Louisiana will experience the quietest Mardi Gras weekend in living memory with public gatherings banned and parades canceled. Mardi Gras Guide Publisher Arthur Hardy says this is a special time of year and in our hearts we know we’re missing something right now.
Cut 4 (08)“…no more.”
Mardi Gras might be canceled but king cakes are flying off the shelves and Hardy says folks have adjusted by building nearly 3,000 house floats.

It’s not exactly parade weather anyways as we’ll see cold temperatures through Fat Tuesday. Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scardigli advises customers to set their thermostat at 68-degrees or lower…
cut 8 (12) “…on your bill”
Scardigli says heating costs can account for more than 50-percent of a customer’s monthly energy use.

The Tulane National Primate Research Center participates in a study that helps ID those most likely to transmit COVID-19. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Donald Trump’s lawyers make their formal arguments today against impeaching the former president under the allegations that he provoked the riot at the U-S Capitol on January 6th. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy was asked if he thought Trump was responsible…
cut 30 (04) “…end of story”

It will be a quiet Mardi Gras weekend with no parades, bars closed and officials urging against multi-family gatherings. There’s been talk about re-scheduling parades until later this year, but Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy doubts we’ll see parades this year…
cut 6 (10) “…season”
Hardy looks forward to Ash Wednesday when we can officially start to look forward to Mardi Gras 2022.

Louisiana is set to experience some cold temperatures through Fat Tuesday, maybe even single-digit temperatures in north Louisiana on Tuesday morning. Entergy recommends setting the thermostat at 68-degrees and spokesperson Brandon Scardigli says if you have a smart meter you can view your daily electricity usage…
cut 9 (06) “…you’re spending”

Tulane has participated in a study that has found older people with higher body mass indexes and an increasing degree of COVID infection are three times more likely to be a super spreader than a younger, healthier person. Tulane researcher, Doctor Chris Roy says the study also showed COVID weakens airway mucus allowing viral particles to move more freely out of the body which reinforces the message of if you get sick, stay home.
cut 12 (07) “….data”

Tax filing season begins today. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says the stimulus checks you received last year are not taxable, but you do have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits received…
cut 15 (08) “….some people”
Robinson says the frontline worker rebates and main street recovery program grants that small businesses received are subject to state income taxes.

The northern half of the state is under a winter weather advisory as mainly central and northeast Louisiana will see periods of freezing rain and freezing drizzle until noon today. Light ice accumulations are possible.

The state is looking at a very cold stretch of days coming up. A cold snap in December led to higher utility bills for Entergy customers. Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scardigli says monitoring your thermostat can help keep power bills down, while also keeping your house warm…
cut 7 (08) “….energy usage

Beginning today you can file your 2020 federal and state income tax returns. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says you do not have to pay taxes on the stimulus checks…
Cut 13 (12) “…to tax.”
But Robinson says unemployment benefits are subject to taxes.

This time last year crowds were packing the streets of New Orleans for Mardi Gras weekend, unknowingly sowing the seeds for one of the most deadly outbreaks of COVID in the world. Matt Doyle has more…
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A study has determined that it was most likely a Texas resident who had the coronavirus and visited New Orleans prior to Fat Tuesday last year which lead to the state’s first surge of COVID cases. Tulane virologist Bob Garry says they traced the genetic dots and found the variant had only been detected previously in Texas. Once it was introduced to the packed bars and streets of Mardi Gras it exploded…
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Tomorrow, 57 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in Louisiana will begin administering the COVID vaccine…
cut 6 (09) “…on Friday’
That’s Regional Health and Wellness Director for Walmart Bethany Evans who says you can make your appointment at Walmart and Sam’s Club websites.

Bust out the heavy-duty coat because a polar vortex is bringing the state artic air and winter weather…
cut 3 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A major winter storm could hit the state starting on Sunday as we could see freezing rain and significant ice accumulations for the northern half of the state and snow is possible as well as our temperatures are expected to remain below the freezing mark for much of the state on Monday. It will be cold on Fat Tuesday too.

A study shows New Orleans post-Mardi Gras wave of coronavirus infections has been traced back to one person who arrived in the city around February 11th from Texas. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Court records describe what happened during a July 2019 traffic stop in Ouachita Parish that led to two State troopers getting arrested for allegedly using excessive force. According to the arrest warrant, a suspect was thrown to the ground and punched in the head. The report also says the suspect showed no signs of resisting.

Cold air is moving into the state today and there’s the potential for a winter storm to hit Louisiana on Sunday and Monday…
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State Climatologist Barry Keim says the potential of several inches of snow falling across the northern half of the state exists on Monday.

As Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines go into thousands of people’s arms, U-L Lafayette is discussing its role in developing the vaccine. Director of the school’s New Iberia Research Center, Doctor Francois Villinger, says primates at their facility were immunized last spring as part of nonhuman clinical trials…
Cut 8 (11) “…laboratory.”
Villinger says the work they do is about bringing treatments and vaccines to the public.

Senator Bill Cassidy says for those who disagree with his vote to allow Donald Trump’s impeachment trial to continue, they should watch the arguments made by the lawyers for the Democrats’ who showed it is constitutional to impeach a private citizen. Cassidy says he will not put the former president above the constitution…
cut 28 (08) “….oath seriously”
The Louisiana Republican Party has said they are profoundly disappointed in Cassidy.

UL -Lafayette says it played role in testing the effectiveness of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. The New Iberia Research Center Director of Contract Research Jane Fontenot says primates at the center were immunized as part of the nonhuman clinical trials of the vaccine last spring
Cut 7 (12) “…response.”

Beginning tomorrow, Walmart and Sam’s Clubs will assist with the pandemic and vaccinate those 65 and older against COVID…
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The coldest temperatures of the winter are moving into Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this cold weather will stick around for awhile…
cut 13 (08) “….coastaline”
Keim says there’s a chance we can see snow and ice on Monday.

One visitor from Texas may have been responsible for the deadly post-Mardi Gras COVID surge that devastated the New Orleans Metro Area according to a new study. One of the study’s lead authors was Tulane Virologist Dr. Bob Garry. He says the virus arrived with that one person two weeks before Mardi Gras and sparked 800 cases by Ash Wednesday.
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Walmart and Sam’s Club will begin administering COVID-19 vaccines at 57 of their locations in Louisiana starting tomorrow. Regional Health and Wellness Director for Walmart Bethany Evans says appointments are required and they will bring the vaccine to parts of the state where accessibility is an issue…
cut 5 (07) “….pandemic”
Go to walmart-dot-com to make your appointment.

Bust out the heavy-duty jackets because a polar vortex is bringing the state the coldest temperatures of the year and winter weather early next week….
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Southeast Louisiana is dealing with fog this morning as a dense fog advisory is in effect until 9 AM this morning.