At this hour, Interstates 49 and 220 in the Shreveport area are closed until further notice, as a winter weather advisory remains in effect for the I-20 corridor through 9 pm. National Weather Service forecaster Charlie Woodrum, in Shreveport, says ice accumulations will be mainly less than a tenth of an inch…:

CUT 03(09)      “…this evening.”

An Alexandria psychiatric nurse practitioner is under arrest; accused of trading prescription drugs for sex. Rapides Sheriff’s spokesman Tommy Carnline says 40-year-old Mark Declouet (dih-CLOUT) Jr. paid men to introduce him to women – often drug addicts – who’d go for his trade. Carnline says the women are victims, and they suspect there are more out there..:

CUT 14(11)      “…too long.”

The cost for a barrel of oil could rise to nearly $100 later this year. Increased demand as more and more Americans take to the roads and airways has caused the spike. However, economist Dr. Loren Scott says Louisiana should reap some financial benefits from those higher oil prices, both for the state’s coffers and for businesses…:

CUT 11(13)      “…gas extraction employment.”

He says OPEC is stepping up production which will mean lower oil prices, hence decreasing gas prices.

The state Department of health reports just over 5300 new cases of COVID today; mostly Omicron. Of those, 1890 are in the hospital, and about 70-percent of THEM are not fully vaxxed. LDH also reports another 61 COVID deaths, bringing the pandemic total for the state to 15,841; roughly 1 & 1/2 percent of infections.

I-49 & I-220 in Shreveport are closed until further notice this hour, as slippery road conditions from a winter storm affect the I-20 corridor tonight. Jeff Palermo has the details…:

CUT 01(27)      “…Palermo.”

A weird story out of Baton Rouge. Police there say a California man, arrested for shooting and killing his co-worker and hotel roommate, tells investigators that Santa Muerte told him to do it. Santa Muerte is a Mexican, sort of, folk saint or boogeyman. 45-year-old David Mendez is charged with 2^nd degree murder. He was arrested Wednesday without resistance.

Authorities in Rapides Parish arrest an Alexandria psychiatric nurse practitioner for allegedly trading prescription meds for sex. Sheriff’s spokesman Tommy Carnline says Mark Declouet (dih-CLOUT) Jr. paid men cash to introduce him to females, with which he’d make the trade. He says a good number of those victims are struggling with addiction..:

CUT 13(05)      “…someone in need.”

He says they believe more victims are out there, and they urge them to come forward.

A Morehouse Parish school teacher is arrested for striking a student. Deputies say 61-year-old Helen Anderson allegedly hit a student at Delta Elementary school in Mer Rouge. She’s charged with Cruelty to a Juvenile.

Two sisters from Shreveport have a deal to have their line of men’s & women’s fashion carried at Target stores. Kim & Keyondra Lockett say they first thought the email from the national retail chain was spam or a hack attempt, but it proved real. Their Jolie Noire line of active and casual wear is available now at “Target.com.”

Areas along the I-20 corridor and north, should prepare for possible rough driving conditions, as a winter weather advisory is posted for the area through 9 tonight. Rain will likely turn to sleet or perhaps freezing rain as temperatures drop. National Weather Service forecaster Charlie Woodburn says be ready for slippery highways…:

CUT 05(11)      “…earlier today.”

A psychiatric nurse practitioner has been arrested on human trafficking and narcotics charges after authorities learned he was providing drugs for sexual favors. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office chief of staff Tommy Carnline says 40-year-old Mark Declouet (dih-CLOUT) Jr., of Alexandria, was taken into custody without incident…:

CUT 12(09)      “…sexual favors.”

Declouet apparently worked at health care providers in Lafayette and Alexandria.

Police in New Orleans report yet another motorist has been shot and killed while driving on Interstate 10. NOPD says the un-named male victim was discovered inside his car, which crashed into a guardrail near Louisa Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshots. A number of people have been shot while on the city’s superhighway in recent months.

The Louisiana startup company known for creating interior football helmet cooling fans is now using that tech to help out construction workers. Tigeraire founder and CEO Jack Karavich says the Tornado helmet system is OSHA compliant, designed to work with multiple hardhat designs and the waterproof device weighs only about 3.5 ounces. He says it pumps out air at over 40 miles-an-hour…:

CUT 07(09)      “…gotta tell you.”

The effects of being overheated are connected with on-the-job accidents caused by mental errors.

The I-20 corridor is under a winter weather advisory until nine o’clock tonight as freezing rain, sleet, and light snow are in the forecast. National Weather Service forecaster Charlie Woodrum says rain should switch over to winter precipitation near the Louisiana-Arkansas border and icy conditions could start to develop for the Monroe-Shreveport areas around seven and eight o’clock…:

CUT 04(11)      “…of all the areas.”

