PM Newscall February 16th, 2015

It’s a dreary and wet Lundi Gras for much of Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more on our Mardi Gras forecast..

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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State Police has increased its numbers in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and they’re making their presence known. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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An accused rapist is back behind bars after slipping out of his shackles and running from Washington Parish Sheriff’s deputies early Saturday Morning. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says 39-year-old Kaundra Magee was recaptured just before noon on Sunday when a deputy heard some movement in a large drain that goes under Highway 10 in Franklinton…

CUT 3 (07)  “any incident”

Haley says Magee escaped while being transported back to the jail after treatment for pain in his shoulder. He says Magee was able to free himself from his leg shackles and escape the police car. Haley says Magee is now facing additional charges of simple escape…

CUT 4 (06)  “against him”

Magee required medical attention after his capture to treat swollen wrists due to wearing handcuffs for nearly 36 hours. Haley says they are taking steps to thwart any further escape attempts by Magee…

CUT 5 (09)  “be housed”

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A strong cold front moves through the state bringing rain and colder temperatures to the Bayou State. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says it will result in a cold Fat Tuesday

CUT 6 (09)  “40s”

Jones says there is a chance for a few ice pellets or freezing rain between midnight and 8 A-M tomorrow morning in central Louisiana

CUT 7 (08)  “Monroe area”

Jones says if you plan on attending parades tomorrow, bundle up, because high temperatures will struggle to get out of the 40s

CUT 8 (09)  “be outdoors”

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State Police has increased its numbers in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and they’re making their presence known. Over 150 additional troopers are patrolling the French Quarter and the metro area. Spokesperson Melissa Matey says, so far, troopers have made over 140 arrests…

CUT 9 (08)  “of the streets”

Matey says over fifty of their arrests are for felonies. Of the over 300 criminal charges filed in these arrests, nearly 100 were for narcotics and Matey says state police have taken over $376,000 worth of the illegal drugs off of the streets. She also says troopers have seized 14 illegally possessed weapons…

cut 10 (10)  “those guns out”

Matey says State Police is committed to protect revelers this Mardi Gras season…

cut 11 (10)  “Carnival 2015″

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The energy industry applauds a federal judge’s decision to dismiss a controversial lawsuit against oil and gas companies alleging they should pay billions of dollars for damage to Louisiana’s coast. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says US District Nanette Jolivette Brown gave a detailed 49-page explanation for her decision

cut 12 (09)  “of appeal”

The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East filed the lawsuit in 2013 claiming oil and gas companies made Louisiana more vulnerable to hurricanes, because of drilling, pipelines  and other exploration efforts.  Foret says the plantiffs highlighted six different claims on why the oil industry should be found liable

cut 13 (08)  “viable claim”

Foret says while environmentalists supported the efforts of the levee authority in their attempt to get oil and gas companies to pay for damages to Louisiana’s coast, the lawsuit did not get much support from state government…

cut 14 (09)  “not worth it”

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