9:30 LRN Newscast

Last year, Louisiana had a net gain of 33-hundred residents. That pales in comparison to the net gains of nearby states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee, and that still puts Louisiana some 40-thousand people short of where it was at the start of the decade. Still, demographer Greg Rigamer says the fact that Louisiana had a net increase is a good sign, and the state needs to maintain the momentum.

Cut 9 (10)  “…or no growth”

It’s the show where one-thousand ordinary folks with extraordinary talent come together – the Rockin’1000 is rehearsing together for the first time today for Saturday’s show. Among them is 70-year-old Andy Chetta of Covington. He admits that he may have a little stage fright, but organizers are putting him at ease.

Cut 14 (09) “…won’t get noticed.”

It’s D-C Mardi Gras weekend in the nation’s capital. Jeff Palermo has more on the big social and political networking event.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Speaking of that fifth district seat, former Congressman Garret Graves is invoking the fifth – his words, not mine. Amid speculation that Graves may run for the seat that Letlow is vacating for her U.S. Senate run, Graves says he’s not going to do so, saying it’s not the time nor the office that makes sense.