A lot of people showed up to work wearing a Saints jersey today as the Black and Gold are on the cusp of reaching the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history. Governor John Bel Edwards was at last week’s 20-14 come from behind playoff win over the Eagles and he’ll be there again on Sunday…
cut 3 (09) “…28 to nothing”

In West Monroe, there’s a group of people who will be rooting for Los Angeles That’s because former West Monroe and LSU star Andrew Whitworth plays left tackle for the Rams. In his 13th NFL season, he finally won his first playoff game last week and doesn’t want to stop now…
cut 5 (11) “…get there”
Kick-off on Sunday is at 2:05.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says strong storms will move through the state tonight and into tomorrow morning and then you’ll need a heavy jacket..
cut 15 (12) “…uncomfortable”
Low temperatures are expected to get below freezing in central and north Louisiana on Sunday and Monday.

The Louisiana Lottery says no one has stepped forward to claim a one-million dollar Powerball ticket that was purchased in August at Ideal mart in New Orleans. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says the ticket will expire on February 21st. Annison says unclaimed prizes happen from time to time, but one of this mangitude is rare…
cut 7 (06) “….the bigger ones”
If you are the owner of this ticket from the August 25th drawing, you can claim your prize one of the Lottery’s five regional offices or at their headquarters building in Baton Rouge.

State climatologist Barry Keim warns Louisiana residents to expect a rapid change in the weather. The first part of that roller coaster starts today, where things may feel fine right now, but are set to take a drastic turn later tonight.
Cut 13 (11) “…rain.”
There’s a marginal risk for severe weather for north and central Louisiana today and for southeast Louisiana tomorrow. It will turn colder on Saturday too.

Saints Coach Sean Payton is asking Who Dat nation to be loud during Sunday’s NFC Championship game, even when the Rams offense is in the huddle. Bill from Covington is confident Saints fans will bring the noise and the team will do its part…
cut 5 (09) “….stay in Atlanta”
The NFC Championship game is Sunday at 2:05.

At the state capitol, the stalemate continues over an effort by the Edwards’ administration to increase revenue projections based on the forecast provided by economists. Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras has voted against raising revenue projections and prefers to wait, based on what happened last year when the state ended up with a surplus after approving a sales tax…
cut 12 (10) “…..or adopt”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne accuses Barras of playing politics.

The Southern Republican Leadership Conference is underway at the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner. State GOP leaders it’s the official kick-off in their effort to beat Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards in this year’s governor’s race.

And in Baton Rouge, over two-thousand runners will participate in the Louisiana Marathon. Governor Edwards will run in a 5-K marathon tomorrow.

It’s a warm morning, but strong storms are expected to arrive later today in north and central Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 14 (08) “…severe ”
Strong storms are possible in southeast Louisiana on Saturday morning and once the rain moves out, the cold air will move in as we’ll see low temperatures drop below freezing on Sunday and Monday morning for a good portion of the state.

The two-day Southern Republican Leadership Conference is underway at the Ponthartrain Center in Kenner. President of the event, Roger Villere, says the theme is…
cut 29 (07) “…in Louisiana”
Villere says Republicans Ralph Abraham and Eddie Rispone are expected to attend. They are seeking to defeat Governor John Bel Edwards. Villere says there will also be workshops to help Republicans who plan to run for seats in the state legislature.

It’s a Black and Gold Friday and Saints fans are confident in a victory over the Rams in Sunday’s NFC championship game…
voicer 1 (33) “…Super Bowl”

Saints Coach Sean Payton is asking fans to bring the noise, but Rams wide receiver Robert Woods is not concerned…
cut 30 (12) “…an impact”
Kick off Sunday is at 2:05.

House Republican leadership continues to block a recommendation to increase the amount of money the state has available to spend. Matt Doyle has more on the lack of inaction from the Revenue Estimating Conference…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Morehouse Sheriff deputies have arrested three men and charged them with first-degree murder in the death of 85-year-old William Wyatt Smith, who was found dead Thursday. One of the suspects is Smiths’ grandson, 29-year-old Trent Scott Little.

Hundreds of Republicans will gather for the Southern Republican Leadership Conference that begins today at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner….
cut 7 (08) “…elections in Louisiana”
That’s the past chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, Roger Villere, who says the two announced GOP gubernatorial candidates will attend and so will Republicans looking to get elected to serve political offices at all levels of government and there will be training seminars for them.

