A historic winter storm has many Louisiana residents staying indoors today. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Democrats fell ten votes short in the US Senate of convicting former President Donald Trump of inciting the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol, and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy was one of seven Republicans to vote in favor. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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MedPharmics is looking for pregnant women and children from 6 months to 17 years old to participate in COVID vaccine trials. Brooke Thorington has more.

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Most of the state is under a winter storm warning as Louisiana is getting hit with snow, sleet, and freezing rain. National Weather Service Meteorologist Charlie Woodrum says the northern half of the state could see a significant amount of snow

Cut 4 (12)“…four inch range.”

Not only is there snow, but roads are icy from freezing rain. Ice accumulations between a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch are possible. And we are also looking at record low temperatures tonight and into tomorrow with wind chill readings in the single digits or possibly below zero

Cut 5 (09)“…snow accumulations.”

The National Weather Service says there’s a potential for snow as far south as Opelousas. State Climatologist Barry Keim says south Louisiana is looking at a significant ice storm…

Cut 6 (07) “…and sleet”

Total ice accumulations of up to a half-inch expected in south Louisiana, except for south of New Orleans, which will only see a cold rain.

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Numerous roads are closed as a result of the snow, sleet, and freezing rain that’s falling. If the state department of transportation shuts down a road, State Police Trooper Brent Hardy urges motorists not to drive around the barricades…

Cut 7 (14)  “…go assist you”

Hardy says if you do have to drive on slick roads, make sure you are traveling at a reduced speed

Cut 8 (11) “…icy conditions”

Hardy says be aware that ice is difficult to see and it’s often present on overpasses, bridges, and shady spots on the roadway. He says for road closure information, call 5-1-1, go to 5-1-1-dot-la-dot-org or use the Louisiana 5-1-1- smartphone app…

Cut 9 (11) “…star 5-7-7″

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Senator Bill Cassidy was one of seven Republicans to vote in favor of convicting former President Trump over allegations he incited an insurrection at the U-S Capitol on January 6^th.  Some might be surprised by Cassidy’s vote but ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says before becoming a US Senator Cassidy had a history of bucking the Republican Party line.

Cut 10 (13) “…past.”

Cassidy released a brief video statement after the vote saying “Our constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty.”

Cassidy was quickly censured by the state GOP Executive Committee but Stockley doesn’t expect the Senator will face any long-term fallout.

Cut 11 (11) “…solidarity.”

The State GOP released a statement saying they condemn the vote in the “strongest possible terms”, and House GOP Caucus Chairman Blake Miguez tweeted that Cassidy should not expect a warm welcome when he comes home.

Stockley says this vote likely bought Cassidy some favor with Democrats who currently control Congress and the White House.

Cut 12 (09) “…vote”

While the final vote was 57-43, coming up short of the two-thirds vote needed for conviction.

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Clinical trials are now underway for pregnant women and children for the COVID vaccines. Medical Director of MedPharmics Dr. Robert Jeanfreau says they are looking to recruit participants.

Cut 13 (09) “…we do.”

Jeanfreau says while some pregnant women were in the initial clinical trials for the vaccines, they need to have more participants for a more accurate study and he says so far the data indicates the vaccines are during pregnancy.

Cut 14 (08) “…safe.” 

They are searching for children 6 months all the way to 17 years old for the Moderna trial and pregnant women for the Pfizer trial.

Cut 15 (07)“…women.”

To see if you qualify visit medpharmics.com or call 504-457-2721

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The LSU men’s basketball team won its first game over a ranked opponent on Saturday as the Tigers topped 16th ranked Tennessee 78-65. Freshman Cam Thomas had 25 points while junior Javonte Smart had 20 points. LSU Coach Will Wade says it was their best game of the season…

Cut 16 (16) “…defensively.”

Dairus Days added 14 points. LSU also got a nice game from sophomore guard Aundre Hyatt who had eight points and eight rebounds. Reserve forward Josh Leblanc didn’t score but had five rebounds and three blocked shots and Wade is also appreciative of the 14 minutes he got from freshman backup guard Eric Gaines

Cut 17 (17) “…off rhythm”

Since losing to Alabama by 18, the Tigers have won two in a row heading into a Wednesday night road game against Ole Miss. Wade says he had a heart to heart talk with his players following the loss to the Crimson Tide…

Cut  18 (18) “…since then.”

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Louisiana Tech won two games over Conference USA West division leader UAB over the weekend, earning the sweep with a 69-64 win on Saturday. Bulldogs Coach Eric Konkol says only turning it over 12 times while producing 18 assists were the keys to the five-point win

Cut 19 (13) “…very good team.” 

Sophomore guard Kobe Williams was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs as he had 16 points. Konkol says Williams is a big ready why Tech is 10-and-4 in Conference USA play…

  cut 20  (11) “…run with him.” 

Freezing rain, sleet, and snow are all in the forecast on Sunday and Monday. C-S Ross with the National Weather Service says Shreveport, Monroe, and Alexandria could see several inches of snow. He says high temperatures will stay below freezing that day for those cities and dangerous wind chills are also expected Monday and Tuesday.
Cut 7 (08) “…below zero.”

Pelican Waste has set up a GoFundMe for the two sanitation workers who spotted a car from an Amber Alert earlier this week in St. Martin Parish and helped rescue a kidnapped 10-year-old. The fund has raised over 4,500 dollars for Dion Merrick and Brandon Antoine and Pelican spokesperson Monica Camille says they deserve it….
cut 12 (12) “…acts”
The GoFundMe has a 10,000 dollar goal.

Valentine’s Day is Sunday and dining with your sweetheart will be different with the limited capacity, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t show love to your favorite eatery. Brooke Thorington explains.
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57 Walmart and Sam’s Club locations in Louisiana begin administering COVID-19 vaccine shots today. Taxpayers can also start filing their federal and state income tax returns. The Revenue Department says federal unemployment benefits are subject to state income taxes.

Several bridges and overpasses in north Louisiana are closed as a result of light icing from freezing rain. More winter weather is on the way, which is why Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency as the northern half of the state could be hit with two winter storms next week and dangerous wind chills.

Beginning today you can file your federal and state income taxes for 2020. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Bars are closed in New Orleans and there are no parades as the COVID-19 pandemic has produced a very different Mardi Gras weekend. But Mardi Gras Guide Publisher Arthur Hardy says people are still celebrating the carnival season. He says there are thousands of house floats, king cakes are being consumed and Mardi Gras merchandise is being sold …
cut 5 (07) “…spirit”
But Hardy looks forward to a normal Mardi Gras season in 2022.

Researchers have been able to identify the specific traits that make a person a super spreader for COVID-19. Tulane National Primate Research Center Director for Infectious Disease Aerobiology Chad Roy says those who were older with higher body mass indexes and an increasing degree of COVID-19 infection had three times the number of exhaled respiratory droplets as others…
cut 11 (09) “…particles”

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…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”