40% of households in Louisiana are considered in poverty and can’t afford day-to-needs, according to a new report by the Louisiana Association of United Ways:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

How the high school football playoffs will be structured is the big issue at this year’s LHSAA convention, which begins today. President Vic Bonnaffee says discussion ramps up as principals and coaches try to reach a consensus before a vote on Friday…
cut 30 (04) “go on”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he understands an increase to the state’s sales tax is not popular, but feels it is needed to avoid major cuts to state government. Edwards says with a $750 million dollar budget shortfall for this fiscal year, and a potential $1.9 billion next year, they aren’t left with many easy options…:
CUT 9 (12) “going forward”
He says a special legislative session will begin February 14th to deal with the budget crisis.

Firefighters in New Orleans are still on the scene of a Wednesday morning, 6 alarm fire downtown that spread to two structures, but say it is now under control. Officials say they are now concerned the badly burned Canal Street building is in great danger of collapsing. They say the cause of the massive blaze, which produced eye-stinging smoke that caused the closure of roads between the CBD and French Quarter, is still under investigation.