A new Congress was sworn in today and Louisiana’s five U-S House Republican members now find themselves in the minority party. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says with Democrats in control of the House, expect climate change legislation to come up…
cut 28 (11) “….those lines”
But Hogan says with Republicans still in control of the Senate, gridlock is likely for the next two years.

Most of the state is seeing a steady rain fall and it’s causing concerns along rivers and other waterways. Kent Kuyper with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says several lakes and rivers are at flood stage or above…
cut 13 (12) “…coming up”
Kuyper says dry and mild air moves into the state tomorrow.

A Texas man who allegedly scammed a Rapides parish person out of 60-thousand dollars by claiming he was a retired F-B-I agent living in Nigeria has been arrested in Mississippi. Rapides Sheriff’s office Captain Tommy Carline says 64-year-old Scott Alan Romans has been charged with theft…
cut 5 (06) “…hard to do”
Romans bond was set at 20-thousand dollars.

For those who live around the Hammond area, Southeastern Louisiana University is asking residents to drop off their old Christmas tree at one of several sites, so that the trees can be used to enhance the wetlands. Rob Moreau says for the 24th straight year S-L-U is conducting a recycled tree program and the trees are deployed in the Manchac wetlands…
cut 10 (12) “…in and around”
Drop off locations can be found at southeastern-dot-e-d-u-slash-turtle cove.

A steady rain continues to fall across an already saturated Louisiana today. National Weather Service Lake Charles Senior Forecaster Kent Kuyper says the rain, which could be heavy at times, will come to an end later today or early tomorrow morning…
cut 12 (10) “…rest of the afternoon”
Calcacsieu Parish officials are concerned about possible flooding in the Starks and Vinton area. In Natchitoches Parish, Lake Sibley is overflowing and Cane River Lake is closed due to high levels.

Louisiana is one of nine states reporting a high activity level for flu-like illnesses. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Diseases specialist, Doctor Fred Lopez, says doctors are also treating cases of strep throat and various respiratory viruses…
cut 8 (08) “…type of infections”
The CDC says 4.5 percent of the hospital visits in Louisiana during the Christmas week were because of the flu or flu-like illnesses.

A Monroe Police officer and two suspects were shot early this morning at Super 8 Motel on Highway 165 in Monroe. State Police says officers went to the motel to check on a disturbance complaint and when they arrived shots were fired. Authorities say the three people shot suffered non-life threatening injuries and two subjects have been arrested.

A 64-year-old scam artist from Texas is behind bars after he allegedly convinced his victim to pay him over $60,000 so he can pay US taxes and fees in Nigeria. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A 64-year-old Texas man is in jail in Rapides Parish, accused of scamming a victim out of over $60,000 throughout the course of several months.  The scammer convinced the victim they would be given a million dollars, but needed assistance paying US taxes and fees from Nigeria.  Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Capt. Tommy Carnline says the scammer claimed to be a retired FBI agent.

Cut 3 (09) “…is so unfortunate.”

Southeastern Louisiana University is asking Tangipahoa parish area residents to donate their Christmas trees for wetland restoration. Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station manager Rob Moreau says before you pack up the tree to deliver there are a few requirements…

Cut 9 (11) “…lights obviously″

Moreau estimates that 40,000 trees have been deployed in 24 years of the program.

Louisiana is one of nine states with a high number of flu cases. Jeff Palermo spoke with LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Diseases specialist Doctor Fred Lopez…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

And now commodities.

Louisiana is one of nine states reporting a high activity level for flu-like illnesses. That’s according to CDC’s latest U-S Influenza Surveillance report, which says 4.5 percent of hospital visits in Louisiana during the Christmas week were because of the flu or flu-like illnesses. Despite the uptick LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Diseases specialist, Doctor Fred Lopez says the jury is still out on a potentially above average flu season.

Cut 7 (06) “…right now”

Lopez says get a flu shot.

The US 11 bridge between Slidell and New Orleans will be shut down to traffic starting today, running through April 18^th. Department of Transportation Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says it’s the continuation of a lengthy repair process that won’t be completely finished until summer of 2020.

Cut 4 (06) “…system installed.” 

The repairs will cost 28 million dollars.

Authorities believe the five wild horses gunned down in the Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area were deliberately shot.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

There was an officer involved shooting in Monroe around 2:20AM this morning at the Super 8 Motel. Officers say they were responding to a disturbance complaint, and once they arrived on scene, shots were fired resulting in one policeman, and two subjects being hit. Both subjects hit were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and then arrested. The officer shot was also treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Louisiana is one of nine states reporting a high activity level for flu-like illnesses. That’s according to CDC’s latest U-S Influenza Surveillance report. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Diseases specialist, Doctor Fred Lopez, encourages Louisiana residents to get the flu shot now

Cut 6 (09) “…be protected.″

The US 11 bridge between Slidell and New Orleans will be shut down to traffic starting today, running through April 18^th. Department of Transportation Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says the nearly 100 year old structure is facing new age electrical problems, and often puts commuters on their way to and from the Northshore and New Orleans East in a bit of a bind…

Cut 5 (10) “…kind of unreliable.”

