Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is celebrating Mardi Gras, he’s just not in Louisiana. He’s helping to promote the state’s new travel tourism slogan “Louisiana: Feed Your Soul.” The new brand is being promoted in several states, including the nation’s capital…
Cut 7 (12) “the world.”
Louisiana-wrapped food trucks will also serve Mardi Gras king cakes in Houston, Dallas and Atlanta.

An invasive species of snail is posing a threat to crawfish harvests. The apple snail is indigenous to South America, and can devour vegetation crucial to the development of Louisiana crawfish. An abundance of apple snail shut down a 220 acre farm in Acadia Parish. LSU Ag Center Agent Mark Shirley says so far, there is no solution to the problem.
Cut 14 (06) “just yet”
The invasion is being blamed on aquarium owners who decided to dump the snails into the water way.
The Baldwin Police Department was heavily damaged in a fire yesterday afternoon. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says an inmate was severely injured in the blaze.
Cut 3 (07) “burn injuries.”
Browning says the investigation is in its early stages and they are still trying to determine the exact location where the fire started.

There’s a big Mardi Gras celebration in Houma as four parades roll. Houma Vistors Bureau Communications Director Joey Pierce says Houma offers the fun of a New Orleans parade, minus the massive crowds. But while there may not be as many people, there may be just as many beads…
cut 13 (08) “….Gras throws”
Big parades in Lafayette today as well, and plenty of Mardi Gras activities in Shreveport as well today.

The state’s tourism leader, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, is in Washington D-C on this Fat Tuesday. He’s there to promote the state’s new tourism slogan “Louisiana: Feed Your Soul.” Nungesser says the new branding perfectly typfies the kind of activities visitors can expect when they come to Louisiana…
cut 8 (09) “…Gras week”
Nungesser will be talking with traveling writers and passing out King Cake in the Nation’s capitol. State tourism officials will do the same in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston.

High temperatures will be in the mid 60s in New Orleans for their Mardi Gras festivites and there’s a chance for a shower this afternoon. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will be a little cooler in southwest Louisiana for their Mardi Gras festivites….
cut 5 (07) “…actually is”
High temperatures in the 70s tomorrow.

The LSU Ag Center is concerned about an invasive species known as the apple snail. It became so abundant in an Acadia Parish that a farmer there had to shut down his crawfish farm. Agent Mark Shirley says the resilient and slimy snails can rapidly infect a large area….
cut 16 (11) “…larger snails”
Shirley says the apple sails devour vegetation crucial for crawfish and there’s no way to kill off the snails.

Old time Mardi Gras celebrations will take place in small southwest Louisiana towns like Mamou and Iowa. In Iowa, the chicken run starts at the Knights of Columbus Hall and Organizer Rodney Victorian….
cut 10 (10) “…chasing it”
After the run is done, gumbo will be served featuring the chicken collected that day and there you’ll also hear plenty of zydeco music.

A Baton Rouge police officer is recovering from a gunshot wound after 34-year-old Eugene Thomas Junior allegedly fired a weapon at him. Jeff Palermo has more….
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Rayne Police have arrested 41-year-old Raushe Turner after he allegedly stabbed a woman multiple times inside a vehicle. Turner was charged with attempted second-degree murder. Authorities did not say why the attack occurred and did not provide an update on the victim’s condition.

Caddo deputies arrested 37-year-old Dorothy Edwards on felony identity theft after she allegedly stole more than 20-thousand dollars from a 65-year-old disabled woman she was providing care to. Caddo sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says Edwards paid her bills by using the victim’s personal bank accounts and credit cards. Chadwick says Edwards also stole the identity of the victim’s sister…
cut 10 (09) “…with that”
Edwards is in the Caddo Correctional Center on a 150-thousand dollar bond.

The federal government has declared this year’s flu season as the worst breakout since the 2009 swine flu epidemic. Estimates say nearly half a million people around world will die from the flu this year. State Health Secretary Rebeka Gee says if you’re concerned about potential mercury in the flu vaccine, you’re misinformed.
Cut 13 (06) “have that”
Gee says there is a lot of misinformation about vaccines and the flu. She says get trustworthy advice from your doctor.

