The Edwards administration is seeking the public’s advice on how to handle the state’s budget crisis. Lawmakers must find a way to fill a more than $750 million dollar shortfall by July 1st. The governor’s director of communications Richard Carbo emphasizes the importance of public involvement and encourages people to contact their legislator…:
cut 10 (07) “your feedback”
The site can be found at gov.louisiana.gov.

The real estate website Trulia ranked the most Saintly Sanctuaries and Sin cities in the country and to no surprise, New Orleans comes in a number one for a sinful city. Spokesperson Filipe Chacon says they compiled the seven deadly sins to decide which places were full of envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, sloth, vanity, and wrath…:
cut 12 (08) “on that”
He says Shreveport came in as the number seven sin city in the country.

Many folks are off today enjoying the Mardi Gras Holiday. But it’s a chilly one across the state and a wind advisory remains in effect through this evening.

LSU has been given the greenlight by the board to construct a statue honoring the late Pete Maravich. The legendary athlete is still college basketball’s all-time leading scorer at 3,667 points. Former star basketball Tiger Collis Temple Jr. says Pistol Pete had a historic impact on LSU…:
CUT 5 (10) “State University”
The design for Maravich’s statue will be announced in the coming months.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry continue to fued about a lawsuit involving Common Core. Landry wants to follow through with an appeal involving the suit, which was originally filed by former Governor Bobby Jindal. But Edwards says that’s not necessary, especially since Louisiana is in the process of rewriting its public school standards.

Governor John Bel Edwards is seeking suggestions from the public on ways to resolve the 750-million dollar shortfall this fiscal year. Halen Doughty reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A statue honoring the late Pete Maravich has been approved by the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. Former LSU Basketball star Collis Temple Jr. says Pistol Pete is the all-time leading scorer and is unrivaled…:
CUT 4 (05) “deserved it”

Three people are reportedly arrested in connection with a fight following Sunday’s Alexandria Mardi Gras parade that was caught on video and has hundreds of thousands of views. Cops say 23-year-old Joshua Andries, 23-year-old Chelsea Thompson and 22-year-old Lauren Paul are booked with disturbing the peace by fighting. Apparently the incident was started over a parking dispute.

They call it the mini-New Orleans Fat Tuesday celebration. Mamou’s Courier De Mardi Gras has been rolling in the Acadiana town since dawn. Mayor Ricky Fontenot…:
CUT 7 (09) “a gumbo”
Fontenot says the last three years the weather has been horrible so everyone is looking forward to today’s sunshine.

Revelers are bundling up all over for Fat Tuesday – for a second straight day, wind advisories are posted across the state, as we could see wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour. There’s also a chance for a light freeze overnight in the northern half of the state.

Louisiana is facing the worst budget crisis in state history. Governor John Bel Edwards has put together a special web page to solicit public input on how to handle the state’s massive deficit. The governor’s director of communications Richard Carbo explains that the purpose of the site is to inform the public and get suggestions from citizens…:
CUT 9 (09) “their feedback”
The site can be found at gov-dot-louisiana-dot-gov.

A woman tried to rob the Sorrento Post Office this morning with a water gun filled with pepper spray and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is trying to locate the suspect. They say it happened around 10:30am when a black female walked in to purchase stamps, then produced a handgun, which turned out to be a water gun with pepper spray inside, sprayed the clerk then fled. The suspect was last seen wearing a security type uniform, long coat with fur around the hood, and gloves.

Mamou’s famous Courier de Mardi Gras begins today with the town’s unique traditions. Emelie Gunn has more on the celebrations…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Revelers would rather have cold than rain and today they are also hanging on tight to their beads. For the second day in a row a wind advisory is in effect for most of the state, and meteorologists say gusts could reach 35 miles per hour in some areas.

It’s Fat Tuesday and celebrations are going on all over the state on this beautiful day. The Courier De Mardi Gras is in full swing in the Acadiana town of Mamou. Mayor Ricky Fontenot says the event has a great economic impact on the town, and it’s also been a tradition for years. He says they partake in the festivities in two ways…:
CUT 6 (10) “in Mamou”
Folks are bundling up as another wind advisory is in effect for today making the air extremely chilly for revelers.

The Public Affairs Research Council has provided the governor and the legislature with several recommendations on how to cut government spending. PAR President Robert Travis Scott says one suggestion is to come up with a plan to make sure retirement costs and health care plans for employees do not escalate…
cut 10 (07) “….year to year”

A statue honoring the late Pete Maravich has been approved by the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. The legendary athlete is still college basketball’s all-time leading scorer at 3,667 points. Former LSU Basketball player Collis Temple Jr. says Pistol Pete’s scoring record speaks for itself:
CUT 3 (10) “what he did”
The design for Maravich’s statue will be announced in the coming months, and it will be erected on campus next to the PMAC – the building named after him.

The New Orleans Saints have begin purging their roster as they released six-time pro bowl offensive lineman Jahri Evans, who has been a starter on the Black and Gold’s offensive line for the last decade. New Orleans has also released linebackers David Hawthorne and Ramon Humber and said good-bye to receiver Seantavius Jones. Cornerback Brandon Browner is also expected to be cut in the coming days.

