Like all other states, Louisiana has a sex offender registry. Now, one lawmaker wants to create a similar registry for those who abuse animals. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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With the end of king cake season comes the start of seafood season. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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If when driving along I-10 or I-20, you say to yourself that your fellow Louisianans are really bad drivers, one group says you may be right. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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With a Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of two majority Black districts still pending, the state’s current congressional map remains as is in this year’s election. That means District 6, which is currently represented by Democrat Cleo Fields, remains majority Black, and Fields has drawn four Republican challengers, all of whom are also Black. Among them is Larry Davis of Livingston, who says the Democratic Party does not own the Black community.

Cut 4 (06) “…why we’re running.”

Davis says he will represent all the people of the Sixth District, which runs diagonally from Shreveport to Baton Rouge and includes Natchitoches, Alexandria and Opelousas.

Cut 5 (11) “…that’s unacceptable”

Another challenger seeking the seat is Peter Williams of Lettsworth. This is his fourth run for Congress, and he says he’s taking a different approach this time around.

Cut 6 (07) “…platform was conservative.”

Williams says when he ran previously as a Democrat, conservatives would tune him out because of the “D” next to his name – but not anymore.

Cut 7 (10) “…I’m old school.”

The other two contenders on the Republican ballot in the sixth district are Monique Appeaning of St. George and Chris Johnson of Greenwell Springs.

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Like every other state across the country, Louisiana has a sex offender registry. Now, a state lawmaker wants to create a registry for those who abuse animals. Chalmette Republican Representative Mike Bayham says the purpose of his bill is to allow those who sell animals to make informed decisions.

Cut 8 (12) “…to be abused.”

Bayham says registration would only be required for those convicted of certain offenses, including cruelty to animals, dogfighting, injuring or killing of a police animal, sexual abuse of an animal or cockfighting.

Cut 9 (07)  “…to another animal.”

Those who fail to register would face a fine of up to one-thousand dollars and up to one year in prison. Bayham says it’s his way of protecting the pet population.

Cut 10 (08) “…by sadistic individuals.”

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King cake season is over; now, seafood season is here. Samantha Carroll, the executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, says Lent is always a big time for the state’s seafood industry.

Cut 11 (10) “…and enjoying seafood.”

Carroll says with more people eating seafood on Fridays since all other forms of meat are off-limits that day of the week, that does tend to affect pricing.

Cut 12 (08) “…from enjoying seafood.”

As for one of Louisiana’s biggest delicacies, Carroll says on Fridays, dig in!

Cut 13 (12)  “…State of Louisiana.”

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If you think your fellow Louisianan is a bad driver, statistics show you may be right. Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the group Consumer Affairs ranks Louisiana as one of the worst states in the nation for fatal crashes. Spokeswoman Dayna Edens:

Cut 14 (08) “…dangerous of that.”

Edens says millennials, defined as those between 30 and 44 years old, were behind the wheel of 41-percent of all fatal crashes in Louisiana in 2023, the year that Consumer Affairs took the data from.

Cut 15 (07) “…operating the vehicle.”

Edens says there are several factors that go into Louisiana’s abysmal national ranking.

Cut 16 (13) “…under the influence.”

Louisiana is one of 16 states in which millennials were responsible for the most fatal crashes. In five states, gen X drivers – 45 to 59 years old – accounted for the most. Gen Z drivers – from newly-licensed drivers up to 29 – were responsible for the most fatal crashes in the remaining 29 states.

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The second-ranked LSU gymnastics team is in Norman to face top-ranked Oklahoma tonight at eight p.m. The Tigers defeated the Sooners last year in Baton Rouge, and former LSU Gymnastics head coach D-D Breaux expects the meet to be an entertaining one.

Cut 17 (12)  “…it’s a toss.”

Breaux says tonight’s meet will come down to whichever team stays poised across all four events, and she believes the Tigers are capable of doing just that.

Cut 18 (18)  “…and we’ll win.”

