Good news for those affected by the Louisiana ice storms.  Not only will residents in eight north Louisiana parishes receive an additional 20 percent on their SNAP benefits this month, but there’s also assistance available for small businesses that lost revenue because of the storm.  Governor Jeff Landry says small business disaster loans are available to businesses in 19 north and central Louisiana parishes.

Cut 6 (08) “…on their feet.”

St. Tammany Parish has secured nearly four-million dollars in federal funding for what will be the largest single flood reduction initiative in Louisiana history.  We’re told most of the money will fund the St. Tammany Coastal Storm and Flood Risk Management Project. The rest would go towards the Lake Pontchartrain Storm Surge Reduction Project. Michael Vinsanau with St. Tammany Parish

Cut 11 (11) “…of Southeast Louisiana.”

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Almost four months after two girls were killed in a house fire in Shreveport, two people are arrested, with two more to follow. Jeff Palermo reports one of the suspects is the girls’ grandmother.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

New Orleans police are still searching for a suspect in the shooting in the parking lot of an Algiers apartment complex Monday that left a seven-year-old and an adult injured. Both victims were taken to the hospital and treated. Police since released few details about a potential suspect, but no arrests have been made.

A new poll finds that Congresswoman Julia Letlow is the preferred choice of Republican primary voters. The survey by pollster Greg Rigamer finds Letlow receiving 27-percent of the vote to incumbent Bill Cassidy’s 21-percent. Business lobbyist Alton Ashy paid for the poll.

Cut 7 (08) “…getting re-elected.”

But Cassidy’s campaign has its own poll conducted by Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies. It shows Cassidy getting 32-percent of the Republican primary vote to Letlow’s 21-percent. Cassidy says the race is about who has delivered for Louisiana.

Cut 8 (07) “…and other things.”

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The largest flood reduction project in Louisiana history moves forward after St. Tammany Parish secures almost four-million dollars in federal funding. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein has announced that SNAP recipients in eight parishes in north Louisiana will receive an additional 20-percent of their January benefits to help them make ends meet after the ice storm

Cut 5 (07) “…by February 11th.”

A survey on the Republican Senate primary poll shows Congresswoman Julia Letlow is favored among GOP voters. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Families in north Louisiana that rely on SNAP will see additional benefits because of the ice storm. Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen)…

Cut 4 (12) “…their SNAP benefits.”

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St. Tammany Parish will move forward with the largest single flood reduction initiative in state history. This, after it secures nearly four-million dollars in federal funding for a pair of projects. Michael Vinsanau with St. Tammany Parish says most of the money will go towards the St. Tammany Coastal Storm and Flood Risk Management Project.

Cut 10 (12) “…the entire parish.”

In October, two young sisters were killed in a house fire in Shreveport – and now, two people, including their grandmother, have been arrested. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese Jr. on the charges 50-year-old Rita Montgomery faces.

Cut 13 (12)  “…and criminal conspiracy.”

Eight-year-old Aaliyah Robinson and five-year-old Danielle Spearman were killed in that fire.

If one member of the Louisiana House of Representatives has his way, private passenger vehicle safety inspection stickers will soon be a thing of the past. Stonewall Republican Larry Bagley plans to file a bill in this year’s session that would do away with them. Bagley disagrees with the notion that safety inspection stickers indicate to police that vehicles are safe, saying officers have scores of modern technology tools at their disposal.

Cut 5 (08) “…from all that.”
Bagley’s bill would not apply to commercial vehicles.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the Louisiana Family Forum is once again in search of the state’s longest married couple. L-F-F president Gene Mills …

Cut 10 (12) “…Louisiana.”

For more information call the Louisiana Family Forum.

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The LaSalle Parish School District is the first in Louisiana to eliminate homework assignments. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A driver crashed into a marked police unit along Interstate 10 westbound near the Gonzales Burnside exit last night. According to LaDOTD, the crash happened shortly before 8:30 p.m. and blocked all of the westbound lanes.  State Police said that the officer was not in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

North Louisiana will try to get back to normal after the ice storm this week. As of this morning, there were still more than seven-thousand households without power, close to five thousand of those in Ouachita Parish.  LSU Health Shreveport Psychiatry professor Doctor Smink Sangsura says, cold weather, the loss of power and being cooped up in the house can lead to stress, anxiety, or depression.

Cut 13 (09)  “…really great.”

Vehicle safety inspection stickers could soon be a thing of the past if one member of the Louisiana House of Representatives has his way.  Stonewall Republican Larry Bagley is planning on filing a bill in this year’s session that would do away with them.

Cut 4 (09) “…no particular reason.”

Bagley’s bill would not apply to commercial vehicles.
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The Louisiana Family Forum is once again seeking nominations for the state’s longest living married couple. Jeff Palermo has the details..

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The LaSalle Parish District is the first district in the state to eliminate homework assignments. Superintendent Jonathan Garrett says getting rid of homework will allow both teachers and students to be more effective throughout the school day and enhance classroom performance.

Cut 8 (14) “…that we currently have.”

If one Louisiana lawmaker has his way, inspection stickers will soon be a thing of the past. Here’s Andrew Greenstein.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Three arrests have officially been made after a shooting at a Mardi Gras parade Saturday in Clinton left five people injured, including a six year old.  East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Jeffrey Travis says two of those arrested are facing multiple charges, including attempted second degree murder.

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LaSalle Parish Schools is the first district in the state to eliminate homework assignments. Superintendent Jonathan Garrett says homework has a limited benefit on academic success and believes that no homework gives students a strong reason to come to school excited each day.