The Public Affairs Research Council provides ideas on how the state can better control its spending. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Nearly the entire state is under another wind advisory on this Mardi Gras. The National Weather Service says sustained winds could range from 15-25 miles per hour, with possible gusts of 30 miles per hour.

The LSU Athletic Hall of Fame Committee unanimously approves a proposal for a statue honoring the late Pete Maravich to be installed on campus. Details on a design and construction will be released in the coming months.

Campaigning is in full swing for this year’s US Senate race. The seat is being left open by outgoing Senator David Vitter. Republican candidate Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany told reporters in Baton Rouge that working on ways to grow our economy is one of his top priorities…:
CUT 8 (11) “lowering taxes”
Boustany is one of several announced candidates.

New Republican Louisiana Speaker of the House Taylor Barras says he was anticipating more proposed spending reforms in Governor John Bel Edwards call for the special session which begins Sunday. Barras says, as expected, the governor’s call included a list of revenue raising options to fill the state’s more than $750 million dollar gap, primarily with tax changes…:
Cut 13 (07) “structural fixes”
Meanwhile Governor Edwards is asking the public for their input online at gov.louisiana.gov.

Louisiana’s new Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras looks forward to discussing spending changes in the upcoming special session. Halen Doughtyhas the story….
cut 3 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

A feud over what to do with a lawsuit that attempts to get Louisiana out Common Core continues to grow between Governor Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry. Edwards wants to terminate the federal case, but Landry wants to continue the appeal process and believes the constitution gives him the final say on the matter.

The Public Affairs Research Council has published a nine-page report that contains several suggestions on how to control state spending. PAR president Robert Travis Scott says one suggestion is to do away with various tax credits the state gives, like the tax deduction parents receive for sending their child to a private school…
cut 11 (05) “….like that”
Another PAR recommendation calls for no merit pay increases for state employees next year.

A little bit on the cool side, but otherwise it’s a picture perfect Fat Tuesday across Louisiana. There will be big crowds for parades along the I-10 corridor today. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says the early carnival season did not draw a record number of revelers, but the crowds were still good…
cut 6 (08) “….this entire season”
It will be a little bit windy for parade goers today.

Governor John Bel Edwards has been meeting with House and Senate leaders over the last few days as elected officials gear up for a special session to address the state’s budget crisis. House Speaker Taylor Barras told the Jim Engster show that before they consider tax increases, they’ll look at areas where they can cut the budget…
cut 15 (07) “….as well”
The special session begins on Sunday.

The Edwards administration is seeking the public’s advice on how to handle the budget crisis. A special web page has been designed at gov.louisiana.gov. There’s a link you can click that gives you a chance to express your views on the governor’s proposed solutions.

For a second straight day, wind advisories are posted across the state, as we couild see wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour. There’s also a chance for a light freeze overnight in the northern half of the state.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany a candidate in Louisiana’s 2016 US Senate race is on the campaign trail. The Republican made a stop in Baton Rouge and said we can’t lose sight of the deeply held values that made America the most exceptional nation on earth…
cut 9 (10) “…to succeed”
Boustany is one of several candidates who has recently announced they are seeking to replace outgoing Republican Senator David Vitter.

The 2016 Carnival Season concludes at midnight as the lenten season will begin at that point. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says it will be a little cool today for the parades, but that’s okay as long as it doesn’t rain, which it hasn’t over the last two weeks…
cut 4 (09) :…just remarkable”
Hardy says an early Mardi Gras will not result in record number of carnival goers this season, but the crowds have still been huge.

It’s a big day of parades and floats across south Louisiana and wild costumes in New Orleans historic French Quarter. All things Mardi Gras, Arthur Hardy says Zulu gets it started in the Big Easy this morning, which is one of the oldest African American Clubs, founded in 1909….
cut 5 (06) “…marvelous parade”
If you are heading out for Mardi Gras festivities, it will be sunny and cool and a bit breezy.

Governor John Bel Edwards has put together a special web page to solicit public input on how to handle the state’s budget crisis. It can be found at gov-dot-louisiana-dot-gov. The Public Affairs Research Council has also provided a series of recommendations on how to cut government spending. PAR president Robert Travis Scott says elected officials have a huge task in front of them…
cut 12 (11) “…the session”
A special session to address the state’s budget problems begins Sunday.

The 2016 US Senate race in Louisiana is off and running with several announced candidates already campaigning. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany, who is seeking outgoing senator David Vitter’s seat, stopped in Baton Rouge and told reporters that strengthing our national security is a must…
cut 7 (08) “…operations”
US Representative John Fleming, state treasurer John Kennedy, former ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert, retired US Air Force Colonel Rob Maness and New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard are other announced candidates.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry continue to fued about a lawsuit involving Common Core. Landry wants to follow through with an appeal involving the suit, which was originally filed by former Governor Bobby Jindal. But Edwards says that’s not necessary, especially since Louisiana is in the process of rewriting its public school standards.