Crews are working to reopen major highways closed because of snow and ice. Large portions of I-10 and I-55 are closed as well as U-S 90 in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes but DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett praised crews from Arkansas for their ongoing help.

Cut 8 (11) “…had worked.”

The Arkansas Department of Transportation brought with them 16 snowplows that also had salt spreaders.

As the state thaws out we are getting a look at the damages caused by the freezing temperature to Louisiana crops. The sugarcane industry can breathe a sigh of relief as Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner, Dr. Mike Strain says fortunately most sugarcane was under snow.

Cut 3 (11) “…the cold weather.”

Oral arguments today before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the ongoing lawsuit over the state’s Ten Commandments law. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A pharmaceutical rep was shot and killed while walking to his vehicle in the Walgreens parking lot across from Byrd High School in Shreveport Wednesday morning. Police say 67-year-old Billy Lee Jamison, was delivering medicine when someone robbed and shot him then stole the victim’s white van. Police immediately began tracking the van using the van’s tracking capabilities and found it in the Riverwood Apartments in Bossier City. The search for the suspect continues.

South Louisiana Braces for a winter storm that is expected to start tonight and end tomorrow night.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Governor Jeff Landry has issued a state of emergency as the historic winter weather is expected for much of central and south Louisiana.

Cut 3 (12) “…to travel.”

Louisiana State Police have been preparing for the winter storm for the last several days. Trooper Shelby Mayfield…

Cut 12 (12) “…or any emergencies”

He is urging everyone to stay off the roadways unless they absolutely must drive. He says the troopers and other emergency personnel will be responding to emergencies in the same hazardous road conditions.

Rodney Mallett with DOTD says crews have been busy prepping the roads. And since there are no snowplows anywhere in the State of Louisiana, DOTD is bringing in help from Arkansas. A 14-mile stretch of I-49 in Rapides Parish is closed due to the incoming storm, and conditions may force additional Interstates closures, but Mallett says he hopes it doesn’t come to that.

Cut 8 (09) “…during this storm.”

Louisiana is bracing for historic winter weather for this region. Snow and ice are not things that Louisiana is accustomed to and Rodney Mallett with DOTD says crews have been busy prepping the roads for severe driving conditions in anticipation of this historic weather event for Louisiana.

Cut 6 (14) “…across the state.”

He says crews from Arkansas will be coming to Louisiana to help with things like plowing roadways.

LSU Public Health Climatologist, Barry Keim says the snowfall will end tomorrow night, but Wednesday will be brutally cold, and the snow will stick around. He advises residents to stay off the roads if possible and take necessary precautions to stay warm and safe.

Cut 11 (12) “…hang around in your neighborhood.”

With Louisiana expecting a historic snowfall Tuesday, Governor Jeff Landry has issued a state of emergency and is urging outdoorsmen not to hunt during the snowstorm and frigid temperatures.

Cut 4 (13) “…proper shelter.”

Louisiana State Police are getting ready for the winter storm. Trooper Shelby Mayfield says they’re doubling patrols to be ready for any emergency. He says when the snow starts falling, if you do not have to be out on the roadways, stay off them.

Cut 13 (14)  “…have to be.”

Governor Jeff Landry has issued a state of emergency as two to six inches of snow is expected in much of central and south Louisiana and temperatures will be dropping into the teens Tuesday night into Wednesday. Earlier this month when temperatures fell, a homeless man died from hypothermia. Landry is encouraging local governments to open warming shelters.

Cut 5 (14) “…safe as well.”

For the last several days, Louisiana State Police have been preparing for the rare winter conditions for the region. And with snow coming, Trooper Shelby Mayfield asks drivers to stay off the roads but says if you absolutely have to be on the roadways, use common sense.

Cut 14 (06) “…cruise control on.”

DOTD is prepping roadways for tomorrow’s snowstorm. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim, this is a generational storm for South Louisiana.

Cut 9 (18)  “…major snow here.”

Governor Jeff Landry has been traveling Louisiana in a five-point-five-million-dollar airplane unlike previous governors who used helicopters. State Police say the 20-year-old helicopters are difficult to maintain. Flight records show the plane traveling between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, near the governor’s home and several trips between Baton Rouge and New Orleans after the Bourbon Street terrorist attack. WRKF Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington says the plane was purchased last September….

Cut 10 (07) “…turbo prop plane.”

The University of New Orleans (UNO) will furlough approximately 290 staff and faculty members as part of ongoing efforts to close a 10-million-dollar budget deficit driven by low enrollment. This follows previous cost-cutting steps, including layoffs, administrative reductions, consolidating five colleges into two, and closing facilities. President Kathy Johnson says the decision was hard but necessary to secure UNO’s future.

Cut 6 (09) “…gut-wrenching.”

You’ll need a warm coat, gloves, hats and boots next week as Louisiana could see a significant winter storm. Jeff Palermo has the details…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The state has moved almost 160 homeless people in New Orleans into a transitional shelter. Scott Adams, the chief of staff at GOHSEP, says the sweep is not city-wide.

Cut 12 (12) “…for Mardi Gras.”

Governor Jeff Landry issued a proclamation requesting Louisianans join him in flying their U.S. Flag and their Make America Great Again flag on January 20^th in honor of the Inauguration of President Donald Trump saying President Trump resoundingly won the 2024 election. The Louisiana Democratic Party quickly responded to the proclamation saying flying the MAGA flag at the Governor’s mansion is completely inappropriate and reckless and stating that the MAGA campaign slogan should not be displayed at the state-owned Governor’s mansion.

Many schools and all state offices will be closed on Tuesday as artic cold weather is expected to grip the state and there’s a chance we’ll see snow on Tuesday. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says we’re looking at the possibility of a widespread snow event in the Bayou State…

Cut 3 (11) “…very, very closely.”

