Drew Brees is hanging up his cleats as the future hall of famer announces he’s retiring after 20 seasons. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

In a statement from Brees, the former quarterback says he’s only retiring from football, not New Orleans. This is not goodbye but rather, a new beginning and now his real life’s work begins. Brees announced this morning that he will be going to work for NBC Sports as a football analyst.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins is among a group of Republican U-S House members who are in Texas today to assess the increase of unauthorized crossing attempts from Mexico. Higgins says what was a manageable situation during the Trump administration has turned into a crisis
Cut 10 (10) “…illegal crossings” (2x)

Gas prices have returned to pre-pandemic levels and continue to increase at the pumps. According to Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan it is usually the summer months when gas prices typically increase, and it looks like they could reach the $3-mark nationally but living in the Bayou State does have its perks.

Cut 6 (10) “…Louisiana.”

According to Gas Buddy-dot-com, the statewide average for regular gasoline is $2.54, a 60-cent increase since the beginning of the year

LSU is facing calls for additional punishments for those involved in the mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. Don Molino has more…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Don Molino”  

On Friday, the state department of health reported COVID hospitalizations under 500. Another milestone for a week that is the one-year anniversary of the first reported case and death from the pandemic in Louisiana. More people in the state have now completed their vaccinations than the number of reported positive cases in the state since the pandemic began.

Early voting ends Saturday for the two special congressional races for the second and fifth districts. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says the second district race is likely headed to a run-off, but the fifth district could be won outright when the election is held on March 20th. He says Republican Julia Letlow is the favorite…

cut 11 (09) “…before”
Early voting will end Saturday at 6 PM.

The weather looks great for boating this weekend. Lieutenant Dean Aucoin, with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Department, says before going on the water, make sure your safety equipment is in good shape…
cut 8 (10) “…everybody on board”
There is a marginal risk for severe weather in northeast Louisiana on Sunday.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the homicide of a 77-year old caretaker and the suspect is the special needs woman she cared for. Sheriff Joseph Lopinto says the incident happened around 10 a.m Friday at a home in Terrytown.
Cut 12 (10) “ …sitter”

Lopinto says the suspect, who is nonverbal, has been taken to a psychiatric ward.

Saturday is the last day for early voting and in the predominantly New Orleans Democratic-based 2^nd Congressional District, JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon predicts a runoff for Troy Carter and most likely Karen Carter Peterson, or possibly with Gary Chambers or…

Cut 10 (09) “…party.” 

There’s also a Congressional race in the 5^th district, election day is March 20^th.

It was a week ago that the Husch Blackwell report on LSU’s mishandlings of sexual assault cases was released.  During a legislative hearing this week attended by victims and students, state lawmakers were furious the report didn’t result in any firings. LSU interim President Thomas Galligan says he welcomes their scrutiny.

Cut 5  (12)  “…this situation” 

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and fisheries is urging boaters to practice safe boating after already seeing seven boating fatalities in 2021.  At this time in last year, we only saw two boating fatalities.  Lieutenant Dean Aucoin says boaters need to be aware of their surroundings.

Cut 6 (12) “..everybody else safe”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the homicide of a 77-year-old caretaker and the suspect is the 32-year old special needs woman she cared for. Sheriff Joseph Lopinto says it happened around 10 this morning in Terrytown and the suspect, who is nonverbal, has been taken to a psychiatric ward.

Cut 13 (10)“…why.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and fisheries is urging boaters to practice safe boating after already seeing seven boating fatalities in 2021.  Lieutenant Dean Aucoin says anyone 16 years of age or under must wear an approved life jacket, and it could have made a difference in the number of fatalities so far this year.

Cut 7 (11) “…concerning to us”

Baton Rouge TV stations are reporting a State Trooper Jacob Brown has resigned from L-S-P. Brown is accused of beating a Monroe man during an arrest in 2019. Brown was charged in December with second-degree battery and malfeasance in office.

Early voting for the March 20^th elections for two congressional seats in the 2nd and 5th districts ends Saturday and projected turnout is 15 to 20 percent. Taylor Sharp has more.

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Taylor Sharp.”  

