IBM Technology announces plans for a 400-job application development and innovation center in Monroe. Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says this is huge for Northeast Louisiana…

cut 13 (10) “here in Monroe”

Officials say IBM will provide software technology services to clients across the nation and partner with CenturyLink on research and product innovation initiatives.

The question over which city “started” Mardi Gras, New Orleans or Mobile, Alabama, is coming up again this Fat Tuesday. Mobile Mayor Sandy Simpson is bragging that the Alabama destination is where the celebrations originally began in the US. Big Easy Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says the first New Orleans Mardi Gras parade was held in 1857…

cut 4 (10) “New Years Eve”

Hardy says Mobile’s parades on Fat Tuesday did not begin until 1868 — after the Civil War.

Cold Canadian air has settled over Louisiana leaving us with another chilly Mardi Gras day. State Climatologist Barry Keim says southeast Louisiana should brace for temperatures today in the upper 30s this morning, then high temperatures this afternoon only in the upper 40s…:

cut 10 (09) “bundle up”

He says if you’re headed to parades today anywhere in the state, it might be a good idea to bring an umbrella just in case but you probably won’t need it.

One of the state’s more unique Mardi Gras traditions happens in the Calcasieu Parish town of Iowa. The Iowa Chicken Run is an all day celebration that begins and ends at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Organizer, Rodney Victorian, says his grandfather started this event 36 years ago…

cut 7 (11) “for the community”

The parade will will stop at participating homes to collect ingredients for a gumbo that will be served later in the day. When a donation to the gumbo is made, a chicken is thrown in the air for the children to catch.

IBM technology announces plans for a 400-job application development and innovation center in Monroe. Officials say IBM will provide software technology services to clients across the nation and partner with CenturyLink on research and product innovation initiatives. Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says this is huge for Northeast Louisiana…:
CUT 13 (10) “here in Monroe”
Mayo says this announcement is in addition to the 800+ jobs coming to the CenturyLink technology center which will open in March.

State Police say two people have died in a crash involving a truck and a train in DeSoto Parish. They say the vehicle was hit by the train and a third person is critically injured at the University Health Center in Shreveport. It is not known why the truck was on the tracks but the investigation is ongoing.

State Police has increased its numbers in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and they’re making their presence known. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

It’s been a wet and dreary Lundi Gras and even though meteorologists say the rain should be gone by tomorrow, it’s still going to be a very cold Mardi Gras across the state. They say Fat Tuesday will be breezy and cold and it appears clouds could linger for most of the day if not the entire day.

It’s a dreary and wet Lundi Gras for much of Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more on our Mardi Gras forecast..
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal announces an IBM 400 job application job development and innovative center to be established in Monroe along Highway 165, across the street from the century Link corporate headquarters. This announcement accompanies the IBM new technology center in downtown Baton Rouge.
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Louisiana State Police has increased their numbers in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and they’re making their presence known. Over 150 additional troopers are patrolling the French Quarter and the metro area, and so far, troopers have made over 140 arrests…
CUT 9 (08) “of the streets”
That’s State Police spokesman Melissa Matey.

A U.S. District Judge has dismissed a 2013 lawsuit filed against oil and natural gas companies, by The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East. Their claim that drilling, pipelines and other exploration efforts made Louisiana more vulnerable to hurricanes. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says the lawsuit did not get a lot of state support…
CUT 14 (06) Q: ‘original lawsuits’
Enviromentalists supported that lawsuit effort.

With this Mardi Gras cold front, the state is dealing with rain, and cold temperatures this evening, with many areas at close the freezing mark by daybreak. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says with the remaining precipitation overnight…
CUT 7 (08) Q: “Monroe area”
And this front could also include a wintery mix brought to south central and southwest Louisiana as well.

