The New Orleans City Council is this morning taking up a controversial ordinance that would prohibit smoking in bars, nightclubs, and casinos in the city limits. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

In other news out of the Big Easy, there’s a lot of talk today about Saints owner Tom Benson’s decision to transfer ownership of the Black and Gold and Pelicans NBA franchise to his wife when he dies and not his granddaughter Rita Benson LeBlanc. The richest man in Louisiana says the move is to ensure the teams’ long-term stability and success.

The woman who has assisted law enforcement locally and nationally in identifying human remains, Mary Manhein, announces she is retiring from the LSU FACES Laboratory after more than 30 years. Also known as “The Bone Lady,” Manhein has consulted on hundreds of forensic cases including mass disasters…:
CUT 6 (13) “and what happened to them”
Manhein says her last day is April 30th and she’ll then turn over the reigns of the program to another generation.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says it’s now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for shooting a whooping crane last November in Vermilion Parish. Officials want to express the seriousness of shooting and killing one of the world’s most endangered birds. If you have information you can report it online at wlf.louisiana.gov.