools will still be required to provide the same number of minutes of instruction per week. Claxton says Mondays may become non-school days in these districts.

Cut 12 (08) “…still in school.”

Starting today, SNAP recipients will no longer be able to use their cards to purchase soft drinks, energy drinks or candy. The state received a waiver from the federal officials that prevents SNAP recipients from using government assistance to purchase these items. Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) hopes this change will result in SNAP recipients purchasing healthier

Cut 5 (10) “…breads and cereals.”

SNAP cards will no longer cover the purchase of soft drinks, energy drinks or candy. Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) hopes this change will result in SNAP recipients purchasing healthier foods.

Cut 6 (08) “…it in moderation.”

Greenstein says they have informed SNAP recipients of the change that takes effect today.

Civil rights leader and Rainbow Coalition founder, Reverend Jesse Jackson passed away yesterday at the age of 84. Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields says Reverend Jackson who was known for his “I am somebody” speeches, had the ability to galvanize people.

Cut 8 (08) “…excited about politics.”

In 2005, Jackson spoke on the steps of the state capitol in a rally to rebuild Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina

Some school districts are going to four-day weeks. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

There’s good news for those who fly from Shreveport to Orlando. Beginning in May, Allegiant Air will offer non-stop service. Mark Crawford, with the Shreveport Airport Authority, says depending on when you travel, you might be able to book each leg of your trip for less than a daily pass to Disney World.

Cut 15 (05) “…73 dollars one way.”