He says avoid driving tonight, if you can.

The cost for a barrel of oil could rise to nearly $100 later this year. That’s largely due to increased demand, as more people start getting out and about again. That of course means increasing gasoline and diesel prices. Economist Dr. Loren Scott says that could be a major hit, albeit a brief one…:

CUT 10(13)      “…the pump go up.”

Police in Baton Rouge arrest a California man for shooting a man that  – he says – he was ordered to shoot “by spirits.” 45-year-old David Mendez reportedly told officers the folk saint, Santa Muerte, told him to kill his co-worker, 46-year-old Juan Reyes Lugos. Mendez is charged with 2^nd degree murder.

Louisiana-based Tigeraire, the company that created cooling fans for athletic helmets, has another hit on their hands with helping construction workers beat the heat. Here’s Brooke Thorington…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

A major winter storm is expected to sideswipe Louisiana tonight; bringing light snow and sleet to the state’s northern parishes. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

State Attorney General Jeff Landry seeks to intervene and take over a lawsuit filed against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her administration over COVID-19 mandates and policies. In a written statement, Landry says health care decisions should be made by individuals, not dictated by the government. Cantrell says mask & vaccine orders will remain in effect through Mardi Gras.

Louisiana ranks in the top five for states with the overall highest gun death rates. According to the Violence Policy Center, the Bayou State ranks third and Government Affairs Director Kristen Rand says awareness is key to lowering that statistic…:

CUT 08(11)      “…and suicides.”

Only Mississippi and Wyoming have more per capita gun-related deaths.

Jefferson Parish deputies are sorting out the circumstances that led to an Iowa woman dying after trying to stop her daughter from leaving in her car. The domestic dispute happened Tuesday. Officers say 22-year-old Savannah Lawrence argued with her grandmother, then tried to drive off in a huff. At some point her mother, 42-year-old April Springs attempted to stop her, but was hit; sustaining a traumatic head wound. She died later in a hospital. Lawrence is charged with manslaughter. The investigation is ongoing.

During a lengthy press conference Tuesday, Governor John Bel Edwards denied any wrongdoing in the aftermath of Ronald Greene’s fatal arrest, and expressed concern that racism played a role in the Greene’s death. Edwards says he doesn’t believe if Greene was white he would have been treated that way…:

CUT 12(11)      “…never happen again.”

Body camera video from the Union Parish traffic stop in May of 2019 shows white troopers beating and stunning Greene, a black man, who led authorities on a three parish high-speed chase.

State Police in Troop F say a single vehicle crash Tuesday in Franklin parish took the life of two Winnsboro women, who were not wearing safety belts. Troopers say the Mercury SUV went off the highway, for reasons yet unknown. All three persons inside were unrestrained and were ejected from the vehicle. Only 1 survived. LSP says seatbelts might well have saved them. The crash is still under investigation.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for five parishes in northwest and north-central Louisiana. Meteorologist C.S. Ross says Bossier, Caddo, Webster, Claiborne, and Union parishes could see some winter precipitation after midnight tonight…:

CUT 03(11)      “…area bridges and overpasses.”

Even colder weather is expected for Friday night and Saturday, but with less chance of precipitation.

Tiger Rag magazine has obtained a letter from lawyers representing Sharon Lewis, the woman recently fired from her job with the LSU Athletic Department. The letter, sent to the Louisiana State Select Committee on Women and Children, requests that Lewis be allowed to testify before the state in the school’s ongoing Title IX investigation. Tiger Rag editor Adam Hunsuker says they first asked in April 2021…:

CUT 09(12)      “…with the investigation, basically.”

Hunsucker says that Lewis’ latest move could prompt LSU to settle her case, rather than risk exposing more dirty laundry.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for five parishes in northwest and north-central Louisiana. Meteorologist C.S. Ross says Bossier, Caddo, Webster, Claiborne, and Union parishes could see some winter precipitation during the overnight hours. Also, more cold weather is on its way as temperatures will drop considerably after the cold front moves through. Ross says high temperatures on Friday will be in the 30s and 40s and we’ll see a couple of nights of below-freezing temperatures, however…:

CUT 05(11)      “…below zero.”

Detectives in Ascension Parish are investigating the death of a local woman whose body was found stuffed inside a plastic storage bin and left in the bed of a pickup. The victim is ID’ed as 24-year-old Crystal Scott. Deputies say her remains were definitely moved from another location. They’re seeking three persons of interest for questioning. An autopsy is pending.

