Authorities are still looking for one of five juvenile offenders who escaped from the Bridge City Detention Center for Youth Thursday morning, and one state lawmaker is not happy with the Office of Juvenile Justice. Senator Heather Cloud of Turkey Creek says the department has consistently failed at both rehabilitating young offenders and protecting its employees, and taxpayers demand better…:
Cut 9 (12) “in the wind”
She hopes other lawmakers will get on board with asking for reform within the OJJ.

Gas prices continue to inch down. AAA reports the statewide average for a gallon of regular fell another 2 cents from yesterday to $4.08 — that’s still 78 cents higher than just one month ago.

A Grant Parish lawmaker proposes legislation to prevent minors from receiving transgender medical procedures. Pollock Republican state Representative Gabe Firment says sexual reassignment is a major undertaking and a decision best not left to juveniles to decide…:
Cut 4 (15) “serious side effects”
Opponents of the measure contend the bill is a scare tactic to discriminant against a population that some don’t want to accept.

With Covid cases falling, state prisons are bringing back contact visitation.
Cut 11 (11) “incarcerated”
That’s Department of Corrections Spokesperson Ken Pastorick. For requirements and hours, visit doc.la.gov.

As COVID cases remain in a lull, Louisiana State Prisons are bringing back contact visitation and they are also set to bring back the Angola Prison Rodeo next month. Department of Corrections Spokesperson Ken Pastorick…:
Cut 10 (12) “fully vaccinated”
And the Angola prison rodeo will return April 23rd and 24th.

The Livingston Parish Sherriff’s Office says the hitchhiker walking down I-12 in Walker who allegedly stabbed a kind person who offered him a ride, then stole the truck has been arrested. They say the suspect 29-year-old Alex Bradley of Fenton will be booked on charges of carjacking, attempted first-degree murder, and theft of a motor vehicle.

A Grant Parish lawmaker seeks a ban on gender reassignment surgery for minors. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (34) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The NCAA says less than 2% of brackets remained perfect on the second day of the men’s basketball tournament, where LSU will make its third appearance in the last four years later this evening. The Tigers will face Iowa State at 6:20pm.

A Baton Rouge lawmaker unloaded on his colleagues in the Louisiana House after his proposal to add a second majority-Black district to the state’s Supreme Court map was tabled without debate. Republican Barry Ivey says he’s learned if legislation doesn’t have the backing of deep pocketed special interest groups it will not pass…:
Cut 3 (10) “all the time”
Alexandria Republican Lance Harris says life does not give you what you want, it gives you what you deserve.

The yo-yo weather pattern continues in Louisiana as another cold front approaches bringing rain and possible severe weather today before we wake up to frigid temps tomorrow and this weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim on the rollercoaster weather year it’s been so far…:
Cut 15 (07) “this winter”
He says it’s a good idea to monitor local radio today should severe weather impact your area.

Louisiana continues to attract companies that specialize in developing and producing sustainable materials. David Grubb has the story:
VOICER 3 (34) “I’m David Grubb”

We’re in the thick of Carnival season and State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter encourages revelers to mask indoors at events and outside when in crowds…:
Cut 7 (09) “their safety”
He doesn’t predict this Mardi Gras being any type of Super Spreader Covid event.

We’re almost at the height of carnival season and health officials offer some advice to protect revelers from COVID. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The State House kills a bill to give Louisiana a second majority Black Supreme Court district and the measure’s sponsor is not happy about it. Baton Rouge Republican Representative Barry Ivey said the legislature is the laziest group of people he’s ever worked with in a speech after the vote in favor of tabling the bill.

On his monthly radio show, Governor John Bel Edwards once again denied he was involved in an alleged cover up of the death of Ronald Greene in 2019. The AP has suggested Mr. Edwards knew the circumstances surrounding Greene’s death, but wanted it kept quiet during the re-election campaign. The Governor says that’s a lie…:
Cut 5 (14) “what the truth is”
He says he looks forward to the results of the feds investigation.

Big news out of Ascension Parish as a major California-based manufacturer has committed to investing a $750 million biomass facility there. John Bissell, Co-CEO of Origin Materials says the state’s workforce was a major factor in choosing Louisiana:
Cut 10 (13) “absolutely world-class”
The project is expected to result in over 1,000 new jobs.

Governor John Bel Edwards reiterates there was no cover-up of the death of Ronald Greene to aid his re-election campaign. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Coast Guard is searching for a woman who reportedly went overboard a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico, about 150 miles offshore SouthWest Pass, Louisiana. The USCG has not said how the 32-year-old woman ended up in the water, but reports from passengers on social media say there was a disturbance that caused security to detain her with handcuffs when she jumped off the deck hitting the side of the ship before hitting the water. The ship was set to dock in New Orleans this morning.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to head to Louisiana over the next couple weeks in the state’s first massive Mardi Gras celebration in almost 2 years. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter is optimistic this Carnival won’t be a super spreader event like it was in 2020…:
CUT 9 (12) “our downswing”
Kanter recommends using an N95 mask when in large crowds.

A cold front is moving into Louisiana and behind some storms and possibly severe weather today, temps tomorrow morning will cause a light freeze along the I-20 corridor…:
Cut 14 (10) “…along the coast.”
That’s State Climatologist Barry Keim.

Another cold front will enter the Bayou State just in time to bring us another chilly weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim says highs today will reach into the 70s and there’s a chance of widespread showers…:
Cut 13 (08) “marginal risk”
It’s a good idea to plan to have a way to receive warnings in the event storms turn severe this afternoon in your area like on this radio station.

Governor John Bel Edwards said on his monthly radio show Wednesday there was no cover up by his re-election campaign of the arrest and death of Ronald Greene in 2019. Mr. Edwards reiterated State Police told him a man died during an arrest, but the media has been relentless with accusations…:
Cut 4 (15) “Department of Justice”
He says he looks forward to the results of the feds investigation.

California-based Origin Materials announces it’s investing more than $750 million to develop a manufacturing facility in Ascension Parish. John Bissell, Co-CEO of Origin says they are the only company to use renewable wood fibers and carbon-negative materials. He says Louisiana is poised to be a destination for green companies and they are proud to be among the first to take advantage of what our state has to offer…:
Cut 12 (11) “world-scale plant”
The project is expected to result in over 1,000 new jobs.

Two men alleged to be involved in the incident that resulted in Saints running back Alvin Kamara being arrested in Las Vegas have been booked, and police are looking for a third man thought to be Kansas City Chiefs player Chris Lammons. The felony battery charges against Kamara could mean one to five years in prison if convicted.

U. S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is in New Orleans today meeting with state and local officials to discuss workforce development and the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter wants to highlight the need to fund organizations that assist the formally incarcerated with employment:
CUT 12 (09) “the workforce”
Roundtable discussions at Delgado Community College will also include nonprofit leaders that focus on post-disaster workforce issues.

Two years into the pandemic, behavioral health experts warn of long term mental health impacts that COVID has made on society. Patrick Bordnick, Dean of Tulane University’s School of Social Work says they know from previous traumas there’s a high rate of substance abuse relapse under stressful events…:
Cut 5 (11) “more severe”

If you’ve always wanted to wear an LSU jersey with your favorite player’s name on it, David Grubb reports some historic news for fans and players…:
CUT 3 (31) “I’m David Grubb”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announces a feeding and carcass export ban on deer in Tensas, Franklin and Madison Parishes in response to a buck harvested in the area being diagnosed with chronic wasting disease. To see the complete declaration of emergency, go to wlf.louisiana.gov.