Governor Jeff Landry believes Louisiana should have closed primary elections and he’s asking lawmakers to debate it in the special session Brooke Thorington has more.

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office issues a call to action for home heating safety following a fatal house fire in Washington Parish. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires.

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Two students were shot last night outside a Bogalusa High School Basketball game. One fatally. Police there say the deadly shooting happened around 8:45 at the game against Covington High. Both students, under the age of 18, were taken to Our Lady of The Angels Hospital, where one later died. according to the Bogalusa Police Department.

The shooting remains under investigation this morning.
A violent morning Thursday in St. Bernard Parish ended with the death of the alleged perpetrator after he attacked a 25-year-old woman in Violet and fled in her car. St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlman says the suspect was 27 year old Deiondre Brock and says they don’t believe Brock and the victim knew each other.

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The national weather service has issued tornado watch 10 for that now includes ten parishes in north central Louisiana. That watch includes the northern third of our state including Monroe and Shreveport and will remain in effect until eleven this morning.

Of course there’s still more very cold weather on the way next week and now the state’s first deadly house fire of 2024 in Washington parish has prompted heating safety warnings from the state fire marshal. Teiko Foxx has more…

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Governor jeff Landry believes shifting to a closed-party primary election system is at the core of making fundamental changes to advance the bayou state. Landry says other states do it and he defended his stance on the moon griffon show.

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A violent morning Thursday in st. Bernard parish ended with the death of the alleged perpetrator after he attacked a 25-year-old woman in violet and fled in her car. St. Bernard parish sheriff James Pohlmann…

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The alleged attacker has been identified as 27-year-old Deiondre Brock. Authorities are still collecting information, but Sheriff Pohlmann says the victim and Brock did not know one another.

Word that mortgage interest rates are decreasing sparks hope the real estate market can rebound this year. Brooke Thorington has more.

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Monday’s inauguration of Louisiana’s 57^th Governor Elect Jeff Landry has been moved to tomorrow due to the threat of severe weather on Monday. The governor will be sworn in at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon on the steps of the State Capitol, though by law he will not officially take office till Monday at noon. The Inauguration Ball will still take place Monday evening at 7.

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Two of the five Neville High students hospitalized after yesterday’s fatal fire at a Mississippi deer camp, have reportedly been released. KNOE TV reports two are still being treated for smoke inhalation and one has been transferred to the burn center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. A 15 year old died as the result of that fire.
Jefferson County Sheriff James Bailey says his deputies were among the first on scene…

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One of the tastiest seasons in the Bayou State – King cake season kicks off today in Louisiana . Co-Owner of New Orleans Haydel Bakery David Haydel says they have been quite busy between local sales and shipping out orders nationwide.

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By the end of the day on Monday, Louisiana’s new governor and legislature will both have been sworn into office on separate days. Governor-elect Jeff Landry has said he wants to pass legislation to reduce crime, lower property insurance rates and improve public education. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says the new governor will back legislation that he knows can get the necessary votes in the Legislature…

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2023 saw rising interest rates in the real estate market. But experts believe mortgage rates will settle in 2024 between five and six percent. The cost of homeowners insurance in the state is also a bit hurdle for potential buyers. Louisiana Realtors CEO Norman Morris on working with Louisiana lawmakers and new insurance commissioner to make them more affordable.

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Two of the five Neville High students hospitalized after yesterday’s fatal fire at a Mississippi deer camp, have reportedly been released. KNOE TV reports two are still being treated for smoke inhalation and one has been transferred to the burn center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. A 15 year old died as the result of that fire.

Get ready to consume your favorite carnival treat. King Cake season gets underway on Saturday. Teiko Foxx has more.

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If Monday’s inauguration of Governor Elect Jeff Landry was on your to do list, you know it’s been moved now to tomorrow due to the threat of severe weather on Monday.

Louisiana’s 57^th governor will be sworn in at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon on the steps of the State Capitol, though by law he will not officially take office till Monday at noon.

Louisiana’s new Legislature will be sworn in on Monday. Republicans will be in control of both the executive and legislative branches. You may recall, there was conflict between Governor Edwards and the Republican controlled Legislature. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin expects a better working relationship with Republican Jeff Landry as governor, but he says it will not be smooth sailing…

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King Cake season officially kicks of today in Louisiana. With a shorter carnival season, sales are expected to be much lower compared to last year, though places like New Orleans’ Haydel Bakery are filling orders from across the country. Third-generation baker David Haydel says the sweet Mardi Gras tradition comes in many variations, but when it comes to the most popular…

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If you’re looking to buy a house this year, you may be in better luck when it comes the cost. Though the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage right now is 6.75%, Louisiana Realtors CEO Norman Morris says economists are predicting mortgage rates to stabilize as we get further into the year.