The repairs will cost 28 million dollars.

A 68-year-old man is arrested and charged with terrorizing after threatening to shoot up a store.   The Thibodaux Police Department says Louis Albarado became irate after he claims someone took his shopping cart while he was not looking.  Police Lt. Clint Dempster says the man had accused several different customers of taking the cart during his time in the store.
Cut 11 (08) “…he found out.”
Albarado later told police his intention was to go grab his .44 magnum and return to the store to shoot the person responsible for the missing buggy.

The shooting deaths of five horses at Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area is currently being investigated by Ft. Polk personnel.  Spokesperson for the Pegasus Equine Guardian Association Amy Hanchey says she believes the killings were no accident and is glad to know the base is investigating the matter.
Cut 13 (08) “…things like that.”
Hanchey say historical documentation shows the wild horses have roamed the area dating back to the 14^th century

A new Congress begins its work today as Louisiana’s five U-S House Republican members now find themselves in the minority party. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says with Democrats in control of the House, expect climate change legislation to come up…
cut 8 (10) “….those lines”
But Hogan says with Republicans still in control of the Senate, gridlock is likely for the next two years.

State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Monre. There’s been heavy police presence at a Super 8 Motel on Highway 165. Very few details are available at this time.

Bastrop police are looking for a missing child. He’s been identified as 13-year-old Skyler Colston. He’s five-foot-three, 100 pounds and has brown hair and eys. Colston was last seen in the West Hickory area.

A 68-year-old Thibodaux man has posted bond after he was arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot up store during the holidays, after someone took his shopping cart. Thibodaux Police Lt. Clint Dempster says store management did a good job of calming down Louis Albarado, but a 44 magnum was found in his car…
cut 12 (04) “…his vehicle”
Dempster says Albarado told detectives that his plan was to retireve a weapon from his vehicle and shoot the person who took his buggy.

Fort Polk officials have launched an investigation into the fatal shooting of five horses found dead on the training grounds of the military base. The social media group called the Pegasus Equine Guardian Association first made public of the incident. Spokesperson Amy Hanchey says genetic testing indicates these horses have strong Colonial Spanish ties…
cut 14 (11) “…biological isolation”
Hanchey says it appears the horses were shot with a high powered rifle.

Five out of six Louisiana U.S. House members find themselves out of power as Democrats take control of the lower chamber today as a new Congress is sworn in. LSU Political Science Professor Doctor Robert Hogan says this could make it harder to get funding for Louisiana specific flood protection projects…
cut 7 (12) “…any power”
The first order of business for the new Congress is to end the partial government shutdown which has reached 13 days.

Another day of rainy weather in Louisiana. Most of Louisiana is under a flash flood watch today as heavy rains are possible, which may lead to flash flooding. The National Weather Service says the rain is expected to gradually end from west to east this afternoon and tonight. We can look forward to a dry and mild weekend.

A 68-year-old man faces terrorizing charges after he allegedly threatened to shoot shoppers at a store after someone took his shopping cart…
voicer 3 (29) “….Kevin Barnhart”

The U-S 11 bridge between Slidell and New Orleans will be shut down to traffic starting today, running through April 18th. State transportation department spokesperson Rodney Mallett…
cut 4 (06) “….system installed”
The repairs will cost 28-million dollars.

Congress begins its 116th session today with Democrats taking over the House, while Republicans maintain control of the Senate. Matt Doyle has more on what this means for Louisiana’s five republican members of the US House…
voicer 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Much of Louisiana is under a flash flood watch. Forecasters say it’s possible those in the watch area can see to two to four inches and some localized areas could see five inches of rain. The weekend will be dry and mild.

The U-S 11 Bridge which connects New Orleans to Slidell over Lake Ponchatrain is closed today for repairs and it’s not expected to re-open until April. State Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the 28-million dollar project includes concrete and structural repairs, a new fender system and electrical rehabilitation…
cut 5 (10) “…kind of unreliable”
Mallett says about six-thousand motorists use U-S 11 on a daily basis.

Fort Polk says it’s investigating the shooting of five wild horses in the Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area, which is part of the Kisastchie National Forest. Spokesperson for the Pegasus Equine Guardian Association, Amy Hanchey, says the first report she received of the shooting was on December 29th, but the act could have taken place as early as the 27th…
cut 15 (05) “…within the week”
Hanchey says this was not an accidental shooting as someone with a good shot had to have targeted the horses, since they were all shot in the same area of the body.