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The LSU baseball team is in Jacksonville this weekend for the Live Like Lou Classic. Coach Jay Johnson says he loves playing in tournaments like this early in the season for several reasons.

Cut 19 (14) “…experience in them.”

LSU baseball has played in early-season tournaments in Texas for the last four seasons. Johnson believes playing in Jacksonville this weekend could help with recruiting in the state of Florida.

Cut 20 (13) “…Florida really well.”

A new Senate poll shows a tight race and could spell big trouble for the incumbent. The poll commissioned by the John Fleming campaign and conducted by JMC Analytics and Polling shows Fleming with a slight lead over Julia Letlow and Bill Cassidy – 26 to 25 to 22-percent, respectively. Pollster John Couvillon says in head-to-head matchups, Fleming leads both.

Cut 3 (11) “…margin of error.”

It’s the incredible roller coaster ride known as Louisiana winter. We saw temperatures in record territory today, and it’ll be much of the same tomorrow and Saturday. But don’t put away the jacket just yet – LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says temperatures will plummet early Sunday when a cold front arrives.

Cut 10 (13) “…in the 60s.”

A Republican state representative is filing a bill aiming to prevent the use of eminent domain for carbon capture. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson says while eminent domain is an important tool for projects that are in the greater public interest, carbon capture is not one of them.

Cut 7 (11) “…projects are that.”

Industry leaders say if Johnson’s bill passes, the oil and gas industry may look to neighboring states like Texas, putting a dent in Louisiana’s economy.

If you think your fellow Louisianan is a bad driver, statistics show you may be right. Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2023, the group Consumer Affairs ranks Louisiana as one of the worst states in the nation for fatal crashes. Spokeswoman Dayna Edens:

Cut 14 (08) “…dangerous of that.”

A new Senate poll could spell big problems for Bill Cassidy. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Louisianans will get a taste of both winter and spring over the next few days. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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A new Senate poll shows a very competitive Senate primary and could spell big trouble for the incumbent. The poll commissioned by the John Fleming campaign and conducted by JMC Analytics and Polling shows Fleming leading Julia Letlow and Bill Cassidy in a three-way race. Among 645 likely Republican voters, it shows Fleming with 26-percent support, Letlow with 25-percent and Cassidy with 22-percent. Pollster John Couvillon says in head-to-head matchups, Fleming leads both.

Cut 3 (11) “…margin of error.”

Couvillon says Fleming’s key to success has been being able to consolidate Blake Miguez’s support after he exited the race in favor of a run in the fifth congressional district.

Cut 4 (07) “…support and has.”

Couvillon says Cassidy has failed to move the needle in recent polls, and that’s going to spell big trouble for him as the campaign moves forward.

Cut 5 (13) “…the June runoff.”

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A Republican state representative has filed a trio of bills targeting carbon capture. The lead measure Pineville Representative Mike Johnson has filed is the Louisiana Landowners Protection Act, which would eliminate eminent domain for carbon capture projects. Johnson notes that eminent domain is an important tool for “public necessary purposes.”

Cut 6 (09) “…for that use.”

Johnson says the no private business should ever force any private landowner into court in an effort to take his or her property for something that is not in the greater public’s interest.

Cut 7 (11) “…projects are that.”

Johnson says while he has no reason to believe any private companies are looking to take private property through eminent domain for carbon capture projects, he wants to prevent that from becoming an option to them.

Cut 8 (06) “…available to them.”

Industry leaders say if Johnson’s bill passes, the oil and gas industry may look to neighboring states like Texas, putting a dent in Louisiana’s economy.

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Louisiana weather continues to prove its unpredictability this week. Even though it’s still winter, it will feel like late spring in the next few days. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the state could see record-high temps from now through Saturday.

Cut 9 (13)  “…in the 70s.”

Keim says temperatures across Louisiana will plummet early Sunday when a cold front arrives.

Cut 10 (13) “…in the 60s.”

