State lawmakers have convened a 17-day special session focused on crime issues. Governor Jeff Landry told lawmakers this afternoon that he made a pledge to Louisiana residents on campaign that he would make this a safer state…

Cut 12 (11)  “..that process.”  

A measure to allow people who are 18 or older to carry a concealed gun without a permit will be discussed in the special session on crime that begins today. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry believes training should be required to carry a gun.

Cut 3 (11) “…gun ownership.”  

In 2021, the bill passed the House and Senate, but Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed the measure.

On Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster this morning, DCFS Secretary David Matlock defends the state’s refusal of Summer EBT dollars that equates to $70 million in federal match from a state investment of $7 million. Matlock says this summer the state will provide 1.8 million more meals than before the pandemic to children in a congregate setting, he says that’s more ideal than adding funds to an EBT card.

Cut 6  (06) “…the child.” 

LSU running back Trey Holly has bonded out of jail, He is one of three people charged with attempted second-degree murder. Holly maintains his innocence but has been suspended indefinitely from all LSU football team activities. Holly’s Attorney Kelvin Rodgers says the former Union Parish star running back is cooperating fully with the authorities.

Cut 11 (10) “…since day one”

Texas has officially requested Border Security help from Louisiana. The request came through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a state-to-state assistance program. Governor Jeff Landry approved sending Louisiana National Guard troops to the Southern Border earlier this month and Brig. Gen. Thomas Friloux says, “We’re ready to provide trained and professional Soldiers to assist Texas with protecting the Southern Border of the United States.” Texas request is for 50 personnel  to help with security points, roving patrols, and engineer operations along 1250 miles of border.

LSU running back Trey Holly is one of three people charged with attempted second-degree murder that left one woman seriously injured and another man wounded.  Holly’s attorney Kelvin Rodgers says Holly was at home at the time of the shooting and the shooting occurred outside of his apartment.

Cut 10 (10) “…day in court”

Louisiana lawmakers begin a special session on crime today that will tackle a measure that would allow Louisianans 18 or older to own and carry a gun without a permit. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (34)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

DCFS Secretary David Matlock defended the state’s refusal of Summer EBT dollars On Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster this morning. The $70 million in federal match would require a seven-million-dollar investment by the state that would be split between DCFS and state education.  Matlock says the seven million would be for administrative costs and he’s trying to budget dollars for more child welfare caseworkers to meet the department’s main goal.

Cut 8 (06) “…caretakers.” 

LSU running back Trey Holly remains in a Union Parish jail charged with attempted murder from a shooting that took place last Friday in Farmerville. Two people were wounded in the gunfight that involved multiple individuals. KNOE-TV sports director Aaron Dietrich says rumors were flying before Thursday’s arrest that Holly might be involved…

Cut  14 (10) “..this happen”

LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, now with the Kansas City Chiefs shielded a child during a shooting Wednesday after their Championship Parade. On social media, he’s talking about his own Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Rahn Bailey says it’s important to recognize a person can mentally re-experience trauma when something reminds them of the event.

Cut 11 (09) “…they need.”

The special session on crime begins next week and a New Orleans area lawmaker wants legislators to pass stronger penalties against carjackers and those who deal fentanyl. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

A new survey by the National Federation of Independent Business found that 39 percent of owners reported job openings that were hard to fill have had a significant impact on their small business. State Director Dawn McVea says it’s a battle for survival…

Cut 5 (10) “…for them.”

The governor’s special session on crime begins Monday, Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel authored a bill to increase the penalty for carjacking saying Over the years, carjackings committed by juveniles have doubled statewide. She says no one is immune, but stiffer penalties may be a sufficient deterrent.

Cut 9 (13) “…swift penalty.”

A 23-year-old Carencro woman is facing vehicular homicide charges after crashing into a parked vehicle following a Lafayette Mardi Gras parade. That resulted in several cars banging into each other, killing 40-year-old Jermaine Britton of Breaux Bridge. Lafayette Police detective Ken Handy says Britton was in between two parked vehicles…

Cut 6  (08) “…that vehicle.” 

 Kansas City Chiefs and Former LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, talked about his PTSD on social media after a mother thanked him for shielding her child during the shooting Wednesday’s super bowl Championship Parade in Kansas City. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Rahn Bailey says a person can experience depression and anxiety as a result of PTSD.

Cut 13 (07) “…their heart’  

Small business owners are dealing with ongoing economic challenges says National Federation of Independent Business State Director Dawn McVea. Among owners reporting lower profits, McVea says 32 percent of owners blamed weaker sales.

Cut 4 (12) “…their business.”

LSU running back Trey Holly and two others have been arrested for a shooting that injured two innocent bystanders in Farmerville Friday night. Detectives say an argument led to the shooting at the Union Village apartments. Both victims are currently hospitalized. Holly has been charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder, one count of aggravated criminal damage to property and illegal use of a weapon. Holly was expected to play a bigger role in the 2024 football season. He’s been suspended from the team indefinitely.