The Saints are three point favorites to beat the Rams on Sunday in the NFC title game. Louis from New Orleans is preciting a high scoring game and hopes the Black and Gold will play the Chiefs in the Super Bowl…
cut 6 (08) “…more exciting matchup”
Saints Coach Sean Payton is asking the fans to bring the noise for Sunday’s NFC Title game.

For a third month in a row, House Republican leadership has blocked a revenue forecasting panel from recognizing additional revenue for the state budget, despite suggestions to do so from economists. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the delay could prevents State Police from training a new cadet class.
Cut 10 (10) “retiring troopers.”
House Speaker Taylor Barras says there’s no harm in waiting to raise the forecast to make sure the extra revenue is actually coming in.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says strong storms will move through the state tonight and into tomorrow morning and then you’ll need a heavy jacket..
cut 15 (12) “…uncomfortable”
Low temperatures are expected to get below freezing in central and north Louisiana on Sunday and Monday.

The Southern Republican Leadership Conference kicks off today in Kenner. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

And then Sunday it’s the NFC Championship game between the Saints and Rams. Who Dat Nation is confident…
cut 4 (16) “…24-17”
Kick-off is at 2:05.

It’s a Black and Gold Friday as Who Dats are fired up for Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the L-A Rams. Saints fans are confident their team will advance to the Super Bowl…
voicer 1 (33) “…Super Bowl”

Over two-thousand runners are registered to participate in the Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge this weekend. Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll participate in a 5-K run.

For the third straight month, the Revenue Estimating Conference met and failed to raise revenue projections, despite economists telling the four-member panel the state is projected to collect more money than expected. Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras is blocking the recommendation, because of uncertainty with the state’s economy. But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says Barras’ decision could impact a budding public health epidemic…
cut 11 (10) “…problems
Dardenne says he’ll call for another Revenue Estimating Conference meeting next month.

The Southern Republican Leadership Conference begins a two-day conference today at the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner. President of the event, Roger Villere, says the two Republican announced candidates in the 2019 governor’s race will be there…
cut 8 (10) “…Republican Leadership Conference”

State climatologist Barry Keim warns Louisiana residents to expect a rapid change in the weather. The first part of that roller coaster starts today, where things may feel fine right now, but are set to take a drastic turn later tonight.
Cut 13 (11) “…rain.”
There’s a marginal risk for severe weather for north and central Louisiana today and artic air hits the state on Saturday, which will result in temperatures dropping like a rock.

Saints Coach Sean Payton is asking Who Dat nation to be loud during Sunday’s NFC Championship game, even when the Rams offense is in the huddle. Bill from Covington is confident Saints fans will bring the noise and the team will do its part…
cut 5 (09) “….stay in Atlanta”
The NFC Championship game is Sunday at 2:05.

At the state capitol, the stalemate continues over an effort by the Edwards’ administration to increase revenue projections based on the forecast provided by economists. Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras says he’s more comfortable with adjusting the revenue forecast closer to end of the fiscal year, based on what happened last year when the state ended up with a surplus after approving a sales tax…
cut 12 (10) “…..or adopt”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne accused Barras of playing a game by not recognizing the reality that the state is collecting more dollars than previously projected.

Entergy Louisiana’s one-million customers will receive a small refund credit on their January, February, and March bills.
Cut 9 (08) “of months″
That’s Entergy spokesperson Lee Sabatini, who says these refunds partially resolve an issue over how Entergy Arkansas accounted for power sales made more than 10 years ago.

Louisiana has distributed Febrary food stamps to 337-thousand households. The early issuance is due to the partial federal government shutdown and the department of children and family services is advising food stamp recipients to budget accordingly, because these are not extra benefits. Assistant Deputy Secretary Sammy Guillory says if you recently applied for food stamps, your application is still being processed…
cut 16 (08) “…into February”

An Alexandria Police office went through a scary moment while trying to issue a citation to a 51-year-old bicyclist. Corporal Wade Bourgeois says Vernon Holden became violent with the officer and took his TASER…
cut 4 (08) “….the officer”
Bourgeois says Holden also got a hold of the officer’s gun and put it to his head. He says after making threats, Holden fled and apprehended behind a shed. He faces numerous charges and the officer is okay.

The city of Zachary has been hit with three different companies in the last week announcing lay-offs at their facilities, meaning hundreds in East Baton Rouge will soon be out of a job. Governor John Bel Edwards says the state’s economy is strong and if you’ve been laid off, there are options…
cut 8 (10) “….that done”
IBM is hosting a career fair in Lafayette on Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM at South Louisiana Community College.