Keim says chilly conditions are expected to be the worst next Tuesday morning.

Cut 11 (08) “…across the state.”

Keim says temperatures will rise again next Wednesday.

A new Senate poll shows a tight race and could spell big trouble for the incumbent. The poll commissioned by the John Fleming campaign and conducted by JMC Analytics and Polling shows Fleming with a slight lead over Julia Letlow and Bill Cassidy – 26 to 25 to 22-percent, respectively. Pollster John Couvillon says in head-to-head matchups, Fleming leads both.

Cut 3 (11) “…margin of error.”

A Republican state representative has filed a trio of bills targeting carbon capture. The lead measure by Pineville Representative Mike Johnson would eliminate eminent domain for carbon capture projects. Johnson notes that eminent domain is an important tool for “public necessary purposes.”

Cut 6 (09) “…for that use.”

Louisianans will get a taste of both winter and spring over the next few days. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

President Trump approves Governor Landry’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for North Louisiana, as it works to recover from Winter Storm Fern. The declaration covers nine parishes, and it makes them eligible for debris removal assistance and emergency protective measures. Local governments have 30 days to apply for public assistance.

A former mayor of New Orleans is remembering a civil rights giant who died this week. Dr. Norman C. Francis passed away yesterday at the age of 94. Former Mayor Mitch Landrieu says right from the outset of his nearly half-century tenure as president of Xavier University, his actions were transformative in the fight for civil rights in the South in the 1960s.

Cut 9 (07)  “…invited them in.”

A new documentary on the SEC Network spotlights legendary LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux and how she built the program from the ground up. Breaux says the athletics department was not always on her side, but it finally gave her the support she needed when Skip Bertman took over the department in 2001.

Cut 16 (13) “…just that anchor.”

A 16-year-old is facing an attempted second-degree murder charge for allegedly shooting a 14-year-old along a Lake Charles Mardi Gras parade route Tuesday night. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Now that Mardi Gras is over, what do you do with all those beads that you collected this year? Whatever you do, don’t throw them away! Lafayette is among the communities offering bead recycling programs. In Lafayette, you can drop your beads off at a collection box. They’re then cleaned, sanitized and packaged for resale.

Of the four challengers House Speaker Mike Johnson drew in his Fourth District re-election bid, two are Democrats. Conrad Cable is a farmer from, appropriately, Farmerville; while Matt Gromlich (GROM-lick) is a long-time teacher from Greenwood. Despite their differing backgrounds, much of their messaging is the same. Cable says this country is on fire, and Johnson is largely to blame.

Cut 6 (13) “…of the way.”

Gromlich accuses Johnson of prioritizing Republican donors and special interests and ignoring the people of the Fourth District who he represents.

Cut 7 (12) “…he leaves again.”

Whoever wins the nomination will have an uphill climb in November – the district is rated as one of the most heavily Republican districts in the country.

Chaos at a Mardi Gras parade in Lake Charles on Fat Tuesday, as a 16-year-old is arrested for allegedly shooting and wounding another teen, and another 12 were arrested for disorderly conduct. Sheriff Stitch Guillory says holding parades on the night of Fat Tuesday may no longer be a good idea.

Cut 13 (12)  “…to look at ”

“The Fighting Tiger,” a documentary released on the SEC Network, highlights legendary LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux and how she built the program from the ground up. It spotlights Breaux’s passion for gymnastics, which dates all the way back to when she received a balance beam for Christmas as a kid.

Cut 14 (14) “…I’ve ever had.”

A 16-year-old is charged with attempted second-degree murder after allegedly shooting another teenager during a Mardi Gras Parade in Lake Charles Tuesday night. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory says the teen made it easy for investigators – there’s a photo of him on social media holding a gun.

Cut 12 (11) “…had ill intentions?”

