Sen. John Kennedy and Rep. Ralph Abraham have filed legislation with the intent of combating fraud in government assistance programs.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (26) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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Fete-Dieu du Teche is holding a Bible reading marathon in St. Martinville’s town square that begins today in celebration of Ash Wednesday.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (25) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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A West Monroe lawmaker has filed legislation for the upcoming session that would increase the legal age a person can purchase or possess tobacco and vaping products. Brooke Thorington…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

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Sen. John Kennedy and Rep. Ralph Abraham have filed legislation with the intent of combating fraud in government assistance programs.  The Income Verification Act applies to Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and food stamps.  Abraham says the idea is to verify recipients’ eligibility for the programs.

Cut 4 (10) “…really need help.”

In November, a report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office revealed that 82 out of 100 Medicaid recipients in a random sample did not financially qualify for the program.  Abraham says the act would see programs verifying eligibility with federal data, instead of state data.

Cut 5 (08) “…to ineligible beneficiaries.”

Abraham says he doesn’t foresee the bill getting much resistance in its path.

Cut 6 (11) “…accountability in government.”

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The town of St. Martinville will be the host of a public reading of the Bible from cover to cover starting today.  Fete-Dieue du Teche will be hosting the Bible Marathon today through Sunday in the town’s square Father Michael Champagne (Shome-pine) says the event was inspired by a similar event once done by the Pope.

Cut 7 (12) “Evangelicals, Baptists, Episcopalians.”

The event drew thousands last year, both locals and people passing through the area.  Champagne describes it as the Woodstock of Bible reading.

Cut 8 (11) “…its highly organized.”

During the four days of continuous reading, 300 lectors will read in 20 minute increments.  Champagne says the event is intended to re-ignite a love for scripture and says the atmosphere is very festive.

Cut 9 (12) “…word of God.″

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There will be an effort in the upcoming legislative session to raise the age from 18 to 21-years-old to legally purchase or possess tobacco and vaping products. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says six states and over 400 cities have raised the tobacco age to 21 and the goal is to produce better health outcomes…

Cut 10 (09) “…18 to 21.”

Hoffman’s proposed legislation will be House Bill 38 in the legislative session that begins next month. He says raising the age would mean a loss of tax dollars from a decline in purchases of tobacco products, but it will have a long term benefit…

Cut 11 (09) “…cost for people”

The legislation is expected to face opposition in the regular session. But Hoffman says not everyone in the tobacco industry is opposed to raising the sale age to 21 for tobacco products…

Cut 12 (09) “…some of that ”

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Switzerland-based helicopter maker Kopter selects the Lafayette Regional Airport to assemble helicopters, creating 120 jobs. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Kopter looked at 38 locations before picking Lafayette, which has a strong helicopter culture, because of the oil and gas industry

Cut 13 (08) “…strong workforce.”

Pierson says Kopter is versatile enough that they’ll assemble helicopters for a variety of uses…

Cut 14 (13) “…law enforcement.”

Pierson says Kopter plans to reach full production in Lafayette in 2025, producing about 100 helicopters every year…

Cut 15 (12) “…with them”

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The 10th ranked LSU basketball Tigers look to avenge an earlier loss to Florida when they meet the Gators in Gainesville tonight. Two weeks ago, Florida beat LSU in overtime in the PMAC. Coach Will Wade is still not happy with how his team played that night…

Cut 16  (19) “beat down” 

Since the loss to Florida, LSU has won three in a row. Wade says they’ve struggled against teams like the Gators who like to grind it out…

 cut 17 (20)   “who are seniors” 

If LSU wins its final two conference games, they’ll clinch at least a share of the SEC title. Wade says that would be a huge accomplishment…

Cut 18 (15)  you’re consistent” 

A Switzerland-based company plans to hire 120 workers so it can assemble helicopters in Lafayette. Jeff Palermo has the story..

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Cajun Navy 2016 responders from Baton Rouge are in Alabama following a tornado outbreak that left 23 dead.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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The rain is behind us but it’s a cold Fat Tuesday for revelers along the parade routes.  A cold front has brought Canadian air into the state.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says the temps may peak around 50 degrees for south Louisiana.

Cut 3 (07) “…around southwest Louisiana.”

The wind chill is around 30 degrees.

Keim is in New Orleans today and says the weather isn’t slowing things down for those ready to celebrate Mardi Gras.

Cut 4 (11) “…despite the cold″

The cold conditions are expected to continue into Ash Wednesday, but Keim says expect to see a warming trend as the week comes to a close.

Cut 5 (08)“…lot more pleasant.”

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So how do you stay warm on a chilly Mardi Gras day? Eating tasty food is one way to do it. This man along a New Orleans parade route says he’s been cooking since four o’ clock this morning and has enough food to feed about 40 people…

Cut 6 (12) “…turkey necks”

It’s also a big day of parades in Lake Charles and Lafayette. There’s also a couple of parades in Shreveport. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says his office made a big push this year nationwide to market Mardi Gras festivities outside of New Orleans…

Cut 7 (13) “…over Louisiana.”

