First Lady Donna Edwards and the Governor’s Office on Human Trafficking Prevention launch their awareness campaign and website. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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After 16 seasons, Sean Payton officially stepped down as head coach of the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday. David Grubb has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m David Grubb.”

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Governor Edwards proposes setting aside a half-billion in surplus money to build a new Mississippi River Bridge at Baton Rouge. Kevin Gallagher reports state lawmakers hashed it out Tuesday…:

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards has announced his plan to apply more than half a billion dollars from the budget to help replenish the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the fund plays a vital role in protecting workers and businesses.

Cut 4 (12) “…entitled to.”

Since 2020, the trust fund has been depleted due to the pandemic and four major natural disasters. Cates says the one-time funds would push the fund above the $750 million threshold that would otherwise negatively impact business taxes and unemployment benefits.

Cut 5 (17) “…from happening.”

Cates says that by addressing this issue right now, the state has an added layer of protection should disaster strike again.

Cut 6 (14) “…wipe out the trust fund.”

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First Lady Donna Edwards announces a new human trafficking public awareness campaign and resource center. Edwards says the campaign received input from human trafficking survivors and is entitled Stop Trafficking LA: Human Trafficking is Real R-E-A-L.

Cut 7 (12) “…supporting victims.”

The awareness campaign will launch in April during the NCAA final four basketball tournament in New Orleans. Edwards says large sporting events are often the perfect environment for the crime of trafficking to flourish.

Cut 8 (11)  “…no to trafficking.”

Dr. Dana Hunter, executive director of the Louisiana Office of Human Trafficking Prevention also introduced the first web-based human trafficking prevention resource center at HumanTrafficking.la.gov.

Cut 9 (07)  “…for victims.”

Edwards says that 60-percent of children in foster care have some type of connection to human sex trafficking.

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Sean Payton officially stepped down as head coach of the New Orleans Saints Tuesday afternoon after 16 years on the sidelines. The decision of whether or not to move on is something Payton says he had been contemplating for a while.

Cut 10 (19) “…been thinking about.”

Payton brought an unprecedented era of winning to the Saints, collecting seven division championships, nine playoff appearances and the Super Bowl 44 trophy. But Payton’s very first team in New Orleans remains special to him.

Cut 11 (12)  “…that ’06 team.”

Payton says he’ll miss the relationship he shares with Who Dat Nation, something that makes Saints fans unlike any other.

Cut 12 (18) “…pretty special.”

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State lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee met Tuesday to discuss Governor Edwards’ proposal for spending surplus dollars on a new Mississippi River Bridge at Baton Rouge. Part of the governor’s plan is to set aside a half-billion dollars for the project, but committee Chairman Senator Bodi White, of Baton Rouge, feels pressure will be on to spend that money on more immediate needs…:

Cut 13 (06) “…in excess.”

Senate President Page Cortez, of Lafayette, says he’s all for getting a third bridge built in Baton Rouge … but he also wonders if stowing those millions away for several years is the right move, when a location for the bridge has not even been decided yet…:

Cut 14 (11)  “…off the ground.”

Baton Rouge state Representative Rick Edmonds says he supports the plan, even if the surplus money lies in reserve for it for a few years. He says getting that bridge built should be a top priority…:

Cut 15 (12)  “…of the United States.”

Lawmakers will decide how to allocate surplus funds in the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. The Governor has line-item veto power over that budget bill.

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The LSU men’s basketball team looks to snap a three-game losing streak tonight when the Tigers host Texas A-and-M at 8 PM. LSU Coach Will Wade the Aggies present another difficult challenge for his team…

Cut  16 (20)  “..under control.”

LSU’s offense has been struggling as of late and the Tigers rank last in the SEC in assist-versus turnover ratio as they are averaging 15 turnovers a game. Wade says the turnovers are bothersome…

Cut 17 (22) “ ….ball back.”

Wade says it’s 50-50 whether Darius Days will play with a sore ankle and if Xavier Pinson plays, he’ll be limited with a knee injury. The Tigers are mired in their first three-game losing streak in 2018, but Wade believes they’ll come out of it soon…

Cut 18 (22) “ ..the end.”

The pandemic continues to plague the restaurant industry and the Omicron variant is no different. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Saints’ all-time winningest coach is stepping down. Sean Payton notified the team today that he will not be back for a 16th season on the sidelines. David Grubb has more.

Cut 2 (32)…I’m David Grubb.”  

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With the rise of COVID-19 Omicron cases, AARP Louisiana State Director, Denise Bottcher, is calling for immediate action to get residents and staff vaccinated and boosted. Bottcher says there were over 100 confirmed COVID cases among staff in the first two weeks of January and over 50 residents tested positive.

Cut 3 (10) “…not fully vaccinated.”

Bottcher says only 12-percent of direct care staff at Louisiana nursing homes have received a booster.

Cut 4 (11) “…loved one.”

The AARP has been following CDC data closely, and Bottcher sees a straight line between vaccination and boosters to lower spikes among nursing home residents.

Cut 5 (10) “…longterm care residents.”

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Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris who also serves on the National Restaurant Association board, says eateries continue to struggle with the COVID pandemic and they desperately need Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund…

 Cut 6 (09) “…that push.” 

The National Restaurant Association says 10-thousand Louisiana restaurant jobs were saved with the first round of the RRF grants and Harris says the highly contagious Omicron variant is forcing many establishments to reduce hours, seating capacity, and menu offerings.

Cut 7 (06) “…right now.” 

Harris says staffing shortages also continue to plague the industry.

Cut 8 (10) “…same worker.”  

According to a Restaurant Association Survey 98-percent of eateries that did not receive an RRF grant but applied, say future funding would enable them to retain and rehire employees.

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State Police say the suspect fatally shot by a Lafayette Police Officer on Sunday night reached for a gun. Trooper Thomas Gossen says Lafayette P-D tried to apprehend the man after stealing a vehicle. Gossen says the subject fled from the vehicle and a foot pursuit began. He says one of the officers attempted to use a taser…

Cut 9 (12) “…visible gun.”

Gossen says an officer at the scene fired his weapon after instructing the suspect not to reach for a gun…

Cut 10 (05)  “….in this.” 

Gossen says the shooting remains an active investigation but they know the suspect who was fatally shot was armed…

Cut  11 (08)  “…officer reacted”

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After 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, head coach Sean Payton is leaving the franchise he helped build into one of the most successful in the NFL. Editor in Chief of Canal Street Chronicles, Ross Jackson, says it appears Payton’s decision is about taking a break from the NFL coaching grind and the speculation has been out there…

Cut 12 (12) “…like the latter.”  

With New Orleans, Payton won 152 games, seven division titles, and led the Saints to a victory in Super Bowl 44. Like Drew Brees, Payton doesn’t get a storybook ending to his career, where he walks off into the sunset with a championship, but Jackson reminds fans that Payton’s legacy with the Saints and the NFL will be a lasting one.

Cut 13 (09) “…it happen”

Payton’s departure means there are now nine head coaching vacancies in the NFL and the Saints are getting a relatively late start, but Jackson says New Orleans is an attractive job opening…

Cut 14 (10)  “…on the other side.”