There’s a possibility we could even see snow south of I-10 and I-12.

The University of New Orleans is looking to close a 10-million-dollar budget deficit as they furlough approximately 290 staff and faculty members. Efforts to restructure UNO last year yielded limited savings, contributing to the current crisis, as the university faces additional debt obligations and potential revenue shortfalls. UNO CFO Edwin Litoff says UNO also plans stricter tuition collection.

Cut 8 (09) “…classes for next semister.”

The state has moved almost 160 homeless people in New Orleans, who were living in encampments around the Superdome, into a transitional shelter in Gentilly. Scott Adams, the chief of staff at GOHSEP, says they’re doing a lot more than simply giving the homeless people shelter, food, showers and laundry.

Cut 13 (07)  “…get to work.”

The shelter will be open through Mardi Gras and later if needed.

The governor and attorney general reacted angrily to a Justice Department report saying Louisiana State Police troopers routinely use excessive force during drug arrests and vehicle pursuits. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Many schools and all state offices will be closed on Tuesday due to the possibility of a memorable winter storm. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim models are indicating that moisture from the Gulf, combined with cold temperatures will help produce snow, possibly multiple inches…

Cut 5 (08) “…I-10, I-12.”

Governor Jeff Landry has been flying in a five-point-five-million-dollar airplane to travel the state. Previous governors used helicopters but according to State Police the helicopters were 20 years old and difficult to maintain. WRKF Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington broke the story along with Julie O’ Donoghue from the Louisiana Illuminator…

Cut 9 (09)  “…traveling on it.”

The University of New Orleans will furlough approximately 290 staff and faculty members as they look to close a 10-million-dollar budget deficit driven by low enrollment. UNO CFO Edwin Litoff says the furloughs aim to save 1.7-million-dollars, with a hiring freeze projected to reduce the deficit by an additional 2.5-million-dollars. However, Litoff acknowledges that further cuts, layoffs, and retirement incentives will be needed.

Cut 7 (09) “…end of the year.”

Lockport basted Bollinger Shipyard has agreed to pay over a million dollars to resolve allegations that they knowingly billed the U.S. Coast Guard for vessels built using illegal workers. The Coast Guard paid Bollinger for their Fast Response Cutters built from 2015 to 2020 without confirming employee’s legal status to work in the U.S. resulting in several ineligible employees working on the contract that provided the vessels say authorities. Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari with the Department of Homeland Security says, “Today’s settlement sends a clear message that contractors providing services to DHS programs will be held accountable for breaking the law.”

Louisiana is expected to have nice warm temperatures before brutal cold moves in. National Weather Service meteorologist Nick Slaughter says it’s still too early to determine whether any area will have wintry precipitation.

Cut 8 (10) “…still up in the air”

The Committee of 100 for Economic Development and the Council for A Better Louisiana are merging. CABL president Barry Erwin says CABL and the Committee of 100 can do great things for the state under the new moniker of Leaders for a Better Louisiana.

Cut 11 (07) “…so to speak.”

Louisiana U-S Representative Clay Higgins blasted the former head of Social Security Administration, Martin O’ Malley for agreeing to a telework agreement with SSA union employees saying it caused extremely long wait times when calling the Social Security helpline. O’Malley blamed Congress for reducing staffing levels to 50-year lows. Higgins wants to reverse the current telework union agreement that runs through October 2029…

Cut 14 (10) “…watch us do it.”

17-year-old LSU backup quarterback Colin Hurley was found in his Dodge Charger unresponsive but breathing around 2:45 this morning after LSU Police say he crashed into a tree near the south gates of LSU. The cause of the crash has not been released and may be unknown, but investigators say they do not believe Hurley was impaired. Emergency personnel removed Hurley from the vehicle and transported him to an area hospital. Hurley is the third string QB behind Garrett Nussmeier and Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren.

Louisiana is bracing for brutally cold temperatures next week.   National Weather Service in Lake Charles Meteorologist Nick Slaughter says freezing temperatures are expected to impact the region from Sunday night through at least Wednesday night, bringing extended subfreezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills.

Cut 7 (08) “…single digits.”

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins expresses his frustration with the customers service Americans are receiving when they call the Social Security Administration’s helpline. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The federal government gives the final okay for the state to receive funding for the deployment of broadband statewide. Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of Connect L-A, says Louisiana is the first state in the country to secure federal approval of broadband funds.

Cut 3 (08) “…our federal funds.”

During a Congressional hearing, Louisiana U-S Representative Clay Higgins blasted the former head of the Social Security Administration, Martin O’ Malley, for agreeing to a telework arrangement with the Social Security Administration union, blaming a telework agreement for slow service. He called the SSA helpline during the hearing and was on hold for an hour and a half without speaking to an employee.

Cut 13 (12) “…nobody (phone thrown down).”

O’Malley blamed Congress for reducing staffing levels to 50-year lows.

The Committee of 100 for Economic Development and the Council for A Better Louisiana are merging to become Leaders for a Better Louisiana. CABL president Barry Erwin says CABL and the Committee of 100 have unique things to bring to a merged organization.

Cut 10 (12) “…state as well.”

He says they can do great things for the state under the new moniker of Leaders for a Better Louisiana.

Louisiana takes a huge step towards launching broadband internet statewide. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Much of Louisiana could experience freezing rain, sleet, icy roads, and possibly even snow, starting Monday night and into Tuesday. National Weather Service in Lake Charles Meteorologist Nick Slaughter says artic air will move in on Sunday and it will get very cold a couple of days later.

Cut 6 (05) “…Tuesday and Wednesday.”

He says freezing temperatures are expected to impact the region from Sunday night through at least Wednesday night