President Donald Trump will make a trip to New Orleans on Monday to address the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention. Unless something changes, it’s likely the federal partial government shutdown will still be going, so ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says it will be interesting to see the reaction the president gets…
cut 14 (11) “…other appearances”
Mr. Trump visits Texas today for a tour of the southern border.

Louisiana has received a one-point-two million dollar federal grant to assist child victims of human trafficking. Governor John Bel Edwards says the money is needed, because a report released last February found 681 adults and juveniles identified as victims of human trafficking in 2017…
Cut 10 (07) “…going forward”
Louisiana is one of seven states since 2015 to receive this type of funding.

Multiple media outlets report a female Shreveport police officer was shot and killed before she started her shift last night. Over 50 police and sheriff units responded to the shooting that occurred just before 8:30 PM. Police have told the media a person has been detained for questioning.

On the other side of the Red River, two Bossier City women were fatally shot at an apartment complex. Authorities have booked 22-year-old Frederick Jackson of Shreveport on two counts of first degree murder.

The Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus has asked the state ethics board to reconsider a previous ruling that said political candidates can not use campaign funds to pay for child care costs. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell…
cut 4 (09) “….the first place”
A female candidate running for a House seat in Baton Rouge has been told she could be penalized if she used campaign funds to pay for babysitter while she attended fundraisers, forums and other campaign events

Sunday it will be the Saints and Eagles in the Superdome in an NFC Divisional round playoff game. When these two teams met in November, it was all Black and Gold as New Orleans pounded the Eagles 48-7. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 363 yards and four touchdowns. Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was asked about their plans on slowing down Brees…
cut 17 (20) “….one thing”
Sean Payton and Brees have not lost a home playoff game. But Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has the highest passer rating in playoff history among quarterbacks who have made at least 150 attempts. Brees is fifth on that list. Kick-off is at 3:40.

The LSU men’s basketball team started SEC play with a victory last night, beating Alabama 88-79. Tremont Waters led the way with 19 points and seven assists. Coach Will Wade says it was a good performance from his sophomore point guard…
cut 20 (17) “…rock and roll”
LSU is at Arkansas on Saturday.

Tonight, Nicholls hosts one of the top teams in the Southland as the Colonels take on Stephen F Austin. McNeese also has a tough assignment tonight as the Cowboys host Abilene Christian. The Wildcats are 12-and-3 overall. Northwestern State will host Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi.

The Pelicans shoot for their third straight win tonight as they face the Cavs at the Smoothie King Center. There’s a chance Nikola Mirotic will play tonight after missing the last 12 games with an ankle injury.

Louisiana’s House Republican delegation supports President Trump’s effort to secure billions of dollars for wall at the U-S Mexico border. Mr. Trump calls it a security crisis, however top congressional Democrats say the president is providing misinformation. Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise says Democrats are in denial…
cut 12 (12) “…southern border”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he would support legislation that would legalize sports betting at the state’s casinos. Edwards says the extra gaming revenue could go towards early childhood programs…
cut 5 (12) “…to have”
Legalizing Sports betting is expected to be one of the major bills in the regular sessing that begins in April.

A State GOP operative says the party is seriously considering backing just one candidate in the governor’s race for the October primary…
Cut 2 (30) “Im Matt Doyle”

The story of how former LSU offensive lineman Matt Branch lost his left leg in a hunting accident in Mississippi is making national headlines. Branch’s friend says a dog trying to sit near a loaded shotgun on a pickup truck bed, pulled the trigger and a bullet struck Branch in his left hip. Branch, who played for the Tigers from 2008 to 2011, is expected to recover.

A United Way Report shows 48 percent of Louisiana households do not make enough money to reliably meet their basic expenses…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Despite the partial government shutdown, the U-S-D-A says it has found a way to make sure food stamp recipients will receive their benefits through February. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue…
cut 14 (11) “…able to sign”
Nearly one in five people in Louisiana receive food stamps.

The partial federal government shutdown is in its 19th day. Congressional leaders meet with President Donald Trump later today. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Jefferson Parish says Democrats continue to refuse to negoitate on government funding for a Southern border wall…
cut 20 (14) “…secure border”
Democratic leaders say open the government back up and let border security negotiations continue.

South Louisiana Methanol announces plans to purse a two-point-two billion dollar new methanol complex in St. James Parish along the Mississippi River. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says construction could begin later year and once completed, it will mean 75 new jobs…
cut 8 (11) “….projects come online”
This is the third large project near the Port of South Louisiana.

The United Way ALICE report shows in 2016, 48 percent of all households in the state did not make enough money to pay basic needs, up six-percent from 2014. Louisiana United Way President Sarah Berthelot says 29-percent earn above the poverty level, but it’s still not enough…
Cut 4 (09) “…smartphone.”
The report shows a single adult needs to make 19,548 dollars a year to pay the bills, and the average family needs 54,000.

The U-S-D-A announces there will not be an interruption in food stamps, even though there is a partial government shutdown. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters during a conference call that they’ve come up with a plan to make sure food stamp recipients will continue to receive their benefits through February…
cut 13 (11) “…at the time”
Nearly one in five people in Louisiana receives food stamps.

A Louisiana Congressman supports pending legal action against federal agencies who refuse to administer 2016 flood grant money to SBA loan recipients, despite legislation passed in October…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

St. Martin Parish is mourning the loss of cajun chef and restaurateur Lionel Robin who died in a small plane crash in California. Robin and another man died when their private plane went down during a hunting trip. The 71-year-old Cecilia native owned and managed Robin’s Restaurant in Henderson for several decades and also served as the official hospitality chef for Tabasco Pepper Sauce.

The Louisiana Association of United Ways estimates that in 2016 48-percent of Louisiana households could not afford basic needs an increase from 42-percent in 2014. Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moller says many of these families have working adults…
cut 6 (07) “…necessities”
The Parishes with the highest percentage of what is known as ALICE households are clustered in the 5th Congressional District.

Congressman Garret Graves says legal action is coming to force the federal government to make available Louisiana RESTORE grant dollars to families who also received S-B-A loans after the 2016 floods. Graves says the agencies had 45 days to write policy for the money to be distributed, but departments, like HUD, have ignored the Congressional mandate approved in October.
Cut 10 (09) “…follow the law.”
There’s likely to be no movement on this issue during the government shutdown.

South Louisiana Methanol announces plans to pursue a $2.2 billion dollar methanol complex in St. James Parish…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

New details have emerged on the duck hunting accident in Mississippi that resulted in the amputation of former LSU offensive lineman Matt Branch’s leg. The Clarion Ledger reports Branch left his loaded shotgun in the bed of his pickup truck and a dog jumped onto the truck bed, accidentally pulling the trigger. Branch was shot in the left thigh and is expected to recover. He played for the Tigers from 2008 to 2011.