Local lawmakers are calling for St. Tammany coroner-elect Dr. Christopher Tape not to take office, after a WWL-TV investigation found Tape was arrested on child sexual assault charges in New Mexico in 2001. The charges were dropped because he didn’t receive a speedy trial but Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says Tape was never proven innocent either…

Cut 9 (09) “…really concerning.”

A teacher workgroup launched by Louisiana Department of Education aims to improve conditions for teachers. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (34)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

GasBuddy Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says gas prices are up and he predicts they will continue to increase as refineries make the switch to summer gas and demand increases. He says typically we see prices go up in February and the trend continues into late spring.

Cut 5 (10) “…April or May.”

After news broke that the St. Tammany coroner-elect was accused of child sexual assault in New Mexico, parish lawmakers are calling for him to resign. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (41)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Gas prices are on the increase and GasBuddy Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan expects gas prices to continue to go up.

Cut 4 (10) “…gas prices.”

The Louisiana Department of Education is launching Let Teachers Teach, a teacher’s workgroup to develop possible solutions to classroom disruptions. State Superintendent Cade Brumley says teachers feel a number of distractions are taking time away from classroom instruction.

Cut 6  (10) “…from learning.” 

Tomorrow college baseball season begins and so does the final season for legendary Louisiana Tech broadcaster Dave Nitz. 80-year-old Nitz grew up in West Virginia listening to major league baseball games on radio. He says baseball was always his first love…

Cut 13 (09) “…many years’  

Nitz was inducted into the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

Governor Landry did not include a permanent teacher pay hike in his proposed budget. And educators in the Bayou State are not happy. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Because of the difficulty finding drug companies willing to supply what’s needed to perform lethal injections, a bill has been filed to add options and protections to those companies.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana has cancelled their policyholder vote and withdrawn their filing to be acquired by Elevance Health. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Governor Landry’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year includes $198 million for a second round of stipends for teachers, but no permanent salary increase. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says educators thought the stipend pay hike would last more than one year.

Cut 4 (13) “…be kept.”

Lawmakers elected to give the same stipend amount of $2000 for teachers, and $1000 for support workers. Landry’s proposal would allocate alternating stipends based on teachers performance levels.

Posey says the pay gap plays a role in the state’s shortage of qualified educators. And teachers are not only leaving the classrooms, but they’re also leaving the state.

Cut 5 (09) “…in Texas.” 

The average teacher salary for the 2021-2022 school year was $54,907, compared to Texas at $58,887, according to the Southern Region Education Board.

Posey says BESE is expected to take up the teacher compensation for a vote in early March. She believes lawmakers making the modest size pay raise permanent for teachers in the Bayou State would be…

Cut 6 (12) “…first step.”

Governor Landry decided not to make teachers pay raise permanent because it would be illegal to remove in the future.

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Among the legislation filed for the special session to address crime would expand the methods used to carry out the death penalty. Baton Rouge Representative Nicholas Muscarello says there’s an ongoing shortage of the drugs used for lethal injections so House Bill 6 would offer alternatives…

Cut 7 (10) “…the bill.”

Because of the difficulty obtaining the drugs used for lethal injections, the bill would also offer protections for drug manufacturers. Muscarello says drug companies are often reluctant to provide the ingredients needed for an execution.

Cut 8 (13) “…as well.” 

Any legislation about the death penalty brings on emotional debate, but Muscarello says this bill is only about expanding methods and providing protections to drug manufacturers.

Cut 9 (10)  “…families.”

Muscarello’s bill is one of the 24 pieces of legislation Governor Jeff Landry wants passed in the special session that begins Monday and wraps on March 6^th, just days before the regular legislative session convenes on March 11^th.

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The proposed sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to Indiana-based Elevance Health is off, at least for now. Blue Cross withdrew their filing and cancelled a policyholder vote saying their stakeholders need more time and information to understand the proposal. Louisiana Senator Thomas Pressly says he and other senators had many concerns…

Cut 10 (09) “…last week.”

Pressly says one of his major concerns is how Elevance has done business in other states…

Cut 11 (10) “…in Georgia.” 

Pressly also voiced concern over 20 million dollars he says Blue Cross spent on what he called a “propaganda machine” to solicit votes from policyholders to approve the deal.

Pressly says why hand over a financially healthy Blue Cross Blue Shield to a company that has a billion dollars in fines nationally since 2000 and has falling CMS ratings. He says he understands the larger pool of people from Elevance may get the company better prices on technology and information, but Blue Cross is currently in good shape and has the vast majority of the market in Louisiana…

Cut 12 (06) “…financial health.” 

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State officials have confirmed seven additional cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD), with a total of 19 cases all in Tensas Parish. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Jim Lacour says the first case was discovered two years ago.

Cut 13 (09)  “…this point.”

