The wife of late Congressman-elect Luke Letlow who died days before he was set to be sworn in has decided to run for his vacant seat. Julia Letlow says her motivation is the passion her husband and she shares to better the region for their children and future generations.

The Army Corps of Engineers seeks approval for a two billion dollar levee improvement project in the Upper Barataria Levee system in southeast Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The personal-finance website Wallethub has released a report on the cost of smoking by state and it has found smoking costs the average Louisiana smoker one-point-eight million dollars over a lifetime. She says the financial opportunity cost per smoker is one-point-one million dollars…
cut 7 (07) “….per smoker”
The cost was based on the average pack-a-day smoker beginning at age 21 and ending at 69.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is stocking 16 of their Get out and Fish sites with adult-size rainbow trout, ranging from one to two pounds. L-D-W-F spokesperson Rene Lebreton says it would make a perfect stringer for dinner…
cut 12 (11) “…same way”
Go to L-D-W-F’s website for more information on their Go Out and Fish program.

President Donald Trump was impeached Wednesday over his role in allegedly inciting the deadly mob assault on the U.S. Capitol last week. Matt Doyle has more from Louisiana’s House delegation…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Fifth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against a group of bars in the Lafayette and the New Orleans areas who have asked the courts to block the governor’s coronavirus restrictions that have kept bars from opening during the pandemic. The governor’s office says it’s the ninth time a court has ruled in the favor of the state’s public health orders.

The Army Corps of Engineers is proposing two billion dollars in improvements in southeast Louisiana to a 30 mile stretch of the Upper Barataria levee system. Corps Flood Risk Management Section Chief Travis Creel says a big part of the project involves the existing levee in St. Charles Parish, which is only six to seven feet tall.
Cut 4 (11) “…feet.”
The project needs Congressional approval and if approved construction would begin in 2023.

According to the personal finance website Wallethub, smoking costs a Louisiana smoker one-point-eight billion dollars over a lifetime. The cost was based on the average pack-a-day smoker beginning at age 21 and ending at 69. Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzales says they have figured the health care cost for a lifetime smoker is 113-thousand dollars…
cut 8 (11) “…smoking”

President Donald Trump has been impeached again this time with incitement of insurrection as Democrats claim his actions sparked a deadly riot at the Capitol last week. Louisiana’s House delegation voted along party lines. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond laid out the Democrats case against the President…
cut 16 (13) “…insurrection”
The number two House Republican, Steve Scalise, who was shot in an act of political violence in 2017, called out his colleague’s hypocrisy over not condemning violent protests last year…
cut 15 (11) “….see it”
The soonest the Senate can conduct a trial is on Tuesday.

The Army Corps of Engineers is proposing to make two-billion dollars worth of improvements to the levee system that protects portions of seven parishes in southeast Louisiana against hurricane flooding. The intent is for the 30-mile Upper Barataria levee system to provide 100-year storm level protection. Corps Flood Risk Management Section Chief Travis Creel…
cut 5 (06) “…protected”
Congress would need to approve funding for the project.

Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is stocking 16 sites that are part of their Get out and Fish initiative with adult-size rainbow trout. L-D-W-F spokesperson Rene LeBreton says with water temperatures in Louisana cool, they are stocking ponds and lakes with this cold-water fish. He hopes anglers of all ages will take advantage…
cut 11 (06) “…doing this”

The U.S. House voted 232 to 197 Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump with Incitement of Insurrection. The Louisiana Republican Congressional Delegation voted against impeachment, including Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise, who says impeachment will only serve to further divide the nation.
Cut 13 (05) “…ground.”
Scalise says the earliest the Senate could take up Trump’s trial would be January 20th, the day he leaves the Oval Office.

The state’s lone Democratic Congressman, Cedric Richmond of New Orleans, says the President can’t be let off the hook this time.
Cut 14 (09) “…Trump.”
Richmond also accused some of his Republican colleagues of being co-conspirators in the Capitol attack. He did not name any lawmakers by name.

According to the personal finance website WalletHub, the average Louisiana smoker pays out $1.8 million over a lifetime to support their habit….
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Army Corps of Engineers has proposed constructing a 30-mile long Upper Barataria levee system in southeast Louisiana that would protect West Bank residents in six parishes from a so-called 100-year storm. Corps Flood Risk Management Section Chief Travis Creel says the price tag is two billion dollars…
cut 6 (11) “…fail”
The project needs Congress to approve the funding.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the current modified Phase Two COVID public health order for another four weeks. Edwards says that means most businesses will remain limited to 50 percent capacity as the state rides out a third wave of the pandemic.
Cut 13 (07) “…mandate.”
Edwards is asking residents to discontinue small group gatherings which he says is driving the current surge.

Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves does not support the House Democrats’ attempt to impeach President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection.” Graves says the President’s actions before the riot were wrong, but impeachment would further divide a divided country.
Cut 8 (11) “…grandchildren.”

State Police is investigating a fatal police shooting of a man who the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says shot at their deputies during a standoff. Trooper Jesse LaGrange says the T-P-S-O responded to a home in Montegut in reference to an aggravated assault. He says when deputies arrived, they located the suspect, and they tried to negotiate with him…
cut 3 (09)”…returned fire”
LaGrange says the suspect was struck and transported to a local hospital where he died.

New ULM football coach Terry Bowden has hired former West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona head coach Rich Rodrigeuz as his offensive coordinator. Monroe News Star sports reporter Adam Hunsucker says Rich’s son, former Arizona Quarterback Rhett Rodriguez, is also coming to Monroe..
cut 5 (07) “….be with Terry”

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended Louisiana’s Phase 2 COVID mitigation measures for another 28 days and he strongly recommends that all businesses move to remote work for as many employees as possible. The extension of his public health order means restaurants can maintain 50-percent capacity and Edwards also encourages curbside or delivery service…
cut 15 (07) “….you can”
Doctor Catherine O’ Neal, an infectious disease expert at LSU Health New Orleans says research suggests more than half of COVID-19 transmissions come from people with no symptoms. She says if you’ve been exposed, but not showing symptoms, you need to quarantine for at least seven days and get tested during that time…
cut 8 (08) “…know it”

During the governor’s weekly COVID-19 briefing, State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter gave an update on the status of the state’s COVID vaccination campaign…
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LSU Health Shreveport is administering Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to individuals over the age of 70 at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds parking lot. They have four lines of vehicles going into a tent and those 70 and over will get a shot in the arm, without having to leave their car. Pre-registration is required at l-s-u-h-s-dot-edu.