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2023 was not the a great year for real estate with rising interest rates. But Louisiana Realtors CEO Norman Morris believes things will improve this year with mortgage rates expected to settle in between five and six percent.

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Sad news as a 15-year-old student from Neville High School in Monroe is dead and five of his classmates injured after their deer camp caught on fire early Friday morning. Neville Tiger Network identified the student who died as Junior Tarver Braddock who was on the football and baseball teams.
Two of the five Neville High students hospitalized after yesterday’s fatal fire at a Mississippi deer camp, have reportedly been released. KNOE TV reports two are still being treated for smoke inhalation and one has been transferred to the burn center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

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Louisiana’s new governor-elect Jeff Landry will now be sworn in tomorrow instead of Monday. The inauguration moved to 4:30 Sunday due to expected storms on Monday. State lawmakers will be still be sworn in on Monday. As it all takes shape, republicans will be in control of both the executive and legislative branches. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin on what that means for the first regular session that begins in March…

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LSU has hired its new defensive coordinator. Former Tulane football player and La Tech defensive coordinator Blake Baker was defensive coordinator at Missouri last season. He helped the Tigers go 11-and-2 as Mizzou ranked fifth in the SEC in scoring defense. His three-year, two-point-five million dollar contract makes him the highest-paid assistant coach in the country.

Word that mortgage interest rates are decreasing sparks hope the real estate market can rebound this year. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Monday’s inauguration of Louisiana’s 57^th Governor Elect Jeff Landry has been moved to tomorrow due to the threat of severe weather on Monday. The governor will be sworn in at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon on the steps of the State Capitol, though by law he will not officially take office till Monday at noon. The Inauguration Ball will still take place Monday evening at 7.

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A 15-year-old student from Neville High School in Monroe is dead and five of his classmates injured after their deer camp caught on fire early this morning. The incident happened in Jefferson County, Mississippi and Sheriff James Bailey says his deputies were among the first on scene…

Cut 9 (11) “… burning camp.” 
If you are a king cake connoisseur, get ready to find the baby. One of the tastiest seasons in the Bayou State – King cake season kicks off this Saturday. Co-Owner of New Orleans Haydel Bakery David Haydel says they have been quite busy between local sales and shipping out orders nationwide.

Cut 6 (13) “….on Friday.” 

A new state law that went into this week requires health insurance plans to cover fertility preservation costs for cancer patients whose treatments could keep them from having a child.  Teiko Foxx has more…

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The state’s longest-serving Insurance Commissioner will leave office on Monday after 17 years.  When Jim Donelon entered office, the state had some of the most expensive auto insurance rates in the country and despite his best efforts…

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Labor quality remains a big concern for small businesses in 2023. Forty percent of National Federation of Independent Business members say they’ve been unable to fill some positions for a couple of months. Regional NFIB Director Dawn McVea…

Cut 15 (12) “…those sectors.”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ leaves office Monday after two terms as governor. During his eight years, the Edwards administration navigated multiple natural disasters and civil unrest in 2016 following the Baton Rouge police shooting of Alton Sterling. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says Edwards tenure will be marred most notably by the death of Black motorist Ronald Greene while in State Police custody.

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Louisiana health insurance providers must now pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients whose treatment could render them sterile went into effect this week.  The new law went into effect this week.  The mandate does not apply to Medicaid or health insurance plans through the state health care exchange. And the bill’s author, Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis says coverage is limited.

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Governor John Bel Edwards’ two terms in office ends Monday. Edwards and the Legislature had to address a two-billion dollar budget deficit in his first year in office. As governor his first executive order was expanding Medicaid coverage to some 400,000 Louisianans. In 2020 he had to impose Covid restrictions that many Republicans thought went too far…

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Louisiana’s longest-serving Insurance Commissioner will leave office on Monday. Jeff Palermo has more on Jim Donelan’s retirement.

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Labor quality is the top concern among small businesses again this year. Forty percent of National Federation of Independent Business members say they were unable to fill positions in the last two months of 2023. Regional NFIB Director Dawn McVea…

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The state’s longest-serving Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, will leave office on Monday. The 79-year-old from New Orleans has been the state’s insurance commissioner since 2006. Donelon says one of his greatest achievements was an incentive program that resulted in more insurance companies providing homeowners coverage after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita…

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Governor John Bel Edwards’ two terms in office ends Monday, ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says the Democrat from Tangiaphoa Parish constantly battled with a Republican-controlled Legislature. He says the battle started on his first day in office when the House rejected the governor’s choice for House Speaker.

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A new law requiring Louisiana health insurance providers to pay fertility preservation costs for cancer patients whose treatment could render them sterile went into effect this week. The bill’s author, Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis says it applies to new health plans and existing health care plans.

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As we begin the new year, labor quality is the top concern among small businesses according to the latest National Federation of Independent Business survey. Regional NFIB Director Dawn McVea says unfilled positions continue to plague small businesses.

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