Governor John Bel Edwards and other state and business leaders from Louisiana are in the nation’s capital for Washington D-C Mardi Gras festivities. LSU communications professor and longtime political staffer Bob Mann says the tradition started over 50 years ago by former Senator Russel Long for those Louisianans stuck in D.C. for the carnival season.
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The tradition began and continues at the Washington Hilton.

Louisiana is known for its hot sauce and an LSU grad now living in New York is close to completing his Kickstarter campaign for a line of hot sauces he plans to produce called Bayou Gotham. Scott Bellina says his ties to the hot sauce industry is a family affair.
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Bellina hopes to begin production of the Bayou Gothan hot sauce in March.

The Louisiana Family Forum is once again looking for the state’s longest married couple so they can be honored on Valentine’s Day. Brooke Thorington has more…
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Meanwhile, hearts are broken in Lafayette over the death of Matthew Carter. The 17-year-old from Comeaux High School died yesterday from injuries he sustained when he was shot during an attempted armed robbery early Saturday morning. Police have charged a 13 and -14-year-old with first-degree murder. Carter has been described as a sweet and dedicated teenager.