Nungesser was the grand marshal of the Krewe of Argus parade in Metairie today.

Mardi Gras is also known for its satire. There are several people dressed up as blind referees in reference to the blown call in the NFC Championship game…

Cut 8 (10) “…in our pockets.”

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When disaster strikes, the Cajun Navy is there to help.  The Cajun Navy 2016 has responded to the devastation left from tornadoes in south Alabama that killed at least 23.  Vice President of Cajun Navy 2016 Billy Bringear says they’ve got boots on the ground with chainsaws rescuing survivors from the mangled homes.

Cut 9 (07) “…destruction it did.”

Cajun Navy 2016 responders from Baton Rouge are in Lee County, which saw the heaviest impact from the tornado outbreak.  Bringear says efforts like this cost money, and any contributions people from Louisiana want to make to help can be done on the Cajun Navy 2016 Facebook page.

Cut 10 (05)“…do take donations.”

Bringear says it is an easy decision to help in times when others lose everything, which is relatable to many in Louisiana.

Cut 11 (12)   “…how people feel.”

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Tax season is in full swing and that can mean tax refunds are on the way too. IRS Spokesperson Raphael Tulino says anyone curious about their return status, can check online, rather than calling the IRS…

Cut 12 (12)   “…different information.”

Taxpayers can expect their refund within 21 days after filing, but if three weeks pass, Tulino says feel free to call the federal agency…

Cut 13 (11) “…care of it.” 

Tulino says if you will not be able to file by the April 15^th deadline, you can apply for a six-month extension, but if you owe money…

Cut 14 (09)  “…will help you.” 

It’s the first week of March, but it feels more like January. Jeff Palermo has more on this artic blast…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Some felons who’ve been out of jail in Louisiana for at least five years have the right to vote as a result of a law that passed last year. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

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It’s a cold Lundi Gras and temperatures will fall into the low-to-mid 20s tomorrow morning across the northern parishes. National Weather Service forecaster Mario Valverde says we could see record low temperatures…

Cut 3 (11) “…little colder.”

Valverde says forecast lows along I-10 could also dip below freezing on the morning of Fat Tuesday. He says the wind will die down and clear skies will allow for below freezing temperatures for much of the state…

Cut 4 (06) “…of fall″

Valverde says the cold weather is the result of an arctic airmass that’s brought heavy snow to the Midwest and now into the northeast. He says this polar vortex is a reminder Spring officially doesn’t start for another two weeks…

Cut 5 (11)“…cold air”

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The Louisiana Board of Regents will award grants to ten college campuses in an effort to reduce textbooks for students. Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Communication Meg Casper Sunstrom says the total amount distributed is $67,500.

Cut 6 (08) “…about 15,000 students.”

Nicholls and Grambling State were two four-year universities to receive the grant money, the rest of the dollars will go towards community college campuses. Casper Sunstrom says text book costs can sometimes be a factor in whether a student is successful in a course.

Cut 7 (12) “…for electronic textbooks.”

Sunstrom says they believe this effort could save more than one-million dollars over three years for 15-thousand students and they plan to track the results…

Cut 8 (11) “…the project continues.”

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An estimated 36,000 convicted felons who’ve been out of jail for at least five years can now register to vote thanks to a state law that went into effect March 1st. To register, an eligible felon must get a certification letter from Probation and Parole. Voters Organized to Educate Director Checo Yancy says it took five years of lobbying, but…

Cut 9 (09) “…a veteran”

Checo was released from Angola in 2003 after serving 20 years in prison.

The law re-enfranchising those Louisiana felons was passed in last year’s spring session. Yancy says you can’t really be a fully citizen of a nation if you don’t have the right to vote for your representatives.

Cut 10 (08)“…me.”

There’s been a national push to re-enfranchise felons, including an effort in Florida that overwhelmingly passed at the ballot last year.

Some initial estimates put the number of people eligible for the law at 2,000, but advocates say that number is much larger. Yancy says while tens of thousands of people may be newly eligible, they’re still working to get them back into the democratic process.

Cut 11 (11)   “…the polls.”

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32-year-old Tashonty Taylor remains in jail on a 510-thousand dollar bond after New Orleans Police say he plowed into a group of bicyclists on Saturday night, killing two and injuring seven. Detectives suspect Toney was impaired and he’s facing counts of vehicular homicide and several other charges. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Toney faces a lengthy prison sentence

Cut 12 (07)   “…each count.”

Toney reportedly told police he has a drinking problem. Ciolino says that alleged admission will not result in any leniency, if he’s convicted of the charges…

Cut 13 (08) “…right and wrong” 

And Ciolino doesn’t expect Toney to receive any favortism just because he’s the son of a New Orleans police officer. Ciolino predicts a sentence of 5 to 30 years…

Cut 14 (08)  “…pay your debt”