The federal government was reopened after a tense three day negotiation that resulted in an agreement to hold a vote on the Dream Act before the legislation expires in March. The legislation provides temporary legal status to people who were brought to the U.S. as children. A proposed deal would see funding for President Trump’s wall in exchange for a Dreamer resolution, and Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s identified a way to fund it:
Cut 12 (11) “Mexican Cartel”

The state Department of Health is offering free flu shots at more than 55 Parish Health Units across the state on Wednesday, January 31. They said Louisiana is on track to meet and even exceed the most severe flu seasons which cause about 700 deaths and nearly 8,000 hospitalizations. Officials highly recommend everyone get vaccinated this season if they haven’t already.

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has been with the team now for 12 seasons and remains without a contract as NFL free agency approaches. Saints GM Mickey Loomis says there’s no panic in the Saints camp…:
Cut 9 (07) “continue that”
There could be concerns due to Brees’ age which is 39.

A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Professor of Political Science Sally Kenney says another concern is that Louisiana’s minorities and women judges are serving in certain areas, like Orleans…:
Cut 7 (09) “would show”
She says minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. Women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana. But 51% of the state is female.