A controversial lawsuit against oil and gas companies alleging they should pay billions for damage to Louisiana’s coast has been dismissed by a federal judge. The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East filed the lawsuit in 2013 highlighting six different claims on why the oil industry should be liable…
CUT 13 (08) Q: ‘viable claims’
That’s Legal Analyst Chick Foret.
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An accused rapist is back behind bars after slipping out of his shackles and running from Washington Parish Sheriff’s deputies early Saturday Morning. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says 39-year-old Kaundra Magee was recaptured just before noon on Sunday when a deputy heard some movement in a large drain in Franklinton…
CUT 3 (07) “any incident”
Hailey says they have taken additional security measures to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Over 150 additional officers are now patrolling the French Quarter to make sure it is a safe finish to Mardi Gras. So far, authorities have taken over $376,000 worth of the illegal drugs, and confiscated over a dozen illegally possessed weapons…
CUT 11 (10) Q: ‘Carnival 2015″
That’s State Police Spokesperson Melissa Matey.

A strong cold front moves through the state bringing rain and colder temperatures. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says it will be a cold Fat Tuesday
CUT 6 (09) “40s”
Central Louisiana could receive some wintery mix overnight.

Washington Parish Sheriff’s deputies capture an accused rapist who slipped out of his prison shackles during a transport back to jail after some medical treatment on Saturday. Thirty-nine year-old Kaundra Magee escaped the police car, and was found in a storm drain in Franklinton on Sunday. Now, authorities have a new plan….
CUT 5 (09 ) “be house”
That’s Washington Parish Chief Deputy Mike Haley.
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The energy industry is applauding a federal judge’s decision to dismiss a controversial lawsuit against oil and gas companies alleging they should pay billions of dollars for damage to Louisiana’s coast. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says US District Judge Nanette Brown gave a detailed 49-page explanation…
cut 12 (09) “of appeal”

Law enforcement in the Crescent City has been busy trying to keep Mardi Gras safe. The number of arrests is now approaching a hundred and fifty, most of which were illegal drug charges. State Police Spokesperson Melissa Matey says there were also arrests for 14 illegally possessed weapons…
CUT 10 (10) Q: ‘those guns out’
And she’s says it’s all about protecting the public.

There is a massive cold front moving through Louisiana right now and rain and cool temps are creeping in. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says if you plan to attend parades, bundle up because high temperatures will struggle to get out of the 40s…:
CUT 8 (09) “be outdoors”
He says we could see some ice pellets or freezing rain in central to north Louisiana between midnight to 8am tomorrow morning.

An accused rapist in Washington Parish has been apprehended after sneaking away from cops over the weekend. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says 39-year-old Kaundra Magee was able to free himself from his leg shackles and escape a police car, but he was recaptured beofre noon yesterday. Haley says Magee is now facing additional charges of simple escape…:
CUT 4 (06) “against him”
He says the are working to ensure this alleged criminal doesn’t escape again.

State Police has increased its numbers in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and they’re making their presence known. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

CC’s and Raising Cane’s, two prominent Louisiana-born businesses, made the 2014 Top 10 Excellent Fast-Food Chains list. The California based research firm Sandelman & Associates ranked Raising Cane’s number four and CC’s Coffee House number six in the Quick-Track Awards of Excellence for quick service chains.

State Police has increased its numbers in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and they’re making their presence known. Over 150 additional troopers are patrolling the French Quarter and the metro area. Spokesperson Melissa Matey says, so far, troopers have made over 115 arrests since last Friday…:
CUT 9 (08) “of the streets”
She says State Police in partnering with other local law enforcement, is working to keep revelers safe during Mardi Gras.

The Attorney for Houston-based Texas Brine has reportedly asked the Louisiana Office of Conservation to grant permission for the company to stop paying $875 a week to the remaining residents in Bayou Corne around the sinkhole. They say the case has been made that stability conditions around the sinkhole have improved and merit an end to the payments.

It’s a dreary and wet Lundi Gras for much of Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more on our Mardi Gras forecast..:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal is headed to north Louisiana today where it’s expected he’ll make an economic development announcement in Monroe which would mean 400 new IBM jobs for the area over the next 10 years. The announcement is also expected to include details about $4.5 million dollars that will be provided to ULM, Louisiana Tech and Grambling for additional computer science programs to help meet IBM’s workforce needs and keep Louisiana graduates in the state.