Attorney General Jeff Landry’s run for Governor this fall will leave his current post open, and so his Solicitor General has announced she will run for Attorney General. Liz Murrill has been Landry’s Second-in-Command for the past 7 years. She says she is ready to level-up…:

CUT 09(12)      “…and Attorney General.”

Murrill, a Republican, has argued Louisiana cases before the Supreme Court five times and says he has the right stuff. Also running Republican Crowley Representative John Stefanski and Monroe area D.A. John Belton, an independent.

State Democrat Party chair Katie Bernhardt, of Lafayette, seems to be running for governor, though her newly released video doesn’t actually declare that. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says Baton Rouge firebrand Gary Chambers, who has run for congress and the Senate, says a good many Democrats don’t want her…:

CUT 04(07)      “…for governor.”

So far, NO Democrats have declared in the governor’s race.

Louisiana is assisting California after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides. A four-person recovery team from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness left today. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says the team specializes in FEMA public assistance issues…:

CUT 12(04)      “…they can.”

Steele says Louisiana has seen its share of flooding and knows how to battle through the red tape to get federal assistance and other states have provided support to Louisiana during its difficult times, so we could do no less.

…and now it’s time for today’s markets…

So far, no Democrat has announced their candidacy for governor but a new TV ad featuring state party Chair Katie Bernhardt says help is on the way. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says while there’s no mention of the governor’s race in the recently released video, she certainly looks and sounds like a candidate…:

CUT 03(10)      “…difficult to tell.”

But Alford says in-party trouble may be brewing as a number of state Democrats do not approve of Bernhardt as their standard-bearer.

The state’s Board of Elementary & Secondary Education has chosen Lafayette area educator Dr. Holly Boffy (pronounced BOE-fee) as its new president. She has represented BESE District 7 since 2012, and says she wants to lead BESE toward overhauling how the state evaluates school performance…:

CUT 06(09)      “…committed to studying.”

Baton Rouge Police are investigating a Saturday night mass shooting inside a nightclub that injured 12 people, three of them critically. Police Chief Murphy Paul says some one knows who did it and they should call Crimestoppers…:

CUT 27(10)      “…for life.”

Police say the attack was not random; someone was targeted and others were innocent victims.

Across then state in Shreveport, eight people shot and wounded Sunday afternoon, as a hail of gunfire penetrated their home from outside. Among those injured: 4 small kids. Police Chief Wayne Smith says it was likely a drive-by shooting, and a targeted act…:

CUT 11(08)      “…have very well been.”

The search for the gunman or men is ongoing.

Baton Rouge Police are investigating a mass shooting inside a nightclub that injured 12 people, three of the victims are said to have life-threatening injuries. The shooting happened inside The Dior Bar and Lounge early Sunday morning on Bennington Avenue near College Drive. Lt. Bryan Ballard says it was a targeted attack…

Cut 13 (13) “of Baton Rouge.”

Eight people were shot inside a home in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. Police chief Wayne Smith says five adults and three children, two three-year-olds and a five-year-old were wounded…

Cut 10 (14)  “…so much.”

Four of the victims are listed in critical condition, including a three-year-old boy.

A special legislative session to address the state’s lack of property insurance providers will begin on January 30^th. Commissioner Jim Donelon pleaded with legislative leaders last week to hold a session to approve an incentive program to entice insurance carriers to the state after 20 have either left the state or gone insolvent.

The U.S. Postal Service unveils the new postage stamp featuring Louisiana author Ernest J Gaines during a ceremony today. Whitney Thomas Reports.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

There were two mass shootings in Louisiana yesterday. In Baton Rouge, gunfire rang out at a nightclub early in the morning in an incident that left 12 people injured. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul says their officers were already outside the club when shots rang out and responded quickly…:
CUT 15 (12) “medical services”
He believes it was a targeted attack and the shooter remains at large.

In Shreveport eight people were shot inside a home in what police believe was a drive by shooting. The search for that shooter is ongoing. Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor is upset at this kind of violence in her district…:
Cut 12 (11) “thought is”
Four of the victims are listed in critical condition, including a three-year-old boy.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called a special session to address the state’s ongoing property insurance crisis. It will start a week from today and adjourn Sunday, February 5th. State leaders are hoping to have an intermediate fix to the issues before the regular session in April.

Be prepared for major changes when filing your 2022 taxes as today marks the first day you can file. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Governor John Bel Edwards has called a special session to address the state’s homeowner’s insurance crisis. Lawmakers will convene next week to discuss just one topic, appropriating funds to the Insure Louisiana Incentive fund.