Saturday is the last day for early voting and in predominantly New Orleans Democratic-based 2^nd Congressional District, JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon predicts a runoff for Troy Carter and most likely Karen Carter Peterson, or possibly with Gary Chambers or…

Cut 10 (09) “…party.” 

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and fisheries is urging boaters to practice safe boating after already seeing seven boating fatalities in 2021.  At this time in last year, we only saw two boating fatalities.  Lieutenant Dean Aucoin says boaters need to be aware of their surroundings.

Cut 6 (12) “..everybody else safe”

Governor Edwards has declared Sunday a Day of Remembrance in honor of the one-year anniversary since the state reported its first COVID death…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

The state reports COVID hospitalizations have dropped below 500 to 478.

Included in the 1.9 trillion-dollar Biden relief bill signed yesterday is the 28.6-billion-dollar Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Matt Doyle spoke with the Louisiana Restaurant Association about it…

Cut 1 (31) “…Matt Doyle.”

Early voting ends tomorrow for two of Louisiana’s congressional seats. The March 20^th special congressional elections are to fill the New Orleans-based seat in District 2, and the 5^th district in north-east Louisiana.

The state has signed an agreement with NASA’s Michoud (MEE-shoo) Assembly plant that could lead to the creation of the Louisiana Space Campus, a dedicated business park within NASA’s site. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson feels the project could begin construction sooner than later.

Cut 11 (11) “…available.”

If you are planning a trip this year, you don’t want to be caught off guard by mandates along your travels, AAA spokesperson Don Redman recommends using a travel advisor for the most up-to-date information on restrictions, including hotels and rental cars. Redman says most will be traveling by car this year.

Cut 14 (07) “…airlines.” 

AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restriction Map is a helpful site to navigate your trip.

Included in the 1.9 trillion dollar Biden relief bill signed yesterday is the 28.6 billion dollar Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Matt Doyle spoke with the Louisiana Restaurant Association about it…

Cut 1 (31) “…Matt Doyle.”

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Governor Edwards has declared Sunday a Day of Remembrance in honor of the one-year anniversary since the state reported its first COVID death…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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As more people are vaccinated, confidence is growing to begin traveling again, but AAA warns it’s not going to be the same. Brooke Thorington explains

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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President Biden signs the 1.9 trillion dollar American Rescue Act, a sweeping bill that includes 28.6 billion dollars in assistance to bars and restaurants.

Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says after a tough 2020 the Restaurant Revitalization Fund is a welcome relief.

Cut 4 (08)“…things.”

National reports show a 17 percent drop in operating restaurants when comparing the end of 2020 to 2019 and a 16 percent drop in industrywide revenue.

Harris says the fund covers a broad array of food service, bars, taprooms, and even food trucks. Restaurants can receive up to five million dollars in aid per location to a max of ten million.

Cut 5 (11)“…leave.”

The amount any one business can receive is based on total lost revenue from February of last year through the end of 2021 minus the amount of PPP aid they may have already received. Priority will be given to smaller establishments and a five billion dollar portion of the fund has been set aside for entities that generated 500,000 dollars or less in revenue last year.

Harris says the fund will save a lot of companies on the brink of failure, but it’s still just a portion of revenue lost since the start of the pandemic.

Cut 6 (04) “…losses.”

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Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed COVID-19 death in Louisiana.

Governor Edwards’ communications director Shauna Sanford says Sunday will be a Day of Remembrance and the Governor is calling on all Louisianans to observe a moment of silence and prayer that day in honor of the pandemic’s victims.

Cut 7 (11)  “…community.”

The first reported case of COVID-19 in Louisiana came on March 9^th, 2020.

Thousands of flags have been placed on the front lawn of the State Capitol ahead of Sunday’s Day of Remembrance. Sanford says each represents a Louisiana life lost to COVID-19.

Cut 8 (05) “…flags.”

Sanford says there are 9,828 flags on display, one for each person who has died of COVID since last March.

Sanford says the display has meant a lot to those who’ve lost loved ones.

Cut 9 (12) “…remember.”

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The state has signed an agreement with NASA’s Michoud (MEE-shoo) Assembly plant that could lead to the creation of the Louisiana Space Campus, a dedicated business park within NASA’s site. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says it’s an opportunity to bring modern facilities to the site.