Authorities have charged a 34-year-old Baton Rouge man for a shooting that severely wounded a police officer. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says 34-year-old Eugene Thomas Junior faces several charges after opening fire on his relatives and then a police officer…
cut 4 (07) “…a firearm”
Coppola says the officer is expected to survive. Thomas was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2002 fatal shooting.

An 83-year-old grandmother from Gonzales won the January 20th Louisiana Lotto jackpot worth 525-thousand dollars. Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says Josphine Prendergast claimed her prize last week and told officials she’ll use the money to buy P-J’s Coffee…
cut 8 (10) “…right now”
Prendergast received 367-thousand dollars after taxes were taken out.

A Shreveport caregiver is being held on a 150,000 dollar bond after allegedly stealing money from an elderly, disabled patient. Jim Shannon talked to the Caddo Sheriff’s Office.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon.

The state legislature is prepping for a special session to tackle a billion dollar shortfall. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris is ready to get started.
Cut 30 (:09) Q…”get there.”
The 17 day special session begins a week from today.

Baton Rouge Police arrest a man after he allegedly fired shots at a police officer and four others, including his mother, sister and cousin. Cops located 34-year-old Eugene Thomas Junior about 15 minutes after the initial shooting and Sgt. Don Coppola says that’s when the suspect started shooting at the officer…
Cut 3 (11) “was struck.”
Coppola says the officer is expected to survive, but has suffered serious injuries.

A Monroe man has designed a product called Streamleash to help you have better control of your dog. Ian Blaylock says as a runner, if his dog quickly ran in one direction, he would lose his balance and control of his pet. He says Streamleash allows the leash to extend, but the user is in control of the cord length…
Cut 7 (09) “your dog.”
Blayock says Streamleash features a wrist strap, so you no longer have to grip the leash in you hands,
Lawmakers are optimistic a deal will be reached to fix the fiscal cliff. Jeff Palermo talked to legislative leadership about what they expect in the special session…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Baton Rouge-based Raising Cane’s will expand into New Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska this year as 80 new locations are planned this year. CEO Todd Graves says he is very specific as what he expects from each operation…
cut 15 (12) “…recreated here”

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and his secretary of transportation Shawn Wilson are skipping Lundi Gras activities today to meet with President Trump in Washington D.C. The agenda includes federal dollars President Trump vowed to use to rebuild the nations crumbling infrastructure. Here in Louisiana there is plenty of need to fix the roads.

Cut 5 (:09) Q…”put together.”

Edwards and Wilson are headed back tonight.

A Baton Rouge police officer is recovering from injuries sustained following a shooting last night. 34 year old Eugene Thomas Jr is charged with five counts of attempted first degree murder. No bond has been set at this hour.

Legislative leaders are prepping for a special session to tackle a billion dollar short-fall. The renewal of some temporary taxes are expected to be passed along with other budget measures. Alexandria Republican Lance Harris is ready to get started.

Cut 12 (:09) Q…”get there.”

17 items are on the 17 day special session, which begins a week from today.

A Monroe man says he’s figured out how to control dogs on a leash better than before. Ian Blaylock who is a runner has come up with a tool which he says keeps fido in check.

Cut 9 (:11) Q…”of the pack.”

The product is called streamleash and he’s starter a kickstarter campaign in an effort to mass produce the leash that fits over your wrist.

Governor John Bel Edwards and State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson are in Washington to discuss infrastructure plans with the Trump Administration. The President could soon unveil a massive new infrastructure spending plan. Wilson says today’s roundtable discussion is a great opportunity to bring attention to the state’s aging infrastructure.
Cut 4 (09) “additional investment.”
The President said during the State of Union he wants Congress to approve a 1.5 trillion dollar infrastructure spending bill.

A Monroe man has invented a new dog leash that he says gives you better control of your dog. Ian Blayock says Streamleash features a wrist strap, so you do not have to grip the leash in you hands. He says if you dog starts sprinting in a different direction, he just squeezes his hand and the leash locks into place.
cut 8 (07) “…in control”
For more information go to streamleash-dot-com.

A special session on fixing the fiscal cliff begins a week from today. Legislators will have to decide what to do about a one-cent sales tax that expires July 1st. Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Reynolds opposes renewing it…
cut 11 (08) “…look at”
Republicans say they want to pass bills to reduce spending.

Raising Cane’s announces plans to continue expanding its chicken finger fast food chain. Kelley Ray has more.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”