Remembrances are pouring on for another civil rights giant. Dr. Norman C. Francis passed away yesterday morning at the age of 94. Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu was a lifelong friend of Dr. Francis; he says while he could have been a world-class lawyer, potentially on a path to the U.S. Supreme Court, he chose a career in academia, serving as president of Xavier University for almost a half-century.

Cut 8 (10) “…at Xavier University.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson has drawn four challengers in his District Four race, including two Democrats. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Tyler Shough may not have won rookie of the year, but the Saints quarterback just experienced something a lot more meaningful than any trophy could ever provide – the arrival of his first child. Tyler and his wife Jordan welcomed their new son, Grayson Dubois Shough, yesterday. Posting a carousel of their newly-expanded family, Shough said it’s the best thing he and his wife have ever done.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has drawn four challengers in his District Four race, including two Democrats. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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A former mayor of New Orleans is remembering a civil rights giant who passed away yesterday. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A 16-year-old is facing an attempted second-degree murder charge for allegedly shooting a 14-year-old along a Lake Charles Mardi Gras parade route Tuesday night. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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House Speaker Mike Johnson has drawn four challengers in his District Four race – two Republicans and two Democrats. One of those Democrats is Conrad Cable, a fifth-generation farmer from, appropriately, Farmerville. Cable says Johnson and his fellow Republicans have enacted policies that have decimated Louisiana farmers.

Cut 4 (10) “…half of that.”

The other Democrat on the District Four primary ballot is Matt Gromlich (GROM-lick) of Greenwood. He comes from a different background – he’s a long-time educator, currently teaching at LSU-Shreveport. As such, education issues are among his top priorities should voters send him to Washington.

Cut 5 (10) “…for our residents.”

While Cable and Gromlich differ in backgrounds, they’re on the same page when it comes to their criticism of the speaker and his role in shaping the current national political discourse. Cable says this country is on fire, and Johnson is largely to blame.

Cut 6 (13) “…of the way.”

Gromlich accuses Johnson of prioritizing Republican donors and special interests and ignoring the people of the Fourth District who he represents.

Cut 7 (12) “…he leaves again.”

Johnson’s two Republican challengers are Mike Nichols of Pitkin and Joshua Morott (muh-ROT), who lists his home as Benton, Arkansas, but claims to be a resident of Louisiana, as required by law in order to be elected to the U.S. House.

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Remembrances are pouring on for another civil rights giant. Dr. Norman C. Francis passed away yesterday morning at the age of 94. Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu was a lifelong friend of Dr. Francis; he says while he could have been a world-class lawyer, potentially on a path to the U.S. Supreme Court, he chose a career in academia, serving as president of Xavier University for almost a half-century.

Cut 8 (10) “…at Xavier University.”

Landrieu says Francis’ actions were transformative in the fight for civil rights in the South in the 1960s.

Cut 9 (07)  “…invited them in.”

Landrieu notes that during the latter part of Francis’ presidency at Xavier, he was also instrumental in the recovery effort following Hurricane Katrina, serving as chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority.

Cut 10 (08) “…came after him.”

Landrieu says with Francis’ passing, everyone will need to step up and fill his shoes, especially these days when the leadership that he showed is needed more than ever.

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A 16-year-old is facing an attempted second-degree murder charge after allegedly shooting another teenager during a Mardi Gras Parade in Lake Charles Tuesday night. Deputies say a 14-year-old suffered a single gunshot wound to his arm and was treated at a hospital. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory says thankfully, no one else was injured.

Cut 11 (12) “…anybody’s public safety.”

Guillory says deputies found the gun yesterday; it had been stolen from a bar on Common Street. He says there’s a photo on social media of the 16-year-old suspect holding the gun.

Cut 12 (11) “…had ill intentions?”

The 16-year-old is also charged with reckless discharge of a firearm at a parade and illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile. Guillory says another 12 people were arrested on weapons and disorderly charges, as eight guns were confiscated along the parade route. The sheriff says holding parades on the night of Fat Tuesday may no longer be a good idea.

