The Lake Charles L’Auberge Casino is thought to be ground zero for an outbreak of norovirus that’s infected dozens of people. The origin of the outbreak has reportedly been traced to a Mardi Gras ball held last weekend. State Office of Public Health Doctor Frank Welch…
Cut 13 (11) “…virus.”
Symptoms include vomiting and nausea that typically lasts 24 to 48 hours after being infected. People of all ages can become ill from norvirus as it can easily spread.

An alleged bomb threat found on a school bus in Erath has led to officials evacauating students from Dozier Elementary, Erath Middle and Erath High School. Vermilon Parish Sheriff deputies will have bomb detection dogs go through the schools as a precaution.

The Edwards Administration is going over its proposed budget for next fiscal year at today’s joint budget committee meeting. The proposed spending plan calls for the state to spend an additional 285-million dollars, with additional money going to public schools and early childhood education….
cut 9 (09) ‘….the educational process”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget also calls for cuts in other areas of state government so that more dollars can go into education.

Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown will have a big task in front of him in the upcoming session as he’ll chair the House Insurance Committee. Several bills are expected to be filed in an effort to lower auto insurance rates. Brown says some of the bills call for tort reform, others seek to change how rates are calculated…
cut 6 (08) “….be flushed out”
The session begins March 9th.