CWD is a neurodegenerative disease caused by an infectious, misfolded protein particle, and it is 100 percent fatal to deer after an indeterminate incubation period. The first confirmed case of CWD was detected in 2022.

Lacour says a feeding an baiting ban has been implemented in Tensas, Madison, Concordia, and Franklin Parishes. He says hunters are prohibited from bringing out a deer or deer head with the brain in it but…

Cut 14 (13) “…a cape.”

LDWF has set up 13 free CWD collection sites throughout the region including Catahoula, Concordia, Franklin, Madison, Morehouse, Tensas, and Union Parishes.

And while CWD has not been found to be contagious to humans, CDC recommends not to consume a deer known to be positive. LaCour says LDWF provides free testing for hunters across the state.

Cut 15 (12) “…consuming it.”

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The Ragin Cajuns begin a four-game road trip tonight at Old Dominion. U-L Lafayette is 8-4 in the Sun Belt, which is good for fourth place. Cajuns Coach Bob Marlin says he wants to stay in the top four, which gives them a better chance at winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament

Cut 16 (23) “…at that time” 

Old Dominion is 2-and-10 in league play, entering tonight’s game. After O-D-U, U-L Lafayette will visit Appalachian State, who is tied with Troy for first place in the Sun Belt. Point guard Themus Fulks says they will not overlook the Monarchs…

Cut 17 (17) “…game by game” 

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LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson has named Thatcher Hurd as his starting pitcher for Friday’s season opener against V-M-I. Hurd was the winning pitcher in the national championship game and Johnson says he deserves the opening day assignment after a strong finish to last year…

Cut 18 (20)  “…do that.”

Alabama transfer Luke Holman will start game two for the Tigers on Saturday against Central Arkansas. Holman was Alabama’s ace last season as he went 7-4 with a 3.67 ERA. Johnson says Holman has been a great addition…

Cut 19 (18) “…what we are doing” 

Johnson has been impressed with the team’s preparation…

Cut 20 (24) “…on that.”

400 amputations occur every day because of peripheral artery disease says Dr. Foluso Fakorede (fa-lou-so fak-o-ree-dee) at Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi and he says knowing symptoms and early warning signs of PAD is critical.

Cut 8 (12) “…care doctor.” 

Bulldog Community Outreach Incorporated is launching a name, image, and likeness (NIL) collective to provide opportunities for student-athletes to be compensated in the Ruston community. Spokesperson Ed Buckley says this initiative is to support athletic teams while promoting and serving local charities.

Cut 9 (13) “…of funds.”

The good times will stop rolling at midnight but in the meantime, carnival goers are making the most of Fat Tuesday in New Orleans. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

New Orleans Mardi Gras still attracts people from all over the world and this woman is enjoying her first Mardi Gras in New Orleans. She’s from Richmond, Virginia and plans to be back…

Cut  14 (07) “..enjoy it”

According to Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy the Mardi Gras crowds appear to be smaller than those from pre-pandemic Mardi Gras, but he doesn’t see it as a reflection of crime in the city, he believes it’s timing and economics.

Cut 4 (13) “…next year.”

There are big parades across south Louisiana. This man in Covington is ready to host dozens of people along a parade route.

Cut 13 (12) “…fun today’  

One in 20 adults will develop peripheral artery disease says Dr. Foluso Fakorede (fa-lou-so fak-o-ree-dee) at Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi. He says fatty deposits called plaque can become clogged in one’s arteries like a clogged kitchen sink…

Cut 7 (12) “…our arteries.”  

Some risk factors of PAD include family history, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a history of nicotine or tobacco use.

Bulldog Community Outreach Incorporated is launching a name, image, and likeness (NIL) collective Louisiana Tech athletes and Spokesperson Ed Buckley says the changing landscape of college athletics requires additional support with NIL’s for student-athletes. He says fans and alumni can get in the game and get involved by…

Cut 11 (08) “…just started.”

To support Bulldog Community Outreach, visit BuildTheLegacy.com/NIL.

The Mardi Gras party will come to an end at midnight tonight. Former interim New Orleans Police Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says the revelers are enjoying sunny but cool Fat Tuesday….

Cut 12 (08)  “..Super Mardi gras”  

The Get a Pulse on PAD campaign raises awareness of peripheral artery disease. Dr. Foluso Fakorede (fa-lou-so fak-o-ree-dee) at Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi says PAD affects millions of Americans who have never heard of the disease or its risks.

Cut 6  (13) “..an amputation.” 400 amputations occur every day because of PAD. For more information about peripheral artery disease, visit PADPulse.org.

Klint Kubiak is reportedly the new offensive coordinator for the Saints. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Bulldog Community Outreach Incorporated is looking to benefit both student athletes and the Ruston Community with the NIL collective. Spokesperson Ed Buckley says it’s an opportunity for student athletes to serve the community while boosting their name, image, and likeness and He believes this will be another tool in Louisiana Tech’s recruiting bag….

Cut 10 (09) “…respective sports.”