Cut 13 (12)  “…to look at ”

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“The Fighting Tiger,” a documentary released on the SEC Network, highlights legendary gymnastics coach D-D Breaux and how she built LSU’s program from the ground up. The documentary spotlights Breaux’s passion for gymnastics, which dates all the way back to when she received a balance beam for Christmas as a kid.

Cut 14 (14) “…I’ve ever had.”

The documentary shows how Breaux fought to keep the gymnastics program alive after several athletic directors threatened to cut the program. One of the most dramatic moments in the film comes when Breaux wrote a letter to LSU Athletic Director Joe Dean, requesting better resources to work with. Breaux says she will never forget the assistant athletic director’s response.

Cut 15 (13) “…you’re walking out.”

LSU gymnastics finally started to get the support it needed when Skip Bertman became athletic director in 2001. Breaux says Bertman supported her when no one else did on campus.

Cut 16 (13) “…just that anchor.”

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LSU women’s basketball’s 79-72 loss to South Carolina last Saturday marked the fourth time this season the Tigers failed to close out a game in the fourth quarter. Cory Diaz of the USA Today Network says the inability to come out on top late comes from LSU’s lack of killer instincts.

Cut 17 (10)  “…approach to this.”

The seventh-ranked Lady Tigers look to get back in the win column tonight when they take on 17th-ranked Ole Miss in Oxford at 8 p.m. LSU looks to avenge last year’s loss to Ole Miss on senior night, and Diaz could see it coming down to the wire.

Cut 18 (14)  “…Oxford Thursday night.”

Diaz believes LSU will win the remainder of its regular-season games. If the Tigers do win out, Diaz says it would likely set up a rematch with South Carolina in the SEC Tournament.

Cut 19 (07) “…of business here.”

That’s a wrap for Carnival for 2026. The parades are over, the floats are back in storage, and the remaining stock of king cakes are on sale at bargain basement prices. This was the first Carnival season in New Orleans for the city’s new archbishop, James Checchio. He says he was impressed with all the traditions.

Cut 4 (11) “…they value here.”

With the end of Carnival comes the start of Lent. Over the next 40 days, Catholics will abstain from eating meat on Fridays. But since the Catholic Church says eating seafood is okay, demand for it increases during Lent. Harlon Pearce of Harlan’s LA Fish in Kenner says the wild catfish caught in Louisiana is amazing.

Cut 12 (06) “…amazing.”

Pearce says crabs are expensive right now and there is shrimp available, but the supply of shrimp does not pick up until April and May.

One of the greatest athletes to ever play at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette has passed away. Jeff Palermo has more on the loss of Bo Lamar, who was 74.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The son of reggae legend Bob Marley is announced as one of the headliners of this year’s Festival Internationale de Louisiane in Lafayette. Stephen Marley will represent Jamaica, and he’ll be joined in April by, among others, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, Rhiannon Giddens and Cimafunk.

A Rapides Parish woman is convicted in connection with a wildfire west of Glenmora in March of 2023, when wildfires were burning rampantly due to a historic drought. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the guilty verdict will cost Carrie Willis almost ten-thousand dollars as part of her sentence.

Cut 7 (13) “…those 27 acres.”

Former Louisiana basketball standout Bo Lamar died this week at the age of 74. Kevin Foote covers U-L Lafayette athletics for the Advocate and says Lamar was the catalyst for then-Southwestern Louisiana’s rise from an NAIA program to one of the top programs in the country at the Division One level.

Cut 10 (12) “…Top Ten teams.”

The Lenten Season has arrived, and seafood is in demand. Joe Gallinaro on how the supply looks.

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

For those of you in the federally declared disaster area following Winter Storm Fern, the Louisiana Department of Revenue is granting you automatic filing and payment extensions. Taxes that qualify for extensions are excise, sales, severance and withholding taxes, and extensions are also being given for the filing of W-2, L-3 and 1099 forms. Those deadlines, which were originally this Saturday, have now been extended to March 31st.