Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers, who is challenging Republican John Kennedy, releases a campaign ad that shows him smoking marijuana. Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization…:

CUT 06  (12)        “…just like me.”

Advocate reporter Tyler Bridges, who covers Senate races, says he’s never seen or heard of a candidate openly smoking weed in a campaign ad. Chambers is joined in challenging Kennedy by Bunkie Democrat Luke Mixon.

A 14-year-old girl in Franklin is under arrest; accused of making a bomb threat to the town’s junior and senior high schools. Police says the girl – whose name is withheld because she is a minor – faces charges of terrorizing and communicating false information of a planned bombing on a school.

Louisiana has surpassed one-million positive cases of COVID since the pandemic began in 2020. A little over 15-thousand have died during that time.

The estranged husband of a Slidell woman, whose dismembered body was found at a home in New Orleans’ 9^th Ward, is demanding the suspect be held without bond. Julia Dardar’s husband Micah says his wife suffered from addiction and mental health issues, and he knew she was hanging around suspect Benjamin Beale…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…too little, too late.”

Beale faces murder and obstruction of justice charges. Micah Dardar wants Beale denied bond, because he considers him a flight risk.

A private school in Clinton, in East Feliciana Parish, is under fire for changing Martin Luther King Day to “Great American Heroes Day” on its school calendar. After a spate of complaints and MANY negative social media posts, the Silliman Institute says it will ”review the manner in which we celebrate this day at our next Board of Directors’ Meeting, and are prepared to make necessary changes as we move forward.”

The estranged husband of a Slidell woman who was dismembered and her body stuffed in a freezer is calling on the justice system to hold the accused killer without bail. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 02(27)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Faced with a severe shortage of substitute teachers, Caddo Parish schools are asking parents to step and take on that role. The lack of available instructors is caused largely by the COVID pandemic, but also by a general shortage of available help. Caddo parents who want to help are urged to contact the school system.

A Baton Rouge Fire Department arson investigator shot a naked, unarmed man who was trying to break into his FDBR vehicle – which had a gun inside. The investigator says, if not for the gun inside, he’d not have used force to stop the man. Why the man was trying to get into the vehicle … and why he was nude … are matters for the investigation.

Physicians say, if you are experiencing COVID symptoms to assume you have the virus and stay home. It might not be COVID but Dr. Lucio Miele (MEE-lay), with LSU Health New Orleans, says if you test negative with a home test, you’re not out of the woods just yet…:

CUT 03(12)      “…a bad idea.”

Miele says the PCR test is more accurate, but it takes several days to receive results. To order a package of four at-home tests, go online to “COVIDtests.gov.”

A St. Martin Parish man faces murder charges after LEO’s find a dead man and dog inside a burning building. Details are scarce at this time, but we do know that the suspect, Randall Romero of St. Martinville, is charged with 2^nd-degree murder, unlawful disposal of human remains, cruelty to animals and more.

“COVIDtests.gov” , the website to order your free at-home coronavirus tests, is now live. Brooke Thorington has more on the reliability of home tests…:

CUT 01(34)      “….Thorington.”

The family of a Slidell mother believed to have been decapitated in New Orleans is demanding that the man suspected of killing her be held without bail. A dismembered body, believed to Julia Dardar’s, was found in a freezer on local artist Benjamin Beale’s property. He’s has been charged in her death. Julia’s estranged husband Micah Dardar says Beale’s parents have the ability to bond him out, and that is a problem…:

CUT 10(12)      “…can’t get out of this.”

U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers, of Baton Rouge, releases a campaign ad showing him smoking pot. He says he wants to destigmatize the herb, as a non-violent offense that is clogging up court dockets and taking needed jail space. Reporter Tyler Bridges covers the Senate race for the Advocate newspaper. He says, if nothing else, the Chambers ad is unique…:

CUT 08(10)      “…in Louisiana.”

The family of a Slidell mother believed to have been decapitated in New Orleans is demanding that the man suspected of killing her be held without bail. Julia Dardar’s dismembered body was found in a freezer and local artist Benjamin Beale has been charged. Julia’s estranged husband Micah Dardar spoke on the steps of New Orleans City Hall…

Cut 9 (06) “…demonic”

Beale’s bond is currently at one point four million dollars.