Cut 7 (14) “…on our end.”

North Louisiana is trying to get back to normal after the ice storm. The loss of power, the cold weather, and being cooped up in the house can lead to stress, anxiety, or depression. LSU Health Shreveport Psychiatry professor Doctor Smink Sangsura says they winter blues have you down, try to get outside as the temperatures will warm up today…

Cut 14 (11) “…be still.”

The CEO of Entergy addressed his company’s power restoration efforts from this week’s massive ice storm. Phillip May Jr. says crews have been working non-stop for 16 hours a day and have made tremendous progress. But he says the damage was a lot more extensive than anticipated; and due to the icy conditions, the damage seems to be never-ending.

Cut 16 (14) “…to our system.”

In all, the latest numbers show there are more than 25thousand households without power. 15,000  in Ouachita Parish. Earlier this morning, there were more than 12 hundred without power in New Orleans due to high winds.

A Jefferson Parish sheriff’s deputy was killed Friday in a motorcycle crash while escorting a funeral procession on Airline Highway, according to police in New Orleans.  Officials say 41 year old Deputy Christopher Paul Ohlmeyer of River Ridge was stopped in the roadway as part of the procession when he was hit from behind. Ohlmeyer was a 14-year veteran of the department and survived by his wife and two children.
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The state has set new records for both total nonfarm employment and total private employment. Seasonally-adjusted nonfarm employment is a little more two-million jobs and private sector employment is nearly 1.7-million jobs. Osmar Padilla with Louisiana Works says over the last year, private education and health services added 15-thousand jobs.

Cut 7 (09) “…machinists.”

Over the last month, trade, transportation and utilities, along with construction saw the largest job gains.

The Rockin’ 1000 concert is tonight in New Orleans, with half the 1000 musicians performing coming from 47 other states and 30 countries.  Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says while this may be the first time in New Orleans for some of the musicians and their guests; by putting its best foot forward, it won’t be the last.

Cut 5 (09) “…Rockin’1000 is over.”

Louisiana has set new records for employment in the state, both nonfarm and private at nearly two million jobs and 1.7 million jobs, respectively. Osmar Padilla with Louisiana Works says the state’s unemployment rate has also fallen nearly a half a percent over the last year to 4.2-percent, because employers are constantly hiring.

Cut 6 (11) “…different industries.”

Tonight’s Rockin’1000 concert literally brings musicians from around the country and the world to the Crescent City.  While half of the thousand musicians involved are from New Orleans, the other half are from 47 other states and 30 countries. Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says an event like this is a golden opportunity for the city to show itself off to its global visitors.

Cut 4 (10) “…of the show.”

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Two middle school students who had just gotten off a school bus are among eight people injured in a crash in Lafourche Parish Thursday afternoon. State Trooper Henry Perez says the driver of a Chevy Impala was going in the wrong lane in a no-passing zone and tried to slow down but lost control.

Cut 9 (11)  “…the bus.”

It’s another crazy cold weekend in Louisiana, with morning feels-like temperatures ranging from single digits to the teens across the state.  State Climatologist Jay Grymes says this second round of extremely cold air is concerning for the thousands who still do not have power…

Cut 14 (14) “…available”

As of this morning, there are still reportedly more than 26-thousand households without power, 7,000  in Ouachita Parish…and 1200 in Orleans due to high winds.

The latest report on jobs in Louisiana saw the state reach new records. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Good news out of East Carroll Parish as state police are reporting that all eight inmates that escaped the River Bend Detention Center in Lake Providence on Thursday night are back in custody. We’re told the escapees were apprehended thanks to Louisiana State Police CREST mission that was carried out in coordination with the several local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

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It’s going to be another unseasonably cold weekend across Louisiana. And the cold stuff is already here. Though there’s no precipitation, there is a lot of wind which is why State Climatologist Jay Grymes says it feels even colder than it is….and he says that could put a real damper on Mardi Gras parades this weekend.

Cut 13 (11) “…much a repeat.”

Cold or no cold, tonight’s Rockin’1000 concert literally brings the whole world together in New Orleans. Rockin’1000 visionary Fabio Zaffagnini says while half of the thousand musicians hails from Louisiana, the other half represent 47 other states – and 30 countries.

Cut 3 (12) “…North Africans.”

Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says an event like this is a golden opportunity for the city to show itself off to these new visitors from around the world.

A Jefferson Parish sheriff’s deputy was killed Friday in a motorcycle crash while escorting a funeral procession on Airline Highway, according to police in New Orleans.  Officials say 41 year old Deputy Christopher Paul Ohlmeyer of River Ridge was stopped in the roadway as part of the procession when he was hit from behind. Ohlmeyer was a 14-year veteran of the department and is survived by a wife and two children.

The state has set new records for both total nonfarm employment and total private employment. Seasonally-adjusted nonfarm employment is a little more two-million jobs and private sector employment is nearly 1.7-million jobs. Osmar Padilla with Louisiana Works says over the last year, private education and health services added 15-thousand jobs.

Cut 7 (09) “…machinists.”

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If you haven’t been outside just yet, brace yourself for some bone-chillingly cold temperatures.   State Climatologist Jay Grymes says while there’s no precipitation, it is windy, and that  make the cold air feel much colder than the actual temperature

Cut 12 (11) “…like the teens.”

And Grymes says it’ll be just as cold tomorrow morning.

All this while thousands are still without power after the ice storm last weekend.  The CEO of Entergy Phillip May Jr, addressed his company’s power restoration efforts yesterday afternoon saying crews have been working non-stop for 16 hours a day.

Cut 15 (12) “…of 92-thousand.”