A New Orleans woman is recovering from injuries sustained during a carjacking at a Costco in mid-city. The victim was pumping fuel on the passenger side when a man jumped in and took off; driving over the woman as he made his getaway. An attempted car theft happened Monday at the same Costco.

The Violence Policy Center says 47-percent of Louisiana homes have guns and the state ranks third for the highest overall gun death rates. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Governor John Bel Edwards office says he was not part of a cover-up of the May 20129 death of Ronald Greene. Greene died while in State Police custody after a lengthy high speed car chase. His death was due to injuries at the hands of troopers and other LEOs. The public and Greene’s family were told he died in a car crash. Mr. Edwards says he WAS told of a man dying in LSP custody, but did not see the video of Greene’s beating until October 2020. Edwards meets today with the Legislative Black Caucus to talk about it. UL-Monroe political science professor Joshua Stockley says – with a redistricting session starting today and a regular legislative session starting in March – Edwards needs black lawmakers’ support…:

CUT 15         (06)    “…if anything accomplished.”

A Tangipahoa Parish man dies after developing an auto-immune disease that doctors say was caused by his second COVID vaccine shot. Brandon Pollet WAS a healthy 33-year-old husband and father.

The Louisiana Department of Education is getting proactive when it comes to hurricane preparedness with the launch of the Protect Louisiana Schools: Hurricane Preparedness Commission. State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley says that district leaders are faced with a wide number of problems, ranging from communications to infrastructure to getting cafeterias restocked with supplies. With the input of experts from the government, educational, and private sectors, he wants to provide leaders with best practices for preparation and recovery…:

CUT 05         (11)    “…as much as possible.”

For more information visit ProtectLaSchools.org

Over a hundred plaintiffs – many of them businesses – have joined in a lawsuit against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her government; alleging her COVID mask and vaccine mandates have forced them to put their lives on hold. The lawsuit claims it is a case of government overreach. The plaintiffs also say the directives have caused social, economic and cultural harm to the city. They are calling for an injunction on the mandates until the case is heard.

Governor John Bel Edwards office responds to an AP report that he knew of the death of Ronald Greene in state Police custody, while the public and Greene’s family were being told he died in a car crash. Edwards was campaigning for his second term at the time. His office says it is standard procedure for the governor to be notified when someone dies in State Police custody, but Edwards did not see video of Greene’s repeated beating by officers until October 2020. UL – Monroe political science professor Joshua Stockley says there’s no evidence that the Governor took part in a cover-up…:

CUT 14(11)      “…or investigation.”

Edwards will meet with the Legislative Black Caucus today. Afterward, he’s expected to take questions from the media.

Jefferson Parish deputies say a 4-year-old accidentally shot himself while sitting in a car, while adults smoked weed in the front seat. The toddler found a gun under the seat. No arrests have been made as yet.

The special session on redistricting Louisiana starts today in Baton Rouge. Lawmakers must decide new boundaries for their own chambers, the Public Service Commission, judicial districts and six U.S. House districts.  The Governor and black leaders say the state needs to have a second majority minority district, and that is liable to be fuel for some disagreements within the Capitol. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says better to get that settled early on, before moving on the more local matters; like redrawing in-state House & Senate boundaries…:

CUT 11(10)      “…related to that.”

The session must be completed within 20 days.

More than 67-million wagers have been made since sports betting became legal in Louisiana in November. The 11 establishments offering sports book raked in just over $10-million. It’s too early yet to have any figures from the first weekend of legal mobile app sports betting. Nine parishes voted to reject sports book, but 55 allow it.

State lawmakers are off to Baton Rouge to begin the 20-day special legislative session for redistricting Louisiana. The House & Senate must agree on new boundaries for the legislature, Public Service Commission, state courts and six U.S. Congressional seats. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says he believes the latter – U.S. House districts – will be addressed right up front…:

CUT 10(11)      “…or NOT override a veto.”

The session must be done by the 20^th.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ office issues a statement in response to an AP story that he was notified by State Police Head Kevin Reeves in May 2019 of an unnamed motorist who died in their custody, who turned out to be Ronald Greene. Greene died from a severe beating. ULM Political Science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says this could prove volatile for Edwards…:

CUT 13(12)      “…in his re-election?”

As experts predict another above average hurricane season in 2022, the Louisiana Department of Education is taking steps to get schools ready for what comes before and after the storm. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…David Grubb.”

Two St. Mary Parish teens are under arrest for allegedly making bomb threats against Franklin High School in mid-January. A 14 and 15-year-old are charged with terrorizing and communicating false information. They’ve been booked, processed and released to their parents’ custody.