Chair of Genetics at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Lucio Miele says if you’ve been exposed to COVID you should wait five days to be tested. If you test negative with a rapid or home test, he says you need to test again days later.

Cut 5 (11) “…two-thirds of the time.”

The website COVIDtests.gov for individuals to order free home tests is now live

Louisiana now has tallied more than 1-million total COVID cases since the beginning of the pandemic with one million 25-thousand 748. Today more than 29-thousand new COVID are reported, which includes weekend cases and those from the holiday. 2,183 COVID patients are in Louisiana hospitals and 58 fatalities have been reported also.

U-S Senate Democratic candidate Gary Chambers, who is one of two announced challengers to Republican John Kennedy released a campaign ad today that shows him smoking marijuana. Advocate Reporter Tyler Bridges says it’s a bold move by Chambers to show him smoking marijuana in a campaign ad…

Cut 7 (07) “…the race.” 

Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization. Democrat Luke Mixon has also announced his candidacy.

The estranged husband of a Slidell woman who was dismembered and her body parts kept in a freezer is calling on the justice system to keep the accused killer behind bars on no bail. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Louisiana reaches a grim COVID milestone of more than 1-million total cases since the beginning of the pandemic with one million 25-thousand 748. Today more than 29-thousand new COVID are reported, which includes weekend cases and those from the holiday. 2,183 COVID patients are in Louisiana hospitals.

Dr. Lucio Miele, Chair of the Department of Genetics at LSU Health New Orleans says you are more likely to get a false negative with a home rapid test, so it’s best to test again in a few days. Miele says a PCR test is more accurate, but it takes several days to receive results. He says having both speed and sensitivity is a difficult combination in a test.

Cut 4 (08) “…not possible.”

Miele says if you get a positive result from a home test you have COVID.

U-S Senate Democratic candidate Gary Chambers, who is one of two announced challengers to Republican John Kennedy released a campaign ad today that shows him smoking marijuana. Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization.

 Cut 6 (12) “…just like me” 

Luke Mixon is the other democrat who’s announced his candidacy.

Physicians are advising if you are experiencing COVID symptoms to assume you have the virus and stay home. It might not be COVID but Dr. Lucio Miele, chair of the Department of Genetics at LSU Health New Orleans says if you test negative with a home test, you’re not out of the woods just yet.

Cut 24 bad idea. :12

A PCR test is more accurate, but it takes several days to receive results.

U-S Senator John Kennedy announces he has 11-million dollars in campaign cash on hand as he seeks re-election this year. Kennedy’s campaign says the state’s junior senator has raised 18-million dollars and ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley…
cut 15 (09) “…your next re-election”

State lawmakers can begin filing legislation that will be heard in the session that begins in March. La-Politics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says after two consecutive years of destructive hurricanes and homeowners wrestling with their insurance providers over claims, Republican lawmakers are pushing insurance reform…
Cut 6 (12) “…governor.”

Louisiana staple Tony Chachere’s is introducing new Cajun chili mixes. Spokesperson Celeste Chachere says when they were brainstorming for new product ideas, they decided to pull from one of her great-grandfather’s favorite chili recipes.

Cut 10 (11) “…2.5 ounce box.”

The new chili mixes come in Mild and Original.

Plans are afoot to bring broadband Internet to the state’s most remote areas, via the GUMBO Fund grant program Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

U-S Senate Democratic candidate Gary Chambers, who is one of two announced challengers to Republican John Kennedy, launched a campaign ad today that shows him smoking marijuana. Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy reports he raised just over $3-million for his re-election campaign, during the last months of 2021. That brings his total campaign funds to a little over $18-million, with about $11-million cash on-hand. U.L.-Monroe political science professor Joshua Stockley says $11-million cash on-hand is a huge sum of money to have, when facing what he calls “a token Democrat.”

Cut 14 (07)  “…his re-election bid.”

So far, only two democrats have announced their intentions to run, Luke Mixon and Gary Chambers

Louisiana staple Tony Chachere’s is introducing new Cajun chili mixes. Spokesperson Celeste Chachere says they are based on her great-grandfather’s favorite chili recipe and there are two versions mild and original, and are created with fresh herbs and spices.

Cut  11 (10)  “…smoked sausage.”