Police in Baton Rouge continue to seek information regarding a mass shooting at a nightclub early Sunday morning that injured 12 people including 3 critically. Anyone who knows anything about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

In Shreveport, a mass shooting Sunday sends adults and children to the hospital…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Today on the campus of UL-Lafayette, the US Postal Service continues its Black Heritage series by honoring renowned author Ernest J Gains with a stamp. USPS Spokesperson David Walton says they are thrilled to celebrate Gaines as the 46th stamp in the Black Heritage Series…:
Cut 8 (12) “in the air”
The Ernest J. Gaines Black Heritage stamp will be a forever stamp that holds the same value as the current First- Class Mail stamp.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals are once again headed to the AFC championship game following a 27-10 victory over the Bills Sunday. Cincinati will face The Chiefs who they beat in the same game last year, and Burrow believes The Bengals are a better team this year…:
Cut 18 (09) “last year”
The game will be in Kansas City on Sunday at 5:30.

Baton Rouge Police believe the mass shooting at a nightclub early Sunday morning that injured 12 people was a targeted attack. Chief Murphy Paul is urging anyone with information on this incident to come forward…:
CUT 14 (10) “for life”
Officers were already outside the club when the shots rang out and were able to respond quickly, which Paul says saved lives. Of the 12 shot, he said 3 sustained life-threatening injuries.

Eight people were shot inside a home in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. Police chief Wayne Smith says five adults and three children, including two three-year-olds and a five-year-old were wounded…:
Cut 10 (14) “so much”
The search for the shooter is ongoing.

You can begin filing your state and federal income taxes for 2022 today but be mindful of several changes that could reduce your refund amount. Connor Brown, with LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors, says pandemic incentives are expiring like the enhanced child tax credit. He says in 2021 it was up to $3,600 per qualifying child under five or $3,000 if they were under age 17..:
Cut 5 (08) “16 and under”
He says not only will refunds be smaller, but turnaround time could be longer due to IRS staffing shortages.

The U.S Postal Service is continuing their Black Heritage series by honoring renowned author Ernest J. Gaines with a postal stamp. USPS Spokesperson David Walton says Gaines was a vital voice to the African American experience…:
Cut 7 (08) “..and violence.”
The ceremony will take place today at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where Gaines once taught creative writing.

There were two shooting incidents in Louisiana on Sunday making national headlines. In Baton Rouge, gunfire rang out at a nightclub early in the morning in a mass shooting that left 12 people injured. It happened inside The Dior Bar and Lounge on Bennington Avenue near College Drive. Baton Rouge Police Lt. Bryan Ballard:
CUT 13 (13) “of Baton Rouge”
He says 9 of the victims have injuries considered non life threatening while 3 others are in critical condition. The shooter or shooters remain at large.

In Shreveport, 5 adults and 3 children were shot at a residence Sunday afternoon leaving 4 in critical condition including a 3 year old boy. Police chief Wayne Smith says they believe this was a drive by shooting…:
CUT 11 (08) “have been”
The search for the shooter is ongoing.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called a special session to address the state’s ongoing property insurance crisis. It will start a week from today and adjourn Sunday, February 5th. State leaders are hoping to have an intermediate fix to the issues before the regular session in April.

You can begin filing your 2022 taxes today and your refund may be smaller this year due to some changes from 2021. Connor Brown, with LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors, says incentives from the pandemic are no longer in effect like the CARES Act which allowed up to $600 of charitable contributions for married filing joint on top of a standard deduction even if you didn’t itemize
CUT 4 (06) “be itemizing”
The enhanced child tax credit and the child and dependent care credit also expired in 2021.

The man driving the big rig that went off the road and stuck & killed three members of the Southern University marching band last month has been charged with negligent homicide. 62-year-old Clyde Gay was northbound on I-49 on the night of December 6^th, when he hit the group as they were changing a flat tire on the roadside.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s proposal to create a $45-million fund that would be used to attract additional private insurance companies to Louisiana is met with skepticism from state lawmakers…:

CUT 02(35)      “…Palermo.”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser expresses his frustration with the Louisiana Republican Party and its chairman, after they rushed to get behind Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor; shutting out any support for other GOP candidates – himself included. On WWL radio in New Orleans, Nungesser also accused party member of taking bribes to support Landry over others…:

CUT 05(08)      “…an embarrassment.”

Nungesser says state GOP chairman Louis Gurvich needs to resign.

A five-year-old was killed in Jennings Thursday evening, after police say his six-year-old cousin got a hold of a gun and it went off. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says they received a call from a neighbor who was approached by the 26-year-old male babysitter of the five children…:

CUT 09(11)      “…his cousin”

The baby sitter and the child’s aunt, who possessed the gun are charged with negligent homicide and more.