A possible hunger crisis may be in Louisiana’s future as the government shutdown continues.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor John Bel Edwards office says the criminal justice reforms approved by the legislature in 2017 has helped crime rates drop in Caddo Parish. Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator says overall crime has dropped 54-percent in 20 years, with a 14-percent decline last year. Prator credits public involvement and hard work by his deputies.

UL-Lafayette is mourning the loss of volunteer softball coach Geri Glasco, who was one of two people killed in a five vehicle wreck on I-10 in Lafayette during the overnight hours. Glasco is the daughter of the head softball coach for the Lady Cajuns. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says the chain reaction crash occurred in a construction zone and it appears a semi didn’t slow down and hit another vehicle from behind. He says motorists need to slow down in a construction zone…
cut 5 (07) “…in those zone”

The recently sworn in mayor of Shreveport Adrian Perkins is attending the US Conference of Mayors Annual winter meeting in Washington D-C. Perkins believes attending this conference can help him as he tackles some of Shreveport’s infrastructure problems…
cut 12 (11) “./.correct em

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced plans to spend 350-million dollars on coastal restoration and flood protection projects. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana spokesperson Jimmy Frederick says nearly 300-million is federal dollars from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act….
cut 6 (09) “…desperately needed”
The other 55-million dollars comes from surplus state dollars.

Louisiana ranks seventh for its quality of highway safety traffic laws. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety President Kathy Chase says Louisiana ranks high because of its seat belt laws and mandatory motorcycle helmet law, but there’s room for improvement…
cut 11 (07) “…our report”
The report notes the annual economic cost of US crashes is 242-billion dollars.

Two people are dead from a five-vehicle crash on I-10 in Lafayette, including the daughter of the head softball coach of the Lady Cajuns. Twenty-four year-old Geri Glasco of Arnaudville, who was also an assistant softball coach at the school was pronounced dead at the scene and so was a man from Houston. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says the chain reaction wreck started when an 18-wheeler encountered slower moving traffic in an active construction zone.
Cut 3 (11) “…five car crash.”
Gossen says charges are pending.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, who is a Republican, has drawn a GOP challenger, as he seeks re-election later this year. His name is Tim Temple of DeRidder and the insurance industry veteran wants to work towards lowering the state’s high auto insurance rates…
cut 9 (07) “….business industry”
A state task force was formed last year charged with looking at ways to lower auto insurance rates.

The U-S Senate is expected to vote today on dueling proposals that would open the federal government, but they are not expected to get the 60 votes needed for approval. Republican Louisiana Senator John Kennedy blames Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the stalemate…
cut 5 (09) “….not middle ground”
One of the proposals up for vote today is the President’s plan for border wall funding, the other measure supported by Democrats, would re-open the government through February 8th.

Saints fans continue to mourn over Sunday’s heart breaking loss in the NFC Championship game, but General Manager Mickey Loomis says the franchise is moving forward…
Cut 13 (12) “…win the game.” (2x)

Republican State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has drawn a GOP challenger in his re-election bid. Tim Temple of DeRidder describes himself as an insurance industry veteran…
cut 8 (09) “….different hats”
Temple wants to address the state’s high auto insurance rates.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety ranks Louisiana’s traffic safety laws as the seventh best in the country. But the president of that group, Kathy Chase, says the state receives a high ranking because it has a both a primary enforcement seat belt law and an all-rider motorcyle helmet law, but they would like to see Louisiana ban the use of a cell phone, even hands free devices, if the state wants the safest possible roads…
cut 12 (11) “…the problem”

On the 34th day of the federal government shutdown, the U-S Senate is expected to consider competing proposals to re-open the government. Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy says the Democrat’s proposal would re-open the government through February eighth, but it doesn’t contain border wall funding…
cut 6 (11) “…support it”
The GOP proposal contains 5-point-7 billion dollars to expand walls and fencing along the Southern border. Both proposals are expected to fail.

Some fans believe the NFL preferred the Rams over the Saints in the Super Bowl and that’s why the refs failed to throw a flag for pass interference against L-A in the final two minutes of the NFC title game. But Saints G-M Mickey Loomis doesn’t buy the conspiracy theory…
cut 15 (06) “…I believe so”

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety are praising Louisiana’s highway safety laws, ranking them 7th best in the nation…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Interstate 10 eastbound in Lafayette has been re-opened after a fatal overnight crash had the highway shutdown for several hours. State Police say two-people were killed in a five-vehicle wreck.

State Police say a Bossier Parish Sheriff’s deputy was seriously injured this morning while directing traffic in front of a school in Haughton today. The victim reportedly has a broken leg and head injuries.

The U-S Senate is expected to vote today on competing proposals to reopen the government. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The Saints are trying to move past Sunday’s heart breaking loss in the NFC Title game. General Manager Mickey Loomis is in Mobile, scouting players at the Senior Bowl and understands the hurt Saints fans are feeling…
cut 14 (11) “…right now”

DeRidder insurance industry veteran Tim Temple is running against incumbent Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon in this year’s fall election that features a slate of statewide races, including governor. Both men are Republicans. Temple says he was inspired to run after hearing repeated complaints from Louisianans about one thing in particular…
Cut 7 (10) “…national average.”
Insure-dot-com says Louisiana has the second-highest auto insurance rates in the nation and a task force has been formed looking for possible recommendations on how to lower auto insurance rates.

Louisiana ranks seventh for the quality of highway safety traffic laws on the books. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety President Kathy Chase says Louisiana has excellent seat belt laws and require motorcycle riders to wear helmets, but there are areas of concern…
cut 11 (07) “…our report”
The report notes the annual economic cost of US crashes is 242-billion dollars.

The U-S Senate is expected to vote today on competing proposals to end the longest government shutdown in US history. The GOP proposal funds a border wall and provides temporary protections for some immigrants. Republican Senator John Kennedy says for it to pass, it will take votes from his colleagues across the aisle.
Cut 4 (11) “…government back open.”
D-C observers say the votes are not there to pass either measure today.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety say Louisiana ranks seventh for best highway safety laws on the books. The Bayou State is lauded for having nine of the organization’s recommended safety laws. President Kathy Chase says Louisiana’s laws excel at protecting more than just the driver.
Cut 10 (10) “helmet law.”

Saints G-M Mickey Loomis says the Black and Gold will bounce back from the tough loss in the NFC Championship game. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or the league office still has not publicly commented on the infamous missed pass inference call. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond wants to hear from Goodell and he’s spoken with some of his colleagues about having the commissioner appear in front of a House subcommittee.

And the get in ticket prices for Super Bowl 53 are falling on the secondary market. That probably would not happen if the Saints were in the game.