Tandem floats have been banned from New Orleans Mardi Gras parades following the deaths of two parade-goers who were struck and killed by two floats pulled by one tractor. 58-year-old Joseph Sampson died Saturday after he fell underneath a tandem float during the Endymion parade. Krewe president Dan Kelly supports the Mayor’s decision to ban tandem floats, but he’s not sure that’s the long-term solution….
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Sampson’s family has started a GoFundMe account to help pay for funeral expenses.

Governor John Bel Edwards has created the “Climate Initiatives Task Force” that will work on ways to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow sea-level rise….
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That’s Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliff.

A former Bossier City Police Officer has been arrested on murder and obstruction of justice charges. 43-year-old John Hardy was taken into custody over the weekend. The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office has not released many details. But Hardy’s business partner has been missing since January 24th and human remains were discovered in a wooded area outside of Benton on Friday.

The fourth annual Mardi Gras Parade Adoption Program is underway to place extra horses with owners so they can avoid possible slaughter. Brooke Thorington has more.
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