Cut 10 (12) “…industry.”

The proposed space campus would be 50-acres located within NASA’s 829-acre site east of New Orleans. Pierson feels the project could begin construction sooner than later.

Cut 11 (11) “…available.”

Pierson says in addition to meetings with NASA they must define the demand for the space in the new structures and gain commitments from tenants.

Cut 12 (06) “…together. ”

NASA celebrates 60-years at the Michoud Assembly Facility this year.

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After a year of upended travel AAA says if you’re planning a trip this year understand that it will be a different experience. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says the keyword is “prepare,” so you aren’t caught off guard by mandates along your travels.

Cut 13 (09) “…restrictions.”

As the vaccines boost confidence to travel Redman recommends using a travel advisor for the most up-to-date information on restrictions, including hotels and rental cars. Plan for stops and know what mandates are there as well. Redman says most will travel by car year.

Cut 14 (07) “…airlines.” 

Another reason to use a travel advisor, especially if you travel by air, you might have to carry documentation or even quarantine.

Cut 15 (09)“….destinations.”

Redman suggests a visit to AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restriction Map and seek advice from a travel advisor.

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LSU will begin SEC tournament play when they take on Ole Miss/South Carolina tonight.  The Tigers are the three seed and earned a double-bye in the tournament.  Coach Will Wade is still waiting for his team to play a complete game.

Cut 16 (13) “…make it happen.”

LSU will go almost immediately into the NCAA Tournament bubble in Indiana once the conference tournament concludes.  Freshman guard Cam Thomas says Coach Wade’s message is to be excited and energetic for the possibility of making a postseason run.

Cut 17 (12) “…can happen.”

The Covid-19 pandemic shut down last year’s postseason, so while Trendon Watford is a veteran on the team, he’s new to the postseason.  Watford says the main reason he came back for another season was to experience March Madness

Cut  18 (16) “…looking forward to it.”

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Nicholls is two wins away from earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament as the Colonels will play tonight in the semi-final round of the Southland Tournament. Nicholls Coach Austin Claunch has told his team they need to stay mentally sharp in order to win the Southland Tournament Championship…

Cut 19 (19) “…two and half hours.” 

Nicholls went 14-2 in conference play and won the Southland regular-season championship. They have four players in double figures in scoring led by Ty Gordon, who is averaging 15 points a game. Claunch says they’ve won games by playing as a team this season…

Cut 20  (19) “…get it done.” 

State lawmakers hear testimony on how the university helped cover up sex crimes committed by former running back Derrius Guice.

Cut 1 (35) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A top aide to Attorney General Jeff Landry resigned today after a second person came forward with allegations of sexual harassment. Pat Magee was the subject of another sexual harassment complaint recently in which he was suspended, and his salary was stipend. Magee denies the allegations.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is issuing an alert to aquarium owners that moss ball products could be contaminated and if not disposed of properly could cause havoc on pipes and the ecosystem. LDWF”s Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Rob Bourgeois on how you might accidentally have them.

Cut 7 (10) “…with those”

Zebra mussels can clog pipes, damage boats, and even damage beaches.

AARP’s latest dashboard indicates COVID infections and deaths are declining in nursing homes in Louisiana based on the case and fatality numbers from mid-January to mid-February. But even as case numbers begin to decline, AARP State Director Denise Bottcher says facilities must be diligent about testing.

Cut 15 (12) “…variant.” 

The woman who has accused former running back Derius Guice of raping her while she was an LSU student told state lawmakers her story on how the school failed to follow up on her claim. Former LSU tennis player Abby Owens said her Dad told tennis coach Julia Sell what happened, but Owens said Sell called her a liar.

Cut 3 (09)  “…be believed.”  

AARP’s latest dashboard indicates COVID infections and deaths are declining in nursing homes in Louisiana based on the case and fatality numbers from mid-January to mid-February. However, AARP State Director Denise Bottcher says we are not out of the woods yet.

Cut 13 (08)“…of 2020.”

If you feel your social media account was banned or limited due to your politics new legislation would allow you to sue the company responsible. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

Pat Magee, a top aide to Attorney General Jeff Landry resigned today after another complaint was filed against him alleging sexist and demeaning behavior towards women in the workplace. Magee denies the claims, calling them false and unjust. Magee was recently suspended after an investigation found he made inappropriate comments about women working for him.

