Senator John Kennedy wants Louisiana to develop a new methodology to grade public schools. Kennedy made his comments on the floor of the U.S. Senate. He didn’t offer any specifics on how schools should be graded, but expressed the importance of it because it’s vital to the future of Louisiana…:

CUT 05(10)      “…creating tomorrow.”

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has discussed changing Louisiana’s accountability system, but proposed changes have faced criticism from school boards, superintendents, principals, and teachers.

In Thibodaux tomorrow, the first ever King Cake Festival. Mayor Kevin Clement says a kids’ parade kicks it off at 1:30, with 5 marching bands and kids with “wagon floats”…:

CUT 10(09)      “…pretty good.”

A Louisiana National Guard unit is preparing to deploy to the Middle East, on a classified support mission. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Palermo.”

At the Capitol, the state Senate is expected to give final approval to the $45-million Insure Louisiana Incentive Fund, to attract new private property insurers to de-populate the state’s last-resort insurer Louisiana Citizens. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says, without it, thousand could lose their homes. The special session is expected to wrap up later today.