Louisiana receives a green light in the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety report for having nine critical traffic laws on the books. Tara Gill, the Director of State Programs, praises Louisiana’s efforts in enforcing no texting while driving legislation, but still more can be done…:
Cut 5 (09) “while driving”
Another reason we scored high is the ignition interlock offender law for convicted drunk drivers.

Special contract crews have been working in New Orleans to flush out 15,000 clogged catch basins in the city; and say there have been 93,000 pounds of Mardi Gras beads sucked up from the storm drains. That’s 46 tons and they were all pulled from St. Charles between Poydras Street and Lee Circle. The project was in response to the August flooding that wreaked havoc on neighborhoods.

The Audubon Insectarium is offering a unique twist on king cakes this year. Matt Doyle has the scoop…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Department of Health will be offering free flu shots to anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated yet this season, on Wednesday January 31st. State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says get the shot before Wednesday if you can…:
Cut 7 (07) “that vaccine”
He says they are trying to get everyone protected before Mardi Gras.