State lawmakers hear testimony on how the university helped cover up sex crimes committed by former running back Derrius Guice. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (35) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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If you feel your social media account was banned or limited due to your politics new legislation would allow you to sue the company responsible. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

________________________________________

The woman who has accused former running back Derius Guice of raping her while she was an LSU student told state lawmakers her story on how the school failed to follow up on her claim. Former LSU tennis player Abby Owens said her Dad told tennis coach Julia Sell what happened, but Owens said Sell called her a liar

Cut 3 (09)  “…be believed.”  

Owens says she felt unvalued and unprotected and left LSU. She also says she battled drugs and alcohol and depression after the assault. Owens says she has learned that Coach Sell reported the accusation to senior Associate A-D Miriam Seger, but the case was never fully investigated…

Cut 4 (10) “…came after.” 

Guice’s football career ended last year when he was arrested on domestic violence charges in Virginia. He has denied doing anything wrong while at LSU.

Samantha Brennan also testified before legislators and told her story of Guice allegedly taking a nude photo of her and distributing it to other members of the football team. She was asked by LSU officials if she wanted to report it officially or unofficially, which she felt was a lot of pressure on a 19-year-old…

Cut 5  (09)  “…someone’s life” 

Brennan says she left LSU after Guice became a more prominent member of the football team…

Cut 6 (11) “…behind me”

Two LSU athletic officials have been suspended for mishandling sexual assault cases, but several lawmakers believe harsher punishments should be handed out.

_______________________________________________________

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is issuing an alert to aquarium owners that moss ball products could be contaminated and if not disposed of properly could cause havoc on pipes and the ecosystem. LDWF”s Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Rob Bourgeois on how you might accidentally have them.

Cut 7 (10) “…with those”

Zebra mussels can clog pipes, damage boats, and even damage the ecosystem.

Bourgeois says not only can zebra mussels can destroy the filtration system in your aquarium but if released…

Cut 8 (04) “…fisheries.”

Be sure to check your aquarium for potential zebra mussel contamination. Bourgeois says you can visit the LDWF website for photos and guidance on how to dispose of them safely.

Cut 9 (12) “…rid of it”

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Legislation is filed that would allow you to take social media companies to court if they ban or restrict your account in a biased manner.

Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says he’s had tons of constituents voice concerns to him that social media companies are discriminating against them based on their ideology.

Cut 10 (11) “…beliefs.” 

The bill provides for civil liability in the event a service restricts user’s accounts based on their race, gender, political ideology, or religious beliefs.

Under the bill, if you feel your social media account was unfairly targeted you could take the company to court and potentially win 50,000 dollars in damages per violation.

Cut 11 (09) “…mine.”

The legislation would also allow you to recoup court costs, fees, and attorney’s fees.

Opponents of the legislation say social media companies have a right to dictate what content their platforms host, but Harris says there’s already precedent for this type of regulation.

Cut 12 (11) “ …of that” 

The bill will be heard in the regular session that begins April 12.

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AARP’s latest dashboard indicates COVID infections and deaths are declining in nursing homes in Louisiana based on the case and fatality numbers from mid-January to mid-February. However, AARP State Director Denise Bottcher says we are not out of the woods yet.

Cut 13 (08)“…of 2020.”

New COVID infections among residents dropped from the previous 4-week period to 1,521 to 643 and deaths dropped from 347 to 183.

Cut 14 (09) “…system.” 

COVID cases among staff dropped from 1,391 to 584.

Bottcher says they expect to continue to see case numbers and COVID deaths decline in nursing homes in the next dashboard and that the vaccines have been performed in all facilities to those who wished to be vaccinated.

Even as case numbers begin to decline, Bottcher says facilities must be diligent about testing.

Cut 15 (12) “…variant.” 

Bottcher says the pandemic has made staffing issues even worse at nursing homes. Currently, 32-percent of facilities report a shortage of staff.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a policy today allowing nursing home residents who have been vaccinated the ability to receive hugs from others who have completed their vaccines but should remain masked and use hand sanitizer to counterbalance the risk.

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